Letterbox: Coquitlam – Can the council process better encourage public input in council deliberations?

Dear editor,

Neighbouring municipalities have processes that invite residents to speak at regular council meetings where local government makes decisions. These municipalities make it easy for residents to provide public input and participate in the democratic process in a transparent manner.

For instance, a scan of the videos of Port Moody and New Westminster regular council meetings show public input from individuals who can address council at the beginning of the meeting on items on the agenda.

Port Moody, New Westminster and Burnaby also invite registered delegations to address regular council, again at the beginning of the meeting. This public input can cover an item on the agenda.

In contrast, Coquitlam has a process that does not help to encourage transparent public engagement. Coquitlam currently allows residents to participate in council meetings in two ways:

(1) Apply in advance and obtain approval to speak as a public delegation, on the public video record, at Council in Committee (CIC). No decisions are made at a CIC meeting which are currently held on Mondays afternoons – not the easiest time of day for people to attend and participate! If one obtains approval the delegation presentation is usually the first item on the agenda. However, after the presentation, there is often no substantive engagement from council.

Instead, delegation members are often met by what seems to be a coordinated mute silence from council!
A polite thank you and the delegation is quickly sent on their way. It’s clearly a very “efficient and cost effective” use of council time by our elected representatives! These folks mean business! Often there is simply no time for discussion on the public record, here!

(2) Regular Council Meetings where decisions are made are generally held at 7 p.m. on Mondays.

The public is always invited to sit and watch the proceedings. Depending on their pain threshold, residents can sit through many endless rounds of profuse thanks to the staff for their outstanding work on each item on the agenda. There are invariably many theatrical performances of bashing the provincial government for its many sins. Sometimes there are riveting personal anecdotes. Substantial debate or probing, informed questions to staff are as rare as hen’s teeth. Then about three hours later after all deliberations are completed, decisions made and votes cast.

It is only now that any concerned, engaged residents are allowed to participate in the proceedings. Any hapless resident still left standing is now granted the “privilege” to address any questions to council on any item on the agenda for a maximum of two minutes each. Say a prayer, if you are hoping for a substantive answer!

This is by its very nature a non-democratic approach to municipal governance. Council meeting agendas for Monday meetings are publicly released only late Friday afternoon. If a concerned, engaged, resident cannot speak and provide their input in a transparent, public manner on video and public record before council deliberates and makes decisions on Monday, their input cannot obviously be considered in making decisions. It is difficult to understand what any rational resident stands to gain by having the “privilege” to ask a question in an unofficial setting after council has deliberated and decided. A mind-boggling exercise in futility! One might as well whistle in a thunderstorm!

Not surprisingly, unlike other municipalities, Coquitlam City Chambers are usually bereft of any residents during council meetings. With municipal elections happening on October 17 maybe it’s time for Coquitlam residents to press for change and the opportunity for public input and a greater voice in transparent local governance.

Sebastian Thomas