MARKHAM PARKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2008

YORK ROOM, MARKHAM CIVIC CENTRE

 

MINUTES

____________________________________________________________________________

 

Attendance:

Regional Councillor T. Wong

Regional Councillor J. Jones

Regional Councillor G. Landon

Deputy Mayor J. Heath

Councillor J. Virgilio

 

Regrets:

Councillor A. Chiu

 

Staff

A. Brown, Director, Engineering

M. West, Manager, Strategic Initiatives

B. Wiles, Manager, Enforcement and Licensing

V. Siu, Senior Business Analyst

L. Mele, Transportation Demand Management Coordinator

J. Kee, Committee Clerk

 

 

The Markham Parking Advisory Committee convened at the hour of 1:10 p.m. with Councillor J. Virgilio in the Chair.

 

 

1.         MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM PARKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

            MEETINGS HELD ON JANUARY 29, 2008

 

Moved by Regional Councillor J. Jones

Seconded by Regional Councillor G. Landon

 

That the minutes of the Markham Parking Advisory Committee meeting held on January 29, 2008 be adopted.

CARRIED

 

 

 

2.                  PARKING MANAGEMENT BUSINESS PLAN

 

Mr. Lorenzo Mele, Transportation Demand Management Coordinator, reviewed the objectives of the Business Plan, noting that the main reason is to create a rationale to expand the Pay and Display Program to other parts of the Town.

 

Members were updated on the contract, and advised that the total cost of the project has been reduced by approximately $10,000 to $61,138, as staff will now prepare the Parking Management “Policy and Procedures Manual” for peer review by the consultant.  Mr. Mele noted that B. A. Consulting Group, the successful bidder, will bring its expertise and the latest in research and technology resources into the project.  He reviewed the proposed Business Plan timelines for the next four months.

 

Potential parking expansion areas within Markham were discussed, including: Main Street Markham, the Thornhill Community Centre area; the Anthony Roman Centre, Markham Centennial Community Centre, Main Street Unionville, and the Bur Oak and Cornell area.  The feasibility of encouraging major private property owners, such as Markville Mall and YMCA, to consider pay parking was also raised.  Staff advised that this would be a major part of the consultant’s study, and a list of areas recommended for parking expansion will be prepared for Committee and staff’s consideration.

 

The feasibility of requiring developers to include pay parking on private property as a condition of development approval was raised, and staff will discuss this matter with the Director of Planning and report back to Committee.  Other related matters were raised, including: the purchase of land to accommodate parking requirement; parking garages; underground parking; the success of preferred parking at GO stations; and pressures from the Region of York and the Province.

 

For the purposes of clarification, staff provided an explanation of the overall strategy of the Markham Transportation Planning Study, and the purpose of the Parking Management Business Plan, noting that the Business Plan is an operational, short term (3-year) plan to expand parking in the Town.  More information will be presented on the differences between these two initiatives at the next meeting.

 

Committee expressed some concern regarding the process that the consultants would be following in the development of the Business Plan, and it was suggested that it would be beneficial to schedule a meeting with representatives of B. A. Consulting Group and Members of Committee and staff to discuss the guidelines, the process, and the timelines.  Staff agreed to arrange a meeting within the next two weeks, and to also invite representatives of the IBI Group to provide information on the Town’s overall strategy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.         PAY AND DISPLAY PROGRAM UPDATE

 

Mr. Lorenzo Mele, Transportation Demand Management Coordinator, provided a brief update on the Pay and Display Program.

 

 

4.         GTA PARKING OPERATIONS TOUR

 

Mr. Lorenzo Mele, Transportation Demand Management Coordinator, presented options for Committee to consider regarding the planning of a tour of parking operations in the GTA, including: Markham; the Beaches area of Toronto; the Yonge Street Corridor to North York Centre; Mississauga; Oakville; and Burlington.

 

Following some discussion, it was agreed that the tour would take place in Toronto, in the areas of:

  • the Beaches
  • Danforth Avenue
  • the Distillery

 

A bus will be arranged for pickup in the early morning at a date convenient to all Members before the end of April, and lunch will be included.  Staff will contact the City of Toronto to arrange for a representative of the Parking Authority to join the tour.  Other Members of Council and appropriate staff will also be invited.

 

It was agreed that it may be difficult to schedule a second day of touring, due to Councillors’ schedules.  Staff advised that they will contact Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington and Guelph to obtain details of the pay parking situations in each municipality, and provide a synopsis to Members of Committee.  A second day will be arranged, if necessary.

 

Committee suggested that it may be helpful to invite a representative of the City of Brampton to a future meeting of the Parking Advisory Committee to provide information on their experiences.

 

The following matters were raised and briefly discussed: the number and cost of parking spaces normally allotted to condominium owners; inconsistent requirements of overnight parking; Business Plan mandate; overall strategy

 

 

5.         DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

The next regular meeting of the Parking Advisory Committee is scheduled for:

 

Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. in the Canada Room.

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Moved by Regional Councillor T. Wong

Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones

 

That the Parking Advisory Committee meeting adjourn. (2.35 p.m.)

 

CARRIED