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HOW DOES WHISTLER COUNCIL WORK FOR ME?
YOU, the residents of Whistler elect members of Whistler Council to represent you at the local government level. Whistler Council makes decisions on municipal matters that affect the residents and businesses of Whistler. Councillors are your voice in the decision-making process.
HOW MANY COUNCILLORS ARE THERE?
Whistler Council has six councillors, who are elected to serve you and your neighbourhood.
WHAT HAPPENS AT COUNCIL MEETINGS?
Council meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. with a question and answer period for the public to ask questions.
At each meeting, Council discusses issues, makes decisions and authorizes and directs staff to execute these decisions.
WHEN ARE COUNCIL MEETINGS HELD?
Council meetings are held the first and third Tuesday of each month.
All council meetings are held at MY Millennium Place, at 5:30 p.m. unless otherwise advertised.
All regular Council meetings are open to the public and no person is excluded, except in the case of improper conduct.
If, however, in the opinion of Council, the public interest so requires, the public may be excluded from a special or closed meeting.
This usually occurs in matters pertaining to personnel and land matters, labor or employee negotiations, law enforcement, litigation or potential litigation and information prohibited from disclosure pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Closed meetings are usually held in the morning.
Upcoming Council Meetings (2009)
July: 7 & 21
Aug: 4 & 18
Sept: 1 & 15
Oct: 6 & 20
Nov: 3 & 17
Dec: 1 & 15
HOW DO I CONTACT OUR MAYOR & COUNCIL?
The following is a list of public officials for the term November 2008 to November 2011.
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
Mayor Ken Melamed
604-935-8101
Fax: 604-935-8109
email:kmelamed@whistler.ca
COUNCILLORS
Councillor Ralph Forsyth 604-905-8997 rforsyth@whistler.ca
Councillor Grant Lamont 604-935-8229 glamont@whistler.ca
Councillor Ted Milner 604-938-4100 tmilner@whistler.ca
Councillor Christopher Quinlan 604-935-8226 cquinlan@whistler.ca
Councillor Tom Thomson 604-935-8225 tthomson@whistler.ca
Councillor Eckhard Zeidler 604-938-9099 ezeidler@whistler.ca
HOW DO I SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR?
Have your say by expressing your opinion by sending a letter to the editor to Whistler's two local papers:
Whistler Question
David Burke, Editor news@whistlerquestion.com
Submit letter online at: http://www.whistlerquestion.com/section/whistler07
Pique Newsmagazine
Bob Barnett, Editor edit@piquenewsmagazine.com
Submit letter online at: http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/pique/index.php?view=lte
HOW DO I MAKE AN FOI REQUEST?
Under British Columbia's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the public has the right to:
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Make public bodies more accountable by providing the public with access to records whenever possible.
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To prevent the unauthorized collection, use and disclosure of personal information.
The information you require might be available without having to file a request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. You should always start by making an informal request. To do this, contact the RMOW department you think might have the information that you are looking for. Public bodies are encouraged to ensure that as many records as possible are routinely made available to the public.
If you are told that the information is not routinely available, then you must make a Freedom of Information request (FOI) to access what you are looking for. The FOI request must be made in writing. A FOI Request for Access to Records Form can be downloaded here. or can be picked up at the front reception of Whistler Municipal Hall located at 4325 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC, V0N 1B4.
You may deliver, mail, fax or email your FOI request to:
Shannon Story
FOI Head - RMOW
4325 Blackcomb Way
Whistler, BC, V0N 1B4
Tel: 604-935-8112
Fax: 604-935-8109
sstory@whistler.ca
WHAT IS A PUBLIC MEETING?
A Council public meeting is different from a Council meeting.
These public meetings give notice and provide a venue to inform you about applications for development within Whistler.
These meetings off you a chance to ask questions and provide feedback.
Meeting notices are posted in the local papers - Whistler Question and Pique Newsmagazine.
The Local Government Act requires that:
· The Local Government must inform the public of the public hearing through publishing a notice in a local newspaper. The notice should contain the date, time and place of hearing, as well as sufficient detail to allow the public to understand what the public hearing is about.
· Documents relating to the zoning decision should be available to the public before the hearing.
· At the public hearing all people who believe that their interest in property is affected by the proposed bylaw must be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard or to present written submissions respecting matters contained in the bylaw that is the subject of the hearing. The chair of the public hearing may limit public input by, for example, setting reasonable time limits on presentations.
HOW DO I SPEAK BEFORE COUNCIL?
Groups wishing to appear before Council must write to Mayor and Council requesting permission at mayorsoffice@whistler.ca, and notify the corporate officer, in writing, with a detailed synopsis of the presentation and the name of the person giving the presentation, which Council meeting they wish to attend and any desired resolutions or activities. Each delegation is allotted five minutes to speak. Requests must be received by noon on the Tuesday prior to a meeting to be placed on the next agenda.
A public question and answer period opens every Council meeting.
WHAT'S INVOLVED IN MAKING A PRESENTATION?
During the meeting that you are scheduled to speak at, the Mayor will call your name when the members are ready to hear your presentation. You will then be asked to approach the podium, and state your name and address for the record. If you have a photograph, video, or drawing that illustrates your comments more clearly, please feel free to bring it along. You may also email copies of your presentation to Mayor and council.
HOW DO I GET COPIES OF MINUTES & AGENDA?
Copies of the agenda materials, including staff reports can be obtained at the reception at municipal hall or at the RMOW's website.
The meeting schedule is also available on the resort's website.
Meeting minutes are usually posted on the website a few days after the meeting or they can be obtained at the Clerk's office.
WHAT IS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT?
The purpose of the Local Government Act's is:
- to provide a legal framework and foundation for the establishment and continuation of local governments to represent the interests and respond to the needs of their communities.
- to provide local governments with the powers, duties and functions necessary for fulfilling their purposes
- to provide local governments with the flecibility to respond to the different needs and changing circumstances of their communities.
A copy of the Local Government Act is available here.
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