M I
N U T E S
GENERAL COMMITTEE
2009-04-27
Meeting
No. 11
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
|
Deputy Mayor J. Heath Regional Councillor J. Jones 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 Regrets: Mayor F. Scarpitti Regional Councillor T. Wong Councillor E. Shapero |
J. Livey, Chief
Administrative Officer A. Taylor,
Commissioner of Corporate Services B. Librecz,
Commissioner of Community & Fire Services A. Brouwer, Deputy
Town Clerk J. Carnegie, Director of Communications
& Community Relations B. Cribbett,
Treasurer K. Dennison, Manager
of System Engineering M. Ingwersen,
District Manager West N. Kenea, Chief Information Officer A. Laver, Manager of
Utilities & Contracts P. Loukes, Director,
Operations J. Lustig, Director
of Financial & Client Services A. Moore, Manager of
Purchasing J. Ryerson, Director
of Culture J. Streisfield,
Assistant Town Solicitor |
The General Committee convened at the hour of 9:03 a.m., with Councillor
J. Virgilio chairing for finance and administrative as well as environmental
and sustainability related items in the absence of Councillor E. Shapero. Councillor A. Chiu chaired the meeting for
the community services related items.
DISCLOSURE
OF INTEREST
There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest.
1. WIRELESS
RADIO & LOW VOLUME DATA
DATA
COMMUNICATION POLICY (7.13)
N. Kenea, Chief Information Officer provided an overview of a strategy
for wireless radio and low volume data communication strategy. The strategy will involve migrating the
two-way voice radio communications and AVL traffic to a new private radio
system; mandating employees to use two-way radio whenever possible; eliminating
“Mike instant connect”; some cellular needs will continue; enriching Town
facilities with wireless access points and higher bandwidth; and examining
opportunities to have a 7/24 non-emergency dispatcher to improve productivity,
safety of employees and improve customer service.
Moved by Councillor
A. Chiu
Seconded by
Councillor C. Moretti
1) That
the presentation by Mr. N. Kenea, Chief Information Officer, entitled “Wireless
Radio & Low volume Data Communication Strategy” be received.
CARRIED.
2. CN OVERPASS COMMUNITY
MESSAGING PROGRAM (5.13, & 3.12)
J. Carnegie,
Director of Communications and Community Relations provided an update to
Committee on the CN overpass community messaging program. The program was developed in response to
community concerns related to unkempt appearance, graffiti and a lack of
adjacent landscaping and maintenance on CN overpasses. The program involves messaging on one side
developed and approved by the participating municipality and community
messaging paid by local businesses on the reverse. Community messaging offsets the cost of the
program, although participating municipalities are charged for frequent
messaging changes.
A representative
from RCC Media (CN’s agent responsible for implementing the program including landscaping
and weekly maintenance of the area surrounding overpasses) was present at the
meeting to answer questions. J. Carnegie
indicated that there are eight CN rail overpasses throughout the Town and that
because the proposed signage does not impair CN’s ability to operate the
railway, the Town’s sign by-law provision apply and to move forward with the
program, a sign by-law exemption would be required.
A request to split
the motion for receipt of the presentation and recommendations regarding the
program was made.
Moved by Deputy Mayor
J. Heath
Seconded by Councillor
D. Horchik
1)
That the presentation by Ms. J.
Carnegie, Director of Communications and Community Relations, entitled “CN
Overpass Community Messaging Program” be received.
CARRIED
Moved by Deputy
Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by
Councillor D. Horchik
1)
That Council endorse the following
recommendations regarding CN overpass community messaging program in principle:
(i)
That the Town of Markham work
with CN and RCC media to determine acceptable guidelines for paid community
messaging;
(ii)
That the Town develop an
agreement with CN/RCC media for an initial trial period of 2 years on all eight
8 overpasses;
(iii)
That Council approve the
placement of paid community messaging on the reverse side of each of these
overpasses at no cost to the municipality; and
(iv)
That Council approve an
exemption to the Town’s sign by-law for CN overpass community messaging during
the trail period.
2)
That staff review and provide a
report at a future meeting of the General Committee.
CARRIED.
3. MINUTES OF
THE MARCH 30, 2009
GENERAL
COMMITTEE (16.0)
Moved by
Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by
Councillor V. Burke
1) That
the minutes of the March 30, 2009 General Committee be received.
CARRIED.
4. MINUTES OF THE MARCH 31, 2009
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE
(16.0)
Moved by
Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor V. Burke
1) That the minutes of the March 31, 2009
Environmental Issues Committee be received.
CARRIED.
5. MINUTES OF
THE MARCH 30, 2009
VARLEY-MCKAY ART
FOUNDATION
OF MARKHAM (16.0)
Moved by
Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor V. Burke
1) That
the minutes of the March 30, 2009 Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham be
received.
CARRIED.
6. MINUTES OF THE MARCH 18, 2009
MARKHAM ACCESSIBILITY
COMMITTEE (16.0)
Moved by
Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor V. Burke
1) That the minutes of the March 18, 2009
Markham Accessibility Committee be received.
CARRIED.
7. 2008 DRAFT
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (7.2)
J. Lustig, Director of Financial and Client
Services provided a brief overview of the draft financial statements for 2008.
Moved by Councillor
L. Kanapathi
Seconded by
Regional Councillor J. Jones
That the presentation by J.
Lustig, Director of Financial & Client Services, entitled “2008 Draft
Financial Statement s” be received; and,
1)
That the
report “Draft 2008
Consolidated Financial Statements be received; and,
2)
That
Council approve the Corporation of the Town of Markham’s Draft Consolidated Financial Statements
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008; and,
3)
That
Council authorize Staff to issue the Consolidated Financial Statements for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 upon finalization
of all consolidated amounts; and further,
4)
That Staff be authorized and
directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED.
8. ASSET MANAGEMENT UPDATE
ON STREET LIGHTING PROJECT
(5.19)
Moved by
Councillor J. Virgilio
Seconded by Deputy
Mayor J. Heath
1) That
the presentation by Mr. A. Laver, Manager of Utilities and Contracts, entitled
“Information Session on Street Lighting Project-Inventory Data Collection and
Condition Analysis of Existing Infrastructure” be received.
CARRIED.
9. CONTRACT EXTENSION
FOR STREETLIGHTING
MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND
RELAMPING PROGRAM (7.12.1)
Moved by Deputy
Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by
Councillor D. Horchik
1)
That the report entitled
“Contract Extension for Streetlighting Maintenance , Repair and Relamping
Program” be received; and,
2)
That the Contract Extension for
2009 Streetlight Maintenance and Repair be awarded to PowerStream in the
estimated amount of $726,218 exclusive of GST; and,
3)
That the 2009 Streetlight
Relamping Program contract be awarded to PowerStream in the estimated amount of
$145,000 exclusive of GST; and,
4)
That the tender process be
waived in accordance with Purchasing By-Law 2004-341 Part II, Section 7(1) C
which states” when the extension of an existing contract would prove more cost
effective or beneficial”; and,
5)
That funds be provided from
account #720 720 5497 Streetlighting Maintenance and Repair in the total amount
of $871,218 of the Town’s 2009 Operating
Budget; and,
6)
That the Town and PowerStream
continue to work together on an ongoing basis to review options to enhance
service delivery and cost efficiencies, share information and exchange data to
control the 2009 expenditures; and,
7)
That staff be authorized and
directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED.
10. USE OF MARKHAM THEATRE
ENDOWMENT FUND FOR
THEATRE PROJECTOR SYSTEM (6.2)
The Committee welcomed
and congratulated John Ryerson on his recent appointment as Director of
Culture.
Moved by Regional
Councillor J. Jones
Seconded by Deputy
Mayor J. Heath
1) That
the report entitled “Use of Theatre Endowment Fund for Theatre Projector
System” be received and approved, not to exceed the amount of $60,000; and,
2) That a
2009 Theatre Capital Budget be established in the amount of $60,000 funded from
the Theatre Endowment Fund for the purchase and installation of a Theatre
Projector at the Markham Theatre; and further,
3) That
staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to
this resolution.
CARRIED.
11. THE ONTARIO MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT
MARKHAM DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM -
DRINKING WATER SYSTEM INSPECTION REPORT (5.3)
Report 1
- Title Page 1 2 –Title Page 2
Moved by Councillor
J. Virgilio
Seconded by Councillor
D. Horchik
1) That
the report entitled “The Ontario Ministry of Environment – Markham Distribution
System – Drinking Water System Inspection Report” be received; and,
2) That
Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to
this resolution.
CARRIED.
Moved by
Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by
Councillor C. Moretti
That Councillor J. Virgilio chair the items
in the Environmental and Sustainability Issues Section of the
April 27, 2009 General Committee Agenda in the absence of Councillor E.
Shapero.
CARRIED.
___________________________
12. MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
FUND – SPRING 2009 (5.7)
Moved by
Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by
Councillor C. Moretti
1)
That
staff report “Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund (MESF) – Spring 2009 Funding”,
dated April 27, 2009, be received; and,
2)
That Council approve funding for
three community projects and two staff projects in the amount of $30,400; and,
3)
That application by Sir Wilfred
Laurier Public School, for an outdoor classroom, be approved, for $5,000 in
funding, subject to the review and approval of tree species and revised site
plan by Parks Staff; and,
4)
That the Ontario Streams
application for a stream rehabilitation project be approved, for $5,000 in
funding, conditional on monitoring the site to prevent establishment of
invasive species and that recognition for MESF funding be provided on their
website; and,
5)
That the revised application
for the Markham Green Neighbourhood Speaker Series on sustainable landscapes be
approved for funding of $2,400; and,
6)
That the application for a
School Safe Cycling Education Pilot Project be approved in the amount of
$10,050; and,
7)
That the application for a
Native Plant Demonstration Garden be approved in the amount of $7,950; and,
8)
That Unionville Meadows Public
School be requested to return all remaining MESF funds from their previously
approved Waste Audit project, but that recognition of the School’s Waste Audit
project be made at Council and that their request for an additional $2,600 for
camera equipment not be approved; and,
9)
That
funds come from the Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund (MESF), account
#87 2800168; and further,
10)
That
Staff be authorized to do all things necessary to give effect to the above.
CARRIED.
13. MARKHAM TREES FOR
TOMORROW
SPRING FUNDING 2009 (5.7)
Moved by Deputy
Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by
Councillor V. Burke
1)
That the staff report entitled
“Markham Trees for Tomorrow Fund Spring 2009 Funding” be received; and,
2)
That Council approve funding
for the four applications in the amount of
$110,000.00, from the Trees for
Tomorrow Fund (account #087-2800-170) as per the recommendations contained in
this staff report; and,
3)
That Staff be authorized and
directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED.
Moved by
Deputy Mayor J. Heath
Seconded by
Councillor L. Kanapathi
1)
That
Items 11 (Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund – Spring 2009) and 12
(Markham Trees for Tomorrow Spring Funding 2009) be brought forward for
consideration at the April 28, 2009 Council meeting.
CARRIED.
14. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (3.0)
It was indicated that the Town’s Emergency Management Committee will
review necessary actions in response to the Swine Flu.
15. BASKETS AND
BARRELS PROGRAM (3.0)
It was noted that an individual had approached Councillor J. Virgilio to
offer a financial contribution to supplement the reduction in the Baskets and
Barrels Program. The CAO requested that
a written proposal be provided to staff for further review.
ADJOURNMENT
The General Committee adjourned at 12:06 p.m.