Skip to content

Residents asked to step up to the mike

New public engagement strategy to improve municipal openness

Oak Bay residents and business owners will soon be able to publicly have their say during council meetings.

Council is looking to change the district’s procedural bylaw that restricts public input.

“If there was an agenda item at council, they could speak to it during committee of the whole and sometimes at council,” said Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen.

Council is waiting for staff to bring back a report within the next month that will explain how that bylaw can be amended to allow more input.

“Even before the election we heard that people want more opportunities for input,” said Jensen.

In addition, a committee of four residents and two councillors is currently working on a report that outlines how civic engagement within the community can be improved, as well as determining how district policies can better incorporate opportunities for input.

That desire is mirrored in plans to improve the district’s website, and provide more online opportunities for residents to submit their feedback.

If council approves funding for the website overhaul in April, the project would then be tendered out. It will likely take about three months to revamp the site, which could be launched sometime this fall.

“Essentially we’re engaging the public on a whole bunch of levels,” Jensen said.