General Committee
March 2, 2015
Meeting
Number 8
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
Joel
Lustig, Treasurer
Phoebe Fu, Director of Asset Management
Catherine Biss, CEO, Markham Public
Libraries
Brett Lucyk, Public Realm Coordinator
Andrea Tang, Manager, Financial
Planning
Alida
Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
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The General Committee meeting convened at the hour of 9:05 AM with Deputy
Mayor Jack Heath in the Chair; Councillor Alex Chiu Chaired Community Services
related items; Councillor Valerie Burke Chaired Environment and Sustainability
and Councillor Colin Campbell Chaired Building, Parks and Construction related
items.
General Committee recessed at 12:09 PM and reconvened at 1:06 PM.
Disclosure of
Interest
None disclosed.
1. CANADA POST
- PRESENTATION TO MARKHAM
(13.0)
Presentation
Mr. Andrew Walasek, Manager, Municipal
Engagement, Canada Post Corporation delivered a PowerPoint presentation
regarding Canada Post's five point action plan.
The Committee discussed the following
relative to Canada Post:
·
Franchise models
·
Convenient boxes
·
Accessibility accommodations
·
Size and location of mail box
·
Collectable stamps
·
Alternate day delivery
·
Clean up of graffiti on the
community mailboxes
·
Installation of recycling
receptacles by the municipality at community mailboxes
·
Community engagement process
·
Snow clearing around community
mailboxes
·
Phone numbers listed on each
community mailboxes that anyone can call
·
Human error being rectified
through technology
·
Street letter boxes
·
Conversion of old community
mailboxes to the new ones
·
Preferred location for
community mailboxes being corner lots
·
Canada Post has the legal
authority to install the community boxes on any public easement they see fit
·
Heritage Designation site -
work on aesthetic
The Committee thanked Mr. Chad Schella,
Andrew Walasek and staff for all their work relative to the community
mailboxes.
Moved by Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
Seconded by Councillor Don Hamilton
1. That the presentation by
Mr. Chad Schella, Director, Government Affairs, Canada Post Corporation and Mr.
Andrew Walasek, Manager, Municipal Engagement, Canada Post Corporation entitled
“Canada Post- Presentation to Markham,” be received.
Carried
2. 2014
YEAR END REVIEW OF OPERATIONS (7.4)
Presentation Report Appendix
1-12
Andrea Tang, Manager,
Financial Planning delivered a PowerPoint presentation outlining the City of
Markham 2014 Year End Review of Operations.
The Committee
discussed the following with respect to the 2014 Year End Review of Operations:
·
Personnel and non-personnel
expenditures
·
Waterworks reserve balance
Moved by Regional
Councillor Nirmala Armstrong
Seconded by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the presentation by
Ms. Andrea Tang, Manager, Financial Planning entitled “City of Markham 2014
Year End Review of Operations,” be received; and,
2) That the report entitled “2014 Year End Review of Operations” be
received; and,
3) That
the City’s 2014 net unfavourable variance of ($1.348M) be funded from the
Corporate Rate Stabilization Reserve as per the following breakdown:
a.
City’s day-to-day operating
surplus $3.078M
b.
Year end accounting accruals
and other adjustments ($2.262M)
c.
Winter maintenance unfavourable
variance ($2.330M)
d.
Projected Ontario Ice Storm
Assistance Program
recovery net of
2014 ice storm related expenditures $0.166M
Total
($1.348M); and further,
4) That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
Carried
3. MINUTES
OF THE FEBRUARY 23, 2015
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by
Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That
the minutes of the February 23, 2015 General Committee meeting be confirmed.
Carried
4. MINUTES
OF THE JANUARY 26, 2015
MARKHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by
Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That
the minutes of the January 26, 2015 Markham Public Library Board meeting be
received for information purposes.
Carried
5. DEVELOPMENT
CHARGES REIMBURSEMENT
APPLICATION – RICE COMMERCIAL GROUP (7.11)
Report Appendix
A
Moved by
Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by
Councillor Valerie Burke
1) That the report entitled “Development Charges
Reimbursement – Rice Commercial Group” be received; and,
2) That Council authorize a City Wide Hard Development
Charge reimbursement not exceeding $734,595, to the Rice Commercial Group for
the construction and property costs for a 4th Lane on Honda
Boulevard and the construction of an oversized watermain along the Woodbine
By-pass; and,
3) That
Council authorize a future City Wide Hard Development Charge reimbursement not
exceeding $82,805 to the Rice Commercial Group for the construction of an oversized
watermain along Honda Boulevard, provided that the said watermain oversizing is
included in the next update of the Development Charges Background Study due by
2018; and,
4) That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to
execute a Development Charge Reimbursement Agreement, if required, in
accordance with the City’s Development Charge Credit and Reimbursement Policy, with the Rice Commercial Group, or their successors in title to the satisfaction of the Treasurer and
City Solicitor; and further,
5) That staff be
directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this report.
Carried
6. SUMMARY
OF 2014 REMUNERATION
& EXPENSES FOR COUNCILLORS AND
APPOINTEES TO BOARDS (7.0)
Report Appendix
A Appendix
B
The Committee
inquired about mileage expenses for the members of the Markham Public Library
Board members. Edward McDermott, Chair Markham Public Library Board addressed
the Committee advising that there was a resolution passed permitting mileage
expense for Board members.
Moved by Regional
Councillor Jim Jones
Seconded by Regional
Councillor Joe Li
1) That
the report titled “Summary of 2014 Remuneration & Expenses for Councillors
and Appointees to Boards” be received; and,
2) That
Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to
this resolution.
Carried
7. 2015 LIBRARY BUDGET
PRESENTATION: MARKHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD (13.0)
Presentation
Edward McDermott,
Chair, Markham Public Library delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the
2015 Library Budget.
Catherine Biss, CEO,
Markham Public Libraries delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding transparency,
community consultation, various programs and 2015 Library budget pressures and
proposed reductions.
The Committee discussed the following with
respect to the Markham Public Libraries:
·
Change in technology
·
Decrease in revenue from fines
·
Programs that are offered for
children including ones with disabilities such as autism offered at the libraries
·
Current Library hours and do we
need to extend hours
·
Should the libraries continue
to supply CDs, DVDs
·
Proposed budget reduction of
$289,521 - can there be a further reduction
·
Consider smaller branches in
areas that will have high density redevelopment
There was considerable discussion regarding
whether libraries should be required to disclose salaries notwithstanding that
the provisions of the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act (PSSDA) do not apply
to Markham Public Library employees. The Committee suggested that a letter be
sent to the Ministry of Finance requesting that the PSSDA be amended to include
libraries.
Moved by Councillor Colin Campbell
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
1) That the presentation by Mr. Edward
McDermott, Board Chair and Ms. Catherine Biss, Chief
Executive Officer, entitled “2015 Library Budget Presentation: Markham Public Library Board,” be received; and,
2) That
the City Solicitor be directed to draft a letter on behalf of the Mayor and Members of Council to the Ministry of Finance
requesting that the Public Sector Disclosure
Act (PSSDA) be amended to require all Libraries disclose salaries in accordance with the Act; and,
3) That
the draft letter be brought back to a future General Committee meeting; and further,
4) That staff be directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
Carried
8. CIVIC CENTRE PEDESTRIAN AND
PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS
SCOPE AND TIMING (5.0)
Presentation
Phoebe Fu, Director of Asset Management
delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Civic Centre pedestrian and
parking lot improvements.
The Committee discussed the following with
respect to the Civic Centre pedestrian and parking lot improvements:
·
Lay-by lanes could they be
converted to handicap parking spaces
·
Ensure minimal impact on events
that take place at the Civic Centre during construction
·
Present today's presentation to
Markham's Accessibility Committee
·
Can the parking lot be
completely flat without any elevations
·
Can the Metroscape lighting be
used throughout the parking lot
·
The various options being
considered to minimize traffic in front of the Civic Centre building
·
When will tree planting begin
There was discussion regarding whether
staff should report back on some of the suggestions made at today's
meeting. Staff pointed out that this work is purely a Life Cycle
replacement and a plan to increase pedestrian safety. Staff indicated
that any suggestions to incorporate different designs, layouts, etc should be
considered through a Master Plan.
Moved by Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
Seconded by Regional Councillor Nirmala
Armstrong
1) That the presentation by Ms. Phoebe Fu,
Director, Asset Management entitled “Civic Centre Pedestrian and Parking Lot
Scope and Timing,” be received; and,
2) That Council authorize staff be to
proceed with the work outlined in the presentation at the Civic Centre; and
further,
3) That staff be directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
Carried
NEW BUSINESS
There was
no new business.
9. IN-CAMERA
MATTERS (16.0 & 16.24)
Moved by Councillor Don Hamilton
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 (12:05 PM):
(1) GENERAL COMMITTEE IN-CAMERA MINUTES
- February 23, 2015 (16.0)
[Section
239 (2) (a) (b) (c) (e)]
(2) PERSONAL
MATTERS ABOUT AN IDENTIFIABLE INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING MUNICIPAL OR LOCAL BOARD
EMPLOYEES (BOARD AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS) (16.24)
[Section 239 (2) (b)]
Carried
Moved by Councillor Don Hamilton
Seconded by Councillor Alan Ho
That the General Committee rise from the in-camera session 12:07 PM.
Carried
Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Logan
Kanapathi
Seconded by Councillor Amanda
Collucci
That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 2:51PM.
Carried