M I
N U T E S
GENERAL COMMITTEE
2006-12-11
Finance & Administrative
Issues Community
Services Issues
Chair: Councillor
J. Virgilio Chair:
Councillor
A. Chiu
Chair, Budget Sub-Ctte: Councillor D. Horchik Transportation
Issues
Chair: IT Sub-Ctte: Reg. Councillor J. Jones Chair: Reg. Councillor G.
Landon
Chair:
Grants Sub-Ctte: Councillor V. Burke Environment
& Sustainability Issues
Chair:
Councillor E.
Shapero
Attendance
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Regional Councillor J. Heath Regional Councillor G. Landon Regional Councillor T. Wong Councillor V. Burke Councillor J. Virgilio Councillor C. Moretti Councillor J. Webster Councillor D. Horchik Councillor L. Kanapathi Councillor A. Chiu |
J. Livey, Chief
Administrative Officer C. Conrad, Town
Solicitor A. Taylor,
Commissioner of Corporate Services J. Baird,
Commissioner of Development Services S. Birrell, Town
Clerk B. Cribbett,
Treasurer A. Brown, Director
of Engineering J. Wright, Director,
Building Standards J. Bosomworth,
Manager, Strategy and Innovation M. Visser, Manager,
Strategy, Innovations & Investment B. Nanninga,
Executive Assistant to Mayor and Council J. Kee, Committee
Clerk |
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The
General Committee convened at
DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST
None declared.
Mr. Jamie Bosomworth, Manager, Strategy and Innovation, gave a presentation providing details of the Town’s proposal to amend three fee by-laws to recover costs associated with the provision of various services, as follows:
Committee raised the matter of Committee of Adjustment fees for variances relating to driveway extensions, and suggested the establishment of an alternate structure, such as a simple tribunal system and/or special funding. Staff advised that because this is a zoning matter, the Committee of Adjustment would have to be the venue for these applications. Staff further advised that a report on incentives is being prepared for Committee consideration in the New Year, and it will include estimated costs. Matters relating to surplus revenue and reserve components were raised, and staff advised that the process to access funds from reserves would require a Council resolution.
The Commissioner of Development Services was requested to provide comparative figures from other Region of York municipalities relating to percentage adjustments and rates.
Committee directed that time be set aside during the Budget process to review this cost recovery fee model in detail.
**Moved by Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Heath
That the presentation of the Manager, Strategy and Innovation, with respect to the Amendments to Development, Building and Town-Wide Fee By-laws – Development Services Commission, be received;
And that the report entitled “Amendments to Development, Building and Town Wide Fee By-laws, Development Services Commission” be received;
And that the amendment to the “Tariff of Fees for Processing Development Applications,” By-law 211-83, substantially in the form attached to this report as Attachment “A” be enacted;
And that By-law 2005-190 be repealed and the attached “By-Law respecting Construction, Demolition and Change of Use Permits and Inspections,” attached to this report as Attachment “B” be enacted;
And that the amendment to the Fee By-law 2002-276, attached to this report as Attachment “C” be enacted;
And that the By-laws come into force and take effect on January 1, 2007;
And further that staff begin allocating interest revenue to the Building Fee and Engineering, Planning and Urban Design Fee Reserves, effective January 1, 2007.
CARRIED
**Note: See December
19, 2006 Council Meeting minutes for amendment to this resolution.
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor D. Horchik
That
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor D. Horchik
That Council authorize an interim tax levy for 2007;
And that the attached by-law be passed to authorize the 2007 interim tax levy.
CARRIED
Committee
requested that the wording of the staff recommendation relating to temporary
borrowing be amended to ensure that it indicates that a Council resolution is required
to borrow funds.
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor D. Horchik
That a by-law be
brought forward for Council approval to authorize the temporary borrowing, if
required, of an amount not to exceed $101,340,584 from January 1, 2007 to
September 30, 2007 and $50,670,292 from October 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007 to
meet the current expenditures of the Corporation until taxes are collected and
other revenues are received, subject to
Council approval.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor D. Horchik
That Council receive the report “Interim Spending Authority Pending Approval of 2007 Budget” dated December 11, 2006;
And that Council approve 50% of the 2006 Operating Budget equal to $101,340,584 as a pre-budget approval for 2007 operating expenditures.
CARRIED
The status and condition of fire hoses installed on the fire pumper trucks was raised, and Committee was advised that the Commissioner of Community and Fire Services would forward such information to all Members by memorandum.
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor D. Horchik
That the report entitled “Staff Awarded Contracts for the Months of October and November 2006” be received.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor D. Horchik
That the report entitled “Development Charges Indexing January 1, 2007” be received;
And that Council approve an increase in development charges of 4.02%, effective January 1, 2007.
CARRIED
Members
were advised that the following changes have been made to the draft 2007
Calendar of Council and Committee meetings:
- no Council
or standing committee meetings scheduled for July or August
- Committee
of the Whole has been eliminated
- General
Committee meetings to be held every Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon
-
Development Services Committee meetings to be held every Tuesday morning from
9:00 a.m.
to 12 Noon, with Part A being the
day of Council and Part B the week prior to Council.
Committee
asked staff to confirm the dates of the March School Break with the local
school boards, not only for 2007, but for future years, if possible. The matter of including cultural activities on
the calendar was raised, and the Town Clerk advised that these will be included
in the final approved calendar for 2007.
This new format will be reviewed at the end of one year.
Once
approved, all 2007 Council and Standing Committee meetings will be automatically
inserted into Council’s Scheduler (electronic calendar).
**Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Councillor D. Horchik
That the 2007 calendar for Council and Standing Committee meetings be approved.
CARRIED
**Note: See December
19, 2006 Council Meeting minutes for amendment to this resolution.
Moved by Councillor D. Horchik
Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong
That the letter from Mr. Man-Li Morse, Thornhill, requesting that the Jewish Menorah currently in place on Bayview Avenue in front of the Thornhill Community Centre be removed, be received;
And that staff be requested to prepare a report in the spring with
respect to this issue and related Town policy.
CARRIED
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Heath
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
That the letter dated December 4, 2006 from the Markham Arts Council requesting two Council members to be appointed to the Arts Council Board of Directors be received;
And that the appointment of members be deferred and
referred to the Committee of the Whole meeting on December 19, 2006.
CARRIED
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Heath
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
That the email correspondence dated November 23, 2006 from the Watershed Management Division of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority with respect to membership on the Duffins and Carruthers Watershed Resource Group be received;
And that the appointment of members be deferred and
referred to the Committee of the Whole meeting on December 19, 2006.
CARRIED
Moved by Regional Councillor J. Heath
Seconded by Councillor A. Chiu
That the letter dated November 15, 2006 from the Chair of the Rouge Park Alliance requesting the appointment of a Council Member and one or more alternate for a term to be at the discretion of the Town be received;
And that the appointment of members be deferred and
referred to the Committee of the Whole meeting on December 19, 2006.
CARRIED
Moved by Regional Councillor G. Landon
Seconded by Regional Councillor T. Wong
That the following correspondence from the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration calling for nominations for the following Awards be received:
And
that the request for nominations be referred to Members of Council for their
consideration and possible action.
CARRIED
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Moved by Regional
Councillor J. Heath
Seconded by Councillor
J. Webster
That
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor D.
Horchik
Seconded by Regional Councillor
J. Heath
That
CARRIED
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ADJOURNMENT
The General Committee meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.