City hall’s security survey reveals diversity of opinion

New survey results on a proposal to institute bag checks and scans by metal detectors for people wanting to get into Edmonton’s city council chambers suggest a decision on whether to move ahead or not won’t be easy.

Twenty per cent of survey respondents said they’d be less likely to participate in council business if the metal detectors are used, but forty per cent said they would actually feel safer.

The issue goes to council’s executive committee Tuesday for the second time after debating it in private last fall, which attracted criticism.

Maybe there’s a compromise option, said Coun. Andrew Knack on Facebook. He’d like to look at increasing security staff when there’s a contentious issue or large crowds.

“It can take away the concern of physical barriers while still providing additional security when necessary,” said Knack.

City officials are recommending metal detectors and bag searches for any member of the public entering council chambers and possibly committee meetings. They’re also recommending the city build a half-wall to separate the public part of council chambers from the staff and council members. Staff have said they feel unsafe with their backs to the public.

When council agreed to redo the debate, they also asked city staff to poll residents on what they think of the issue. At committee, any member of the public can have five minutes to speak if they register through edmonton.ca/meetings.

The survey asked if respondents would be “less likely to participate” in meetings at city hall if they had to go through a metal detector or have their bags checked. Twenty per cent said yes.

When asked if they would “feel safer” if they knew everyone else had gone through the same security measures, between 40 and 43 per cent said yes.

When asked if similar bag checks and metal detectors have stopped them from using airports, law court buildings or sports and concert venues in the past, 88 per cent of the respondents said no.

City officials sent the online survey to a group of 6,500 Edmonton residents who have agreed to take regular online surveys. As a result 2,067 people took the survey.

City hall asked members of the public whether additional security measures in council chambers — like a wall separating council and staff from the public — would make them more or less likely to participate in meeting. The results were mixed.