Mayor's Message
Mayor Frank Scarpitti, May 2008

Highlights from 2007

In the autumn of 2007, more than 5,000 people who live or work in Markham responded to our Click with Markham online poll on the Town’s proposed strategic priorities. The response was excellent! We heard from more people during this program than we have during any other public consultation process. The program confirmed that we are headed in the right direction and it gave us excellent feedback.

A major strategic priority, and a special concern of mine, is the environment. To move this initiative forward, Council and staff, in consultation with the public, are developing a Green Print for Markham. The 2007 Budget was our greenest budget ever. It included:

• a turf management program to control the use of pesticides;
• a major expansion of our pathways and bicycle lanes; and
• the expansion of our recycling program to condos and apartment buildings.

We are also planting more trees this term than we have during the past decade.

I’m pleased to present a review of the major highlights from 2007 as they relate to our six strategic priorities.

ENVIRONMENT

Markham Council and our residents are seriously committed to the environment. Environmental sustainability means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. In 2007, Markham continued its leadership role, setting the benchmark in environmental protection.

The Town is creating a Green Print for Markham with policies for the protection of air, land, water, vegetation, wildlife and all living species. In 2007, our Mission Green waste management program won the Sustainable Municipality Platinum Award from the Recycling Council of Ontario. Our residents helped us achieve our 70 per cent waste diversion target. Now, we’re working on 75 per cent as we work our way to becoming a zero waste community.

Markham promotes Leadership and Environmental Design and Energy Star standards for high-performance, energy-efficient new buildings. In 2007, Markham began expansion on its District Energy plant at the Warden Energy Centre. When completed, it will deliver five megawatts of electrical power to the local power grid, enough for 5,000 homes.

GROWTH

York Region remains one of the fastest growing areas in Canada. A major challenge for Markham is to balance the demands of growth with the need to preserve its existing resources including; natural habitat, agricultural lands, heritage properties and economic opportunities. The Click with Markham program identified growth as our most important strategic priority.

In 2007, Markham Council approved the development of a “Made in Markham” growth management strategy. The strategy will be developed with significant public input through a process beginning in 2008. In 2007, I asked the Province to hold the Places to Grow Summit, for which I acted as the municipal chair. It was an excellent exchange of ideas by municipal leaders, urban planners and leading business and environmental thinkers on how to support a sustainable environment while planning for growth in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

As Mayor of Markham, I recommended formation of a Places to Grow task force, comprised of key provincial and municipal leaders and continue to work for a second Growth Plan summit to be held.

TRANSPORTATION & TRANSIT

As a close second, the Click with Markham program identified Transportation and Transit as the next most important strategic priority.

In 2007, Council approved the development of a Markham Transportation strategic plan, updating the plan that was set out in 2001. The Town continues to work on a more efficient transportation infrastructure and a funding strategy to improve transit throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

Markham now has a Cycling Master Plan, developed with input from our residents. When complete, the cycling and pathways network will include bicycle lanes and pathways totalling almost 400 km.

Our partnership with the Markham Board of Trade and the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce on Smart Commute 404-7 encourages businesses to use carpooling, transit and flexible work hours for their employees. This partnership was awarded the Sustainable Urban Transportation Award for environmental leadership from the Transportation Association of Canada. 2 Town of Markham

SERVICE LEVELS

In Markham, we are committed to delivering high-quality and cost-effective municipal services. Residents have told us that they value services that respond to their needs, so we are adopting a service delivery model that clearly defines standards for all our services.

In 2007, we moved closer to a “one-call-does-it-all” communications and access model.

Feedback and accountability are important to us, so that we can ensure that services which should be provided are provided. We continue to look for new ways to manage and measure service delivery, including feedback from you, the residents and businesses of Markham.

PARKS & RECREATION

Council recognizes the increasing importance of quality of life as a factor in policy decisions, because knowledge industries and knowledge workers are attracted to attractive places to live.

Greater participation by residents, businesses and government provides greater vitality to our community, which results in increased quality and recognition. Awareness and recognition increase participation and the cycle continues.

Through the work of the Markham Sport Council, we launched Respect in Sport, an online training program for coaches and parents to promote fairness in sport. In keeping with our greening initatives, construction began in 2007 on several new parks including Markham’s first cricket pitch.

The Varley Art Gallery celebrated its 10th Anniversary with a major exhibition of Frederick Varley portraits. Now touring in the United States, this exhibition is receiving critical acclaim. The McKay House renovation was completed and work on the gardens surrounding the arts centre got under way for completion in 2008.

DIVERSITY

Markham is home to a broad crosssection of people, representing a full range of human experiences. During 2007, we undertook various initiatives to promote inclusiveness, including developing a cultural competence program for Town employees. Council used Celebrate Markham grants to fund community events including: Black History Month, Chinese New Year Celebrations, Taste of Asia Festival and Canada Day.

Through Career Bridge, Markham provided six months of Canadian work experience to four new Canadians who have similar professional experience in their native countries. Also, in order to meet the diverse municipal needs of its residents, the Town installed Language Line, which offers simultaneous translation services in more than 170 languages to our residents.

CONCLUSION

In Markham, we cherish our heritage and our environment as we face the challenges of the future. We are always open to new ideas. By listening to our residents and our businesses, Council and staff work each day to make Markham a better place.

In presenting the 2007 Annual Report, I want to thank Council, staff, residents and businesses for their dedication and interest in our community.

We are Markham … and we are Building Markham’s Future Together.

Frank Scarpitti , Mayor
Email: fscarpitti@markham.ca

Related information

• Mayor's Inaugural Address (December 2006)