Governments meet in public to discuss and debate policy implementation and the administration of community. ItB次元官网网址檚 one of the hallmarks of democracy.
Public engagement with their own governance encourages transparency in elected offices, holds politicians accountable and has an impact on the way our social systems operate.
Getting the public to come out to civic meetings, however, is becoming increasingly difficult.
ItB次元官网网址檚 hard for many residents to become interested enough in the minutiae of municipal operations to want to attend council and other meetings and engage in the democratic process.
One West Shore community, however, is inviting people into chambers for those discussions from the comfort of their own home B次元官网网址� or anywhere else they have a computer B次元官网网址� in an attempt to increase transparency and engagement.
The City of Colwood has been webcasting and video since last June. Since the implementation, Colwood council meetings have been viewed by the public more than 4,000 times.
Improving communication with the public was identified as a key strategic priority by Colwood council in 2012, says city communications manager Sandra Russell.
The city understands residents have busy lives and are often not able to attend civic meetings, Russell adds, so webcasting allows the public to B次元官网网址渁ttendB次元官网网址� council meeting at their leisure, stay informed about current issues affecting the city, and learn about upcoming community projects and events.
DonB次元官网网址檛 expect other districts and townships to follow ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 lead anytime soon, however.
Sarah Jones, director of corporate administration and deputy CAO for the Town of View Royal says because of their communityB次元官网网址檚 size, the mayor and council have an excellent feel for the needs of their community and havenB次元官网网址檛 heard any outcry for the service.
ItB次元官网网址檚 easy for the public to talk to the mayor and councillors at the grocery store or out in the community, Jones says, and because they do such a good job of engaging them on various other levels B次元官网网址� newsletters and ease of personal availability, for example B次元官网网址� the public feels connected to whatB次元官网网址檚 going on at council.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really a matter of doing what we can with the resources available to us,B次元官网网址� Jones says. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been talking about better ways to engage and communicate, and our new Mayor (David Screech) has a big interest in communicating with the public,B次元官网网址� she says, but, from what she understands, people are more worried about things like property taxes than being able to access video of council meetings.
Those sentiments are echoed by the District of Metchosin.
B次元官网网址淚 am unaware of any requests for webcasting our meetings,B次元官网网址� says Tammie Van Swieten, the districtB次元官网网址檚 deputy corporate officer. B次元官网网址淲e do (however) record our meetings on a digital recording system.B次元官网网址�
Metchosin also has a free mail-out that goes to all residents quarterly which helps keep their district informed of whatB次元官网网址檚 going on at council, and all minutes and agendas from all meetings are available online, as they are for every other district, township and city on the West Shore.
Highlands Mayor Ken Williams says the topic of webcasting hasnB次元官网网址檛 come up at their meetings, but assumes it will eventually.
Williams says a new committee structure was approved last year which will see citizen representation as both voting and non-voting members to provide more feedback and increase public participation and engagement on public issues.
Appointments to these new committees are being considered this month.
