General Committee
October 31, 2016 - 9:00 AM
Meeting
Number 16
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
Kimberley
Kitteringham, City Clerk
Martha
Pettit, Deputy City Clerk
Joel
Lustig, Treasurer
Dave
Decker, Fire Chief
David Plant, Manager, Parks Operations
Barb Rabicki, Director of Operations
Tony Casale, Senior Construction Buyer
Kiran Saini, Acting Manager, Access & Privacy
Catherine Conrad, Acting Director of
Human Resources
Alida
Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
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The General Committee meeting convened at the hour of 9:08 AM with Deputy
Mayor Jack Heath in the Chair and Councillor Alan Ho Chaired Community Services
related items.
General Committee recessed from 12:27 PM and reconvened at 1:30 PM.
Disclosure of
Interest
None disclosed.
1. REPORT OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL
- PROPERTY TAX REVENUE AUDIT (7.3)
Presentation Report
Trinela Cane, Commissioner of Corporate
Services addressed the Committee and provided some opening remarks relative to
the report of the Auditor General.
Geoff Rodrigues, MNP LLP, Auditor General,
City of Markham delivered a PowerPoint presentation outlining the report of the
Auditor General relative to the Tax Revenue Audit.
There was discussion with respect to total
property tax arrears as a percentage of the total property tax levy. The City inquired why the City of Mississauga
had a much lower percentage compared to the City of Markham. It was suggested that staff provide a memo
back to General Committee on this matter.
The Committee thanked the Auditor General
for the report and suggested that the report be forwarded to the Minister of
Finance; Minister of Municipal Affairs; York Region's Chief Administrative
Officer and York Region's Chair.
Moved
by Mayor Frank Scarpitti
Seconded
by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the presentation provided by Geoff
Rodrigues, CPA, CA, CIA, CRMA, ORMP, MNP LLP, Auditor General, City of Markham,
titled "Report of the Auditor General - Property Tax Revenue Audit"
be received; and,
2) That the report prepared by Geoff
Rodrigues, CPA, CA, CIA, CRMA, ORMP, MNP LLP, Auditor General, City of Markham,
titled "City of Markham - Property Tax Revenue Audit" be received;
and,
3) That the report entitled "City of Markham - Property
Tax Revenue Audit" be forwarded to the Minister of Finance, Minister of
Municipal Affairs, York Region Chief Administrative Officer, and York Region
Chair; and further,
4) That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
Carried
2. PROCEDURAL BY-LAW
AMENDMENTS (2.1)
Presentation Appendix
A Appendix
B Appendix
C Appendix
D
Kimberley
Kitteringham, City Clerk; Martha Pettit, Deputy City Clerk and Kiran Saini, Acting, Manager,
Access & Privacy delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the proposed
amendments to the Procedural By-law.
Reid McAlpine,
Unionville Residents Association addressed the Committee regarding the proposed
Procedural By-law amendments and suggested that consultation with Markham
residents should be done prior to adopting the By-law.
The Committee
discussed the following:
·
The City
being more proactive in terms of communicating agenda items to the public via
social media, etc.
·
The fact
that the world has changed and Members of Council now receive public feedback
via a number of channels, including email and social media, and not simply
through delegations at Council/Committee meetings.
·
Having
New/Other Business at Standing Committees only
·
The
difference between New/Other Business and a Notice of Motion
·
Implementing
a time limit for items of New/Other Business
·
Including
time limits on agendas for public awareness
·
Having
approval of the "Close Debate & Vote Immediately" be by a simple
majority rather than 2/3 consent
Moved by Mayor Frank
Scarpitti
Seconded by Councillor
Don Hamilton
1) That
the presentation entitled "Proposed amendments to Markham City Council's
Procedural By-law" be received; and,
2) That
Staff provide a revised Procedural By-law for consideration at the November 14, 2016 General Committee
meeting.
Carried
3. PROPOSED 2017 WATER/WASTEWATER
RATE INCREASE (7.1)
Presentation Report
Moved by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by Councillor Amanda Collucci
That
the following be referred directly to the November 1, 2016 Council meeting:
1)
That
the report entitled “Proposed 2017 Water/Wastewater Rate Increase” be received;
and
2)
That Staff be authorized to hold a public
meeting on November 14, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at the Civic
Centre to gather resident feedback on the proposed 2017 water/wastewater rate
increase of $0.2804/m3 from $3.5751/m3 to $3.8555/m3;
and
3)
That feedback received at the public
meeting along with the proposed 2017 water/wastewater rate be tabled for
consideration at the November 28th General Committee meeting; and
4)
That the recommendation from the General
Committee meeting be tabled for adoption by Council at the December 13th
Council meeting; and further,
5)
That
Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to
this resolution.
Carried
4. MINUTES
OF THE OCTOBER 17, 2016
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That
the minutes of the October 17, 2016 General Committee meeting be confirmed.
Carried
5. MINUTES
OF THE JUNE 15, 2016
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That
the minutes of the June 15, 2016 Advisory Committee on Accessibility meeting be
received for information purposes.
Carried
6. MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 17, 2016
ANIMAL CARE COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Councillor
Valerie Burke advised that there were corrections made to the August meeting
minutes at the September meeting that are not reflected in the document and
suggested that the minutes be referred back to the Animal Care Committee.
Moved by
Councillor Valerie Burke
Seconded by
Councillor Karen Rea
1) That
the minutes of the August 17, 2016 Animal Care Committee meeting be referred back to the Animal Care Committee.
Carried
7. MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 12, 2016
RACE RELATIONS COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That
the minutes of the September 12, 2016 Race Relations Committee meeting be
received for information purposes.
Carried
8. MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 11, 2016
MARKHAM – MILLIKEN CHILDREN’S
FESTIVAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That
the minutes of the August 11, 2016 Markham-Milliken Children’s Festival
Committee meeting be received for information purposes.
Carried
9. MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 7, 2016
SANTA CLAUS PARADE COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That
the minutes of the September 7, 2016 Santa Claus Parade Committee meeting be
received for information purposes.
Carried
10. MINUTES OF THE JUNE 9, 2016
GERMAN MILLS COMMUNITY
CENTRE BOARD (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That
the minutes of the June 9, 2016 German Mills Community Centre Board meeting be
received for information purposes.
Carried
11. MINUTES OF THE JULY 11, 2016
BOX GROVE COMMUNITY
CENTRE BOARD (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That
the minutes of the July 11, 2016 Box Grove Community Centre Board meeting be
received for information purposes.
Carried
12. MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 31, 2016
SENIORS HALL OF FAME
AWARDS COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That
the minutes of the August 31, 2016 Seniors Hall of Fame Awards Committee meeting
be received for information purposes.
Carried
13. MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 8, 2016
MARKHAM TRAIN STATION COMMUNITY
CENTRE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That
the minutes of the September 8, 2016 Markham Train Station Community Centre
Board of Management meeting be received for information purposes.
Carried
14. MINUTES OF THE JUNE 30, 2016
VICTORIA SQUARE COMMUNITY
CENTRE BOARD (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That
the minutes of the June 30, 2016 Victoria Square Community Centre Board meeting
be received for information purposes.
Carried
15. QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM REVIEW OUTCOMES (5.3)
Report
Moved by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That the report
"Quality Management System - Management Review Outcomes" be received;
and,
2) That the Quality
Management System Management Review Outcomes be received; and,
3) That Council, as the
owner of the City's drinking water system, acknowledge and support the outcomes
and action items identified from the 2016 Management Reviews; and,
4) That Council
designate the QMS Coordinator as the QMS Representative as required by the
Drinking Water Quality Management Standard; and further,
5) That Staff be
authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this
resolution.
Carried
16. STAFF AWARDED CONTRACTS FOR
THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2016 (7.12)
Report
The Committee discussed the following:
·
053-T-16 Centennial Community
Centre Roof Replacement
·
098-T-16 Street Tree and Park
Tree Removal
·
187-T-16 Fire Station
Renovations for Gender Diversity - Phase 1
·
227-T-16 Water, Sanitary and
Storm Sewer Connections at various locations
Moved by Councillor Don Hamilton
Seconded by Councillor Colin Campbell
1) That the report entitled "Staff
Awarded Contracts for the Month of September 2016" be received; and,
2) That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
Carried
17. TAX WRITE-OFFS UNDER SECTION
354 OF THE MUNICIPAL ACT, 2001 (7.1)
Report
Moved by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by Councillor Amanda Collucci
That
the following be referred directly to the November 1, 2016 Council meeting:
1) That taxes totalling $207,268 as set out in this report, of which the City’s portion is $52,563
be written off pursuant to the provisions of Section 354 of the Municipal
Act, 2001; and,
2) That the Treasurer be directed to
remove the taxes from the Collector’s Roll; and,
3) That the Markham portion of the taxes be charged to Tax
Write-off Account 820-820-7040; and,
4) That the Treasurer be authorized to write-off all
outstanding taxes annually for the following properties; and,
a. 0 Barclay Court.
b. 0 Bryant Rd.
5) That the associated interest be
cancelled in proportion to the tax adjustments; and further,
6) That staff be authorized to and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
Carried
18. 2016 Q3 INVESTMENT
PERFORMANCE REVIEW (7.0)
Report Attachment
Moved by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by
Regional Councillor Jim Jones
1) That the report dated October 31, 2016
entitled “2016 Third Quarter Investment Performance Review” be received.
Carried
19. GERMAN MILLS MEADOW AND NATURAL
HABITAT - ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE
NEAR NORTH-WEST SIDE OF THE MEADOW
ALONG THE PROPERTY LINE (5.6)
Report
Councillor Valerie Burke addressed the
Committee requesting that this report be referred to the Community Liaison
Committee (CLC) so that CLC can review the report in detail and provide
comments and/or input.
Moved by Councillor Valerie Burke
Seconded by Councillor Karen Rea
That
the following be referred to the Community Liaison Committee:
1) That the report entitled “German Mills Meadow and Natural
Habitat – Additional Maintenance near north-west side of the Meadow along the
property line” be received; and,
2) That the Council endorse staff recommendation to continue
current maintenance activities for the German Mills Meadows; and further,
3) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
Carried
20. AWARD OF TENDER196-T-16 THORNHILL
COMMUNITY CENTRE HVAC & BAS UPGRADE (7.12)
Report
Moved by Councillor
Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by Regional
Councillor Jim Jones
1) That the report entitled “Award of Tender 196-T-16 Thornhill Community
Centre HVAC & BAS Upgrade” be received; and,
2) That contract 196-T-16 Thornhill
Community Centre HVAC
& BAS Upgrade be awarded to the lowest priced
supplier (Marnoch Facilities Maintenance Inc.) in the amount of
$430,114.03, inclusive of HST; and,
3) That a 10% contingency in the amount of $43,011.40,
inclusive of HST, be established to cover any additional construction costs and
authorization to approve expenditures of this contingency amount up to the
specified limit in accordance with the Expenditure Control Policy; and,
4) That balance remaining in project #16140 “Thornhill CC
HVAC/Control Replacement Project in the amount of $71,335.37 be returned to
original funding source; and,
5) That the PowerStream utility rebates of approximately
$30,000 be returned to the Lifecycle Replacement and Capital Reserve Fund; and
further,
6) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
Carried
21. CITY OF MARKHAM ASSET
MANAGEMENT PLAN (7.1)
Presentation Report
Moved by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by Councillor Amanda Collucci
That
the following be deferred to the November 14, 2016 General Committee meeting:
1) That the
presentation titled “City of Markham Asset Management Plan” be received; and,
2) That the report
titled “City of Markham Asset Management Plan” be received; and
3) That Council endorse the 2016 City of Markham Asset
Management Plan (AMP) Final Report and adopt the proposed asset management
strategy and framework; and further,
4) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
Carried
22. TOOGOOD POND RECREATIONAL USE
OF NATURAL ICE - ICE MONITORING
PROGRAM OPTION (5.6)
Report
Barb Rabicki, Director
Operations addressed the Committee and summarized the details outlined in the
report.
David Plant, Manager, Parks Operations addressed the Committee and
reviewed the Terms of Reference of the Working Group. He also discussed health and safety concerns
specific to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and duties of supervisors
taking every precaution reasonable for the protection of an employee.
Additionally, there was discussion relative to fines and responsibilities from
the Ministry of Labour, the City position on Risk Management, liability, and
the possibility for Fire and Emergency Services to provide ice rescue training.
The ice monitoring options complete with costs were explained along with
alternate options for outdoor skating and the associated costs per skating day.
It was noted that Dave Decker, Fire Chief advised that his department could not
provide any training and advised staff to call 911 if someone goes through the
ice.
Wes Rowe, Unionville
Villagers Association addressed the Committee regarding Toogood Pond
recreational use of natural ice - ice monitoring program options and spoke in
opposition to the proposed staff recommendations. He would like to have winter maintenance of
Toogood Pond for recreational skating be reinstated.
Reid McAlpine,
Unionville Residents Association addressed the Committee with respect to
Toogood Pond recreational use of natural ice - ice monitoring program options
and spoke in opposition to the proposed staff recommendations. He is suggesting that staff consider creating
a set of procedures to maintain Toogood Pond based on the Ministry of Natural
Resources document, and in consultation with other jurisdictions who maintain
ponds and lakes for recreational skating.
Shanta Sundarason,
Markham resident addressed the Committee regarding Toogood Pond recreational
use of natural ice - ice monitoring program options and spoke in opposition to
the proposed staff recommendations. She
submitted a list of names gathered electronically that are in support of
re-instating winter maintenance of Toogood Pond for recreational skating.
The Committee
discussed and suggested the following relative to re-instating winter
maintenance of Toogood Pond for recreational skating:
·
Potential
risk for residents and employees
·
Potential
liability for the City of Markham
·
Water
depth of the pond
·
Consult
with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) if the water can be drained
and/or lowered
·
Consult
with Credit Valley Conservation Authority
·
When was
the pond last dredged of the silt and sediment accumulation (1995)
·
Investigate
the potential installation of pond safety net/grid
The Committee suggested
that staff further investigate what other municipalities such as Richmond Hill
are doing to continue using their ponds for recreational skating.
Moved by Councillor
Don Hamilton
Seconded Mayor Frank
Scarpitti
1) That the Staff report
dated October 31, 2016 entitled "Toogood Pond Recreational Use of Natural
Ice - Ice Monitoring Program Options" be received; and,
2) That Option 5: Ice Monitoring Program by two (2) engineers
for 8 weeks - cost share with City of Toronto, be approved; and,
3) That staff be directed to confirm that the City of Toronto
will cost share with Option 5 and if not that staff report back on other
options; and,
4) That staff be directed to report back on the cost for a
winter maintenance program of Toogood Pond for recreational skating purposes
including the size of the pond that will be maintained; and,
5) That the Ice Monitoring Program and winter maintenance
program of Toogood Pond be part of the 2017 Budget deliberation; and,
6) That the list of names gathered electronically in support of
re-instating winter maintenance program of Toogood Pond for recreational
skating, be received; and further,
7) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
NOTE: COUNCIL AT ITS NOVEMBER
1, 2016 MEETING DEFERRED THE TOOGOOD POND MATTER TO THE NOVEMBER 15, 2016
COUNCIL MEETING
23. REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY
OF YORK - REVIEW OF
REGIONAL COUNCIL GOVERNANCE (13.4)
Correspondence
Moved by Councillor Amanda Collucci
Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
That the following be deferred to a Special
General Committee meeting scheduled for November 1, 2016:
1) That correspondence dated October 13,
2016 from the Regional Municipality of York be received.
Carried
24. 2017 PREMIER'S AWARDS FOR
EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS (13.2)
Correspondence
Moved by Regional Councillor Nirmala
Armstrong
Seconded by Councillor Valerie Burke
1)
That correspondence dated
October 13, 2016 from Maureen Adamson, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism,
Culture and Sport, forwarding information and requesting nomination for the
2017 Premier's Awards in Excellence for the Arts be received.
Carried
There was
no new business.
25. IN-CAMERA ITEMS (16.0; 7.3;
7.3; 7.0; 8.2; 8.6; 11.0)
General Committee did not resolve into an in-camera session.
Moved by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
Seconded by Councillor Amanda Collucci
That the following
in-camera items be referred directly to the November 1, 2016 Council meeting:
(1) GENERAL
COMMITTEE IN-CAMERA MINUTES - OCTOBER 17, 2016 (16.0)
[Section 239 (2) (b) (c) (e) (f)]
(2) PERSONAL MATTERS ABOUT AN IDENTIFIABLE
INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING MUNICIPAL OR LOCAL BOARD EMPLOYEES (PROPERTIES FOR TAX
SALE) (7.3)
[Section 239 (2) (b)]
(3) PERSONAL MATTERS ABOUT AN IDENTIFIABLE
INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING MUNICIPAL OR LOCAL BOARD EMPLOYEES (PROPERTIES FOR TAX
SALE) (7.3)
[Section 239 (2) (b)]
(4) A PROPOSED OR PENDING ACQUISITION OR
DISPOSITION OF LAND BY THE MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL BOARD (WARD 4) (7.0 & 8.2)
[Section
239 (2) (c)]
(5) THE SECURITY OF THE PROPERTY OF THE
MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL BOARD
AND
ADVICE THAT IS SUBJECT TO SOLICITOR-CLIENT PRIVILEGE, INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS
NECESSARY FOR THAT PURPOSE (WARD 2) (8.6)
[Section 239 (2) (a) (f)]
(6) LABOUR RELATIONS OR EMPLOYEE
NEGOTIATIONS (COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UPDATE) (11.0)
[Section 239 (2) (d)]
Carried
Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Karen Rea
Seconded by Mayor Frank Scarpitti
That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 3:14 PM.
Carried