GENERAL COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services

Catherine Conrad, Town Solicitor

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Robert Tadmore, Coordinator of Geomatics/GIS Advocate

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

2005-Mar-21

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Authorization to enter into Data Use Licence Agreements with Government Agencies

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report entitled “Authorization to enter into Data Use Licence Agreements with Government Agencies” be received.

 

And that the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to enter into a data use licence agreement with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to obtain digital mapping of the Greenbelt Plan, in a form satisfactory to the Town Solicitor.

 

And that the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to enter into future data use licence agreements with government agencies, as outlined in the report, in a form a form satisfactory to the Town Solicitor and the Commissioner of Development Services.

 

PURPOSE:

This report identifies the requirement for the Town to enter into a data use licence agreement with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in order to obtain mapping to implement the Provincially legislated Greenbelt Plan. It also identifies the need to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to enter into any future data use licence agreements with government agencies, as needed.

 

BACKGROUND:

On February 24, 2005, the Greenbelt Act, 2005 received Royal Assent and is now in force. This legislation provides the framework and authority to establish a Greenbelt Plan for the Golden Horseshoe. The Greenbelt Plan and the Greenbelt Area (Ontario Regulation 59/05), were established on February 28, 2005 and take effect retroactively to December 16, 2004. In order to provide greater clarity on the Greenbelt and the potential implications it may have on Markham, the Province has provided several digital mapping layers (outer boundary, greenbelt designations, protected countryside, natural heritage system boundary) for the Greenbelt Plan area. This information is to be used as the basis for developing policies and zoning restrictions. In order to obtain this data, the Town is required to enter into a data use licence agreement with the Province.

 

Other Provincial initiatives such as the Places to Grow Act, which is expected to receive Royal Assent this summer, will likely require the Town to enter into similar data use licence agreements. The Town has previously entered into such an agreement with regard to mapping for the Oak Ridges Moraine Plan.

 

OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:

In order to permit Town Staff to implement the Province’s requirements regarding the Greenbelt Plan, the Town is required to enter into a data use licence agreement with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to obtain and use essential digital mapping. The Ministry has provided the necessary agreement. The agreement has been reviewed by the Town Solicitor and the IT Department. It is recommended that the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to enter into the data use licence agreement with the Province.

 

Future data use licence agreements will be required for other Provincial initiatives including the Places to Grow Growth Plan. Staff also foresees the possibility of future data acquisition opportunities, of value to the Town, with other government agencies involving similar licence agreements. The current process for obtaining Council approval to enter into each data licence agreement consumes a minimum of four weeks. It results in a significant delay for staff to use the data for Town projects. This is especially imperative when there are senior government deadlines for municipal commenting, or compliance.

 

In order to streamline this process, it is recommended that Council authorize the Mayor and Clerk to enter into future data use licence agreements with other government agencies involving the provision of data required by the Town. Such agreements will be prepared to the satisfaction of the Town Solicitor and the Commissioner of Development Services, in consultation with the Corporate Information Officer.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

There are no financial considerations for the Town.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

There are no environmental considerations for the Town.

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

There are no accessibility considerations for the Town.

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

There are no engage 21st considerations for the Town.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The IT Department was consulted with regard to the content of the agreement.

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

None.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Commissioner of Development Services

 

Catherine M. Conrad,

Town Solicitor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q:\Development\Planning\Teams\GEOMATIC\Admin\Reports\MMAH Greenbelt Data Licence Agreement.doc