4 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ATTENDING A CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Mississauga passed new requirements Nov. 10 for the public to attend city council and committee meetings. Here are four things to know about the new rules.

PROOF OF VACCINATION

Anyone who wants to participate in a Mississauga council or committee meeting in person at city hall must now present proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 as well as identification.

The rules would apply to Mississauga's regular council, budget and planning and development meetings that typically have public delegations and presentations.

According to the motion, which was moved by Ward 8 Coun. Matt Mahoney, city hall security would not collect or keep

any information an individual presents when entering council chambers.

Those who refuse to show proof of vaccination or identification will also be refused entry, per the motion.

WHAT ABOUT EXEMPTIONS?

The motion doesn't

mention any in-person accommodations for those who aren't immunized against COVID-19 for health reasons.

But no proof of vaccination is required to participate in council and committee sessions online or by calling in. The motion said the immunization rules will be in place so

long as there's a virtual meeting component.

CITY MEETINGS

Councillors also approved extending the hybrid format — meaning virtual and in-person — for all council and committee meetings, until at least the end of March.

City staff or councillorled community meetings will also be virtual or hybrid until the end of March.

Advisory and quasi-judicial meetings, which include the city's diversity and inclusion committee, traffic safety council, and the committee of adjustment, will all remain virtual only.

City staff recommended extending virtual meetings until the end of June, but council approved an earlier end to online meetings.

WHAT COUNCIL SAID

Ward 5 Coun. Carolyn Parrish was critical of the recommendation to make advisory meetings virtual until June and said members of the public are having a difficult time participating in the sessions.

"It makes us look like a bunch of cowards to start with and makes us look like we're not doing our job.

I'm sure it's convenient for everybody to keep a lid on these things, but politics is a messy business, and consultations with communities is a messy business," she said.

Ward 9 Coun. Pat Saito said the virtual format has been helpful to committee members who have mobility challenges and she's had online meetings go "extremely well" with older adults.

Mahoney said people are still nervous to attend public meetings in person and his motion requiring proof of vaccination to attend council chambers aligns with rules at other indoor gatherings and events.

"I believe that we have a responsibility to ensure that the public who are coming here are safe. Everybody else is doing it (requiring proof of vaccination). The Leafs, the Raptors, Steelheads, they're all doing it. So I want to get back to normal as well," he said.