Calgary council chambers get tighter security measures

If you're planning to attend council meetings at Calgary City Hall, you'll have to pass through a metal detector, one of several new security measures.

The in-house security service is also banning food and drink and the glass partition separating council members from the public in council chambers has been raised by 30 centimetres to 1.4 metres. Video surveillance will also now be high definition, once regular council resumes in a couple of weeks.

The new rules were not prompted by a specific threat or event but are changes based on an ongoing review of security, said Don von Hollen, acting manager of corporate security.  

"The safety of everyone inside council chamber is our top priority," said von Hollen. "So if people are going to come to council to participate in the democratic process, we want this to be a safe environment for them."

Ward 7 Councillor Druh Farrell said there have been incidents in the past where members of council "have felt exposed and the response has been inadequate."

The upgrades are only for council chambers for now and  will take effect Sept. 14.