City Council Electronic Delegation Request Form

We're pleased to offer residents the opportunity to make electronic delegations during City Council meetings. However, due to the risk of technical difficulties, instead of making an electronic delegation you are encouraged to submit written correspondence to the Office of the City Clerk, which will be shared with the members of Council and form part of the public record of the meeting. Visit our Council Meetings webpage for information on submitting correspondence to City Council.

Please read the information below should you wish to continue with making a request for an electronic delegation before City Council. Please note, the process and timelines are different than our normal practice for making delegations to Council.

Electronic delegation requests must be received the day before the meeting.
Electronic delegations are only permitted for items on the agenda.
Electronic Council Meetings are held using Zoom (Zoom is a free online meeting tool).
- Visit www.zoom.us to learn more about Zoom.
- As a delegate, you are responsible for accessing Zoom on your device (i.e. laptop, PC, mobile phone, tablet) and ensuring that your device meets the minimum technical requirements needed to run Zoom.
To ensure optimal audio and visual representation, electronic delegations will be limited to one individual speaking at a time. Group electronic delegations will not be permitted.
Electronic delegates are limited to five minutes to present.
Electronic delegates are not permitted to share visuals or materials during delegations. However, materials may be submitted in advance for circulation.
Electronic delegates must take part in a test session with City staff in advance of the Council Meeting.
When they are not presenting to Council during the meeting, delegates are required to turn off their camera and their microphone must be muted (delegates will still be able to see and hear the meeting when their cameras are off and their microphones are muted).

Process for Requesting to Make an Electronic Delegation to City Council

Complete the questions listed on this form. Requests to make an electronic delegation will ONLY be accepted using this form.
Once the form is submitted, a member of the Clerk's Office will email you log-in information for a mandatory test session.
After successfully participating in the test session you will be emailed information for the Council Meeting.

Forms must be submitted in full to be accepted. Upon submitting your form, this page will refresh and the message "form successfully submitted" will display. If you do not see this message it means your electronic delegation request form has not been received by the Office of the City Clerk.

Your Contact Information

First Name

Last Name

Phone Number

Email Address

Council Item You Wish to Speak to

I consent to my delegation being recorded and broadcast live publicly.

Yes

I acknowledge that I am responsible for ensuring that the device I use to participate electronically in the meeting meets the minimum technical requirements as required by Zoom

Yes

I acknowledge that, depending on the device(s) I choose to use, I may be responsible for downloading and installing Zoom on my device(s)

Yes

I agree not to share or disclose the Meeting URL or dial-in information for the meeting in which I will be making a delegation presentation

Yes

Test Session

Delegates are required to participate in a test Zoom session with City staff. Testing will cover the audio and video quality of the delegate's device; reviewing the process for the delegate to join the meeting; and reviewing the delegation process. During the test session, City staff will also discuss the process for submitting visuals or materials for circulation to City Council and the Mayor.

The test session will be held Monday, July 13 at 10 a.m. The test session should take less than 15 minutes to complete. Note: other members of the public may be in the same test session. City staff will contact you via email with your test session information.

I acknowledge that I am responsible for attending a test session in advance of the Council Meeting and that if I do not attend the test session I cannot make a delegation presentation to City Council

Yes

Delegation Process During Meetings

Delegates are required to join the meeting 15 minutes in advance of the start time for the meeting.
Delegates are responsible for ensuring their background is free from offensive or vulgar material. If inappropriate material is visible you will be removed from the meeting.
Delegates’ microphones and video cameras will remain off until they are called to speak.
Once the Chair has called you to speak, you are responsible for turning on your video camera. This cannot be done by City staff. City staff will turn on your microphone.
Once your delegation is over, your microphone will again be muted and staff will turn off your camera. Once voting on the item has taken place, delegates will be removed from the meeting completely.
Once removed from the meeting, you can visit www.stcatharines.ca/YouTube if you wish to continue watching the meeting.

Technical Difficulties During Meetings

Beyond the mandatory training session, City staff will not provide technical assistance for delegates before or during Meetings.
If a delegate’s connection to the meeting fails during the meeting, it is the discretion of the Chair to call for a brief recess, change the order of the delegates, or decide to proceed with the meeting without the delegation. If the connection cannot be re-established, the comments received up to that point will be included as part of the official record and the meeting will continue.
If a delegate does not present when called upon by the Chair the delegate will be considered absent and the meeting will continue without the delegation.
If, in the Chair’s opinion, a delegate’s audio / video is not of an acceptable quality, the Chair may require the delegate to use the dial-in option or may continue the meeting without the delegation.

I have read and understand the Delegation Process During Meetings and the process for Technical Difficulties During Meetings

Yes

Personal information, as defined in the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), collected in connection with the request to appear as a delegate at a City Council meeting will be used solely for purposes related to the delegation for the specified meeting and for any consistent purposes, including the delegate’s name and submission being included on the Meeting agenda, minutes, and related materials. By providing your information, you acknowledge that all personal information submitted to the City of St. Catharines is being collected under the authority of the Municipal Act and is subject to disclosure under the Municipal Freedom of Information Act (MFIPPA). Questions about this collection, use and disclosure of this personal information may be directed to the Corporate Records Coordinator at 905-688-5601 ext. 1504.