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Committee of the Whole/Documents/COUNCIL SIZE (Staff Presentation)
Presentation

COUNCIL SIZE (Staff Presentation)

November 10, 2020Pages 27–3913 sections

Slide deck accompanying the staff report on increasing council size, detailing legislative requirements and impacts.

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA (motion to approve)
Incorporation date: December 1988Population at incorporation: slightly under 5,000Current council: Mayor and 4 councillorsTarget council: Mayor and 6 councillors

BACKGROUND:

  • Population grown by 50% since incorporation
  • At time of incorporation (December 1988) population slightly under 5,000
  • 4 years ago, View Royal’s population was 10,408 (2016 Census)
Page 27–39

DISCUSSION:

In BC, council sizes vary from 5 to 11 – determined by population of municipality

Section 118 of the Community Charter sets out council size:

  • cities or districts > 50,000 = mayor and 8 councillors
  • cities or districts < 50,000 = mayor and 6 councillors
  • town or village = mayor and 4 councillors

Section 10 of the Local Government Act describes classification of municipalities:

  • village if not greater than 2,500
  • town if greater than 2,500 but not greater than 5,000
  • city if greater than 5,000
  • district municipality if greater than 800 ha and average population density less than 5 per ha
  • despite the above, if LG in Council considers it to be in public interest, may incorporate in another classification
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Municipalities of Comparable Size with 7 Member Councils:

  • Castlegar (City) – 8,039
  • Comox (Town) – 14,028
  • Dawson Creek (City) – 12,178
  • Ladysmith (Town) – 8,537
  • Nelson (City) – 10,572
  • North Saanich (District) – 11,249
  • Parksville (City) – 12,514
  • Quesnel (City) – 9,879
  • Sechelt (District) – 10,216
  • Sidney (Town) – 11,672
  • Williams Lake (City) – 10,753
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Municipalities of a Smaller Size with 7 Member Councils:

  • Armstrong (City) – 5,114
  • Bowen Island (Isl. Mun.) – 3,680
  • Creston (Town) – 5,351
  • Duncan (City) – 4,944
  • Fernie (City) – 5,244
  • Golden (Town) – 3,708
  • Grand Forks (City) – 4,049
  • Hope (District) – 6,181
  • Houston (District) – 2,993
  • Kimberley (City) – 7,425
  • Mackenzie (District) – 3,714
  • Northern Rockies (Reg’l Mun.) – 4,831
  • Oliver (Town) – 4,928
  • Osoyoos (Town) – 5085
  • Peachland (District) – 5,428
  • Rossland (City) – 3,729
  • Smithers (Town) – 5,401
  • Spallumcheen (Township) – 5,106
  • Sparwood (District) – 3,784
  • Vanderhoof (District) – 4,439
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Municipalities Within the Capital Regional District (CRD):

7 Member Councils:

  • Central Saanich (District) – 16,814
  • Colwood (City) – 16,859
  • Esquimalt (District) – 17,655
  • Highlands (District) – 2,225
  • Langford (City) – 35,342
  • North Saanich (District) – 11,249
  • Oak Bay (District) – 18,094
  • Sidney (Town) – 11,672
  • Sooke (District) – 13,001

5 Member Councils:

  • Metchosin (District) – 4,708
  • View Royal (Town) – 10,408

9 Member Councils:

  • Saanich (District) – 114,148
  • Victoria (City) – 85,792
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IMPACTS:

  • Increased opportunities for those with full-time jobs to run for office
  • Broadened perspectives, reflective of the municipality’s changing demographics, that a larger, more diverse body could provide
  • Increased opportunities for differing perspectives and skillsets
  • More access to elected officials and representation for residents and business owners
  • More candidates on the ballot to choose from for voters
  • Status quo – more concentrated representation and continuation of same financial impact regarding renumeration
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METHODOLOGIES AVAILABLE:

  1. By bylaw; or
  2. Reclassify from “town” to “city”, triggering an increase in council size
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RECLASSIFICATION:

Reclassification set out in Section 11 of the Local Government Act.

Must first obtain approval of electors with either asset voting (referendum) or an alternative approval process (AAP)

Either option takes several months, though AAP more cost effective if compared as standalone initiatives

If approval is obtained, next steps would take a couple months as staff work with the Province to undertake the formal change to Letters Patent through an Order in Council

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RECLASSIFICATION:

Additional impacts associated with reclassification:

  • Reflect the municipality’s growth and development;
  • Expand and amplify recognition of View Royal’s identity and profile;
  • Boost the municipal profile in the region; and
  • Support economic development.
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TIME CRITICAL:

  • Bylaw must be adopted at least 6 months before next election
  • Regarding reclassification, approval of electors could be sought through an AAP now or in the next general local election by including a question on the ballot
Page 27–39

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Committee recommend to Council that a bylaw be prepared to increase Council size by two.

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ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATIONS:

  1. THAT the Committee recommend to Council that approval of the electors be sought by an alternative approval process regarding the reclassification of the municipality from town to city.
  2. THAT the Committee recommend to Council that approval of the electors be sought by an assent voting (referendum) question placed on the October 2022 general local election ballot regarding the reclassification of the municipality from town to city.
  3. THAT the Committee recommend to Council that a non-binding question be placed on the October 2022 general local election ballot regarding the reclassification of the municipality from town to city followed by an alternative approval process after the election should there be support for the reclassification.
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RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Committee recommend to Council that a bylaw be prepared to increase Council size by two.

Page 27–39

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Extracted from: 2020 11 10 Committee of the Whole Agenda - Agenda - Pdf