Confusion reigns in Council debate over community engagement task force
NANAIMO — How Nanaimo City Council interacts with the public was a source of heated discussion and confusion.
Members of the Community Engagement Task Force, which was created in the summer of 2017 and held one open house session in November, appeared before City Council at Monday’s committee of the whole meeting.
For roughly 90 minutes, Council debated the findings of the task force, the importance of public engagement and how they should proceed. Multiple motions were brought to the floor and amended, prompting even City Clerk Sheila Gurrie to tell Council at one point “I’m as confused as you are.”
Gurrie said the major issue at hand was whether Council wanted a task force doing community engagement sessions, or if the task force was to decide on ways Council could best do a community engagement session.