Council Minutes

(Special Meeting)

                                                                                    January 14, 2014, 9:00 AM

                                    Council Chamber, Anthony Roman Markham Civic Centre

 

 

 

ROLL CALL

Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Deputy Mayor Jack Heath, Regional Councillor Jim Jones, Regional Councillor Gord Landon, Regional Councillor Joe Li, Councillor Valerie Burke, Councillor Howard Shore, Councillor Don Hamilton, Councillor Carolina Moretti, Councillor Colin Campbell, Councillor Alan Ho, Councillor Logan Kanapathi.

 

 

REGRETS

Councillor Alex Chiu.

 

 

STAFF

Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer

Catherine Conrad, City Solicitor

Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services

Trinela Cane, Commissioner of Corporate Services

Brenda Librecz, Commissioner of Community and Fire Services

Sonia Singh, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

Paul Ingham, Director of Operations

Bill Snowball, Fire Chief

Kimberley Kitteringham, City Clerk

Martha Pettit, Deputy City Clerk

Joel Lustig, Treasurer

Dennis Flaherty, Director of Communications and Community Relations

 

 

 

The Special Meeting of Council convened at 9:09 AM on January 14, 2014 in the Council Chamber.  Mayor Frank Scarpitti presided.

 

 

 

1.         DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

 

(1)        None declared.

 

 

 

2.         PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS

 

(1)        ICE STORM 2013 PRESENTATIONS (5.7)

            Markham Presentation   PowerStream Presentation

 

Mayor Scarpitti provided a brief summary of the discussion undertaken at the Special General Committee meeting held last week on January 8, 2014.

 

Council Members discussed the current road and sidewalk conditions in the aftermath of the December ice storm.  Paul Ingham, Director of Operations, provided a synopsis of the road and sidewalk conditions and the treatment that has been undertaken since the ice storm. 

 

Discussion on the matter ensued.

 

Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon

Seconded by Councillor Alan Ho

 

1)         That the presentation entitled "Ice Storm - December 2013" provided by Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer, at the Special General Committee meeting held on January 8, 2014 be received; and,

 

2)         That the presentation entitled "City of Markham Ice Storm 2013" provided by Brian Bentz, President and Chief Executive Officer of PowerStream Incorporated, at the Special General Committee meeting held on January 8, 2014 be received; and further,

 

3)         That Staff report back to General Committee in April 2014 with an update on ice storm recovery efforts and updated costs.

 

Carried

 

 

(2)        REQUEST A DISASTER DECLARATION FOR THE PUBLIC
            ASSISTANCE OF ONTARIO DISASTER RELIEF
            ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (5.7 & 7.0)

Report  AppA  AppB

 

Discussion on the proposed motion ensued.  Staff provided clarification on the definitions of declaring an emergency versus declaring a disaster area and the roles and responsibilities of the Mayor and Members of Council during the declaration of an emergency. 

 

Moved by Regional Councillor Gord Landon

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

Whereas the City of Markham recently experienced a severe ice storm from December 21-22, 2013, the weather effects of which continued until late December 2013; and,

 

Whereas the City and thousands of its residents have experienced substantial damage to municipal and private property and infrastructure which will have a long term financial impact; and,

 

Whereas other municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area (“GTA”) similarly experienced the effects of the severe ice storm on municipal property and infrastructure;

 

Now therefore be it resolved:

 

1)         That the staff report dated January 14, 2014 entitled “Request a Disaster Declaration for the Public Assistance of the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP)” be received; and,

 

2)         That Markham Council request the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (“MMAH”) to declare the City of Markham a "disaster area" for the purposes of the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP); and,

 

3)         That the Provincial Government be requested to provide special funding related to the severe ice storm from sources other than ODRAP in an effort to reduce the financial impact of the ice storm on a number of Greater Toronto Area municipalities including Markham and its residents; and,

 

4)         That the Federal Government be requested to provide special funding related to the severe ice storm in an effort to reduce the financial impact of the ice storm on a number of Greater Toronto Area municipalities including Markham and its residents; and further,

 

5)         That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

Carried

 

Council consented to the following:

 

1.         Insert the word "weather" prior to the words "...effects of which continued..." to the Whereas Clause No. 1.

 

2.         Delete the following Whereas Clause No. 2:

"Whereas the City has experienced substantial damage to municipal property and infrastructure;"

 

            and replace with following revised Whereas Clause No. 2:

"Whereas the City and thousands of its residents have experienced substantial damage to municipal and private property and infrastructure which will have a long term financial impact;"

 

3.         Amend the following proposed Resolution No. 3 by deleting in its entirety:

"3)        That the Province consider providing funding related to the severe ice storm costs from sources other than ODRAP given the extent and magnitude of the damage experienced in the City of Markham;"

 

            and replace with the following amended Resolution No. 3:

"3)        That the Provincial Government be requested to provide special funding related to the severe ice storm from sources other than ODRAP in an effort to reduce the financial impact of the ice storm on a number of Greater Toronto Area municipalities including Markham and its residents;"

 

            4.         Add the following wording as Resolution No. 4:

"4)       That the Federal Government be requested to provide special funding related to the severe ice storm in an effort to reduce the financial impact of the ice storm on a number of Greater Toronto Area municipalities including Markham and its residents;"

 

 

 

3.         CONFIRMATORY BY-LAWS

 

Moved by Councillor Carolina Moretti

Seconded by Councillor Valerie Burke

 

That By-law 2014-1 be given three readings and enacted.

 

Three Readings

 

BY-LAW 2014-1        A BY-LAW TO CONFIRM THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 14, 2014.

                                    By-law

 

Carried

 

 

 

4.         ADJOURNMENT

 

Moved by Councillor Colin Campbell

Seconded by Councillor Howard Shore

 

That the Special Council Meeting be adjourned 10:58 AM.

 

CARRIED

 

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________                        _______________________________

Kimberley Kitteringham                                                      Frank Scarpitti

City Clerk                                                                          Mayor

 

(Signed)