Press Release - Council Meetings and Public Hearings

PRESS RELEASE

Council Meetings and

Public Hearings

December 8, 2020

Agassiz, British Columbia - The December 2, 2020 Provincial Health Officer (PHO) Order on Gatherings and Events requires local governments to make some changes to how meetings and public hearings are currently conducted.

The public is now restricted from attending all local government meetings and public hearings in person.

The COVID-19 Related Measures Act (CRMA) and Ministerial Order M192 (Order M192) provide flexibility for local governments to shift how they are conducting meetings and hearings based on the current PHO recommendations and local circumstances.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the District of Kent has offered the public the opportunity to participate in Public Hearings via webcast on Microsoft Teams. Council has approved that this electronic option continues for the duration of the pandemic. In addition, the public is encouraged to provide written submissions as outlined in the relevant Public Hearing Notice.

Beginning December 14, 2020, the public can listen to Council meetings via live audio on Microsoft Teams. Similar to the Public Hearing process, once the online registration form on the website is submitted than a meeting link is provided by the District. For Question Period, the public are asked to submit their questions (for items pertaining to the agenda only) directly to the Director of Corporate Services at clee@kentbc.ca.

Information including the Agendas for the Public Hearing and Council meetings are posted on the District's website at: https://calendar.kentbc.ca/meetings

For assistance in participating in the Public Hearing process or in listening to the Council meeting, please contact Clair Lee, Director of Corporate Services, by phone at 604-796-2235 or by email at clee@kentbc.ca.

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