NORTH BATTLEFORD ‑ The issue of when live in-person city council meetings will return in North Battleford was back at council Monday.
Council got an update on the situation during the meeting, which was held virtually once again on the Zoom platform. But in the end council opted to table the issue to the next meeting on March 28, as they wait for more information on what can be done to stage live meetings again.
The issue of resuming live meetings has been raised a number of times over the last number of weeks. Council has been holding meetings exclusively on Zoom ever since the meetings departed their temporary venue in the Chapel Gallery in the fall.
The city has been planning to move their meetings permanently to the Don Ross Centre this year, but that move has been held up by challenges in setting up the new location.
The venue is not yet fully equipped with the technical equipment required for the meetings, which is not due to arrive until later this spring.
At council Monday, City Manager Randy Patrick explained what options were available if they were to move in right away. For video, they would have to make do with a single fixed camera.
But there are also a limited number of microphones that can be hooked up at the moment, and the suggestion was made to limit the number of staff in attendance and have them appear by Zoom instead. Patrick also explained they can’t do amplification and Zoom at the same time.
Still, meetings could be conducted even with the limited technical resources.
“It is doable,” said Patrick, but “we won’t have the system operating the way it should be operating until late April is my understanding (or) maybe the first part of May, due to the supply chain issues.”
The other problem raised by Patrick was that Omicron is still around, and in-person meetings run the risk of a number of people from council coming down with COVID-19 all at the same time.
“Any group that gets together has that risk,” said Patrick.
There was considerable sentiment at council to return to in-person meetings again as soon as possible. Councillor Kelli Hawtin said the setup would work, and reiterated her strong support for getting back to live meetings again.
“I’m ready to go,” said Hawtin. “I’d love to get back to meeting in person again. I think the quality of conversation we have is very, very worth it for our community.”
On the opposite side was Councillor Bill Ironstand who reiterated his unease about holding live meetings during the Omicron wave. He also expressed concerns the setup wouldn’t provide clear audio or video for the media watching.
“I’m not ready to get back together,” said Ironstand, who said of the COVID-19 pandemic, “we’re still in the middle of this thing. Just because a government releases some restrictions does not mean the pandemic is over.”
Councillor Greg Lightfoot put forward a compromise option ‑ staying on Zoom in the meantime, but having a few councillors appear from the council chamber, likely Don Ross Center.
Lightfoot moved to table the issue to the March 28 meeting. Administration will test how Zoom would work if it was set up in the council chamber.
In the end, council voted 6-1 in favour of tabling, with Hawtin voting against.
