Parksville residents will soon be able to ask questions of city council before the start of each regular council meeting, according to a news release from the city.
Members of the public can attend a meeting and sign up to participate in the open question periods, which will be 15 minutes. Each person will have up to two minutes, according to the city.
Questions can be about any subject except for public hearing bylaws that have not reached a conclusion.
“All questions may be asked of any council member, but must be directed through the chair,” the release read. “Questions may be answered by a member of council or referred to administration for further investigation.”
In all cases, a reply will be provided to people who submit their contact information on the sign-up sheet.
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Members of the public can also contact council members directly by email at council@parksville.ca. In person appointments are also possible if you wish to speak with the mayor or a member of council on a particular matter, according to the release.
Residents and businesses can communicate with the City of Parksville in the following ways:
• Let’s Talk Parksville - the city’s online engagement platform has information on programs and projects and lets residents follow projects’ progress, ask questions and contribute ideas and opinions on important community matters;
• E-newsletters are available by sign-up and distributed monthly by email;
• It’s Your City is published monthly in the PQB News and available on the city’s website;
• The city encourages comments and suggestions on city-related topics via the website feedback form;
• News releases, public notices and construction advisories are distributed regularly and posted to the website and social media;
• The city’s social media channels (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter);
• Residents are encouraged to attend council meetings in person or virtually. Council meetings held in the Forum are web-streamed live and archived on the city’s website.
— NEWS Staff, submitted