WHEREAS the City of Lethbridge currently utilizes Standing Policy Committees (SPCs) to provide focused oversight, policy review, and recommendations to City Council; and
WHEREAS each SPC is composed of four voting members of Council, resulting in direction being provided by a limited subset of Council, even though all members may attend and participate in discussion; and
WHEREAS Council has identified that this restricted-voting structure can limit full Council involvement in shaping policy and responding to community priorities; and
WHEREAS Council desires to modernize its governance structure to ensure all members of Council receive the same information concurrently and can participate meaningfully in a focused, issue-driven environment; and
WHEREAS the creation of Community Issues Committees (CICs) will allow all members of Council to participate fully in discussions, engage directly with administration, and review matters of community importance in a transparent and collaborative setting; and
WHEREAS CICs are intended to provide enhanced opportunities for community participation, enabling residents, stakeholders, and organizations to bring forward perspectives, information, and concerns during focused discussions on issues of community interest; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT City Council:
1.Amend the Procedure Bylaw
The City Solicitor is directed to prepare amendments to the Procedure Bylaw removing all Standing Policy Committees (SPCs) and replacing them with a single Community Issues Committee (CIC) in accordance with this resolution:
2. Amendments to the Procedure Bylaw:
Amendments to the Procedure Bylaw will ensure the following:
a. Mandates - The CIC will have a mandate to:
i) Enable full Council participation;
ii) Ensure all Council members receive consistent and timely information;
iii) reate structured opportunities for broad community participation on issues brought forward for discussion.
b. Governance Framework - The amending bylaw for the Procedure Bylaw should ensure and include a framework for CIC operations, including:
i) Mandates, roles, and scopes of responsibility for CIC;
ii) Procedures supporting full Council participation and administrative support;
iii) Meeting procedures, public participation guidelines, reporting requirements, and transparency standards;
iv) Processes for receiving, scheduling, and managing public input during CIC meetings; and
v) that the Agenda Review Committee shall recommend which issues and topics are to be referred to a Community Issues Committee, ensuring matters brought forward are appropriate for full Council, community-engaged discussion.
3. Administrative Updates
Administration is directed to:
a. Update all official records, schedules, bylaws, and public-facing materials to reflect the dissolution of SPCs and the establishment of a CIC; and
b. Bring back for consideration by Council any further required amendments to Council policies or bylaws necessary to implement this structural change.