Item - 2019.GV4.2

The Special Committee on Governance:

1.  Directed the City Manager to report to the November 1, 2019 meeting with proposals for improving the City's governance model and a plan to consult the public on those proposals and the financial impacts of this additional work.

The Special Committee on Governance was established by City Council at its meeting on December 4, 2018 with a mandate 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.

This report provides information on the engagement activities that have been undertaken to support the work of the Special Committee on Governance. It provides a summary of the views and feedback received during the consultations to date and outlines three primary themes and additional sub-themes collected through the consultations. 

The report also presents the workplan for the next two months as staff develop recommendations for the Committee's consideration at its November 2019 meeting. Further work will focus on consulting with neighbourhood associations - their relationship with each other, City Council, and local and city-wide decision-making - and consulting with members of Council on their views of the governance model adopted in December 2018.

As part of the workplan, staff will review Council and committee meeting data comparing this term and previous terms; confer with the City Clerk on input and suggestions related to the Procedure By-law; review issues identified by City divisions resulting from the implementation of new ward and Community Council boundaries, and Standing Committee mandates; and continue jurisdictional research arising from previous Committee directions.