Council Procedures Bylaw public notice
Council is required to establish general procedures on how Council and Committees conduct their business in a bylaw, the Council Procedures Bylaw. This bylaw must not be amended, repealed and substituted unless notice describing the proposed changes in general terms is given for 2 consecutive weeks in the local newspaper.
On December 3, 2019 Council will be asked to consider adopting a new Council Procedures Bylaw, 1105, 2019 and repealing the old Council Procedures Bylaw 487, 2004.
The proposed changes and the proposed new Council Procedures Bylaw 1105, 2019 can be viewed in the November 5, 2019 Regular Council Meeting Agenda package on the District’s website. Some of the significant changes to the proposed bylaw include:
- Removing reference to Committee of the Whole meetings
- Adding a 1 day notice for cancellation of Regular Council meetings
- Adding the process and timelines for submitting items to be included in the agenda package
- Adding a new section clarifying how items are added to the agenda after it has already been published (late items)
- New agenda headings that remove departments and create Development and Non-Development headings which identify when public comment is available
- Changing acting Mayor appointments to once per term vs once per year
- Adding the ability for electronic meetings and for Council and Committee members to participate electronically
- Clarifying how Council takes action in response to a delegation or public comment
- Updating and clarifying Public Comment including: no public comment during Nomination Period (election year) and how and when members of the public may or may not address Council
- Adding correspondence marked ‘confidential’ will not be accepted at a public meeting
- Clarifying the processes for modifying, withdrawing, amending or rescinding a motion
- Updating conduct and debate to include OFEEDS (Order, Focus, Efficiency, Equality, Decorum and Safe Environment)
- Clarifying procedures for ‘Councillor Items’ and how requests from Council are delegated by the Chief Administrative Officer
- Expanding the section on Committees to include general rules and procedures of all Council Committees, including that a person may only address the Committee with the permission of the Chair
Questions, comments or concerns regarding the bylaw can be forwarded:
- By Mail to 10150 Bottom Wood Lake Road, Lake Country, BC V4V 2M1
- By Email to admin@lakecountry.bc.ca
- In person at the December 3, 2019 Regular Council Meeting
Written submissions will be circulated to Mayor and Council and will be included in the Agenda Package which is posted to the District of Lake Country website.
Reyna Seabrook, Corporate Officer November 14, 2019