Report to: General Committee                                                    Report Date: January 19, 2009

 

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Establishment of the Markham Centre Sub-Committee (MCS)

PREPARED BY:               Andrew Brouwer, Deputy Clerk

                                            Alida Tari, Committee Clerk

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report entitled “Establishment of the Markham Centre Sub-Committee(MCS)” be received; and,

                                 

That Council endorse the Markham Centre Sub-Committee (MCS) Terms of Reference (attached); and,

 

That Regional Councillor Tony Wong, Regional Councillor Jim Jones, Councillor Joseph Virgilio, Councillor Dan Horchik and Councillor Alex Chiu, be appointed to the Markham Centre Sub-Committee for the term ending November 30, 2010; and further,

 

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

 

PURPOSE:

To report back with a proposed Terms of Reference for the Markham Centre Sub-Committee (MCS); and, to appoint the following Members of Council to the MCS:  Regional Councillor Jim Jones, Regional Councillor T. Wong, Councillor Joseph Virgilio, Councillor Dan Horchik, and Councillor Alex Chiu.

 

BACKGROUND:

At the September 9, 2008 Development Services Committee meeting it was suggested that regular meetings take place to have in-depth discussion regarding Markham Centre’s policy context and incoming planning applications, and to establish a framework for dialogue with the community.  It was also determined that the Unionville Sub-Committee would be the forum for these discussions.  Since this time, four meetings have taken place in 2008 and regular monthly meetings have been scheduled from January to June 2009. 

 

At the January 13, 2009 Development Services Committee meeting, the Committee determined that it would be more appropriate to establish a new Sub-Committee to review issues relative to Markham Centre (rather than discussing these issues through the Unionville Sub-Committee) in order to provide those Members of Council with a specific interest in Markham Centre with an opportunity to deliberate on items of concern, etc.  Clerk’s Department staff was requested to prepare a draft Terms of Reference for a new sub-committee to be called the “Markham Centre Sub-Committee” (MCS).  Further, in an effort to expedite the establishment of the Sub-Committee, staff was also asked to survey Members of Council to determine individual interest in sitting on the MCS. 

 

 

 

 

OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:

The proposed Terms of Reference for the MCS is attached for reference.  As indicated, the proposed mandate of the Sub-Committee includes the following:

  • Monitoring and reviewing planning policy and development issues specific to the Markham Centre area;
  • Assist in developing a framework to address policy formation and development review in the Markham Centre context;
  • Assist in communicating the vision through public participation and a variety of communication mechanisms;
  • Recommending to Council a plan or series of plans and activities that would facilitate the vision being achieved; and,
  • Provide direction to staff to respond to community input and issues.

 

Development Services staff will provide policy guidance to the MCS (as needed) and Clerk’s Department staff will provide secretariat support.  Corporate Communications staff will provide support in the area of public input and communications.  It is anticipated that MCS meetings will take place on a monthly basis (the Markham Centre Sub-Committee will replace the currently scheduled monthly meeting that were set up with the Unionville Sub-Committee members to discuss Markham Centre matters).

 

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE

Not applicable.

 

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

Not applicable.

 

DEPARTMENTS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Development Services Commission

 

RECOMMENDED

                            BY:    ________________________          ________________________

                                      Andrew Brouwer                                Jim Baird

                                      Deputy Clerk                                                   Commissioner of Development

                                                                                                Services           

 

                                   

                                    _________________________

                                    Andy Taylor

                                    Commissioner of Corporate Services

 

 

ATTACHMENT:

Proposed Markham Centre Sub-Committee (MCS) Terms of Reference