General Committee Meeting Minutes

Meeting Number: 8

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 9:30 A.m. - 1:00 P.m.

Live streamed

Roll Call

• Deputy Mayor Michael Chan
• Regional Councillor Jim Jones
• Regional Councillor Joe Li
• Regional Councillor Alan Ho
• Councillor Keith Irish
• Councillor Ritch Lau
• Councillor Reid McAlpine
• Councillor Karen Rea
• Councillor Amanda Collucci
• Councillor Juanita Nathan
• Councillor Isa Lee

Regrets

• Mayor Frank Scarpitti
• Councillor Andrew Keyes

Staff

• Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer
• Trinela Cane, Commissioner, Corporate Services
• Morgan Jones, Commissioner, Community Services
• Claudia Storto, City Solicitor and Director of Human Resources
• Joseph Silva, Treasurer
• Alice Lam, Acting Commissioner, Community Services
• Sumon Acharjee, Chief Information Officer
• Stephanie DiPerna, Director, Building Standards
• Graham Seaman, Director, Sustainability & Asset Management
• Darryl Lyons, Acting Director, Planning & Urban Design
• Alex Moore, Manager of Purchasing & Accounts Payable
• Shane Manson, Senior Manager, Revenue & Property Taxation
• Giulio Cescato, Director of Panning & Urban Design
• Mark Visser, Sr Manager Strategy Innovation ＆ Investments
• Hristina Giantsopoulos, Election/Council & Committee Coordinator
• John Wong, Technology Support Specialist II
• Tharsikaa Irajeswaran, Assistant to Council/Committee
• Steven Dollmaier, Senior Manager, Roads & Survey

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We begin today by acknowledging the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples and their commitment to stewardship of the land. We acknowledge the communities in circle. The North, West, South and Eastern directions, and Haudenosaunee, Huron- Wendat, Anishnabeg, Seneca, Chippewa, and the Mississaugas of the Credit peoples. We share the responsibility with the caretakers of this land to ensure the dish is never empty and to restore relationships that are based on peace, friendship, and trust. We are committed to reconciliation, partnership and enhanced understanding.

General Committee convened at 9:34 AM with Councillor Keith Irish presiding as Chair.

2.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest. 

3.

APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

3.1

MINUTES OF THE APRIL 30, 2024 GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)

• Moved by Councillor Amanda Collucci
  Seconded by Councillor Juanita Nathan
  1. That the minutes of the April 30, 2024 General Committee meeting be confirmed.
  Carried

4.

DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations. 

5.

COMMUNICATIONS

There were no communications. 

6.

PETITIONS

There were no petitions.

7.

CONSENT REPORTS - FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

7.1

MINUTES OF THE JULY 19, AUGUST 16, SEPTEMBER 27, OCTOBER 26, NOVEMBER 15, DECEMBER 13, 2023 UNIONVILLE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA BOARD MEETING 16.0)

• Moved by Regional Councillor Alan Ho
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Michael Chan
  1. That the minutes of the July 19, August 16, September 27, October 26, November 15, December 13, 2023 Unionville Business Improvement Area Committee meeting be received for information purposes.
  Carried

7.2

MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 30, 2023 MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (16.0)

• Moved by Regional Councillor Alan Ho
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Michael Chan
  1. That the minutes of the November 30, 2023 Markham Environmental Advisory Committee be received for information purposes.
  Carried

7.3

Q1 2024 STATUS CAPITAL REPORT (7.5)

The Committee made an inquiry in relation to Exhibit B, 16062, and the surplus identified in the report.  Staff indicated that funds for this project are being held in abeyance for an updated CRM project and that there may be an additional capital expenditure request in the future to complete this initiative.  

 

• Moved by Councillor Ritch Lau
  Seconded by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
  1. That the report dated May 28, 2024, titled “Status of Capital Projects as of March 31, 2024” be received; and,
  2. That the Projects Completed within Scope with Surplus Funds and the Projects Completed within Scope without Surplus Funds, as identified on Exhibit B, be recommended for closure, and funds associated with these projects in the amount of $5,181,408 be transferred to the original sources of funding as identified in Exhibit B; and,
  3. That the Projects Not/Partially Initiated, as identified in Exhibit C, be recommended for closure and funds associated with these projects in the amount of $888,561 be transferred to the original sources of funding as identified in Exhibit C; and,
  4. That the Non-Development Charge Capital Contingency Project be topped up from the Life Cycle Replacement and Capital Reserve Fund by $300,858 to the approved amount of $250,000; and,
  5. That the Engineering Capital Contingency Project be topped up from the Development Charges - City-Wide Hard Reserve by $21,422 to the approved amount of $100,000; and,
  6. That the Design Capital Contingency Project be topped up from the Development Charges – Parks Development Reserve by $220,243 to the approved amount of $100,000; and,
  7. That the Staff approved draws from Other Reserves as part of the Capital Contingency process in the amount of $586,541 be received; and further, 
  8. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  Carried

7.4

2024 TAX RATES AND LEVY BY-LAW (7.3)

• Moved by Regional Councillor Alan Ho
  Seconded by Mayor Frank Scarpitti
  1. That the report dated May 28, 2024 entitled “2024 Tax Rates and Levy By-law” be received; and,
  2. That the by-law to provide for the levy and collection of property taxes totalling $842,935,528 required by the City of Markham, the Regional Municipality of York, Province of Ontario (Education) and Business Improvement Areas, in a form substantially similar to Appendix A (attached), satisfactory to the City Solicitor and provides for the mailing of notices and requesting payment of taxes for the year 2024, as set out as follows, be approved; and, 

  TAX LEVYING BODY	2024 TAX LEVY AMOUNT
  City of Markham	$184,060,026
  Region of York	$402,164,914
  Province of Ontario (Education)	$256,256,727
  Markham Village BIA	$239,640
  Unionville BIA	$214,221
  Total	$842,935,528

   

  3.   That staff be authorized to levy against Markham Stouffville Hospital and Seneca College the annual levy pursuant to Section 323 of the Municipal Act, 2001, as outlined in Section 9 of the attached by-law once the required information is received from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities; and,

  4.   That the attached by-law be passed to authorize the 2024 Tax Rates and Levy By-law; and further,

  5.   That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

  Carried

7.5

025-R-24 CITYWIDE PLUMBING SERVICES (5.7)

• Moved by Regional Councillor Alan Ho
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Michael Chan
  1. That the report entitled “025-R-24 Citywide Plumbing Services” be received; and,
  2. That the contract be awarded to the highest ranked / lowest priced bidder, Saunders Plumbing and Heating Inc. in the estimated annual amount of $184,854.16 inclusive of HST; and,
  3. That the award be funded from various operating accounts; and,
  4. That the contract include an option for the City (in its sole discretion) to extend the contract for up to three additional one-year terms. Pricing will be firm for the first year of the contract and prices in years two, three, and four will be subject to Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase to a maximum of 4%; and,
  5. That the Director of Sustainability & Asset Management and Senior Manager of Procurement & Accounts Payable be authorized to extend the contract for an additional three, one-year periods subject to approval of the annual operating budget, vendor performance, and an increase based on the CPI to a maximum of 4%; and,
  6. That the award amounts in 2025 to 2028 be subject to Council adoption of the respective annual operating budgets and that the award amounts / purchase order be amended to reflect changes to the various departments’ budget accounts as adopted by Council during the annual budget process; and further, 
  7. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  Carried

7.6

067-T-24 PAVEMENT MARKING (5.10)

• Moved by Regional Councillor Alan Ho
  Seconded by Deputy Mayor Michael Chan
  1. That the report entitled “067-T-24 Pavement Markings” be received; and,
  2. That the contract for Pavement Markings be awarded to the lowest priced bidder, Guild Electric Limited, for one term (from the date of award to December 31, 2024), in the estimated amount of $650,246.52 (inclusive of HST) with the option to renew for three additional, separate one-year periods (from January 1 to December 31 of the applicable renewal year) for a total estimated contract amount of $2,600,986.08, inclusive of HST; and,
  3. That the estimated 2024 cost in the amount of $650,246.52 (inclusive of HST) be funded from the following accounts:
     1. 700-505-5307 (Pavement Marking) with a budget available of $468,631.00; and,
     2. 640-101-5399-24058 (Traffic Operational Improvements) with budget available of $15,000.00; and,
  4. That the estimated budget shortfall in 2024 of $166,615.52 be reported as part of the 2024 year-end results of operations; and further,
  5. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
  Carried

8.

MOTIONS

9.

NOTICES OF MOTION

There were no notices of motion. 

10.

NEW/OTHER BUSINESS

There was no new or other business. 

11.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

There were no announcements. 

12.

CONFIDENTIAL 

General Committee did not resolve into confidential session.  The Committee consented to defer the Confidential agenda until June 11, 2024.  

12.1

GENERAL COMMITTEE CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES -  APRIL 30, 2024 (16.0) [Municipal Act, 2001, Section 239 (2) (c)(e)(f)(k)]

12.2

RESTRICTED AND CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS

12.2.1

LABOUR RELATIONS OR EMPLOYEE NEGOTIATIONS; RESTRICTED AND CONFIDENTIAL (11.0) [Municipal Act, 2001, Section 239 (2)(d)]

Note: General Committee to resolve into restricted and confidential session on this matter.

13.

ADJOURNMENT

• Moved by Councillor Reid McAlpine
  Seconded by Councillor Karen Rea

  That General Committee adjourn at 9:46 AM.

  Carried