You can call it one of the longest Public Question Periods ever as City Council discussed what to do with Public Question Period.

Back in December of 2016, City Staff asked Council to look at possibly amending the format of Public Question Period. Staff presented their research and recommendations on May 1, and said they felt concerns over impromptu motions being made by some questions.

Staff were also concerned that some questions that have been asked in the past have pushed Council to make decisions outside their jurisdictions. 

City Clerk Sharon Pollyck also gave example of other municipalities who either have no Public Question Period or have questions submitted beforehand to streamline the process.

Council was given four recommendations for Public Question Period: 

1) To keep the period as is but require questions to be submitted in advance

2) Change the period so as to not provide answers immediately and adopt a Notice of Motion

3) To discontinue Public Question Period

4) To keep it as is.

Several members of the community voiced their concerns about changing Public Question Period, saying it's one thing that separates Airdrie from other municipalities, that people in Airdrie aren't afraid to come directly to council to ask their important questions. That encouragement was echoed by many on City Council including Mayor Peter Brown.

In the end, Council unanimously voted to keep Public Question Period as it is, but want to make sure they're keeping the allotted times that have always been in place: 5 minutes per questions to maximum of 30 minutes for the entire question period.

 

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