The public will have a chance to have its say at a public budget meeting with city council taking place Thursday, Sept. 12.
“We want to avail an opportunity for the public to be more engaged,” chief administrative officer Darrell Garceau said.
Garceau’s hoping the public will let council know what’s important.
“It’s structured, but for the most part it will be an engaged discussion,” he said.
There will be seven tables set up in the Gibraltar Room with one of the seven council members at each table. City staff will be there to help answer any specific questions relative to their department.
“Each table will accomodate 10 or 12 people,” Garceau explained.
“We debated back and forth about having one big open session but felt some people might be reticent to speak publicly and might be more inclined in an intimate environment.”
The meeting will try to accomplish both goals — gather comments and input, but in a more relaxed setting.
At the beginning of the meeting, director of finance Pat Higgins will give a small presentation on the structure of the budget and she will also have a handout for the the public.
“We didn’t want to be too instructive or prescriptive, we really want to encourage open dialogue, Garceau said.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex’s Gibraltar Room.