PRESENTING AN INFORMAL PETITION TO CITY COUNCIL What is an Informal Petition?
Informal petitions are used to express public opinion to Council. If you want to indicate a public concern to Council, an informal petition will accomplish this goal. Council is not required to do anything when it receives an informal petition. If you want your petition to force Council to take some action, you must meet strict legal requirements under the Municipal Government Act. These requirements are summarized in the brochure “Presenting a Legally Binding Petition to City Council” that is available from the Office of the City Clerk.
What are the Requirements?
The City of Edmonton has set out requirements for all written communication intended for Council, including informal petitions in sections 215 to 222 of Bylaw 12300 as amended, The Procedures and Committees Bylaw. An informal petition must be “legible and coherent.” It must be written on paper, and it must be signed by at least one person who provides a printed name and address. If the petition does not meet these basic standards, the City Clerk may file or dispose of the petition without presenting it to Council. The following guidelines, while not required, are helpful in making sure that your petition is easily understood by Council and City Administration: keep the wording of the petition as brief and to the point as possible, include the entire wording of the petition at the top of each page so it is clear that each person who signs it is agreeing to the same thing, use ruled paper with the same number of signatures per page, get a signature, address, and printed name for each petitioner, and Have each petitioner insert the date of his or her signature. You must designate one person as the City Clerk's contact regarding the petition. Include the contact person's name, address, telephone number, and fax number where applicable. The petition must not be “libellous, impertinent or improper.” If it is any of these, the City Clerk must summarize the petition and withhold the original from Council. Council will be informed that the original is being withheld, and may choose to override this and see the petition for itself. Please note: Any information provided on an informal petition may be publicly available. If you have concerns about meeting these requirements, you should seek independent legal advice.
What Do I Do With My Completed Petition?
Informal petitions should be mailed or delivered to Office of the City Clerk 3rd Floor, City Hall,
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2R7
What Happens Next?
If the petition meets the basic standards one of the following things will happen: 1. The City Clerk can refer the petition to the administration for a report to Council or for a direct response by the administration to the petitioners. If the City Clerk does this, City Councillors and the City Manager are informed about the referral. 2. If the petition relates to a matter already on the agenda for a meeting of City Council or a Standing Committee of City Council, the City Clerk must deliver a copy of the petition to the Councillors along with the agenda. 3. The City Clerk can send a copy of the petition (or a summary of the petition) to all Councillors and the City Manager for their information. 4. The City Clerk can take any other action considered appropriate. Remember that Council is not required to do anything in response to an informal petition. The Office of the City Clerk will make reasonable efforts to notify the contact person named in the petition about any action that occurs in relation to the petition. If the petition relates to an item already on a Council or Committee agenda, petitioners may attend the meeting where the petition is received, and may be able to make a presentation at this meeting. For information about the procedures and rules involved, consult the pamphlet “Making a Presentation to City Council or a Standing Committee of Council” that is available from the Office of the City Clerk.
Where Can I Obtain Copies of the Petition Rules?
Copies of the relevant pages of the bylaw (3 pages) are available from the Office of the City Clerk for $0.25 per page + GST. The entire Bylaw is also available at the Office of the City Clerk (the cost is $18.26 if you pick it up, $21.40 if mailed to you, including GST).
Who Can I Call for More Information About Petitions?
Please contact the Office of the City Clerk if you have questions about the information provided in this brochure. The Office may be contacted in the following ways: mail: Office of the City Clerk 3rd Floor, City Hall 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2R7 telephone: (780) 496-8178 fax: (780) 496-8175 e-mail: CityClerk@edmonton.ca This document is for general information only and is not a replacement for consulting legislation or obtaining legal advice. Neither the Office of the City Clerk nor the City’s Law Branch is able to provide legal advice to potential petitioners. You should consult a lawyer if you are planning a petition
to help ensure that your petition complies with all the necessary requirements.