Town of Markham, Ontario Markham Profile 9
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knowledge community 2003 ANNUAL REPORT December 31, 2003 Markham, Ontario, Canada HIGHLIGHTS In 2003, after extensive consultation with members of the public, ratepayers and business representatives, Council and staff balanced social needs with economic reality, producing a budget that maintained or enhanced 2002 service levels. Important Markham services such as fire protection and waste management were supported at 2002 levels, while service in such areas as parks, roads, recreation and library were improved. Markham: • Remained debt free in 2003 • Approved Rouge Park North policies that extended the largest park ever created in an urban area in North America • Initiated the merger of Markham Hydro Distribution Inc., Hydro Vaughan Distribution Inc. and Richmond Hill Hydro Inc. to create the third largest electrical distribution company in the province • Opened the twin-pad arena at Angus Glen Community Centre • Planned construction of a new YMCA • Funded $4 million of road resurfacing • Began construction of the seniors centre at Thornhill Community Centre • Oversaw the 2003 municipal election using an integrated system of voting including touch-screen polling equipment and internet voting • Opened the Town’s Customer Contact Centre, averaging 20,000 calls per month • Received recognition from UTNE Magazine as one of ten enlightened suburban communities in North America that embrace the principles of new urbanism W. Donald Cousens Frank Scarpitti Khalid Usman Mayor Deputy Mayor Councillor, Ward 7 Budget Chief Chair, Finance Committee 2001-2003 2001-2003 Finance and Administrative Committee 2001-2003 Budget Committee 2001-2003 Chair Vice-Chair, Budget Members Chair Members Khalid Usman Frank Scarpitti Gordon Landon Frank Scarpitti Stan Daurio Dan Horchik Councillor, Ward 7 Deputy Mayor/Regional Regional Councillor Deputy Mayor/Regional Councillor, Ward 1 Councillor, Ward 6 Councillor Joseph Virgilio Councillor Erin Shapero Khalid Usman Councillor, Ward 3 Councillor, Ward 2 Councillor, Ward 7 Vice-Chair, Jack Heath Joseph Virgilio W. Donald Cousens Information Technology Councillor, Ward 5 Councillor, Ward 3 Mayor (ex-officio) Stan Daurio W. Donald Cousens Councillor, Ward 1 Mayor (ex-officio) CONTENTS Canadian Introduction Award for Financial Mayor’s Message 2 Reporting Members of Council 4 CAO’s Message 6 Presented to Governance 7 Corporation of the Organizational Structure 7 Town of Markham, Ontario Markham Profile 9 For its Annual 2003 Accomplishments 10 Financial Report for the Year Ended Looking Forward 11 December 31, 2002 Financial Policies 12 A Canadian Award for Financial Reporting is presented by the Government Finance Officers Commissioner’s Report 13 Association of the United States and Canada to municipalities whose annual financial reports achieve the high program standards for Canadian Financial Statements Government accounting and financial reporting. Auditors’ Report 15 Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 16 Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities 17 Consolidated Statement of Changes in Financial Position 18 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 19 Consolidated Schedule of Operating Fund Activities 28 Consolidated Schedule of Capital Fund Activities 29 Consolidated Schedule of Reserves and Reserve Funds Activities 30 Trust Funds Auditors’ Report 31 Statement of Financial Position and Statement of Financial Activities and Fund Balances 32 Notes to the Financial Statements 33 Statistical Information Five-Year Review 34 Performance Measures Report Card 37 The theme of the 2003 Annual Report describes Markham’s potential as a knowledge community, preparing itself to participate fully in the 21st century. We thank those who provided concept drawings for two important Markham projects: Markham Centre (pages 1 & 31) and Cathedraltown (page 12). We also thank Markham Museum for providing photographic material representing Markham’s past. The 2003 Annual Report for Markham, Ontario, Canada has been prepared by the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer and the Corporate Services Commission. Town of Markham 1 MAYOR’S MESSAGE As members of a knowledge community share ideas and experiences, they often develop a shared way of doing things, a greater sense of purpose… a greater sense of trust. KNOWLEDGE COMMUNITY FINANCIAL At the heart of a knowledge community is the willingness The Town of Markham approved 2003 budgets totalling $203.5 to share information, build trust and find solutions to enrich million. ourselves and our society. We in Markham are in a unique Markham continues to face budgetary pressures in many position to develop as a knowledge community. areas of its operations. Wage settlements, inflation, contract Markham’s high school students have one of the highest renewals and high energy costs have continued to put a strain academic records in the province. In our community, we have on the municipal treasury. As the community grows, the Town one of the most educated populations in Canada and our Town continues to add to its inventory of roads, parks, community boasts one of the highest usages of personal computers in centres, watermains and sidewalks. This results in the need for North America. increased resources to maintain and replace these assets. As leaders in information technology, we want to harness Through the 2003 budget process, Council and staff were this brainpower to meet the many challenges we face as able to resolve several outstanding issues from previous our complex world changes. In 2003, Council set up a years. By utilizing savings produced because the Region of Knowledge Community Task Force to reach out to our business, York assumed responsibility for waste processing, the Town research and educational communities to ensure Markham is was able to normalize funding for asphalt resurfacing. This better prepared to participate in the economy of tomorrow. eliminated the need to support the program with one-time In November 2003, the Innovation Synergy Centre of funding. It also allowed for increased capital funding for library Markham opened to offer small and medium-size companies services in the Town. timely access to business expertise. Its founders are the Town Markham has not incurred any new debt since 1992 and of Markham, York University, the National Research Council has been debt free since 2002. and the Royal Bank. Other government, private sector, educa- tional and technology partners provide funds and expertise. TRANSPORTATION Seneca College is one of those partners, so we were delighted Markham Council gives highest priority to transportation when it chose to create a campus for 3,000 students in issues. The Town is working with the Region of York on its Markham. Seneca’s purchase of the 10-storey Allstate Quick Start initiative to improve bus service on the existing Insurance headquarters, on 27 acres at Highways 404 and 7, road network. In future, the Rapid Transit system will feature makes it our Town’s first post-secondary institution. It will dedicated bus lanes running on main roadways. welcome 1,500 students when it opens in September 2005. In addition to its road improvement program, Council has We are very concerned with giving more young Canadians taken an active role in promoting the timely delivery of regional access to post-secondary education that prepares them to road improvements on Warden Avenue, Highway 7, Markham compete effectively in the knowledge economy. By-pass and along Major Mackenzie Drive. 2 Town of Markham Markham will reduce its potential for gridlock by designing of the developed square footage in Markham Centre connected communities according to the principles of compact urban form to the community energy system. and by creating street-friendly buildings. Markham Centre is an example of this new standard in urban planning with YOUTH mixed-use development built right beside the Rapid Transit In May 2003, our Youth Task Force celebrated International line. Outside the Markham Centre area, the Town is currently Youth Week with a conference “Life – The Great Balancing Act” involved in a study to review land use policies, design and and wrapped up with “Youth Fest” at Armadale Community development standards and transportation policies along the Centre. Now in its ninth year, the Mayor’s Youth Task Force Highway 7 corridor to support transit and effectively manage provides our young people with a voice that gives them an growth. opportunity to enhance their lives within the Town of Markham. The Town of Markham is also working with local employers, They have set up four local area Youth Councils to give back to the Town of Richmond Hill and the Region of York to establish the community through volunteer activities. We now have more a Transportation Management Association for the Highway 7 than 400 active members and I urge all our young people to get and Highway 404 employment corridor, a heavy traffic area. involved by contacting www.markhamyouth.com. MARKHAM CENTRE eMARKHAM My thanks go to the many Markham residents who have As a knowledge community, we want our municipal govern- participated in conferences, planning sessions and workshops ment to be at the forefront of technological innovation to serve during the past 12 years to help plan Markham Centre. the needs of our residents. Recently, we redesigned the Together, we have developed an exciting vision for our new Markham website to make it more user-friendly so residents downtown. Residents have told us that they want a healthy can find information more efficiently.