Civic Engagement 
Transparency
This City Council is determined to operate in an open and transparent manner. To ensure residents have complete access to our deliberations, we expanded the online video coverage of Council meetings to include all Standing Policy Committee (SPC) meetings.
Agendas, Minutes and video recording of all Council and SPC meetings can be viewed live or accessed later through the City of Calgary’s Electronic Legislative Management Solution (ELMS). And City Council meetings continue to be broadcast live on Shaw Digital Channel 89.
Community Engagement
Being open is also about soliciting broad input and listening to what residents have to say. I believe citizen input is crucial to ensuring we have the best information available to guide our decision-making.
I am proud to say this City Council appreciates the value of community engagement like no other council before.
For example, during the Our City, Our Budget, Our Future process, we sought out diverse citizen and community input. The impact of that input was evident as we set the indicative property tax and utility rates for 2012 to 2014.
Then we sought more input in November before finally approving the 2012-2014 three-year budget and business plans. Public contributions did influence our debates and, in some cases, helped guide us to our final decisions.
Engaging with Ward 4 Residents
I am committed to engaging with Ward 4 citizens on a variety of levels – from face-to face in our communities to Twitter updates. And I’m increasing my use of social media to better connect with Ward 4 residents and share timely information.
My staff regularly briefs me on all enquiries so I remain current in my understanding of community issues and concerns, like cut through traffic and snow routes.
I am also incorporating a variety of new engagement strategies to increase my opportunities to interact directly with residents, including an e-newsletter and my upcoming Blog articles.
And I continue to look forward to meeting more residents through Ward 4 events, association meetings and community walk-abouts. Please feel free to contact me through this website or my office at City Hall.