Item - 2023.EX3.7

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.

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.

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.

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.