Participate in Council Meetings

Participating in Council Meetings

There are various ways in which the public can participate in council meetings including submitting comments on proposed planning and land use applications, providing correspondence for consideration, and presenting information as a delegation.

Public Hearings and Council Consideration of Land Use Applications

Public Hearings

Public hearings are scheduled regarding various matters including:

Official Community Plan (OCP) amendments applications; and
Zoning amendment applications where the proposed amendments are not consistent with the City's Official Community Plan.

Upcoming Public Hearings

Details on how to participate and provide comments regarding upcoming public hearings can be found in the Public Hearing Notice linked in the table below. If the table is empty, there are no public hearings scheduled.

Meeting Date	Planning Application	Subject Property Address	Bylaw(s)	Notice
-	-	-	-	-

Public Notification

Residents within a 30 metres of a subject property may be notified of public hearings by mail or notice delivery. Notices include information on how, when, and where the public may provide comments to Council regarding the application.

Notices are published on the City's website and Facebook page and posted on the bulletin board on the first floor of City Hall.

Submitting Comments

Residents who feel they are affected by a proposed bylaw or application being considered at a public hearing may provide comments in writing, in person, via Zoom, or by telephone.

Image	Written Comments Email: cityclerk@princegeorge.ca Fax: 250.561.0183 Mail or hand delivery: 5th Floor, City Hall Online: Comment Submission Form	Written submission should be delivered to the corporate officer before 12pm on the day of the public hearing. Written materials may be hand-delivered during the public hearing before it is closed. For additional information, refer to Section 23 of the Council Procedures Bylaw Download the consolidated Council Procedures Bylaw No. 8388, 2011 [PDF]
Image	Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 848 2979 7394 Join the meeting online	To participate by Zoom, you must be connected to the Zoom meeting at the time the Chair invites comments from the public. Open Zoom on your device and enter the Meeting ID or Click the link provided Your camera will off and you will be muted, when you join. If you wish to speak, you must use the "Raise Hand" feature to enter the speaker's queue. When it is your turn to speak, your name will be announced, and you will be invited to unmute. When prompted, unmute your microphone and begin speaking. Your camera will remain off.
Image	Telephone Dial: 1.778.907.2071 Enter Meeting ID: 848 2979 7394 Participant Code: #	To participate by telephone, you must be connected to the telephone line at the time the Chair invites comments from the public. Dial the number provided and enter the Meeting ID. When prompted for your participate code, dial "#". Your phone will be muted, when you join. If you wish to speak, *press 9 to enter the speaker's queue. When it is your turn to speak, the last three digits of your phone number will be announced, and you will be unmuted. When prompted, press 6* on your phone to unmute and being speaking.
Image	In Person Council Chambers, 2^nd Floor, City Hall (1100 Patricia Blvd)	To participate in person, you must be present at the meeting at the time the Chair invites comments from the public.

At the Public Hearing

Council’s role at a public hearing is to listen to the public. Council will not debate or challenge comments made, but may ask questions of a speaker or Administration for clarification purposes only.

Residents may express support, opposition, or concerns when the Chair calls for representations from members of the public. The Chair will determine the order of speakers.

No person should feel discouraged, intimated, or prevented from presenting their views. Decorum must be maintained at all times. Inappropriate language, outbursts, personal attacks, or generalizations aimed at an individual or group will not be tolerated.

Any written materials and submissions considered by Council will be available for public review during the hearing. Members of the public may comment on the content of those materials.

Speakers will be asked to state their name and address for the public record. This information is recorded in the minutes. Individuals speaking on behalf of another person or organization must identify that person or organization and confirm they are authorized to speak on their behalf.

Time Limits

Initial submissions: Up to ten (10) minutes
Second and subsequent submissions (with new information only): Up to five (5) minutes

Electronic Media

Speakers wishing to use PowerPoint or other electronic media must submit their presentation to City staff before 12:00pm on the day of the hearing.

Electronic presentations that have not been submitted in advance will not be accommodated. Speakers may provide printed materials for Council’s consideration.

Privacy Notice

Council meetings and public hearings are public and may be televised, livestreamed, recorded, and archived on the City’s website.

By providing written or spoken comments, you consent to the disclosure of personal information included in your submission, such as your name and address. This information cannot be removed from the public record.

Personal information is collected under the authority of section 26(g) and disclosed under Section 33.1(1) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

For information or questions, contact the City's FIPPA Coordinator at 250-561-7600 or 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC V2L 3V9.

Land Use Applications Not Subject to a Public Hearing

Council considers land use applications on various matters including:

Zoning amendment applications where the proposed amendments are consistent with the City's Official Community Plan and for which a public hearing is not required;
Cannabis and Liquor License Applications;
Permanent Road Closures; and
Temporary Use Permit Applications.

Upcoming Land Use Applications (Not Subject to a Public Hearing)

Details on how to participate and provide written comments regarding upcoming applications for Council Consideration that are not subject to a public hearing can be found on the Notice linked in the table below. If the table is empty, there are no applications scheduled.

Meeting Date	Planning Application	Subject Property Address	Bylaw(s)	Notice

Public Notification

Residents may be notified by mail or notice delivery of a land use application scheduled for consideration at an upcoming council meeting. The notice will include information on how, when, and where the public can provide comments to Council regarding the application.

Notices are published on the City's website and Facebook page and posted on the bulletin board on the first floor of City Hall.

Submitting Comments

Residents who feel they are affected by a proposed bylaw or application that is being considered without a public hearing may provide comments in writing.

email to cityclerk@princegeorge.ca
fax to 250.561.0183
mail/hand deliver to the 5th Floor, City Hall
submit a comment submission form

Deliver to the corporate officer before 12pm on the day of the council meeting.
Refer to Section 23 of the Council Procedures Bylaw for information on submitting correspondence to Council
- Download the consolidated Council Procedures Bylaw No. 8388, 2011 [PDF]

Council meetings and public hearings are public and may be televised, streamed live by webcast, recorded, and archived on the City’s website for viewing by the public.

By providing written or spoken comments, you are consenting to the disclosure of any personal information you provide in the submission including your name and address.

Personal information is collected under the authority of section 26(g) and disclosed under the authority of section 33.1(1) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. For information or questions, contact the City's FIPPA Coordinator at 250-561-7600 or 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC V2L 3V9.

Delegation Presentations

A delegation request form must be submitted at least two weeks before the proposed City Council meeting date.

Submit a delegation request form

An application to speak as a delegation at a City Council meeting may not be approved or the topic may instead be referred to an administrative department for a response, based on the subject matter. Applicants will be notified by Legislative Services regarding a request's outcome.

To learn more about the delegation process - including some topics or types of presentations that may not be approved - refer to section 22 of the Council Procedures Bylaw:

Download the consolidated Council Procedures Bylaw No. 8388, 2011 [PDF]

Resolution in Support of a Grant Application to Northern Development Initiative Trust

During regular council meetings, Council reviews requests for resolutions in support of grant applications to Northern Development Initiative Trust. If your grant application required a resolution of support, please review the guidelines. Requests must be received six calendar days in advance of the council meeting.

Review guidelines for a resolution in support of a NDIT grant application

Requesting a Letter of Support for a Grant Application

Requests for letters in support of your application for grant funding from another level of government or third-party organization can be requested through the form below. Please allow up to seven business days for response to your request.

Note: This policy does not apply to grant applications to Northern Development Initiative Trust - please see above for guidelines regarding that process.

Correspondence to Council

Communications shared through informal channels are not a matter of public record published on Council meeting agendas. However, those communications are subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Informal channels of communication include correspondence with individual Council members. Councilors may be reached by email, phone, or by mail to:
Attention: (Name of Council Member)
1100 Patricia Boulevard, 5th Floor
Prince George, BC V2L 3V9
Canada
Phone: 311 or 250-561-7600 if outside city limits
Email: mayorandcouncil@princegeorge.ca or to Council's individual email addresses located on the Council Members page
Correspondence will only be formally considered by Council at a Council meeting if it is submitted by email in accordance with the instructions outlined in the Formal Channels section below.
Council Agenda Correspondence
Correspondence for inclusion on a Council meeting agenda is an alternative to speaking at a Council meeting. All correspondence submitted for this purpose becomes part of the public record, is reviewed by Council at the meeting, and is published on the City's website.
By making a written submission, you consent to the disclosure of any personal information provided, including your name and address. Your name and address cannot be removed from the public record.
Email a submission or mail it to:
Attention: Corporate Officer
1100 Patricia Boulevard, 5th Floor
Prince George, BC V2L 3V9
Canada
Email: cityclerk@princegeorge.ca
Submissions must:
- Address Mayor and Council
- Include the writer's name and mailing address (anonymous submissions will not be accepted; your name and address will be published on the online meeting agenda)
- Clearly indicate that it is to be included on the Council meeting agenda
- Only include information meant to be on public record
- Be received by 12 p.m. on the Monday immediately preceding the meeting day
- Be legible and signed, if handwritten
- Include a telephone number, which will be used to contact the writer for confirmation - in lieu of a signature - if emailed.