Public inquiries to be axed?

Kamloops city council will decide Tuesday whether to move ahead with bylaw changes that axe public inquiries during regular meetings — a move that comes amid struggles to maintain decorum in the gallery at city hall.

City staff were asked to bring forward a report on the matter after a September council meeting where a Zoom user broadcast hardcore pornography to people watching in city hall and online.

In a report prepared for Tuesday’s council meeting, staff listed efforts made to maintain civility and efficiency, including instituting a five-minute time limit per speaker — a decision made after that section of the agenda was found to be taking up nearly an hour of time.

“Despite numerous efforts, challenges in council chambers continue,” the report said.

Members of the public have used speaking time to level accusations at city staff and council members and talk about conspiracy theories with little pushback from the chair, Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson, who is frequently asked by other council members to control the gallery.

One speaker this summer received a warning from a staff member after criticizing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Some who attend meetings have openly jeered and mocked members of council and city staff.

"There have been comments from speakers during public inquiries that are contrary to the city’s legal requirement to provide a safe and respectful workplace," the report said.

Staff noted the length of public inquiries can also result in unionized staff working overtime, and ensuring meetings are adjourned within working hours minimizes overtime pay.

A number of changes to council’s procedure bylaw are being proposed, including removing public inquiries, the reading which regularly opens regular council meetings, and the approval of the agenda.

Proposed changes also include limiting the number of delegations to two per council meeting, and adding language saying that delegations aren’t allowed to make requests for funding or city resources during their presentations.

The staff report said community members have a range of ways they can provide feedback, with council members’ cell numbers and email addresses posted publicly. The report said the municipality offers opportunities for in-person and online engagement on a range of issues, and questions about city operations can be provided by mail, email, phone or app.

“Removing public inquiries from council meetings is intended to redirect those community members to the engagement channels outlined above, and to prevent misuse of council meetings by those whose intent is to disrespect and disrupt,” the report said.

Council can consider other options — including reducing public inquiries to one opportunity per meeting instead of the current two, limiting speaking time to less than five minutes, instituting a pre-registration process or accepting written submissions only.

Several municipalities do not allow for public inquiries — including Chilliwack, Delta, Kelowna and Abbotsford. In those communities, only delegations are permitted to address council.

Other municipalities allow for public submissions with stipulations, including a requirement to pre-register to speak, a maximum number of people allowed to speak or strict parameters on the topics permitted to for discussion.

Kamloops council will vote on the proposed bylaw amendments during its Tuesday meeting.