WCEL > Issues > Urban Growth and Development > Smart Bylaws Guide > Part 8 > Gain Community Support > Advisory Committees

Smart Bylaws Guide – Gain Community Support – Advisory Committees

It is common practice for municipalities to harness experienced volunteer energy by using advisory committees to provide advice on development applications and for new policies.  Committee members provide significant expertise and public relations to council.

The City of Victoria has a full range of advisory committees that advise on policy development and specific development applications (see Terms of Reference).  Advisory committees include:

• Advisory Design Panel
• Advisory Housing Committee
• Advisory Planning Commission
• Advisory Social Planning Committee
• Advisory Transportation Committee
• Cycling Advisory Committee
• Downtown Advisory Committee
• Environment & Shoreline Advisory Committee
• Heritage Advisory Committee
• Mayor's Advisory Chair Committee
• Parks, Recreation & Community Services Advisory Committee
• Social Planning & Housing Advisory Committee

More recently, municipalities have struck agricultural advisory committees and environmental advisory committees to ensure that green infrastructure issues are addressed at the planning and development permits stages.  The City of Richmond established an Agricultural Advisory Committee in 2003 to provide advice to city council on agricultural issues and to help staff implement the Richmond Agricultural Viability Strategy (see also the City of Penticton’s Terms of Reference for its Agricultural Advisory Committee).

The City of Nanaimo’s Advisory Committee on the Environment has a mandate to review environmental issues in the City and make policy-related recommendations to Council. The Committee has brought forward recommendations on revised policies for stormwater management, the need for guidelines for trailways in environmentally sensitive areas, and an environmental achievement awards program.

The City of Burnaby’s Environment and Waste Management Committee was established in 1988 to provide recommendations to Council about environmental and waste management issues. With a comprehensive mandate from the City’s State of the Environment Report, the Committee can comment on the adequacy of existing programs, bylaws and policies, as well as undertake public education activities. The Committee also coordinates environmental events for Environment Week and BC Rivers Day, as well as administers the City’s annual Environmental Awards.

Finally, some municipalities reserve one or more seats on the Advisory Planning Commission for environmental interests. For example, the Resort Municipality of Whistler dedicates two seats, and the City of Nanaimo one seat.

For More Information

Advisory Planning Commissions (BC Ministry of Community Services)