Course Descriptions
Munis 101
Munis 101: The Essentials of Municipal Governance delivers the foundational knowledge and practical strategies elected officials need to govern effectively. The course has been full refreshed to reflect recent changes to the Municipal Government Act and integrates current best practices in areas such a public participation, financial oversigt, and municipal leadership. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how municipalities operate, the distinct and interdependent roles of council and administration and how to make informed decisions that serve the long-term interests of their community.
Budgeting and Finance
Understanding municipal finances is fundamental to the job of an elected official. Municipal councils are expected to plan, govern and set policy for the best interests of their community. Sound financial planning and management is key to supporting a healthy municipality that can ensure that its current and future service commitments are funded in a sustainable manner.
It is important that elected officials understand how financial planning and monitoring align with the municipality’s business cycle, including strategic planning, business planning and performance measurement. Elected officials need to understand their role in establishing and prioritizing competing service level demands on behalf of citizens and then determine strategies to fund those service level commitments.
Land Use Planning & Approvals
“Good planning” is a general concept – there is no single approved statement of what good planning consists of. Planning has evolved over many years and can be considered a long term, ongoing process that includes planning itself, as well as project delivery and ongoing monitoring and evaluation. Planning aims to improve the effectiveness of public services in meeting people’s needs, and to support the development of local communities and to improve the quality of life for all.
Public Engagement
Municipal councils are elected to make decision on behalf of citizens. However, in order to govern effectively and make decisions that are in the best interest of the diverse communities within municipalities, councils must be willing to consider the community’s perspectives and input when making decisions. The EOEP’s Council’s Role in Public Engagement course will provide an overview of the various ways municipalities can engage with citizens, how public input can be integrated into decision-making, the dangers and limits of involving the public in municipal decisions, and the importance of engagement in supporting sustainable community development.
Regional Collaboration
In life, and in the municipal world, working with your neighbours is not always easy. If done right, it can provide major benefits. The EOEP’s Regional Collaboration course will provide participants with an opportunity to learn about required collaborative tools such as intermunicipal collaboration frameworks, as well as other approaches municipalities can take to build meaningful partnerships with their municipal neighbours in a way that is fair and mutually beneficial.
Service Delivery
Municipalities are about delivering the services that support safe, healthy and prosperous communities, and council’s role in this process is to decide what services are needed, what level they need to be delivered at, and what methods of delivery best fit the needs of the community. The EOEP’s Council’s Role in Municipal Service Delivery course will provide an overview of the various services and delivery mechanisms available to municipalities, the pros and cons of each, and how councils can made educated decisions related to service delivery.
Strategic Planning
The role of elected officials is to lead. They determine the long-term goals and priorities of their municipality. Doing this effectively takes skill, and an understanding of how to separate the day-to-day from the big picture. The EOEP’s Council’s Role in Strategic Planning course will explain the important role that strategic planning plays in building municipal sustainability, how councils can work together to set realistic goals, the basic elements of a strategic plan, how to set and asses strategic priorities, the roles of council and staff in strategic planning, and other information that will support you and your municipality in planning strategically for both the short- and long-term.
Effective Meetings
Council decisions come to life through meetings, making meeting effectiveness a critical skill for every elected official. This course explores how to prepare for and participate in meetings that are productive, transparent and respectful. Participants will learn strategis for agenda management, procedural rules, and decision-making, as well as how to handle challenging discussions and maintain decorum. The course also addresses the chair’s leadership role, how to use procedure bylaws effectively and ways to ensure meetings support sound governance rather than hinder it.
CAO Employment
The relationship between council and the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is one of the most important in municipal government. This new EOEP course guides elected officials through council’s legislated responsibilities for recruiting, supporting, evaluating, and, when necessary, transistion their CAO. Participants will explore practical tools for setting clear performance expectations, fostering a respectful and effective working relationship, and maintaining appropriate boundaries between governance and administration. The course provides a balanced look at accountability, trust and collaboration.