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Minutes

General Committee

December 7, 2015

Meeting Number 32

 

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

 

Deputy Mayor Jack Heath

Regional Councillor Jim Jones

Regional Councillor Joe Li

Regional Councillor Nirmala Armstrong

Councillor Valerie Burke

Councillor Don Hamilton

Councillor Karen Rea

Councillor Colin Campbell

Councillor Amanda Collucci

Councillor Logan Kanapathi

Councillor Alex Chiu

 

Regrets

Mayor Frank Scarpitti

Councillor Alan Ho

 

 

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

Nasir Kenea, Chief Information Officer

Joel Lustig, Treasurer

Bill Snowball, Fire Chief

Alex Moore, Manager of Purchasing & Accounts Payable

Barb Rabicki, Director of Operations

Alida Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator

 

 

 

 

The General Committee meeting convened at the hour of 9:12 AM with Deputy Mayor Jack Heath in the Chair.

 

Disclosure of Interest

 

None disclosed.

 

 

1.         RECOGNITION OF DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF DAVE DECKER
AND DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF PHIL ALEXANDER
-CHIEF FIRE OFFICER DESIGNATION (7.15)

Bill Snowball, Fire Chief addressed the Committee and provided some opening remarks regarding the Chief Fire Officer Designation.

 

General Committee congratulated Deputy Fire Chief Dave Decker and Deputy Fire Chief Phil Alexander for receiving the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Designation. The CFO designation highlights the professional conduct, training, education, management and leadership competencies required in today’s fire service.

 

 

2.         STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PREVIOUS
AUDITOR GENERAL (11.0)

            Presentation     Appendix A

 

Trinela Cane, Commissioner, Corporate Services delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the status of implementation of recommendations from the previous Auditor General.

 

The Committee discussed the following relative to the recommendations from the previous Auditor General:

·        Reducing vacation carry-over

·        Implementing standardized project management reporting for capital projects

·        Procurement process

·        Attendance management and medical certificates

·        Overtime

·        Conflict of interest related to City staff

 

Moved by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

Seconded by Regional Councillor Nirmala Armstrong

 

1)         That the presentation by Ms. Trinela Cane, Commissioner, Corporate Services entitled “Status of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Auditor General ”, be received; and,

 

2)         That the written submission from Eira Keay be received.

Carried

 

 

 

3.         MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 23, 2015
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the minutes of the November 23, 2015 General Committee meeting be confirmed.

Carried

 

 

4.         MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 21, 2015
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the minutes of the October 21, 2015 Advisory Committee on Accessibility meeting be received for information purposes.

Carried

 

 

5.         MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 21, 2015
ANIMAL CARE COMMITTEE (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the minutes of the October 21, 2015 Animal Care Committee meeting be received for information purposes.

Carried

 

 

6.         MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 21, 2015
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
UNIONVILLE BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the minutes of the October 21, 2015 Board of Management Unionville Business Improvement Area Committee meeting be received for information purposes.

Carried

 

 

7.         MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 1, 2015
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE (16.0)

            Minutes     Report

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the minutes of the December 1, 2015 Environmental Issues Committee meeting be received for information purposes; and,

 

2)         That the report entitled “Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund (MESF) Funding Applications, Fall 2015”, be received; and,

 

3)         That the following recommendations be endorsed:

 

i)          That the Fall 2015 MESF funding applications be approved: Pierre Elliot Trudeau High School "Trudeau Terrace" initiative request for $5,000, and,

ii)         That the funds be provided from the 2015 Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund (MESF), account #87 2800168; and,

 

4)         That the Deputy Mayor Jack Heath be appointed to the National Zero Waste Council; and further,

 

5)         That staff be authorized to do all things necessary to give effect to the above recommendations.

Carried

 

 

8.         MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
GERMAN MILLS COMMUNITY CENTRE BOARD (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the minutes of the September 17, 2015 German Mills Community Centre Board meeting be received for information purposes.

Carried

 

 

9.         MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 26, 2015
MARKHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the minutes of the October 26, 2015 Markham Public Library Board meeting be received for information purposes.

Carried

 

 

10.       MINUTES OF THE JUNE 24, 2015
PUBLIC REALM ADVISORY COMMITTEE (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the minutes of the June 24, 2015 Public Realm Advisory Committee meeting be received for information purposes.

Carried

 

 

11.       MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 23, 2015
RBC MARKHAM MILLIKEN MILLS
CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL COMMITTEE (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the minutes of the September 23, 2015 RBC Markham Milliken Mills Children’s Festival Committee meeting be received for information purposes.

Carried

 

 

12.       MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 13, 2015
SENIORS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the minutes of the October 13, 2015 Seniors Advisory Committee meeting be received for information purposes.

Carried

 

 

13.       MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 14, 2015
VARLEY-MCKAY ART FOUNDATION OF MARKHAM (16.0)

            Minutes

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the minutes of the September 14, 2015 Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham meeting be received for information purposes.

Carried

 

 

14.       MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 21, 2015
AND OCTOBER 29, 2015 VICTORIA
SQUARE COMMUNITY CENTRE BOARD (16.0)

            September     October

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the minutes of the September 21, 2015 and October 29, 2015 Victoria Square Community Centre Board meeting be received for information purposes.

Carried

 

 

15.       AWARD OF 267-S-15 JOINT PORTAL
INFRASTRUCTURE HARDWARE
REFRESH AND DATA MIGRATION (7.12)

            Report

 

There was discussion regarding the Council recommendation relative to the cost sharing between the City of Markham and York Region.

 

Moved by Councillor Karen Rea

Seconded by Councillor Colin Campbell

 

1)         That the report entitled “Award of 267-S-15 Joint Portal Infrastructure Hardware Refresh and Data Migration” be received; and,

 

2)         Whereas the Regional Municipality of York awarded the contract to Compugen Inc. for Joint Portal Infrastructure Hardware Refresh in the amount of $937,048.00 inclusive of HST; and,

 

3)         That the contract for the Joint Portal Infrastructure Hardware Refresh and Data Migration be shared equally (50/50) between the Regional Municipality of York and the City of Markham on 50% cost sharing basis; and,

 

4)         That Markham’s share of the contract for Joint Portal Infrastructure Hardware Refresh in the amount of $363,690.00 inclusive of HST be funded from the Portal hardware project (account #049-6150-15615-005); and,

 

5)         That Markham’s share of the contract for Joint Portal Data Migration in the amount of $104,834.00 inclusive of HST be funded from the Portal project (account #049-5350-8659-005); and,

 

6)         That a purchase order in the amount of $468,524.00 ($363,690.00 + $104,834.00) be issued to Regional Municipality of York to cover the City’s 50% contribution of the Joint Portal Infrastructure Refresh and Data Migration Initiative; and,

 

7)         That the remaining balance of $35,925.71 in the Portal hardware project (account #049-6150-15615-005) be returned to the original funding source; and,

 

8)         That the remaining balance of $650,449.52 in the Portal project (account #049-5350-8659-005) be used to address the remaining scope of Phase 4 of the Portal project; and,

 

9)         That this report be taken to the December 15, 2015 Council meeting; and further,

 

10)       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 NOVEMBER 2015 (7.12)

            Report

           

There was discussion with respect to 247-Q-15 Main Street Markham crosswalk restoration.

 

Moved by Councillor Karen Rea

Seconded by Councillor Colin Campbell

 

1)         That the report entitled “Staff Awarded Contracts for the Month of November 2015” be received; and,

 

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

Carried

 

 

17.       2015 AREA-SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT CHARGES
BACKGROUND STUDY UPDATE FOR
AREAS 9, 42B-6 & 42B-8 (7.11)

            Report     Appendix A     Appendix B     Appendix C

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the report on the “2015 Area-Specific Development Charges Background Study Update for Areas 9, 42B-6 & 42B-8” be received; and,

 

2)         That no further public meeting is required under Section 12 of the Development Charges Act 1997; and,

 

3)         That the summary response to the questions raised at the public meeting be received for information; and,

 

4)         That Council approve the Development Charge Background Study and associated by-laws prepared by Hemson Consulting Ltd. dated October 27, 2015; and,

 

5)         That it is Council’s intent to ensure that the increase in the demand for services due to new development will be met; and,

 

6)         That Council approve the enactment of the Area Specific development charges by-laws for Area 9, 42B-6 and 42B-8 effective on December 16th 2015; and,

 

7)         That these recommendations including the implementing by-laws be forwarded to the December 15, 2015 Council meeting for adoption; and further,

 

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

Carried

 

 

18.       DEVELOPMENT CHARGES
INDEXING REPORTING (7.11)

            Report

           

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the report titled “Development Charges Indexing Reporting” be received for information purposes; and,

 

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

Carried

 

 

19.       2016 BUDGET
- PUBLIC BUDGET CONSULTATION MEETING (7.4 & 7.5)

            Presentation

           

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

1)         That the presentation entitled “2016 Budget – Public Budget Consultation Meeting”, be received; and,

 

2)         That the presentation be presented at the public meeting on December 7, 2015 at 7:00p.m. in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre to gather resident feedback on the proposed 2016 Budget.

Carried

 

 

20.       TRIBUTE (UNIONVILLE) LIMITED
SITE PLAN APPLICATION TO PERMIT
A MIXED-USE, COMMERCIAL-RESIDENTIAL BUILDING
AT 20 FRED VARLEY DRIVE, FILE NO. SC 13 109695 (10.6)

            Memo

           

Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services addressed the Committee advising that negotiations are currently underway, as a result a final package is not available at this time.  It was noted that an update will be provided in during the first quarter of 2016.

 

Peter Miasek, Unionville Ratepayers Association addressed the Committee regarding Tribute (Unionville) Limited and requested that during the negotiations that City staff negotiate the retention of trees.

 

Moved by Councillor Don Hamilton

Seconded by Regional Councillor Nirmala Armstrong

 

That the memo regarding Tribute (Unionville) Limited be received; and,

 

That the deputation from Peter Miasek, Unionville Ratepayers Association be received.

Carried

 

 

21.       TOOGOOD POND OUTDOOR
WINTER MAINTENANCE (6.0)

            Report

 

Barb Rabicki, Director of Operations addressed the Committee and summarized the details outlined in the report.

Peter Miasek, on behalf of the Unionville Business Improvement Area, The Unionville Ratepayers Association, The Unionville Villagers Association and The Unionville Historical Society addressed the Committee regarding the Toogood Pond and requesting that staff peruse option A.

There was discussion regarding potential risks and liabilities with respect to reinstating winter maintenance of Toogood Pond for recreational skating.

Mavis Smylie, Markham resident addressed the Committee with respect to the Toogood Pond and spoke in support to reinstate winter maintenance of Toogood Pond for recreational skating.

Wes Rowe, Markham resident addressed the Committee regarding Toogood Pond and spoke in support to reinstate winter maintenance of Toogood Pond for recreational skating.

The Committee discussed the steps that will be taken by City staff to ensure that individuals do not skate on the Toogood Pond.

Moved by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

Seconded by Councillor Amanda Collucci

 

1)         That the staff report dated December 7, 2015 entitled “Toogood Pond Winter Maintenance Report” be received; and,

 

2)         That staff recommend due to health and safety, liability and climate change impacts that Council

i.    Approve option C and not permit skating on Toogood Pond:

ii.    Authorize staff to provide a volunteer natural ice rink beside Toogood Pond; and

iii.   Direct staff not to monitor ice or clear ice on Toogood Pond by the City workers or its contractors; and further,

 

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

Carried

NOTE:  Council enacted a different recommendation relative to the Toogood Pond at the December 15, 2015 Council meeting.

 

 

22.       ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SITE (8.0)

 

Councillor Karen Rea inquired about the St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School site and requested that staff provide an update.  Staff advised that if this site becomes surplus York Catholic District School Board property staff will bring a report forward.

 

 

23.       LAWN BOWLING (16.0)

 

Councillor Karen Rea inquired whether a meeting has been scheduled.  Staff advised that a meeting is being scheduled for January 2016.

 

 

24.       PARKING (2.17)

 

Councillor Karen Rea suggested that a presentation be provided outlining the City parking restrictions.

 

 

 

 

 

25.       SYRIAN REFUGEES (16.0)

 

Deputy Mayor Jack Heath suggested that staff investigate the potential to establish a coordinating committee to deal with the influx of Syrian refugees coming to Canada in the coming months.

 

 

Adjournment

 

Moved by Councillor Amanda Collucci

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 12:30 PM.

 

Carried

 

 

 

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