Before decisions can be made at council, committees are made up of city councillors and other members of the community.
Committees analyze and discuss issues using reports brought forth in council and then presents their findings at the council meetings before council can vote on an issue.
This is where the grunt work happens, says Director of Communication, Jennifer Brooks.
“That’s where they have in depth conversations, where delegations happen...and, depending on the nature of the work that’s being done in the committee, we might request someone to present information.”
The city’s Communication Department is an important part of this process, sharing information with all the councillors and staff to ensure everyone has all the information on an issue before the vote is held.
This part of the series will look at the work of different committees.
For Brooks, that is her responsibility.
Information brought to council is public knowledge for anyone is wants the information. This ensures that people have access to all this information so they are free to voice their opinions about whether the changes are good for them or bad for them.
All aspects of development fall under the Communications and Community Development committee.
If someone is building a house or making changes to their property, there are certain bylaws they have to follow.
Brooks along with Councillor Larry Jorgenson spoke about their roles on the Communications and Community Development committee and their responsibilities when it comes to how Humboldt grows.
Community Development is exactly as it sounds, says Jorgenson.
“It’s planning, it’s zoning, it’s anything to do with developing our community.”
When it comes to changing zoning bylaws and discretionary uses of properties; ideas for property use that does not follow a specific bylaw, they are discussed in the Communications and Community Development committee before being brought to council for approval or disapproval.
“It’s quite broad in it encompasses a lot of things that impact the community,” says Brooks.
Planning and development aspects have just recently fallen under the community development department, says Brooks, which means looking at land use, planning appropriate development procedures and regulations when developing Humboldt.
“We want to make sure in the planning and development aspect that we got the correct residential, commercial, and industrial uses being brought forward in our community.” Says Brooks.
It is a balancing act to develop the community but also make the community successful and productive. The committee works together with internal committees, like Corporate Services, and external entities like developers who are not from
Humboldt to get proper permits and ensure bylaws are followed when bringing in new developments.
“It is to be the ‘first stop’ for builders and developers interested in investing in the city and acts as the liaison between determining a development’s suitability and permitting it for construction.” Says Brooks.
A document that helps guide what the city is looking for in development is the Official Community Plan, which the city is working to revise right now.
That is big for Communication and Community Development, since the zoning bylaws are the rules and guidelines for what the city wants or thinks is important for development.
Bylaws that people have to follow are not solely for esthetics even though those are important, says Brooks, but there are certain aspects of development that people do not think of.
“We want to ensure that there are of a certain quality and service level that we want to maintain when we do (development).” Says Brooks.
An important bylaw that Jorgenson mentioned is the revised driveway bylaw that was amended by the city on Apr. 13 2015, where the maximum driveway width was increased from 7.3 metres to 11 metres.
All developments, or amendments to standing bylaws are public knowledge even before they are changed. Especially with the revision of the community plan, public input is very welcome.
“That’s where we get our direction from.” Says Jorgenson.
The Communications department assists all the committees in communicating with citizens and city staff, including strategic planning, advertising, publications, and community engagement activities, says Brooks.
They are always working on ways to engage the public. Online is becoming a big focus for the city.
“That’s important to move those types of engagement opportunities forward.”
It is all about putting the information out there and making it accessible.
“I don’t think we spend a lot of time pushing information out, we just release information and deal with any feedback that comes back.”
