GENERAL COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 21, 2013
Meeting
No. 21
Finance & Administrative Issues Community Services Issues
Chair: Mayor
Frank Scarpitti Chair: Councillor Alex Chiu
Vice Chair: Councillor Carolina Moretti Vice
Chair: Councillor Howard Shore
Environment
& Sustainability Issues Building,
Parks, & Construction Issues
Chair: Councillor
Valerie Burke Chair: Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Vice Chair: Regional Councillor Joe Li Vice
Chair: Councillor Colin Campbell
Alternate formats are available
upon request.
Attendance
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Andy
Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer
Catherine
Conrad, City Solicitor
Brenda
Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services
Trinela
Cane, Commissioner of Corporate Services
Joel Lustig,
Treasurer
Peter Loukes, Director, Environmental Services
Claudia Marsales, Senior Manager of Waste & Environmental
Management
Alex Moore, Manager
of Purchasing
Graham Seaman, Senior Manager, Sustainability
Shayne
Manson, Acting Senior Manager, Revenues & Properties Taxation
Christopher
Alexander, Supervisor, Licensing & Animal Services
David
Pearce, Manager Real Property
Alida
Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
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The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:03 a.m. with Mayor Frank
Scarpitti in the Chair and Councillor Valerie Burke Chaired Environment and
Sustainability. The General Committee recessed at 12:42 p.m. and reconvened at
1:36 p.m.
DISCLOSURE OF
INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. PRESENTATION ON ELECTRICITY
RATES
AND FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
(7.0)
Presentation
Graham Seaman, Senior Manager, Sustainability delivered a PowerPoint
presentation regarding electricity rates and financial considerations.
The Committee discussed the following:
·
Budget impact as a result of LED streetlight retrofit program
·
Market Pricing which is Hourly Ontario Electricity Price (HOEP) and the
resultant Global Adjustment that covers the gap between the HOEP and generation
contract pricing paid by the Ontario Power Authority
·
Rates continue to increase
·
The importance of hydro companies finding efficiencies that can assist in
lowering the rates
·
Factors influencing the cost of electricity
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Don Hamilton
1) That
the presentation provided by Graham Seaman, Senior Manager, Sustainability
entitled "Presentation on Electricity Rates and Financial
Considerations" be received.
CARRIED
2. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
SM4RT LIVING SOLID WASTE
MASTER PLAN (5.1)
Presentation SM4RT
Living Master Plan Region
Report and Plan
Peter Loukes, Director, Environmental Services
addressed the Committee and provided some opening remarks.
Dave Gordon, Manager, Sustainable Waste
Management Environmental Services, Regional Municipality
of York delivered a detailed presentation regarding the Implementation of the
SM4RT Living Solid Waste Master Plan.
The Committee thanked Dave Gordon for his informative
presentation.
The Committee briefly discussed the stewardship
program. There was discussion regarding
the importance of the municipality and York Region delivering consistent
communications to their constituents.
Moved by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu
1) That the presentation by Dave Gordon, Manager, Sustainable Waste Management Environmental Services, Region of York entitled "Implementation
of the SM4RT Living Solid Waste Master Plan" be received; and,
2) Staff to report back with comments on the
Master Plan by December 2013.
CARRIED
3. MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 7, 2013
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That the
Minutes of the October 7, 2013 General Committee be confirmed.
CARRIED
4. MINUTES OF THE JULY 16, 2013
SENIORS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That the Minutes of the July 16, 2013
Seniors Advisory Committee be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
5. MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 7, 2013
MARKHAM SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT
AND CULTURAL CENTRE SUB-COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That the Minutes of the October 7, 2013
Markham Sports, Entertainment and Cultural Centre Sub-Committee be received for
information purposes.
CARRIED
6. MINUTES
OF THE DECEMBER 7, 2012
JANUARY 24, FEBRUARY 4 AND
APRIL 22, 2013
MARKHAM LIVE (MISTA) COMMITTEE
(16.0)
Dec.
7 Jan.
24 Feb.
4 Apr.
22
The
Committee inquired as to why there were 4 sets of MISTA minutes on this
agenda. Staff will investigate and
e-mail the response to Members of Council.
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That
the minutes of the December 7, 2012, January 24, February 4 and April 22, 2013 Markham
Live (MISTA) Committee be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
7. MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 8, 2013
GREENPRINT STEERING COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That the Minutes of the October 8, 2013
Greenprint Steering Committee be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
8. STAFF AWARDED CONTRACTS
FOR MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2013
(7.12)
Report
The Committee briefly
discussed the following:
·
14-T-13
Tennis/Basketball Courts Resurfacing/Reconstruction
·
202-Q-13
Retrofit of 2 Civic Centre Washrooms to Universal Accessible
·
182-R-13
Engineering Services for Pressure Separation Valve (PSV) Dead Ends Elimination
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That the report entitled “Staff Awarded
Contracts for the Month of September 2013” be received; and,
2) That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution
CARRIED
9. 2013 THIRD QUARTER INVESTMENT
PERFORMANCE REVIEW (7.0)
Report Attachment
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Alan Ho
1) That the report dated October 21, 2013
entitled “2013 Third Quarter Investment Performance Review” be received.
CARRIED
10. OCTOBER 21ST,
2013 - CANCELLATION,
REDUCTION OR REFUND OF TAXES UNDER
SECTIONS
357 AND 358 OF THE MUNICIPAL ACT, 2001 (7.1)
Report
The Committee requested that staff forward a
larger map for the Edgecomb Court lands.
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Councillor Alan Ho
1) That taxes totalling approximately $106,580.29
be adjusted under Section 357 (in the amount of $39,910.32) and Section 358 (in
the amount of $66,669.97) of the Municipal Act, 2001 of which the City’s
portion is estimated to be $17,522.70; and,
3) That the Treasurer
be directed to adjust the Collector’s Roll accordingly; and further,
4) That staff be
authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this
resolution.
CARRIED
11. TAX WRITE-OFFS IN ACCORDANCE
WITH SECTION 354 OF THE MUNICIPAL ACT, 2001 (7.1)
Report
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That taxes totalling $48,325 (excluding
penalty and interest) as set out in this report, of which the City’s portion is $8,516, be written off pursuant
to the provisions of Section 354 of the Municipal Act, 2001; and,
2) That the applicable penalty and/or
interest charges (estimated at $20,025) be adjusted accordingly; and,
3) That the Treasurer be authorized to
write-off taxes levied annually for property five (0 Edgecombe Crt.) on Appendix A; and,
4) That the Treasurer be directed to
remove the taxes from the Collector’s Roll; and further,
5) That staff be authorized to and
directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
12. 2014 BUDGET PUBLIC
CONSULTATION
MEETING OCTOBER 24, 2013(7.0)
Presentation
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That
the presentation entitled "2014 Budget Public Consultation Meeting October
24, 2013" be received; and,
2) That
the presentation be approved to be presented at the October 24, 2013 Budget
Public Consultation Meeting.
CARRIED
13. AWARD OF CONTRACT 124-R-13
SANITARY SEWER REHABILITATION
– SPOT REPAIRS AND LINING
(7.12)
Report Attachment
1
The Committee
requested that staff provide Members of Council with a map outlining the work
that has been completed and what will be completed in the future.
Moved by Councillor
Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor
Alan Ho
1) That the report entitled “Award of Contract 124-R-13 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation – Spot
Repairs and Lining”
be received; and,
2) That the Contract 124-R-13 for the Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation – Spot Repairs and Lining be awarded to the highest ranked/
lowest priced Bidder, LiquiForce Services (Ontario) Inc., in the total amount
of $849,678.51 inclusive of HST impact; and,
3) That a contingency in the amount of $67,974.28
(8%), inclusive of HST impact, be
established to cover any additional contingency costs, and that authorization
to approve expenditures of this contingency amount up to the specified limit be
in accordance with the Expenditure Control Policy; and,
4) That the
award be funded from the Waterworks project for
Sanitary Sewer System Upgrade/ Rehabilitation Program (account 053 6150 13708
005) in the amount of $917,652.79, inclusive of HST impact; and further,
5) That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
14. BUSINESS LICENSING AND
SERVICE
FEE REVIEW REPORT (2.0, 7.0)
Report Map By-law
Christopher Alexander, Supervisor, Licensing
& Standards delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the business
licensing and service fee.
There was considerable discussion regarding
the proposed number of inspections and whether that number can or should be
amended. Staff pointed out that the
number of inspections should not be limited and it is left at the discretion of
the By-law officer to determine when an order should be filed.
The Committee suggested that the By-law be
review after a year of its implementation date.
It was suggested that staff provide Members of Council with a memo
outlining the proposed changes to the business licensing and services fee that
Members of Council can use when distributing their newsletters to their
constituents.
Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Councillor Don Hamilton
1) That the Business Licensing and Service
Fee Review Report be received; and,
2) That the Staff be authorized to
implement Property Service Fees for property-related inspections as outlined in
this report; and,
3) That Staff educate residents and
property owners about the proposed Property Service Fees for the balance of
2013 and implement the Property Service Fees in January of 2014; and,
4) That the Mobile Sign Impound Retrieval
Fee identified in this report be amended; and,
5) That the additional revenues of $54,000
from the proposed New Property Service Fees and amended Mobile Sign Impound
Fees be considered as part of the 2014 Budget Process; and,
6) That the by-law attached as Appendix
“B” to amend the Licensing, Permit and
Service Fee By-law 2012-137 be adopted; and,
7) That the By-law be reviewed after one year of its
implementation date; and further,
8) That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
15. DECLARATION OF SURPLUS LANDS
ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CABOTO
TRAIL (8.5)
Report Attachment
1 Attachment
2
David Pearce, Manager
Real Property addressed the Committee and summarized the details outlined in
the report.
The Committee inquired
whether there is a policy regarding surplus lands. Staff advised that there is a by-law and that
staff are in the process of amending that by-law.
There was brief
discussion regarding the swale located on the property.
Moved by Deputy Mayor
Jack Heath
Seconded by Councillor
Logan Kanapathi
1) That the report entitled “Declaration of Surplus Lands on
the South Side of Caboto Trail.” dated September 25, 2013 be received; and,
2) That in accordance with By-law 178-96 the City declare
certain lands described as i) Block 92, Plan 65M-3593, and ii) part of the
Unnamed Road, Plan 2196, City of Markham, Regional Municipality of York,
surplus to Municipal Purposes; and,
3) That a by-law be enacted to declare the lands legally
described as i) Block 92, Plan 65M-3593, and ii) part of the Unnamed Road, Plan
2196, City of Markham, Regional Municipality of York, surplus to Municipal
Purposes; and further,
4) That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
16. DIVERSION
STRATEGY
- STATUS UPDATE (5.10)
Presentation Report
Gord Walter, Markham
resident addressed the Committee with respect to the City of Markham Diversion
Strategy and applauded the municipality for making it easy for individuals to
recycle and properly dispose of their garbage.
The Committee thanked
Mr. Walter for his positive comments and suggested that the success of the
program is a result of actively engaged residents.
Claudia Marsales,
Senior Manager, Waste & Environmental Management delivered a PowerPoint
presentation providing an update relative to the diversion strategy.
The Committee
discussed the following:
·
Partnership
with Lions, Fire Services and private business for E-recycling
·
Excellent
customer service provided by Miller Waste
·
Pros of
moving to clear bags
·
Re-direction
of waste products
·
Tax saving
achieved by reduction of weight from garbage collected at curb side
·
Potential
of future blue bag recycling if York Region obtains a bag breaker
The Committee thanked
Brenda Librecz, Andy Taylor, Peter Loukes and Claudia Marsales for their
outstanding achievements relative to waste diversion. The Committee also
thanked Miller Waste for their excellent service to the residents.
Moved by Deputy Mayor
Jack Heath
Seconded by Councillor
Alex Chiu
1) That the report entitled “Diversion
Strategy – Status Update” be received; and,
2) That Council continue to implement the
recommendations outlined in “The Best of the Best – A Road Map to 80%
Diversion”; and,
3) That staff conduct an internal review
of the Community Recycling Depots and report back to Council in 2014; and
further,
4) That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
17. LOCAL GOVERNMENT WEEK
(OCTOBER 20 - 26, 2013) (3.4)
Councillor Howard
Shore advised the Committee that this week is Local Government Week which is an
opportunity to engage young people in local government. This week provides different opportunities
for grades 5 to 10 to educate students on the operation and importance of the
civic institutions. There was discussion
regarding things that the City of Markham should consider doing during a future
Local Government Week such as: hold a Mayor for a Day student, host a mock
council and a tour of Town Hall.
18. CELEBRATE MARKHAM GRANT
(7.6)
Councillor Carolina
Moretti advised the Committee that as a result of the construction along Main
Street Markham the Unity Festival did not take place and the Markham BIA is
requesting that the $5,000 from the 2013 Celebrate Markham Grants program that
was allocated to the Markham BIA, Unity Festival be used for the November 29,
2013 Festival of Lights.
Moved by Councillor
Carolina Moretti
Seconded by Councillor
Colin Campbell
That $5,000 from the 2013 Celebrate Markham
Grants Program that was allocated to the Markham BIA, Unity Festival be
re-allocated to the Festival of Lights.
CARRIED
19. BARN SWALLOW BIRD NEST (2.0)
Councillor Burke advised the Committee that
there were some barn swallow bird nests that along Highway 407 and that the
Highway 407 staff washed away those nests.
The Mayor advised that he had asked his staff to look into this matter
and that he will follow up with a letter.
20. IN-CAMERA MATTERS
Committee
consented to add a new item of new business to the in-camera session regarding
a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or
local board.
Moved by
Councillor Carolina Moretti
Seconded by
Councillor Colin Campbell
That, in accordance
with Section 239 (2) of the Municipal
Act, General Committee resolve into an in-camera session to discuss the
following confidential matters (1:59 p.m.):
(1) GENERAL
COMMITTEE IN-CAMERA MINUTES
- October 7, 2013 (16.0)
[Section 239 (2)
(b) (c) (d) (f) (e)]
(2) A PROPOSED OR PENDING ACQUISITION OR
DISPOSITION OF LAND BY THE MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL BOARD. (WARD 4) (8.7)
[Section 239 (2) (c)]
(3) PERSONAL MATTERS ABOUT AN IDENTIFIABLE
INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING MUNICIPAL OR
LOCAL BOARD EMPLOYEES
AND
LITIGATION OR POTENTIAL LITIGATION, INCLUDING MATTERS BEFORE ADMINISTRATIVE
TRIBUNALS, AFFECTING THE MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL BOARD (UNIONVILLE BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA MATTER (UBIA)) (3.0)
[Section
239 (2) (b) (e)]
(4) A PROPOSED OR PENDING ACQUISITION OR
DISPOSITION OF LAND BY THE MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL BOARD (8.7)
[Section
239 (2) (c)]
CARRIED
Moved by Regional Councillor Carolina
Moretti
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
That the General Committee in-camera
session rise and report (2:19 p.m.)
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Valerie Burke
Seconded by Councillor Don
Hamilton
That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 2:20 p.m.
CARRIED