Executive Nixes Reducing Presentation Times
A plan to reduced the time for speakers and presentations from 10 minutes to five minutes has been thwarted by Executive Committee.
During discussion of a proposed new Procedural Bylaw the Committee came out opposed to the move. The time allowed to address Council would remain at 10 minutes and not reduced to a proposed five minutes on the new Procedural Bylaw.
But Executive Committee was not the first place the new time limit came up.
It came up at the end of a presentation to Council by resident Glenda Tkalac on an unrelated issue.
“I’m happy I got to speak to you today because I read that Council was looking at a proposed new bylaw limiting speaker time from 10 minutes down to five (minutes), Tkalac tolls Council.
“Public comments is one of the few opportunities residents have to speak directly to local government and cutting the time in half significantly limits that engagement. Im hoping council reconsiders this because five minutes wouldn’t have been enough time for me to give you this presentation to you today, she said further stating she had read about the proposed change “somewhere.”
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During Executive Committee’s review of the proposed bylaw Councillor Heather Eby aired her concerns about reducing presentation times by 50 percent.
“I get it, but I kind of feel like…this will make people feel rushed through that process. I’ve spoken here before when I wasn’t a member of council and then come forward as a delegation it’s hard to get your thoughts across in five minutes,” Councillor Eby said.
City Clerk Tracey Witke said the reduced speaking times in the new procedural bylaw are from best practises from municipalities across Canada
“We are one of the very few that continue at 10 minutes so it’s just a proposal,” Witke said.
Five minutes is to keep delegations focused on their presentation she said.
Mayor James Murdock favoured allowing individuals and delegations 10 minutes to speak.
“I think that members of our community should be entitled to that allotted time. If they’re coming to speak to us in chambers, they’re passionate about a topic I think that needs to be expressed. Watching the time, clock here quite often very rately does it get to 10 minutes,” Mayor Murdock said.
Councillor Chris Warren did not favour moving from 10 minutes to 5 minutes.
“I’m fine with 10 minutes. I think it’s pretty rare that we have delegations so I would be of opinion we allow the 10 (minutes). Even if we are one of the few municipalities, I’m OK with that,” Councillor Warren said.
With no further Council voted 5 - 0 unanimously to amend the proposed bylaw.
The proposed bylaw must now see three readings at regular council to come into effect.