Representation, including for those with disabilities, will be part of a City of Nanaimo review of its committees and commissions.
The city’s management team will look at committees and commissions, from structure to membership mandates and operating guidelines as part of a review of recommendations made in a 2013 governance report.
At an open meeting Monday, Nanaimo city council also called for a report that includes ways all committees can have appointed representatives from a variety of areas, like diversity and disability needs. It stems from a bid by Coun. Diane Brennan, who wanted staff members to look into ways to ensure the Planning and Transportation Advisory Committee has a clear and in-depth understanding of accessibility issues and solutions, including dedicated seats for representatives of the cycling and disability communities.
Council defeated her motion, but agreed to look at the broader issue of representation for all city committees.
Coun. Ian Thorpe called Brennan’s motion “possibly premature” given the review, and also said he’s not in favour of dedicated seats whether they are for gender, age or race, calling it a slippery slope.
Coun. Bill Yoachim wants to expand the conversation about accessibility to every city department, but said he’s not comfortable making motions on committees because there’s a “time-out mode.”
Council suspended eight committees and commissions for three months in early February.
Senior management will look at the governance report at the same time as a core review is done, including 13 recommendations tied to committees and commissions, according to interim city manager Tracy Samra.
She said staff members will look at the appointment of representatives, the composition of committees, as well as reporting to council, membership mandates and operating guidelines.