This week, the Markham council made some significant decisions, including a motion for a veterans-themed crosswalk, an extension for the city’s Scooty e-scooter pilot until 2026, and this year’s property tax levy.
Here are three main points to note:
The council approved the veterans-themed decorative crosswalk with a close 7-6 vote, even though city staff had raised concerns about safety and liability risks earlier.
The vote confirmed a recommendation that was already supported by the city’s Development Services Committee earlier this month. Staff had cautioned against decorative pavement markings due to worries they might distract drivers or create accessibility problems.
Those in favor of the project argued that the crosswalk would act as a meaningful tribute to veterans and military members within the community.
The motion passed by just one vote.
The council also agreed to extend the Scooty e-scooter and e-bike pilot program from May 26 to October 31, continuing in the existing Downtown Markham demonstration area.
City staff mentioned that since its launch in 2024, the pilot has shown “consistent ridership, strong safety performance, and positive community response.”
The report indicated that this extension will allow further study on how shared e-scooters and e-bikes can assist visitors during major events like Canada Day celebrations and the 2026 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Markham weekend.
During the 2025 season, the pilot recorded 2,470 rides covering over 6,400 kilometers. About 40 percent of riders used Scooty to connect with public transit.
Staff also noted that special operational plans will be necessary during the Indy event since the temporary race circuit will overlap with the current Scooty operating zone.
The council approved Markham’s Tax Rates and Levy Bylaw for 2026. This allows for nearly $912 million in property taxes to be collected for city services as well as regional and provincial education levies.
Of that total $911.9 million levy:
– approximately $202.6 million will go to the City of Markham
– roughly $447.9 million goes to York Region
– about $260.9 million is allocated for provincial education taxes
Additional funds will also support business improvement areas in Markham Village and Unionville.
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