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Appearing before Council and Committees
City Council engages with the public through various means. In addition to various project-specific engagements, the public has several opportunities to participate in the governance and decision-making of the City of Lethbridge.
Council meetings have no forum for public comment or participation, except for Public Hearings (as prescribed in the Municipal Government Act) or as Council directs. Council has adopted the Community Issues Committee (CIC) which enables the public to participate in relation to varying items on those agendas.
Items already on a CIC agenda
The public may participate by completing the Community Issues Committee submission form below:
Items not on a CIC agenda
If the public wishes to make a request to present an item to form part of the agenda for a Community Issues Committee, they can submit a request below:
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Public Notices & Hearings
Public hearings are your chance to share your opinions and views on specific topics with City Council. These hearings are open for anyone to speak at or to submit written comments to.
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Public Conduct in Council Chamber
Below are the rules that outline the appropriate conduct for members of the public attending meetings of City Council and Committees to ensure meetings are respectful, safe, and orderly while protecting public access and freedom of expression. As such, the expectation is that those attending City Council/Committee meetings act in accordance with these rules at all times. The rules are enforced under the authority of the Municipal Government Act and the City of Lethbridge’s Procedure Bylaw.
All members of public are expected to:
- Behave in a respectful manner.
- Not make any loud or disruptive noises which include but are not limited to shouting, cheering, heckling, clapping, or booing
- Silence all electronic devices
- Follow all directions given by the Chair
- Remain seated in the public gallery unless otherwise directed by the Chair
- Not obstruct the exits and aisles of the Council Chambers
- Ensure all materials (letters, presentations, voice recordings, etc.) are provided to the City Clerk prior to the meeting.
- Leave Council Chambers when directed by the Chair.
When addressing City Council, members of the public are expected to:
- Speak only when recognized by the Chair
- Address members of Councillors with respect, and state their name for the record
- Speak only to the item of discussion, and when speaking remain within the five (5) minute time limit
Members of the public may not:
- Engage in the harassment, intimidation, use of threatening language, or aggressive conduct directed towards Councillors, staff, presenters, and/or fellow attendees either before, during, or after a meeting of City Council.
- Approach members of Council, or staff during the meeting, unless directed by the Chair.
- Bring signs, banners, flags, noisemakers, sharp objects, chemicals or weapons into Council Chambers
- Distribute any materials directly to City Councillors
Recording City Council Meetings
Members of the Public may record via audio or video any public meeting provided that such recording does not disrupt proceedings; and if such recording does not also block, impede, or intimidate fellow attendees and staff.
If the Chair determines that a member of the public is acting in a way that contravenes decorum may:
- Issue warnings for violations of decorum
- Restrict the recording of the meeting if it interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting.
- Direct security to remove a member of the public who fails to comply with the Chair’s directions or continuously violates expectations of decorum.
- Recess or adjourn the meeting to restore order
- Direct the evacuation of Council Chambers in case of an emergency
This information will be reviewed by the Agenda Review Committee (Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Acting Mayor) who will then make a determination regarding placing this on a Community Issues Committee (CIC) agenda or not.
For those items that may not be added to a CIC agenda, a Member of Council may bring forward an Official Business Motion to refer the matter to a CIC. If this does not occur, then the matter ends. (refer to below image).
Contact Us
City Hall
910 4 Avenue South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 0P6
Phone: 311
or 403-320-3111 (if outside of Lethbridge)