Council Approves Updates to Procedure Bylaw
Thursday, December 5, 2024
Council adopted an updated Procedure Bylaw on October 22, 2024. The updates to the Procedure Bylaw make a number of changes to the County’s meeting processes, as well as aligns the Procedure Bylaw with recent changes to the Municipal Government Act made by the provincial government.
The updated Procedure Bylaw comes into effect on January 1, 2025, except for two provisions that come into effect on October 31, 2024 as noted below. Some of the key updates to the Procedure Bylaw include:
- Table of Contents: The Procedure Bylaw is one of the County’s most used and complex bylaws, and it is more navigable than ever with a new table of contents.
- Municipal Election Blackout Period: Council will no longer hold meetings in the one-month period leading up to a municipal election.
- Motions to Postpone: Council has replaced “tabling” motions with motions to “postpone” to better align with its procedures with Robert’s Rules of Order.
- Motions to Receive for Information: Council has established guidance on when to use motions to receive for information, as well as clarified the motion as a motion to “receive for information” rather than “to receive as information” to better align with grammar.
- Conflicts of Interest: The Municipal Government Act now allows councillors to declare conflicts of interest (non-financial interests) in addition to pecuniary interests (financial interests). This provision comes into effect on October 31, 2024.
- Electronic Public Hearing Options: The Municipal Government Act now requires municipalities to offer electronic participation in public hearings. Starting in 2025, residents and applicants will be allowed to present electronically by submitting a request to Legislative Services.
- Limitations on Public Hearings: The Municipal Government Act now limits how many public hearings municipalities can hold on planning and development matters involving residential development. Only a maximum of one public hearing may be held on matters involving residential development. This provision comes into effect on October 31, 2024.
- Public Submissions in “Concern”: Recognizing that many residents are not in complete support or opposition of planning and development matters, Council will now recognize public submissions “in concern” as well as those in favour and in opposition.
If you have any questions or concerns with the updates to the Procedure Bylaw, please contact Legislative Services at legislativeservices@rockyview.ca or (403) 230-1401.
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