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1. BUSINESS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE – 2005 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2006 WORK PLAN
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COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
That Council:
a) Receive
the 2005 Annual Report of the Business Advisory Committee as detailed in
Attachment 1; and
b)
Approve the objectives
contained in the 2006 workplan, as detailed in Attachment 2.
RECOMMENDATIONS DU COMITÉ
Que le
Conseil :
a) reçoive
le Rapport annuel de 2005 du Comité consultatif sur les affaires, tel que décrit a la
pièce jointe no 1;
b) approuve
les objectifs qui sont présentés dans le plan de travail 2006, tel que décrit à
la pièce jointe no 2.
DOCUMENTATION
1. Business
Advisory Committee’s report dated 13 April 2006
(ACS2006-CCV-BAC-0001).
Report
to/Rapport au:
Corporate
Services and Economic Development Committee/
Comité des services organisationnels et du
développement économique
and Council/et au Conseil
13 April 2006 / le 13 avril 2006
Submitted
by/Soumis par: Chair, Business Advisory
Committee/
Président, Comité consultatif sur les affaires
Contact/Personne-ressource: Tania Richard,
Committee
Coordinator/coordonnatrice du comité
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Ref N°: ACS2006-CCV-BAC-0001 |
SUBJECT: BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE – 2005 ANNUAL
REPORT AND 2006 WORK PLAN
OBJET: COMITÉ
CONSULTATIF SUR LES AFFAIRES – RAPPORT ANNUEL DE 2005 ET PLAN DE TRAVAIL 2006
REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee recommend Council:
a) Receive the 2005
Annual Report of the Business Advisory Committee as detailed in Attachment 1;
and
b) Approve the objectives contained in the
2006 workplan, as detailed in Attachment 2.
Que le Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique recommande que le Conseil :
a) reçoive le Rapport
annuel de 2005 du Comité consultatif sur les affaires, tel que décrit a la
pièce jointe no 1;
b) approuve les objectifs
qui sont présentés dans le plan de travail 2006, tel que décrit à la pièce
jointe no 2.
City Council, 3 December 2003, reconfirmed its governance structure. This included the advisory committees, and the requirement for each to complete a workplan outlining proposed projects and activities for the upcoming year. The workplan is to identify each and every activity the Committee plans to undertake in the upcoming year, whether they have a budgetary impact or not. The item should be identified, a brief description of the project or activity should be noted, and the anticipated timing of the item should be provided.
The Lead Department Representatives are to provide the Committee with information on the departmental workplan and priorities, where the workplans of the Committees tie into that workplan, and where the Committee can assist the Department. The Lead Department Representative will also advise on what staff and/or financial resources are available as part of departmental priorities.
There was no funding approved for the advisory committee 2006 workplans.
DISCUSSION
At its meeting of 11 April 2006, the Business Advisory Committee
approved the final workplan for submission to the Standing Committee. On the same date, the committee confirmed
the 2005 Annual Report.
The mandate of the Business
Advisory Committee is to provide a local perspective
and advice to City Council, through the Corporate Services and Economic
Development Committee, on City services and communications affecting Ottawa’s
business community, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, and the
overall business climate.
PLANNING AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT
DEPARTMENT (Lead Department)
The Economic Development Branch
has worked closely with the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) throughout 2005
to advance the actions identified in the committee's inaugural workplan. In
particular, the Economic Development Branch appreciates the advice and support
of the BAC to plan the 2005 Small Business Forum and to improve the City's
overall business climate. The Branch
supports the BAC's 2006 Workplan attached as Appendix 2.
There are no financial implications.
Attachment 1 – 2005 Annual Report of the Business Advisory Committee
Attachment 2 – Proposed 2006 Workplan of the Business Advisory Committee
Attachment 3 Business Advisory Committee Terms of Reference (held on file with the City Clerk).
City Clerks Branch staff will forward the recommendations approved by the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee to City Council for ratification.
2005 Annual Report
Business Advisory Committee
The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) was established in June 2005 and
has held six meetings this year.
The BAC is composed of fourteen voting members
divided equally amongst representatives from business
organizations and business persons-at-large. Councillors Eli El-Chantiry and Rob Jellett
are non-voting Council Representatives who attend meetings, provide advice and
guidance to the Committee and support its activities in Standing Committee and
Council meetings. Ms. Christine Leadman
was elected Chair of the BAC at its initial meeting on 6 June 2005 and Mr. Greg
Graham as Vice-Chair.
The Business Advisory Committee received presentations and updates from City staff pertaining to the following (to which the BAC provided comments and suggestions):
· The proposed New City of Ottawa Act
· The 2006 Draft Budget process
· Advisory Committee Procedure By-law and Conflict of Interest Guidelines
· Performance Management and Reporting Framework
· By-laws – Designated Spaces Program
· By-law 2002-189: Respecting the Licensing, Regulating and Governing of Certain Businesses
· Improving Accountability at the City of Ottawa
· Yellow Bag Program
2006 City of
Ottawa Budget Process
As part of its 2005 Work Plan, the Committee provided input into the
2006 City of Ottawa Budget and its process.
The Chair, Ms. Leadman, made a presentation to the Committee of the
Whole on behalf of the BAC in early December 2005.
Proposed New City
of Ottawa Act
Following a presentation by the City Manager regarding the proposed New City
of Ottawa Act, the Committee submitted comments and recommendations to City
Council for improving the consultation process in the preparation of the New City of
Ottawa Act. The BAC had serious
concerns with the content of the document and even
greater concerns with the timelines and lack of consultation and communication with the business community.
Harmonization of City By-laws and
Licenses
The BAC approved a
recommendation in August 2005, which supported City Council’s resolution to the
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to issue a Regulation granting the
City an extension of two years to the expiry date for the remaining licensing
by-laws of the twelve former municipalities.
East-West
Corridor Light Rail Transit (LRT) Environmental Assessment Study
The BAC selected one of its members to represent the Committee as part of the Business Consultation Group for the East-West
Corridor Light Rail Transit (LRT) Environmental Assessment Study. Frequent updates will be provided to
members.
Staff Consultation
The BAC sent a letter
to the Mayor and Members of Council to inform them of the Committee’s concerns
in receiving proper consultation on issues that will have an impact on the
business community.
The BAC was informed at its initial
meeting of the Small Business Forum, which will be held on 17 February
2006. Selected members of the Committee
will continue to assist City staff with the organization of the event.
The BAC received representations from the Lawn Care Industry expressing concern with the proposal to ban pesticides. The Committee forwarded their concerns with the one sided presentation from the administration on which elected officials were being asked to decide to the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee and to members of City Council.
ATTACHMENT 2
Business
Advisory Committee
Workplan
2006
Established in June 2005, the mandate of the
Business Advisory Committee (BAC) is to ‘provide a local perspective and advice
to City Council, through the Corporate Services and Economic Development
Committee, on City services and communications affecting Ottawa’s business
community, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, and the overall business
climate.’
The BAC is composed of representatives of business
organizations and of business persons-at-large who have an interest in working
collaboratively with the City to improve Ottawa’s business climate. The BAC recognizes that improvements to the
City’s communications, transparency and accountability will benefit all
businesses in both the City’s urban and rural areas.
To guide its work in 2006, the Business Advisory
Committee has identified a focused set of activities based on four key objectives
related to communications, transparency, accountability, and policy
proposals/program review.
OBJECTIVE 1: COMMUNICATIONS
The BAC will
provide recommendations on how the City can enhance the lines of communication
with the business community.
Action 1: 2007 Budget – Business Communications Strategy
Provide input into the communications and
consultation strategy being developed for the City’s 2007 Draft Budget to
ensure that:
·
the
business community is included in 2007 Budget review and input cycles;
·
there is a
targeted communications strategy for the 2007 Budget process for the business
community; and business interests are reflected in the 2007 Budget report.
Timelines: March 2006 – early 2007 (specific timeline to be
determined)
Action 2: Enhancement of Business Information on City Website
Provide input to City staff on
development of new content and format for business information on the City
‘Ottawa.ca’ web site. This includes general web-site information as well as
specific initiatives such as ‘BIZPal’.
Timelines: March – May 2006
Action
3: Enhancement
of Communication to Business Community
Provide periodic outbound communications
to keep urban and rural businesses apprised of upcoming issues and
consultations they may want to participate in, and to provide information on
key initiatives, milestones and accomplishments that affect the business
community.
Timelines: March – December 2006
OBJECTIVE 2: ACCOUNTABILITY
The BAC will support the City’s commitment to
improving corporate accountability and demonstrating value for money by
providing input and advice, from a business perspective, on the following:
Action
4: City
Performance Measurement & Reporting Framework
Review and provide advice as
part of the consultation process on the development of the performance
measures, which is being developed to provide indicator-based performance
measures and consistent reporting that meets the needs of staff, management,
Council, Citizens and taxpayers.
Timelines: March to December 2006
Action 5: Monitor Provincial Legislation
Affecting Ottawa Business
Monitor and assess proposed legislation
and/or potential amendments to existing Provincial policies, including:
·
Bill 206 - Changes to the
OMERS Pension Plan
·
Ontario
Municipal Act
·
Property
Tax Policy
Timeline: On-going
OBJECTIVE 3: TRANSPARENCY
The BAC will
advise City Council on policies, programs and by-laws that affect local
businesses, and on the overall business climate of the city.
Action 6: Policy Proposals And Program Review
Monitor
and review by-laws & policies affecting business and provide input to City
staff on same. This could include by-laws related to Development Approvals,
By-law Services, Building Services and other City departments.
Timelines: To be conducted on an “as needed” basis.
Action 7: 2006/2007 Ottawa Small Business Forum
Provide advice to City staff on the development and
format of the 2006 Small Business Forum, scheduled for February 17, 2006 and
2007 Forum, which is tentatively scheduled for February 2007.
Timelines: January - February 2006 (planning for 2006 Forum)
November -
December 2006 (planning for 2007 Forum)
OTHER INITIATIVES
Action 8: BAC Recruitment
Annual review and selection process for
new Business Advisory Committee members.
Timelines: Fall 2006