Speak at a City Council meeting about an agenda item

What you need to know

April 4 to July 31 changes to speaking at a meeting

We're testing new ways to improve the experience of speaking at meetings.

For Regular Council and Standing Committee meetings, you can speak for up to 3 minutes. Each Council member can ask you questions for up to 3 minutes.
To speak about a staff report agenda item, you'll present on the day of the meeting.
To speak about a Council member motion, you'll present on Wednesday from 3pm to 10pm at the Standing Committee meeting.

Request to speak

Request to speak online after agendas are announced below, usually one week before meetings.

Council meetings are publicly streamed and recorded.

Meetings you can speak at

Speak to City Council about agenda items at:

Public hearings
Regular Council meetings
- For staff reports, you'll present on the day of the meeting
- For Council member motions, you'll present on Wednesday from 3pm to 10pm at the Standing Committee meeting
Special Council meetings
- Only for agenda items that allow speakers
Standing Committee meetings (City Finance and Services, Policy and Strategic Priorities)
- For staff reports, you'll present on the day of the meeting

Deadlines to request to speak

Public hearings

Online by 5pm on the day of meeting
In-person from 5:30pm to 6pm on the day of the meeting

If you miss the deadline, attend the meeting and raise your hand when the meeting chair calls three times for any other speakers after all registered speakers are heard.

Regular Council, special Council, and Standing Committee meetings

Online by 9:30am or the start of meeting
No requests are taken after the meeting starts

Upcoming meetings

There are no upcoming meetings that you can request to speak at right now. Please check back later.

Prepare to speak

Know what to expect by watching our video. It's full of tips and rules to help you prepare.

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We assign you with a speaker number that shows your position to speak about an agenda item. Numbers are assigned in the order we received requests to speak.

To keep track of agenda items and speaker numbers, follow our @VanCityClerk Twitter account or watch the meeting live online.

It's difficult to predict when it'll be your turn to speak – especially for meetings with a lot of speakers – because:
- Agenda items don't have start times
- Agendas can be changed during the meeting
- Speakers can sign up until the start of the meeting
- Council can ask speakers questions after they present, which can take anywhere from 0 to 33 minutes per speaker (three-minute question period × 11 elected officials = 33 minutes) at Regular Council and Standing Committee meetings. Council members still have 5 minutes each to ask questions during Public Hearings.
After staff and consultants make their presentations, the chair of the meeting invites speakers in the order they registered.

You will have three minutes to address Council – keep your comments concise.

For public hearings only: You have 5 minutes if you speak as an individual or 8 minutes on behalf of three or more people or groups. Each person or group representative needs to attend.

State your name, organization (if applicable), position on the recommendation (for or against), and rationale.

After you finish, any member of Council has up to three minutes to ask you questions at Regular Council and Standing Committee meetings and five minutes at Public Hearings.

Council will hear all registered speakers. If many people signed up, you may have to attend more than one meeting before it's your turn.
Email your presentation to us one day before the meeting.
- For regular Council, special Council, and standing committee meetings, email the presentation to speaker.request@vancouver.ca.
- For public hearings, email publichearing@vancouver.ca.
Presentations received after the start of the meeting will not be accepted.

To present from a USB drive or laptop, arrive 30 minutes before the meeting so we can help you set up. For laptops, bring an HDMI cable.

Video and presentations are broadcast on:
- The screen on the east wall of the Council Chamber behind the meeting chair
- The computers that councillors use during meetings
- The screen in the third floor foyer
- The live webcast
Audio is broadcast on:
- The speakers in the Council Chamber and third floor foyer
- The live webcast
Written material

Email any written material for Council to the City Clerk before the meeting starts.
- For regular Council, special Council, and standing committee meetings, email the material to speaker.request@vancouver.ca.
- For public hearings, email publichearing@vancouver.ca.
Use the internet for free at these spots in City Hall.
- Ground Floor: Town Hall meeting rooms
- 3rd Floor: Council Chamber and foyer

Track your turn

We assign you with a speaker number that shows your position to speak about an agenda item.

Speak at a City Council meeting about an agenda item

April 4 to July 31 changes to speaking at a meeting

On this page

Request to speak

Meetings you can speak at

Deadlines to request to speak

Public hearings

Regular Council, special Council, and Standing Committee meetings

Upcoming meetings

Prepare to speak

When it's your turn

How long you can speak for and how to prepare

Presentations and written material

Written material

Free WiFi

Track your turn

Follow the meeting on Twitter