Residents hoping to sway the mayor and city councillors with well-argued oratory will have to be more succinct with new rules for public hearings taking effect.
After several lengthy hearings - one spreading over three days days - city council voted unanimously to cap presentations at 25 minutes. The new limit gives people 15 minutes to speak on an issue and a further 10 minutes of follow-up after others have had a chance to speak.
"I really like this because it helps lay out in a consistent predictable fashion what they can expect when they come to a public hearing," said Coun. Garth Frizzell.
Previously Prince George council didn't have a public hearing policy and a staff report said that resulted in variations in procedures in the past.
Coun. Brian Skakun said "the big thing" remains the delicate role of the chair, who must make sure the city's processes stand up to a court challenge, but also shut down people who go off track and stop redundancies.
"It's not an easy job," he said. "Perhaps this will tighten things up a bit."
The Local Government Act requires municipalities to hold a formal public hearing for specific land use bylaws, like OCP and zoning bylaws.
People just want to have the opportunity to be heard, Coun. Terri McConnachie said.
"(The policy) establishes a guideline for that person to be direct, concise, organized but over and above that it also recognizes there are many other people waiting behind that speaker," she said. "We want to make sure as council that everybody gets a opportunity to be heard and not eight, nine hours into it when they're not getting the due consideration after such an extended period of time."
In May, a hearing for the rezoning of an Otway Road property where CIF Construction and Timber West wanted to move stretched over three days and 11 hours. One speaker took more than two hours of that time.
"It's common sense, it's all good," added Coun. Albert Koehler.
"From a chair's perspective it certainly streamlines things a lot more," said Mayor Lyn Hall, noting 25 minutes should be more than enough for people to get their point across.
