The City of Burnaby is pleased to announce a new schedule for the 2025 Council meetings, with regular meetings now set to take place on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 5 pm in the Council Chamber at City Hall. This change aims to enhance transparency, public participation, and operational efficiency while adjusting to provincial legislative changes.
Key Changes:
- Regular Council Meetings: Moving from Mondays to Tuesdays, the new schedule allows for 21 meetings in 2025, providing an additional business day for the community and Council members to review agendas and prepare for discussions. This change is expected to increase civic engagement and ensure that decisions are made with the best available information.
- Public Hearings: Tentatively scheduled on the last Monday of each month at 5 pm, with dates confirmed no later than four weeks prior to the meeting. Due to provincial legislation changes in 2024, Public Hearings are prohibited in some cases, which reduces the number of meetings held per year.
- New: Committee of the Whole: Tentatively scheduled on the last Monday of each month in the afternoons prior to tentative Public Hearings, these meetings will focus on deeper discussions and information presentations to allow Council to consider the information being presented and consult with the public and community before making a decision at a regular Council meeting. Meeting dates will also be confirmed at least four weeks prior to the meeting.
Benefits of the New Schedule:
- Increased Transparency and Public Participation: By adding a full business day between publishing the agenda and regular Council meeting dates, the community has more time to review materials and engage with the Council.
- Operational Efficiency: Staff will have additional time to prepare information and responses for questions and comments received from the community, ensuring that discussions are well-informed and productive.
- Enhanced Civic Engagement: Holding meetings on Tuesdays reduces conflicts with personal and family activities, statutory holidays and encourages increased attendance and viewership.
The City of Burnaby encourages all residents and businesses to stay informed and engaged with local government. The full schedule of 2025 Council meetings, public hearings, and advisory bodies and boards is available on the City's Meetings & Public Hearings page, where you’ll also be able to attend meetings virtually, find the agenda, minutes and reports for upcoming or past meetings, or watch recordings of past meetings.
Learn more: Burnaby.ca/eAgenda