City of Markham City Council met May 4.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Mayor, Roger Agpawa called the Regular Meeting of the Markham City Council to order at 7:07p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Prayer led by Ald. McDowell. Roll Call was taken by City Clerk, Leslie Trimuel.
ROLL CALL:
ALDERMAN PRESENT Alderman Rondal Jones (7:14pm)
Alderman William Barron
Alderwoman Wanda McDowell
Alderman Breanna Hampton-Houser
ALSO PRESENT: Attorney Steven Miller
City Treasurer, Belinda Richardson
City Administrator, Derrick Champion
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING April 4, 2022
Motion to approve minutes with corrections of April 4, 2022, by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. Hampton-Houser
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
AUTHORIZATION OF CLAIMS
Motion by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. Barron, to adopt Authorization of Claims and Accounts Bill list, totaling $756,600.64, with manual checks of $1,924.00 for a grand total of $758.524.64
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
None
CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Members of Council members of the public with respect to the city attorney's report, starting with a proposed resolution approving the extension and renewal of the Re-Proclamation and Declaration of a continued local state of emergency, within the City of Markham, and approving the Mayor's Determination Regarding Modifications to In-person Meetings in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, (May 4, 2022)
ADOPT RESOLUTION
22-R-679
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell, to adopt Resolution 22-R-679 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE EXTENSION AND RENEWAL OF THE RE-PROCLAMATION AND DECLARATION OF A CONTINUED LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY WITHIN THE CITY OF MARKHAM AND APPROVING THE MAYOR’S DETERMINATION REGARDING MODIFICATIONS TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC (May 4, 2022)
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
WAIVE READING OF ORDINANCE
22-0-2329
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell to waive reading of Ordinance 22-O-2329 An Ordinance Amending Title III, Chapter 33, Of The City Code To Create The Position Of Commander In The Police Department In The City Of Markham
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
Questions:
Ald. Jones - Do we have two lieutenants or sergeants?
Mayor Agpawa - I was I was looking at this, no.
Ald. Jones - They did a great job to clean it up, the police department. I remember we had four deputies. I was really proud when he came to start cleaning house and started reducing. What I know we need now is patrol. I know people on the street and that's what the people are calling for is patrol police officers. Mayor Agpawa - Well, I hope you're glad to see that I caught it here that we had two deputy chiefs that just got rid of another one sitting here. I'm trying to eliminate chiefs; we need more Indians. So, at this point, we're really just going to have three and administrative, and then we'll have a little bit of strength at the bottom, but there'll be more Indians anyway. That's really what the goal is. So, we'll leave some room for the, the new interim to express himself but not to create more positions. We don't want to do that. I think I don't think that's on his agenda. I think it's really just kind of see if we can let the dust settle and see if we can start doing a couple of things and see where we go from there.
Ald. Jones - Now with a budget being passed, how does this fit in with the new budget? Mayor Agpawa - No money differences at all. There's no change just the name change. Just point out most of your more progressive police departments now, they've done away with any point of any civil service rank of sergeant. The theory behind that is that Markham years ago, had a 29-year-old and there was there was no place for him to go, now what they do is they they've made these appointed positions. So, what they've done is they've eliminated civil servants, lieutenants, and they've made commanders, and this is that you can constantly have progressive people in these positions. This was endorsed years ago by the International Chiefs Association, I questioned it too, actually police departments in a lot of these towns around us, Tinley Park doesn't have a lieutenant or captain, they have Commanders. So, like I said a lot of your more progressive police departments this is where this is going.
ADOPT ORDINANCE
22-O-2329
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. Hampton-Houser to adopt Ordinance 22-O-2329 An Ordinance Amending Title III, Chapter 33, Of The City Code To Create The Position Of Commander In The Police Department In The City Of Markham, with Corrections to Section 2, § 33.01 (B) from Two Deputy Chiefs of Police to One Deputy Chief of Police, (D) from Two lieutenants; to One lieutenant
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
CLERK REPORT
No report
MAYOR’S REPORT
Okay, just two things under the mayor's report., well make it three. Obviously, we know that we're in the month of cleanup,so you really want to go after that. I can tell you that even the Southland Regional Mayor's caucus that I'm part of the black mayors’ caucus is doing some things with Southland cleanup. So, we're really trying to make that a big deal in the Southland. I know that some of us are taking a lot of ownership of the interstates and things like that and the different on /off ramps and clean up so we're really trying to pass the word, so we want to do that here in Markham and encourage people to clean up even more. I think that we been a good example, about cleanup. So, I just want to mention that I’ll elaborate more in the upcoming weeks and months to each of you Council Members. I did mention about staff meetings and things like that, we're going to restore some things like that, we'll keep you posted on what we're doing, and get you some reports about what's going on in all the departments and certainly the police department. We want to make sure that we're heading towards some hot months, I know that talks recently with Kim Fox and her office, her staff about the things that we're going to be doing and talked with even the judges, talked with the Chief Judge yesterday, about some things that we need to do as well as some of the future things that we need to do with the legislators. So, these things are very important that we start working on those matters. The last thing is, Mother's Day is coming up so for you Mother's Day, I wish you all happy Mother's Day.
DERRICK CHAMPION – CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Thank you, mayor, thank you for your leadership. Good evening, Council and City of Markham, just really quick, they're just a few updates. Just want the people know that we're continuing to interview developers to try to create some good viable businesses here. Definitely restaurants are on the top of order, we know that the city of Markham is in need of some type of sit-down restaurant, whether that's breakfast, lunch, and dinner or just two or three, but we're definitely working diligently to make sure that we address those concerns. I was at the Mother's Day luncheon last Friday there and some of those seniors actually came up to me and kind of wanted to make sure that we're still focusing on that, so I was really happy to report that we had been in talks with a few restaurants. Also, really quick, just want to let individuals know in this city that we are working closely with our lobbyists and making sure that we are identifying grants as well as federal, state and county levels, anything that's going to continue to push the city of Markham forward. We're not settling for the status quo; we're really trying to push this city forward. There are going to be changes and we just have to embrace those changes by seeing everything moving in a positive direction. Last but not least, just know that we're really trying to diversify the tax base and just looking forward to the city of Markham, continuing to move forward.
ALD. JONES
I want to show it and say thank you mayor for the April 29 Mother's Day event. I like how you walked that walk you put a show on. I thought you all did a fabulous job, beautiful decorations. I applaud the people who came out and the people took care of it I mean, job well done very well. Also, I would like to commend you all, in my area you know as far as tree fell down on Plymouth and you all came out and cut it down and actually a couple more houses down., now down the block up the street needed cleaning up so my constituents are telling me, hey it’s great man, this is good. You know, so fabulous job real? So, you know, thank you for that, also for cleaning up some of these houses. I've been having issues with people on stolen cars in the backyards, so please neighbors and constituents, if you all see cars or vacant houses with a car call police, there should be no cars at vacant houses you know, so if you see a car call police and we will get it out of there because there have been several in Canterbury, that have been stolen. So please, you know, we need your eyes, the cops can't be everywhere, once again let's bring the neighbor back in the hood. We don't live in the hood to bring the neighborhood back, so that's what we're looking for now. So,
if you see anything at a vacant house or you see some strange activity going on, please call the police. Please call your local Alderman, please call your mayor. Let us know so we can get back to those houses and get them cleaned up.
ALD. BARRON
Friday's luncheon was just as nice as the year before, and it was funny and, but it seemed like everybody had a great time, so, I was just happy to be a part of it. Some of the trees that I've identified that are dangerously hanging over streets, on the way here today, they we're working on it, they're not taking the tree down but they're cutting the portion that’s hanging over street. This one happens to be by Markham Park School, which I find extremely dangerous. I've also identified some ditches; I'm hoping that Tom can get caught up with everything and between him and Ed I can get a little bit of ditch work done in the very near future. The only time you can really tell is in the rainy season between now and fall, during the summer, they're nice and dry, it's kind of hard though, you know, identifying. To all the mothers in Markham I wish a Happy Mother's Day and my colleagues that are on the council, the treasurer and the clerk.
ALD. HAMPTON-HOUSER
Good evening, Mayor, good evening, Council., everyone that's in attendance or watching on our website as well. I just have a few things, I want to thank everyone who attended the coffee sip a coffee we had awesome, awesome conversations. Within that coffee sip, we had an opportunity to educate individuals on exactly how the protocol works in our municipalities. Sometimes you make a phone call whatever you think something's supposed to happen right away, but there is protocol. So, it's about educating our constituents to know exactly how things actually move forward in our community. So, once they're educated, whatever, they won't be so anxious to call you 24 times a day, on the same matter. So that was awesome. Also starting June 1, the constituents in Ward 1, our seniors or whomever wants to participate, the first and the third Monday and Thursday, we will be having a bingo on Thursday we will be at King Park, and we will be in the new building and King Park we'll be having bagel on the first and third Monday. And then the first and third Thursday is probably going to be line dancing, painting or some other activity. I do agree from coffee sip that you stated that we need to have something in our ward because everybody don't drive long distance over to the other side of town, so I agree with that 100%. I had conversation with Miss Brown at the Park District and we kind of put this together and start in June so be looking for the flyer in the door in reference to some activities that will be taking place in Ward one. Also, I want to just have a brief conversation in reference to the shootings that actually took place there, in my ward. We had a shooting last week on Tuesday, I think was Tuesday on Ashland, and then days later we had another shooting on Marshfield on our block. Our neighbors are very concerned about that, unfortunately we had no one to have any cameras available on the homes to try to see if we can actually try to come to some conclusions in reference to who these individuals were. Some we’re just asking that we kind of step up our game just a little bit in our police department to be a little bit more diligent in the wards, you know, show up a little bit more in the ward because my biggest complaints that I'm getting at this particular point is that they never see a police officer anywhere. So just thru conversation, I hope that we can improve on that part, which I'm pretty sure we will. I want to say the luncheon as well just to ditto back that luncheon was awesome. The Mother's Day luncheon I enjoyed it immensely and you're absolutely right, Ald. Jones, the mayor got up there modeled and did a great job. Also, now that the weather is breaking we had a lot of water main breaks over the winter months, I did have a meeting with Public Works and he gave me a little schedule in reference to how we're going to go back and repair some of the yards the driveways and also you know the sidewalks where we had the water main breaks so the individual residents of Ward one that phoned me, I will be getting back with you and give you a roundabout date in reference to when those repairs are going to actually take place. Then also mayor I just want to remind everybody to make sure they look on the back of their water bill on the back of the water bill is specifically tells everyone do's and don'ts in reference to what they should and should not place outside for our cleanup week which the cleanup week will be the week of May 9 through the 12 so please get an opportunity to look on the back of your bill and it tells you specifically what you can and cannot do so we don't follow the rules and regulations or whatever you know you put something out there and you're going to be upset because they didn't pick it up. But look on the back of the letter. I probably have more to do and it tells you specifically what you should and should not place out there. One more thing they're happy Mother's Day to everyone who it applies to and that's the end of my report.
ALD. MCDOWELL
I have received a phone call from one of the residents in the 16400 block of Woods and she had plenty of concerns, she's asking that we send out the postcards again for the dogs, she has one particular house that I will give the police department information, that actually she's walking her dog the dog’s name is pulled up and she's messing everybody’s yard. She's walking the dog with no leash. She's asking for help. She's also concerned the speeding; she said the high speediness taking place on Woods Street. I really don't know, I know we can't put speed bumps there, and what she's asking for more patrol, for the police to monitor because she said it is really getting bad with the high speed on Wood Street. I think a couple of weeks ago I mentioned about the speed humpsto see what the update was, because they're not only speeding up Woods, they're speeding on my street and throughout a whole lot of other streets in our towns, so we really need to see if we can get the speed humps so to speak but also we have new people moved in 165th block of Wood with the loud music we did call police to go out to this particular home. But I think we need to probably send out flyers again for the loud music. And also as I began to do my daily tour throughout the ward starting to see a lot of barbeque pits Honore, Woods, Calitonia people are putting the barbeque pits out in front of the house so I will speak with the building housing department, I know the particular addresses of where I saw these barbecue pits and today, Lastly, I would like to wish every mom, grandmas, aunties, god mother's, mother's special dear to each and every one of our hearts, I lost my mom at a very early age. I want to wish each and every mom a wonderful, Happy Mother's Day.
ALD. HAMPTON-HOUSER
I just remembered yesterday I was out you know we had pretty heavy rain yesterday, I was riding my ward and I noticed that on the corners you know we're flooding now, we’re flooding because the sewer covers were kind of covered up with debris. I've made a phone call to Ed, and he says look right behind you so it was him and it was other crew they was coming through making sure that they cleaned up the sewer to make sure that the drainage, the water you know drains correctly so I want to thank Public Works, kudos that they're actually on top of that as well.
MAYOR AGPAWA
I just was going make a comment to you all about, as the warm months come in, I had mentioned that, you know, we were meeting with Kim Fox, and we were meeting with the judges and clear to deal with legislative law. We met with a group of mayors and police chiefs in Calumet Park last month and it was to try to get ahead of some of the problems that are out there with shootings and that kind of thing. You know, you make different changes when you have the leadership to go in different directions. So, dealing with the patrol efforts and the speeding, music and the things that we're dealing with, you should see some pretty swift results coming up of what we intend to do. I'll make that clear, like I said to you, each of you have to go back into the wards and have information somewhere that you can go back and tell them what we're doing. I think better it'll be more than just see it, so I think that's really what change is about. You should see the results not to just talk about so yes, I’ll give you something tangible, but you know, in writing things about what we're doing, but we're going to meet about these things and go after it. Because again, I think not to belabor the point we'll talk about these things, as I talked about individually with you all. There's a method to how we turn this around, and to continue to turn it around. We're doing it as a group, and we've been for quite a while, so we'll just reiterate how we're going after it. You all keep adding those things that you're adding to it, and we'll keep going after it. So, thanks for what you're doing to support that effort, because I'm trying to do the best I can with it and I appreciate all the help that you all gave me too. So, thank you.
MOTION TO OPEN FLOOR TO PUBLIC
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell to Open Floor to Public.
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
RESIDENT
My name is Eugene Thompson pay and I didn't sign up and I wasn't going to say anything, but I was curious about the white tents at the Markham Park Roller Rink.
MAYOR AGPAWA
Yes, so we have a contract right now with a movie studio that's working with us over at the roll rink. So, they'll be with us for several months over there doing some things. We still have the leverage or, longitude I would say to do what we want over there as well and we're still working on what we want to do for the community. But we worked out something with them for an opportunity here in Southland to do some things with movies. I've been kind of telling people that we're doing that without getting real specific, because some of these agencies don't like their name up in lights, real big but people talk and it's okay. It's better to goes that way that they talk that way than any other way than us saying it, so to speak, but that I can say that much, you know, because that's public record that we've got a contract with a movie company and it's for a few months. It's a good opportunity for people. We have several people who are actors in the Southland, and they're getting an opportunity to go over there, they’re doing things with extras and jobs and different things like that for people.
RESIDENT
So, are they going to help open the skating rink or is it working?
MAYOR AGPAWA
We're working on that but with, that has helped us, but we were working on it anyway, but they have enhanced that effort for us to get part done quicker. So, we're going to be opening up, was our plan was for June to try and get up at least on the weekend.
MOTION TO CLOSE FLOOR TO PUBLIC
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell to Close Floor to Public.
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. Barron to adjourn at 7:41p.m.
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/ 0 Absent-Motion Carried
https://cityofmarkham.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05042022-195
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