Item - 2023.EX3.7
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on March 29, 2023 with amendments.
- This item was considered by the Executive Committee on March 21, 2023 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on March 29, 2023.
- See also By-law 274-2023
EX3.7 - Making Electronic Participation for Council and its Local Boards Permanent
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on March 29, 30 and 31, 2023, adopted the following:
1. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, to permit electronic participation in all meetings and provide that:
a. any member participating in the meeting electronically to be deemed present for the purposes of determining whether a quorum is present under 27-5.12A, and for the purposes of voting on any matter put to a vote under 27 12.2A, and for all other purposes; and
b. any member participating in the meeting electronically to be entitled to participate in any portion of the meeting closed to the public in accordance with 27-5.15.
2. City Council amend the Council Procedures to change the time required to achieve quorum from 15 minutes to 30 minutes.
3. City Council amend the Council Procedures to permit members of the public to participate electronically at meetings where electronic participation occurs and in a manner as determined by the Clerk.
4. City Council authorize local boards governed by the City of Toronto Act, 2006, to amend their own rules of procedure to permit electronic participation by board members and the public, and to change the time required to achieve quorum from 15 minutes to 30 minutes, and authorize such boards to continue to meet electronically in accordance with the previously adopted electronic participation rules past the May 9, 2023 deadline until they can meet to consider procedural amendments.
5. City Council, despite any procedural rules that may allow electronic participation in meetings of Council, its committees or boards, nevertheless encourage Council members to attend meetings in person except when there is a rationale to participate electronically.
Public Notice Given
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-234812.pdf
Public Notice
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-234855.pdf
Motions (City Council)
That City Council amend Recommendation 4 by adding the words "and to change the time required to achieve quorum from 15 minutes to 30 minutes" so that it now reads as follows:
"4. City Council authorize local boards governed by the City of Toronto Act, 2006, to amend their own rules of procedure to permit electronic participation by board members and the public, and to change the time required to achieve quorum from 15 minutes to 30 minutes, and authorize such boards to continue to meet electronically in accordance with the previously adopted electronic participation rules past the May 9, 2023 deadline until they can meet to consider procedural amendments."
Vote (Amend Item (Two-Thirds)) Mar-31-2023 3:13 PM
| Result: Carried | Two-Thirds Required - EX3.7 - McKelvie - motion 7 |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 20 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Shelley Carroll, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Paula Fletcher, Stephen Holyday, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Jennifer McKelvie, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, Dianne Saxe, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 4 | Members that voted No are Jon Burnside, Mike Colle, Josh Matlow, Gord Perks |
| Total members that were Absent: 1 | Members that were absent are Lily Cheng |
That:
1. City Council delete Recommendation 1:
Recommendation to be deleted:
1. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, to permit electronic participation in all meetings and provide that:
a. any member participating in the meeting electronically to be deemed present for the purposes of determining whether a quorum is present under 27-5.12A, and for the purposes of voting on any matter put to a vote under 27 12.2A, and for all other purposes; and
b. any member participating in the meeting electronically to be entitled to participate in any portion of the meeting closed to the public in accordance with 27-5.15.
and adopt instead the following new Recommendation 1:
1. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, to permit electronic participation in meetings only where Members of Council require it due to accommodation, general health and medical reasons, emergencies, or while on City business, and provide that:
a. any member participating in the meeting electronically to be deemed present for the purposes of determining whether a quorum is present under 27-5.12A, and for the purposes of voting on any matter put to a vote under 27 12.2A, and for all other purposes;
b. any member participating in the meeting electronically to be entitled to participate in any portion of the meeting closed to the public in accordance with 27-5.15; and
c. that any member present at City Hall in their office be entitled to vote electronically from their office.
Vote (Amend Item (Two-Thirds)) Mar-31-2023 3:14 PM
| Result: Lost | Two-Thirds Required - EX3.7 - Burnside - motion 2 |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 9 | Members that voted Yes are Brad Bradford, Jon Burnside, Mike Colle, Vincent Crisanti, Amber Morley, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 15 | Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Alejandra Bravo, Shelley Carroll, Gary Crawford, Paula Fletcher, Stephen Holyday, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Chris Moise, Jamaal Myers, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe |
| Total members that were Absent: 1 | Members that were absent are Lily Cheng |
That:
1. City Council delete the committee recommendations and extend the existing Council authority for electronic participation in meetings of City Council, its committees and boards until the end of October 2023 Council meeting.
Vote (Amend Item (Two-Thirds)) Mar-31-2023 3:16 PM
| Result: Lost | Two-Thirds Required - EX3.7 - Bravo - motion 3 |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 11 | Members that voted Yes are Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Mike Colle, Paula Fletcher, Ausma Malik, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Gord Perks |
| Total members that voted No: 13 | Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Stephen Holyday, Nick Mantas, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, Dianne Saxe, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that were Absent: 1 | Members that were absent are Lily Cheng |
That:
1. City Council, despite any procedural rules that may allow electronic participation in meetings of Council, its committees or boards, nevertheless encourage Council members to attend meetings in person except when there is a rationale to participate electronically.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Mar-31-2023 3:17 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - EX3.7 - Holyday - motion 4 |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 20 | Members that voted Yes are Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Mike Colle, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Paula Fletcher, Stephen Holyday, Ausma Malik, Jennifer McKelvie, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, Dianne Saxe, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 4 | Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Anthony Perruzza |
| Total members that were Absent: 1 | Members that were absent are Lily Cheng |
That in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 27, Council Procedures, City Council end the debate on Item EX3.7 and take the vote immediately.
Vote (End Debate) Mar-31-2023 3:10 PM
| Result: Carried | Two-Thirds Required - EX3.7 - Braford - End debate |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 16 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Paula Fletcher, Ausma Malik, Jennifer McKelvie, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Dianne Saxe, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 8 | Members that voted No are Alejandra Bravo, Mike Colle, Stephen Holyday, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Jamaal Myers, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson |
| Total members that were Absent: 1 | Members that were absent are Lily Cheng |
Councillor Moise, rising on a Point of Privilege, apologized to Speaker Nunziata for comments he had made earlier.
EX3.7 - Making Electronic Participation for Council and its Local Boards Permanent
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
Public Notice Given
Committee Recommendations
The Executive Committee recommends that:
1. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, to permit electronic participation in all meetings and provide that:
a. any member participating in the meeting electronically to be deemed present for the purposes of determining whether a quorum is present under 27-5.12A, and for the purposes of voting on any matter put to a vote under 27 12.2A, and for all other purposes; and
b. any member participating in the meeting electronically to be entitled to participate in any portion of the meeting closed to the public in accordance with 27-5.15.
2. City Council amend the Council Procedures to change the time required to achieve quorum from 15 minutes to 30 minutes.
3. City Council amend the Council Procedures to permit members of the public to participate electronically at meetings where electronic participation occurs and in a manner as determined by the Clerk.
4. City Council authorize local boards governed by the City of Toronto Act, 2006, to amend their own rules of procedure to permit electronic participation by board members and the public, and authorize such boards to continue to meet electronically in accordance with the previously adopted electronic participation rules passed the May 9, 2023 deadline until they can meet to consider procedural amendments.
Origin
Summary
The purpose of this report is to recommend amendments to the Council Procedures to make electronic participation a permanent option for meetings of City Council and its Committees, and to authorize local boards to make amendments to their own rules of procedure.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-234812.pdf
Public Notice
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-234855.pdf