GENERAL COMMITTEE
September 16, 2013
Meeting No. 18
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
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Andy
Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer
Catherine
Conrad, City Solicitor
Brenda
Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services
Trinela
Cane, Commissioner of Corporate Services
Joel Lustig,
Treasurer
Fred Rich, Senior Business & Risk Analyst
Don Taylor, Manager
Executive Operations
David Porretta,
Traffic Operations Supervisor
Daphne Ross, Manager
Business Compliance
Gord Miokovic,
Waterworks Manager System Engineering
Alida
Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator
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The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:03 a.m. with Councillor
Carolina Moretti in the Chair; Councillor Alex Chiu Chaired Community Services
related items and Councillor Valerie Burke Chaired Environment and
Sustainability related items.
DISCLOSURE OF
INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. CITIZEN BUDGET (7.0)
Presentation
Joel Lustig, Treasurer addressed the Committee and provided some brief
opening remarks relative to the Citizen Budget.
Fred Rich, Senior Business & Risk Analyst delivered a PowerPoint
presentation outlining the proposed Citizen Budget awareness tool.
The Committee discussed the following:
·
Provide
each Member of Council with a promotional copy
·
Ensure
Members of Council are aware of concern/issues raised by residents
·
Consider
posting the questions on facebook rather than only having a link to facebook
·
Make
it clear what portion of the taxes goes to the Province, Region and
municipality
·
Should
have discussion at a budget subcommittee meeting
·
Consider
including more categories (including indirect costs) such as Councillor
salaries
·
The
introductory paragraph should include more detail
The Committee requested that staff e-mail Members of Council the revised
introductory paragraph for their input.
Moved by Councillor Howard Shore
Seconded by Regional Councillor Gord Landon
1) That
the presentation by Mr. Fred Rich, Senior Business & Risk Analyst entitled
“Citizen Budget,” be received.
CARRIED
2. REVISED 2014 BUDGET SCHEDULE (7.0)
Memo
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That
the memorandum dated September 16, 2013 from Andrea Tang, Manager of Financial
Planning providing information on the revisions to the 2014 Budget Schedule
approved by Council on June 26, 2013 be received; and,
2) That
the following Revised 2014 Budget Schedule sent by the Clerks Department via
email on July 29, 2013 be approved:
a. Budget
Sub-Committee Meetings:
·
Meeting #1 – Tuesday, October 8th
(1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Canada Room)
·
Meeting #2 – Friday, October 11th
(9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Canada Room)
·
Meeting #3 – Tuesday, October 15th
(1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Council Chamber)
·
Meeting #4 – Friday, October 18th
(9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Canada Room)
·
Meeting #5 – Wednesday, October 23rd
(9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Council Chamber)
·
Meeting #6 – Friday, October 25th
(9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Canada Room)
·
Meeting #7 - Monday, October 28th
(1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Canada Room).
b) That
the draft presentation on the proposed 2014 Budget (based on the budget status
following the October 18th Budget Sub-Committee meeting) for the
public meeting be presented at the October 21st General Committee meeting.
c) That
a public meeting be held at the Civic Centre in the Council Chamber on
Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 7:00 pm to receive public feedback on the 2014
Budget.
d) That
the recommendation report on the 2014 Budget be presented at the December 2,
2013 General Committee meeting.
e) That
the adoption of the 2013 Budget be presented at the December 9, 2013 Special
Council meeting; and further,
3) That
Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to
this resolution.
CARRIED
3. MINUTES OF THE JUNE 24, 2013
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the
Minutes of the June 24, 2013 General Committee be confirmed.
CARRIED
4. MINUTES OF THE JUNE 19, 2013 AND
JULY 17, 2013 ANIMAL CARE COMMITTEE (16.0)
June July
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the Minutes of the
June 19, 2013 and July 17, 2013 Animal Care Committee be received for
information purposes.
CARRIED
5. MINUTES OF THE MAY 15, 2013 AND
JUNE 19, 2013 BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
UNIONVILLE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA (16.0)
May June
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the Minutes of the May 15, 2013
and June 19, 2013 Board of Management Unionville Business Improvement Area be
received for information purposes.
CARRIED
6. MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 19, 2013
BOX GROVE COMMUNITY CENTRE BOARD (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the Minutes of the August 19, 2013
Box Grove Community Centre Board be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
7. MINUTES OF THE MAY 27, 2013
CANADA DAY COMMITTEE (16.0)
May
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the Minutes of the May 27, 2013
Canada Day Committee be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
8. MINUTES OF THE JUNE 20, 2013
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE & INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY SUB-COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the Minutes of the June 20, 2013
Communications Committee and Information Technology Sub-Committee be received
for information purposes.
CARRIED
9. MINUTES OF THE JUNE 5, 2013 AND JULY 3,
2013
PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE (16.0)
June July Art
Proposal
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the Minutes of the June 5, 2013
and July 3, 2013 Public Art Advisory Committee be received for information
purposes; and,
2) That
Council endorse the resolutions made at the June 5, 2013 Public Art Advisory
Committee Meeting:
1) That the artwork proposal
for the Cornell Community Centre submitted by Douglas Walker be accepted as
proposed; and,
2) That
the proposal to commission Mary Anne Barkhouse to begin a sculpture path in
Unionville be accepted as proposed.
CARRIED
10. MINUTES OF THE
MAY 27, 2013
PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the Minutes of the May 27, 2013
Public Library Board be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
11. MINUTES OF THE JULY 16, 2013
PUBLIC REALM ADVISORY COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the Minutes of the July 16, 2013
Public Realm Advisory Committee be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
12. MINUTES OF THE MAY 6, 2013 AND
JUNE 3, 2013 RACE RELATIONS COMMITTEE (16.0)
May June
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the Minutes of the
May 6, 2013 and June 3, 2013 Race Relations Committee be received for
information purposes.
CARRIED
13. MINUTES OF THE JUNE 18, 2013, JULY 2,
2013
JULY 16, 2013, JULY 30, 2013 AND AUGUST 13, 2013
RBC MARKHAM MILLIKEN MILLS CHILDREN’S
FESTIVAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
June July
2 July
16 July
30 August
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the Minutes of the June 18, 2013,
July 2, 2013, July 16, 2013, July 30, 2013 and August 13, 2013 RBC Markham
Milliken Mills Children’s Festival Committee be received for information
purposes.
CARRIED
14. MINUTES OF THE JUNE 11, 2013
SENIORS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the Minutes of the June 11, 2013
Seniors Advisory Committee be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
15. MINUTES OF THE JUNE 20, 2013 AND
JULY 17, 2013 SENIORS HALL OF FAME
AWARDS COMMITTEE (16.0)
June July
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the Minutes of the June 20, 2013
and July 17, 2013 Seniors Hall of Fame Awards Committee be received for
information purposes.
CARRIED
16. MINUTES OF THE MAY 9, 2013
SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY CENTRE
AND LIBRARY SUB-COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the Minutes of the May 9, 2013
Southeast Community Centre and Library Sub-Committee be received for
information purposes.
CARRIED
17. MINUTES OF THE APRIL 22, 2013
AND MAY 27, 2013 THEATRE BOARD (16.0)
April May
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the Minutes of the April 22, 2013
and May 27, 2013 Theatre Board be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
18. MINUTES OF THE MAY 1, 2013
THE FRIENDS OF THE MARKHAM MUSEUM
FOUNDATION BOARD (16.0)
Minutes
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by
Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the Minutes of the May 1, 2013 The
Friends of the Markham Museum Foundation Board be received for information
purposes.
CARRIED
19. GALA FOR GIVING, APRIL 25, 2013
- OUTCOMES REPORT (12.2.6)
Report Appendix
A Appendix
B Appendix
C
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the report
entitled “Gala for Giving, April 25, 2013 – Outcomes Report” be received; and,
2) That the Gala for Giving continue as an annual event,
co-organized by the City of Markham and various charities and non-profit
organizations, to be selected each year, forming the Gala for Giving Committee;
and,
3) That the City of Markham continue to be represented by Mayor
Frank Scarpitti as Honourary Chair, Regional Councillor Gord Landon as Chair,
and Councillors Carolina Moretti, Alan Ho, and Logan Kanapathi as Advisors on
the Gala for Giving Committee; and,
4) That the City of Markham Finance Department continue to
assist in managing the accounts for the Gala for Giving for transparency and
consistency purposes; and,
5) That the City of Markham Communications and Community
Engagement Department continue to assist in designing promotional materials and
marketing the event to the public; and,
6) That the Gala for Giving select participating charities and
non-profit organizations through an open application process; and further,
7) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
20. PARTICIPATION HOUSE
- LANDSCAPING PROJECT (7.0)
Report Appendix
A
Don Taylor, Manager Executive Operations
addressed the Committee and summarized the details outlined in the report.
Moved by Councillor Colin Campbell
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Jack Heath
1) That Council
agree to pay $36,511.00 to Participation House, Markham, which represents
one-third of the cost of a completed landscaping project at Participation House
Markham; and,
2) That Staff be
authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this
resolution.
CARRIED
21. REESOR ROAD PROPOSED
PARKING PROHIBITION (5.12)
Report Attachment
A Attachment
B
There was brief
discussion regarding the potential of installing concrete curbs to discourage
cars from parking on the grass area.
Moved by Regional
Councillor Jim Jones
Seconded by Councillor
Logan Kanapathi
1) That the staff report entitled “Reesor
Road Proposed Parking Prohibition” be received; and,
2) That Schedule “C” of Parking
By-law 2005-188, be amended by including the west side of Reesor Road, from
Steeles Avenue to a point 400 metres north thereof; and,
3) That the Operations Department
be directed to install and maintain the appropriate regulatory signs at the subject locations; and,
4) That the cost of materials and installation for the regulatory signs be funded from capital
project # 11305 (Traffic Operational Improvements) in the amount of
approximately $500; and,
5) That the Parking Control Department be directed to enforce the
parking prohibition upon approval of the By-law amendment and installation of
the regulatory signs; and further,
6) That staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to
give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
22. QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
OPERATIONAL PLAN ENDORSEMENT
AND MANAGEMENT REVIEW OUTCOMES (5.3)
Report Attachment
A Attachment
B
Moved by Regional
Councillor Gord Landon
Seconded by Councillor
Valerie Burke
1) That the report “Quality Management System Operational Plan
Endorsement and Management Review Outcomes” be received; and,
2) That Council, as the Owner of the City’s drinking water system,
acknowledges and endorses the revisions made to the City’s Quality Management
System (QMS) Operational Plan and System Level Documents; and,
3) That the Quality Management System Management Review Outcomes be
received; and,
4) That Council, as the Owner of the City’s drinking water system,
acknowledge and support the outcomes and action items identified from the 2013
Management Review #1; and further,
5) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to
give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
23. THE ONTARIO MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT
- MARKHAM DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
- DRINKING WATER SYSTEM INSPECTION REPORT,
MAY 2013 (5.3)
Report Attachment
A Attachment
B
There was discussion regarding the adverse
results and the order in which the reporting needs to occur. The Committee suggested that a memo be
forwarded to the Members of Council regarding the re-sampled results of the 4
adverse water quality incidents. Staff
pointed out that if there is a serious issue with the quality of drinking water
Members of Council would be informed immediately.
There was brief discussion regarding the
frequency of lead testing.
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi
1) That the report entitled “The Ontario Ministry of
Environment – Markham Distribution System – Drinking Water System Inspection
Report, May 2013” be received; and,
2) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things
necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
NEW
BUSINESS
24. RESTRICTION OF
RELIGIOUS-BASED
CLOTHING FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (11.0)
Councillor Colin Campbell enquired whether
the City of Markham should send the Quebec government the City of Markham's
position on the potential legislation to ban all religious-based clothing from
public employees. It was suggested that
this be raised under New Business and discussed at the September 23, 2013
General Committee.
25. FIRST ATTENDANCE HEARING
(2.0)
Councillor Don Hamilton enquired whether
the hours for first attendance hearings could be extended to accommodate
individuals who work later. Staff
advised that there currently first attendance hearings every Thursday evening
from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The
Committee requested that staff forward them statistics on the extended hours.
26. FIRE INVESTIGATION REPORT
(7.15)
Councillor Alex Chiu informed the Committee
that there was a recent fire on East Pine Road in Ward 8 which resulted in the
evacuation of approximately 15 occupants of the single family dwelling and
enquired whether there is a way of avoiding future similar scenarios. It was noted that the municipality generally
is made aware of these situations through complaint and that the By-law
officers do no have the right to enter into someone's home unless invited in,
or under certain circumstances where a warrant is obtained. Fire and police personnel have specific
legislative authorities that govern what action can be taken.
It was recognized that the investigative
report may take some time to complete, so the results may not be known for a
period of months.
27. CATHEDRAL TOWN (2.10)
Regional Councillor Jim Jones requested
that staff investigate the bell ringing practise of the Slovak Cathedral Church
and whether the frequency and decibel level of the bells can be changed.
28. IN-CAMERA MATTERS (16.0,
16.24, 16.24, 8.6, 8.6 & 6.3)
Moved by
Councillor Valerie Burke
Seconded by
Councillor Alex Chiu
That, in accordance
with Section 239 (2) of the Municipal
Act, General Committee resolve into an in-camera session to discuss the
following confidential matters (11:12 a.m.):
(1) GENERAL
COMMITTEE IN-CAMERA MINUTES
- June 24, 2013
[Section 239 (2)
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)]
(2) PERSONAL MATTERS ABOUT AN IDENTIFIABLE
INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING MUNICIPAL OR LOCAL BOARD EMPLOYEES. (BOARD/COMMITTEE
APPOINTMENT)
[Section 239 (2) (b)]
(3) PERSONAL MATTERS ABOUT AN IDENTIFIABLE
INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING MUNICIPAL OR LOCAL BOARD EMPLOYEES. (BOARD/COMMITTEE
RESIGNATION)
[Section 239 (2) (b)]
(4) A PROPOSED OR PENDING ACQUISITION OR
DISPOSITION OF LAND BY THE MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL BOARD. (WARD 4)
[Section 239 (2) (c)]
(5) A PROPOSED OR PENDING ACQUISITION OR
DISPOSITION OF LAND BY THE MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL BOARD. (WARD 8)
[Section 239 (2) (c)]
(6) PERSONAL MATTERS ABOUT AN IDENTIFIABLE
INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING MUNICIPAL OR LOCAL BOARD EMPLOYEES. (WARD 5)
[Section 239 (2) (b)]
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Don Hamilton
Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu
That the General Committee rise from the in-camera session (11:43
a.m.)
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu
Seconded by Councillor Howard
Shore
That the General Committee meeting adjourn at 11:44 a.m.
CARRIED