Vancouver Council reviews new complaints protocol and tighter rules for public testimony

City Attorney Jonathan Young on Monday presented proposed edits to two Vancouver City Council policies that would standardize how complaints against the city manager, city attorney and certain appointed officials are screened and routed, and would tighten rules for public testimony and disruptive behavior at council and board meetings.

Young said the edits would set a screening protocol to investigate “plausible complaints and only those that would amount to a violation of law or policy,” route complaints about the city manager to the city attorney (and vice versa), and provide timely reports back to council on the results of initial reviews. “We can create an online portal that would provide a mechanism for people to submit concerns, allegations, as well as kudos and recognition,” Young said, adding the portal would be routed using the proposed protocol.

The changes to the council’s community communications policy (Policy 100-32) would explicitly define meetings as a limited public forum for constitutional purposes and clarify what behavior is allowed. The draft calls out examples such as applause being permitted only in limited circumstances, and spells out escalating consequences for disruptive conduct: removal from council meetings and, for repeated willful violations, suspension from city board and commission meetings for 90 days and up to 180 days.

Why it matters: The revisions aim to provide clear, predictable procedures for handling allegations against city executive staff and to reduce disruptive conduct in public testimony while preserving attendees’ right to be present. Council members said they supported the general direction of the edits but asked staff to return with details and scheduling for related policy discussions.

Key discussion points

- Scope and standard for investigations: Young emphasized the edits set an applicability standard so the city investigates only allegations that, “if true, would constitute a violation of law or city policy.” Councilors asked for clarity on how broadly that screening would be applied.

- Routing and notification: The proposal routes complaints about the city manager to the city attorney and complaints about the city attorney to the city manager, with a timely report back to council so elected officials can monitor how allegations are handled.

- Online portal: Young said the city’s IT department can build an online portal if the council desires, to receive complaints and recognition and route them per the protocol.

- Limited public forum and decorum: The draft explicitly characterizes council meetings as a limited public forum and clarifies what speech and behavior are permissible. It also includes new language allowing the presiding officer and city manager to maintain order; council members may also use Robert’s Rules motions to address disruptions.

- Escalating exclusions: The draft proposes graduated exclusions from testimony (and from board/commission participation) for repeated…