Special Committee on Governance
The full agenda, as filed
All 3 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
GV1.1amended
Election of Vice Chair - Special Committee on Governance
Election of the Vice Chair of the Special Committee on Governance under Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, Appendix A-2, for a term of office ending when the Committee makes its final recommendations to City Council.
The Special Committee on Governance: 1. Elected Councillor Gord Perks as Vice Chair of the Special Committee on Governance for a term of office starting February 21, 2019 and ending when the Committee makes its final recommendations to City Council.
GV1.2amended
Public Input on City Council's Governance System for 26 Members
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.
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.
GV1.3deferred indefinitely
Request for Report on Implementation of Term Limits
City Council on January 30 and 31, 2019, referred Motion MM2.12 to the Special Committee on Governance. As City Councillors, we have a duty to ensure the health of many aspects of our City including its finances, infrastructure, and environment. Among these responsibilities none is more important than ensuring the health of our local democracy. City Hall should represent the diverse population of Toronto and candidates of all backgrounds should have an equal chance to serve their communities. This vision can be made a reality by reforming our governance system. This is why I am asking City Council to support my Motion to include term limits as part of the work being done by the Special Committee on Governance. Our City is emblazoned by the motto "diversity is our strength". We should strengthen Toronto by embedding diversity in our political system. Among the many barriers to having a more diverse City Council, the largest is the statistical advantage sitting Members of Council benefit from in elections. With the changes forced on City Council in the summer, now is an ideal opportunity to consider strengthening our governance system with term limits. The work of reviewing the way we govern is already underway through the Special Committee on Governance. We should use circumstances that threatened to weaken this City as a chance to strengthen it. This Motion is not a call for Council to vote on the exact details of term limits today. This debate is not meant to question the commitment and record of our Members of Council, all of whom have served their communities with as much dedication and purpose as they can bring. This Motion is an invitation to ask "is there a way we can serve better?" In order to answer this question Council must engage in a thorough debate on better governance.
The Special Committee on Governance deferred consideration of the item indefinitely.
Staff recommendation as filed
Councillor Brad Bradford, seconded by Councillor Ana Bailão, recommends that: 1. City Council request the City Manager to report to the Special Committee on Governance by the first quarter of 2020 on opportunities and next steps to implement term limits for City Councillors and the Mayor, such report to include but not be limited to: a. a survey and analysis on the use of term limits in comparable North American jurisdictions; b. consideration for the potential impacts of term limits on levels of political engagement, public participation in government and diversity among elected officials; c. an extensive public consultation process with residents on their opinions toward term limits; d. recommended length and number of terms, and transition provisions for term limits; and e. the required legislative changes to the City of Toronto Act, 2006, and the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, to implement term limits based on the findings in Parts a to d above.