Public Input Period

Have a comment you want to share with Mayor and Council? The Public Input Period is your opportunity to share your thoughts with Council and have your comments placed on record, subject to the limitations and restrictions noted in the Speaker Guidelines below. Please note that during the Public Input Period, Mayor and Council are there to listen only and will not respond to questions.

Sign Up to Speak

There are two ways to speak during the Public Input Period, in person or virtually. Please review both options and our guidelines below before registering to speak:

In-Person

Speakers who choose to participate in person must register by signing the speaker list located outside the Council Chamber between 5:30 and 5:50pm on the day of the Council meeting. Enter City Hall from 13th Street after 5:30pm. Please do not submit the online form to speak in person, as it is strictly used to register for virtual participation only.

Via Webex or Phone

Speakers who choose to participate electronically must pre-register by 12:00 noon on the day of the Council meeting by completing the electronic registration form linked below, or by phoning 604-990-4234 to provide contact information. Pre-registrants will receive Webex/phone instructions via email or phone on the afternoon of the Council meeting, including a request to connect to the meeting 15-30 minutes before the meeting start time.

Register to Speak Electronically at a Public Input Period

Speaker Guidelines

The General Rules of Conduct are outlined in Section 12.20 to 12.28 of Council Procedure Bylaw, 2015, No. 8500.

Each speaker has two (2) minutes to address Council, with the number of speakers set at 5 persons per meeting.

Speakers may only speak on the same matter once in a 3-month period.

Speakers must not comment on:

Matters for which a Public Hearing will be held and bylaw(s) published: Official Community Plan Bylaws and Zoning Bylaws (including amending bylaws), Heritage Designation Bylaws or Bylaws to authorize a Heritage Revitalization Agreement, once the bylaw has been published on the City’s website in advance of a Public Hearing to be held (i.e. an opportunity for public comment on these matters will be provided when the item comes forward for public questions and comments at the Public Hearing, and can only be recognized and form part of the official record at that time. Any comments made at Public Input Period prior to publication of the bylaw will not form part of the Public Hearing and will not be considered by Council in its decision on the bylaw; therefore speakers should make comments at the Public Hearing);
Matters for which a Public Hearing is prohibited or waived: Zoning Bylaws (including amending bylaws) where a Public Hearing is prohibited under the Local Government Act (i.e. consistent with OCP and at least 50% residential), or where Council has elected not to hold a Public Hearing when permitted to do so by the Local Government Act;
Matters for which a Public Hearing has been held, or was prohibited or waived, if the associated bylaw has been neither defeated nor adopted by Council;
Matters for which an opportunity for public comment will be provided: A proposed Development Permit, Development Variance Permit, Heritage Alteration Permit or a Temporary Use Permit, LEC Rate Review or other matter where the proposed permit has been published on the City’s website and Council will be holding a public meeting (i.e. an opportunity for public comment on these matters will be provided when the item comes forward for discussion at the public meeting, and can only be recognized and form part of the official record at that time).

When speaking, please address the Mayor as “Your Worship” or “Mayor” followed by their surname. Please address Councillors as “Councillor” followed by their surname.

Speakers’ comments will be live-streamed and recorded on the City’s website.

If a speaker has written material to accompany their comments, the material must be sent to the Corporate Officer at clerks@cnv.org no later than 12:00 noon on the day of the Council Meeting.