HomeMy Public PortalAbout2012-04-26_By-Law/Policy Amendment and Approval Policy_P-74Municipality of the District of Chester
By- Law /Policy
Amendment and
Approval Policy
Policy P -74
By- Law /Policy Amendment and Approval Policy (continued)
MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF CHESTER
BY- LAW /POLICY AMENDMENT AND APPROVAL POLICY
POLICY P -74
WHEREAS the Municipality of the District of Chester (The Municipality) may from
time to time introduce a new Municipal By -Law or Policy in accordance with the MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENT ACT LNG&
AND WHEREAS the Municipality may from time to time amend existing Municipal
By -Laws and Policies;
AND WHEREAS, according to the MGA, the Municipality is permitted to further
build on the existing requirements for the adoption /approval of By -Laws, Policies, and
amendments to By -Laws and Policies.
AND WHEREAS the Municipality is committed to providing the community
sufficient opportunity to provide feedback;
IT IS THEREIN THE POLICY of the Municipality as follows:
1. Practice the minimum standards, at least, as required by the MGA when introducing a new
By -Law. The MGA requires that to adopt a By -Law, the Municipality must
(a) read it twice;
(b) advertise notice of Council's intent to consider the by -law in a newspaper circulating in
the municipality a minimum of fourteen days before a by -law is read for a second time; and
(c) the notice must state the object of the by -law, the date and time of the meeting at which
Council proposes to consider it, and the place where the proposed by -law may be inspected.
2. The Municipality defers to specific regulations outlined in the MGA for the approval of
amendments to the Municipal Land -Use By -Law and related Policies.
3. Further to the MGA requirements, the Municipality will commence formal By -Law and
Policy Discussions six times annually, or as required, so as to provide the public an
improved opportunity for direct input prior to final approval or amendment of a By -Law or
Policy.
4. In addition to the required notice, the Municipality will also publish By -Law and Policy
summaries, in advance of each of the six annual By -Law and Policy Discussions, in the
Notice of Intention to Adopt - Committee of the Whole - March 26, 2012 (2012 -161)
First Notice - Council - March 29, 2012 (2012 -167)
Second Notice - Council - April 26, 2012 (2012 -236)
Effective Date - April 26, 2012 Page 2
By- Law /Policy Amendment and Approval Policy (continued)
municipal newsletter to provide improved information pertaining to the policies and
bylaws that are being considered.
5. To facilitate accessibility, the Municipality will also post By -Laws, Policies, and summaries
where possible, on the Municipal Website in a dedicated and prominent location.
6. Further to Sections 4 and 5, the Municipality will endeavour to further engage the public in
the amendment and approval process by providing information, where appropriate,
through community publications and /or any other means of communication suitable and
available, which may include the radio and additional newspaper advertisements, beyond
what is required by the MGA.
7. If significant feedback is received from the public in response to proposed By -Law, Policy or
amendment, the Municipality may choose to facilitate a public meeting to discuss the
public's concerns and comments openly prior to a final decision being made.
8. Notwithstanding this Policy, Council may choose to forego the public engagement process
and proceed with Readings without delay if a situation arises where a delay in the approval
or amendment of a By -Law or Policy would have an adverse affect on municipal operations.
9. Further to Section 8, Council may also choose to forego the public engagement process
when approving or amending internal operational policies.
_ Notice of Intention to Adopt - Committee of the Whole - March 26, 2012 (2012 -161)
First Notice - Council - March 29, 2012 (2012 -167)
Second Notice - Council - April 26, 2012 (2012 -236)
Effective Date -April 26, 2012 Page 3