GENERAL COMMITTEE
January 18, 2010
Meeting
No. 2
Finance & Administrative
Issues Community
Services Issues
Chair: Reg.
Councillor J. Virgilio Chair:
Councillor
A. Chiu
Chair, Budget Sub-Ctte: Councillor D. Horchik Environment & Sustainability Issues
Chair: IT Sub-Ctte: Reg. Councillor J. Jones Chair: Councillor
E. Shapero
Chair:
Grants Sub-Ctte: Councillor V. Burke
Attendance
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J. Livey, Chief
Administrative Officer
C. Conrad, Town
Solicitor
A. Taylor,
Commissioner of Corporate Services
J. Baird,
Commissioner of Development Services
B. Librecz, Commissioner
of Community & Fire Services
J. Lustig, Acting
Treasurer
K. Kitteringham,
Town Clerk
F. Edwards, Election
Coordinator
J. Ryerson, Director
of Culture
E. Lariviere,
Manager, Theatre
C. Molloy, Manager,
Museum
M. Creighton, Director of Recreation
Services
B. Wiles, Manager of By-law Enforcement
and Licensing
E. Valente, Zoning
Supervisor
A. Brouwer, Deputy
Town Clerk
K. Bavington,
Committee Clerk
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The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:00 a.m. with Regional Councillor
J. Virgilio in the Chair. Councillor C. Moretti chaired the meeting for the
Building, Parks, and Construction items.
1. ELECTION
SIGNS (14.0)
Attachment
Bill Wiles, Manager
of By-law Enforcement and Licensing, provided an overview of the current Election
Sign By-law; feedback from the 2006 General Election and the 2009 By-election; the
proposed 2010 election sign program; and possible amendments for Committee’s
consideration.
The election sign
regulations are being brought in line with Regional regulations, with some
exceptions, and apply to Provincial and Federal elections as well. The City of
Toronto’s Election Sign By-law applies to both sides of Steeles Avenue.
The presentation
highlights included the types of permitted signs, location of placement,
removal deadlines, and recycling practices. The awareness program includes the
provision of an election sign booklet and ward/town-wide maps. Candidate and campaign
staff meetings and field sign placement tours will also be held.
The Committee discussed
the recommended amendments and provided feedback. Staff provided clarification
where required. With respect to the proposed amendment to allow placement of
signs six weeks prior to the election, Committee debated whether fours weeks
would be sufficient. Staff agreed to map out regional roads to clarify
permitted locations, if the Town does not align Markham’s regulations with Regional
time frames. Concern was expressed regarding prohibiting the placement of lawn
signs between the curb and sidewalk. Clarification was provided that lawn sign
placement restrictions are 1.8m from a curb, or 0.6m from a sidewalk. With respect to changes to fees, support
was indicated for the increase, however there was discussion involving the
method of collecting fines and equity between property owners and tenants.
The Committee
expressed interest in receiving feedback from the candidates in the recent Ward
3 By-election held in November, 2009. Staff will present a report and draft
by-law within the first quarter of 2010.
Moved by Councillor
C. Moretti
Seconded by Councillor
J. Webster
1) That
the presentation by Mr. B. Wiles, Manager of By-Laws, Enforcement, &
Licensing, entitled “Election Signs” be received.
CARRIED
2. ELECTION
HEADQUARTERS (14.0)
Bill Wiles, Manager
of By-law Enforcement and Licensing, explained that election headquarters are currently
considered “Office Use” under the zoning regulations and are also permitted in
a residence under the Home Occupation By-law. The Sign By-law permits an
exemption from signage restrictions for any campaign headquarters in a
commercial/retail building, but not for a Home Occupation. These “temporary
occupancies” are commonly located in vacant spaces; however, there are a limited
number of vacancies permitting office uses.
Mr. Wiles referred
to a recent situation during the Ward 3 By-election, and the direction given to
staff to prepare a report on this issue to provide certainty for candidates and
to provide a wider range of eligible properties for future elections.
Staff reviewed two
options:
(1)
restrict campaign headquarters
to locations where they are permitted
under zoning regulations only
(2)
implement a town-wide zoning
amendment to permit temporary occupancy for a campaign headquarters in most
zone categories, with some limitations.
The pros and cons
of each option, the proposed definition of a campaign headquarters, and a
proposed zoning by-law amendment provision were reviewed.
The Committee
questioned the treatment of Heritage districts, the size of the permitted signs
in the various zones, the requirement for campaign staff to be present, and
public access to the headquarters in the event that it is a residence.
Discussions included the process to obtain a permit for the use, Building Code
regulations, and the restriction on the use up to 60 days or up to one year.
The Committee
indicated support for the option to implement a town-wide zoning amendment to
permit temporary occupancy for a campaign headquarters in industrial,
commercial and retail zone categories,
and directed staff to prepare a draft zoning by-law amendment for further
discussion, prior to proceeding to a Public Meeting. Staff will report back to
a future General Committee meeting in conjunction with the Election Sign issue
as early as possible.
Moved by Mayor F.
Scarpitti
Seconded by
Regional Councillor J. Jones
1) That
the presentation by Mr. B. Wiles, Manager of By-Laws, Enforcement, &
Licensing, entitled “Election Headquarters” be received; and
2) That staff prepare a draft zoning bylaw
amendment to permit campaign headquarters as a temporary use in industrial,
commercial, retail, and residential zones for consideration at a future General
Committee meeting.
CARRIED
3. MINUTES OF THE
NOVEMBER 18 AND DECEMBER 16, 2009
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY (16.11)
Nov.
18 Dec.
16
Moved by Councillor
A. Chiu
Seconded by
Councillor J. Webster
1) That
the Minutes of the November18, and December 16, 2009 Advisory Committee on
Accessibility be received.
CARRIED
4. MINUTES
OF THE OCTOBER 21 AND NOVEMBER 18, 2009
MARKHAM VILLAGE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA (3.11)
Oct.
21 Oct.
21 Attachment Nov.
18 Nov.
18 Attachment
Moved by
Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by
Councillor J. Webster
1) That the Minutes of
the October 21 and November 18, 2009 Markham Village Business Improvement Area
be received.
CARRIED
5. APPOINTMENTS,
RESIGNATIONS -
ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES (16.24)
Moved by
Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by
Councillor J. Webster
1) That
the resignation of Ms. Sheynoor Karsan from the Achievement and Civic
Recognition Awards Committee (ACRA) be received with regret and a letter of
appreciation be forwarded; and,
2) That the Clerk's
Department be directed to advertise for the vacancy.
CARRIED
6. MUSEUM CAPITAL
REALLOCATION (6.7)
Report Attachment
Moved by Regional
Councillor J. Virgilio
Seconded by Councillor
A. Chiu
1)
That Council approve the
re-allocation of previously approved capital project funds to meet the current
needs of the museum as outlined in appendix A; and,
2)
That Staff be authorized and
directed to do al things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
7. ASSOCIATION
OF MUNICIPALITIES OF ONTARIO
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
(13.12.2)
Letter
Moved by Councillor
D. Horchik
Seconded by Councillor
C. Moretti
1) That
the letter from Peter Hume, President, Association of Municipalities of Ontario,
regarding progresses that have been made and what lies ahead, be received.
CARRIED
8. EARTHQUAKE
IN HAITI (16.23)
Letter
The
Committee expressed condolences to the victims and Canadians affected by the
earthquake in Haiti.
Moved by
Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by
Councillor C. Moretti
1) That
the email from Councillor Logan Kanapathi requesting that the Town issue a
press release to help raise money for those affected by the earthquake in Haiti,
be received.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
The General Committee meeting adjourned at 11:10 AM.
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