Engaging With Council

Speaking on an agenda item (Delegation)

• If you want to talk about something already on the agenda, you're a "Delegation."
• Submit your request in writing to the Clerk at least 24 hours before the meeting.

Speaking on a new topic (Appointment)

• If you want to bring up something not on the agenda, you need an "Appointment."
• Request an appointment by submitting your name, contact details, and a brief of your topic and what request/direction you seek from the council.
• Submit your request to the Clerk at least 7 days before the meeting. 
• Your request will become part of the official record of the council proceedings and is considered a public document.
• A total of 5 appointments are allowed per meeting.

How long you can talk

You’ll get up to 5 minutes to speak unless Council decides otherwise.

How to submit your request to speak

Complete the Delegations and Appointments to Council Form and send it to the Clerk.

Writing to Council

• You can write to Council and include your correspondence in the public agenda. Any personal information you write about will become part of the public record.
• Include your full name and contact info (address, phone, or email).
• Send your correspondence to the Clerk by noon the day before the meeting.
• You must address your correspondence to all members of council, not just one, for it to be placed on the agenda.
• You can find your submitted correspondence in the agenda section “Communications of the City Clerk.”

Submitting a petition to council

A petition is a request signed by multiple people to support a shared cause or concern and will become part of the public record.

• Petitions can be sent to the Clerk in person, by mail, fax, or email.
• Petitions can be made on paper, electronically, or through an online system.
• Include the start date, the organizer’s contact info, the names and addresses of those who signed, and a clear statement communicating the petition's purpose. Important: Only those signed individuals with their name and local address on the petition are counted as relevant petitioners.
• Submit the petition by noon on Friday before the meeting to get it on the agenda.

• Council may decide to file the petition for information unless they vote to take further action.

Where to send

By mail or email

City of Niagara Falls

Attention: City Clerk

P.O. Box 1023

4310 Queen Street

Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6X5

clerk@niagarafalls.ca

The Clerk has the right to reject any requests or petitions that don’t follow the rules. The following topics are not accepted:

• anything outside council authority or that misrepresents their process and purpose
• advertisements or solicitations of business
• correspondence that is anonymous, disrespectful, offensive, illegible or contains false information
• education and training sessions of council
• election campaigns
• employee issues, labour relations or union negotiations
• insurance claims
• matters already decided upon in the current council term
• matters that staff have been directed to prepare a report about until the matter is before council
• ongoing legal proceedings
• vexatious matters that will cause the city to incur additional costs

• Visit the Decorum Policy for Public Meetings page to learn more about the rules of etiquette at public meetings.
• Procedural by-law