General Committee
February 27, 2015
Meeting
Number 7
Finance & Administrative Issues Community Services Issues
Chair: Deputy Mayor Jack
Heath Chair: Councillor Alan Ho
Vice Chair: Councillor Colin Campbell Vice
Chair: Councillor Alex Chiu
Environment
& Sustainability Issues Building,
Parks, & Construction Issues
Chair: Councillor
Valerie Burke Chair: Councillor Colin
Campbell
Vice Chair: Councillor Karen Rea Vice Chair: Regional Councillor Nirmala
Armstrong
Alternate formats are available
upon request.
Attendance
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Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer
Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services
Trinela Cane, Commissioner of Corporate Services
Brenda Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services
Catherine Conrad, City Solicitor
Kimberley Kitteringham, City Clerk
Martha Pettit,
Deputy City Clerk
Nasir Kenea,
Chief Information Officer
Joel Lustig, Treasurer
Bill Snowball, Fire Chief
Phoebe Fu, Director
of Asset Management
Bob
Nicholson, Acting Director of Operations
Sharon Laing,
Director of Human Resources
Mary
Creighton, Director of Recreation Services
Dennis
Flaherty, Director of Communications &
Community Engagement
Stephen Chait,
Director of Economic Development
Alan Brown,
Director of Engineering
Biju
Karumanchery, Director of Planning & Urban Design
Mohammed
Hosseini-Ara, Acting Director of Culture
Meg West,
Manager Strategic Initiatives
Fred Rich,
Manager, Strategy & Insurance Risk
Mona Nazif,
Senior Manager, HR Client Services
Don Taylor,
Manager, Executive Operations
Tim Moore,
Director Building Standards
Sara Tam,
Manager, Business Planning & Innovation
Catherine
Biss, CEO Markham Libraries
Graham Seaman,
Senior Manager Sustainability Office
Rick Dominico,
CAO's Office
Raj Raman,
Chief of Staff
Alida Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
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The General Committee meeting convened at the hour of 9:07 AM with Deputy
Mayor Jack Heath in the Chair.
General Committee recessed at 12:18 PM and reconvened at 12:50 PM.
Disclosure of
Interest
None disclosed.
1. EDUCATION
AND TRAINING SESSION
- BUILDING MARKHAM’S FUTURE TOGETHER (16.23)
Attachment
1 Attachment
2
Mayor Frank
Scarpitti addressed the Committee and provided some opening remarks regarding
the purpose of today's education and training session on Building Markham's
Future Together.
Andy
Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer addressed the Committee and introduced
Peter Stravropoulos, President & CEO, FlexITy Solutions.
Peter
Stravropoulos, President & CEO, FlexITy Solutions, delivered a PowerPoint
presentation entitled "Smart + Connected Communities - Aligning Business
and Technology." The presentation
included financial performance, economic prosperity, quality of life and public
service excellence.
The
Committee discussed the following:
· Potential long term cost savings
with investing in the technology
· How to ensure personal information
is kept secure
· Expectations when there is the
ability to access individuals 24/7
Meg West, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, addressed the Committee and
provided a high level overview of Building Markham's Future Together
accomplishments.
The Chief
Administrative Officer and Commissioners delivered a PowerPoint presentation
providing an overview regarding the proposed goals, objectives and key actions
for the 2015-2018 Council term.
There were
break out sessions to obtain feedback on:
·
Exceptional
Services by Exceptional People
·
Engaged,
Diverse and Thriving City
·
Safe
& Sustainable Communities
·
Stewardship
of Money & Resources
Mayor Frank
Scarpitti introduced Warren Jestin, Senior Vice-President & Chief Economist
Specialist, Scotiabank.
Warren
Jestin, Senior Vice-President & Chief Economist Specialist, Scotiabank
addressed the Committee and spoke about the Canadian dollar, interest rates and
an economic forecast. He spoke about the
following:
·
European
investment
·
United
States strong economy versus European weak economy
·
Weak
Canadian dollar
·
BRIC
= Brazil, Russia, India, China
·
Currency
volatile
·
Governments
adding to growth
·
Change
in consumer confidence south of the border
·
Consumers
spending more
·
Businesses
investing in United States of America again
·
Future
will have less retail investment, commercial space in Canada
·
Low
Canadian dollar is not enough for viable economic growth
·
Exporting
doing well
·
US
- holding down interest rates by having the government buy their own bonds -
government stopped buying and global agencies start investing
·
US
sets the north American standard rate
·
Long
range borrowing costs will remain low for the next year
·
Low
interest rate are bonus to borrower, but not to investors
·
Bank
of Canada - short term interest rates remain very low in the next 1.5 year
·
Canadian
currency will continue to fluctuate
·
Oil
prices much lower than anyone anticipated
·
Ontario
and British Columbia will be the strongest provinces leading the growth
·
Housing
market, Financial Services, Universities & Colleges have advanced Ontario
·
Need
a good rounded infrastructure
·
Small,
medium size businesses that are not impacted by a 5 cent move in Canadian
dollar
·
Currently
over retailed for the future trends we are seeing
·
Widening
of income disparity
There was
discussion regarding the importance of job creation within technology sector that
will result in sustainable jobs. It was
noted that older adults are choosing to remain in the workforce longer. There was discussion regarding the lack of job
creation for adults under the age of 35 years and that will potentially create
problems in the future.
Mayor Frank
Scarpitti addressed the Committee to provide some closing remarks. He thanked everyone involved in organizing
today's session.
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Alan Ho
That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 2:45 PM.
Carried