Feedback Survey - 2025 Draft Public Input Policy

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.

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. 

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.

SCOPE 

• This policy applies to public input regarding Town of Banff policies, plans, priorities, programs, projects and services planned and delivered by Town employees, contractors or community volunteers, and issues affecting the community in which the municipality has jurisdiction.
• This policy supplements and does not replace the statutory public hearing requirements or other public input requirements of the Municipal Government Act.

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.

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)