Public Hearing Submissions
Public Hearings provide an opportunity for members of the public to speak or submit written comments to Council on advertised planning and development matters and other matters as determined by Council.
- How can I submit comments for the Public Hearing?
- When is the deadline to submit written comments?
- Can I still submit my comments if I missed the submission deadline?
- Can I share my comments with City Council even though I can't attend the Public Hearing?
- Can I use a PowerPoint presentation?
- Will my personal information be publicly available?
- What happens with anonymous submissions?
- What happens with submissions that are marked confidential?
- What type of submissions may be withheld from Council Agenda?
FAQ
- How can I submit comments for the Public Hearing?
The Public Hearing is City Council’s opportunity to hear from anyone who is affected by the proposed bylaw.
You can let Council know your comments in any of the following ways:
- Online
Completing and submitting the Public Hearing Submission Form.
- Email
Emailing your comments to publichearings@reddeer.ca.
- Drop off comments
Dropping off a written copy of your submission at City Hall (4914 48 Avenue) during business hours to the attention of Red Deer City Council c/o Clerk, Legal & Legislative Services.
- Mail
Mailing your submission to:
Red Deer City Council c/o Clerk
Legal & Legislative Services
Box 5008
Red Deer, AB T4N 3T4
- Remote Participation
Participate in the Public Hearing by phone (information on how to participate by phone is advertised in the Upcoming Public Hearings section specific to the matter you wish to comment on).
- Online
- When is the deadline to submit written comments?
Written comments must be received by the Clerk, Legal & Legislative Services, by the deadline posted in the advertising for the Public Hearing in order to be included in the published Council Agenda. All upcoming Public Hearings are advertised in the newspaper and in the Upcoming Public Hearings.
- Can I still submit my comments if I missed the submission deadline?
Submissions received after the advertised deadline will not be accepted (see Upcoming Public Hearings for deadline information). The Clerk will contact the person who sent in the late written submission and advise them that the written submission will not be distributed to Members of Council or be made part of the Agenda.
If you missed the submission deadline, you, or your delegate, can still participate in the Public Hearing by presenting your comments directly to Council during the Public Hearing.
- Can I share my comments with City Council even though I can't attend the Public Hearing?
Yes, you can share your comments with City Council even if you are not able to attend the meeting. The Public Hearing is City Council’s opportunity to hear from anyone who is affected by the proposed bylaw. You can let Council know your comments in any of the following ways:
- Complete and submit the Public Hearing Submission Form;
- Email your comments to publichearings@reddeer.ca;
- Mail your submission to City of Red Deer Council c/o Clerk, Legal & Legislative Services, The City of Red Deer, Box 5008, Red Deer, AB T4N 3T4; or
- Drop off a written copy of your submission at City Hall (4914 48 Avenue) during business hours to the attention of City of Red Deer Council c/o Clerk, Legal & Legislative Services.
- Can I use a PowerPoint presentation?
If you have a presentation, you may make a request to the Clerk to utilize technology to show images, videos, presentations and other visual aids during a Public Hearing.
The request must be received by the Clerk by the end of the business day prior to the commencement of the meeting during which the Public Hearing will be held so that the Clerk can make any required accommodations and communicate with you to how your request will be accommodated.
The Clerk will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the request provided the necessary technology is available for use in Council Chambers or at the location of the meeting. The Clerk will advise you if your request cannot be accommodated.
- Will my personal information be publicly available?
Submissions from members of public normally include information such as name, address, phone numbers, and possibly opinions and other personal information.
Submissions received from members of public will appear in the published Council Agenda in the same format that they are received by the Clerk and personal information will not be removed from the submission.
All materials submitted for Council consideration at the Public Hearing must form part of the public record and will be available for public viewing (Meetings & Agendas).
- What happens with anonymous submissions?
Unsigned or anonymous letters or emails that do not provide a proper name for the party sending the email will not be accepted as there is no way for Council to properly weigh the contents of the letter.
- What happens with submissions that are marked confidential?
If your submission is marked “in confidence” or “confidential”, the Clerk will contact you to discuss the following options with you:
- withdraw your submission; or
- submit a revised submission prior to the submission deadline on the subject matter; or
- have your original submission included in the Agenda with the notation that the submission is not “confidential”.
- What type of submissions may be withheld from Council Agenda?
The Clerk may withhold a public submission from the Council Agenda if the Clerk, after consulting legal counsel, concludes the submission contains:
(a) hate speech;
(b) discriminatory language; or
(c) defamatory language.If your submission is being withheld as a result of hate speech, discriminatory or defamatory language, the Clerk will contact you and advise that the submission is being withheld; however, you, or your delegate, can attend the Public Hearing to present your comments directly to Council during the Public Hearing.