Lethbridge County councillors pass revised council procedural bylaw

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

Lethbridge County now has a revised council procedural bylaw, that includes changes in deadlines for agenda item submissions, preparation and distribution, several new definitions, minor wording changes to improve clarity, and the addition of electronic options for public hearings in planning and development matters.

Lethbridge County councillors unanimously passed Bylaw 25-015 Council Procedural Bylaw at the April 17 regular council meeting.  

Executive Assistant, Candice Robison presented details of the bylaw and its proposed revisions.  

“These revisions aim to align the bylaw with recent amendments to the Municipal Government Act (MGA), particularly concerning the conduct and requirements of planning and development public hearings. These changes are necessary to ensure legislative compliance and enhance procedural clarity,” said Robison. “In addition to the MGA-related updates there are a few general amendments that have been made.”  

Robison pointed out the changes being made are to provide for greater public participation in public hearings, and noted changes to the MGA in Bill 20 require municipalities to offer electronic options for public hearings on planning and development matters. This may include using a telephone or online options. 

Electronic options for public hearings will ensure more residents are aware and informed of, and may participate in, local planning and development matters, she noted. 

“Municipalities must by bylaw, provide for electronic means of public hearings to be established by April 30, 2025,” said Robison, noting the draft bylaw was amended to reflect changes regarding council meeting times and the deadline for agenda item submissions, preparation and distribution. Several new definitions and some minor wording changes in technical sections were also proposed, to improve clarity. 

New sections that have been added to the bylaw include a section on public hearings specifically, and a new section pertaining to remote attendance at council meetings.

Robison suggested councillors discuss section 7.1 which states that currently, members of council can attend regular council meetings or special council meetings three times a year via electronic communication, unless otherwise approved by the Reeve or required, as a result of an emergency situation. 

    “That is not a requirement. That it is a minimum of three times or maximum of three times – we can change the number, we can leave it as is. It’s totally up to council’s discretion on that point,” said Robison.  

Councillors discussed the proposed changes to the council procedural bylaw, provided some feedback and asked several questions including whether there were provisions for attending a meeting (virtually) via artificial intelligence (AI) and what would be considered an administrative inquiry. 

“I think overall the changes are reasonable and if they meet our needs for the MGA, then I see no concerns with it,” said Coun. John Kuerbis. “Also, appreciating that it is a bit of a living document so if we run into a situation in the future where there is a necessity to change something because of the changing environment, then we have the ability to do that.”