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Speaking at meetings of your elected officals

Speak at a City Council meeting about an agenda item

Request to speak

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

Note Register early to speak earlier.

On this page

  1. Request to speak
  2. Prepare your talk
  3. Track your turn

Meetings you can speak at

Speak to City Council about agenda items at:

  1. Public hearings
  2. Regular Council meetings
    • If Council agrees to hear speakers about an agenda item, it will be moved to the standing committee meeting agenda, usually on the next day.
  3. Special Council meetings
  4. Standing committee meetings
    • City Finance and Services
    • Policy and Strategic Priorities

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 your talk

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 External website  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 55 minutes per speaker (5-minute question period × 11 elected officials = 55 minutes)

After staff and consultants make their presentations, the chair of the meeting invites speakers in the order they registered.

You will have 5 minutes to address Council – keep your comments concise.

Note For public hearings only: You have 8 minutes if you speak 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 five minutes to ask you questions.

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.

Note 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.

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.

Numbers are assigned in the order we received requests to speak.

Track your turn on the @VanCityClerk Twitter feed.

@VanCityClerk Twitter feed

Request to speak at a meeting form 1Request to speak at a meeting form 2Request to speak at a meeting form 3Request to speak at a public hearing form 1Request to speak at a public hearing form 2Request to speak at a public hearing form 3