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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCS-14-170 - 2015 Council Standing Committee Schedule REPORT TO: Committee of the Whole DATE OF MEETING: September 15, 2014 SUBMITTED BY: C. Tarling, Director of Legislated Services & City Clerk, (519) 741- 2200, ext. 7809 PREPARED BY: C. Goodeve, Mgr. Council / Committee Services & Deputy City Clerk, (519) 741-2200, ext. 7872 WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: September 2, 2014 REPORT NO.: FCS-14-170 SUBJECT:2015 COUNCIL & STANDING COMMITTEE SCHEDULE ___________________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION: That the 2015 Meeting Schedule attached to report FCS-14-170, be approved as the 2015 schedule of Council and Standing Committee meetings. BACKGROUND: Annually, Council adopts a schedule of Council and Standing Committee meetings for the following year. The schedule ensures at a minimum, a five week break during the summer and that no meetings are scheduled during March Break or in the same weeks as the annual general meetings of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). REPORT: Since 2008, the number of Standing Committee / Council meetings has ranged from 13 to 15, with the schedule generally trying to follow the Region of Waterloo’s schedule. Attached hereto is a copy of the proposed 2015 meeting schedule, which contains 14 meeting cycles. With 2014 being an election year, the annual budget cycle has been postponed until January 2015. This postponement has made it difficult to align the City’s 2015 schedule with the Region’s. The most notable change from previous years is the clustering of the budget meetings. In the past, one budget meeting would typically be held in November and another in December, with final budget day being held in January of the following year. However, for 2015 it is proposed that the Operating and Capital budget meetings be held on consecutive weeks. As part of this new process, staff will endeavour to provide Council with a complete budget package comprised of both budgets by mid to late December 6. - 1 2014. Given the interconnectivity between the Operating and Capital budgets, this should improve public engagement and understanding as all of the budget material will be able to be viewed at the start of budget deliberations. The following is a listing of Holidays, March Break and Conferences for 2015: Holidays: New Year’s Day Wed. Jan 1 Family Day Mon. Feb. 16 Good Friday Fri. Apr 3 Easter Monday Mon. Apr. 6 Victoria Day Mon. May 18 Canada Day Wed. Jul. 1 Civic Holiday Mon. Aug. 3 Labour Day Mon. Sept. 7 Thanksgiving Mon. Oct. 12 Remembrance Day Wed.Nov. 11 Christmas Day Fri. Dec. 25 Boxing Day Sat. Dec. 26 Conferences & March Break: March Break Mar. 16 – 20 FCM Conference Jun. 5 – Jun. 8 AMO Conference Aug. 16 – 19 ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: Communication & Customer Service - establishing a schedule provides the public with information on when meetings will take place. Effective & Efficient Government - providing staff with a schedule enables them to better plan for bringing matters forward to Council. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: There are no financial implications associated with this report. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INFORM – This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in advance of the Council meeting. The schedule will be posted on-line in the corporate calendar. CONSULT – The approved schedule will be sent to Roger’s Cable for the televised Council meeting dates. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: D. Chapman, Deputy CAO – Finance and Corporate Services 6. - 2 6. - 3