RELEASE — Beginning April 16, the City of Kingston will be holding Planning Committee meetings in an online format. Residents will now be able to live-stream meetings using their computer, or access and participate in meetings directly either by computer or from their phone.
This decision is based on recommendations from health authorities relating to COVID-19 and will replace in-person meetings until further notice.
“While hosting Planning Committee online is primarily a response to the COVID-19 situation, I’m confident that this new approach can also make the planning process more accessible for residents,” says Tim Park, Manager of Development Approvals for the City of Kingston. “Being able to access committee meetings from anywhere in the City by using a phone or computer can help residents better understand our planning process.”
The April 16 meeting will begin at the regularly scheduled time of 6:30 p.m. but will be exclusively held online. Residents will be able to view meetings live via the Kingston City Council YouTube channel.
Residents wishing to provide comments on any of the agenda items are encouraged to submit written correspondence by emailing the assigned planner or the committee clerk. For application-specific information and the contact information of the assigned planner, please visit CityofKingston.ca/DASH. Any residents wishing to provide verbal comments at the Planning Committee meeting can participate in the meeting via Zoom or by telephone.
Utilizing the Zoom online meeting platform will allow committee members, staff and applicants to participate directly in meetings.
To participate in the meeting by computer, smartphone or tablet, residents are required to visit the Planning Committee page on the City website and click on the appropriate meeting date. Instructions will be posted regarding registration on each committee calendar event. Upon registering for a meeting, residents will be e-mailed a link for the meeting itself. Registration will be available until the start of the meeting.
Residents without access to a computer, smartphone or tablet can participate in the meeting by telephone by calling 613-546-4291 extension 1170 and leaving a message with their name, phone number and the agenda item(s) they wish to speak to; staff will respond to their voicemail within 24 hours to provide them with the call-in number for the meeting. Participants must register by leaving calling in by no later than 2 hours before the start of the meeting.
For more information on the online Planning Committee format and process, residents can visit the Planning Committee webpage.
Release source: City of Kingston
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Laslovarga)
