M I
N U T E S
GENERAL COMMITTEE
December 8, 2008
Meeting
No. 26
Finance & Administrative
Issues Community
Services Issues
Chair: Councillor
J. Virgilio Chair:
Councillor
A. Chiu
Chair, Budget Sub-Ctte: Councillor D. Horchik Environment & Sustainability Issues
Chair: IT Sub-Ctte: Reg. Councillor J. Jones Chair: Councillor
E. Shapero
Chair:
Grants Sub-Ctte: Councillor V. Burke
Attendance
|
Mayor F. Scarpitti (9:50) Deputy Mayor J. Jones Regional Councillor J. Heath Regional Councillor T. Wong Councillor V. Burke Councillor J. Virgilio Councillor C. Moretti Councillor J. Webster Councillor D. Horchik (d: 12:10) Councillor L. Kanapathi Councillor A. Chiu |
J. Livey, Chief
Administrative Officer C. Conrad, Town
Solicitor A. Taylor,
Commissioner of Corporate Services B. Librecz, Commissioner
of Community & Fire Services J. Baird,
Commissioner of Development Services B. Cribbett,
Treasurer S. Andrews,
Director, Asset Management A. Brouwer, Deputy
Clerk L. Irvine, Manager,
Parks and Open Space Planning J. Lustig, Director
of Financial and Client Services J. Ryerson,
Director, Varley Art Gallery M. Shatil, Manager, Facility
Assets N. Unsworth, Parks
Development Coordinator C. Raynor, Committee
Clerk |
The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:00 a.m. with Councillor
J. Virgilio in the Chair.
DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST
None disclosed
1. MINUTES OF THE
NOVEMBER 17, 2008
GENERAL COMMITTEE (16.0)
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor J. Webster
That the minutes of the November 17, 2008 General Committee be received.
CARRIED
2. APPROVAL
REPORT
AMENDMENTS TO DEVELOPMENT FEE,
BUILDING FEE AND TOWN WIDE FEE BY-LAWS
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMISSION (7.0)
Report
1 2 3
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor J. Webster
That the Report titled “Approval Report, Amendments to Development Fee, Building Fee and Town Wide Fee By-laws, Development Services Commission" dated December 8, 2008, be received; and,
That the Record of the Public Meeting held on November 18, 2008, with respect to the proposed amendments to the Development, Building and Town Wide Fee By-laws be received; and,
That the amendment to the “Tariff of Fees for Processing Planning Applications,” By-law 211-83, substantially in the form attached as Attachment “A”, be enacted; and,
That By-law 2007-268 be repealed an the attached “By-law respecting Construction, Demolition and Change of Use Permits and Inspections,” attached as Attachment “B”, be enacted; and,
That the amendment
to Townwide By-law 2002-276, substantially in the form attached as Attachment
“C”, be enacted; and further,
That the By-laws come into force take effect on January 1, 2009.
CARRIED
3. REFUNDABLE
DEPOSIT – DEVELOPER
FRONTENDING/REDISTRIBUTION
ACCOUNT RECONCILIATION (7.0)
Report
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor J. Webster
That the December 8, 2008 report entitled “Refundable Deposit - Developer Front Ending/ Redistribution Account Reconciliation” be received; and,
That Council authorize Staff to transfer $280,359.91 identified as amounts due to the Town from the Refundable Deposit - Developer Front Ending/ Redistribution account (“the Refundable Deposit Account”) (General Ledger G/L 027 2140009) to the Town accounts identified in this report; and,
That all parties who have upfronted funds for works performed, but who cannot be identified, be given the opportunity to apply for a return of any recovered funds; and,
That Council authorize Staff to advertise in a nationally circulated newspaper and the Town website for thirty (30) days, amounts for which the payees have not been identified, thereby giving due notice to parties who upfronted for works performed in advance of development within the Town that they may be eligible to apply for a return of any recovered funds which totals $256,038.37; and,
That due notice be given of the possible forfeiture of unclaimed funds to the Town’s revenue in said advertisement where recovered funds remain unclaimed; and,
That Council authorize Staff, at the end of the advertisement period, to transfer any unclaimed portion of these recovered funds in the Refundable Deposit Account, to a maximum of $256,038.37 to a Corporate Revenue account to be determined by the Town Treasurer; and,
That the cost incurred in placing the Public Notice, estimated to be in the range of $8,000 - $14,000 (exclusive of 5% GST) be offset against the deposits to be placed in the Town’s revenue; and,
That Council authorize Staff to charge an administration fee equivalent to 5% of the amount to be refunded to claimants, and to utilize the administration fee to recover staff cost associated with refunding these deposits with the remainder to be deposited in the appropriate Engineering, Finance and Legal operating budget accounts; and,
That the Treasurer be authorized to pay any claims from the Corporate Revenue account in the event of a future refund claim, which has been substantiated to the Treasurer’s satisfaction; and further,
That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
4. STAFF
AWARDED CONTRACTS
FOR THE MONTHS OF AUGUST
AND SEPTEMBER 2008 (7.12)
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor J. Webster
That the report entitled “Staff Awarded Contracts for the Months of August to September 2008” be received.
CARRIED
5. MILLIKEN MILLS CHILDREN’S
FESTIVAL RELOCATION REPORT (3.5.1)
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor J. Webster
That the report entitled “Milliken Mills Children’s Festival Relocation Report” be received; and,
That the Milliken Children’s Festival be temporarily moved in 2009 to 2011 from Milliken Mills Community Centre to Markham Civic Centre; and further,
That the Recreation Department be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
6. ART
GALLERY EXPANSION (6.9)
Mr. H. Back, Chair, Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham, spoke
briefly to provide an overview of the proposed Art Gallery expansion project
and to recommend that the architect of the original Art Gallery building be
engaged to design the expansion. Mr. W. Pickering, Former Chair, Varley-McKay
Art Foundation of Markham spoke to outline the study undertaken to assess the
feasibility of the proposed expansion. Mr. J. Ryerson, Director, Varley Art
Gallery, spoke to outline the potential benefits of such an expansion. It was
noted that a substantial portion of the funding for the project is from the
generous financial donation from Mr. W. Joyce.
Committee suggested that the Gallery requires an extension and requested
that staff report back on the potential for an additional expansion in the
future. There was discussion on the merits and feasibility of retaining the
original architect and the importance of recognizing Mr. Joyce’s generous
donation.
There was discussion of the overall funding for the project, including
architectural fees. The Committee noted that this is a relatively small project
that should not exceed the budget.
Moved by Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by Councillor J. Virgilio
That the presentation by Mr. J. Ryerson, Director of Culture, entitled “Art Gallery Expansion” be received; and,
That the report entitled “Varley Art Gallery Expansion” be received; and
That staff be authorized to negotiate with a preferred supplier, being Jerome Markson, architect for the original Varley Art Gallery construction, for architectural services; and,
That the selected Architect be authorized to work with Staff on the preliminary design; and,
That as part of the preliminary design, Staff and the selected Architect convene a public meeting to seek input and feedback regarding the design concepts; and,
That as part of the preliminary design, the selected Architect be directed to research the possibility of designing the expansion so as to meet LEED standards; and,
That staff report back to General Committee with the outcomes of the preliminary design and the public information meeting, prior to proceeding to detailed design; and,
That the estimated cost of this project, $2.58 million be funded as follows:
|
Wallace Joyce-Varley McKay Art Foundation (including interest) |
$1.56M |
|
Infrastructure Grant |
$0.92M |
|
Varley Foundation fundraising |
$0.10M |
|
Total |
$2.58M |
That
the $100,000 from the Varley Foundation fundraising only be used if the project
cost exceeds $2.48 million; and;
That the generous gift by Mr. Wallace Joyce to the Varley McKay Art Foundation of Markham be recognized; and,
That the stewardship and efforts of the Varley McKay Art Foundation be acknowledged with thanks; and further,
That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
7. PARKS CAPITAL PROGRAM 2008
PROGRESS UPDATE (6.3)
Ms. L. Irvine, Manager, Parks and Open Space Planning, provided a comprehensive update on completed, ongoing and upcoming parks construction projects. The Committee sought clarification on some issues such as anti-graffiti measures, the location of garbage receptacles in relation to public seating areas, the status of the Golden Jubilee greenway, the potential development of smaller, satellite skate parks and the status of the potential Rouge Park projects. Committee requested a report to a future meeting regarding a policy on public washrooms, including technological innovations such as self-cleaning facilities, and an update on the proposed Milliken Park. There was discussion surrounding the process for developer-upfronted park projects including the financing and tendering processes.
Staff advised that a report will be forthcoming on a policy for naming completed parks. Additionally, it was suggested that staff consider options for accelerating the delivery time for new parks projects.
Moved by Mayor F. Scarpitti
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
That the presentation by Ms. L. Irvine, Manager of Parks & Open Space Development, entitled “Parks Capital Program 2008 Progress Update” be received.
CARRIED
8. CANADIAN SPORTS INSTITUTE UPDATE (6.10)
Presentation
Ms. B. Librecz, Commissioner, Community and Fire Services, provided an update on the proposed Canadian Sports Institute Ontario (CSIO) project and a potential Pan Am Games bid. There was considerable discussion concerning funding and the involvement of other levels of government. There was also discussion surrounding activities in the City of Toronto, the location of the proposed CSIO facility, the chronology of the Pan Am Games bid process and the likely amount of legacy funding the Town might receive following a successful Games bid. Committee requested further information on the operating costs of the Talisman Centre in Calgary, Alberta and suggested that technological innovations such as geothermal energy be considered for the CSIO project.
Moved by Councillor J. Virgilio
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones
That the presentation by Ms. B. Librecz, Commissioner of Community & Fire Services, entitled “Canadian Sports Institute Update” be received.
CARRIED
9. APPOINTMENTS, RESIGNATIONS
- ADVISORY COMMITTEES (16.24)
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by Councillor V. Burke
That the resignation of Ms. Barbi Lazarus from the Animal Care Committee be accepted with regret and a letter of appreciation be forwarded to Ms. Lazarus.
CARRIED
10. INTEREST ON OUTSTANDING DEBTS
AND COLLECTION AGENCY
ADMINISTRATIVE FEES (7.0)
Report
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by Councillor V. Burke
That the report entitled, “Interest on Outstanding Debts and Collection Agency Administrative Fee” be received; and,
That Council endorse the policy of adding interest of 1.25% per month on
outstanding debts consistent with the annual rate being charged for property
taxes in arrears; and,
That Council endorse the policy of adding an administrative fee up to 30%
to outstanding debts for collection agency charges; and further,
That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
The General Committee adjourned at 12:37 p.m.