Council Meetings

All open Council meetings are hybrid with in-person participation in Council Chambers at Municipal Hall, 981 Artisan Lane, and online participation via Zoom and/or YouTube.

There are three options to watch or participate at a Council meeting:

1. Watch the livestream on our YouTube Channel
2. Join the Zoom meeting (instructions are on the agenda)
3. At Municipal Hall, 981 Artisan Lane

Public Comments

How to sign up for Public Comments

To participate electronically in the zoom meeting,

1. E-mail the Corporate Officer BEFORE 11:00 AM at sidsinga@bimbc.ca. In your email, please include the following:
   • Subject line “Public Comment”
   • Name (first and last), telephone number and topic or agenda item
2. Get the Zoom meeting login information from the Council meeting agenda, and join the Zoom meeting.
3. Wait for your name to be called during the public comment section.

To participate at the meeting in-person,

1. Register your name on the speakers list, located in Council Chambers
2. Wait for your name to be called during the public comment section.

We ask that speakers respect the time limit allotted by the Mayor. When you’re finished speaking online, please mute your microphone and turn off your camera.

Written submissions accompanying public comment can be submitted to the Corporate Officer for inclusion in the formal record of the meeting.

Public Viewing Etiquette on Zoom

If you are joining the Zoom meeting but do not intend to speak during Public Comment or the Question Period (viewing only), we request that you view the meeting live from our YouTube Channel.

• Silent viewing only, please do not interrupt Council discussion.
• Limit background distractions or keep video turned off
• If interruption is repeated, the participant will be removed from the meeting

COVID-19

Wearing a mask is a personal choice and you are welcome to do so at Municipal Hall. Masks are encouraged, but not required by public health.

Deadlines for Submissions to Council on a Meeting Agenda

Members of the public are encouraged to write directly to Mayor and Council via email at mayorandcouncil@bimbc.ca .

For your written submission to be included in the agenda package, the following deadlines apply:

To be included in the published agenda

The Council Agenda is published by 4:30 PM seven (7) calendar days prior to the meeting. If a statutory holiday falls on a Monday, the agenda will be published on the Tuesday prior.

Written submissions from the public for inclusion in the published agenda must be submitted via the Mayor and Council email by 1:00 PM seven (7) calendar days prior to the meeting.

To be included in the revised published agenda

The Council Agenda is revised and re-published to include “Late Items” three (3) calendar days prior to the meeting.

Late Items are limited to an update or correspondence in relation to an item already included on the meeting agenda or an item added due to a time restriction. For example, written submissions from the public in relation to an agenda item due for consideration at that meeting (TUP, DVP, etc.) are considered Late Items.

Written submissions from the public for inclusion in the revised published agenda must be submitted via the Mayor and Council email by 1:00 PM three (3) calendar days prior to the meeting.

On-Table Items

On-Table Items are submissions received after the above noted deadlines that relate to an item contained in the meeting agenda.

Written submissions to be included in the On-Table package will be received up until 11:00 AM on the meeting day and circulated to Mayor and Council in advance of the meeting. On-Table submissions may also be received during the Public Comment section of the meeting agenda.

On-Table Items are included in a further revised agenda after the meeting, and recorded in the meeting minutes.

Regular Council Meetings

Regular Council meetings are scheduled at 1:00 PM on the second and fourth Monday of each month, unless a statutory holiday falls on that Monday, in which case the meeting is held on the next day, Tuesday. The Council Agenda is published by 4:30 PM seven (7) calendar days prior to the meeting. The Council Procedure Bylaw regulates procedures to be followed for the conduct of business at meetings of the Council.

Council Schedule

In 2024, Regular Council Meetings and Committee of the Whole Meetings are scheduled in advance throughout the year.

2024 Council Meeting Schedule (PDF)

All video recordings of Council and Committee meetings are on the BIM YouTube Channel

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View older Council meeting agendas

View older Council meeting minutes

Special Council Meetings

Special Council meetings are held as needed to address emerging issues. The Municipality provides at least 24 hours notice of meeting dates and start times on the website and the bulletin board at Municipal Hall. Notices describe in general terms the purpose of meetings. Speakers are generally not heard at Special Council meetings.

Closed Meetings

Portions of meetings may be closed to the public when sensitive or confidential Municipal business is being considered. Council is authorized to close meetings only under the circumstances set out in section 90 of the Community Charter.

Read a list of reasons Council may hold a closed meeting

Before holding a closed meeting, Council must:

1) provide notice of a closed meeting 

2) state by resolution adopted in an open meeting that a closed meeting will be held and state the basis under the applicable section on which the meeting or part is to be closed to the public. 

The Community Charter allows Council to hold a closed meeting without providing notice (to deal with a time sensitive or critical item), only if it receives a unanimous approval of all members of Council.