Sign up to speak at a Council meeting or hearing

What you need to know

At all meetings and hearings:

You can submit comments for a meeting, even if an item doesn't allow a speaker
You can speak by phone (recommended) or in-person
Speakers can speak to staff reports that contain recommendations and Council member motions, unless it's in a closed meeting

Upcoming meetings and hearings accepting speakers

Registered to speak? Review how to prepare to speak at a meeting or hearing

Understand our meeting types: Review types of Council meetings

Upcoming meetings and hearings accepting speakers

Agendas are typically posted 1 week before the meeting.

Some agenda items may remain on the agenda over multiple meeting days or be referred from 1 meeting type to another.

Review agenda
Fill out form to request to speak
Review deadlines, how to sign up, and speaker conditions

^{November 26, 2024 Public Hearing}

You can speak about:

Council Delegation of Authority to Approve the Form of Development
CD-1 Rezoning: 1068-1090 Burnaby Street and 1318 Thurlow Street
CD-1 Rezoning: 1960 West 7th Avenue

The deadline to request to speak for the above items is Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 5 pm for online requests and register from 5:30 pm to 6 pm by calling 604-829-4238. You can also register in person on the day of the hearing, between 5:30 pm and 6 pm at City Hall.

You can also speak to the item by calling in with the number provided on X (previously Twitter) and on the live stream during the meeting.

Request to speak View the full agenda

Deadlines, how to sign up, and speaker conditions

Meeting of Council
Sign up to speak
- Online
- By phone:
  - Council and standing committee meetings: 604-829-4323
  - Special council meetings: 604-829-4272
What to expect after signing up to speak

You will receive a confirmation email with your:
- Speaker number
- Detailed instructions on how to participate (by telephone or in-person)
Review what to expect and how to prepare to speak at a meeting

We encourage you to participate by telephone, as this is the most efficient way to speak to Council.

Speaker request conditions

Speaker requests are:
- Open approximately 1 week before a meeting is scheduled
- Closed 5pm the day before the start of a meeting
- Only available for agenda items that are being presented to Council for the first time
- Not reopened if items are referred by Council to a standing committee meeting
Council member motions at standing committee meetings: A speaker will present at the standing committee meeting on a Wednesday unless the motion is moved to another day.

You can only request to speak at a special Council meeting if there is an agenda item that allows for a speaker.
Hearing or committee meeting
Public hearings

Sign up to speak
- Online before 5pm on the day of the hearing
- In person at City Hall
- By phone at 604-829-4238 between 5:30pm and 6pm on the day of the hearing
No deadline for public hearings about rezonings and heritage designations. Additional speakers may attend the meeting in person or online by following the instructions provided when additional speakers are called.

Review what to expect and how to prepare to speak at a hearing

What to expect after signing up to speak

You will receive a confirmation email with your:
- Speaker number
- Detailed instructions on how to participate (by telephone or in-person)
We encourage you to participate by telephone, as this is the most efficient way to speak to Council.

Business licence hearing and courts of revision
- Speakers are only heard when arranged by Legal Services to appear as witnesses.
- Council, sitting as a court of revision, hears appeals from property owners about inaccuracies in the tax roll.
Auditor General committee meeting

Speakers are permitted to speak to staff reports containing recommendations.