We’re introducing some changes to how members of the public participate virtually in Council meetings.
Following the recent disruption of a Council meeting by unauthorized individuals on Zoom, we’ve reviewed our virtual meeting procedures and are introducing additional security measures to reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future.
Since introducing hybrid Council meetings six years ago, we’ve made accessibility a priority. We wanted it to be as easy as possible for residents to attend and participate remotely, and for many years that approach worked well. However, the recent disruption highlighted the need to better balance accessibility with the security of our virtual meetings.
Beginning with our next Council meeting on July 27, members of the public who wish to attend through Zoom will be required to register in advance. Registered participants will receive meeting access information before the meeting. Participant audio, video and screen-sharing permissions will also be managed by the meeting host to help prevent unauthorized disruptions.
If you simply wish to watch Council proceedings, nothing is changing. Meetings will continue to be livestreamed on the Municipality’s YouTube channel without registration, and recordings will remain available to watch afterwards. These changes are intended to help protect the integrity of Council meetings while continuing to provide residents with meaningful opportunities to observe and participate in local government. We appreciate your understanding as we make these improvements.
Questions? Please contact Sophie Idsinga, Corporate Officer at sidsinga@bimbc.ca or 604-947-4255