M I N U T E S

GENERAL COMMITTEE

2007-12-03
Meeting No. 32

Finance & Administrative Issues Community Services Issues

Chair: Councillor J. Virgilio Chair: Councillor A. Chiu

Chair, Budget Sub-Ctte: Councillor D. Horchik Transportation Issues

Chair: IT Sub-Ctte: Reg. Councillor J. Jones Chair: Reg. Councillor G. Landon

Chair: Grants Sub-Ctte: Councillor V. Burke Environment & Sustainability Issues

Chair: Councillor E. Shapero

Attendance

Mayor F. Scarpitti Regional Councillor J. Heath Regional Councillor T. Wong Regional Councillor G. Landon Councillor V. Burke Councillor J. Virgilio Councillor C. Moretti Councillor J. Webster Councillor D. Horchik Councillor L. Kanapathi Councillor A. Chiu

J. Livey, Chief Administrative Officer C. Conrad, Town Solicitor A. Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate Services J. Baird, Commissioner of Development Services S. Birrell, Town Clerk B. Cribbett, Treasurer A. Seabrooke, Director, Strategic Services P. Loukes, Director, Operations P. Wealleans, Director of Taxation C. Raynor, Committee Clerk

The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:00 a.m. with Councillor J. Virgilio in the Chair. Councillor A. Chiu assumed the Chair for discussion of Item 8 so Councillor J. Virgilio could participate in debate.

DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST

None disclosed

1. MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 19, 2007 Page 1
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes

Moved by Councillor A. Chiu

Seconded by Councillor V. Burke

That the minutes of the November 19, 2007 General Committee be received.

CARRIED

2. MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 2, 2007 Page 9
PARKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE (16.0)
Minutes

Moved by Councillor A. Chiu

Seconded by Councillor V. Burke

That the minutes of the October 2, 2007 Parking Advisory Committee be received.

CARRIED

3. 2007 ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS (16.24) No Attachment

Moved by Councillor A. Chiu

Seconded by Councillor V. Burke

Markham Conservation Committee

That the resignation of Mr. Samuel Yip from the Markham Conservation Committee be accepted with regret;

And that the vacancy be considered with all other upcoming advisory committee vacancies being considered.

CARRIED

4. AMENDMENT TO RECORDS RETENTION BY-LAW 2001-101 Page 15
RELATIVE TO FIREFIGHTER HUMAN RESOURCES RECORDS (12.1)

F. Edwards, ext. 3090

Report

Moved by Councillor A. Chiu

Seconded by Councillor V. Burke

That By-law No. 2001-101 be amended to add a new retention code for the permanent retention of Town of Markham Firefighters’ Human Resources records;

And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

CARRIED

5. CORNELL OVERNIGHT PARKING Page 17
PERMIT PROGRAM – PHASE 3 (2.17)
B. Wiles, ext.

Report

The Committee suggested that further public consultation is required on this matter.

Moved by Regional Councillor G. Landon

Seconded by Councillor J. Webster

That the report entitled “Cornell Overnight Parking Permit Program – Phase 3” be received;

And that the Ward Councillor convene a public consultation meeting regarding the Program in February, 2008.

CARRIED

6. CONVEYANCING OF PARTS 5 AND 8 Page 21
PLAN 65R-29026 TO THE REGION OF YORK
FOR WARDEN AVENUE ROAD WIDENING
SOUTH OF AHORN GROVE AND WEST OF WARDEN (8.10)
C. Conrad, ext. 4737

Report Attachment

There was brief discussion on this matter.

Moved by Regional Councillor G. Landon

Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Heath

That Pursuant to By-law 178-96 Parts 5 and 8, Plan 65R-29026 be declared surplus to Town of Markham purposes and that notice of the proposed disposition of such lands be placed on the agenda for the Council meeting of December 11, 2007;

And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

CARRIED

7. DEVELOPMENT CHARGES INDEXING Page 25
JANUARY 1, 2008 (7.3)
K. Ross, ext. 2126

Report

There was brief discussion on this matter.

Moved by Councillor D. Horchik

Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong

That the report titled “Development Charges Indexing January 1, 2008” be received;

And that Council approve an increase in development charges of 3.50%, effective January 1, 2008.

CARRIED

8. 9 STATION LANE (STIVER MILL) Page 29
UNIONVILLE HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT
OPTIONS FOR DISPOSITION (7.12)
D. Pearce, ext. 5988

Report Attachment

Councillor A. Chiu assumed the Chair for discussion of this Item so Councillor J. Virgilio could participate in debate.

There was considerable discussion of the options for the Stiver Mill. It was suggested that the community supports a long term lease from the Town rather than sale to a private owner.

Committee requested that the criteria for the Request for Expressions of Interest include both the financial implications and neighbourhood compatibility of the proposal.

Moved by Councillor D. Horchik

Seconded by Councillor C. Moretti

That the Request for Expressions of Interest Package for the adaptive re-use of the Stiver Mill property be a long term lease;

And that staff report back on the results of the Request for Expressions of Interest, including the preferred submission;

And that the Stiver Mill Steering Committee be involved in the process for developing criteria for the Request for Expressions of Interest and be provided with the opportunity for continued input on the subject;

And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

CARRIED

Amended by Council on December 11, 2007 as follows:

That Clause 1 be amended to read:

“That the Request for Expressions of Interest Package for the adaptive re-use of the Stiver Mill property be a long term lease;”

9. FIRE VEHICLES AND
APPARATUS STANDARDIZATION (7.15)

This item was removed from the agenda.

10. STREET LIGHT ENERGY REVIEW, EXISTING SYSTEM Page 39
AND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY EFFICIENT PRODUCTS (10.0)
V. Sawler, ext. 7523, A. Laver, ext. 3400

Report Attachments

Moved by Councillor D. Horchik

Seconded by Councillor J. Virgilio

That the report dated October 17, 2007, entitled “Streetlight Energy Review, Existing System and Alternative Energy Efficient Products” be received;

And that the Asset Management Department and the Markham Energy Conservation Office (MECO) continue to investigate alternative streetlighting products on an ongoing basis and make recommendations to the Engineering Department for revisions to the Town’s streetlighting standards for use in new developments, when and if such products are proven to be more energy efficient and as reliable as existing standards and to report back to Council on an on-going basis;

And that the Asset Management Department and MECO, be authorized to undertake a pilot project to reduce the wattage of existing cobra head streetlight fixtures in the Allstate Parkway industrial/commercial area (Highway 7 and Woodbine Avenue) at a cost not to exceed $50,000 and to report back to Council in 12 months on the results of the pilot project;

And that the Asset Management Department, MECO and the Engineering Department be authorized to study options to reduce energy consumption and light pollution of the existing decorative globe fixtures on Town Centre Boulevard and to report back to Council;

And further that staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

CARRIED

11. STAFF AWARDED CONTRACTS
FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2007(7.12)
A. Moore, ext. 4711

This item was removed from the agenda.

12. CANCELLATION, REDUCTION Page 49
OR REFUND OF TAXES
UNDER SECTIONS 357 & 358 OF
THE MUNICIPAL ACT, 2001-COMMERCIAL (7.1)
B. Cribbett, ext. 4735

Moved by Regional Councillor G. Landon

Seconded by Councillor D. Horchik

That the non-residential taxes totalling $99,740.52 be adjusted under Section 357 (in the amount of $97,846.05) and Section 358 (in the amount of $1,894.47) of the Municipal Act, 2001 of which the Town’s portion is estimated to be $19,879.91;

And that the associated interest is cancelled in proportion to the tax adjustments;

And that the Treasurer be directed to adjust the Collector’s Roll accordingly;

And that staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

CARRIED

13. TAX WRITE-OFFS IN ACCORDANCE Page 55
WITH SECTION 354 OF THE
MUNICIPAL ACT, 2001 (7.1)
P. Wealleans, ext. 4734

Committee requested brief clarification.

Moved by Councillor A. Chiu

Seconded by Mayor Scarpitti

That taxes totalling $245,757.85 (includes penalty and interest estimated in the amount of $24,012.69) as set out in this report be written off pursuant to the provisions of Section 354 of the Municipal Act, 2001, of which the Town’s portion is $58,815.90;

And that the applicable penalty and/or interest charges be adjusted accordingly;

And that the Treasurer be directed to remove the taxes from the Collector’s Roll.

CARRIED

14. DEVELOPMENT CHARGES Page 59
BY-LAWS RENEWALS (7.11)
B. Cribbett, ext. 4735

There was brief discussion of the options for a developer if the limited exemption is eliminated in the new Development Charges By-law.

Moved by Councillor D. Horchik

Seconded by Mayor Scarpitti

That the staff memorandum concerning the continuance of the limited Development Charges exemption on non-residential developments to August 31, 2009 be received for information.

And that the report on the proposed new Development Charges By-law that is presented to the public and the Developers’ Roundtable advises that elimination of the continued limited exemption on non-residential developments is being considered.

CARRIED

15. WINTER MAINTENANCE REVIEW (5.0) Page 75
P. Ingham, ext. 4852

Mr. P. Ingham, General Manager, Operations, presented an overview of the current service levels for winter maintenance as well as proposed improvements to those service levels. Committee was also provided with the financial implications for the proposed improvements.

Committee requested that the Contact Centre track the types of winter maintenance calls being received so as to better analyze areas for improvement.

Committee provided the following direction:

• That Service Level Option B be the proposed service level for Local Street Ploughing Threshold
• That the current service level for secondary sidewalks be maintained
• That the qualifying age for seniors to receive the Driveway Windrow Removal Program be 60 years of age and that staff consider options for developing an enhanced Windrow Removal Program for all residents on a user pay basis

Staff advised that a final report will be forthcoming to a future meeting.

Moved by Councillor D. Horchik

Seconded by Councillor C. Moretti

That the presentation from Mr. P. Ingham, General Manager, Operations, providing a Winter Maintenance Review, be received.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

The General Committee adjourned at 11:44 a.m.