Thread by @AdamMacVicar

We’re back!
Good morning from City Hall where Calgary City Council is meeting for the final time in 2021. A few items of interest on the agenda today including the Bill 21 discussion. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

A few recognitions to kickstart the meeting. Then council will do question period, and then sort out the items of urgent business. Mayor Gondek says she’ll be asking for help from the clerk to get this work done “expeditiously.” #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

There are no land use items or public hearings on the agenda. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Question Period: Councillor @Spencerfor12 asks if it's possible to amend the vaccine passport bylaw to be better in line with the Restrictions Exemption Program due to inconsistencies. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Inconsistencies are confirmed by administration. Apparently work is underway to bring those recommended amendments forward on January 11. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Councillor @CWalcottYYC is asking about rapid testing and its impact on the Restriction Exemption Program. Administration says people can't use rapid test results to enter a city facility under REP, and are urging people not to bring the rapid test result to those facilities.

Rapid testing is being used by city employees as part of their vaccine policy, admin says. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Councillor @chabot4calgary is asking about the annexation of land on the city's east side from Foothills and Rockyview Counties. Admin will provide him some info. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Support for a legal challenge of Quebec's Bill 21 is officially added to this council agenda with Councillor Chabot opposed. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

On Councillor @DanWMcLean's motion to freeze council pay, Mayor Gondek says this can't be a quick decision and she asks him if he'd like to bring it forward as a notice of motion to have a fulsome discussion. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

https://twitter.com/DanWMcLean/status/1472715025232007168

Mayor Gondek says she isn't in favour of adding this as an urgent business item. Councillor @JenniferWyness is seeking clarity on what is urgent and non-urgent. She asks how Bill 21 is urgent and a raise for councillors on Jan 1 isn't. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Councillor @SonyaSharpYYC asks if it is possible to postpone the pay increase for councillors until a discussion could be had on it. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

"If we don't take action today, it'll be too late," Councillor @chabot4calgary says on the pay freeze motion. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Councillor @kourtpenner says she'd like to have a discussion around parameters of council pay at a strategic session of council. She also wants to know how much it will save. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Councillor @gccarra says council should have nothing to do with how they're compensated. He says an independent citizen board sets these parameters. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Councillor @gccarra says if this compensation is addressed, the whole system needs to be addressed and not just a single pay term. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Mayor Gondek says it isn't a simple fix. She says it would be undoing public engagement and a previous council decision. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

City Manager David Duckworth says if council decides on a change to council pay in the new year, it won't be challenging to do a retroactive change for the 15 members around the horseshoe. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Duckworth says it isn't an urgent item based on that. Administration says any change to the compensation formula for council pay, and won't impact the budgets for their offices or staff pay. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Mayor Gondek's decision to rule the pay motion as non-urgent is being challenged by Councillor @DanWMcLean. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Mayor Gondek's ruling that the pay motion is not an urgent item of business is upheld 9-6.

Chu, Sharp, Wyness, Demong, McLean, and Chabot against.

#YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Council now hearing about action being taken over the winter for homeless Calgarians. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

City of Calgary says a portion of the $750k up for debate today will be spent on better sleeping bags and equipment for those sleeping outside. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Administration says there are several barriers for those sleeping rough to access shelter space. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Some background on this discussion from @Adam_Toy.
#YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary
globalnews.ca/news/8434885/p…

Councillor @kourtpenner is bringing forward an amendment to the recommendations before council. The amendment would give administration direction to consult with partners in the homeless care community to fix barriers. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

City council votes unanimously in favour of allocating $750K to support homeless Calgarians during the winter months. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Council on break til 1:15pm. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Council is back from break. They're heading into closed sessions for a couple of briefings and appointments. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

City of Calgary has just sent out this release after council voted to extend the amnesty period for illegal secondary suites until Dec. 23, 2023. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary

Council has returned from closed session. They were in there for a few hours. #YYC #YYCcc @GlobalCalgary