Item - 2019.GV1.2
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Special Committee on Governance on February 21, 2019 and was adopted with amendments.
GV1.2 - Public Input on City Council's Governance System for 26 Members
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Decision
The Special Committee on Governance:
1. Requested the City Manager, in consultation with the City Clerk, to consider the deputations and submissions at this meeting and report to the next meeting, April 12, 2019, with a recommended workplan to the Special Committee on Governance.
2. Request the City Manager and the City Clerk to report to the Special Committee on Governance on a public consultation or round table process beyond the Committee which would provide an enhanced opportunity for citizen engagement.
3. Requested the City Manager, as part of the Committee workplan, to report to the Special Committee on Governance on:
a. the feasibility of and opportunities for the creation of an Office of Neighbourhoods in the City of Toronto; and
b. best practices, and case studies from cities in North America that have implemented an Office of Neighbourhoods.
Origin
Summary
The Special Committee on Governance was struck to "consider the impacts on the City's governance structure and processes arising from the reduction in the size of Council and make recommendations to City Council on any further changes to its governance structure."
In December 2018 the report CC1.1 "Recalibrating City Council's Governance System for 26 Members", was considered without an opportunity for the public to provide comments. Given the Special Committee is in the start-up stage, I propose that we commence our work by arranging an opportunity for public input on how the reduction in the size of Council affects the way the City is governed and the way people interact with their City government.
By way of this letter, I invite members of the public to present to the Committee on February 21, 2019 on:
- How the reduction in the size of Council has impacted, or may impact, the City's governance;
- Suggestions for changes to the City's governance structure, including modernizing governance, following the reduction in the size of Council.
Based on the input from the public and Committee members, I will request City Staff to report to the Committee with a workplan.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/gv/bgrd/backgroundfile-124495.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/gv/comm/communicationfile-91565.pdf
(February 20, 2019) Letter from Peggy Moulder, Etobicoke-Lakeshore Community Planning Group (GV.New.GV1.2.2)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/gv/comm/communicationfile-91546.pdf
(February 20, 2019) Letter from Andrew Thomson, Chief of Government Relations University of Toronto (GV.New.GV1.2.3)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/gv/comm/communicationfile-91551.pdf
(February 20, 2019) Letter from Veronica Wynne, Swansea Area Ratepayers' Association (GV.New.GV1.2.4)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/gv/comm/communicationfile-91566.pdf
(February 20, 2019) Letter from Geoff Kettel and Cathie Macdonald, Federation of North Toronto Residents' Association (GV.New.GV1.2.5)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/gv/comm/communicationfile-91568.pdf
(February 20, 2019) E-mail from Joshua Barndt, Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust (GV.New.GV1.2.6)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/gv/comm/communicationfile-91569.pdf
(February 20, 2019) Letter from Anna Kim, Scarborough Civic Action Network (GV.New.GV1.2.7)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/gv/comm/communicationfile-91585.pdf
(February 20, 2019) Letter from Kira Heineck, Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness (GV.New.GV1.2.8)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/gv/comm/communicationfile-91586.pdf
(February 20, 2019) Letter from Adam Smith (GV.New.GV1.2.9)
(February 21, 2019) Letter from Max Allen, Vice President, Planning and Development, Grange Community Association, Inc. (GV.New.GV1.2.10)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/gv/comm/communicationfile-91589.pdf
(February 21, 2019) Letter from Alan Kasperski, Green Party of Toronto (GV.New.GV1.2.11)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/gv/comm/communicationfile-91610.pdf
(February 21, 2019) Letter from Victor Willis, Executive Director, PARC (the Parkdale Activity - Recreation Centre) (GV.New.GV1.2.12)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/gv/comm/communicationfile-91611.pdf
(February 21, 2019) Letter from Rosemary Boissonneau (GV.New.GV1.2.13)
(February 21, 2019) E-mail from Sharon Howarth (GV.New.GV1.2.14)
(February 21, 2019) Letter from Heather Marshall, Toronto Environmental Alliance (GV.New.GV1.2.15)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/gv/comm/communicationfile-91613.pdf
(February 21, 2019) Submission from Dave Meslin - On file with the City Clerk (GV.New.GV1.2.16)
(February 21, 2019) Submission from Sean Meagher (GV.New.GV1.2.17)
Speakers
Dave Meslin
Max Allen, Grange Community Association Inc.
Adam Smith
Mary T. Hynes
Rowan Caister
Miguel Avila-Velarde
Susan Dexter, Harbord Village Residents' Association
Joy Connelly
Victor Willis, Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre (PARC)
Rosemary Boissonneau
Geoff Kettel, Federation of North Toronto Residents' Association
Derek Moran
Edward Zaretsky
Veronica Wynne, Swansea Area Ratepayers Association
Sean Meagher, Convene Toronto
Councillor Brad Bradford
Councillor Jennifer McKelvie
Motions
That:
1. The Special Committee on Governance request the City Manager, as part of the Committee workplan, to report to the Special Committee on Governance on:
a. the feasibility of and opportunities for the creation of an Office of Neighbourhoods in the City of Toronto; and
b. best practices, and case studies from cities in North America that have implemented an Office of Neighbourhoods.
That:
1. The Special Committee on Governance request the City Manager, in consultation with the City Clerk, consider the deputations and submissions at this meeting and report to the next meeting, April 12, 2019, with a recommended workplan to the Special Committee on Governance.
2. The Special Committee on Governance request the City Manager and the City Clerk to report to the Special Committee on Governance on a public consultation or round table process beyond the Committee which would provide an enhanced opportunity for citizen engagement.