10 ways City Hall may be changed

Here are some highlights from the 289-page governance review of the past council, which the new councillors will discuss and vote on next Wednesday, writes Matthew Pearson.

1 Sparks Street under the microscope

City staff are to conduct a “detailed governance review” of the Sparks Street Business Improvement Area and the Sparks Street Mall Authority Board of Management, and report back to the finance committee by next summer. Confusion about the two organizations’ mandates, the sudden departure of the BIA’s executive director and the removal of a city-owned piece of public art from the pedestrian mall could be among the reasons that the city wants to take a closer look at Sparks.

2 Bylaw redraw?

The city wants to review its bylaws and regulations in the next term of council, and will ask staff to summarize all major bylaws — including the dates they were enacted and last reviewed and related enforcement statistics — by the end of next year. The bylaw that oversees the city’s taxi industry, which was been under intense pressure since the arrival of ride-sharing company Uber, is surely up for discussion.

3 Fewer committee meetings

The transit commission held an average of 15 meetings a year between 2010 and 2014 (with one cancellation). But the report says the commission’s workload in the future can be accomplished in eight meetings a year, on the understanding that special meetings can be called when necessary. Same goes for the community and protective services committee (which met an average of 10 times a year, with one cancellation) and the environment committee (an average of nine times a year, with three cancellations). We’ll see what the public thinks of that.

4 Confederation Line regulator

The report calls for the establishment of the Office of the Regulator for the Confederation Line. This person would report to council directly, much like the auditor general or integrity commissioner, and oversee the regulation of safety and security of Ottawa’s new light-rail transit system. A working group, in consultation with city manager Kent Kirkpatrick and other senior officials, are to develop the bylaws needed to establish the position and duties of the regulator, and report back to the transit commission early next year.

5 No more ARAC road show

Since amalgamation, the agriculture and rural affairs committee (ARAC) has held some of its meetings in rural wards. But the city may scrap this practice because it’s difficult to find appropriate space for large meetings within city-owned facilities in the rural area without displacing community groups. Some rural residents have also complained about having to travel great distances to attend meetings in other far-flung parts of the city.

6 Audit committee steps into the spotlight

The audit subcommittee was just a twinkle in the eye of the 2010 governance review, but this time around Mayor Jim Watson is recommending that it become a full standing committee of council rather than a subcommittee. If approved, the committee would meet four to six times a year and bring even more attention to how the city spends its money.

7 Heritage subcommittee’s mandate to grow

Established in 2012, the built heritage subcommittee was seen as a success this term, but outgoing members are recommending that its mandate expand to include more than simply matters relating to two parts of the Ontario Heritage Act. Instead, the report says the committee should be able to comment on any planning applications that involve a heritage overlay, which is an additional layer of zoning regulations imposed “over” an area to encourage the retention of existing heritage buildings.

8 Code of Conduct changes, part 1

The spending guidelines — which currently say councillors can’t buy goods or services from a family member — will be expanded to say they can’t purchase goods or services from family members of their staff, either.

9 Code of Conduct changes, part 2

The minimum threshold for disclosing all gifts, benefits and hospitality received from one source in a calendar year has jumped to $150 from $30.

10 Taking no credit

A ward councillor’s name won’t be allowed on any signage for traffic control measures, whether funded from the councillor’s office budget or a departmental budget.