DIDSBURY - Three months after approving an initiative that saw community engagement sessions held prior to council meetings to give residents the opportunity to speak to Didsbury council members about issues and concerns, council has decided to end the sessions.
Following an in-camera session at the June 13 council meeting, council carried a motion to suspend the engagement sessions immediately and to end them completely in September.
Mayor Rhonda Hunter told the Albertan the decision to end the sessions was due to few residents taking the opportunity to participate.
“There was quite a gathering at a couple of the early meetings and there was an urgency,” said Hunter. “Since we’ve started those public engagements, and we’ve advertised (them) quite extensively and got the word out, there has only been one or two residents come in.”
Approved by council motion in April, the half hour sessions were held in council chambers on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.
The sessions were offered after members of the public asked for additional consultation opportunities.
“There is interest from the public in having the opportunity to engage with council members on a variety of issues important to them,” chief administrative officer Ethan Gorner said at the time of the April motion.
The municipality will still offer residents chances to provide input and comments, said Hunter.
“While we appreciate them taking their time to do that and have their discussions with council, we feel there are other ways, better ways, like on the phone or meeting with people if they want,” she said.
“We will find ways to accommodate people who want to talk to any councillors and they can also talk at question period (at the end of council meetings).”
