Council has gone without volunteer advisory committees since 2022. That's about to change.

Windsor city council has named the members of the newly-formed groups and panels that will offer advice on issues like transit, bike lanes and public art.

These new groups will replace advisory committees dissolved earlier this year, after council unanimously supported a recommendation from city staff to restructure those committees.

A months-long review found decade-old committees made up of volunteers, councillors and staff needed to be rebuilt to stay relevant, says city clerk Steve Vlachodimos.

"We want to be up with the times and with the trends out there and what the needs are in terms of that public engagement," he said. 

The groups were limited to meeting four times a year for two hours at a time, said Vlachodimos.

"We want to get rid of some of that red tape that has held back all of our committees and provide a framework that avoids those frustrations that could perhaps turn [people] off."

No members were appointed to nine committees following the 2022 municipal election while city staff undertook their review.

In place of the previous committees, council has approved four working groups, two committees and a panel. Each type of group has a unique mandate. 

Working groups will provide oversight or expertise on the delivery and development of projects or programs approved by council.

Committees will provide expertise to council on issues related to its mandates.

Expert panels will have defined mandates to provided opinions on certain topics or issues. 

The previous Town and Gown Committee, which focused on issues related to neighbourhoods near the university and college, has been dissolved. 

Here's what will replace the other committees:

City staff are continuing to work toward replacing the diversity committee, Vlachodimos says, but nothing has been announced yet.