MINUTES FROM THE TENTH MEETING OF THE

MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE IN 2007

 

Town of Markham

York Room - Civic Centre

November 21, 20075:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Members                                                                      Regrets

Keith Thirgood                                                             Councillor C. Moretti   

Helen Walter                                                                Peter Ross

Jonathan Mingay                                                                      

Councillor J. Webster                                                  

Diane More

Phil Howes, BIA

Ibrahim Ali

Deirdre Kavanagh                                                       

 

Staff

George Duncan, Senior Heritage Planner

Alida Tari, Committee Clerk
Laura Gold, Committee Clerk

 

 

The tenth meeting of the Main Street Markham Committee meeting in 2007 was convened at

5:40 p.m. with Councillor John Webster in the Chair.

 

1.         MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 17, 2007 MEETING OF THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the minutes of the Main Street Markham Committee meeting held on

October 17, 2007, be adopted.

CARRIED

 

 

2.         2008 BUDGET

 

Councillor John Webster reported that all requested budget items have been submitted and anticipate it will be finalized in February 2008.  The Committee recommends this item be moved to the “Parking Lot” until the February 2008 meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.         STRATEGIC PLAN

 

The following strategic objectives were discussed:

 

1)                  The entrance sign posts at the Markham Museum need to be painted black

 

The sign posts at the Markham Museum are scheduled to be painted in the summer of 2008. 

 

The Committee requested that this be move to the “Parking lot” and confirmed in the spring of 2008.

 

 

 

2)                              Cleaning Tannery Pond after a water main break.

 

The Committee suggested the clean up from the main break in the flood plain of Robinson Creek needs to be rectified immediately rather than in the spring of 2008.

 

Councillor J. Webster will request that the Environmental Committee, represented by Councillor Erin Shapero, send a letter to the Region of York with respect to the cleaning of materials left behind as a result of the main break.

                                                                                    ACTION:  Councillor J. Webster

 

3)            Garbage Bins at Tannery Pond

 

The Committee recommends that garbage bins be placed at Tannery Pond.

 

Councillor J. Webster will confirm with Bob Walters, District Manager East, Operations, how many receptacles have been ordered.

                                                                                    ACTION:  Councillor J. Webster

 

Councillor J. Webster will confirm with the Waste Management if these receptacles could be added to their summer routes.

                                                                                    ACTION:  Councillor J. Webster

 

4)            Truck ban signage

 

Councillor J. Webster reported that he was in correspondence with David Poretta, Engineering Technician, with respect to the truck ban signage on Main Street Markham.  Mr. Poretta confirmed all the signage is legal. 

 

The Committee suggested a letter be sent to York Regional Police stating that all the truck ban signage on Main Street Markham is legal and therefore enforceable.

                                                                                    ACTION:  Councillor J. Webster

 

 

 

 

5)            The design of the median at 16th

 

There was discussion with respect to the type of plants that could be planted in the median at 16th Avenue.  The Committee stated that the original Main Street Markham vision had trees being planted in the median.  The Committee suggested contacting Ms. Linda Irvine, Manager, Parks and Open Space Development, to inquire about the plant design for the median at 16th Avenue and  its ability to support the growth of trees.

                                                                                                ACTION:  Committee Clerk

 

 

6)            Walking Tour Improvements

 

The Committee suggested having a series of short walking trails rather than one long walking trail.  George Duncan, Senior Heritage Planner, had a sample of a walking tour brochure created by the Town’s Corporate Communications for Heritage Markham.  Mr. Duncan advised that Corporate Communications would be interested in assisting with the creation of a walking trail brochure for Main Street Markham and would require direction from the Committee.

 

The Committee suggested inviting Corporate Communications to the January 2008 meeting to discuss the brochure.

                                                                                    ACTION: Alida Tari, Committee Clerk

 

7)                  Service Club Signs

 

The Committee agreed the signs should meet the Heritage guidelines.  Mr. Duncan distributed an example of a Heritage sign the Committee could use as a guide when creating the service signs. He advised a heritage permit may not be required for the sign located at the north end although, one may be required for the sign at the south end.

 

Mr. Keith Thirgood, stated that he will provide a sketch of a sign to present to the December 5, 2007 Lion’s Club meeting.

                                                                                    ACTION:  Keith Thirgood

 

 

 

8)                  Grant to eliminate backlit signs

 

Phil Howe, BIA, advised the Committee that although a $1000.00 non-conforming grant is available it may be easier to work with the merchants to improve the appearance of their existing signs.

 

9)                  Parking situation

 

There was considerable discussion with respect to the current parking situation on Main Street Markham.  Mr. Howes advised the sign shop takes much longer to create the Heritage green parking signs and suggested using the standard parking signs. He reported that he is working

 

together with Mr. David Pearce, Manager, Real Property, with respect to obtaining a piece of privately owned land that would make access to one of the parking lots easier for residents and the general public.

 

The Committee suggested obtaining a sample of the Heritage parking sign and a sample of the standard green parking sign from Operations and bring it to the January 2008 meeting for the Committee to discuss.

                                                                        ACTION:  Committee Clerk

 

 

 

10)       Interpretation Sub-Committee

 

The Interpretation Sub-Committee will report back at the January 2008 meeting regarding the gateway program and the commemorative plaques.

 

ACTION: Deirdre Kavanagh and Diane Moore

 

11)       Benches and Receptacles

 

There was some confusion in with respect to the number of benches and garbage receptacles that have been ordered. The Committee suggested contacting Bob Walter, District Manager East, Operations, to confirm number of benches and receptacles ordered for the Markham Main street area.

                                                                                    ACTION: Committee Clerk

 

The Committee was informed that a heritage bench had been stolen from Tannery Pond and had been replaced with a standard bench.  The Committee requested contacting Mr. Walters to have the standard bench replaced with a heritage bench at Tannery Pond.

 

                                                                                    ACTION: Committee Clerk

 

12)       Status of Morgan Park

 

Councillor J. Webster advised that there is not any work scheduled to be done at Morgan Park.  The Committee suggested removing this item from the “do list” on the Strategic Plan.

                                                                                   

                                                                                    ACTION:  Keith Thirgood

 

13)       What is the Status of the Linear Park/ Library forest

 

The Committee suggested removing this item until the Environmental Assessment is completed.

 

14)       Add improvements to the Hwy 7 intersection

 

There was discussion with respect to the advantages of adding counting style crossing signals to the intersection at highway 7 and Main Street Markham and to the intersection at Robinson and Main Street Markham.

 

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the counting style crossing improvements at the intersection of Highway 7 and Main Street be added to the Main Street Markham Vision.

CARRIED

 

 

 

4.                  TANNERY POND

 

Mr. Thirgood presented an actual size sample of the interpretive signage created for the Tannery Pond.

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the Main Street Markham Committee approve the interpretive signs designed by Capestone Communications Group and be forwarded to Ms. Irvine for the next steps.

CARRIED

 

                                                                                                            ACTION: Keith Thirgood

 

 

 

5.  NEXT MEETING

 

            The next meeting of the Main Street Markham Committee is scheduled for Wednesday,

            January 16, 2008 at 5:30 pm in the York Room.

 

 

6.  ADJOURNMENT

 

            The meeting of the Main Street Markham Committee adjourned at 7:45 pm.