EDITORIAL – Council should encourage dialogue with public, not shut it down

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

THERE’S NOTHING UNUSUAL, or wrong, with putting limits on how long members of the public can speak to City council either at regular council meetings or public hearings.

The important thing is to do it for the right reasons, and to do it the right way.

Coun. Dale Bass has a notice of motion coming forward Tuesday to curb the amount of time taxpayers take at the microphone when addressing council. (She is very focused this term with procedural matters.)

Her motion asks for a procedural bylaw amendment to limit speaking times during public inquiries at regular meetings to “five minutes for questions only,” and during public hearings to five minutes with an “option for an additional time once all wishing to speak have been heard.”

So let’s look at that. Five minutes is pretty common in civic governments as a speaking time for public presentations and questions. Kelowna has such a rule. So do Nanaimo, Vancouver and others.

But the justification for putting limits on speaking time shouldn’t be so that complaining council members can punch out of work early.

The proper reason is fairness to the speakers themselves, to make sure everybody gets a fair turn.

Bass’s motion would also continue the practice of restricting questions “to matters relating to the agenda.” As I asked in December, why shouldn’t people be able to stand up and talk to council about anything they like, whether it’s on the agenda or not?

Sometimes, people can speak too long. But mostly, they’re respectful of council’s time.

Even with a limit, the mayor should have the flexibility to allow leeway depending on the issue and the number of people wanting to speak.

And, by the way, some City councils give the public time to speak at all open meetings, including committees.

This Kamloops council could make its mark opening up dialogue with the people it serves. Instead, some councillors seem determined to shut it down.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops, alternate TNRD director and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.