Thursday, February 26, 2009

Accountability Measures - City of Williams Lake Council

As I have stated in my recent letter to the editor, I did promise the citizens of the City of Williams Lake that I would state some of the proposals on accountability from Council to the residents' of Williams Lake that I will propose during the 2011 Local Government Election in the City of Williams Lake:

1) After the 2011 Election, Council will hold an open and public Strategic Planning Session(s) with its' residents' to set the goals for the 2011-2014 Council. After all, City Council should be serving the residents', not the other way around. Obviously, if there were personnel or legal issues that needed to be discussed by Council, following the Public Strategic Planning Session(s), Council would need to hold an in-camera or closed meeting with City Staff to discuss those issues.

2) I would push Council to allow for a "Public Question Period" or "Public Input Session" at Council meetings' which would allow residents' to question City Staff/Council, without notice. Obviously, there would be some ground rules (ie: not to speak disrespectfully of City Staff, City Councillor/Mayor, etc)

3) In addition to the usual February Joint CRD (Cariboo Regional District) and City of Williams Lake Joint Town Hall meeting, I would push for a Fall Town Hall meeting with City residents' that would allow residents' to inform Council what it should be doing in the upcoming year including potential investments in our Arts and Council sector, roads, sewer/water, etc as well as solicit input on the City Budget for the following upcoming year

4) It would be City Policy that on any borrowing for City Projects (long term debt) exceeding $1,000,000 (1 million dollars) or more, that a referendum on the said project is to occur. Further, a Public Consultation Meeting on any borrowing is to occur prior to a referendum so that residents' have all the facts, prior to voting on a request to borrow funds for a City-sponsored project, by way of referendum.

-SBF

No comments: