Coun. Shila Sharps proposed a series of three notices of motions Monday.
They will return as full-fledged motions at the April 3 regular council meeting.
Here’s the motions in full, as written by Sharps:
Preamble:
In an era where data-driven decision-making is paramount, the need for transparency and accountability in human resources management has never been more critical. By providing clear and accessible HR metrics, we can enhance our understanding of workforce dynamics and better align our strategies with the needs of our community.
The City of Calgary has set a commendable precedent by publishing comprehensive HR metrics that offer insights into employee trends and organizational health.
The principle of “what gets measured gets managed” underscores the importance of systematic tracking of our HR data.
While the data will be presented as holistic information, it will inevitably provide a clearer picture of each department’s performance and challenges.
By adopting a similar approach, our city can foster transparency and empower both council members and the public to engage in informed discussions about our workforce.
This initiative will enable us to identify areas for improvement, ensure effective resource allocation, and ultimately enhance the services we provide to our constituents.
Therefore, I propose the following motion:
Council directs administration to prepare HR metrics similar to those published by the City of Calgary and other municipalities on our city website under the Human Resources section. This should include data such as the total number of employees, (onsite and remote) contractors, consultants, voluntary terminations, involuntary terminations, safety stats such as WCB lost time, short term disability and long-term disability statistics. The website amendments should be completed by April 30th, 2025, as these are all currently tracked statistics.
In our ongoing commitment to accountability and transparency in governance, I propose this Notice of Motion to direct administration to implement a transparent reporting mechanism regarding severance payments.
Recently, we implemented a 5.6% property tax increase, which has led the community to seek a better understanding of how their money is being spent.
It is essential that we provide both Council members and the public with clear insights into the expenditures related to all operations including wages and severance, while ensuring that the confidentiality of each severed employee is maintained, and their names are not disclosed.
So as such council directs administration to provide Council with a triannual report detailing the amount of severance paid, categorized by department, within the relevant four-month period. This information shall be included as part of the Chief Financial Officer’s triannual report.
Additionally, an annual summary report should be presented to Council, which aggregates the total amount of severance paid, again categorized by department, as part of the city’s annual financial statements. This will be incorporated as of June 17th, 2025 , which is the next Standing Committee of Audit.
By adopting this motion, we will ensure that Council members and the public are well-informed about severance expenditures.
This initiative is vital for promoting accountability and enhancing transparency in our governance practices, fostering trust within our community, and reinforcing our commitment to responsible fiscal management.
In today’s global economy, the decisions we make regarding procurement and supplier relationships have a profound impact on our local communities and economies. As we navigate the complexities of trade agreements and market dynamics, it is essential that we prioritize local businesses and suppliers whenever possible.
I was inspired by the strategy of Mayor Valérie Plante of Montreal, and numerous other mayors and councils across Canada I believe we have an opportunity to strengthen our local economy by seeking alternatives to large, U.S.-based vendors such as Amazon.
By directing administration to identify alternative suppliers, we can foster economic resilience and support our local businesses.
While Amazon may have previously offered lower costs, we must consider the broader implications of our purchasing decisions, especially in light of recent breaches of trade agreements that could lead to increased costs. It is crucial that any increase in spending remains within our community, rather than flowing out to external economies.
Furthermore, I propose that council request a report from administration on the impact of this initiative, specifically focusing on the increase in local spending. This will enable us to track our progress and ensure that we are making informed decisions that benefit our residents and local economy.
Therefore, I seek the support of council for the following initiative:
I recommend that council direct administration to identify alternative suppliers to Amazon and all U.S.-based vendors, and where feasible and consistent with applicable trade agreements, prioritize local suppliers. Additionally, I propose that council direct administration to provide a report back on the increase in local spending.
