Council Committees
The City has several different committees providing recommendations on a wide range of programs, policies and services ranging from parks and parking to heritage and housing.
As with Council meetings, all regular committee meetings are open to the public, with the exception of a very limited number of meetings permitted to be held "in-camera" by the Local Government Act. Public input is accepted, and often requested, at the committee stage, where many issues can be resolved prior to a matter coming before the whole of Council.
Advisory and Statutory Committees of Council (either with or without public representation) are those that have been established by Council and have a formal advisory role to Council. Link to information on these committees, including the Terms of Reference, agendas and minutes.
Advisory Committees with Public Representation
Statutory Committees
Committee Application Form
Members of the publioc interested in serving on an Advisory or Statutory Committee of Council (with public representation) should submit a brief outline of your background and experience.
Public Input to Council on a Matter Already Considered by a Committee
When a matter moves from committee consideration to Council, the presumption is that these issues have either been resolved, or that they are brought up as outstanding issues in the staff or committee report presented to Council (which also includes the committee’s recommendation on the matter).
Public input received by the committee (whether written submissions or oral presentations) is available to Councillors for review, but it is not specifically circulated or brought to their attention when the matter is before Council itself.
Council can specifically request public input on certain matters (mainly development related), and that input is usually garnered through a public hearing process. Prior to Council consideration of such matters, advertisements inviting public input are placed in the local newspapers and notification is provided to neighbours. Any input received between the date of this notification and the date of Council consideration (generally at a public hearing) is summarized and circulated to Council.
Individuals who have submitted input to a committee and have further comments they wish to make when the matter is before Council, must either submit updated comments in writing to the City Clerk's Office between these dates or attend the public hearing in person and make an oral presentation.
Further information about providing written submissions or making oral presentations to Council can be found on this website under Council Procedures.
