Governance and Priorities Committee Decisions in Brief
From the April 18, 2016 Meeting
7.1.1 2017 Business Plan and Budget Process
Decision
*The committee endorsed the process for the 2017 Business Plan and Budget.
Background
*In addition to the City’s Strategic Plan, City Council's priorities will provide direction and focus to the Administration in the preparation of the 2017 Business Plan and Budget.
*The 2017 Business Plan and Budget process will attempt to integrate a “policy-oriented” approach so that City Council can provide key direction to the Administration on various existing, and emerging, policy issues.
*The 2017 Business Plan and Budget process will include a public engagement component, so people of Saskatoon have an opportunity to provide input into the development of the 2017 Business Plan and Budget.
7.2.2 Growth Plan to Half a Million
Decision
*The committee is forwarding the following recommendations to City Council:
1. That City Council recognize and approve, in principle, the long-term benefits of the vision and key directions of the Growth Plan to Half a Million;
2. That the Growth Plan to Half a Million be implemented in a phased, incremental approach, requiring specific recommendations in ten-year increments;
3. That the Administration report back with an implementation plan for the period of 2017 to 2026;
4. That Administration provide a further report evaluating design considerations for major roadways and intersections, and in particular the use of grade separated or at grade intersections on different roadways as part of this plan. Components of this evaluation could include costs, safety, efficiency, and development impacts, outside of our high speed freeway network;
5. That as the implementation plan is developed, Administration provide further detail comparing the costs of implementing different components of the growth plan vs. the comparing of costs of implementing different components of the growth plan vs. the cost of proceeding with business as usual;
6. That the Administration provide further information with regards to implementing the growth plan with consideration of maximizing solar access and orientation of new developments in both new growth and infill areas; and
7. That the Administration be instructed to bring forward specific reports on any actions related to overall plan implementation.
Background
*The Growth Plan will guide the City’s growth for transportation, transit (Growth, and land-use planning to accommodate a population of half a million people).
*Without the Growth Plan, economic and community impacts of continuing the current growth patterns are expected to include increased traffic congestion, declining levels of transit service, longer commutes, and higher infrastructure costs, among others.
*The Growth Plan outlines eight key directions to guide transportation, transit, and land-use planning to accommodate a population of half a million.
*A ten-year action plan will be created to guide the implementation of the Growth Plan and will be brought to City Council for approval in early 2017.
7.2.2.1 City of Saskatoon Growth Plan – SaskTel Centre – Current Status and Future Outlook
Decision
*Committee received the information.
Background
*In March, the committee held a Growth Plan Summit. Administration requested a presentation from the SaskTel Centre CEO regarding the current structure and plans for the future.
*SaskTel Centre, which opened in 1988, is rated among the top 100 arena concert venues in the world and has made Saskatoon a destination for major events and tours.
*Key issues noted within the presentation include: No Loading Dock for quickly loading shows in and out; Roof and trusses are too low and inadequate for event rigging; Kitchen and catering space is inadequate; With additions in permanent seating, concourse space and concession service locations outgrew; Limited public restrooms; Lack of permanent artist dressing rooms; Limited dressing rooms for national and international events.
8.2.1 Enumeration/Voters List/Voter Registry
Decision
*The committee recommended City Council receive the information and that voters be registered at the polls on the dates set for voting during the 2016 Municipal and School Board Election.
Background
*There is no legislative or administrative requirement for a voters list. A voters list has not been prepared in Saskatoon since 1988.
*Conducting an enumeration is labour intensive and costly.
*A council may choose to enter into agreements with respect to sharing or using a voters list, or any other voter data used to create a voters list, with any officer established pursuant to a provincial Act or an Act of the parliament of Canada responsible to conduct an election.
*The use of a national or provincial register of electors in a municipal election may serve as a basis for a voters list.
*There is no provision in the legislation to allow for a process to preserve the voter registration forms from the 2016 Municipal and School Board Elections to formulate a list to be used for the purposes of developing a permanent voters list.
8.2.2 2016 Local Government Elections – Mail-In Ballots
Decision
*The committee is forwarding the report to City Council recommending the City Solicitor be instructed to amend The Election Bylaw to remove the provision of “postage-paid” for the return of the mailing envelope to the returning officer for mail-in ballots.
Background
*Section 92 of The Local Government Election Act, 2015 authorizes Council to establish a mail-in ballot voting system for the purpose of receiving ballots in an election. In addition, clause 29(1)(b) of the Act authorizes Council to establish a mail-in ballot voting system for voters receiving care in a hospital, personal care facility or similar institution. Bylaw No. 8191, The Election Bylaw, 2012, provides for a mail-in ballot voting system.
8.2.3 2016 Local Government Elections – Hours of Voting
Decision
*The committee forwarded the report to City Council for information.
Background
*The Local Government Election Act, 2015 stipulates that polls must be open for voting between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on election day, and that the Returning Officer may open polls earlier than 9:00 a.m. on election day.
*In the past, polls have been open between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and the same hours will be established for the 2016 Civic Election. Election officials must be at the poll at least 30 minutes before opening the poll and they are required to stay after the poll closes to complete their legislated duties, which means they are working a long day. It is therefore not being proposed that polls open any earlier than 8:00 a.m.
8.2.4 2016 Local Government Elections – Advance Polls
Decision
*The committee is forwarding the report to City Council for information.
Background
*Section 85 of the The Local Government Election Act, 2015 authorizes the returning officer to establish one or more advance polls for voters at least three days and not more than 15 days before the day of the election, and set the days and hours for advance voting, excepting those to be established for personal care facilities and similar institutions.
8.2.5 2016 Local Government Elections – Homebound Voting
Decision
*The committee is recommending to City Council that homebound voting in accordance with The Local Government Election Act, 2015 and Regulations be established on October 21, 24 and 26, 2016.
Background
*Section 30 of The Local Government Election Act, 2015 authorizes Council to provide for homebound voting any time between the first day of advance polling and the closing of polls on election day to take the vote of a voter that:
(a) has a disability or limited mobility and is unable to attend an established polling place to vote; or
(b) is a resident caregiver and because of the care required for the voter who has a disability or limited mobility does not allow them to attend an established polling place to vote.
*Applications to engage the homebound voting service are made to the returning officer. Upon the returning officer’s satisfaction that the application is proper and complies with legislated requirements, the homebound voting service involves election officials going to the home of the voter to capture their vote. Personal Care facilities and similar institutions that are too small to warrant establishing a special poll for the required one hour minimum time frame would also be eligible for this service, provided residents meet the application criteria.
*It is being recommended that homebound voting be established on October 21, 24 and 26, as required.
8.2.7 City Council Travel and Training Expense – 2015
Decision
*The committee is forwarding the report to City Council (with changes as identified during the meeting) for information and posting on the City’s website.
Background
*Each Councillor is allotted funds annually for general travel and training, such as attendance at the annual SUMA and FCM conferences. The total amount budgeted for 2015 for all Councillors was $35,000.00. For 2015 the total expenditures were $30,553.34.
8.2.8 Communications Support to Councillors
Decision
*The committee is forwarding the information to City Council for information and posting on the City’s website.
Background
*In June, City Council approved the preliminary parameters and guidelines for communications support to Councillors, which included providing Committee with usage updates. For 2015, $100,000 was allocated for Councillors. Total expenditures were $68,505.96.