Jun 07, 2021 Governance & Priorities Committee

[*This clip is available without audio* Items 1 - 4]

[5. A memorandum regarding whether to appoint a Registrar of Enumeration and Returning Officer for the City of Yellowknife.]

[00:01:08]

>> NEXT ON THE AGENDA WE HAVE A MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO APPOINT A REGISTRAR OF ENUMERATION AND RETURNING OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.

MS. BASSI-KELLETT, CALL IT IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.

ABSOLUTELY. IN PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING ANTICIPATED REFERENDUM, WHERE THE CITY WILL BE SEEKING VOTER APPROVAL ON WHETHER WE CAN BORROW MONEY TO BUILD AN AQUATIC CENTER.

THE CITY NEEDS TO APPOINT A REGISTRAR OF ENUMERATION AND RETURNING OFFICER.

THIS IS A REQUIREMENT THAT'S PURSUANT TO THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND ELECTIONS ACT.

WE NEED TO START ON THIS NOW IN JUNE IN ANTICIPATION OF A REFERENDUM THAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE LATE FALL.

BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PLANNING AND PREPARATION REQUIRED FOR THE REFERENDUM.

CERTAINLY, WITHIN A COVID CONTEXT.

WE KNOW THAT THAT'S THE MAJOR FACTOR.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO GET UNDERWAY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.

>>THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, WE'LL BRING THIS FORWARD TO OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH IS JUNE 14TH.

NEXT, WE HAVE THE MINUTES OF THE HERITAGE COMMITTEE FOR MAY 20TH.

[6. A discussion regarding the minutes of the Heritage Committee meeting of May 20, 2021.]

NEXT, WE HAVE A MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO DISPOSE OF

[7. A memorandum regarding whether to dispose of a leasehold interest in a property identified as a portion of Lot 4, Block 314, Plan 4648 (on the north side of Cemetery Road next to the Snowboard Park).]

COUNSELOR CONGO WILL EXCUSE HIMSELF.

THANK YOU. MS. BASSI-KELLETT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM?

>>THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.

ABSOLUTELY. THE YELLOWKNIFE KNOWN BY CLUB, IS SEEKING A FIVE-YEAR LEASE FOR A PORTION OF LAND THAT'S ADJACENT TO THE BRISTLE BIT SO THAT A MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK AND A CONTRACT CAN BE BUILT.

COUNCIL HAS OPTIONS ON THIS TO SUPPORT THIS.

IF SO, DEPENDING ON THE OPTION THAT COUNCIL DECIDES WILL BE THE BEST PATH FORWARD, WE CAN ALWAYS WORK THEN WITH THE MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB TO CONFIRM RESPECTIVE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

SINCE THE BIKE CLUB HASN'T INDICATED THAT THEY DO SEE A ROLE FOR THE CITY GOING FORWARD.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION ON THIS AND WORKING WITH THE MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB ON THE VISION THAT THEY HAVE AND SEEING IT COME TO FRUITION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. GONZALO, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING BEFORE WE MOVE INTO DISCUSSION?

>> NO, I THANK YOU. I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR NOW AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. OPENING IT UP FOR DISCUSSION, THROUGH ON WHETHER TO DISPOSE OF A LEASEHOLD INTERESTS, THERE IS A FEW DIFFERENT OPTIONS PRESENTED IN THE MEMO.

OPTION A BEING, THERE WE GO, SORRY, LEASING THAT LAND TO THE CLUB FOR $600 A YEAR WITH THE SECURITY DEPOSIT OF 10,00.

OTHER OPTION BEING OPTION B, WHICH IS SELLING THE PROPERTY TO THE CLUB AND THE CLUB BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OR OPTION C, THE CITY OWNING AND MAINTAINING THE WRECK FACILITY WITH THE CLUB BEING THE CONTRACTOR.

OPENING IT UP FOR DISCUSSION, COUNSEL PAYNE.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST WANT TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR OPTION A.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO SEE THIS AFTER ALMOST THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS SEEING THIS PROJECT GO AHEAD.

[00:05:03]

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSELORS? COUNSEL MORGAN?

>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. FIRST, JUST A QUESTION AROUND FUNDING.

I KNOW IT MENTIONS IN THE MEMO THAT THIS IS PART OF THE CAPITAL AREA, AND I WONDERED IF THERE'S ANY POTENTIAL TO BRING FORWARD A PROPOSAL TO THE CAPITAL AREA COMMITTEE TO HELP FUND OR SUPPORT THIS FACILITY IN ANYWAY.

>> MS. BASSI-KELLETT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

THE CAPITAL AREA COMMITTEE DOES NOT HAVE A POOL OF RESOURCES AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

IT CERTAINLY WAS ENVISIONED THAT PENDING EACH PARTY AGREEING TO BRING FORWARD MONEY, THAT RESOURCES COULD BE COLLECTIVELY COLLECTED AND COULD BE USED ON ELECTIVE PRIORITIES.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT HAPPEN.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SURMISE THAT THE CAPITAL AREA COMMITTEE COULD CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING.

THERE'S NO POT THERE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

WE DO WANT TO FLAG THAT THE CAPITAL AREA DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOES LAY OUT THE NATURE OF THE KINDS OF DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAPPENED AROUND FRAME LAKE IN THE CAPITAL AREA.

CERTAINLY, RECREATION IS CONSIDERED PART OF THIS.

WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS IN THE BRISTOL AREA, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO RULE AT THIS POINT IN TIME TO DRAW FROM. THANK YOU.

>> THANKS FOR CLARIFYING THAT. I KNOW THAT THAT IS ULTIMATELY THE VISION OF PART OF THE ROLES OF THE CAPITAL AREA COMMITTEE WILL FULFILL BUT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT WILL COME TOGETHER TO RECOGNIZE THAT AS A CAPITAL CITY.

ESPECIALLY AS YOU KNOW, THE CORE PART OF THE CAPITAL AREA OF OUR CITY, THAT WE ALL HAVE A ROLE IN WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS A REALLY GREAT CAPITAL CITY WITH VARIOUS ASSETS THAT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.

I AM SO HOPEFUL THAT IN THE FUTURE, THAT COMMITTEE AND THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT CAN COME TOGETHER AND RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF OUR CAPITAL CITY AND WHAT IT PROVIDES, NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, BUT FOR PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE TERRITORY WHO COME HERE.

BUT I DO JUST WANT TO SAY I SUPPORT THE MAIN OPTION LAID OUT IN THE MEMO.

NEGOTIATING A LEASE WITH THE MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB WITH AN OPERATIONAL AGREEMENT SETTING OUT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AROUND OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.

I THINK IT'S AN EXCITING TIME THAT HOPEFULLY THIS PROJECT WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.

I KNOW THAT THE CLUB HAS BEEN SO DEDICATED UP TO THIS POINT IN PUTTING DIFFERENT PIECES IN PLACE, GETTING FUNDING FROM OTHER PARTNERS, PUTTING A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO POTENTIAL DESIGN AND PURPOSE OF THE FACILITY AND THE LOCATION AND HAVING SUPPORT NOW FROM MIKEY DFN.

I THINK THE PIECES ARE COMING TOGETHER AND IT'S SUPER EXCITING.

I THINK THIS FACILITY WILL HAVE HUGE UPTAKE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

CERTAINLY, I NEVER GREW UP BEING A MOUNTAIN BIKING KID OR KNOWING MUCH ABOUT IT.

BUT AFTER MOVING HERE, STARTED TO BECOME AWARE AND LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE STARTED TO GET INTO IT MYSELF.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HAVE JUST SEEN THAT PRACTICALLY EVERY KID THAT I KNOW LOVES THE SPORT AND HAS BEEN INVOLVED, MOST OF THEM IN THE MBM, THE MOUNTAIN BIKING CAMPS IN THE SUMMER, WHICH HAVE BEEN HUGELY POPULAR.

STARTING TO REALIZE FROM DOING IT MYSELF AND SEEING KIDS DEVELOP AROUND ME.

HOW IMPORTANT THIS PARTICULAR SPORT IS FOR KIDS DEVELOPING HEALTHY ABILITIES TO TAKE RISKS.

THERE'S BOTH SORT OF PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO PERSONALITY AND PERSONAL AND SOCIAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT THAT COMES OUT OF THIS ONE SPORT THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DO YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED A HUGE TEAM OR TO HAVE AN ORGANIZED GROUP.

YET THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A FACILITY LIKE THIS, BECAUSE AS I'VE DISCOVERED, MOST OF THE MOUNTAIN BIKING AROUND YELLOWKNIFE, WHILE SUPER FUN AND COOL IS QUITE DIFFICULT IN MANY CASES, PRETTY TECHNICAL.

I KNOW FOR MYSELF I COULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM HAVING A SKILLS PARKER FACILITIES WHERE I

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I THINK I DO UNDERSTAND MUCH BETTER NOW.

THE BENEFITS THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD BRING, JUST FOR KIDS, FOR ADULTS, BUT SOMETHING THAT'S ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE AND ALSO COULD DRAW MORE TOURIST VISITORS, EVEN PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

GIVEN THE FACT THAT OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, SO MANY OF THE KIDS IN OUR TOWN HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS MOUNTAIN BIKING CAMP.

I THINK IT IS BECOMING A BIGGER AND BIGGER SPORT HERE AND COULD ATTRACT PEOPLE TO STAY HERE AS THEY GROW UP, AS THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COME BACK HERE.

IF THERE ARE FACILITIES LIKE THIS FOR PEOPLE AND THEIR KIDS.

I THINK THERE'S SO MANY BENEFITS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT THE CLUB HAS TAKEN ON SO MUCH INITIATIVE AND GOTTEN SO MUCH MOMENTUM AND HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN REALLY GAIN FURTHER MOMENTUM MOVING FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU. CYNTHIA MUFANDAEDZA

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.

I JUST WANTED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR OPTION A.

DEFINITELY, I'M EXCITED THAT WE WOULD PROPOSE THE LEASE FOR $600 PER YEAR, SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD, AND I DEFINITELY I'M IN SUPPORT OF THAT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANY FINAL COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? COUNSEL MORRIS.

>> THANKS. YEAH, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF OPTION A AS WELL.

LEASING TO THE MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB WITH ALL THE BEST IN THIS ENDEAVOR AND SIMILAR TO COUNSEL MORGAN, ALSO EXCITED TO TRY OUT THE FACILITY. THANKS.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNSELORS? COUNSEL SMITH.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M IN COMPLETE SUPPORT OF OPTION A, LOVE MBM BIKING WHAT THEY STAND FOR, WHAT THEY DO FOR CHILDREN AND MAYBE EVEN THOSE ADULTS.

WANT TO GO OUT WEARING TRACK JUMPS, NOT ME, BUT OTHER PEOPLE WHO DON'T MIND BREAKING BONES AND STUFF, WHEN THEY FALL TO HAVE BEEN SUPPORT OF AND I HOPE PEOPLE HAVE A BLAST UP THERE.

>> THANK YOU. I'M ALSO IN SUPPORT OF OPTION A, SO THE $600 PER YEAR FOR RENTS AND THE SECURITY DEPOSIT OF 10,000 ICEBERG FEES AND CHARGES BY LAW.

IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY ON HOW THE SECURITY DEPOSIT IS PAID, IF WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT OUR PAST PRACTICES ON LEASES.

I APPRECIATE HAVING A BIT MORE INFORMATION BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS NEXT MONDAY.

WITH THAT SO YES, WE WILL BRING THAT FORWARD TO COUNCIL, WHICH IS NEXT MONDAY, JUNE 14TH, AT 07:00 PM.

WITH THAT, SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, THE NEXT IS IN CAMERA, PERSONNEL MATTER.

[8. IN CAMERA A personnel matter.]

SEEING NONE, WE CAN MOVE IN CAMERA.

THANKS FOR JOINING EVERYBODY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.