Burnaby city council is set to vote tonight on an amendment to the procedures bylaw to allow councillors to hold meetings entirely online.
If staff recommendations are approved by council, all board and committee meetings and public hearings will also be cancelled until at least April 30.
The city deliberated last week one how to go ahead with council meetings amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as provincial and federal officials strongly urge people to stay home and avoid social contact.
Council considered holding today’s regular council meeting entirely online, but after consulting with lawyers, they found a roadblock in the Community Charter, provincial legislation that regulates local governments. According to the charter, councillors can only participate in meetings online if the city’s procedures bylaw allows it.
Currently, Burnaby’s bylaw only allows digital participation in special council meetings.
A special council meeting will be convened at 5 p.m. this afternoon to vote on staff proposals, which include amending the procedures bylaw to allow digital participation in regular council meetings during states of emergency, provincial health emergencies and pandemic situations.
Tonight’s vote won’t incur any immediate changes. The city will advertise the intention to change the bylaw for two weeks, and council will consider final adoption of the amendment in a Thursday, April 2 meeting.
Urgent items will be considered by way of special meeting until the bylaw is passed, allowing council to participate online.
The city announced last week it will allow the public to attend the meetings in person, but it will limit the council chamber to no more than 50 people and enforce social distancing.
For other business, like paying bills or fines, the city is asking the public to use its online services or the phone. Anyone who needs to go to city hall must call ahead and make an appointment.
