Burlington will phase in return to in-person council meetings
Published March 23, 2022 at 10:23 am
Although Burlington councillors decided to end virtual-only city council and committee meetings, they’re going to take their time implementing it.
In the newly-adopted hybrid model, members of council, senior city staff and members of the public have the option to participate in council meetings either in-person or at city hall.
The move to hybrid council meetings will be phased in. The first hybrid meeting will be the Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee meeting on April 7, which will be for members of council and senior city staff only.
Following this, the council meeting on April 19 will have the option for council, senior staff and delegations, only, to be present in chambers. Starting in May, the standing committees and council meetings will be open to council, senior staff, delegations and the public to attend in person.
“We look forward to welcoming the public back into Council Chambers, now that it is safer to do so,” said Mayor Marianne Meed Ward following the decision at yesterday’s (Tuesday) council meeting.
“Our virtual meetings allowed council to continue to conduct the business of the city, without skipping a beat when the pandemic hit while maintaining public transparency, accountability and input. Many residents told us they preferred the flexibility of virtual meetings, and we saw the highest numbers of delegates on record for some of our meetings. So, we will continue to provide a hybrid option, letting residents choose whether to attend in person or online.”
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City council and committee meetings have been held virtually for the past two years, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To ensure the health of safety of people attending hybrid council meetings in person:
- members of council will be physically distanced in council chambers around the council desk
- plexiglass barriers have been installed between participants sitting around the council desk and in front of the delegate’s podium
- masking will be encouraged for individuals in council chambers when they are not speaking
- after each meeting, all equipment and surfaces will be disinfected.
Under the hybrid model, members of the public have the option to delegate in-person or remotely. Chambers will be configured to ensure all participants have an equitable and seamless meeting experience. Delegates are not required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to delegate in person. Those wishing to speak at an upcoming meeting must register by noon the business day before the meeting.
“The City is fully committed to transparency and open public meetings and recognizes the desire to balance a return to safe, in-person public meetings, and the opportunity to engage with council virtually,” said Kevin Arjoon, city clerk.
“This hybrid meeting format allows for both options, so that all participants have a seamless meeting experience.”
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