The Economic Development Committee, the Housing Advisory Committee and the Municipal Planning Commission are three advisory boards that city council has voted to shut down.
In a report presented at the Oct. 28 executive committee meeting, city administration explained why each of those groups should be eliminated.
A review of the Municipal Planning Commission’s minutes illustrates that in most cases, the review input on applications rarely takes more than a few minutes, the report explained. Yet, the commission process requires longer timelines and the production of multiple reports.
With its elimination, all matters relating to the Municipal Planning Commission would be placed on the city council agenda under Committee of the Whole. This would reduce a procedural step and enable decisions to come to council on a timely basis. In those rare circumstances where additional background may be required, it would be appropriate to table that item to a subsequent executive committee meeting to obtain that information.
Bringing most commission applications directly to city council would also help reduce “red tape,” the report added.
Council voted 4-3 on a recommendation to eliminate this committee. Councillors Brian Swanson, Crystal Froese and Scott McMann were opposed.
The creation of the housing committee was spawned in 2010 by a pressing shortage of housing, especially with lower-income options, the report said. Although the municipality had few avenues to directly affect this area, it was a focus of activity and considerable interaction, particularly with the provincial government on addressing this need.
As a result, several new programs were brought online; the supply of housing increased and vacancy rates eased considerably. With this pressing need addressed, there have been minimal citizen applications to continue on the committee and meetings have often not proceeded due to lack of quorum, underlining the absence of a need to continue the committee, the report added.
Council voted unanimously in favour of a recommendation to shut down this committee.
Similarly, the Economic Development Commission was created in January 1970 to engage community volunteers to promote economic growth, said the report. The reality of most economic development projects is that they involve highly confidential matters and are not suitable for discussion in public venues.
Therefore, matters of economic development are routed through administration and vetted and recommended for public approval by executive committee. The commission has not had a meeting in more than a year and a half
Council voted 5-2 in favour of a recommendation to shut down this committee. Swanson and McMann were opposed.
All recommendations must be approved during a future regular council meeting before they are official.
