GENERAL COMMITTEE
November 21, 2011
Meeting No. 26
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, Town Solicitor
Jim
Baird, Commissioner of Development Services
Brenda
Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services
Paul Ingham, Director, Operations
Peter Loukes, Director, Environmental Services
Joel Lustig,
Treasurer
Colin Service, Manager, Planning & Policy Development
Liz
Wimmer, Senior Environmental Planner
Alida
Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
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The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:05 a.m. with Councillor
Carolina Moretti in the Chair and Councillor Alex Chiu Chaired Community
Services related items.
DISCLOSURE OF
INTEREST
None disclosed.
DEPUTATIONS
1. SALE OF SURPLUS TOWN LANDS FORMER
ROAD ALLOWANCE BETWEEN LOTS 10 AND 11, CONCESSION 9 (8.2)
Mr. Frank Palombi,
Lindvest Properties, addressed the Committee summarizing the series of events
that have taken place with respect to discussions between staff, Markham
Council and representatives of Lindvest regarding the acquisition of the Town
owned lands since the fall of 2010. He
is requesting that the Committee approve the sale of the Town owned lands to
Lindvest.
Mr. Gord
Walter, Sherwood Amber Glen Ratepayers Association, addressed the Committee
with respect to the proposed sale of surplus Town lands and requested that the
Town owned parcel of land be retained for a natural park area.
2. MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 14, 2011
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1)
THAT the Minutes of the
November 14, 2011 General Committee be confirmed.
CARRIED
3. MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 2,
2011
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE
(16.0)
Minutes
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) THAT the Minutes of the November 2,
2011 Environmental Issues Committee be received for information purposes; and,
2) THAT the following recommendations of
the November 2, 2011 Environmental Issues Committee Minutes be endorsed;
“That the funding application from
the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority for $10,000 for a demonstration
rain garden at the Warden House, be approved subject to:
·
TRCA
working together with Operations Department staff.
·
That staff be directed to report
back on the cost to replace the existing driveway with permeable materials
·
That staff be directed to provide a
final drawing of the property at the Warden House depicting all the proposed
changes
·
That staff be directed to report
back on the condition of the tree that is proposed to be taken down; and,
That the Youth
Environmental Network of York Region (YENYR) be encouraged to keep the cost of
the location of the venue and the guest speaker at a minimum; and,
That the funding application from YENYR for $8,650 for an Eco-Youth
Education Forum be approved; and further,
That the application by the Operations Department for planting at the
Civic Centre pond be approved subject to:
·
The
planting design be extended to include the entire pond edge
·
The
requested funding being increased to $15,000 from $10,000
·
That
the species selection being broadened to include non-native species
·
That
a staff team including Urban Design, Asset Management and any other affected
departments should participate in this project
·
That staff be directed to provide a
presentation to Committee regarding Ontario Parks Association and research on
environmental standards when planting near a pond
·
That staff report back to Committee
with details regarding what will be planted”
CARRIED
4. MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER
20, 2011
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) THAT the September 20,
2011 Environmental Issues Committee be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
Note: Please see item
number 6 regarding the recommendation for the Southeast Collector Trunk Sewer
Enhancement Plan.
5. MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 20,
2011
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) THAT the Minutes of the October 20,
2011 Environmental Advisory Committee be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
6. SOUTHEAST COLLECTOR TRUNK
SEWER
ENHANCEMENT PLAN (7.0)
Report
There was discussion
regarding the proposed $200,000 University Entrance
Scholarship Funding and whether it should be distributed equally to all the
high schools within Markham. Committee
requested that staff e-mail them the list of Public and Catholic high schools
in Markham.
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) THAT the report entitled
“Southeast Collector Trunk Sewer Enhancement Plan – Update on Project
Implementation”, dated November 14, 2011 be received; and,
2) THAT Council endorse the
recommended funding allocation for the Southeast Collector Trunk Sewer
Enhancement Projects as revised by the Environmental Issues Committee (EIC) on September 20, 2011 as follows:
i)
University Entrance
Scholarship Funding - $200,000.00
ii)
Trails Construction in
Legacy and Box Grove Communities - $240,000.00
iii)
Locust Hill School House
Stabilization and Exterior Restoration - $110,000.00
iv)
Dimma House on-site House
Relocation subject to the TRCA agreement to privatize the dwelling -
$45,000.00; and,
3) THAT capital projects be
created for; the Trails Construction in Legacy and Box Grove Communities; the
Locust Hill School House stabilization and the Dimma House on-site relocation
in addition to the (2) previously approved projects by Council on June 28,
2011, to be funded by the Region of York, subject to the execution of a funding
agreement between the Region of York and the Town of Markham (York Region will
establish a funding arrangement directly with the school boards for the
University Entrance Scholarship) with the understanding that the Town not
upfront any funds; and,
4) THAT the Region of York
in consultation with Town staff be authorized to adjust funding allocation
within the approved upset limit of $800,000 for the approved projects as
outlined in this report should implementation or partner approvals of projects
become barriers to project completion within the general timelines established
by the Region; and,
5) THAT Council authorize
staff to work with the Regional Municipality of York to finalize the
implementation agreements; and,
6) THAT the Mayor and Clerk
be authorized to execute such agreements as necessary to give effect to this
report, to the satisfaction of the Town Solicitor; and,
7) THAT a copy of this
report be forwarded to the Regional Municipality of York, York Region District
School Board, York Region Catholic District School Board, Toronto Region
Conservation Authority and the Rouge Park Alliance for information; and
further,
8) THAT Staff be authorized
and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
7. 2012
WATER/WASTEWATER RATE INCREASE (7.0)
Report Attachment
A
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) THAT the report dated
November 21, 2011 entitled “2012 Water/Wastewater Rate Increase” be received;
and,
2) THAT the minutes from the
public meeting held on October 25, 2011 with respect to the 2012
Water/Wastewater Rate Increase be received; and,
3) THAT the 2012 Town of
Markham’s (“Town”) Water/Wastewater rate increase be equivalent to the Region
of York’s (“Region”) monetary increase of $0.1487 per cubic metre (m3)
based on Region’s approved increase of 10%; and,
4) THAT in addition to the
Region’s increase, the 2012 Water/Wastewater rate increase includes a surcharge
of $0.0626/m3; and,
5) THAT effective April 1,
2012, the 2012 Water/Wastewater rate will be $2.6277/m3, an increase
of $0.2113/m3; and further,
6) THAT Staff be authorized
and directed to do things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
8. AWARD OF QUOTATION #
194-Q-11, TWO
HIRED LOADERS WITH PLOW AND WING FOR
WINTER OPERATIONS (5.0)
Report
Moved
by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded
by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) THAT the report entitled
“Award of Quotation # 194-Q-11 Two Hired Loaders with Plow and Wing for Winter
Operations” be received; and,
2) THAT the contract for Two
Hired Loaders with Plow and Wing be awarded to the lowest priced bidder,
Clifford’s Haulage Ltd. in the total amount of $440,508.96 for a period of
seven years (December 2011-March 2018) inclusive of HST; and,
3) THAT the 2011 costs
(December 2011) of $13,126.80 and 2012 to 2018 costs be funded from the
Operations Department’s Operating Budget account # 700 504 5301; and,
4) THAT the 2013 – 2018
Operating Budgets be adjusted for growth (increase in kilometers of roadway),
subject to Council approval; and,
5) THAT the 2013 – 2018 Operating
Budgets be adjusted annually for price escalation on the hourly rates based on
Consumer Price Index (CPI) (Canada all-items CPI September to September) with
such increases effective November 1 of each year, subject to Council approval;
and,
6) THAT the Director of
Operations and Manager of Purchasing be authorized to exercise the option to
renew the contract for an additional 3 years (November 1, 2018 to March 31,
2021) at the 2011 itemized prices inclusive of annual CPI increase subject to
contract performance and budget approval; and,
7) THAT the Operations and
Financial Services Departments develop a multi-year operations and financial
strategy for winter maintenance and report back to Council in the spring of
2012; and,
8) THAT this report be brought
forward to the November 22nd, 2011 Council meeting; and further;
9) THAT Staff be authorized
and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
9. CELEBRATE MARKHAM GRANT
PROGRAM REVISION (3.0)
Report Appendix
A Appendix
B
Mr. Colin Service,
Manager, Planning & Standards delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding
the proposed revisions to the Celebrate Markham Grant program.
The Committee
discussed the following:
·
What
defines an event to be a Town wide event
·
Consider a
minimum grant dollar amount for each event
·
Investigate
what other municipalities are doing
·
Consider
applying the proposed maximum 80% of funding received from the previous year to
both community and Town run events
·
Staff to
provide more details on additional grant programs offered by the Town
·
Include a
fourth option to increase the Celebrate Markham Grant budget
·
Need to
consult with the representatives of the various events groups
·
Concern that
some groups will not be able to continue running their event with the
possibility of declining funds
·
Careful
consideration for long running events
·
Need to
increase the grant amount provided to the Markham Arts Council
·
Hold a
Council Workshop (staff outline what will be discussed)
·
Clearly
outline the staff support provided for community and Town run events
·
Explore
the opportunity for more sponsorship and should not always approach the same
businesses
Moved by Councillor Don Hamilton
Seconded by Regional
Councillor Jim Jones
1) THAT the report “Celebrate Markham
Grant Program Revision” be received;
2) THAT
representatives from all the events groups be consulted separately for their input; and,
3) THAT
staff consider a minimum funding amount per each event; and,
4) THAT
staff together with any Member of Council determine what defines a Town event; and,
5) THAT
the current names of the various Town events be reviewed; and,
6) THAT
staff provide a fourth option that increases the budgeted amount for the Celebrate Markham Grant; and,
7) THAT
staff clearly outline their support for community and Town run events; and further,
8) THAT
a Council Workshop be scheduled sometime between January and June 2012 and that staff outline what will be discussed at the Workshop.
CARRIED
10. WATER BALANCE APPROACH TO
LEAKAGE MANAGEMENT (5.3)
Presentation
Mr. Peter Loukes,
Director, Environmental Services delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding
Water Balance Approach to Leakage Management.
The Committee inquired
whether the Regional Municipality of York gets a cheaper rate when purchasing
water from the City of Toronto compared to the Town of Markham purchasing it
directly themselves from the City of Toronto.
Staff will follow up on that.
There was discussion
regarding water scarcity and the importance to help conserve and protect this
resource.
Moved by Councillor
Howard Shore
Seconded by Councillor
Logan Kanapathi
1) THAT the presentation by Mr. Peter
Loukes, Director, Environmental Services entitled “Water Balance Approach To
Leakage Management” be received.
CARRIED
11. LOCAL IMMIGRATION
PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE:
YORK REGION IMMIGRATION
SETTLEMENT STRATEGY (5.0)
Presentation Attachment
A Attachment
B
Ms. Sandra Tam, Senior
Business Development Officer delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding Local
Immigration Partnership Initiative York Region Immigration Settlement Strategy.
The Committee thanked
Ms. Sandra Tam, Ms. Christina Harding, Program Manager, Local Immigration
Partnership Initiative, York Region and all the Regional staff involved in bringing
this strategy forward.
There was discussion
regarding the lack of work development support for immigrants and the
importance of integrating newcomers into our workplace.
Moved by Mayor Frank
Scarpitti
Seconded by Regional
Councillor Jim
1) THAT the presentation by Ms. Sandra
Tam, Senior Business Development Officer entitled “Local Immigration
partnership Initiative York Region Immigration Settlement Strategy” be received;
2) That the York Region Local Immigration Partnership:
Immigration Settlement Strategy be endorsed.
CARRIED
12. OPERATIONS FACILITY MASTER
PLAN (5.0)
Presentation
The Committee
suggested that this item be deferred to next week.
Moved by Mayor Frank
Scarpitti
Seconded by Councillor
Carolina Moretti
1) THAT the presentation by Mr. Bob
Nicholson, Business & Technical Services, entitled “Operations Facility
Master Plan ” be deferred to the November
28, 2011 General Committee meeting.
CARRIED
13. TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE OF
DENISON STREET BETWEEN CLAYTON DR
GROVETTE DR/MILIKEN MEADOWS DR (5.10)
Report
Moved by Deputy Mayor
Jack Heath
Seconded by Regional
Councillor Jim Jones
1) THAT
the report titled ‘Temporary road closure of Dension Street between Clayton Dr
and Gorvette Dr/ Miliken Meadows Dr’ be received; and,
2) THAT
the closure be in effect from 6:00 pm Friday December 2, 2011 to 12:00 pm on
Sunday December 4, 2011; and,
3) THAT
a traffic control plan and a detour route signage plan be prepared by GO
Transit (Metrolinx) and submitted to the Town for approval prior to the closure
of the road; and,
4) THAT
a notice of road closure be prepared by Metrolinx and circulated to all
emergency services, school boards and the residents and business located on the
streets listed in Appendix A; and,
5) THAT
a notice of the road closure be placed in the local newspaper for 2 consecutive
weeks prior to the date of the proposed road closure; and,
6) THAT
advance notification signage stating start and completion dates be erected on
site two weeks prior to the closure of the road; and,
7) THAT
an exemption to the Town’s Noise Control By-Law 218-89 be made to extend the
hours of work for new railway track installation crossing Denison Street from
6:00 pm Friday December 2, 2011 to 12:00 pm on Sunday December 4, 2011; and
further,
8) THAT
Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to
the resolution.
CARRIED
14. RENFREW DRIVE AND HOOPER
ROAD
PROPOSED ALL-WAY STOP CONTROL (5.12.3)
Report
Moved by Deputy Mayor Jack
Heath
Seconded by Regional
Councillor Jim Jones
1) THAT the report entitled
“Renfrew Drive and Hooper Road Proposed All-way Stop Control”, be received;
and,
2) THAT Schedule 12 of
Traffic By-law 106-71 be amended to include the intersection of Renfrew Drive
and Hooper Road; and,
3) THAT a letter of credit
funded from the applicant in the amount of $1,800, be deposited into Operations
account #083-5399-8402-005 for the purpose of installing the necessary signs
and pavement markings; and,
4) THAT the Operations
Department be directed to maintain the signs at the subject locations; and,
5) THAT York Region Police
be requested to enforce the all-way stop control upon installation of these
signs and passing of the By-law; and further,
6) THAT staff be authorized
and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
15. CLAYTON DRIVE AT HARVEST
MOON DRIVE
-PROPOSED TURN PROHIBITION REMOVAL (5.10)
Report Attachment
A Attachment
B Attachment
C
Moved by Deputy Mayor
Jack Heath
Seconded by Regional Councillor
Jim Jones
1) THAT the staff report entitled “
Clayton Drive at Harvest Moon Drive – Proposed Turn Prohibition Removal”, be
received; and,
2) THAT Schedule 9 of Traffic By-law
106-71 be amended to rescind the turn prohibitions at the intersection of
Clayton Drive and Harvest Moon Drive; and,
3) THAT the operation Department be
directed to remove the existing turn prohibitions signs at the subject
locations; and,
4) THAT any future requests to reinstate
the turn prohibitions be considered only if a resident solicited petition of
the community is submitted; and further,
5) THAT staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
16. GRANDVIEW AREA PROPOSED
PARKING
RESTRICTIONS (5.12.4)
Report Attachment
A Attachment
B
There was brief discussion regarding whether
there will be sufficient areas to park with the proposed parking restrictions.
Moved by Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) THAT the staff report entitled
“Grandview Area Proposed Parking Restrictions”, be received; and,
2) THAT Schedule “C” of Traffic By-law
2005-188, be amended by including the south side of Meadowview Avenue, between
Dudley Avenue and Willowdale Boulevard; and,
3) THAT Schedule “C” of Traffic By-law
2005-188, be amended by including the north side of Grandview Avenue, between a
point 55 metres east of Yonge Street and Willowdale Boulevard; and,
4) THAT Schedule “C” of Traffic By-law
2005-188, be amended by including the east side of Dudley Avenue, between
Grandview Avenue and Meadowview Avenue; and,
5) THAT the Operations Department be
directed to install the appropriate signs at the subject locations, funded
through the Operations Department account # 083-5399-8402-005; and,
6) THAT the Operations Department be
directed to maintain the signs at the subject locations; and,
7) THAT the Parking Control Department be
directed to enforce the parking prohibition upon approval of the By-law
amendment and installation of the signs; and,
8) THAT this report be brought forward to
the November 22nd, 2011 Council meeting; and further,
9) THAT staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
17. MARKHAM EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM 2011 (5.0)
Report Bylaw Plan
The
Committee suggested that this item be deferred to next week.
Moved by
Mayor Frank Scarpitti
Seconded
by Councillor Carolina Moretti
That the following recommendations be
deferred to the November 28, 2011 General Committee meeting:
1) THAT the report titled “Markham
Emergency Management Program 2011” be received; and,
2) THAT a by-law enacted to:
(i)
adopt the Emergency Management Program attached thereto as “Schedule A”,
in accordance with the provisions of the Emergency Management and Civil
Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.E.9, as amended;
(ii)
adopt the Emergency Plan attached thereto as “Schedule B”, in accordance
with the provisions of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act,
R.S.O. 1990, c.E.9, as amended; and
(iii)
repeal By-law 2004-325 and By-law 2006-197, which adopted previous
Markham emergency management programs; and,
3) THAT the Deputy Fire Chief, Philip
Alexander, be hereby designated as Markham’s Emergency Management Program
Co-ordinator in accordance with Ontario Regulation 380/04. For the purposes of Markham’s Emergency
Management Program and Emergency Plan (and in keeping with the terms used by
Emergency Management Ontario in its
emergency management training programs), the Emergency Management Program
Co-ordinator shall be referred to as the “Community Emergency Management
Co-ordinator”; and,
4) THAT the Director of Corporate
Communications and Community Relations be hereby designated as Markham’s
Emergency Information Officer in accordance with Ontario Regulation 380/04; and
further,
5) THAT Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
NEW BUSINESS
18. BAYVIEW AVENUE SINK HOLE
Councillor Howard Shore complimented Mr.
Peter Loukes and all his staff involved in repairing the sink hole along
Bayview Avenue. Councillor Shore
indicated that he has not received any complaints from his constituents in
Thornhill, but did receive many compliments at how quickly and professionally
it was handled.
Moved by Regional
Councillor Jim Jones
Seconded by
Councillor Carolina Moretti
That, in
accordance with Section 239 (2) (c) of the Municipal
Act, General Committee resolve into an in-camera session to discuss the
following confidential matters (12:13 PM):
1) A
proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or
local board.
1) A proposed or
pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Alan Ho
Seconded by Regional Councillor Joe Li
That the General Committee rise from the in-camera session (12:49
PM).
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 12:50 PM.