GENERAL COMMITTEE
December 8, 2008
Meeting
No. 26
Finance & Administrative
Issues Community
Services Issues
Chair: Councillor
J. Virgilio Chair:
Councillor
A. Chiu
Chair, Budget Sub-Ctte: Councillor D. Horchik Environment & Sustainability Issues
Chair: IT Sub-Ctte: Reg. Councillor J. Jones Chair: Councillor
E. Shapero
Chair:
Grants Sub-Ctte: Councillor V. Burke
Attendance
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J. Livey, Chief
Administrative Officer
C. Conrad, Town
Solicitor
A. Taylor,
Commissioner of Corporate Services
B. Librecz, Commissioner
of Community & Fire Services
J. Baird,
Commissioner of Development Services
B. Cribbett,
Treasurer
S. Andrews,
Director, Asset Management
A. Brouwer, Deputy
Clerk
L. Irvine, Manager,
Parks and Open Space Planning
J. Lustig, Director
of Financial and Client Services
J. Ryerson,
Director, Varley Art Gallery
M. Shatil, Manager, Facility
Assets
N. Unsworth, Parks
Development Coordinator
C. Raynor, Committee
Clerk
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The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:00 a.m. with Councillor
J. Virgilio in the Chair.
DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST
None disclosed
1. MINUTES OF THE
NOVEMBER 17, 2008
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor J. Webster
That the minutes of the November 17, 2008
General Committee be received.
CARRIED
2. APPROVAL
REPORT
AMENDMENTS TO DEVELOPMENT FEE,
BUILDING FEE AND TOWN WIDE FEE BY-LAWS
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMISSION (7.0)
Report
1 2 3
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor J. Webster
That the Report titled “Approval Report, Amendments to Development Fee, Building
Fee and Town Wide Fee By-laws, Development Services Commission"
dated December 8, 2008, be received; and,
That the Record of
the Public Meeting held on November 18, 2008, with respect to the proposed
amendments to the Development, Building and Town Wide Fee By-laws be received;
and,
That the amendment
to the “Tariff of Fees for Processing Planning Applications,” By-law 211-83,
substantially in the form attached as Attachment “A”, be enacted; and,
That By-law
2007-268 be repealed an the attached “By-law respecting Construction,
Demolition and Change of Use Permits and Inspections,” attached as Attachment
“B”, be enacted; and,
That the amendment
to Townwide By-law 2002-276, substantially in the form attached as Attachment
“C”, be enacted; and further,
That the By-laws
come into force take effect on January 1, 2009.
CARRIED
3. REFUNDABLE
DEPOSIT – DEVELOPER
FRONTENDING/REDISTRIBUTION
ACCOUNT RECONCILIATION (7.0)
Report
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor J. Webster
That the December 8, 2008 report entitled
“Refundable Deposit - Developer Front Ending/ Redistribution Account Reconciliation”
be received; and,
That Council authorize Staff to transfer
$280,359.91 identified as amounts due to the Town from the Refundable Deposit -
Developer Front Ending/ Redistribution account (“the Refundable Deposit
Account”) (General Ledger G/L 027 2140009) to the Town accounts identified in
this report; and,
That all parties who have upfronted funds
for works performed, but who cannot be identified, be given the opportunity to
apply for a return of any recovered funds; and,
That Council authorize Staff to advertise
in a nationally circulated newspaper and the Town website for thirty (30) days,
amounts for which the payees have not been identified, thereby giving due
notice to parties who upfronted for works performed in advance of development
within the Town that they may be eligible to apply for a return of any
recovered funds which totals $256,038.37; and,
That due notice be given of the possible
forfeiture of unclaimed funds to the Town’s revenue in said advertisement where
recovered funds remain unclaimed; and,
That Council authorize Staff, at the end of
the advertisement period, to transfer any unclaimed portion of these recovered
funds in the Refundable Deposit Account, to a maximum of $256,038.37 to a
Corporate Revenue account to be determined by the Town Treasurer; and,
That the cost incurred in placing the
Public Notice, estimated to be in the range of $8,000 - $14,000 (exclusive of
5% GST) be offset against the deposits to be placed in the Town’s revenue; and,
That Council authorize Staff to charge an
administration fee equivalent to 5% of the amount to be refunded to claimants,
and to utilize the administration fee to recover staff cost associated with
refunding these deposits with the remainder to be deposited in the appropriate
Engineering, Finance and Legal operating budget accounts; and,
That the Treasurer be authorized to pay any
claims from the Corporate Revenue account in the event of a future refund
claim, which has been substantiated to the Treasurer’s satisfaction; and
further,
That Staff be authorized and directed to do
all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
4. STAFF
AWARDED CONTRACTS
FOR THE MONTHS OF AUGUST
AND SEPTEMBER 2008 (7.12)
Report 1
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor J. Webster
That the report
entitled “Staff Awarded Contracts for the Months of August to September 2008”
be received.
CARRIED
5. MILLIKEN MILLS CHILDREN’S
FESTIVAL RELOCATION REPORT (3.5.1)
Report
1 2
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor J. Webster
That the report entitled “Milliken Mills Children’s
Festival Relocation Report” be received; and,
That the
Milliken Children’s Festival be temporarily moved in 2009 to 2011 from Milliken
Mills Community Centre to Markham Civic Centre; and further,
That the Recreation
Department be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect
to this resolution.
CARRIED
6. ART
GALLERY EXPANSION (6.9)
Report
Presentation
Mr. H. Back, Chair, Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham, spoke
briefly to provide an overview of the proposed Art Gallery expansion project
and to recommend that the architect of the original Art Gallery building be
engaged to design the expansion. Mr. W. Pickering, Former Chair, Varley-McKay
Art Foundation of Markham spoke to outline the study undertaken to assess the
feasibility of the proposed expansion. Mr. J. Ryerson, Director, Varley Art
Gallery, spoke to outline the potential benefits of such an expansion. It was
noted that a substantial portion of the funding for the project is from the
generous financial donation from Mr. W. Joyce.
Committee suggested that the Gallery requires an extension and requested
that staff report back on the potential for an additional expansion in the
future. There was discussion on the merits and feasibility of retaining the
original architect and the importance of recognizing Mr. Joyce’s generous
donation.
There was discussion of the overall funding for the project, including
architectural fees. The Committee noted that this is a relatively small project
that should not exceed the budget.
Moved by Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by Councillor J. Virgilio
That the presentation by Mr. J. Ryerson,
Director of Culture, entitled “Art Gallery Expansion” be received; and,
That the report entitled “Varley Art
Gallery Expansion” be received; and
That staff be authorized to negotiate with a preferred supplier,
being Jerome Markson, architect for the original Varley Art Gallery
construction, for architectural services; and,
That the selected Architect be authorized
to work with Staff on the preliminary design; and,
That as part of the preliminary design,
Staff and the selected Architect convene a public meeting to seek input and
feedback regarding the design concepts; and,
That
as part of the preliminary design, the selected Architect be directed to
research the possibility of designing the expansion so as to meet LEED
standards; and,
That staff report back to General Committee with the outcomes of
the preliminary design and the public information meeting, prior to proceeding
to detailed design; and,
That the estimated cost of this project,
$2.58 million be funded as follows:
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Wallace Joyce-Varley McKay Art Foundation (including interest)
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$1.56M
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Infrastructure Grant
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$0.92M
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Varley Foundation fundraising
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$0.10M
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Total
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$2.58M
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That
the $100,000 from the Varley Foundation fundraising only be used if the project
cost exceeds $2.48 million; and;
That the generous gift by Mr. Wallace Joyce
to the Varley McKay Art Foundation of Markham be recognized; and,
That the stewardship and efforts of the
Varley McKay Art Foundation be acknowledged with thanks; and further,
That Staff be authorized and directed to do
all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
7. PARKS CAPITAL PROGRAM 2008
PROGRESS UPDATE (6.3)
Presentation
Ms. L. Irvine, Manager, Parks and Open
Space Planning, provided a comprehensive update on completed, ongoing and
upcoming parks construction projects. The Committee sought clarification on
some issues such as anti-graffiti measures, the location of garbage receptacles
in relation to public seating areas, the status of the Golden Jubilee greenway,
the potential development of smaller, satellite skate parks and the status of
the potential Rouge Park projects. Committee requested a report to a future
meeting regarding a policy on public washrooms, including technological
innovations such as self-cleaning facilities, and an update on the proposed
Milliken Park. There was discussion surrounding the process for
developer-upfronted park projects including the financing and tendering
processes.
Staff advised that a report will be
forthcoming on a policy for naming completed parks. Additionally, it was
suggested that staff consider options for accelerating the delivery time for
new parks projects.
Moved by Mayor F. Scarpitti
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
That the presentation by Ms. L. Irvine,
Manager of Parks & Open Space Development, entitled “Parks Capital Program
2008 Progress Update” be received.
CARRIED
8. CANADIAN SPORTS INSTITUTE UPDATE (6.10)
Presentation
Ms. B. Librecz,
Commissioner, Community and Fire Services, provided an update on the proposed Canadian
Sports Institute Ontario (CSIO) project and a potential Pan Am Games bid. There
was considerable discussion concerning funding and the involvement of other
levels of government. There was also discussion surrounding activities in the
City of Toronto, the location of the proposed CSIO facility, the chronology of
the Pan Am Games bid process and the likely amount of legacy funding the Town
might receive following a successful Games bid. Committee requested further
information on the operating costs of the Talisman Centre in Calgary, Alberta
and suggested that technological innovations such as geothermal energy be
considered for the CSIO project.
Moved by
Councillor J. Virgilio
Seconded by
Regional Councillor J. Jones
That the
presentation by Ms. B. Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services,
entitled “Canadian Sports Institute Update” be received.
CARRIED
9. APPOINTMENTS, RESIGNATIONS
- ADVISORY COMMITTEES (16.24)
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by Councillor V. Burke
That the resignation of Ms. Barbi Lazarus
from the Animal Care Committee be accepted with regret and a letter of
appreciation be forwarded to Ms. Lazarus.
CARRIED
10. INTEREST ON OUTSTANDING DEBTS
AND COLLECTION AGENCY
ADMINISTRATIVE FEES (7.0)
Report
Moved by
Regional Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by
Councillor V. Burke
That the report
entitled, “Interest on Outstanding Debts and Collection Agency Administrative
Fee” be received; and,
That Council endorse the policy of adding interest of 1.25% per month on
outstanding debts consistent with the annual rate being charged for property
taxes in arrears; and,
That Council endorse the policy of adding an administrative fee up to 30%
to outstanding debts for collection agency charges; and further,
That Staff be
authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this
resolution.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
The
General Committee adjourned at 12:37 p.m.