Newmarket council is preparing to return its chambers but plans to maintain the option of people attending remotely.
A hybrid meeting policy is part of the agenda for the Newmarket council meeting Aug. 23. Council is also set to discuss urban design, and have a workshop on digital transformation the following day.
Here is what NewmarketToday will be following:
Hybrid meetings
After 18 months of electronic-only council meetings, staff is presenting a new policy to allow for mixed meetings starting Oct. 25.
The proposed policy would allow meeting participants to choose to attend in-person or virtually. Staff cited the benefits that electronic meetings brought in the past year, including greater accessibility, more public participation and better councillor attendance.
“Hybrid meetings will be set up to ensure that participants are treated equitably regardless of which method they use to join,” legislative coordinator Andrew Walkom said in his report. “The audiovisual technology will be used to help the in-person and remote options provide as similar an experience as possible for both the participants and members of the public.”
The new rules would also apply to Newmarket’s committees and boards.
Walkom recommended the Oct. 25 committee of the whole meeting be the first hybrid meeting if the policy is approved, with electronic meetings continuing until then.
Urban design
Council is preparing to approve new urban design guidelines, providing ideals for developers to strive for in future infill development.
The non-binding set of ideals include harmonious fit, mitigating impact on adjacent properties, and supporting walkability, among others.
The guidelines have been in the works for more than a year, with the pandemic delaying progress. Council held a workshop on the initiative June 28.
Digital transformation
Council will also hold a workshop Aug. 24 to discuss a digital transformation study.
Consultant StrategyCorp is guiding the town to create a new digital transformation strategy. It will aim to get the municipality to better use digital tools.
The initiative comes from the town’s 2019 service delivery review, which identified a need for greater "digital enablement" in the municipality.
Council will make no decisions at the workshop.
Both meetings will be held electronically at 1 p.m., with the municipality streaming them on its website at newmarket.ca/meetings. To join the discussion or get involved, click here to find out more.
