JUNE
2, 2009 - 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
MINUTES
SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
COMMITTEE
Meeting No. 20
All
Members of Council
Development
Services Economic
Development
Chair: Councillor J. Webster Chair: Regional Councillor T. Wong
Vice-Chair: Councillor D. Horchik Transportation Issues
Chair: Regional Councillor G. Landon
Attendance
|
Regrets
Councillor A. Chiu
|
J. Livey, Chief Administrative
Officer
J. Baird, Commissioner of
Development Services
B. Librecz, Commissioner and Fire
Services
A. Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate
Services
S. Andrews, Director, Asset
Management
A. Brown, Director of Engineering
J. Lustig, Director, Financial &
Client Services
B. Lee, Mgr. Development Engineering
& Transportation
B. Penner, Supervisor, Business
System Improvement
S. Sito, Sr. Environmental
Development Engineer
P. Fu, Manager, Capital of
Right-of-Way
Y. Xu, Senior Stormwater Management
Engineer
J. Kee, Committee Clerk
|
The Special Development
Services Committee meeting convened, without quorum, at the hour of 5:15 p.m.
in the Council Chamber with Councillor J. Webster in the Chair. Quorum was reached at 5:20 p.m.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. WEST
THORNHILL STORMWATER FLOOD
REMEDIATION CLASS EA STUDY (5.7)
Report Presentation
Members had before them the staff report entitled
“West Thornhill Stormwater Floor Remediation Class EA Study”, dated June 2,
2009.
Ms. Phoebe Fu, Manager, Capital Right-of-Way delivered
a presentation regarding the "West Thornhill Stormwater Flood Remediation
Class Environmental Assessment Study".
Amended copies of a portion of the Presentation, pages #19-#28, were distributed.
Ms. Fu advised that the purpose of the presentation
and meeting this date was to provide an update on the status of the Study, and
to also obtain Council’s authorization to host a second Public Information
Meeting for the purposes of presenting Council’s preferred alternative solution
to increase the level of flood protection in West Thornhill Area. Ms. Fu provided an overview on the Stormwater
Management Strategy, and detailed information regarding the West Thornhill
Stormwater Flood Remediation Study. Data
included: the location of the study area; problem identification; options
explored; alternative solutions; funding/analysis; and evaluation criteria
& decision making process. Members
were advised that application has been made for infrastructure grants, and
explained related implications.
In response to requests of Committee, staff explained the
amendments which had been made to the Presentation, and also provided
clarification regarding funding sources and potential infrastructure grants
available. Committee raised concerns
with respect to the environmental impact and the potential increase in river
bed erosion.
Ms. Marilyn Ginsburg was in attendance and spoke on
behalf of the Grandview Area Residents Association, and acknowledged staff for
their great cooperation throughout the study to date. Expressing some concern with respect to the
decision making process, and noting that funding source is not to be considered
until after the preferred solution is chosen, Ms. Ginsburg recommended that the
minimum level of protection be 100 years; that only the West Thornhill area be
improved at this time; and that a general tax increase would be preferred
rather than a charge to the West Thornhill residents.
Ms. Eileen Liasi was in attendance and spoke on behalf
of the German Mills Ratepayers Association.
She recommended that the 100 year level of protection be chosen, as it
would be of more benefit to the natural environment, and in the best interests
of the residents and businesses of Thornhill.
Staff advised that Council was being requested this
date to provide comments and feedback, and it was hoped that some consensus
could be reached in choosing one of the alternative solutions. It was pointed out that the funding source is
not to be considered in this exercise. Ms. Fu explained how the evaluation criteria tool
is applied with the use of weighting factors, and presented the following alternative
solutions, requesting Committee to discuss the “weighting value” for each
criteria:
1) Do Nothing
2) 5 Year Level of Protection
3) 25 Year Level of Protection
4) 100 Year Level of Protection
Committee expressed some concern that all Members of
Council were not in attendance, and that this important matter should be discussed
when all Members are present.
Staff advised that if the infrastructure grant is
received, it is planned to hold a second Public Information Meeting (PIM) on
Wednesday, June 17th and report back to General Committee on June 22nd
with final recommendations. If the
infrastructure grant is not received, a PIM would be held in the fall of 2009.
Suggested weighting factors were put forward by both
Committee and staff, however, due to time constraints of the meeting, it was
generally agreed that the draft preferred alternative solution would be the
“100 year level of protection”, and that the matter would be forwarded to the
Council Meeting on June 3, 2009 for further consideration.
**Moved by Councillor V. Burke
Seconded by Councillor E. Shapero
1) That the report entitled “West Thornhill Stormwater Remediation Class
EA Study – Project Update” be received; and,
2) That the
presentation provided by Ms. Phoebe Fu, Manager, Capital Right-of-Way at the
June 2, 2009 Special Development Services Committee meeting regarding the
Project Update be received; and,
3) That the
deputations from Ms. Marilyn Ginsburg, on behalf of the Grandview Area
Residents Association, and Ms. Eileen Liasi, on behalf of the German Mills
Ratepayers Association at the June 2, 2009 Special Development Services
Committee meeting be received; and,
4) That staff be directed to hold Public Information
Centre (PIC) No. 2 and present the draft preferred alternative solution: "#4 - 100
year level of protection" to increase the level of flood
protection in West Thornhill Area; and,
5) That staff report back to General
Committee with final recommendations on June 22, 2009; and,
6) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution; and further,
7) That this item be placed on the Agenda of the June 3,
2009 Council Meeting for consideration.
CARRIED
--------------------------------------
**Note: Please see Council Minutes dated June
3, 2009 for final resolution.
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ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by Councillor C.
Moretti
That the Special Development
Services Committee meeting adjourn. (6:58 p.m.)