MINUTES FROM THE FOURTH MEETING OF THE

MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE IN 2006

 

Town of Markham

York Room - Civic Centre

 

April 19 - 6:30 P.M.

 

 

Members

Regrets

Jonathan Mingay

Elizabeth Plashkes

Helen Walter

Councillor J. Webster

Keith Thirgood

 

Frankie Rose

 

Peter Ross

 

Michelle Sukul-Chan

 

Dianne More

 

Councillor G. McKelvey

 

Joyce Nelson-Watt (for E. Plashkes)

 

                       

Staff

Stan Lau, Senior Project Manager

Chris Raynor, Committee Clerk

Bev Shugg Barbeito, Committee Clerk

 

The meeting of the Main Street Markham Committee meeting convened at the hour of 6:30 p.m. with Councillor G. McKelvey in the Chair.

 

1.                  ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE THIRD MEETING OF THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE IN 2006

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the minutes of the Main Street Markham Committee meeting held on March 15, 2006, be adopted with the following correction:

 

The Committee was advised that Mr. D. Adams is resigning from the Committee. The Committee expressed appreciation for his many years of service and wished him well in the future.

CARRIED

 

2.         UPDATES

 

a)         Incoming Planning Applications

 

The Committee was advised there were no new applications in the area.

 

b)         Highway 48 Transfer of Jurisdiction Discussions

 

The Committee was advised that the province has agreed to the Town’s request to transfer responsibility for Highway 48, north of Highway 407 to 16th Avenue. Negotiations are still ongoing for Highway 48, north of 16th Avenue to Major MacKenzie Drive; this may be resolved within a few months. An email on this subject from Regional Councillor J. Heath was distributed to the Committee.

 

There was discussion concerning a ban on trucks using Main Street and it was noted that a ban would not prevent vehicles such as delivery trucks entering the area. The Committee considered ways in which a ban might be implemented and there was general agreement that it should happen soon.

 

The Committee was advised that a report dealing with truck traffic on Main Street will be presented to General Committee on April 24, 2006. It was requested that the Committee Clerk update the Committee following this report.

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the Mayor, Council and Senior Staff be congratulated for securing the transfer of jurisdiction of a portion of Highway 48 after decades of efforts;

 

And that Council proceed immediately to implement a ban of truck traffic on Main Street Markham.

CARRIED

 

c)         Environmental Assessment – Highway 48

 

The Committee was provided with an update from staff regarding two projects: the Highway 48/Highway 7 intersection and the 16th Avenue/Main Street intersection.

 

It is hoped that the tender in May for the 16th Avenue/Main Street intersection project will be issued in May 2006to allow construction to start in summer 2006.

 

Staff are in the process of selecting a consultant for the Highway 48/Highway 7 intersection project; once the consultant is hired, the environmental study will likely take one year to complete. The Committee viewed a number of design options for the intersection and it was noted that a public meeting on the matter will be held in June 2006. The Committee expressed frustration with the projected timelines of the associated Environmental Assessment.

 

Mr. S. Lau advised the Committee that he will be his retiring on June 1, 2006.

 

THE MARKHAM MAIN STREET COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the Committee thank Mr. S. Lau, Senior Project Manager, for his hard work, especially in relation to the development of the Main Street traffic management and streetscape plans, over the years.

CARRIED

 

e)         Master Plan Environmental Sub-Committee

 

It was reported that an additional 12 garbage cans and 7 benches are required. Councillor G. McKelvey agreed to follow up with staff.

 

f)          Promotion of Main Street Sub-Committee

 

Ms. D. More provided a brief update. The Committee was advised that information has been collected and a rough outline of a presentation has been created. Ms. E. Plashkes is collecting suggestions for venues for the presentation. Additionally, Mr. K. Thirgood reported that progress is being made to create a static display.

 

The Committee asked about the possibility of borrowing an LCD projector from the Town to use for displaying the completed presentation; this matter will be investigated with staff.

 

Ms. Sukul-Chan reported that the first of a series of articles about Main Street Markham will appear in the “Village Voice” this week.

 

g)         Tannery Pond

 

There was no update on this matter.

 

h)         Official Plan and Zoning Sub-Committee

 

There was no update on this matter.

 

i)          Update on Bypass Signage

 

There was no update on this matter.

 

j)          Merge Lane on Main Street South

 

The Committee was provided with a brief update.

 

k)         Budget Update

 

Mr. K. Thirgood agreed to provide an update via email.

 

l)          Newspaper boxes on Main Street

 

            The Committee has provided staff with details of offending newspaper boxes. This matter will be investigated with staff.

 

m)        Posting of flyers on Main Street

 

            The Committee reported that this is a continuing problem. It was suggested that Town summer students be assigned to remove flyers.

 

 

3.         NEW BUSINESS

 

a)         Street Naming in Markham Centre

 

The Committee expressed concern that there will be a “Main Street” in the proposed Markham Centre development .The Committee was advised that the main street in Markham Centre is “Enterprise Drive” and that street naming conventions will not allow for another “Main Street.”

 

b)         Resignation of Mark Champion

 

The Committee was advised that Mr. M. Champion is resigning from the Committee.

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the resignation of Mark Champion from the Main Street Markham Committee be received with regret and that a letter of appreciation be forwarded.

CARRIED

 

c)         Nomination of Judi McIntyre

 

It was suggested that Ms. Judi McIntyre be approached to rejoin the Committee.

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That Ms. Judi McIntyre be invited to join the Main Street Markham Committee.

CARRIED

 

d)         Reassignment of Committee Clerk Chris Raynor

 

The Committee was advised that Committee Clerk Chris Raynor has been re-assigned to other duties. The Committee expressed appreciation for his service and wished him well in the future.

 

 

 

 

e)         Composition of the Committee

 

A letter, advising of their removal from the membership list, will be sent to members who have not attended the last 4 or more meetings.

 

The Committee will discuss the size of the committee and whether to add more members at the next meeting.

 

 

4.         ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting of the Main Street Markham Committee adjourned at 8.20 p.m.