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Minutes

General Committee

May 26, 2014

Meeting Number 13

 

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

 

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

Councillor Alex Chiu

Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer

Trinela Cane, Commissioner of Corporate Services

Brenda Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services

Catherine Conrad, City Solicitor

Joel Lustig, Treasurer

Mark Visser, Senior Manager, Financial Strategies & Investments

Andrea Tang, Manager of Financial Planning

Robert Muir, Manager of Stormwater

Alida Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator

 

 

 

 

The General Committee meeting convened at the hour of 9:05 AM with Councillor Carolina Moretti in the Chair.  Mayor Frank Scarpitti assumed the Chair at 9:10 AM.  Councillor Alex Chiu Chaired Community Services related items and Councillor Valerie Burke Chaired Environment and Sustainability items.

 

Disclosure of Interest

 

None disclosed.

 

 


 

1.         2014 MARCH YEAR-TO-DATE REVIEW
OF OPERATIONS (7.4)

            Presentation

 

Andrea Tang, Manager of Financial Planning delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the 2014 March Year-To-Date review of Operations.  It was noted that slide 3 of the presentation should read "March YTD Expenditures."

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the presentation provided by Andrea Tang, Manager of Financial Planning, entitled “2014 March Year-To-Date (YTD) Review of Operations” be received.

 

Carried

 

 

 

2.         STORMWATER FEE IMPLEMENTATION AND
COMMUNICATION PLANS (5.5 & 2.0)

            Presentation

 

Robert Muir, Manager of Stormwater delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing an update relative to the stormwater fee implementation and communication plan.

 

The Committee discussed and suggested the following with respect to the stormwater implementation and communication plan:

·        Current logo of the catch basin change it to include reflecting water

·        Pamphlet picture - include image that shows flooding as well as the construction

·        Have newspaper ads in the Fall 2014 that explain the issue and remedy

·        Investigate whether there is any government funding available to assist in offsetting or completely fund this project (such as Infrastructure Ontario)

·        Importance of proper communication

·        What are other municipalities doing

·        Consider a separate line item on the PowerStream bill with a phone number to call with any questions or direct them to a website

·        Include phone number, website, etc on the construction job site signage

·        Explore billing to all Markham properties (including those that don't receive a water bill)

·        Include Markham upfront with the logo

·        Message section on PowerStream bill - incorporate some information relative to current projects


 

Moved by Mayor Frank Scarpitti

Seconded by Councillor Colin Campbell

 

1)         That the presentation provided by Robert Muir, Manager of Stormwater, entitled Stormwater Fee Implementation and Communications Plan be received; and,

 

2)         That staff be directed to apply for grant funding through Infrastructure Ontario

 

Carried

 

 

 

3.         MINUTES OF THE MAY 5, 2014
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the minutes of the May 5, 2014 General Committee meeting be confirmed.

 

Carried

 

 

 

4.         MINUTES OF THE APRIL 8, 2014
SENIORS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (16.0)

            Minutes   Terms of Reference

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the minutes of the April 8, 2014 Seniors Advisory Committee meeting be received for information purposes; and,

 

2)         That Council endorse the revised Terms of Reference as recommended at the
April 8, 2014 Seniors Advisory Committee meeting.

 

Carried

 

 


 

5.         MINUTES OF THE APRIL 9, 2014
GERMAN MILLS COMMUNITY CENTRE BOARD (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the minutes of the April 9, 2014 German Mills Community Centre Board meeting be received for information purposes.

 

Carried

 

 

 

6.         MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 24, 2013,
NOVEMBER 28, 2013, FEBRUARY 27, 2014 AND
MARCH 27, 2014 HEINTZMAN HOUSE BOARD (16.0)

            Oct. 24   Nov. 28   Feb. 27   Mar. 27

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the minutes of the October 24, 2013, November 28, 2013, February 27, 2014 and March 27, 2014 Heintzman House Board meetings be received for information purposes.

 

Carried

 

 

 

7.         MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 20 AND
APRIL 24, 2014 VICTORIA SQUARE
COMMUNITY CENTRE BOARD (16.0)

            Feb. 20   Apr. 24  

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the minutes of the February 20 and April 24, 2014 Victoria Square Community Centre Board meetings be received for information purposes.

 

Carried

 

 


 

8.         MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 13 AND
APRIL 10, 2014 MARKHAM TRAIN STATION
COMMUNITY CENTRE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT (16.0)

            Feb. 13   Apr. 10  

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the minutes of the February 13 and April 10, 2014 Markham Train Station Community Centre Board of Management meetings be received for information purposes.

 

Carried

 

 

 

9.         MINUTES OF THE APRIL 29, 2014
MARKHAM LIVE (MISTA) COMMITTEE (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the minutes of the April 29, 2014 Markham Live (MISTA) Committee meeting be received for information purposes.

 

Carried

 

 

 

10.       MINUTES OF THE MARCH 31, 2014
AUTOMATED VACUUM COLLECTION (AVAC)
FEASIBILITY WORKING GROUP (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the minutes of the March 31, 2014 Automated Vacuum Collection (AVAC) Feasibility Working Group meeting be received for information purposes.

 

Carried

 

 


 

11.       MINUTES OF THE MARCH 24, 2014
MARKHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the minutes of the March 24, 2014 Markham Public Library Board meeting be received for information purposes.

 

Carried

 

 

 

12.       2014 MARCH YEAR-TO-DATE REVIEW
OF OPERATIONS (7.4)

            Report   Attachments

 

There was brief discussion with respect to non-revenue water; costs relative to the Theatre and operating costs related to aquatics.

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the report entitled “2014 March Year-To-Date Review of Operations” be received.

 

Carried

 

 

 

13.       082-R-14 SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF SERVER
HARDWARE AND VMWARE SOFTWARE (7.12)

            Report

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the report entitled “082-R-14 Supply and Delivery of Server Hardware and VMware Software” be received; and,

 

2)         That the contract for “Supply and Delivery of Server Hardware and VMware Software” be awarded to the highest ranked, lowest priced bidder, Compugen Inc., in the total amount of $478,111 inclusive of HST for a term of six years to expire on December 31, 2020; and,


 

3)         That the total award of $478,111 inclusive of HST be funded from the Primary Data Centre Server Replacement Project (Account #049- 5350-14409-005); and,

 

4)         That the recommended bidder, Compugen Inc. be designated as preferred vendor for City’s Server Hardware and VMware Software product for the term of this contract; and,

 

5)         That Staff be authorized to amend the purchase order amounts in years 2014 – 2020 to accommodate business needs for the purchase of the identified Server Hardware and VMware software products through Capital and Operating Budgets as approved by Council during the annual budget process; and further,

 

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

 

Carried

 

 

 

14.       DEVELOPMENT CHARGES INDEXING -
JULY 1, 2014 (7.11)

            Report

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the report titled “Development Charges Indexing - July 1, 2014” be received; and,

 

2)         That Council approve an increase in development charges of 0.6%, effective January 1, 2014; and further,

 

3)         That staff be directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this report.

 

Carried

 

 


 

15.       DEVELOPMENT CHARGES DECEMBER 31, 2013
RESERVE BALANCES AND ANNUAL ACTIVITY OF
THE ACCOUNTS (7.11)

            Report   Attachments

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the report titled “Development Charges December 31, 2013 Reserve Balances and Annual Activity of the Accounts” be received by Council as required under Section 43(1) of the Development Charges Act, 1997.

 

Carried

 

 

 

16.       DEVELOPMENT CHARGE DEFERRAL –
CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH (7.11)

          Report   Attachment

 

It was noted that the Development Charge deferral is not for the church, but for the community space within the church.

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the report titled “Development Charge Deferral – Cornerstone Christian Community Church” be received; and,

 

2)         That Council authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute an agreement with the Cornerstone Community Church for a deferral of the payment of the City Wide Hard Development Charges for up to three years, relating to the construction of a the Cornerstone Centre at 9642 9th Line, to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor; and,

 

3)         That the agreement provide that the City Wide Hard Development Charges to be deferred be fully secured; and,

 

4)         That City Wide Hard Development Charges in the amount of $486,908.53 paid at building permit issuance be refunded subsequent to the execution of the deferral agreement; and,

 

5)         That the agreement provide that the deferred payment of the City Wide Hard Development Charges be indexed at the higher of (1) Bank of Canada Prime Business Rate or (2) Toronto Non-residential Building Construction Price index; and,

 


 

6)         That Council authorize City staff to execute a service level agreement with the Cornerstone Community Church in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor and CAO; and,

 

7)         That the Treasurer and Commissioner of Community and Fire Services be authorized to approve Development Charge Deferrals that comply with the guidelines as outlined in the “Community Use Facilities – Criteria and Conditions for Deferral of Development Charges”, up to a value of $500,000; and further,

 

8)         That staff be directed to do all things necessary give effect to these recommendations.

 

Carried

 

 

 

17.       AWARD OF CONTRACT 034-T-14
KENNEDY ROAD SEWAGE PUMPING
STATION UPGRADE (7.12)

            Report

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the report entitled “Award of Contract 034-T-14 Kennedy Road Sewage Pumping Station Upgrade” be received; and,

 

2)         That the Contract for Kennedy Road Sewage Pumping Station Upgrade be awarded to the lowest priced bidder, BGL Contractors Corp., in the total amount of $355,549.44 inclusive of HST; and,

 

3)         That a contingency in the amount of $35,554.94 (10%), inclusive of HST, be established to cover any additional construction 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 Construction/Replacement Program - Annual (account 053 6150 10329 005) in the amount of $391,104.38, inclusive of HST; and,

 

5)         That the funding shortfall in the amount of $121,832.68 be funded from the Waterworks Stabilization/Capital Reserve; and further,

 

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

 

Carried


 

18.       MUNICIPAL FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR
FEDERAL GAS TAX (7.0)

            Report   Attachment

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the report dated April 30, 2014 entitled “Municipal Funding Agreement for Federal Gas Tax” be received; and,

 

2)         That a By-Law be enacted granting authority to the Mayor and  Clerk to sign the “Municipal Funding Agreement for the Transfer of Federal Gas Tax Funds” between the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the City of Markham (City); and further,

 

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

 

Carried

 

 

 

19.       UNIONVILLE THEATRE COMPANY
REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (7.6)

            Report   Attachment

 

Regional Councillor Gord Landon advised that he did meet with the representative for the Unionville Theatre Company and that he will be contacting them in November to further discuss the possibility of raising funds through the Gala for Giving.

 

Moved by Councillor Don Hamilton

Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones

 

1)         That the report dated April 28, 2014 entitled “Unionville Theatre Company Request for Financial Assistance” be received; and,

 

2)         That Council not approve a gift or loan in the amount of $35,000 to the Unionville Theatre Company; and further,

 

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

 

Carried

 

 


 

20.       STORMWATER FEE IMPLEMENTATION AND
COMMUNICATION PLANS (5.5 & 2.0)

            Report   Attachment A

 

Moved by Mayor Frank Scarpitti

Seconded by Councillor Colin Campbell

 

1)         That the report “Stormwater Fee Implementation & Communication Plans” be received; and,

 

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

 

Carried

 

 

 

21.       ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR
THE ABANDONED FUEL DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM IN THORNHILL (5.0)

            Report   Attachments

 

Moved by Councillor Alan Ho

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the report titled “Environmental Management Plan for the Abandoned Fuel Distribution System in Thornhill” be received; and,

 

2)         That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute the Environmental Management Plan (“EMP”) generally in the form attached to this report as “Attachment B” and approved by the City Solicitor; and further,

 

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

 

Carried

 

 

 


 

22.       SEWER USE BY-LAW UPDATE AND
EFFLUENT COMPLIANCE PROGRAM (5.5)

            Report   Attachments

 

There was discussion with respect to food waste grinder/garburators.

 

Moved by Deputy Mayor Jack Heath

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the report entitled “Sewer Use By-law Update and Effluent Compliance Program”, dated May 26 2014, be received; and,

 

2)         That Council enact the proposed Sewer Use By-law, as described in this report and  in the form set out in Attachment “A”; and,

 

3)         That Council repeal the current Sewer By-law (No. 436-86), as amended; and,

 

4)         That Council receive the information on Markham’s Sanitary Sewer Effluent Compliance Program and the two-tier Sewer Use Compliance Collaboration with the Region of York; and further,

 

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

 

Carried

 

 

 

Adjournment

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Howard Shore

 

That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 10:48 AM.

 

Carried

 

 

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