Summerland council has now adopted its council procedures amendment bylaw to align with provincial legislation regarding public hearings.
The regulations are needed as the province’s Bill 44 restricts public hearings. In addition, the Summerland amendment provides guidance, reduces ambiguity for delegation applications and aligns with the Provincial Best Practices for Local Government Procedures Bylaw.
At the June 11 district meeting, council amended the proposed bylaw to allow delegations to occur either at the start of the afternoon session or at the beginning of the evening session.
The proposed bylaw also removes the second public comment opportunity at council meetings.
Previously, this public comment session was to address council on any local government matter. The new legislation clarifies this to allow individuals to attend council meetings to address council on any relevant matter. The remaining public comment opportunity will focus on business items on the council agenda.
Graham Statt, chief administrative officer for Summerland, said the majority of communities in British Columbia have restrictions limiting public comment to items on the council agenda. He said the restrictions keep the public comment focused, rather than providing an unrestricted platform to air complaints.
At the same time, members of the public may request to speak to council as a delegation.
Summerland council has taken other measures regarding its council meetings.
Standards of decorum have been put in place to regulate behaviour at council meetings. The standards include refraining from disorderly and boisterous conduct, prohibiting the display of signs, placards, banners or other symbols having cellphones set to silent or vibrate, banning people from speaking out from the gallery unless they are first recognized by the chair and other points of order.