Over the past two years staff have also seen patterns of public input that were not anticipated by the previous Meeting Procedure Bylaw. This includes the use of two-minute public comment slots to comment on one’s own delegation, effectively using 12 minutes on the same topic (2 minute public comment + 10 minute delegation). Speakers have also spoken to Council on the same topic multiple times, and used several delegation spots per month to the exclusion of other members of the public. In recognition of the amount of business requiring Council’s attention and in fairness to all members of the public wishing to address Council, staff have proposed amendments which would restrict speakers to addressing Council once within a 12 month period on one topic, and not more than once every three months on different topics, except where that individual or organization is statutorily authorized or required to be heard. For clarity, members of the public may still speak to their own correspondence during the two minute public comment slots.
I do not attend council meetings. It would not be good for my health, so I am unaware of the suggested problems. One has to ask if this is an over reaction, or some sort of attempt to eliminate criticism. Sad, so sad. Tofino has always allowed the residents to address their council directly with their concerns. Are we suddenly so large and complicated this has to be curtailed. I have the feeling some previous Mayors and Councils would be rolling over in their graves.
Too bad the only streamlining DOT can contemplate is in the restriction of free speech, rather than the efficiency and cost cutting of the municipal operation.
wow, this is next level. As annoying as DOT et all may view the public , they still have a right to be heard on a topic. I could understand a bylaw where, by vote, councilors could restrict the voice of a person who is deemed to be "wasting the time of the district". They could pass a motion, vote on it, and restrict the person for a period of time.
It would force them to give some reasoning, cite examples of the persons indiscretions within the chambers, and make the person aware that they will not be able to continue on as they have been in the future.
Their approach is a bit much, they will get caught in their own web at times, and it all sounds kinda "us and them".
End of the day, if you don't want to hear about problems in the community, then don't sit in the seat and collect the cheque.
In the meeting minutes of Regular Council Meetings over the past year, there have been: 27 instances of “Public Comment” Speaking for 2 minutes at a time.
And there have been,
20 instances of 10 minute delegation presentations. (Some went over the 10 minutes). This means there has been a total of just over 300 minutes of public feedback over the course of one year.
A typical regular council meeting has been 4 hours and there have been 21 of them in the past year, so there has been a total of 84 hours of REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING time. The public feedback therefore represents 6% of the District Councils Regular meeting time and, is indeed much less than 6% if Committee of the Whole and Special Meetings are counted.
Diversity wise, there have been 20 different individuals and organizations giving feedback over the course of the past year.
Restricting any one of those 20 to only one session every 90 days will therefore have negligible effect on the total feedback time.
For those reasons, it is difficult to see how the proposed procedural change is in the interest of the residents of Tofino or how it makes our public administration more effective and better in line with the wishes of the electorate.
Having watched council meetings and councillors for many years I can tell you this: It doesn't matter what you say, what you plead, the new information you bring forth, et cetera Etc. etc. The people on council don't care what you say, they aren't listening, and they're not changing their minds or their decisions based on what a bunch of handwringing snowflakes are whingeing about. In reality hearing public input and comments are a waste of time and a sham.
Having watched council meetings and councillors for many years I can tell you this: It doesn't matter what you say, what you plead, the new information you bring forth, et cetera Etc. etc. The people on council don't care what you say, they aren't listening, and they're not changing their minds or their decisions based on what a bunch of handwringing snowflakes are whingeing about. In reality hearing public input and comments are a waste of time and a sham.
True enough, Jarmo. We also have the right, every day, to demand that mayor and council make staffing reductions and re-assignments of duties within the District office. The taxpayers of Tofino do not need, and cannot afford, the overpopulation of municipal employees that infest Tofino.
Social Issues Cafe topic ***WEALTH, (IN)EQUALITY, AND FAIR ECONOMY***
"What indigenous experience tells us is that an economy is about fairness and equity. It should be for the well-being of your people and the sacredness of creation. You take care of your place because it provides for you. And the place provides for you because you’re protecting it. We have to begin to rethink our economic system so that it’s accountable for our place."
Thanks 9:30 AM. When I think of the words "social justice", "fairness", "accountable",and "equality", the first thing that comes to my mind is "the Tofino Botanical Gardens". Such an apt locale for a discussion of these topics. Will the mayor be attending?
yes the 9:30 exposes the expensive hypocrisy of the tax payers having had to pay the botanical gardens fair share of the taxes when they were a nonprofit...... But certainly making lots of profit from the Ecolodge. While the nonprofit status has been dropped the assessed value of the property and businesses thereon are way away under assessed for what the actual use is......... Aha! That's fairness and social justice accountability And equality at its finest.
16 comments:
Over the past two years staff have also seen patterns of public input that were not anticipated by the previous Meeting Procedure Bylaw. This includes the use of two-minute public comment slots to comment on one’s own delegation, effectively using 12 minutes on the same topic (2 minute public comment + 10 minute delegation). Speakers have also spoken to Council on the same topic multiple times, and used several delegation spots per month to the exclusion of other members of the public. In recognition of the amount of business requiring Council’s attention and in fairness to all members of the public wishing to address Council, staff have proposed amendments which would restrict speakers to addressing Council once within a 12 month period on one topic, and not more than once every three months on different topics, except where that individual or organization is statutorily authorized or required to be heard. For clarity, members of the public may still speak to their own correspondence during the two minute public comment slots.
That was from page 112 of the agenda.
I do not attend council meetings. It would not be good for my health, so I am unaware of the suggested problems. One has to ask if this is an over reaction, or some sort of attempt to eliminate criticism. Sad, so sad. Tofino has always allowed the residents to address their council directly with their concerns. Are we suddenly so large and complicated this has to be curtailed. I have the feeling some previous Mayors and Councils would be rolling over in their graves.
Too bad the only streamlining DOT can contemplate is in the restriction of free speech, rather than the efficiency and cost cutting of the municipal operation.
Here is a simpler solution. "If you can,t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen". If you have so little tolerance of the public, Quit.
wow, this is next level. As annoying as DOT et all may view the public , they still have a right to be heard on a topic. I could understand a bylaw where, by vote, councilors could restrict the voice of a person who is deemed to be "wasting the time of the district". They could pass a motion, vote on it, and restrict the person for a period of time.
It would force them to give some reasoning, cite examples of the persons indiscretions within the chambers, and make the person aware that they will not be able to continue on as they have been in the future.
Their approach is a bit much, they will get caught in their own web at times, and it all sounds kinda "us and them".
End of the day, if you don't want to hear about problems in the community, then don't sit in the seat and collect the cheque.
In the meeting minutes of Regular Council Meetings over the past year, there have been:
27 instances of “Public Comment” Speaking for 2 minutes at a time.
And there have been,
20 instances of 10 minute delegation presentations. (Some went over the 10 minutes).
This means there has been a total of just over 300 minutes of public feedback over the course of one year.
A typical regular council meeting has been 4 hours and there have been 21 of them in the past year, so there has been a total of 84 hours of REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING time.
The public feedback therefore represents 6% of the District Councils Regular meeting time and, is indeed much less than 6% if Committee of the Whole and Special Meetings are counted.
Diversity wise, there have been 20 different individuals and organizations giving feedback over the course of the past year.
Restricting any one of those 20 to only one session every 90 days will therefore have negligible effect on the total feedback time.
For those reasons, it is difficult to see how the proposed procedural change is in the interest of the residents of Tofino or how it makes our public administration more effective and better in line with the wishes of the electorate.
Jarmo Venalainen
resident of Tofino
https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/city-of-regina-restructuring-to-save-3-million-annually-eliminates-management-22-positions
Having watched council meetings and councillors for many years I can tell you this:
It doesn't matter what you say, what you plead, the new information you bring forth, et cetera Etc. etc.
The people on council don't care what you say, they aren't listening, and they're not changing their minds or their decisions based on what a bunch of handwringing snowflakes are whingeing about.
In reality hearing public input and comments are a waste of time and a sham.
Having watched council meetings and councillors for many years I can tell you this:
It doesn't matter what you say, what you plead, the new information you bring forth, et cetera Etc. etc.
The people on council don't care what you say, they aren't listening, and they're not changing their minds or their decisions based on what a bunch of handwringing snowflakes are whingeing about.
In reality hearing public input and comments are a waste of time and a sham.
5:13 AM..... LOVE IT!! Great article, totally applicable to the situation in Tofino. Thanks.
We all have a chance to elect different councilors and a different mayor every four years.
Jarmo Venalainen
resident of Tofino
True enough, Jarmo. We also have the right, every day, to demand that mayor and council make staffing reductions and re-assignments of duties within the District office. The taxpayers of Tofino do not need, and cannot afford, the overpopulation of municipal employees that infest Tofino.
Today 10:30AM at botanical gardens:
Social Issues Cafe
topic
***WEALTH, (IN)EQUALITY, AND FAIR ECONOMY***
"What indigenous experience tells us is that an economy is about fairness and equity.
It should be for the well-being of your people and the sacredness of creation.
You take care of your place because it provides for you. And the place provides for you because you’re protecting it.
We have to begin to rethink our economic system so that it’s accountable for our place."
I've decided to say something in the 2 minute Public Comment on Agenda Items speaking slot at the April 30th council meeting.
It will help emphasize the message if there are many people at the meeting.
Please ask interested Tofitians to come to the meeting at the council office at 10:00 am on April 30th.
Please also ask them to spread the message to come to as many people as possible.
Hopefully, we won't all fit into the council room, hallway or even front yard.
There is no need to stay for the whole meeting. People only need to come at 10:00 am to emphasize the message.
Jarmo Venalainen
resident of Tofino
Thanks 9:30 AM. When I think of the words "social justice", "fairness", "accountable",and "equality", the first thing that comes to my mind is "the Tofino Botanical Gardens". Such an apt locale for a discussion of these topics. Will the mayor be attending?
yes the 9:30 exposes the expensive hypocrisy of the tax payers having had to pay the botanical gardens fair share of the taxes when they were a nonprofit...... But certainly making lots of profit from the Ecolodge.
While the nonprofit status has been dropped the assessed value of the property and businesses thereon are way away under assessed for what the actual use is......... Aha! That's fairness and social justice accountability And equality at its finest.
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