It’s out with the old, in with the new at Delta municipal hall when it comes to the city’s advisory committees.
Council recently endorsed a staff recommendation to scrap most of the previous committees and commissions in favour of a new format.
A report to council notes that, consistent with practices in other cities and to streamline the decision-making process and improve transparency, council's Committee of the Whole has replaced most of the previous council committees.
The Committee of the Whole allows council members to meet with more members of the community and broaden the level of engagement on important topics, the report notes.
Some separate committees will still provide advice on specific issues including the Delta council/Delta Board of Education liaison committee.
In addition, three new committees are proposed to be established including the Community Investment Committee, the Agricultural and Hunting Regulation Advisory Committee and the Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism Committee, all meeting twice per year.
The report also notes that while the Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission is concluded, Delta's sport groups will have an enhanced opportunity to engage directly with council through the new City of Delta Sports and Culture Councils - Indoor/Outdoor.
Mayor George Harvie and council members will host separate summits twice annually for the indoor and outdoor sport user groups as well as culture stakeholders.
Meanwhile, to further streamline things at municipal hall, council also approved a bylaw to delegate decision-making authority on a number of procedures to staff, including many existing procedures that had been considered routine.
Opportunities for additional, more specific new delegations of authority to increase efficiency, particularly in relation to the administration of development applications and waiving of municipal fees and charges, are being investigated, according to staff who will report back to council in early 2023.
