A Lake Country councillor is pushing back against new meeting rules that limit public input on some development proposals.
At its July 15 meeting, council passed a new procedure bylaw that updates how meetings and public hearings are run, most notably restricting public submissions for zoning bylaws that don香蕉视频直播檛 require a hearing under provincial law.
Coun. Cara Reed voted against the .
"Everything else I kind of support, but I find ourselves--by removing things like public comment--we seem to be getting further and further away from engagement with the public," she said. "I will not be in favour of this bylaw for the fact that it limits the public's ability to write to council,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淒oing this now, I think, is precipitous.香蕉视频直播�
Reed said council should have waited until after the OCP update is completed so the public fully understands how their input can shape future development.
香蕉视频直播淚t's the one chance you get to comment on your neighbourhood,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲e haven't had a strong view that this has been done in other municipalities.香蕉视频直播�
According to the bylaw, submissions on prohibited meetings will be retained on file but won香蕉视频直播檛 be included in the public agenda or considered before a decision is made.
Mayor Blair Ireland pushed back on Reed香蕉视频直播檚 concerns, saying the public can still email councillors directly.
香蕉视频直播淚t actually does not limit the public香蕉视频直播檚 ability to contact you," he said. "They can email you individually every time. If you choose to read that email or not, that's up to you.香蕉视频直播�
Ireland said the district received legal advice cautioning against forwarding correspondence from the public that is submitted through the general 香蕉视频直播渕ayor and council香蕉视频直播� email during prohibited hearings.
香蕉视频直播淚f we do read that email and we take it into consideration, then we are technically breaking the law,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Chief administrative officer Paul Gipps backed up the mayor香蕉视频直播檚 interpretation.
He explained that staff will no longer pass along emails that arrive through the district香蕉视频直播檚 main channels during prohibited hearings.
香蕉视频直播淲e are bypassing the intent of the law, and that was the advice that was given,香蕉视频直播� Gipps said.
He noted that individuals are still free to contact councillors directly by name, just as they might speak with a councillor in the community. It香蕉视频直播檚 then up to each councillor to decide whether to accept that information.
Coun. Todd Mackenzie, , supported it this time, but admitted he had reservations.
香蕉视频直播淚 do have concerns, like I said before. This goes against what I thought as well.香蕉视频直播�
One of the most noticeable changes to public hearings is a reduction in speaking time. Residents will now have five minutes to speak, down from ten. Those who wish to speak a second or third time may do so only after everyone has had a chance to speak once. The applicant will also have five minutes to present at the beginning and another five minutes to respond to comments at the end.
Council passed the bylaw with only Reed opposed.
At an April council meeting, she also expressed concern over .
