Community Representation Framework
The City of Calgary works with many partners, stakeholders and organized community groups when it comes to making decisions around community-building. We work with community associations, resident associations, business improvement areas, developers and others to provide Council with the support and information they need to make decisions on land use planning and the provision of amenities and infrastructure.
City Council formed a Community Representation Framework Task Force to review options and advise Council on how community organizations can more effectively represent the diverse interests and perspectives within their communities. The Community Representation Framework Task Force is composed of a broad range of stakeholders representing Council, community associations and resident’s associations, the University of Calgary, the development and building sector, and City Administration.
The goals of the Community Representation Framework are to:
- Enhance the effectiveness of community groups to contribute to the representation of the diverse interests and perspectives within their communities;
- Promote community representation best practices and help develop a more collaborative working relationship between community groups and The City;
- Revitalize City processes related to planning and development so they are more open, inclusive and welcoming to a broad range of community groups;
- Identify the necessary supports and resources required by community groups so they can be effective representatives of their communities in dialogue with The City.
Process
June 2016: Council approved the Community Representation Framework and the formation of a Task Force to provide strategic advice to Administration
December 2016: First meeting of Community Representation Framework Task Force
January 2017 to July 2017: Community Representation Framework Task Force developed a vision statement and identified three areas of focus for the program
November 2017 to January 2018: Task force review of pertinent research and discussion of potential new approach to community representation in Calgary
February 2018: Council approved the update report to begin engagement with community stakeholders and return with final report by the end of 2018
April 2018: Community stakeholder engagement Phase 1
May/June 2018: Community stakeholder engagement Phase 2
September/October 2018: Task force to develop recommendations for Council consideration
December 2018: Report to Council
2019: Community representation framework pilot projects begin
Engagement
April 2018: Phase 1 of engagement consists of an online survey to gather information about the current state of community representation and community perspectives on a suggested new approach. Community groups such as community associations, resident associations, business improvement areas, and various not-for-profit organizations were invited to fill out surveys.
May and June 2018: Phase 2 of engagement will dig deeper into the responses gathered in the survey by using focus groups comprised of a cross-section of diverse community stakeholders. Engagement results from each phase will be available for public review and will be used by the Task Force to inform their work to bring a set of recommendations to Council later in 2018.
The goals of engagement are to:
- Gather input from a diverse range of community stakeholders in response to a new approach for community representation envisioned by the Community Representation Framework Task Force;
- Use the input gathered from community stakeholders to inform the Community Representation Framework Task Force recommendations due in a report to City Council by the end of 2018.
Full What We Heard Report - Phase I
Full What We Heard Report - Phase II
Full What We Heard Report - Action Dignity Final
CRF What We Did Engage Summary
Task Force Meeting Minutes
Links
- Community Representation Framework Information Brief (April 2018)
- Program Update (February 2018)
- Case Study Overview and Full Case Study (November 2017): Approaches to representation in other North American cities informing considerations for Calgary.
- Task Force Membership (May 2016)
- Task Force Terms of Reference (June 2016)
- Scoping Study Report (June 2016)
- Full What We Heard Report - Phase I (May 2018)
- Full What We Heard Report - Phase II (July 2018)
- CRF What We Did Engage Summary
- CRF Glossary of Terms
- CRF Overview