Council Returns to Regular Schedule
September 1, 2005

The regular schedule of committee and council meetings resumes on Tuesday after a sharply reduced summer schedule. The calendar of events can be viewed at
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/calendars/2005/
calendars-2005-September.asp?mon=September&yea=2005.
Meetings are open to the public.

Agendas for some of the committees are posted in advance on the city's website. These include links to staff reports that provide background information and recommendations on most items. Agendas are usually posted by Friday morning of the week previous to the meetings at
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/default.asp.

Residents can ask to speak at any committee meeting, but are not allowed to make presentations to the full council unless it is meeting as a committee of the whole. There are two ways to obtain permission. To speak to an item already on the committee agenda, call or email the city clerk's office by noon on the day prior to the scheduled meeting. The email is clerk@hamilton.ca or phone 546-2424.

While councillors still have to actually grant permission, recent practice has been to do this automatically. This allows the resident to provide views or information at the actual time the decision is being made. Presentations are limited to five minutes but can include video or computer arrangements.

A second approach is to email the clerk and ask to make a presentation on an issue chosen by you. This process will take a few weeks because the request has to be sent to the appropriate committee, and approved by them before a time is scheduled.

Nearly all committees meet during the day somewhere in City Hall, although that will change as building renovations kick into high gear by the end of this year. Some committee chairs have begun to ensure that questions raised by citizens are actually replied to by city staff.

Citizens can also attend meetings of the Police Services Board, but nearly all substantive discussions of this committee are held in private session.