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Feedback Survey - 2025 Draft Public Input Policy

The proposed 2025 Draft Public Input Policy is intended to guide Banff Town Council and its Administration on when and how to engage with the community, to gather input for consideration before Town decisions. The draft policy was developed following public consultation in 2022-23 and a review of the draft policy in relation to 10 public input processes in 2024.

Please review the complete 2025 Draft Public Input Policy before providing feedback about the policy. You are also encouraged to review the "What We Heard" document of public input provided in Phase 1 of the process to create a new policy.

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Privacy

Any personal information you provide in this survey is collected under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act, Section 33(c). The information you provide will be shared in aggregate form for Council consideration in finalizing this policy. Every effort will be made to remove any personal information provided, such as addresses or names, for submissions in the verbatim comments. No personal information will be shared with anyone outside the Town project team. If you have any questions regarding the collection and use of this information, please contact the Town of Banff communications director at communications@banff.ca or 403.762.1207.

Purpose

The Draft Policy includes the following preamble (this is provided for your awareness before starting the survey):

POLICY STATEMENT

  • The Town of Banff values public input on policies, priorities, programs, projects, services and issues for the ideas, information, opinions and local knowledge provided to Council and Administration, for consideration along with other factors in decision-making processes of the municipal organization.

PURPOSE 

The purpose of this policy is to ensure the Town of Banff:

  • achieves a consistent, transparent, coordinated and meaningful approach to public input on decision-making processes;
  • facilitates opportunities for input on decisions from people affected by those decisions through principle-based, thoughtful and resourced processes;
  • establishes or reinforces constructive relationships with the people it serves through effective public input processes; and
  • adheres to the public participation requirements of the Alberta Municipal Government Act.
1.  

Unlike elections, public input opportunities in Banff are open to all residents, regardless of citizenship status. (Banff Town Council has urged the Government of Alberta to change the rules to allow all residents to vote.)

Below are some of the topics the Town of Banff has asked for public input about in previous months. Please indicate any of the topics you have participated in by providing your input.

When the Town 'shall' (must) seek public input on decisions

Although Banff Town Council has been elected to make decisions about the strategy, services and projects of the Town, they often value taking time to seek public input about specific topics before they make decisions. The following is included in the draft policy to specify the times when they should always seek public input. 

(Note: the numbering in this survey is different that the numbering in the actual draft policy to make it easier to provide feedback in each section)

POLICY APPLICATION

In the following circumstances, public input processes shall be undertaken:

  1. when Council directs engagement to gather input on an issue, project or service;
  2. when developing strategic priorities for the overall Banff community including, but not limited to, master plans and community plans;
  3. when a new project is to be funded through the capital budget, where any expenditure in one year is estimated to be greater than $2,000,000;
  4. when a Council or Administration decision will create a significant impact or changes to the quality of life of the majority of the Banff population; or
  5. when fulfilling a legislated requirement for public participation.
2.  

Is there anything missing from this list above of circumstances when public input MUST be collected for consideration in Town decisions?

* required

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6.  

The Draft Policy has an exemption clause which allows Council to exempt the requirement to hold public input processes on a decision. The Town cannot exempt public input processes like public hearings that are required by provincial or federal law, but they could exempt public input requirement in other situations, such as due to timeline urgency, for safety reasons, because there is no impact on the community, or another factor. 

The policy lists the circumstances when the Town MUST seek public input, but adds this exemption clause: unless specifically directed by Council to proceed without non-legislated public input processes

Do you have any concerns about the ability for Council to direct Town Administration to not conduct public input processes that would normally be required by this section of the policy?

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When the Town 'MAY' (optional) conduct public input processes

The Draft Policy also identifies examples of times when the Town may hold processes to collect public input before making a decision. This is not a full list and these are times when seeking public input is optional. Town Council can direct Administration to seek public input on ANY topic or project before a decision is made. The intent of including this list in the policy is a reminder that there are many instances - in addition to mandatory topics - when the Town may conduct surveys, hold meetings or seek feedback in other ways. The draft policy states:

There are a range of circumstances when public input processes may be undertaken, including but not limited to the following:

  1. when a Council or Administration decision will create a significant impact or changes to the lives of a portion of the resident population; 
  2. when a new project or program funded through the operating budget is estimated to involve a total annual expenditure of greater than $500,000;
  3. when creating, changing, updating or ending a Council policy that affects the public;
  4. when responding to a new community-initiated project or service request;
  5. when Administration believes it beneficial to gather public input to develop options for Council consideration;
  6. when the minimum techniques prescribed by the Municipal Government Act for legislated public input are considered insufficient for informing decision making; or
  7. when exploring ideas, opinions and knowledge about an emerging issue affecting the Banff Public.

(Note: the numbering in this survey is different that the numbering in the actual draft policy to make it easier to provide feedback in each section)

8.  

Do you think the policy needs a list of optional circumstances when public input MAY be collected for consideration in decisions? 

(Council can seek public input before a decision on any topic)

Maximum 255 characters

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10.  

If you support having a list of examples of times when public input processes MAY occur...
Do you think there is anything missing from this list of circumstances when public input MAY be collected for consideration in Town decisions?

Maximum 255 characters

0/255