The City of North Vancouver has admitted that a staff error—not overreach by Mayor Linda Buchanan—was responsible for limiting public input at the February 3rd council meeting.
A statement by Amanda Gibbs, the city’s Senior Manager of Communications and Engagement, clarified that the mayor had been acting on incorrect advice when she instructed residents not to speak specifically about TransLink’s proposed 16-storey tower. The statement comes after North Shore Daily Post reported on the February 3 public input period.
According to Gibbs, city staff mistakenly advised the mayor that allowing discussion on the Moodyville development would violate the Council Procedure Bylaw and provincial laws governing public hearings. However, upon further review, staff concluded that this interpretation was incorrect. Gibbs stated that speakers should have been permitted to voice concerns during the public input period up until the bylaw amendment is officially published on the city’s website.
Below is the entire statement
We want to emphasize this situation was a result of staff error, and not overreach from the Mayor. At the February 3rd meeting, the Mayor who chairs meetings on behalf of Council, acted on the advice of City of North Vancouver staff and asked speakers who signed up to speak at the public input period to limit their comments on a forthcoming development project in the Moodyville neighbourhood. That advice was not correct.
The Mayor was acting on information that she understood would protect the City of North Vancouver from liability – advice that giving a hearing to these comments would serve as a violation of the Council Procedure Bylaw and laws about Public Hearings for Council.
Last week, on review of the by-law and provincial legislation, City staff concluded that the Mayor was not given correct advice on this matter, and that speakers could come to speak to Council during the public input period up to the date that the bylaw to amend the Official Community Plan or Zoning Bylaw is published on the City’s website.
Staff reached out to those who were not able to speak about their concerns, and invited them to come back to Council. A number of those individuals came to the Council Meeting last night, February 10th, and provided their full input to Mayor and Council. Everyone who came to speak at Council was encouraged to also return to provide more input at the Public Hearing to be held on the matter. The dates for the public hearing have not been set yet, but you can learn more about the process at this webpage: www.cnv.org/Business-Development/Projects/Translink-Moodyville-Development
Advertising on social media? Try local media. Advertise with North Shore Daily Post. Call 604-849-0728 to book.
That’s a relief!