The town hall meeting scheduled for Feb. 25 will have a structured agenda, despite recommendations from administration to leave the format completely open to allow residents to discuss their concerns with council.
Coun. Cathy Heron, who first brought forward the idea of having town halls, told the rest of council she didn't like an entirely open format, saying some structure would help generate discussion.
"Some structure will get things rolling and then we can have an open session at the end," she said.
The approved terms of reference for the meetings state that council is responsible for drafting an agenda, which will be advertised in local media and on the city's website in advance of the town hall.
The first town hall is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. at the Lacombe Park Clubhouse. Deputy mayor Len Bracko will chair the meeting, which will last for 90 minutes.
Prodded by Mayor Nolan Crouse, council decided to set an agenda on its own. The debate focused primarily around whether or not an agenda perceived as too structured would overshadow the stated intent of the meetings, which council said is to hear from the community about its concerns.
"If we make it too structured then council is driving the agenda and the intent was to have an open forum," said Coun. Malcolm Parker. "We don't want to drive the agenda."
In the end, council endorsed an agenda with an open mike session at the beginning of the meeting, then, if time permits, discuss some specific items followed by more open mike times.
Topics that could be potentially covered by council after the first open mic period are master plan work, council priorities, the animal bylaw and LRT, as well as economic development.
Attendance optional
Parker took exception to a proposed change to the terms of reference that stated council should attempt to have at least three members at each meeting, but that it wasn't required.
According to Parker, attendance by at least three councillors should be mandatory.
"I think it's just important we have stronger language to make sure we have more members of council in attendance," Parker argued. "Nothing would be worse for a town hall meeting than to not have councillors there."
Crouse argued tying the meeting's status to the number of councillors in attendance would be inappropriate.
"I think it would be inappropriate if there are only two councillors there, to cancel the meeting," Crouse argued.
Parker's motion to compel at least three councillors to attend was defeated by majority, with Couns. Wes Brodhead and Cam MacKay and Parker voting in its favour.
