NANAIMO – Nanaimo residents wishing to discuss the City’s 2018-2022 Financial Plan process can now do so by participating in an upcoming eTown Hall meeting scheduled for Monday, December 4.
The meeting follows the tradition of tabling a topic for discussion between Council members and the public but, unlike conventional town hall meetings, Nanaimo’s eTown Hall format enables wider involvement by allowing participants to submit questions via Twitter using #NanaimoTH, Facebook, webform at www.nanaimo.ca/goto/etownhall, phone call to 250.754.4251, as well as in person.
Council and staff have taken these additional steps to ensure that all citizens are made aware of the city’s direction for the next five years, and can also provide meaningful input to this important process in a public forum. It is a continuation of the city’s efforts to increase accountability to stakeholders.
The eTown Hall will start at 7:00 p.m. during the Regular Council Meeting and will run for one hour. If demand is high, an additional 30 minutes will be allocated. Residents are encouraged to review available information prior to the start of the meeting. The draft 2018-2022 Financial Plan will be available for review on the City website starting November 24.
On taking the 2018-2022 Financial Plan to the public for their review and input, Chief Administrative Officer Tracy Samra notes, “Staff has put a lot of work into preparing for the next five years, and we want to make sure we are focusing on things residents find are a priority for the community.”
Additional opportunities to provide input and follow the 2018-2022 Financial Plan approval process are available with the draft being presented at the November 27, 2017 Committee of the Whole Meeting, a workshop at the Finance and Audit Committee meeting on December 7, 2017 and when the Financial Plan Bylaw is considered at the Regular Council Meeting on December 18, 2017.
Draft 2018 – 2022 Financial Plan details will be published on November 24, 2017.
