OCTOBER 13, 2009 - 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

MINUTES

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE

Meeting No. 28

All Members of Council

Development Services Economic Development

Chair: Councillor J. Webster Chair:

Vice-Chair: Councillor D. Horchik Transportation Issues

Chair: Regional Councillor G. Landon

PART A

Presentations, Major Studies, and Issues Agenda

9:00 a.m. – Canada Room

Attendance

Deputy Mayor J. Heath Regional Councillor G. Landon Regional Councillor J. Virgilio Councillor V. Burke Councillor E. Shapero Councillor C. Moretti Councillor J. Webster Councillor D. Horchik Councillor L. Kanapathi Councillor A. Chiu Regrets Mayor F. Scarpitti Regional Councillor J. Jones

J. Livey, Chief Administrative Officer J. Baird, Commissioner of Development Services A. Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate Services A. Brown, Director of Engineering J. Lustig, Director Financial and Client Services J. Streisfield, Assistant Town Solicitor L. Miller, Sr. Planner Environmental Policy B. Karumanchery, Senior Development Manager V. Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban Design A. Tari, Committee Clerk

The Development Services Committee convened at 9:01 AM in the Canada Room with Councillor J. Webster in the Chair.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

None disclosed.

1. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
- September 29, 2009, Part A (10.0)

Minutes

Moved by Councillor A. Chiu

Seconded by Councillor C. Moretti

That the minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting, Part A, held

September 29, 2009, be confirmed.

CARRIED

2. PROGRESS REPORT
PETTICOAT CREEK WATERSHED
ACTION PLAN (13.13.2)

Town Presentation TRCA Presentation

Mr. Learie Miller, Senior Planner Environment Policy delivered a brief PowerPoint presentation that provided some background information with respect to the Petticoat Creek Watershed Action Plan.

Ms. Andréa Dubé-Goss, Project Manager, Watershed Management, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing an update with respect to the Petticoat Creek Action Plan. She advised the Committee that the second stage of public consultations will include the mailing of newsletters.

There was discussion regarding agricultural practices and its relation to this plan. The Committee also discussed the impacts of environmental improvements, with respect to this Petticoat Creek Action Plan.

Moved by Councillor E. Shapero

Seconded by Regional Councillor G. Landon

That the presentations provided by Mr. Learie Miller, Senior Planner Environment Policy and

Ms. Andréa Dubé-Goss, Project Manager, Watershed Management, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority regarding the Progress Report - Petticoat Creek Watershed Action Plan, be received.

CARRIED

3. EAST MARKHAM NON PROFIT
HOUSING PROJECT (EMNPH)
(10.0)

The above item was cancelled.

4. DRAFT REGIONAL OFFICIAL PLAN (10.17)

Presentation Report Appendix A

Ms. Valerie Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban Design, delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing a high level overview of the Draft Regional Official Plan. The staff comments are preliminary, and further Town comments can be forwarded to the Region as Council provides further direction on the Town’s own Growth Management Strategy and future infrastructure to support growth.

The Committee requested that a Workshop be scheduled to discuss the staff’s detailed comments (Appendix A) further, prior to them being forwarded to the Region. Staff indicated that they will advise the Region of the upcoming workshop and emphasized that the process is not finished. The Committee agreed to review “Appendix A” and forward the items that they would like to discuss at the Workshop to the Director of Planning and Urban design by Friday October 16, 2009. It was agreed that items not flagged for further discussion can be forwarded to the Region immediately.

Mr. Jim Robb, Friends of the Rouge Watershed, delivered a PowerPoint presentation suggesting alternative ideas to protect Markham’s quality of life.

There was discussion regarding intensification and urban growth options.

The Committee discussed the importance of public consultation regarding the Draft Regional Official Plan. Staff pointed out that the Region has had over an extended period of time, public consultations and there will continue to be opportunities for the public to attend future Committee and Council meetings at the Region.

Moved by Councillor A. Chiu

Seconded by Councillor L. Kanapathi

That the presentation by Mr. Jim Robb, Friends of the Rouge Watershed be received.

CARRIED

Moved by Councillor E. Shapero

Seconded by Councillor V. Burke

1) That the presentation provided by Ms. Valerie Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban Design regarding the Draft Regional Official Plan, be received; and,

2) That the report to Development Services Committee entitled “Draft York Region Official Plan”, be received; and,

3) That Development Services Committee members forward any item(s) to staff that need to be pulled from “Appendix A” for further discussion at the Workshop, by Friday October 16, 2009 and any items not pulled be forwarded to the Region as Markham’s preliminary response to the Region’s request for input on the draft Regional Official Plan; and,

4) That a Special Workshop of the Development Services Committee meeting be held to discuss the “pulled” comments and final comments from the Workshop be provided to the Region as Markham Council comments on the draft Regional Official Plan; and further,

5) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things to give effect to this resolution.

CARRIED

5. 2010 DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
OPERATING BUDGETS & PROJECTIONS
(BUILDING, ENGINEERING, PLANNING
AND URBAN DESIGN BUDGET) (10.0)

Presentation

Mr. Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services provided the Committee with some opening comments and confirmed that these circumstances will continue to be monitored and staff will report back to the Committee on a regular basis.

Mr. Joel Lustig, Director of Financial and Client Services delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the 2010 Development Services Operating Budgets and Projections for building, planning and urban design and engineering.

The Committee discussed the following issues and concerns:

• Expenditures being higher than the revenues based on current building permit activity
• Reserve balances and multi year forecasts
• Mitigating strategies that have been put in place, including reductions in personnel and non-personnel expenses
• Vacancies and attrition
• Planning & urban design and engineering following the same fee based principles as building
• Look at longer time horizon averages rather than only 5 year average level or activity in fee model
• How to encourage submission of development applications

Moved by Regional Councillor J. Virgilio

Seconded by Councillor E. Shapero

That, in accordance with Section 239 (2) (b) of the Municipal Act, Development Services Committee resolve into an in-camera session to discuss the following confidential matter

(11:45 AM):

1) 2010 DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
OPERATING BUDGETS & PROJECTIONS

CARRIED

Moved by Deputy Mayor J. Heath

Seconded by Councillor C. Moretti

That the Committee rise from the in-camera session (11:58 AM)

CARRIED

Moved by Regional Councillor J. Virgilio

Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu

That the presentation provided by Mr. Joel Lustig, Director of Financial and Client Services regarding the 2010 Development Services Operating Budgets & Projections (Building, Engineering, Planning and Urban Design Budget), be received.

CARRIED

NEW BUSINESS

6. ROUGE PARK IMPLEMENTATION TASK FORCE (10.0)

Deputy Mayor Jack Heath advised the Committee that a further Committee meeting regarding the Rouge Park Implementation Task Force has taken place and that the final recommendations will be considered at the next Development Services Committee meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

The Development Services Committee meeting adjourned at 12:00 PM.