Public Hearings

We notify the public by:

• Placing ads in The Calendar newspaper for two consecutive weeks, and
• Posting the notice in the foyer of the Municipal Hall and on the District's website.
• Sign up to receive Public Hearing notifications direct to your email inbox.

Have your say in any of the following ways:

• By mail to Community Services Department

District of Lake Country 10150 Bottom Wood Lake Road Lake Country, BC V4V 2M1

• By email to planning@lakecountry.bc.ca
• Or speak at the Public Hearing

Written comments are received until 4:30 p.m. on the day of the Public Hearing. All correspondence, including the writer's name, will be attached to the agenda. Residents speaking at the Public Hearing will have their names included in the minutes.

Note: Correspondence submitted before a bylaw receives 1st and 2nd readings is not included in the agenda package, but is kept in the application file. Please re-submit your comments once the Public Hearing has been publicized or you receive a letter from the District, if applicable.

Public hearings follow this format:

• The Mayor opens the Public Hearing.
• The Director of Community Services summarizes the proposed amendment(s).
• The Mayor asks if anyone in the gallery wishes to speak.
• The Mayor asks speakers to give their name and address for the minutes.
• Every interested person is given a chance to speak.
• The Mayor asks three times for speakers to come forward. If there are none, the Public Hearing is closed.

Council cannot receive or consider any further input from residents about the application once the Public Hearing is closed. Any late correspondence will be filed with the application but will not be forwarded to Council until after the bylaw is adopted.

Comments from the residents who feel they are affected either positively or negatively are vital in the decision-making process of Council. Lake Country Council encourages comment from the public. Please make your opinion known!

In order to have productive meetings and productive debate, the Council of the District of Lake Country abides by the following meeting guidelines:

• Order - one person only may speak at any given time; the Mayor is the only one that may invite the public, Council or staff to speak
• Focus - stay on topic
• Efficiency - be respectful of other speakers' needs to present their point of view
• Equality - all attendees must have an equal opportunity to speak when appropriate
• Decorum - there will be no heckling, clapping, booing, cheering, signs, silent waving, etc.; remain civilized and respectful
• Safe Environment - participants must be permitted to share unpopular but necessary points without fear