By Roy Wood, Special to the Times Chronicle

Any hopes of Osoyoos moving to evening council meetings were dashed at least for this year when a motion to switch regular council meeting times from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., failed for lack of a seconder.

At a recent meeting of the council committee of the whole (COW), a staff report outlined the pros and cons of holding meetings during the day, as is the current practice, or switching to later times, as is the case in all but two of the similar municipalities surveyed.

Currently, council holds its main meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The informal COW convenes at 9 a.m. and the regular council meeting kicks off at 2 p.m.

According to a report from Corporate Services Director Brianne Hillson, there is a substantial extra cost for holding the meetings other than during the business day. A 2018 report estimated “the (cost of) additional staff time would be around $40,000 to $45,000.”

As well, according to Hillson’s report, advantages of continuing with day-time meetings include:

  • Directors and staff could attend and report without being paid overtime;
  • Evenings would be left open for council and staff to “participate in other activities;”
  • There would be no rush to complete COW and other special meetings because they could continue after the 2 p.m. regular council meeting; and
  • Press deadlines are more attainable.

The main disadvantage noted was that the fewer members of the public or people considering running for council may not be able to attend because of work commitments.

As for arguments against holding meetings in the evening, the report listed:

  • The additional cost in staff wages;
  • Time constraints might limit the ability to complete meetings;
  • Answers from staff to council may be more difficult to ascertain; and
  • Long days for council and staff. 

The sole argument in favour of later meetings was the broader access to the meetings for the public and those considering seeking a seat on council.

It is noteworthy that of the dozen other municipalities, some resort towns and some Okanagan neighbours, only two, Penticton and Summerland, continue to hold afternoon regular council meetings. Summerland alternates between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. for its meetings held every three weeks.

Following the report presentation, Councillor Johnny Cheong moved that the town change the meeting times to 2 p.m. for COW and 5 p.m. for regular council. No other member of council would second the motion and so it failed to move forward.

Councillor Zach Poturica argued that recent technological advances allow anyone to watch video coverage of the meetings either live or after the fact. As well, he said, recent budget concerns have likely reduced the public’s appetite for additional spending.

Poturica moved that the COW and regular council meetings remain at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. for 2024. It passed 4-1.