1.1 Public Meetings shall enquire into a matter over which Council has authority under the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, the Planning Act, or any other statute that requires or permits Council to hold a public meeting.
2.1 Where any statute confers a right for the public to be heard by Council before the passing of a by-law, or where Council by statute is required to hold a public meeting before the passing of a by-law, such a meeting or hearing may be held immediately prior to a Regional Council meeting.
3.1 Public Meetings shall be governed by all applicable rules and procedures of this by-law, save and except for Section 4.5 - Quorum at Council or committees and Section 5.9 - Motions and By-laws.
4.1 Notice of Public Meetings will be made available on the Region of Peel website.
4.2 Appropriate notice/advertising of a Public Meeting to advise interested persons shall be undertaken as required by any applicable legislation, by-law or Regional policy.
5.1 The date and time of when to hold a Public Meeting will be coordinated by the Regional Clerk or determined by Council, as required.
5.2 The place of the Public Meeting shall be in the Region of Peel Council Chambers, unless otherwise determined by Regional Council.
5.3 Quorum is not required for Public Meetings, unless required by legislation.
5.4 At the commencement of each Public Meeting, the Regional Chair shall explain that the intent of the meeting is to hear the views of the public, and the members shall not enter into discussion or debate on the subject.
5.5 The Regional Clerk shall prepare an agenda in the following order for the use of members at Public Meetings:
- Declarations of Conflicts of Interest
- Opening of Public Meeting
- Confirmation of Notification
- Further Notice Request
- Staff Presentations
- Public Participation (Oral Submissions)
- Public Participation (Written Submissions)
- Conclusion and Closing of Public Meeting
5.6 Delegations may submit a request to the Regional Clerk in order to speak at a Public Meeting.
5.7 The Regional Clerk shall not accept any form of submission that contains any obscene or improper language or content, as determined by the Regional Clerk in consultation with the Regional Chair.
5.8 No persons addressing Council as a delegation shall:
- speak disrespectfully of any person;
- use offensive words or unparliamentary language;
- engage in improper conduct;
- speak on any subject other than the subject for which they have received approval to address Council; or
- disobey the Rules of Procedure or a decision of the Presiding Officer or of Council.
5.9 The Presiding Officer may curtail any delegation or any questions of a delegation for disorder or any other breach of the Rules of Procedure or if in the Presiding Officer’s discretion, the questions are not of a clarifying nature, and, if the Presiding Officer rules that the delegation is concluded, the persons appearing shall withdraw from the place designated for delegations.
5.10 After a delegation has completed its presentation, members shall each have one opportunity to ask questions of the delegation for clarification purposes only, and without debate. If the delegate’s answer to the clarifying question requires a further clarifying question, a member shall have one further opportunity to clarify. When all members who have indicated a desire to ask clarifying questions have finished, the persons appearing as a delegation shall withdraw from the place designated.
5.11 The report of the Regional Clerk for each Public Meeting shall be presented to Council at the next appropriate meeting of Council, for receipt.
5.12 No decision shall be made at a Public Meeting. Any matter requiring a decision shall be reported to Council for consideration debate and approval at a subsequent meeting of Council.
