Council passes procedural bylaw pilot plans

Residents encouraged to provide feedback on changes
By Chris Simon Innisfil Scope December 8 2010
A series of changes to the town’s procedural bylaw will improve public input and allow council to focus on important matters, says mayor Barb Baguley.
At the first regular meeting of the 2010-2014 term Wednesday, council approved a pilot project, which will overhaul several provisions within the municipality’s procedural bylaw.
“The whole idea of the change is to serve the public,” said Baguley. “We encourage the public to let us know where we’ve done a good job, and where we need to make improvement.”
Under the changes, agenda packages will be available on the town website at least seven days prior to council meetings, up from the mandatory two-day publication. Council will conduct two regular, public and ‘special’ meetings per month. The regular and public meetings will take place on the first and third Wednesday of each month, with special meetings (for budget or other controversial items) will be held on the second and fourth Wednesday.
Delegation registration will also be permitted until 2:30 p.m. on the day before a meeting, and presenters will not be restricted to speaking about items on the agenda. That’s a substantial change from current policy, where speakers can only discuss agenda items, and must request a delegation one week prior to the meeting.
“In consultation with the new council, and in listening to the comments and concerns raised by the public over the last several months, there are a number of things we’ve proposed,” said town clerk Jason Reynar. “The idea being to place more emphasis and time on discussion items that require council’s attention, and allow for more of the routine items to simply proceed efficiently.”
But there are some concerns with a provision that will essentially bypass the town’s Committee of the Whole, unless an item is referred by council. Typically, recommendations have been passed by the committee, before being sent to council for final approval. Items can now technically be approved by council in one meeting, in an attempt to speed up the democratic process.
“It’s a work in progress,” said councillor Doug Lougheed. “Should there be issues that members or the public don’t like, make it known. That will be part of the tweaking going forward. We want to make sure there’s transparency and notification going on.”
The changes will also allow for urgent items to be added to the council agenda up to the start of meetings, while petitions can be submitted to the town, regardless of whether the item is being discussed that evening.
Public sessions would also begin at 6:30 p.m., with regular meetings pushed back to a 7:30 start.
The pilot will be in effect for council’s Dec. 8 and 15, and Jan. 5 and 19 council meetings. Residents are being asked to provide feedback on the changes over the next few weeks, with a report expected to be submitted to council at the Jan. 19th meeting. For more information, visit www.innisfil.ca.

Procedural bylaw changes coming
New start times and greater flexibility on agenda proposed
By Chris Simon Innisfil Scope December 8 2010
It won’t likely take long for council to change the way it does business.
When council gathers for its first regular meeting tonight at 7:15 p.m., one of the first scheduled agenda items will temporarily overhaul the municipality’s procedural bylaw. Under that plan, council will suspend several sections of the bylaw, pending completion of a month long pilot project, in an attempt to encourage public participation and speed up council’s approval process.
“When people have the full information, they can make a more considered deputation, if necessary,” said mayor Barb Baguley, during a meeting with media Monday afternoon. “It’s not just the agenda we’re changing, it’s the attitude.”
Under the changes, agenda packages will be available on the town website at least seven days prior to council meetings, up from the mandatory two-day publication period. Council will conduct two regular, public and ‘special’ meetings per month. The regular and public meetings will take place on the first and third Wednesday of each month, with special meetings (for budget or other controversial items) will be held on the second and fourth Wednesday.
Delegation registration will also be permitted until 2:30 p.m. on the day of a meeting, and presenters will not be restricted to speaking about items on the agenda. That’s a substantial change from current policy, where speakers can only discuss agenda items, and must request a delegation one week prior to the meeting.
“Staff recommend that council take this opportunity to pilot the proposed changes for the next few meetings, to increase public engagement and efficiency,” said town clerk Jason Reynar. “With one week’s notice of the agenda, individuals and groups will have time to decide whether to speak directly to council. Although the clerk has some flexibility in assigning times, this will make sure that a speaker has more than one minute, which may have happened … during Open Forum. Also, it can be on an item that is not on the agenda.”
However, there are some concerns with a provision that will essentially bypass the town’s Committee of the Whole, unless an item is referred by council. Typically, recommendations have been passed by the committee, before being sent to council for final approval. Items will now go directly to council, and be referred if necessary.
It’s an attempt to speed up the democratic process, since agenda items can now be passed at one meeting.
“We’ll make a few bumps along they way, but dust ourselves off and be fine,” she said. “This is only for the next four meetings; we’ll try it out and see how things go. This is about openness and accessibility.”
The changes will also allow for urgent items to be added to the council agenda up to the start of meetings, while petitions can be submitted to the town, regardless of whether the item is being discussed that evening.
Public and regular meeting would begin at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., respectively.