Coffee with Council

The idea is to create a recurring opportunity for residents to speak with council in a more casual setting. This could be monthly, quarterly, or scheduled around major topics such as budget, bylaws, infrastructure, community events, or other local concerns.

Not everyone is comfortable speaking during a council meeting. A less formal setting could help residents raise issues earlier, ask questions more easily, and feel more connected to local decision-making.

I think Coffee with Council could be useful if it is structured properly. It should be clear that no decisions are made at these sessions. Anything requiring council action would still need to come back to a public council meeting. I also want the format to be manageable for administration and clear for residents.

• How often sessions should be held
• Whether sessions should be open-ended or topic-based
• Whether one or more councillors should attend
• How resident comments should be tracked
• How issues raised should be referred to administration or council
• How to avoid confusion between informal discussion and formal council decision-making
• Whether sessions should rotate between locations or remain consistent

I am interested in hearing whether residents would attend this type of session, what times would work best, and what format would make people feel comfortable participating.