There is a difference of opinion in Lake Country over whether councillors should be allowed to attend public information sessions held by developers or lobbyists.
At the April 1 council meeting, Coun. Cara Reed proposed removing a section of the district香蕉视频直播檚 policy that currently advises councillors not to attend such sessions.
香蕉视频直播淔or me, this is about setting boundaries,香蕉视频直播� Reed said. 香蕉视频直播淚nstead of a blanket prohibition, guidelines could be established for attendance.香蕉视频直播�
She argued that letting councillors participate in these meetings would actually make decision-making more transparent.
香蕉视频直播淚t demonstrates to the public that council members are open to understanding various perspectives,香蕉视频直播� she added.
Reed believes councillors need to gather information from multiple sources, and attending these sessions would give them firsthand knowledge of proposals, community concerns, and developers香蕉视频直播� intentions. She added that councillors should avoid discussions that could create conflicts of interest or perceived bias.
香蕉视频直播淭his approach allows for participation while maintaining ethical standards,香蕉视频直播� she said.
Coun. Michael Lewis pushed back, saying public sessions should be for residents, not council.
香蕉视频直播淗aving a councillor there, I think, disrupts that process, basically because the developer is probably going to focus on the councillor who is there,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Mayor Blair Ireland was also against the change, arguing that attending these meetings could actually make things less transparent.
香蕉视频直播淏ecause you香蕉视频直播檝e gone and been influenced in a group of people without all of the facts,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e seen a couple of the development meetings that don香蕉视频直播檛 even present what the actual project has become.香蕉视频直播�
He also warned against private one-on-one meetings with developers or lobbyists, adding he takes members of the district香蕉视频直播檚 development team when attending such meetings.
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 for my protection, and everybody香蕉视频直播檚 protection, because when you香蕉视频直播檙e meeting one-on-one, it香蕉视频直播檚 a lack of transparency.香蕉视频直播�
Coun. Heather Irvine supported Reed香蕉视频直播檚 motion, stating she香蕉视频直播檚 attended a public info session before and doesn香蕉视频直播檛 see the harm.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 no different than meeting a developer for coffee,香蕉视频直播� she argued. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 explaining to us before it comes to council. We owe it to our people香蕉视频直播攚e香蕉视频直播檙e their voice. To speak their words, we have to listen. We have to partake in these events.香蕉视频直播�
With Coun. Tricia Brett out of the country, council voted to defer the motion until she returns so all councillors can weigh in. Staff will also research how other municipalities handle developer interactions to help council guide its decision.
