Rocky View County Council meetings are open to the public. Residents and interested parties are welcome and encouraged to attend and participate when matters interest or affect them.
Some items considered at Council meetings are public hearings under the Municipal Government Act, particularly regarding planning and development matters. Residents can voice their concerns at public hearings if they are affected or interested in a matter.
Privacy Notice
Rocky View County Council meetings and public hearings are open to the public and are livestreamed and recorded. When participating in a meeting or public hearing, your name, address, and comments will be made available to the public on the County’s website — regardless of whether you are presenting to Council or have provided a written submission. Rocky View County does not accept or consider anonymous submissions or submissions without an address.
Public hearings are generally held in the following order for planning and development matters:
- Opening of the public hearing.
- Staff report by Administration.
- Presentation by the Applicants.
- Questions from Council to Administration and the applicants.
- Presentations in support of the application.
- Presentations with concerns or in opposition to the application.
- Rebuttal by the Applicants.
- Final questions from Council to Administration.
- Closing of the public hearing.
After a public hearing has closed, Council generally proceeds to debate the merits of the application and renders a decision, which may be to approve or refuse the application, make amendments to it, or refer the matter back to administration for further revision.
When participating in a public hearing, your name and address will be made available to the public, and your comments will form part of the public record. Rocky View County does not accept or consider anonymous submissions or submissions without an address.
Note: Rocky View County Council meetings and public hearings are held in the Council Chambers of the County Hall.
Rocky View County provides residents and interested parties with various options for participating in public hearings, as not everyone can attend a public hearing in person. Those looking to give comments on a public hearing matter may choose one of the following methods:
- in-person presentation
- electronic presentation (via Microsoft Teams)
- written submission
- pre-recorded audio/video submission
You can provide a written submission on its own or to accompany one of the previous three options. If you provide a pre-recorded audio/video presentation, you will not be permitted to present in person or electronically.
No matter which participation method you choose, Rocky View County’s Procedure Bylaw requires the following information to be provided in your presentation or submission:
- the name of the person providing the submission and how they are affected by the subject of the public hearing, preferably with a statement of whether they are in support, in opposition, or have concerns with the subject of the public hearing.
- an indication of where the person lives in proximity to the subject of the public hearing, preferably in the form of a municipal address or legal land description; and,
- the names, if any, of any additional people that the submission is on behalf of.
All public hearing submissions and presentations are grouped into one of the following categories: in support, or in opposition/concern. If you do not indicate your position, whether in support, opposition/concern, Rocky View County will place your submission or presentation in the category it considers most appropriate.
If you wish to speak in support, in concern, or in opposition to a public hearing matter, you may make an in-person presentation at the public hearing at the County Hall on the date and time indicated on the public hearing notice, which is mailed to residents in the area and is available on the County’s website.
Public hearing presentations are limited to 5 minutes for individuals and 10 minutes for groups, subject to a Council resolution extending the time limit. As part of your presentation, you must provide your name and indicate where you live in relation to the public hearing matter.
If your presentation includes written or visual components, you must bring a digital copy or 15 physical copies for distribution to those attending the public hearing. Any materials you provide at the public hearing will be retained by the County and added to the public record.
You may pre-register to speak in person by emailing: legislativeofficers@rockyview.ca or calling 403-230-1401.
Note: There will be a signup sheet as you enter the Council Chambers to attend the public hearing. If you wish to speak in support, in opposition, or in concern, please register on the signup sheet before the start of the public hearing to ensure your place on the speaking list. The signup sheet determines the order of speakers at the public hearing and ensures that we can correctly spell your name.
If you forget or cannot register in advance on the signup sheet, you will still be allowed to speak at the public hearing. After those who registered on the signup sheet have presented, those who did not register beforehand will be offered an opportunity to speak.
If you cannot attend a public hearing in person at County Hall, you may participate electronically through Microsoft Teams to express your support, opposition, or concerns.
To request to present, contact Legislative Services by email at legislativeservices@rockyview.ca or by phone at 403-230-1401. Requests must be received before the deadline stated in the public hearing notice, which is mailed to nearby residents and posted on the County’s website.
Once your request is received, you will be sent a Microsoft Teams link along with instructions on how and when to join.
Please note:
- Keep your camera and microphone muted at all times, except when presenting.
- Presentations are limited to 5 minutes for individuals and 10 minutes for groups, unless extended by Council.
- At the start of your presentation, state your name and where you live in relation to the hearing matter.
If you plan to use written or visual materials, you may share them using screen sharing in Microsoft Teams. You must also submit these materials to Legislative Services for inclusion in the public record.
Note: The County cannot assist you with connecting Microsoft Teams to present electronically at a public hearing. If you do not have the equipment or technical ability to present electronically via Microsoft Teams, please consider a written or pre-recorded audio/video submission.
Written submissions must be provided to Legislative Services in an email, PDF, Microsoft Word, or letter format. Please include the bylaw or application number of the public hearing in the subject line of your email, as well as your name and an indication of where you live (preferably your municipal address or legal land description) in the body of the email or letter.
You may provide your written submission in the following ways:
- Email: Put your comments in an email and send it to legislativeservices@rockyview.ca by the deadline indicated on the public hearing notice, which is mailed to residents in the area and is available on the County’s website.
- PDF or Word: Put your comments in a PDF or Microsoft Word document, attach your submission to an email, and send it to legislativeservices@rockyview.ca by the deadline indicated on the public hearing notice, which is mailed to residents in the area and is available on the County’s website.
- Physical Letter: Write your comments in a letter and mail your submission to Legislative Services at the address below by the deadline indicated on the public hearing notice, which is sent to residents in the area and is available on the County’s website.
- Legislative Services
Rocky View County Hall
262075 Rocky View Point, Rocky View County, AB, T4A 0X2
Your written submission, regardless of which method you choose, must be received by the deadline on the public hearing notice. If needed, an after-hours drop box (mail slot) at the County Hall can be used to deliver your submission. Please use only this drop box. When the County Hall is closed, staff or security guards cannot accept your submission in person.
Late written submissions may be accepted by Council at the public hearing, subject to a resolution to accept the late submission from Council.
If you are unable to present in person or electronically at a public hearing, you may submit a prerecorded audio/video presentation to Legislative Services that will be played at the hearing. Pre-recorded audio/video submissions are limited to 5 minutes for an individual and 10 minutes for a group, subject to a resolution from Council extending the submission time limit.
All pre-recorded audio/video presentations must be received by the deadline indicated on the public hearing notice, which is mailed to residents in the area and is available on the County’s website. Late submissions may be accepted by Council at the public hearing, subject to a resolution to accept the late submission from Council.
Please include the bylaw number of the public hearing, your name, and an indication of where you live (preferably your municipal address or legal land description) in the introduction of your pre-recorded audio/video submission. When your pre-recorded submission is complete, upload your submission here.
Note: The County cannot assist you with preparing or submitting your pre-recorded audio/video presentation. If you do not have the equipment or technical ability to record and upload your submission, please consider a written submission or attending the public hearing in person or via electronic means instead.
Public hearing presentations and submissions may be on your own behalf or on behalf of others. If you and others in your community share an interest in a public hearing matter or are similarly affected, you may present at the public hearing or submit a group submission.
Rocky View’s Procedure Bylaw defines a group as:
- “Group” means three or more people with a common interest in a matter before Council.
All the same requirements that apply to an individual presenting or submitting at a public hearing also apply to a group, but groups are given extra time to present. Group presentations have a 10-minute limit instead of the 5 minutes for individuals.
Note: The County does not consider individuals from the same family household as a group.
Not all matters considered at Council meetings are public hearings, as the Municipal Government Act requires public hearings only for specific issues. While residents and applicants have the right to address Council during public hearings, Council must provide permission for residents and applicants to address Council outside of public hearings.
If you believe you are affected by a matter or are an applicant for a matter being considered by Council without a public hearing, such as a subdivision application, Council may provide you with an opportunity to present your support, opposition, or concerns to them.
You can request to either present a presentation to Council during the meeting or submit a written submission for Council to consider at the meeting, per the County’s Procedure Bylaw.
If you wish to address Council on a non-public hearing matter, including a subdivision application, you may submit your request to Legislative Services at legislativeservices@rockyview.ca or 403-230-1401 with the following information:
- your name and an indication of where you live (preferably your municipal address or legal land description)
- whether you are in support, in opposition, or have concerns with the matter being considered by Council, and how you are affected by the matter
Legislative Services will communicate your request to Council at the relevant meeting. Because Council must decide whether to approve your request at the meeting itself, Legislative Services cannot confirm whether your request will be approved in advance.
All requests will be communicated to and reviewed by Council, but if Council does not pass a resolution to approve your request, there will be no opportunity to present.