The Annual Electors' Meeting is a public meeting where City of Karratha electors can:
- consider the City’s Annual Report (and associated financial statements and auditor’s report),
- make statements and ask questions about local government matters, and
- move motions for electors to vote on (these are recorded as decisions of the meeting).
Decisions (motions) made at the meeting are not binding on Council, but are presented to Council for consideration at the next ordinary Council meeting (as far as practicable).
Key points:
• Only City of Karratha electors may speak and vote (everyone is welcome to attend).
• Sign the attendance register on arrival.
• To speak, write your statement/question/motion on the printed sheet at the registration desk.
• Wait to be called by the Mayor. Each speaking turn is a maximum of 2 minutes and will be timed.
• The meeting will be livestreamed and recorded. No other audio-visual recording is permitted without the Mayor’s permission
See below for information guide
City of Karratha Annual Electors Meeting Registration
Annual Electors' Meeting Elector Guide
Who can participate?
Everyone is welcome to attend. Only City of Karratha electors may speak and vote.
A City of Karratha elector is a person who is on one of the following rolls, or is a ratepayer:
· City of Karratha district electoral roll (from the last ordinary Council election), or
· City of Karratha owner and occupier electoral roll.
All attendees must sign the attendance register (name and address) on arrival.
Order of proceedings
1. Official opening
2. Record of attendance / apologies
3. Annual Report, Annual Financial Statement and Auditor’s Report
4. General business*: 1- statements, 2- public questions and 3- public motions
5. Closure
*Note that this may change depending on business arising at the meeting and is flexible.
How to Participate
1. Register: sign the attendance register at the registration desk (required).
2. Write it down: complete the printed submission sheet for your statement/question(s)/motion, follow the instructions on the sheet
3. Wait to be called: speakers are called by the Mayor (written items submitted in advance are given priority).
4. When called: go to the microphone/lectern, state your name and suburb, and speak through the Mayor.
5. Keep it brief: maximum 2 minutes per speaking turn (timed).
6. Once you have presented your statement/question(s)/motion, a member of staff will collect your question sheet and type it into the official record
Statements, Questions, and Motions
All statements, questions and motions must relate to matters that affect the City of Karratha and be within the City’s remit.
Type | What is it | What happens | Time limit |
| Statement | A short comment you want noted. Not voted on. Use a statement to raise an issue, share a view, or place information on the record. | Noted by the Mayor; summarised in the minutes. | Up to 2 minutes. |
| Question | A request for information about a City matter. | Answered where possible, or taken on notice and answered at a future date. | Up to 2 minutes for up to 3 questions. |
| Motion | A formal proposal for the meeting to vote on. | Moved + seconded, then discussed (if required) and voted on. | 2 minutes per speaker turn (mover/seconder/reply). |
Rules and conduct
· Be fair and respectful before, during and after the meeting.
· Address the meeting through the Mayor (and follow the Mayor’s directions).
· No adverse reflection on elected members or City employees - if this occurs, the item may be ruled out of order.
· The Mayor may accept or reject a question/motion and the Mayor’s decision is final. Offensive, defamatory or similar questions/motions will not be published or answered.
· Any other rules or procedures not set out here are determined by the Mayor.
Voting and what happens after the meeting
· Voting on motions is by show of hands and is not secret. The number of votes for and against is recorded in the minutes.
· Each elector present has one vote on each motion (but does not have to vote). Motions are decided by simple majority.
· Minutes will be available on the City’s website as soon as practicable after the meeting.
· Decisions are not binding on Council, but are presented to Council at its next ordinary meeting (as far as practicable).
Important note
Statements made at the meeting are not formal approvals. If you have an application with the City (for example, planning or licensing), rely only on written confirmation of the outcome and any conditions.
Question/Statement/Montion formatting information
Statements
Use a statement to raise an issue, share a view, or place information on the record.
Write your statement using this format:
Type: Statement Topic: [Short title] Name: [Full name], Suburb: [Suburb] Statement: [Your statement]
Questions
Use a question to request information. Keep it specific and within the City’s remit.
Key rules for questions:
· A maximum of three (3) written questions per elector is accepted.
· Electors are generally offered up to three questions at a time, then another opportunity later (time permitting).
· Questions may be taken on notice and answered in writing if they cannot be answered at the meeting.
Write your question(s) using this format:
Type: Question Topic: [Short title] Name: [Full name], Suburb: [Suburb] Q1: [Your question?] Q2: [Your question?]
Motions
Use a motion when you want the meeting to make a formal decision (by vote). Motions should be clear and actionable.
How motions work (in brief):
· The Mayor calls for motions (priority is given to motions submitted in advance).
· The mover reads the motion aloud and the Mayor calls for a seconder. A seconder is a person who agrees and would also like the motion to be considered by the City.
· A motion must be moved and seconded before any discussion occurs, failure to get a seconder will result in the motion lapsing.
· The mover has 2 minutes to explain their motion. Debate may follow and the mover has a right of reply (up to 2 minutes).
· An elector can only move one motion at a time.
Write your motion using this format:
Type: Motion Mover: [Full name], [Suburb] Motion wording: That the City of Karratha [single clear action]. Optional background (not part of motion): [1-2 sentences]