WITH the rising number of cases in the second wave of COVID-19, Surrey City Council meetings will be returning to virtual meetings to ensure the safety of the public, staff and Council members. Council approved the motion to conduct meetings virtually, including public hearing items, at a Special (Regular) Council meeting held on Wednesday.

“With the recent spike of COVID-19 cases in the region, Council felt it was important to ensure the safety of the public and staff while making sure that the business of the City and the ability for the public to participate continue,” said Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum. “Council meetings were conducted virtually this past spring and summer due to the pandemic, and this return to virtual meetings is a temporary, but needed, measure during this aggressive second wave of COVID.”

For public hearing items, members of the public have the following options to participate:

• * People can provide their written submissions by email to clerks@surrey.ca or by mail to Mayor and Council at 13450 – 104 Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3T 1V8. The deadline to receive submissions is by noon on the date of the public hearing.
• * To speak via telephone during the public hearing, people can register in advance between noon and 5 p.m. on the day of the hearing. The submission form will only be available during this time. The form can be found here on Monday. Once registered, city staff will contact the registrants before the hearing to provide further information on how to phone in and participate in the meeting. If you miss this registration period, please watch the live meeting as there will be an opportunity for you to call in for a limited period of time. Speakers will be given five minutes for each item they wish to speak to.
• * If people do not wish to speak, but would like to express their support or opposition, they can phone the city’s dedicated number 604-591-4132. The lines will be open between noon and 5 p.m. on the day of the Council meeting.

People will need to provide the public hearing item, their first and last name, their address and whether they are in support or opposition.

City Council meetings are livestreamed and can be viewed here.