NO PROBLEM, AND I'LL CALL OUR GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETING FOR MONDAY,
[1. Opening Statement]
[00:00:06]
APRIL 12TH, 2021 TO ORDER.FIRST, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE IS LOCATED IN CHIEF DRYGEESE TERRITORY.
FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT'S BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATION AND MORE RECENTLY, THE HOMELAND OF THE NORTH SLAVE MÉTIS.
WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES OF FIRST NATIONS MÉTIS INUIT AND ALL FIRST PEOPLES OF CANADA WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
[2. Approval of the agenda.]
MS. BASSI-KELLETT, ANYTHING FURTHER TO ADD TO THE AGENDA? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST IN THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.
I DON'T IMAGINE ANYBODY DOES BECAUSE IT'S A PRESENTATION.
[4. A presentation regarding Fees and Charges Considerations.]
WITH THAT, MS. BASSI-KELLETT, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION REGARDING FEES AND CHARGES CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR, FOR THAT AND THANK YOU, COUNCILORS, FOR BEING HERE TODAY FOR THIS REALLY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.SO TODAY, ADMINISTRATION IS PLEASED TO PRESENT AN OVERVIEW OF FEES AND CHARGES.
AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS PRIMARILY ON A LOT OF OUR RECREATION FEES. AND OUR PURPOSE TODAY IN DOING SO IS TO REALLY OUTLINE THE STRUCTURE AND THE METHODOLOGY THAT'S USED TO DATE IN ADVANCE OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES THAT WILL BE FORTHCOMING THIS SPRING, WHICH IS TYPICAL IN THE CYCLE OF OUR BUDGET CYCLE AS YOU KNOW THAT WE DO LOOK TO UPDATE FEES AND CHARGES EVERY SPRING FOR THE FOLLOWING FALL START FOR MANY OF OUR RECREATION PROGRAMS. FEES AND CHARGES ARE ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR US, FOR MUNICIPALITIES IN GENERAL, ALONG WITH GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND PROPERTY TAXATION.
AND IT'S REALLY BASED ON THIS FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN IT COMES TO TAXATION ACROSS ALL ORDERS OF GOVERNMENT ACROSS CANADA, MUNICIPALITIES TYPICALLY COLLECT ABOUT 12 CENTS OF EVERY TAX DOLLAR.
BUT OF COURSE, OUR COSTS ARE HIGHER THAN THAT.
SO BETWEEN FEES AND CHARGES AND GOVERNMENT GRANTS, WE NEED TO MAKE UP FOR THE OPERATIONS THAT WE'RE SUSTAINING FOR CITY RESIDENTS AT THE CITY, OUR FEES RANGE FROM EVERYTHING FROM PUBLIC TRANSIT TO DEVELOPMENT PERMITS, TO BUSINESS LICENSES TO SOLID WASTE DROP OFF CHARGES. THE FEES FOR OUR RECREATION FACILITIES SHARE A COMMON POLICY BASIS, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ONE OFF ARRANGEMENTS THAT WE HAVE THAT REALLY REFLECT THE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS THE PARTNERS BRING TO US AND THE FINANCIAL CAPACITY OF OUR PARTNERS WHEN THEY COME FORWARD. SO TODAY, I'M REALLY PLEASED TO TURN THINGS OVER TO MS. WOODWARD, WHO WILL WALK THROUGH THIS TOGETHER WITH MR. WHITE, WHO'S GOING TO SPEAK TO A LOT OF THE RECREATION AND THE FEES AND CHARGES THAT COME UNDER THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BUDGET.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. BASSI-KELLETT. I'M BACK AND TODAY I'M GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT FEES AND CHARGES.
I'LL START TODAY'S DISCUSSION WITH AN OVERVIEW OF FEES AND CHARGES AND THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN THE CITY'S FINANCIAL PICTURE.
AND THEN MR. WHITE WILL PROVIDE BACKGROUND ON THE FEES AND CHARGES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
FOLLOWING THAT, I'LL COME BACK AND PROVIDE SOME HIGH LEVEL POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION.
AS COMMITTEE IS AWARE, PRIOR TO 2007, USER FEES WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE VARIOUS BYLAWS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUMEROUS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY BECAUSE THE FEES AND CHARGES WERE CONSIDERED ONLY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE ASSOCIATED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THE FACT THAT THEY REFLECTED THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES AND CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH A PARTICULAR PROGRAM OR SERVICE WAS PERHAPS NOT PARTICULARLY APPARENT.
IN 2007, ALL FEES AND CHARGES WERE CONSOLIDATED INTO A SINGLE FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY AND ALSO TO SIMPLIFY THE ADMINISTRATION ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.
HOWEVER, THIS AMALGAMATION INADVERTENTLY IMPLIED A COMMONALITY AMONG ALL FEES AND CHARGES, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE, THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES AND CHALLENGES REMAIN.
AS THE COMMITTEE IS AWARE FEES AND CHARGES, BYLAW AMENDMENTS ARE BROUGHT FORWARD TWO POINTS DURING THE YEAR FOR COUNCIL'S REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
IN DECEMBER, THEY COME FORWARD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BUDGET TO REFLECT ANY CHANGES INHERENT IN IT. AND AS MS. BASSI-KELLET NOTED IN THE SPRING, THEY BROUGHT FORWARD TO PREPARE FOR THE FALL RECREATION SEASON, AND ADMINISTRATION ALSO TRIES TO ADDRESS ANY OTHER ADJUSTMENTS THAT MUST BE MADE AT THAT SAME TIME.
IN RECENT YEARS, COUNCILORS HAVE REQUESTED ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW AND HOW FEES AND CHARGES ARE DETERMINED AND THE ROLE THEY PLAY.
SO THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS TO INFORM THAT PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSION.
[00:05:01]
ALL DEPARTMENTS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGY, COLLECT, MANAGE AND USE FEES IN THE DELIVERY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.IN 2021, THESE USER CHARGES ARE EXPECTED TO CONSTITUTE ABOUT TWENTY NINE PERCENT OF THE CITY'S TOTAL REVENUES.
THE NEXT FEW SLIDES PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT FEES AND CHARGES AND A BIT OF INSIGHT INTO THEIR RECENT HISTORY.
WITHIN CORPORATE SERVICES, FEES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERAL OF THE PUBLIC FACING SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE MOST PART, THE ORIGINAL DETERMINATION OF THE CHARGES IS NOT REALLY KNOWN WITH CERTAINTY, BUT IT APPEARS THAT MANY WERE ESTABLISHED ON A COST RECOVERY BASIS.
BUSINESS LICENSING FEES WERE INCREASED PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE BOARD BACK IN 2010, BUT THEY HAVE REMAINED RELATIVELY STABLE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, WITH ONLY MINOR CHANGES IN 2014 THAT SAW INCREASED FEES FOR NONRESIDENT.
THE BYLAW IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED, AND IF CHANGES ARISE FROM THIS, THEY'LL BE BROUGHT FORWARD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THOSE AMENDMENTS.
TAX CERTIFICATE FEES INCREASED IN JULY OF TWENTY NINETEEN BY FIVE DOLLARS TO A TOTAL OF THIRTY FIVE DOLLARS, BUT PRIOR TO THAT THEY HAD REMAINED UNCHANGED FOR AT LEAST A DOZEN YEARS. NSF CHARGES HAVE ALSO REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE AT LEAST 2007, AS HAVE THE TAX AND UTILITY INFORMATION FEES.
THE CURRENT LOTTERY LICENSING FEES AND THE REVENUES ARE RELATIVELY UNCHANGED FROM WHEN THE GNWT HANDED THE CITY RESPONSIBILITY FOR LICENSED ADMINISTRATION IN 1997 UNDER THE GNWT'S COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT POLICY.
THE ONLY UPDATED NOTE WAS MADE IN JUNE OF 2014, WHEN AN ACCOMMODATION WAS ADDED TO LOWER COSTS FOR EVENTS WITH THE TOTAL PRIZE AMOUNT OF LESS THAN A THOUSAND DOLLARS, WITH THE INTENT OF MAKING SMALLER FUNDRAISING EVENTS MORE AFFORDABLE.
THE LOTTERY LICENSE BYLAW IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW AND ADMINISTRATION WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD RECOMMENDED REVISIONS LATER THIS YEAR.
IF THE CHANGES INVOLVE FEE CHANGES, THE NECESSARY BYLAW AMENDMENTS WILL ALSO BE BROUGHT FORWARD AT THAT. WITHIN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, MOST OF THEIR FEES ARE LOOSELY BASED ON FEES CHARGED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND ON STAFF TIME REQUIREMENTS.
SOME, LIKE THE FEE FOR DEVELOPMENT APPEALS, ARE INTENDED TO ENSURE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE APPELLANT OR THE APPLICANT.
THE LAND APPLICATION FEE HAS REMAINED CONSTANT SINCE AT LEAST 2007, WHILE SOME LAND LEASE FEES INCREASED IN 2011 AND QUARRY LEASE RATES ROSE IN 2013, BUT OTHER LEASE FEES HAVE REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE THEN.
BUILDING PERMIT FEES WERE OVERHAULED, EFFECTIVE THE BEGINNING OF TWENTY NINETEEN, AND THE SAME WAS DONE FOR DEVELOPMENT PERMIT FEES AT THE BEGINNING OF 2020.
PUBLIC WORKS COVER A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, FOR STARTERS, PUBLIC TRANSIT FARES. THEY WERE INITIALLY BASED ON FARES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BALANCED BY A FAIR AND REASONABLE ADJUSTMENT SO THAT THE RATES WOULD NOT DISCOURAGE RESIDENTS FROM TAKING THE BUS. SINCE 2007, ONLY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE THAT INCLUDED THE MOST RECENT ONES BACK IN DECEMBER OF TWENTY EIGHTEEN, WHICH INTRODUCED ANNUAL PASSES AND MADE MINOR CHANGES FOR CONSISTENCY.
TRANSIT ADVERTISING FEES WERE ALSO INITIALLY BASED ON COMPARABLE RATES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, THEY HAVE NOT CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE AT LEAST 2007, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE 2016 INTRODUCTION OF DIFFERING RATES FOR EXPRESS AND REGULAR ROUTES AND THE SWITCH FROM MONTHLY TO WEEKLY RATES FOR POSTERS.
SCFA FEARS ARE BASED ON GENERATING A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF REVENUE TO ADDRESS THE COST OF REPAIRS REQUIRED IN AN AVERAGE YEAR.
THE MONTHLY FEES INCREASED MOST YEARS BETWEEN 2000 AND 2012, BUT HAVE REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE 2012.
WATER AND SEWER RATES ARE TYPICALLY INCREASED BY A MODEST AMOUNT EACH YEAR, BUT BUDGET 2021 DECISIONS MAINTAIN WATER AND SEWER RATES AT THEIR 2020 LEVELS AS THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IS IN A PRETTY SOLID POSITION.
AS PER COUNCIL'S DIRECTION, THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF WATER AND SEWER RATES IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW AND THE RESULTS OF THIS ANALYSIS AND THE ENSUING RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE PRESENTED LATER THIS YEAR.
[00:10:04]
TIPPING AND SOLID WASTE FEES ARE, AS PER COUNCIL DIRECTION, BASED ON A USER PAY SYSTEM WITH RATES SET TO ACHIEVE COST RECOVERY.THESE FEES HAVE INCREASED MOST YEARS SINCE AT LEAST 2007 AND ARE LIKELY TO DO SO AS THE 2014 REQUIREMENT TO RECOGNIZE A SIGNIFICANT LANDFILL CLOSURE LIABILITY HAS PUT THIS FUND INTO THE RED. WITHIN THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT, WE ALSO SEE FEES THAT ENCOMPASS A RANGE OF SERVICES, EVERYTHING FROM ANIMAL LICENSING THROUGH MED AND UP TO AND INCLUDING THE FIRE DIVISION CHARGES.
ANIMAL LICENSE FEES HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE AT LEAST 2007.
THEY'VE BEEN KEPT LOW TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO REGISTER THEIR PETS.
PARKING METER RATES WERE ADJUSTED IN TWENTY NINETEEN AND LAST MAY, NEW FEES WERE ADDED FOR DAILY PARKING RATES AND TO REFLECT CHARGES BEING COLLECTED FOR PARKING IN THE CITY ON 5050 LOT. THE ORDERLY USE OF HIGHWAY PERMIT AND SNOWMOBILE LICENSE FEES WERE LAST ADJUSTED IN 2009, WHILE CHAUFFEUR'S PERMIT FEES HAVE REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE AT LEAST 2007. TAXI METER FARES WERE LAST INCREASED IN 2019.
WITHIN THE FIRE DIVISION, SOME OF THE THINGS LIKE THE MEDEVAC RATE ARE BASED ON COST RECOVERY, WHILE OTHERS, SUCH AS AMBULANCE FEES, ARE TIERED TO CHARGE NONRESIDENTS MORE THAN RESIDENTS. OTHERS, LIKE THE FALSE ALARM FEES, ARE SET TO SERVE AS DETERRENCE.
WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, FIRE RESPONSE FEES FOR CALLS HAVE REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE AT LEAST 2007, ALTHOUGH IN 2011 A MAXIMUM LIMIT FOR SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING RESPONSES WAS INTRODUCED. THERE WAS A MODEST INCREASE TO MEDICAL TRANSFER FEES WITHIN CITY LIMITS IN 2009, BUT THEY OTHERWISE REMAINED UNCHANGED UNTIL JANUARY OF 2018, WHEN THE FIRST OF THREE ANNUAL INCREASES WAS IMPLEMENTED IN RESPONSE TO DIRECTION PROVIDED BY COUNCIL DURING BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.
SINCE 2007, THE ONLY CHANGE TO MEDICAL RESPONSE CHARGES FOR YELLOWKNIFE RESIDENTS WAS A 12 PERCENT INCREASE IN 2009.
CHARGES FOR NWT RESIDENTS INCREASED BY ABOUT 40 PERCENT THAT YEAR, WHILE THE CHARGES FOR OUT OF TERRITORY RESIDENTS INCREASED THIRTY THREE PERCENT THAT YEAR AND A FURTHER 15 PERCENT IN 2014.
FALSE ALARM CHARGES WERE INTRODUCED IN 2008 AND AT THAT TIME TOOK EFFECT WITH THE FOURTH CALLS [INAUDIBLE] WITHIN A CALENDAR YEAR.
IN 2011, THEY WERE CHANGED TO TAKE EFFECT WITH THE THIRD CALL, AND IN MAY OF 2013, THE CHARGE PER RESPONSE INCREASED FROM A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
CHARGES FOR MEDICAL RESPONSES OUTSIDE OF MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2008 AND IN 2011, HOURLY AND OVERTIME CHARGES WERE ADDED, BUT THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY CHANGES TO THOSE RATES SINCE THAT TIME.
AND THIS BRINGS US TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SO I'LL TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO MR. WHITE AT THIS POINT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU, MS. WOODWARD, EVERYBODY CAN HEAR ME, I HOPE.
PERFECT. OK, SO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES AS IDENTIFIED IN THE FEES AND CHARGES POLICY BEHIND THE COMMUNITY SERVICES RELATED FEES ARE BASED ON COUNCILS ESTABLISHED MANDATE FOR THE DEPARTMENT, WHICH INCLUDE THE NEED TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A DIVERSITY OF RECREATION PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE OF YELLOWKNIFE.
PLAN, DEVELOP AND OPERATE A VARIETY OF FACILITIES IN A MANNER THAT WILL PROVIDE FAIR AND EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR A WIDE RANGE OF INTERESTS AT A MINIMUM COST TO THE TAXPAYER AND THE PARTICIPANT. CONTINUALLY ANALYZE PROGRAMS AND ASSESS FACILITIES TO ENSURE THEY MEET THE EVER CHANGING NEEDS.
COOPERATE WITH OTHER RECREATION AGENCIES AND TO ASSIST WHERE POSSIBLE IN THE COORDINATION OF A TOTAL RECREATION OR COMMUNITY RECREATION SYSTEM, AS WELL AS PROVIDE AN ACCEPTABLE PROGRAM AND FACILITY OPERATIONS FOR THE LIBRARY.
IN ESTABLISHING THIS MANDATE, THE COUNCIL OF THE DAY RECOGNIZED THAT IT WOULD BE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SUCCEED, RELYING EXCLUSIVELY ON TAX SUPPORT, AND SO A SYSTEM OF
[00:15:01]
FEES AND CHARGES WOULD HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED AS A SUPPLEMENTAL MEANS OF FINANCING DEPARTMENT OBJECTIVES.IT FURTHER IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING BASIC PRINCIPLES AS A GENERAL RATIONALE FOR THE FEES AND CHARGES POLICY. SERVICE SO VITAL IN THE BUILDING OF CHARACTER AND CITIZENSHIP AS RECREATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE SAME LIGHT AS PUBLIC EDUCATION.
LIKE EDUCATION, RECREATION IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BASIC SERVICES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL.
THE CONCEPT OF PUBLIC RECREATION AS A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT FUNCTION JUSTIFYING TAX SUPPORT IS BASED ON THE PROVISION OF BASIC SERVICES WHICH CAN BE ENJOYED BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION.
THE FINANCIAL POLICY OF THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE SHOULD BE EVALUATED BASED ON ITS EFFECT ON ALL SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION.
RECOGNIZING THAT EXCESSIVE FEES AND CHARGES BY THE CITY WILL TEND TO RESTRICT PARTICIPATION OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES OR OTHER GROUPS WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD TO PAY.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE COUNCIL TODAY, ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT A FEE, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, PLACES THE VALUE ON ACTIVITY AND ESTABLISHES COMMITMENT FROM THE PARTICIPANT.
CHILDREN OF SCHOOL AGE SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED FOR BASIC, CERTAIN BASIC OPPORTUNITIES AND SERVICES THAT ARE OVER ABOVE THE BASIC STANDARD MUST BE PAID FOR IN PART BY THE PARTICIPANT RATHER THAN THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
THIS LEADS TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICE DEPARTMENT POLICY STATEMENTS REGARDING FEES, WHICH INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING. PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, OUTDOOR RINKS, PUBLIC LIBRARY MEETING ROOMS AND COMMUNITY TENNIS COURTS ARE CONSIDERED A BASIC SERVICE AND NO RENTAL CHARGES ASSESSED PROVIDED NO ADMISSION CHARGE IS A SERIOUS CHARGE BY THE GROUP FOR EXCLUSIVE USE IS NOT REQUIRED. UNDER JOINT USE AGREEMENTS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARDS, THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR DAYTIME USE OF CITY OWNED RECREATION FACILITIES BY THE SCHOOLS, AND IN RETURN, THE CITY RECEIVES USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES ON EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS.
THE CITY, IN TURN, IS THEN THE BOOKING AGENT FOR THE COMMUNITY USE OF THESE SCHOOLS FOR WHICH THE CITY RETAINS THE RENTAL FEES TO OFFSET THE COSTS THAT THE CITY INCURS FOR SCHOOL USE OF OUR FACILITIES.
FACILITY USE CHARGES ARE BASED ON AN HOURLY OPERATIONAL COSTS WITH THE INTENT THAT ADULT GROUPS PAY 100 PERCENT OF THE COST AND YOUTH PAY 50 PERCENT OF THE COSTS.
THE HOURLY OPERATIONAL COSTS CURRENTLY USED AS A BASIS FOR THE FEW CALCULATIONS DO NOT INCLUDE INSURANCE AMORTIZATIONS OR CARRYING COSTS FOR THE MULTIPLEX.
AND PROGRAM REGISTRATION FEES ARE SET TO BE ON 100 PERCENT RECOVERY BASIS.
SO, THEN THIS MOVES US ALONG TO THE METHODOLOGY AND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED. THE FEES AND CHARGES POLICY PROVIDES GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN ESTABLISHING FEES AND DETERMINES HOW FEES WILL BE ESTABLISHED, THE BASIS FOR THE VARIOUS FEES ASSESSED IS THE COST OF OPERATIONS OR SORRY, THE COST TO OPERATE, WHICH IS ARRIVED AT BY DIVIDING THE COST TO OPERATE THE FACILITY BY THE NUMBER OF FACILITY HOURS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR USE.
HOWEVER, UP UNTIL THE EARLY 2000S, THE USER FEES INCREASED SLIGHTLY, MAYBE ONE OR TWO PERCENT ANNUALLY. IN THE EARLY 2000S, THERE WAS AN UNANTICIPATED INCREASE IN UTILITIES THAT INCREASED THE HOURLY COST SUBSTANTIALLY WHEN THE NEW RATE STRUCTURE IS BROUGHT FORWARD IN THE USUAL MANNER.
THERE WAS A 12 TO 15 PERCENT INCREASE IN FEES.
SEVERAL, IF NOT ALL OF THE VARIOUS USER GROUPS WERE AT A COUNCIL MEETING WHEN THE ISSUE WAS BEING DELIBERATED AND MADE PRESENTATIONS INDICATING THE HARDSHIP THESE INCREASES WOULD CAUSE, ADMINISTRATION WAS DIRECTED TO WORK WITH THE GROUPS AND BRING FORWARD A MORE PALATABLE SCENARIO.
THE THREE PERCENT INCREASE WAS ESTABLISHED, ALONG WITH A COMMITMENT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO WORK ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES TO COUNTER THE HIGH UTILITY FEES, SINCE THAT TIME, THERE HAS BEEN ONGOING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FACILITIES TO DECREASE THE OPERATING COSTS. UPGRADING OF LIGHTING, INSTALLATION OF PELLET HEAT REPLACEMENT AND INSTALLATION OF HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEMS ON BOTH ICE PLANTS, UPGRADED BOILERS, UPGRADING TO AIR HANDLING UNITS HAVE ASSISTED IN INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF OPERATIONS.
SO [INAUDIBLE] MOVED TO THE FEES ANALYSIS, THE RUTH INCH MEMORIAL POOL IS BY FAR THE MOST COSTLY INDOOR FACILITY TO OPERATE OTHER THAN THE POOL ITSELF.
THERE IS NO REAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO OFFSET THE OPERATIONAL COSTS.
[00:20:04]
THERE'S NO AREAS FOR LEASING AND THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL SPACES TO RENT OUT.LOOKING AT THE CHART, THE HOURLY COST TO OPERATE IS THREE HUNDRED TWO DOLLARS PER HOUR, WHICH MEANS AS PER POLICY, THE ADULT RATE WOULD BE THREE HUNDRED TWO DOLLARS PER HOUR.
HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL RENTAL RATE IS TWO HUNDRED NINE DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS, WHICH MEANS THAT THE SUBSIDY TO ADULTS RENTING THE POOL IS 30 PERCENT.
THE ADULT FEE, THEN, DICTATES THE REMAINING FEES, WITH YOUTH BEING CHARGED 50 PERCENT OF ADULT, AND WHEN THE FACILITY IS SHARED WITH YOUTH AND ADULTS, THE FEE IS 75 PERCENT OF THE ADULT FEE. SO THIS PRINCIPLE FOLLOWS THROUGH EACH OF OUR FACILITY FEES.
THE FIELD HOUSE FIELD HOURLY RATES HAS BEEN INCREASED ANNUALLY BY THREE PERCENT AS PER THE FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW.
ON THE EXPENSE SIDE OF THE EQUATION, DUE TO KEY IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING THE HEAT RECOVERY FROM THE MULTIPLEX ICE PLANT AND THE PELLET BOILER HEAT, THE ANNUAL COST TO OPERATE THIS FACILITY HAS NOT INCREASED AT THE SAME RATE AS OTHER FACILITIES AS ILLUSTRATED IN THE CHART. THE USER FEE HAS SURPASSED THE HOURLY COST TO OPERATE.
SO YOU SEE THE COST TO OPERATE IS ONE HUNDRED TWENTY ONE DOLLARS AN HOUR, AND AS PER THE FEES AND CHARGES, BYLAW, ADULTS ARE CHARGED ONE HUNDRED THIRTY FIVE SEVENTY FIVE AND WORKING DOWN THE TARGET YOUTH AND SENIORS SUBSIDIZE 50 PERCENT, THEN 67.75, AND THE ADULT YOUTH IS 101.75.
AND YOU CAN SEE FURTHER TO THE RIGHT AS THE OVERALL SUBSIDY TO THE POLICY AND THEN THE OVERALL SUBSIDY TO THE RECOVERY RATE.
THE ARENA'S HOUR COST TO OPERATE IS TWO HUNDRED THIRTY FOUR DOLLARS AN HOUR.
THE COST TO OPERATE THE ARENAS IS BASED ON THE HOURS AVAILABLE FOR ALL THREE ICE SURFACES.
THERE'S NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE OLYMPIC, NHL OR THE COMMUNITY ICE SURFACE SIZE.
SO WE'LL SEE THE ADULT RENTAL RATE AS PER POLICY IS TWO HUNDRED THIRTY FOUR DOLLARS AN HOUR AND AS PER BYLAW, IS ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY THREE SEVENTY FIVE, AND THEN AGAIN, THE YOUTH ARE SUBSIDIZED 50 PERCENT AT NINETY SIX SEVENTY FIVE RATHER THAN ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN AS PER POLICY.
AND THEN THE ADULT YOUTH RATE AT SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT IS 145.25, WHEREAS THE POLICY INDICATES THAT SHOULD BE 175.50.
FIRST OF ALL, THERE WAS AN ERROR ON THE TOP OF THIS PAGE, THE CURLING CLUB ANNUAL COST TO OPERATE IS ACTUALLY ONE HUNDRED THIRTY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THE CITY AND THE CURLING CLUB ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT IN 2009 THAT INCLUDES THE CITY PAYING ALL OF THE UTILITIES FOR THE FACILITY, AS WELL AS MAJOR MAINTENANCE, AMONG A FEW OTHER ITEMS, SUCH AS SNOW REMOVAL AND GARBAGE COLLECTION.
AND YOU'LL SEE BY THE CHART THAT IT IS 100 PERCENT SUBSIDIZED BY THE CITY.
BALL DIAMONDS AND SPORTS FIELDS ARE UNIQUE IN THAT WITH OTHER FACILITIES, THE OPEN HOURS CLOSELY MATCH THE BOOKING HOURS.
HOWEVER, PARKS THAT ARE OPEN FROM 7 A.M.
ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE OUTSIDE ACTUAL TIME, BOOKED FOR ACTIVITIES.
FOR THIS EXERCISE, THE ALREADY COST WAS CALCULATED USING THE ACTUAL COST FOR THE SEASON, APPROXIMATELY MAY TO SEPTEMBER, UTILIZING THE PARK'S BYLAW HOURS OF SEVEN A.M.
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. AND ALSO UNIQUE TO THE OUTDOOR FACILITIES IS BOTH AN HOURLY CHARGE AND A PER SEASON CHARGE.
FOR THIS ANALYSIS, THE HOURLY COST IS BEST SUITED.
SO YOU SEE THE BALL DIAMONDS ARE SIXTY SEVEN DOLLARS TO OPERATE, WHICH SHOULD BE THE ADULT RATE AS PER POLICY.
HOWEVER, PER BYLAW, THEY'RE CHARGED 42.50 AND THEN YOUTH, 50 PERCENT OF THAT, 21.25.
AND THE ADULT YOUTH RATE OF 75 PERCENT OF THE ADULT IS THIRTY TWO DOLLARS PER HOUR.
THE CITY OWNS AND OPERATES THE SPORTS FIELD ADJACENT TO [INAUDIBLE] SCHOOL, THE WILLIAM MAC AND THE RANGE LAKE SCHOOL FIELDS ARE OWNED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
HOWEVER, THE CITY HAS A BOOKING AGENT FOR THE MANY COMMUNITY GROUP HOURS THAT ARE BOOKED ON THESE FACILITIES. AND THE CITY ALSO CARRIES OUT THE MAJORITY OF THE MAINTENANCE ON THE SCHOOL FACILITIES.
[00:25:01]
SO YOU'LL SEE THE HOURLY COST OF SEVENTY NINE DOLLARS PER HOUR.AND IF WE WORK THROUGH THE CHART, YOU'LL SEE THAT ADULTS ARE ACTUALLY CHARGED 42.50, YOUTH, HALF OF THAT, WHICH IS 21.25.
AND AGAIN, THE SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT CHARGE FOR THE ADULT-YOUTH RATE OF THIRTY TWO DOLLARS PER HOUR. LETTERS OF UNDERSTANDINGS, THESE LOUS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND SERVED BOTH THE CITY AND THE ORGANIZATION WELL, MEN'S FASTBALL [INAUDIBLE] BOTH MAINTAIN THEIR FACILITIES AS A TRADE OFF FOR NO FEES FOR SERVICE DURING THE MONTH OF MAY TO SEPTEMBER. THE TENNIS CLUB ALSO MAINTAINS THE RECORDS, IN ADDITION TO ENSURING THAT THEY ARE LOCKED FROM 11 P.M.
AND UNLOCKED AT 7 A.M., ACCORDING TO THE PARKS BYLAW, AGAIN, JUST FOR THE LENGTH OF THE SEASON FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER.
ARTS AND CULTURE SPACE, THE LIBRARY LEASE SPACE IS APPROXIMATELY THREE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SQUARE FEET AND IT'S ADJACENT TO THE LIBRARY AND IS CURRENTLY UNDER LEASE [INAUDIBLE] FOR THE USE AS A REHEARSAL AND AN OFFICE SPACE.
THE LEASE FEE IS A NOMINAL A DOLLAR ANNUALLY WITH AN OPERATING COST TO THE CITY OF JUST OVER FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS.
THE LIBRARY OFFICE SPACE IS APPROXIMATELY THREE HUNDRED THIRTY SQUARE FEET, ALSO ADJACENT TO THE LIBRARY AND IS CURRENTLY UNDER LEASE TO THE FOLK ON THE ROCKS FOR USE OF THEIR OFFICE. AGAIN, THERE'S NO INCOME FOR THE SPACE AND AN ANNUAL COST OF JUST ABOUT FIFTY EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE CITY.
AND AGAIN, THESE COSTS HAVE BEEN CALCULATED WITH THE OVERALL CONDO FEES AND ASSOCIATED SQUARE FOOT PER FACILITY.
THE GRANT FUNDING PROGRAM, THE GRANT FUNDING PROGRAM HAS UNDERGONE SOME CHANGES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WITH A MOVE AWAY FROM CORE FUNDING TO A MULTI-YEAR FUNDING MODEL.
HOWEVER, THE FUNDING PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY CAN BE GROUPED INTO THESE THREE BROAD CATEGORIES SPORT AND REC, ARTS AND CULTURE AND SOCIAL.
ON ANY TYPICAL YEAR, IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR SOME OF THE ALLOCATED FUNDS TO BE UNSPENT DUE TO A NUMBER OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
HOWEVER, IN 2020 THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT, SIXTY NINE THOUSAND OF THE FOUR HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED THAT WAS UNSPENT DUE TO THE COVID-19 ISSUES.
ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIES: OVER THE PAST MANY YEARS, COUNCIL HAS PARTNERED WITH A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAS ADDED TO THE SCOPE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S ALSO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND HAS ALLOWED THE CITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO SERVICES IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER.
THE CITY HAS PARTNERED WITH THE CLIMATE CLUB UP IN THE ROCKS, MEN'S FASTBALL, MOUNTAIN BIKE GROUP, YELLOWKNIFE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS AND DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF VARIOUS PROJECTS.
THE CITY HAS PARTNERED WITH THE SNOWBOARDING GROUP SNOWMOBILE ASSOCIATION AND THE ROTARY CLUB FOR ONGOING WORK AND DEVELOPMENT OF [INAUDIBLE].
SO IN CARRYING OUT OUR RESEARCH AND OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE UP TO SPEED ON [INAUDIBLE] PRACTICES, WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE IS NOT IS NOT UNIQUE. THE USE OF GUIDING PRINCIPLES IS A STANDARD WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT VARIOUS OTHER FACILITIES IN TO THE SOUTH OF US, ALTHOUGH EACH PRINCIPLE IS UNIQUE, THEY ARE MUCH THE SAME AND NOT A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES.
THE COST OF OPERATION IS SEEMS TO BE ALWAYS THE STARTING POINT IN DETERMINING FEES, BUT NOT ALWAYS IN LARGER CENTERS WHERE THERE IS THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO COMPETE.
IT IS THE MARKET THAT DICTATES THE PRICES.
SO ALTHOUGH THERE'S QUITE A RANGE OF SUBSIDIES, THERE IS A COMMON THREAD IN PROVIDING SUBSIDIES TO YOUTH AS WELL AS OFF PEAK HOURS, SO YOUTH SUBSIDIES OFTEN RANGE FROM THREE PERCENT UP TO 50 PERCENT, 50 PERCENT BEING THE HIGHEST.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE [INAUDIBLE] SO WITH ALL THAT, I WILL LEAVE IT THERE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.
OPENING IT UP TO QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILOR MUFANDAEDZA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
JUST A QUICK CLARIFICATION FOR THE TENNIS COURT, I DID SEE WHERE IT SAID, AND I'M NOT
[00:30:04]
SURE WHAT THAT MEANS. IT SAYS THAT THE COST TO THE CITY IS TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND THEN THE REVENUE IN SERVICES AND KIND LIKE WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? MS. BASSI-KELLETT? MR. WHITE? THANK YOU.SO THE CITY HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE YELLOWKNIFE TENNIS CLUB WHERE THEY MAINTAIN THE TENNIS COURT IN EXCHANGE FOR FEES FROM THE CITY.
AND IN ADDITION, FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER, IT'S THE TENNIS CLUB THAT ACTUALLY GOES AROUND AT ELEVEN AT NIGHT AND SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR TENNIS COURTS ARE OPEN. SO FOR THAT, THERE THERE'S A FEE THAT HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED FOR THAT.
OK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
AND JUST ANOTHER VERY QUICK QUESTION, I KNOW THAT A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD STARTED THE DISCUSSION ON THE LIBRARY OFFICE SPACE FOR NACC AND FOLK ON THE ROCK.
AND I JUST WANTED TO FIND OUT.
I CAN'T REMEMBER IF WE ENDED UP GETTING ANY INFORMATION BACK ON THE AGREEMENTS THAT WERE IN PLACE. I THINK THE DISCUSSION BACK A FEW YEARS AGO WAS THAT THESE AGREEMENTS WERE IN PLACE FROM YEARS AGO.
AND I JUST WANTED TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS ANY NEW INFORMATION ON THE RENTAL AGREEMENTS FOR THE NACC OFFICE SPACE AND THE FOLK ON THE ROCK OFFICE SPACE.
SURE THING. MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
THANK YOU. MY RECOLLECTION ON THAT DISCUSSION WAS BASICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AIR LEASE AREAS WERE STILL BEING UTILIZED FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE, WHICH IS REHEARSAL AND OFFICE SPACE FOR NACC AND AN OFFICE SPACE FOR ROCKS.
AND IN OUR DISCUSSION AND FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE TWO ORGANIZATIONS, THEY ARE, IN FACT, STILL BEING UTILIZED.
OK, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE CLARIFICATION AND THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION YOU BROUGHT FORWARD.
THANK YOU. COUNCILOR WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION FROM ADMINISTRATION.
THIS WILL PROBABLY COME UP IN ANOTHER MONTH OR SO BEFORE COUNCIL.
AND I'M JUST SORT OF CURIOUS ON THE RECOMMENDATION THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING FROM ADMINISTRATION.
IN THE PRESENTATION, WE KIND OF NOTICED THAT THERE'S THE POLICY THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED VERSUS THE CHARGE THAT WAS ACTUALLY BEING CHARGED.
IS IT IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICES GOAL TO ELIMINATE THAT DELTA BETWEEN THE TWO OR IS IT SIMPLY A POLITICAL DECISION? MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
THANK YOU. I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE A TWO PRONGED APPROACH TO THAT.
WE HAVE COMMITTED TO MOVING ALONG WITH OUR ENERGY EFFICIENT MEASURES, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER MEASURES THAT WE CAN ESTABLISH.
TO HAVE THE USER FEE CLOSER TO THE ACTUAL HOURLY COST TO OPERATE.
AND WHEN THE FEES AND CHARGES ARE BROUGHT FORWARD, THAT INFORMATION AND THAT GAP IS TYPICALLY IDENTIFIED.
SO, AS I MENTIONED, LIKE A TWO PRONGED WOULD BE THE ADMINISTRATION'S GOAL TO MOVE US CLOSER AND THEN IN THE DIRECTION WE WOULD GET FROM COUNCIL ON THAT.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT I GUESS THE QUESTION THAT RELATES TO THIS IS WHEN THAT 15 PERCENT SPIKE THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, THAT'S SORT OF BORNE OUT THIS THREE PERCENT POLICY.
SO THAT 15 PERCENT WASN'T PUT UPON USER GROUPS.
THE NEGOTIATION CAME TO THE THREE PERCENT AS BEING THE ANSWER.
IS THAT CORRECT? MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANKS FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCILOR WILLIAMS. YES, WITH THE INTEREST OF BEING SOME PREDICTABILITY FOR USER GROUPS THAT THEY COULD ANTICIPATE WHAT WOULD BE COMING AND NOT HAVE THE VOLATILITY OF GREAT SWINGS AND FLUCTUATION. THANK YOU.
AND I GUESS IN THE TIME THAT'S PASSED HAS BECAUSE SOME OF THAT DELTA HAS BEEN, I GUESS, CLOSED OVER THOSE COUPLE OF YEARS OF [INAUDIBLE], YOU KNOW, WHERE THAT STILL EXISTS ,YOU KNOW, IS THERE PUSHBACK OR MAYBE NOT PUSHBACK, BUT FEEDBACK FROM THE INDIVIDUAL USER GROUPS? I'M SURE THAT THEY WOULDN'T COME OUT AND SAY, OH YEAH, WE'RE GETTING THIS FOR SO CHEAP.
[00:35:03]
BUT IS THERE AN INDICATION THAT THEY'RE IN A BETTER POSITION TO TAKE ON SLIGHT DIFFERENCES IN USER CHARGES IF WERE TO MAKE SOME MORE BOLD STEPS TOWARDS CLOSING THAT GAP? FROM THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE RECEIVED FROM USER GROUPS, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THEY HAVE A STRONG BALANCE AT THE END.THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP THEIR FEES CHARGED TO THEIR USERS AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.
SO THEY WOULD PREFER TO SEE THEIR RATES REDUCED EVEN MORE AS OPPOSED TO THE OPPOSITE, WHICH I THINK EVERYBODY'S ALWAYS HOPING FOR THAT.
BUT JUST BASED ON MY FEEDBACK, MS. BASSI-KELLETT, ANY FEEDBACK TO ADMINISTRATION ON THAT? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'LL ASK MR. WHITE IF HE CAN SPEAK TO THE ENGAGEMENT WITH USER GROUPS.
THANK YOU. THE INFORMATION THAT WE TYPICALLY RECEIVE IS THE APPRECIATION OF THE CONSISTENCY IN THE THREE PERCENT INCREASE, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE GROUPS WOULD SOONER NOT HAVE AN INCREASE. BUT THEY DO APPRECIATE THE CONSISTENCY TO BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT THEIR SHORT AND MEDIUM PLANNING AND WITH THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. MY LAST QUESTION IS, AS WE'VE SEEN THAT THREE PERCENT INCREASE IN SOME OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE FIELD HOUSE, THAT NOW THERE'S THAT PLUS 12 PERCENT.
THERE IS ADMINISTRATION JUST AS HAPPY TO CONTINUE THE THREE PERCENT INCREASE POLICY TO SORT OF TAKE SOME OF THE EXTRA DOLLARS THAT THEY MAKE IN SAY, THE FIELD HOUSE AND THEN APPLY THEM TO OTHER FACILITIES LIKE IS THERE A POLICY WITHIN THE CITY THAT WOULD THEN HALT THE INCREASES FOR THAT PARTICULAR FACILITY BECAUSE THAT DIFFERENCE HAS BEEN ACHIEVED? MS. BASSI-KELLET? MR. WHITE, THANK YOU, THE THREE PERCENT INCREASE, AGAIN, WHEN WE BRING FORWARD THE FEES AND CHARGES POLICY FOR DISCUSSION, IT'S MUCH ABOUT THE FAIRNESS WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATIONS.
IT WOULD BE VERY HARD TO SAY INCREASE MINOR HOCKEY FEES BY THREE PERCENT AND NOT MAYBE INCREASE MINOR SOCCER'S OR ANY OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE CONSISTENTLY USING THE INDOOR FIELDS VERSUS THE ARENAS OR THE SPORTS FIELDS OR IN ANY OF OUR FACILITIES, PARTICULARLY THE RUTH IN MEMORIAL POOL.
SO THAT BEING SAID, CONSISTENCY HOLDS A BIT MORE WEIGHT THAN THE ACTUAL COST RECOVERY FOR THAT PARTICULAR FACILITY.
YEAH, IT'S THE CONSISTENCY AND THE FAIRNESS, OF COURSE, WHEN THE FIELDHOUSE FACILITY WAS OPENED. IT WAS AFTER THIS THREE PERCENT OR AFTER THE, SORRY, THE LARGE INCREASE IN UTILITIES THAT WAS EXPERIENCED IN THE EARLY 2000S.
SO IT WAS OPENED AND THE HOURLY COST WAS BASED ON THE ENGINEERS ESTIMATE AT THE TIME BECAUSE OF THE OPENING.
AND THEN ONCE WE HAD A FULL YEAR OF OPERATIONS, WE FOUND THAT THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATES WERE VERY CLOSE TO OUR ACTUALS.
SO THEN AS THE FAIRNESS MODEL OR THE CONSISTENCY FROM GROUP TO GROUP INCREASED THE FIELD'S USE BY THREE PERCENT, THEN THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD HAVE SAW THE INCREMENTAL GROWTH OVER AND ABOVE THE COST PER HOUR TO OPERATE.
GREAT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWERS, THEY CERTAINLY HELPED ME COLLECT MY THOUGHTS ON IT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM--COUNCILOR MORGAN? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO THANKS FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
I KNOW WE'VE KIND OF REVISITED THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES IN MY TIME ON COUNCIL, AND I KNOW WE ALWAYS SCRATCH OUR HEADS ABOUT A FEW THINGS THAT STAND OUT, INCLUDING THE CURLING CLUB SUBSIDY, WHICH IS LISTED AS 100 PERCENT SUBSIDY, ESSENTIALLY.
I KNOW IN THE PAST THE CURLING CLUB HAS COME TO US AND CLARIFIED THAT THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS SO THE WORK THAT THEY DO TO INSTALL THE ICE, MAINTAIN THE ICE AND READ IN THEIR LETTER SOME JANITORIAL WORK THAT THEY DO, SO THEY CLAIM THAT AMOUNTS TO NINETY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. SO THAT WOULD CHANGE IF WE INCLUDED THAT IN OUR SORT OF CALCULATION OR PERCENTAGE OF HOW MUCH WE'RE SUBSIDIZING, THAT WOULD CHANGE THE PERCENTAGE DRAMATICALLY.
BUT HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONSIDERATION BY ADMINISTRATION OF WHAT SORT OF DOLLAR FIGURES THE
[00:40:01]
CLUB'S CONTRIBUTIONS AMOUNT TO AND HOW WE MIGHT PORTRAY THAT AND HOW WE SHOW WHAT PERCENTAGE SUBSIDIES IS GOING TO THE CLUB? MS. BASSI-KELLET.THANK YOU. WE REALLY HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THEIR OPERATIONS, MUCH LIKE WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT ANY OF THE OTHER GROUPS OPERATIONS AND WHAT THEY PAY FOR, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T PUT IN THE ICE, THERE'S COST FOR EACH OF OUR USER GROUPS.
THERE'RE OPERATIONAL COSTS THAT THEY HAVE TO INCUR.
SO UNLESS WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT ALL OF THEM AND THEN START LOOKING AT A RATIO OF SOME SORT, BUT WE JUST HAVEN'T FOCUSED JUST ON ONE.
OK. I MEAN, SOME OF THE COUNCILORS MAY WANT TO RAISE THIS AS WELL AS SOMETHING THAT WE MAY STILL WANT TO FIND A BETTER SOLUTION TO, BECAUSE IT DOES SEEM THAT THERE'S AN IMBALANCE THERE BETWEEN HOW MUCH WE SUBSIDIZE THE CURLING CLUB VERSUS OTHER SPORTS.
I DON'T KNOW IF OTHERS HAVE THOUGHTS, BUT JUST WANT TO THROW IT OUT THERE THAT'S WHAT THE CLUB HAS COME TO US WITH AS A, YOU KNOW, COUNTER TO THE CHARTS AND STATS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD BY ADMIN. SECOND QUESTION, THOUGH, SO THE SPACE AT THE LIBRARY, THAT'S LEAST WELL, FOR A DOLLAR TO NACC THE REHEARSAL SPACE AND SUPPLEMENTAL OFFICE SPACE.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE THAT IS WORTH QUITE A BIT OF MONEY TO US.
OR PERHAPS THAT'S SORT OF LIKE LOST REVENUE.
IF WE DID CHARGE FOR IT, WE COULD GET UP TO FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONSIDERATION OF WHETHER THE USE BY NACC HAS TO BE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THAT SPACE OR WHETHER IT COULD BE OPENED UP FOR USE BY OTHER GROUPS PUTTING ON SHOWS OR LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OTHER GROUPS BESIDES NACC THAT DO DANCE SHOWS OR, YOU KNOW, THAT REQUIRES A LARGE REHEARSAL SPACE AND.
I MEAN, EITHER, YOU KNOW, GIVING IT TO EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO USE IT FOR LOW OR NO COST OR SEEING IF THERE'S A REASONABLE, AFFORDABLE COST WE COULD PUT TO IT, HAS THAT BEEN CONSIDERED? I THINK ADMIN WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE LEASE AGREEMENT AND ON THE NEXT LEASE RENEWAL COULD BE SOMETHING JUST LIKE THE SIDE DOOR WAS BEING LEASED.
AND THEN WE OPENED UP THAT TO AN RFP PROCESS TO SEE IF THERE WERE OTHER USERS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN USING THE SPACE AND ENTERING INTO A LEASE.
BUT I'M NOT QUITE SURE THE STATUS OF WHEN THOSE TWO LEASES ARE SET TO EXPIRE OR IF THEY HAVE AN EXPIRY DATE IN THE LEASE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
ABSOLUTELY THAT'S TRUE AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TURNING OUR MINDS TO, OF COURSE, WITH THE UPCOMING ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN, AND WE'RE WORKING ON OUR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW.
SO CERTAINLY WE'RE MINDFUL OF THE SUPPORT THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE ARTS IN YELLOWKNIFE AND HOW WE CAN MAXIMIZE THAT SUPPORT.
I'LL ASK MR. WHITE IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD.
YEAH, THANK YOU, MS. BASSI-KELLETT, WE NEGOTIATED THE LEASE, SORRY, TIME IS A BLUR.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR.
IT WAS PROBABLY THE YEAR BEFORE.
AND WE DID ADD A CLAUSE ABOUT A MORE COMPREHENSIVE USE BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
WERE NOT IN OR I GUESS WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION TO BOOK OUT THAT LEASED AREA AND MANAGE IT. BUT WE HAVE WE HAVE A WRITTEN COMMITMENT FROM NACC FOR THEM TO ALLOW OTHER GROUPS IN THERE EXACTLY AS YOU DESCRIBED ELSEWHERE.
OK, SO THAT LEASE WAS JUST REACHED A FEW YEARS AGO, I WASN'T CLEAR ABOUT THE TIMING THERE.
COULD I JUST ADD THAT THERE ARE ANNUAL REVIEWS IN THAT LEASE, AND IF THERE'S IF THERE'S ANY SPECIFIC AREAS OF CONCERN OR ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, WE'LL DO IT ON THE ANNUAL REVIEWS. AND I GUESS JUST ONE MORE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
THE FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND SIX FIFTY FIVE, THAT WOULDN'T BE FOREGONE REVENUE.
THAT'S OUR EXPENSES TO OPERATE THAT SITE.
AND JUST A REMINDER THAT I THINK THE LAST GROUP THAT WAS IN THERE WAS THE RCMP FIREARMS DIVISION, AND IT SAT VACANT FOR MANY YEARS AS WE TRIED TO LEASE IT OUT AND GET SOME EXTRA USE IN THERE. AND THERE WAS NO UPDATES ON IT UNTIL WE HEARD FROM NACC.
OK, SO THAT HELPS GIVE SOME FURTHER BACKGROUND CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE, YEAH, I WAS GOING
[00:45:05]
TO ASK IF, YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVED THERE WOULD BE OTHER GROUPS INTERESTED IN THIS, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE IN THE PAST.OK, I MEAN, CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AS WE WEIGH RELATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OVERALL ART SCENE VERSUS SPORTS SCENE.
OK, I'LL KEEP THINKING ON THAT ONE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF OTHERS HAVE THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILORS? COUNCILOR PAYNE ? OH, SORRY, COUNCILOR PAYNE.
I SEE YOUR MIC'S ON, BUT WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
IF YOU GO TO A LITTLE FLOWER SYMBOL ABOVE THE CHAT BOX.
SEE IF YOU CAN PLAY WITH THE MICROPHONE SETTING.
NO. IF YOU WANT TO TYPE YOUR QUESTION INTO THE CHAT BOX, I'LL READ IT OUT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE'LL, CIRCLE BACK TO COUNCILOR PAYNE.
I DO HAVE ONE, SO IT WAS TALKED ABOUT FOR BALL DIAMONDS AND SPORTS FIELDS THAT WE'VE DONE THE CALCULATION BASED ON RENTING IT FROM 7 A.M.
JUST WONDERING IF MOST OF THOSE ARE RENTABLE HOURS OR IF REALLY WE'RE JUST RENTING IT FROM 5 TO 11 P.M., SO JUST WONDERING ABOUT WHETHER WE'VE TAKEN A LOOK TO SEE IF THOSE ARE RENTABLE HOURS OR WHETHER WE'VE JUST GONE WITH THE PARK SCHEDULE . MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
YEAH, WE'VE KICKED THAT AROUND A FEW TIMES ON HOW TO BEST CAPTURE THAT HOURLY COST.
FOR SURE, IT INCLUDES A 7:00 A.M.
TO 11:00 P.M., THERE ARE SOME SCHOOL USE TIMES IN THERE.
THAT'S BASICALLY WHY WE KEPT IT AT THOSE HOURS.
MOST OF THE TIME THAT IS BOOKED IS EVENINGS AND SOMETIMES ON WEEKENDS.
I'D BE INTERESTED TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE ACTUAL RENTAL COST, IF IT IS REALLY ONLY 5 TO 11 P.M., THAT'S RENTABLE HOURS VERSUS THE TIME FROM SEVEN A.M.
BUT RECOGNIZING THERE ARE SOCCER CAMPS AND STUFF.
SO THOSE ARE BOOKING UP OUR FIELDS JULY TO JULY AND AUGUST, SO IT MIGHT BE ALL RENTABLE SPACE. OK, SORRY, GOING BACK TO COUNCILOR PAYNE.
COUNCILOR PAYNE'S QUESTION IS ABOUT THE LOTTERY LICENSE UPDATES AND HOW GROUPS HAVE [INAUDIBLE] THE LOSS OR THE COST TO RUN [INAUDIBLE].
CAN WE GET AN UPDATE FROM ADMINISTRATION ON THE LOTTERY LICENSE BYLAW REVIEW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS ON OUR WORK PLAN FOR 2021.
I'LL ASK MS. WOODWARD IF SHE'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS IN ANY MORE DETAIL.
THANK YOU, MISS BASSI-KELLETT.
YES, THE LOTTERY LICENSE BYLAW HAS BEEN ON OUR RADAR FOR QUITE SOME TIME, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF SOME CONCERNS AROUND THE [INAUDIBLE] FEES.
FIRST OF ALL, [INAUDIBLE] WAS NEVER EVEN DREAMT UP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT WHEN THE GMWT HANDED US THIS IN NINETEEN NINETY SEVEN.
SO ADMITTEDLY, USING THE EXISTING BYLAW TO TRY AND FIT IT AROUND SOMETHING NEW WAS INDEED CUMBERSOME. WE DID DO SOME CONSULTATION.
WE DRAFTED THE BYLAW AND THEN WHEN COVID HIT AND BINGO'S AND SO ON SIMPLY DIDN'T HAPPEN.
[00:50:04]
AND WERE CHALLENGED WITH NOT ONLY OTHER TASKS BUT SOME STAFF TURNAROUND.THAT PROJECT KIND OF GOT PUT ON THE BACK BURNER.
NOW THAT WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO THE END OF THE 2019 AUDIT, THIS IS NOW PERCOLATING VERY CLOSE TO THE TOP OF OUR WORK PLAN.
SO COUNCIL SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND THAT VERY SHORTLY.
THANK YOU. THAT WORK FOR YOU, COUNCILOR PAYNE? SO IT SHOULD BE COMING BACK TO THE CHALLENGE ALWAYS WITH BALANCING ALL THE WORKLOAD, BUT SOMETHING WE WILL SEE SHORTLY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? SEEING NONE.
WE WILL AS MENTIONED, THIS IS THE PRESENTATION, A BIT OF AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILORS TO SEE THE CURRENT POLICY PRINCIPLES AGAINST THE ACTUAL COST TO OPERATE THE FACILITIES.
AND SO THOSE TWO DIFFERENCES CAN TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE REVIEW THE FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW WHEN IT COMES FORWARD IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.
WITH THAT, WE WILL ADJOURN, GPC, IF THERE IS NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
OK, PERFECT. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW LONG I WAS LIKE, WELL, WE'LL DO GPC AS OPPOSED TO [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE IT MIGHT RUN MORE THAN AN HOUR BUT WE ARE EFFICIENT TODAY, SO WE'LL GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MOVED BY COUNCILOR PAYNE, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR KONGE.
ANYBODY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE. SEE EVERYBODY LATER.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.