Council Meetings

Council Meeting Dates

City Council meetings are generally held every other Monday at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers on the third floor of City Hall, 50 Church St.

2018 Council Meeting Dates

• Monday, December 17 (Budget night)
• Tuesday, December 18 (being held as a second night for budget discussion, if necessary)

2019 Council Meeting Dates

• January 14 and 28
• February 11 and 25
• March 4 and 18
• April 1, 15 and 29
• May 13 and 27
• June 10 and 24
• July 15
• August 12
• September 9 and 23
• October 7 and 21
• November 4 and 18
• December 2 and 16 (December 17 temporarily being held)

Download the 2019 Council Meeting Dates (PDF format)

Appointments To Address City Council

Requests to appear before City Council must be submitted in writing to the Office of the City Clerk at least five days prior to the meeting (e.g. for a Monday City Council meeting the request must be submitted by Wednesday).

Requests to address City Council must be related to matters on the agenda. No business shall be introduced at a meeting which has not been included on the agenda for the meeting. View the agendas for upcoming City Council meetings.

Written requests must include the following:

1. Speaker's name
2. Address (including postal code)
3. Phone number or email address
4. The date of the meeting at which you wish to speak
5. A brief statement about the nature of the business to be presented.

Email the Clerks Department to submit your request to address City Council

Please note: Your request may be referred to an advisory committee or board where appropriate.

Please be advised that presenting to City Council is a public process. The City of St. Catharines livestreams meetings of City Council and meetings are broadcast live on YourTV Niagara. Archived versions of City Council meetings are also available for viewing on the City's website. Any materials submitted including pictures, presentations, written submissions, etc., will form part of the public agenda and record.

Rules for addressing City Council:

• Wait until the Chair announces your presentation before going to the lectern. The Sergeant at Arms will escort you to the lectern.
• The lectern is height adjustable, and the Sergeant at Arms can assist you in setting the appropriate height for the lectern.
• Remember to introduce yourself, as well as anyone who may be accompanying you to the lectern. State the reason for your presentation.
• Speakers are limited to five (5) minutes.
• The Chair of the meeting is responsible for conducting the meeting and ensuring proper meeting decorum. Always follow directions and instructions from the Chair.
• Address your presentation and answers to any questions to the chairperson. The proper protocol is to say, “Through you, Mr./Madam Chair” or, if the Mayor is chairing the meeting, “Through you, Your Worship.”
• Once you have finished speaking, remain at the podium until you have been thanked by the Chair. The Chair may ask you to answer questions. Please wait for direction from the Chair before responding to comments or questions from the members.

PowerPoints and Other Material

• Any materials to be distributed to City Council and / or PowerPoint presentations must be provided to the Office of the City Clerk in advance.
• Materials must be provided no later than four days before the City Council at noon (e.g. for a Monday City Council meeting, materials must be submitted to the Office of the City Clerk by noon Thursday).
• If you wish to circulate paper copies of material you must provide 24 copies for distribution.
• PowerPoint presentations do not need to be printed for circulation.
• It is the presenter's responsibility to ensure they have the permission and rights for the use of any material used as part of their presentation, including text, images, video, artwork or recordings.
• By submitting information, including in print or electronic format, for presentation to City Council, you are indicating that you have obtained the consent of persons whose personal information is included in the information to be disclosed to the public.
• Materials may be refused at the discretion of the City Clerk.

Niagara Region Council Meetings

Regional government council meetings are organized by the Niagara Region. Please visit the Niagara Region website for information on addressing Regional Council.