MARKHAM PARKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2007

CANADA ROOM, MARKHAM CIVIC CENTRE

 

MINUTES

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

Attendance:

Regional Councillor J. Jones

Regional Councillor J. Heath

Regional Councillor T. Wong

Regional Councillor G. Landon

Councillor J. Virgilio

Councillor L. Kanapathi

Councillor A. Chiu

 

Staff

J. Livey, Chief Administrative Officer

A. Brown, Director, Engineering

B. Cribbett, Treasurer

S. Saiyed, Manager, Transportation/Engineering

M. West, Manager, Strategic Initiatives

B. Wiles, Manager, Enforcement and Licensing

L. Mele, Transportation Demand Management Coordinator

J. Kee, Committee Clerk

 

 

 

The Markham Parking Advisory Committee convened at the hour of 9:50 a.m. with Councillor Joe Virgilio in the Chair.

 

 

1.         WELCOME

 

Councillor Joe Virgilio, Chair, welcomed Members and staff to the second Markham Parking Advisory Committee meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

2.         MINUTES OF MARKHAM PARKING ADVISORY

COMMITTEE MEETING OF JULY 30, 2007

 

Committee had before them the minutes of the July 30, 2007 Markham Parking Advisory Committee.  It was requested that more details from the discussions which had been held during the meeting be included in the minute document prior to its adoption by Committee.  A more fulsome account of the dialogue will be presented at the next meeting.

 

 

3.         CORRESPONDENCE – Parking on Cox Blvd.

 

Correspondence dated May 22, 2007 from four (4) business owners was presented with respect to their parking concerns on Cox Boulevard and their proposal for parking solutions.

 

Mr. Lorenzo Mele, TDM Coordinator, advised that staff have been addressing the residents’ submission, and distributed copies of proposed recommendations for discussion of Committee this date.  Mr. Bill Wiles, Manager, Enforcement and Licensing, briefly updated Members on the recent concerns relating to the parking machines.

 

Following some discussion, Members directed that the proposed recommendations be presented to the business owners for their consideration, and report back at the next meeting.

 

Moved by Regional Councillor G. Landon

Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu

 

That the following pay and display parking program proposals, in response to the parking concerns on Cox Boulevard, be approved and presented to the business owners for their consideration:

 

  • maintain pay and display program in this area;
  • increase maximum parking time from 2 hours to 3 hours to accommodate resident requirements, i.e. dinner guests, visitors;
  • improve signage to avoid confusion concerning motorists requirements to pay for parking;
  • reduce minimum parking from 1 hour to 30 minutes to accommodate businesses concerns regarding their customers needs;
  • costs to reprogram machines to accommodate recommended changes approximately $1,000

CARRIED

 

 

 

 

 

4.         PAY AND DISPLAY PARKING PROGRAM – Update

 

Ms. Meg West, Manager Strategic Initiatives, provided an update on the Pay and Display Parking Program.

 

Committee discussed general parking issues, including:

 

  • the costs for parking in the City of Toronto vs Markham
  • gradual evolution of pay for parking Town-wide; costs initially are low
  • system comparisons with other municipalities, local hospital, Hilton hotel, etc.
  • potential use of credit card machines; estimated cost - $5400/machine; feasibility of pilot projects in certain areas
  • parking shortage in area of YMCA Boulevard & Rivis Road could be alleviated with the installation of machines
  • hourly parking rates; maximum rates
  • the ability to program the parking machines easily
  • the need to develop a set of principles to direct process
  • parking on Main Streets in Unionville and Markham; Markham Civic Centre; Cornell;
  • disabled parking; temporary parking for physiotherapy patients; gated systems; surface parking vs underground parking
  • staff operational issues

 

Staff was requested to provide detailed financial information at the next meeting regarding revenue from the parking program.

 

Committee requested staff to report back with specific proposals regarding rates to be charged for parking; the types of machines to be used; potential pilot project areas; including the credit card payment option. 

 

 

5.         PARKING STRATEGY ‘Moving Forward’

 

Mr. Lorenzo Mele, Transportation Demand Management Co-ordinator, gave a presentation regarding the Town’s parking strategy, including: status to date; parking management planning; rationale/planning approaches; Transportation Strategic Plan – Town-wide parking strategy; and the Parking Advisory Committee Business Plan & Objectives.  Detailed terms of reference for the Business Plan Request for Proposals will be presented to the committee at the next meeting.

 

Ms. Barbara Cribbett, Treasurer, provided information relating to the objectives of the Tax Increment Financing Feasibility Study, and explained the process, which began in the summer, and is required under the Tax Increment Financing Act prior to applying for TIF funding.  She noted that the “regulation” detailing additional information required is expected to be issued in September 2007.

 

 

 

Members discussed the time frame involved; the interest of the Region of York and other municipalities; the expected amount of the funding; and developer involvement. 

 

 

6.         DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting of Committee is scheduled for:

 

Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at 12:30 in the Canada Room.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The Parking Advisory Committee adjourned at 11:00 a.m.