Title
Subdivision and Development Appeal Board Bylaw No. 2015-15
Proposed Motion
1. That Bylaw No. 2015-15 receive first reading.
2. That Bylaw No. 2015-15 receive second reading.
3. That Bylaw No. 2015-15 be presented at this meeting for third reading.
4. That Bylaw No. 2015-15 receive third and final reading.
5. That the existing Subdivision and Development Appeal Board alternate member appointments be changed to full member appointments.
Body
Administration Recommendation
Administration supports the recommendations.
Purpose
Bylaw No. 2015-15 changes the composition of the SDAB to mitigate the extensive workload presently being experienced by the Board. Changing the appointments of alternate members to full members would help create a larger pool of public members to draw from.
Summary
Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB) Bylaw No. 2015-15 was reviewed and discussed by the Governance and Priorities Committee on April 7, 2015, at which time the Committee recommended that Council pass the bylaw, and change the current alternate SDAB member positions to full members. When Council reviewed the bylaw on April 21, 2015, they decided to table the bylaw, asking administration to bring forward additional options regarding the composition and chairmanship of the Board. Accordingly, a number of options were presented to Council on May 26, 2015.
The passing of Bylaw No. 2015-15 would allow Administration to proceed with advertising for additional public members. The SDAB has experienced an extensive workload over the past year and has periodically had difficulty in achieving meeting quorum. It would be advantageous to have a larger number of Board members appointed to the SDAB to share the workload on a rotational basis. It is anticipated that changing the composition and quorum requirements of the Board would improve the ability to schedule members, and help reduce the need to adjourn scheduled hearings due to lack of meeting quorum.
When presented to Council on May 26, 2015, proposed Bylaw No. 2015-15 allowed for nine (9) public members (no Council members) to serve on a rotational basis, with three (3) members as quorum. The chairmanship provision allowed for Council to appoint two Chairpersons to serve on a rotational basis. Hiring a professional Chairperson was not an option because this person would be deemed as an employee, and under the Municipal Government Act sec 627(4), an employee of the municipality cannot sit on the SDAB.
After Council's review of Bylaw No. 2015-15 at their May 26, 2015 meeting, further changes were requested by Council, and first reading was tabled to June 9, 2015. As requested by Council, the proposed bylaw has been further changed to reflect the following:
1) The Board shall consist of five (5) members, with up to two (2) being members of Council and up to four (4) being public members (Section 5)
2) Quorum shall be five (5) committee members which consists of at least one (1) Councillor (Section 19)
3) The Board shall elect up to three (3) Chairpersons to serve on a rotational basis (Section 17)
4) All Board members must receive training (Section 16).
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications
The Municipal Government Act section 627 provides that Council must, by bylaw, establish a Subdivision and Development Appeal Board.
Financial Impact:
Cost: $0
Source of Funding: n/a