Committee of the Whole

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Sheila Birrell, Town Clerk

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

same as above

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

2005-05-10

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Ward Boundaries

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That staff be directed to prepare a report and by-law adopting new ward boundaries described on Schedule “A” or “B” attached hereto, to take effect for the 2006 municipal election.

 

PURPOSE:

To facilitate the enactment of a by-law authorizing the implementation of new ward boundaries to take effect for the 2006 municipal election.

 

BACKGROUND:

 

Chronology of Events

January 2004                                        Council Retreat identified discrepancies in representation by population in current ward boundaries

November 2004                                   Information Report to Committee of the Whole

January 2005                                        Council Retreat discussed and an option selected

February 2005                                     Report to Committee of the Whole and Council requested

                                                            further changes to Wards 4 and 6

March 2005                                         Council approval of two options to proceed to a public

                                                            consultation process.

May 2005                                            Public Consultation Process completed

 

 

OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:

The two options that were the subject of the public consultation process are attached hereto as Schedules “A” and “B”.  The public consultation process included newspaper notices, individual letters to all Ratepayer Associations, an extensive webpage and two public meetings held out in the community.  The first public meeting on April 18, 2005 was attended by four Members of the Public.  The second public meeting on May 2nd was attended by only two Members of the Public who were actually present at the April 18th meeting.  Consequently, the May 2nd meeting did not OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:  (cont’d.)

proceed.  Copies of the official minutes are attached hereto as Schedule “C”.  A suggestion was raised on the floor at the April 18th meeting that the boundary of Wards 1 and 2 be extended east of Highway 404.  However, a previous Ontario Municipal Board decision specifically stated that the Highway 404 was to be considered a natural boundary.  The decision went on to include a comment that residents of Wards 1 and 2 would not be impacted by development of the area east of Highway 404.  Any impact would rest with the residents of Wards 7 and 8.

 

A question as to the source of the population information was raised at the April 18th public meeting and it was agreed information on that aspect would be included in the final report to Council.  The Planning Department advise that the estimates were prepared using the population projections in the 2004 Development Charges Review. These estimates are based on applying a standard Town-wide persons-per-unit value to the projected total units.

 

The difference between the two options is that Option A includes the area bounded by McCowan Avenue and Warden Avenue between Highway 7 and Highway 407 in Ward 4 and Option B includes it in Ward 3.  Only one communication was received from the Unionville Villagers’ Association advising that the UVA members were in support of Option A citing the fact the residents in the area in question would be more likely to shop on Main Street Markham than on Main Street Unionville.

 

Wards 3 & 4 Population in Options A and B

 

                                    Ward                           2006                2009                2012

Option A                          3                              29,593             30,229             32,261

                                        4                              39,378             43,022             47,649

 

Option B                          3                              32,032             32,612             34,593

                                        4                              36,939             40,639             45,317

 

 

The area in question, bounded by McCowan Road and Warden Avenue, between Highways 7 and 407, is mainly residential.  Historically, McCowan Road has been the accepted division between Wards 3 (Unionville) and 4 (Markham Village).

 

The current ward boundaries would range from a low of 19,100 to a high of 40,050 in 2006; from a low of 18,700 to a high of 48,100 in 2009; and from a low of 19,400 to a high of 56,850 in 2012.  Either Option A or B is an improvement upon the status quo.  The current ward boundaries is illustrated in Schedule “D”.

 

Option A contains clean lines using major roads and natural barriers to establish the proposed boundaries.  Option B also establishes the boundaries along major roads and natural barriers.  The population numbers are slightly more equitable in Option B.  A difference in population of only 11,000 residents (Option B) or 15,000 (Option A) in an overall projected 2012 population in excess of 276,000 residents is not significant, particularly as not all those residents will be


OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:  (cont’d.)

eligible voters.  Staff are of the opinion that either Option A or Option B can be justified at an Ontario Municipal Board hearing, based on generally accepted criteria for ward re-distributions and the extensive public consultation process followed.

 

A by-law will be presented to Council in June.  The Town is required to publish a notice of passing of the by-law in the newspaper and a 45 day appeal period will follow.  Appeal is to the Ontario Municipal Board. 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

None

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

None

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

None

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

None

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

None

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Schedule “A” – Option A

Schedule “B” – Option B

Schedule “C” – Public Meeting Minutes

Schedule “D” – Current Ward Boundaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheila Birrell,

Town Clerk.

 

Andy Taylor,

Commissioner of Corporate Services