Council Meetings

There are currently four options for viewing council meetings:

• in-person - Regular Council meetings and some Special Council meetings are open to in-person attendance in Council Chambers (100 Newport Drive, Port Moody).  Some Special Council meetings are held electronically and not in Council Chambers; those meetings are displayed live on a monitor in the Galleria at City Hall for public viewing.
• livestream - Watch the meeting live, in progress, at pormoody.ca/watchlive. You don’t need to register or download an app to watch the livestream. Please note there may be a delay of up to 90 seconds for the livestream feed.
• video - View a video recording after 3pm on the day following the meeting at portmoody.ca/meetings.
• Zoom video webinar - view the meeting live, in progress, via Zoom video webinar. This option gives you a chance to address City Council during the meeting if you wish, and allows you to view the meeting without any delay in the video feed. You’ll need to register as a Zoom video webinar participant in advance – instructions are available below.

For information on Public Hearings, please see below.

Depending on the type of meeting, there may be one or two opportunities, lasting 30 minutes each, for members of the public to address City Council. Each person may speak for up to two minutes.

If you’d like to take part, you can attend the meeting in person (if in-person attendance is available for the meeting) or register as a Zoom Video Webinar participant for the meeting that interests you – instructions are available below. You must register for each meeting separately. Please note that as a Zoom Video Webinar participant, you will only be able to speak. You will not be able to share images or videos.

If you would like to address City Council on a specific issue for a period of longer than two minutes, or would like to present documents, images, or videos, you may wish to appear as a delegation. 

You can join an electronic meeting via Zoom video webinar using a smartphone, tablet, or computer with speakers and a microphone. You must register for each meeting separately. Please note that as a Zoom video webinar participant, you will only be able to speak. You will not be able to share images or videos.

You will need to provide your first name, last name, email address, and city of residence. You do not need to have a Zoom account to participate in the council meeting. After your registration is complete, you’ll receive an email with a link to join the council meeting via Zoom Video Webinar:

• Special Council Meeting and Standing Committees - Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 5:15pm

When you are in the webinar and there is an opportunity for members of the public to provide input, use the “raise hand” button to indicate that you’d like to speak. This will automatically place you in a speakers’ queue. When it’s your turn to speak, the chairperson will call you by name and you’ll be able to speak for up to two minutes.

If you wish to speak again, you may use the “raise hand” button to be placed back into the speakers’ queue. For more information on using the “raise hand” button and to see what the function looks like on various platforms, please consult this article at the Zoom support website.

What equipment do I need to join the council meeting via Zoom Video Webinar?

You can join a meeting via Zoom video webinar using a smartphone, tablet, or computer with speakers and a microphone. You’ll also need an internet connection (broadband wired or wireless). If you’re using a smartphone or a tablet, you’ll need to download the Zoom app to join the meeting. For detailed system requirements, please visit the Zoom support website. 

My concerns about cyber security are preventing me from participating in this council meeting via Zoom Video Webinar. Is there another way to view the meeting?

You can view the livestream of the meeting at portmoody.ca/watchlive. You don’t need to register or download an app to watch the livestream. 

What if I become disconnected from Zoom video webinar during the meeting?
If you become disconnected from Zoom video webinar, you can reconnect. There are no limits on how many times you can leave and re-enter the electronic meeting. Please note that if you leave Zoom video webinar while you are in the speakers’ queue, you will lose your place in line. If you wish to speak when you return, you must use the “raise hand” button again. 

How is my personal information going to be collected and stored?
To register to join a meeting via Zoom video webinar, you must provide your first name, last name, email address, and city of residence. This information will only be used for administrative purposes related to the specific meeting you’d like to join. Information collected will be stored within Canada and will be automatically deleted 30 days after the date of the council meeting.

Can I provide verbal input by dialing in to the electronic Council Meeting with a telephone?
No. You will not be able to speak at the Council Meeting if you connect to the webinar by telephone; however, if you do dial in by telephone, you will be able to hear the audio of the webinar. 

If you would like to make a presentation, speak about a specific agenda item, or request a proclamation, you may make a request to appear as a delegation. Delegations are given five minutes to speak.

Organizations that would like to request illumination of the dome lights at City Hall in support of a particular cause or event can submit a written request via email. We accept lighting requests from residents of Metro Vancouver only.

To appear as a delegation, you need to:

• complete a Request to Appear as a Delegation form
• submit the form by email or drop it off to City Hall at 100 Newport Drive
• submit the form at least eight days before the date of the council meeting at which you’d like to appear
• provide information about the purpose of the delegation and details of your request on the application form

We will review your application and contact you once a decision is made. Review the Delegations to Council Policy for more information about requesting a delegation and speaking at a council meeting.

For information on public hearings, which are distinct from council meetings, please visit the Public Hearing Information page and the Public Hearing and Planning Notices page.

When a local government is creating or amending a bylaw for an official community plan, zoning, phased development agreement, or termination of a land use contract, a public hearing must be held after first reading of the bylaw and before third reading. Public hearings are not required for other types of bylaws and permits.

At the public hearing, all persons who believe that their interest in property is affected by the proposed bylaw must be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard. This involves an opportunity to make a speech or presentation to the elected officials or to present a written submission.

The Local Government Act legislates the specific provisions and requirements for local government public hearings. Learn more at gov.bc.ca.