[00:00:07]
AS PER COUNCIL PROCEDURES BY LAW WHERE THE MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR ARE UNABLE WITHIN FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE TIME SET FOR THE MEETING, THE CITY MANAGER WOULD SAY I'M THE ACTING CITY MANAGER SHALL CALL THE MEMBERS TO ORDER.SO I NEED TO CALL FOR A MOTION FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A PRESIDING OFFICER FROM THE MEMBERS PRESENT AND COUNCILLOR KONGE JUST SO THAT HE CAN BE THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
SO IF THAT MOTION PASSES, THEN WE CAN PROCEED THAT WAY.
OK, SO I SEE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THE MEMBERS PRESENT FOR COUNCILLOR KONGE TO PROCEED AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER, AS COUNCILLOR PAYNE IS UNABLE TO DIAL IN.
SO I BELIEVE WE CAN CONTINUE THE MEETING.
THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE CITY OF
[1. Opening Statement]
YELLOWKNIFE, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE WERE LOCATED IN CHIEF DRYGEESE TERRITORY FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL. IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIFE'S DENE FIRST NATION.WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGE AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE MÉTIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS, METIS AND INUIT, WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
I LIKE TO MOVE TO THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
[2. Approval of the agenda.]
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? MS. THISTLE.NOTHING TO ADD FROM ADMINISTRATION.
THANK YOU, DISCLOSER, PECUNIARY INTEREST AND GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.
[3. Disclosure of pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof.]
DOES ANYBODY HAVE A PECUNIARY INTERESTS OR ANY.[4. A presentation regarding the Budget 2022.]
NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE BUDGET 2022 OVER TO MRS. THISTLE.THANK YOU, AS WE ALL KNOW, BUDGET TAKES A LOT OF PLANNING AND PREPARATION AND TODAY'S PRESENTATION FROM MS. WOODWARD WILL OUTLINE THE PROCESS THAT PROPOSED FOR BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO.
SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MS. WOODWARD, DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SERVICES.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE YOU TO BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO.
WHILE IT MAY SEEM RATHER HARD TO BELIEVE ON A DAY LIKE TODAY, IN ONLY ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY DAYS, IT WILL PROBABLY BE DARK AND COLD AND YOU WILL DEFINITELY BE CONVENING TO DELIBERATE BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO.
IN PREPARATION FOR THIS TODAY, I AM GOING TO START LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THIS IMPORTANT POLICY DOCUMENT.
I BEGIN BY OUTLINING THE KEY PILLARS THAT ESTABLISHED THE FOUNDATION FOR THE BUDGET THAT WILL PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL LOOK AT SOME OF THE MAJOR FACTORS THAT WILL INFLUENCE BUDGET.
TWENTY, TWENTY TWO AND THE ASSOCIATED DECISIONS, SUMMARIZE THE PROGRESS TO DATE AND THEN END WITH A LOOK AT THE NEXT STEPS.
COMMITTEE MAY RECALL THAT LAST FALL, WHEN BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY ONE WAS INTRODUCED, IT WAS DESCRIBED AS BEING BUILT ON FOUR PILLARS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD BUDGET PROCESS, THE KEY PLANNING PRINCIPLES THAT COUNCIL HAD ORIGINALLY ADOPTED TO GUIDE FISCAL DECISION MAKING IN THE CONTEXT CONTEXT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC.
THE FUNDAMENTALS THAT FRAMED ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND PUBLIC CONSULTATION.
THESE PILLARS REMAIN REAL AND RELEVANT AS WE EMBARK ON BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO.
LET'S QUICKLY REVIEW THESE, STARTING WITH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD BUDGET PROCESS.
THE GFOA'S NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON STATE AND LOCAL BUDGETING DEFINES A GOOD BUDGET PROCESS AS ONE THAT TAKES A LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE, LINKS TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN, REMEMBERING, OF COURSE, THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ITEMS THAT ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE FUNDED TO SUSTAIN A COMMUNITY AND THAT ANY ITEMS OUTSIDE OF THESE FUNDAMENTAL CORE SERVICES MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVES.
A GOOD PROCESS FOCUSES ON OUTCOMES.
WHAT DOES THE CITY HAVE TO PROVIDE IN THE WAY, OF COURSE, SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, AND WHAT DOES COUNCIL WANT TO ACCOMPLISH AND ACHIEVE? THE EMPHASIS IS NOT ON HOW MUCH TAXES WILL GO UP OR DOWN, BUT RATHER ON WHAT IS BEING ACCOMPLISHED. A GOOD PROCESS EDUCATES AND INVOLVES STAKEHOLDERS, AND IN DOING SO ESTABLISHES BUY-IN THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION, A TRUE SHARED COMMITMENT TO A VISION.
WITH THESE CHARACTERISTICS IN MIND, ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN WORKING AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO TO CONTINUALLY REFINE AND IMPROVE UPON THE CITY'S BUDGET PROCESSES, TO BETTER ALIGN
[00:05:01]
THEM WITH THESE BEST PRACTICES AND WITH CITY CIRCUMSTANCES.MAYBE WILL RECALL THAT IN RECENT YEARS, THE PRIOR PRACTICE OF DEPARTMENT CAPITAL TARGETS REQUIRING EACH UNIT TO PLAN SPENDING WITHIN AN ASSIGNED AMOUNT WAS REPLACED WITH AN OUTCOME CENTRIC APPROACH SO THAT EACH PROJECT IS EVALUATED ON ITS MERITS TO IDENTIFY THE INITIATIVES THAT BEST ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S MANDATE TO PROVIDE CORE SERVICES AND TO SUPPORT COUNCILS STRATEGIC PLAN.
IN FACT, SINCE BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY, MANY WILL RECALL THAT CAPITAL PROJECTS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED ALPHABETICALLY IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT IN ORDER TO UNDERMINE THIS CORPORATE APPROACH AND TO HELP COUNCIL FOCUS ON THE MERITS OF EACH PROPOSED ALLOCATION.
THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO.
ADMINISTRATION HAS ALSO INTRODUCED REGULAR UPDATES OF PROGRESS ON COUNCILS STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE UNDERLYING WORK PLANS, THESE EFFORTS ARE CONTINUING IN THE LEAD UP TO BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO, MOST RECENTLY WITH THE PRESENTATION THAT MS. BASSI-KELLETT MADE TO GPC LAST MONTH.
TWO YEARS AGO, THE DEFINITION OF A CAPITAL PROJECT WAS STANDARDIZED TO MEAN PROJECTS THAT ACQUIRE OR IMPROVE A MAJOR ASSET, PROVIDE A BENEFIT FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR, AND REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT EXPENDITURE IN OUR CASE.
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE.
WELL, THIS DID CREATE A ONE TIME SHIFT OF SOME EXPENSES TO CAPITAL, FROM CAPITAL TO OPERATING, IT MORE ACCURATELY REFLECTS THE NATURE OF THE EXPENDITURES BEING MADE AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE CITY'S BOTTOM LINE.
THIS DELINEATION WILL CONTINUE AND WILL BE FURTHER REFINED IN THE COMING YEARS.
THE CONSULTATION PROCESS HAS ALSO BEEN ADAPTED OVER RECENT YEARS TO ELIMINATE BUDGET OPEN HOUSE EVENTS WHICH WEREN'T GARNERING MUCH ATTENTION AND TO ELIMINATE THE LONG FORM SURVEY, WHICH RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRACTICALITY AND PERHAPS THE ETHICS OF ASKING CITIZENS ABOUT ESSENTIAL PROJECTS THAT HAD TO PROCEED REGARDLESS OF CITIZEN FEEDBACK.
THIS YEAR, THERE WILL BE FURTHER ADAPTING THE CONSULTATIONS, THIS TIME TO COMPLEMENT THOSE SURROUNDING THE NEW ZONING BY LAW AND THE PROPOSED AQUATIC CENTER.
ADMINISTRATION IS NOW PROVIDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO COMMITTEE IN STAGED INTERVALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO PROVIDE FOUNDATIONAL INFORMATION CRUCIAL TO INFORM DECISION MAKING. COMMITTEE MAY RECALL IN ADVANCE OF PRIOR BUDGET PRESENTATIONS HAVE INCLUDED IT EVERGREEN PROCEDURES, FEES AND CHARGES, PRACTICES, MILL RATE RATIOS, BUDGET POLICY AND FLEET MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES.
THIS YEAR ASSET MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES WERE PRESENTED AT A [INAUDIBLE] MEETING AND PLANS ARE UNDERWAY FOR ADDITIONAL SESSIONS PRIOR TO DELIBERATIONS, INCLUDING AN UPDATE ON UPCOMING CHANGES TO THE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS FOR COUNCIL QUERIES RELATED TO THE BUDGET.
A FEW YEARS AGO, WE INTRODUCED THE IDEA OF ACCEPTING QUESTIONS IN WRITTEN FORMAT IN ADVANCE OF DELIBERATIONS SO THAT COUNCIL HAD TIME TO PREPARE THOROUGH, ACCURATE AND FULSOME ANSWERS.
ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE THIS YEAR TO ENCOURAGE WRITTEN QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE OF DELIBERATIONS. AT COUNCIL'S REQUEST, THE DELIBERATION PERIOD FOR BUDGET TWENTY NINETEEN, WAS EXTENDED TO TWO WEEKS TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR DISCUSSION.
THIS DIDN'T REALLY WORK OUT SO WELL, SO WE AREN'T PLANNING ON DOING THAT AGAIN.
PLANS FOR BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY ONE INCLUDED MORE FORMAL CONSIDERATION OF OTHER MAJOR INITIATIVES IN THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO BETTER COORDINATE DEMAND FOR LOCAL GOODS AND SERVICES. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS, LIKE MANY OTHER THINGS, DIDN'T UNFOLD QUITE AS PLANNED AS EVERYONE GRAPPLES INSTEAD TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE IMPACT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, BUT IT WILL REMAIN A CONSIDERATION AS WE LOOK TOWARD SCHEDULING THE NUMEROUS PROJECTS THAT WILL FORM PART OF BUDGET. TWENTY TWENTY TWO.
AND THE COVID PANDEMIC PROVIDES A GOOD SEGWAY INTO THE NEXT PILLAR, THE FRAMEWORK OF KEY PLANNING PRINCIPLES THAT COUNCIL ADOPTED IN THE SPRING OF TWENTY TWENTY WHEN THE REALITIES OF COVID WERE EMERGING AND CREATING THE CHALLENGES OF MITIGATING THE IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL AND FISCAL IMPACTS.
WELL, AT THE SAME TIME, PROTECTING THE CITY'S FINANCIAL FUTURE.
ALTHOUGH THE INITIAL PURPOSE OF THESE PRINCIPLES WAS TO INTRODUCE CLARITY AND STRUCTURE WITHIN THE COVID CONTEXT, IT TURNS OUT THAT THEY STILL REMAIN PRETTY VALID AND THEY WILL
[00:10:01]
CONTINUE TO HELP ENSURE LOGICAL AND CONSISTENT DECISION MAKING.THEY RECOGNIZE THE PARAMOUNT NEED TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS, THE NEED TO FOLLOW THE RULES, CONTINUED COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL AND TERRITORIAL LEGISLATION, CITY BYLAWS AND POLICIES, PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS AND THE PROVISIONS OF OUR COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS CONTINUE TO BE FOUNDATIONAL IN ALL DECISION MAKING.
THE PRINCIPALS ALSO CONSIDER THE IMPORTANCE OF ALLOWING EACH ORDER OF GOVERNMENT TO STAY IN ITS LANE AND FOCUS ON ITS OWN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES WHILE AT THE SAME TIME WORKING COOPERATIVELY AND COLLABORATIVELY TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE USE OF SCARCE RESOURCES.
THEY RECOGNIZE THAT OUR CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES MAY ALSO BE FACING FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, AND THE PRINCIPLES EMPHASIZE THE DESIRE TO MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT YELLOWKNIFERS HAVE COME TO VALUE.
THIS SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO THE FUNDAMENTAL PREMISE OF COUNCILS GOAL NUMBER THREE, ENSURING A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL, AND IT TIES DIRECTLY INTO THE LONG TERM REQUIREMENT TO PRESERVE THE CITY'S ASSETS SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROVISION OF MUNICIPAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT OF ASSET MANAGEMENT.
THIS PRINCIPLE ALSO SPEAKS TO THE FUTURE GENERATIONS, PART OF COUNCILS GOAL NUMBER THREE IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMAIN MINDFUL OF NOT ONLY THE NEED TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATE ISSUES, BUT TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T JEOPARDIZE THE FUTURE.
THE PRINCIPALS ALSO IDENTIFY THE ONGOING NEED TO REMAIN VIGILANT ABOUT THE CITY'S FINANCIAL HEALTH. WHILE THE CITY CURRENTLY BENEFITS FROM A STRONG LIQUIDITY POSITION AND A HEALTHY CASH BALANCE, CONTINUED PRUDENT DECISION MAKING WILL BE NEEDED TO HELP ENSURE THE CITY IS ABLE TO CONTINUE PROVIDING SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. THE PRINCIPALS ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING THE BROADER COMMUNITY, A COMMUNITY ECONOMY IN MIND, WHILE, OF COURSE, KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.
THROUGHOUT TWENTY TWENTY THE CITY CONTINUED TO SPEND BUDGETED FUNDS TO ACCOMPLISH COUNCIL APPROVED INITIATIVES AND LET'S DO OUR PART TO KEEP THE LOCAL ECONOMIC WHEELS TURNING.
THIS YEAR, ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS ARE BEING DEVELOPED TO USE COVID, RESTART MONEY TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES AND IMPROVE THEIR REACTIONS OR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PERMITTING PROCESSES.
AND FINALLY, THE PRINCIPLES RECOGNIZED THAT USING DATA AND EVIDENCE TO MAKE DECISIONS IS ESSENTIAL, WHILE EMOTIONS MIGHT RUN HIGH AT TIMES LIKE THIS, THEY'RE STILL IMPORTANT TO REVIEW AND ANALYZE DATA EVIDENCE TO GUIDE STRATEGIC AND EFFECTIVE DECISION-MAKING.
THESE PRINCIPLES ARE RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD WHEN CONSIDERED IN ISOLATION, BUT WHEN TAKEN TOGETHER, THEY WILL CREATE COMPETING PRIORITIES.
MUCH OF THE DECISION MAKING GOING FORWARD WILL INVOLVE BALANCING THESE PRIORITIES.
THE THIRD PILLAR INCORPORATES THE FUNDAMENTAL UNDERPINNINGS UPON WHICH ADMINISTRATION BASED ITS APPROACH TO BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY ONE AND CONTINUED TO RESPECT FOR BUDGET.
TWENTY TWENTY TWO. THEREFORE, BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO IS PREDICATED ON, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FOCUS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON CORE SERVICES.
WITHIN THIS CONTEXT, CITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT TWENTY TWENTY TWO BUT WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THEY WILL BE ADAPTED TO NEW SENSIBILITIES AND RULES AND THAT THE PACE AT WHICH OPERATIONS RETURN TO PRE COVID LEVELS WILL BE HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON THE PATH OF THE PANDEMIC AND RELATED RESTRICTIONS THAT MAY BE LOOSENED OR TIGHTENED AS DEVELOPMENTS UNFOLD.
AT THE SAME TIME, MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND NO DOUBT COUNCIL ARE HEARING LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THERE ARE HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE STILL REELING FROM THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CLIMATE.
THE PLANS REFLECTED IN BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO CANNOT BE TONE DEAF OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. AND THIS BRINGS US TO THE FOURTH PILLAR CONSULTATION.
THE BUDGET IS ONE OF COUNCILS KEY POLICY DOCUMENTS, SO DECISIONS RELATED TO IT SHOULDN'T BE MADE IN A VACUUM.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED SHOULD BE HEARD.
THERE ARE FOUR KEY COMPONENTS TO THIS YEAR'S CONSULTATION PLAN.
NUMBER ONE, THE OPEN DOOR POLICY THAT INVITES STAKEHOLDERS TO DISCUSS THE CITY'S BUDGET
[00:15:02]
WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AT ANY TIME DURING THE YEAR AND ENCOURAGES ELECTED OFFICIALS TO REACH OUT TO CONSTITUENTS TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.NUMBER TWO IS THE COUNCIL MEETING IN SEPTEMBER WHERE THE PUBLIC WILL BE INVITED TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.
THIRD IS THE SPECIALTY'S PC MEETING IN NOVEMBER TO HEAR PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON THE BUDGET DOCUMENT. AND THE FOURTH AND FINAL COMPONENT IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ONE, THE INCREASED MESSAGING. BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO WON'T BE THE ONLY THING THE CITY IS SEEKING STAKEHOLDER INPUT ON THIS SUMMER AND FALL, THE NEW ZONING BYLAW AND THE PROPOSED AQUATIC CENTER WILL BE TAKING CENTER STAGE.
THEREFORE, THIS YEAR, THE BUDGET CONSULTATIONS WILL FOREGO THE ANNUAL SURVEY AND INSTEAD DISSEMINATE MORE INFORMATION VIA SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER PLATFORMS TO INFORM CITIZENS AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTION OFFICIALS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD. SO THAT'S BEEN A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE FOUR PILLARS THAT FORM THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO WILL BE BUILT.
LET'S LOOK NOW AT THE MAJOR INFLUENCES THAT WILL FUNDAMENTALLY SHAPE THE PLANS.
EVERY YEAR, AS COUNCIL IS AWARE THE CITY FACES NUMEROUS INFLUENCES AND UNCERTAINTIES AS IT EMBARKS ON ITS BUDGET PROCESS.
BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO IS NO EXCEPTION.
OF COURSE, THERE IS THE ONGOING NEED ARISING FROM THE CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES ACT TO PRODUCE A BALANCED BUDGET.
THIS YEAR, THE REQUIREMENT TO BALANCE THE BUDGET IS STILL BEING COMPLICATED BY THE ONGOING IMPLICATIONS OF COVID.
WHILE THERE'S GENERALLY MORE KNOWLEDGE AND OPTIMISM THAN THERE WAS THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
THERE'S ALSO THE RECOGNITION THAT THE RETURN TO PRE COVID CONDITIONS WILL BE GRADUAL, SLOW AND UNPREDICTABLE, AND THAT ALL FINANCIAL DECISIONS AND PLANS MUST TAKE THIS UNCERTAINTY INTO ACCOUNT.
AND THERE'S THE CITY'S WATER LICENSE, THE RENEWAL PROCESS ITSELF WAS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING, AND NOW THE NEED TO BECOME OR REMAIN COMPLIANT WITH THE TERMS OF THE LICENSE HAS RESULTED IN NUMEROUS CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR THE COMING YEARS, PROJECTS THAT WILL REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS OF BOTH TIME AND MONEY.
THE PROPOSED AQUATIC CENTER IS THE LARGEST PROJECT EVER UNDERTAKEN BY THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE. SIGNIFICANT TIME ON THE PART OF COUNCIL STAFF, CONSULTANTS AND STAKEHOLDERS HAS ALREADY BEEN INVESTED TO DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF FACILITY AND WHAT AMENITIES WILL BEST SERVE THE COMMUNITY NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
HOWEVER, THE FINAL DECISION WILL BE MADE BY THE RESIDENTS WHEN THEY EITHER APPROVE OR DENY THE CITY'S REQUEST TO BORROW MONEY TO PAY FOR SOME OF THIS INITIATIVE.
BUT THEY DON'T GO TO THE POLLS UNTIL LATE NOVEMBER, WELL AFTER THE DRAFT BUDGET DOCUMENT HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED.
CERTAINLY A TEXTBOOK EXAMPLE OF UNCERTAINTY.
OF COURSE, THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER INFLUENCES AND CONSIDERATIONS THAT WILL IMPACT BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO. THESE ARE JUST THE BIG ONES.
MOVING ON. LET'S REVIEW WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR TO GET A BUDGET TWENTY, TWENTY TWO UNDER WAY AND LOOK AHEAD AT THE NEXT STEPS.
SO WHERE ARE WE IN THE BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO PROCESS? WELL, BY NOW, COMMITTEE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE BASIC CYCLICAL NATURE OF THE CITY'S BUDGET PROCESS. HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE THIS YEAR.
AS ALWAYS, ADMINISTRATION STARTED THE PLANNING PROCESS EARLY IN THE YEAR WHILE BUDGET PLANNING WAS RAMPING UP IN THE BACKGROUND OF THE CART MEETING IN JANUARY.
ADMINISTRATION PROVIDED A COMMITTEE WITH A SEMIANNUAL UPDATE ON COUNCILS TWENTY NINETEEN, TWENTY TWENTY TWO GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND OUTLINED THE HIGH LEVEL PRIORITIES OF THE UNDERLYING TWENTY TWENTY ONE WORK PLAN.
PLANNING CONTINUED THROUGH APRIL AND EARLY IN THE MONTH, ADMINISTRATION PROVIDED COMMITTEE WITH AN UPDATE CONFIRMING THAT THE FUNDING ASSUMPTIONS THAT HAD BEEN MADE WHEN APPROVING BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY ONE AND IN FACT LAID OUT THE CITY RECEIVED COVID FUNDING ONE TIME FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF JUST OVER ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
THE CITY ALSO RECEIVED ONE TIME STREET OUTREACH FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, AS WELL AS ENHANCED MANDATE FUNDING, WHICH WE'LL SEE ANNUAL INCREASED, OUR ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS INCREASED BY EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND
[00:20:04]
DOLLARS. AT THE SAME MEETING, ADMINISTRATION MADE A PRESENTATION REGARDING MILL RATE CONSIDERATIONS AND COMMITTEE DIRECTED ADMINISTRATION TO ESTABLISH TWENTY TWENTY ONE MILL RATES TO KEEP THE COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL MILL RATE RATIO AT TWO POINT TWO SIX.MID-APRIL ADMINISTRATION MADE A PRESENTATION TO THE COMMITTEE THAT OUTLINED THE ROLES THAT FEES AND CHARGES PLAY AND EXPLAINED HOW THEY ARE DETERMINED ACROSS THE BROAD RANGE OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY.
AND AT THE END OF THE MONTH, COUNCIL APPROVED THE TWENTY TWENTY TWO AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WHICH SHOWED THAT THE CITY CAME OUT PRETTY MUCH ON BUDGET LAST YEAR.
IN EARLY MAY, ADMINISTRATION BROUGHT FORWARD RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING COVID RESTART FUNDING, WHEN COUNCIL DIRECTED ADMINISTRATION TO UTILIZE THIS TWENTY TWENTY ONE MONEY TO MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS TO YELLOWKNIFE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES THROUGH SUPPORT OF A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, ADMINISTRATION BROUGHT FORWARD THAT MILL RATE LEVY BYLAWS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE LEGISLATION THAT'S NEEDED TO ALLOW ADMINISTRATION TO SET THE TAX RATES IN ORDER TO GENERATE THE REVENUE INHERENT IN BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY ONE AND MAINTAIN IN OUR CASE, THE ANTICIPATED 2.5 PERCENT TAX INCREASE.
AT THAT TIME, SOME FRUSTRATION WAS EXPRESSED OVER THE FACT THAT COUNCIL APPROVES A BUDGET IN DECEMBER BUT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE MILL RATES UNTIL MAY.
SO LET'S JUST TAKE A BRIEF DETOUR HERE TO SEE WHY THAT IS.
AS COMMITTEE KNOWS, THE CITY'S ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION PROCESSES ARE DRIVEN BY THE TERRITORIAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION.
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS VERY PRESCRIPTIVE AND SETS OUT MANY SPECIFIC STEPS THAT MUST BE TAKEN WITHIN WELL-DEFINED TIMELINES.
THE PROCESS BEGINS WITH ASSESSMENT BY OCTOBER 31ST OF EACH YEAR, THE CITY HAS TO DOCUMENT THE ASSESSED VALUES OF EVERY PROPERTY.
THIS DOCUMENT IS KNOWN AS THE CERTIFIED ASSESSMENT RULE, AND IT HAS TO BE SUBMITTED TO MACA. MACA HAS 21 DAYS TO REVIEW IT AND IDENTIFY ANY CORRECTIONS.
THE CITY THEN HAS 21 DAYS TO MAKE THOSE CORRECTIONS AND GENERATE THE CERTIFIED ASSESSMENT ROLL FIRST REVISION.
NOW, THE TOTAL TAXABLE ASSESSMENT REFLECTED IN THIS FIRST REVISION DOCUMENT IS THE AMOUNT USED WHEN THE DRAFT BUDGET IS PREPARED AND WHEN POSSIBLE TAX RATE IMPLICATIONS ARE ESTIMATED DURING BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.
ONCE THE CERTIFIED ASSESSMENT RULES FIRST REVISION IS SUBMITTED, THE CITY HAS 21 DAYS TO PREPARE AND ISSUE ASSESSMENT NOTICES.
THESE ARE USUALLY MAILED OUT TO STAKEHOLDERS.
IN EARLY JANUARY THIS YEAR, THEY WENT OUT ON JANUARY 5TH.
PROPERTY OWNERS THEN HAVE 45 DAYS TO REPORT A COMPLAINT ABOUT THEIR ASSESSMENT TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF REVISION.
THE SECRETARY MUST MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR A HEARING AND PROVIDE NOTIFICATIONS TO STAKEHOLDERS 21 DAYS BEFORE THE HEARING.
THE BOARD OF REVISION TYPICALLY SITS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS IN EARLY APRIL, ALTHOUGH THIS YEAR THERE WERE VERY FEW COMPLAINTS.
SO THEY'VE GOT THEIR BUSINESS COMPLETED IN ONE DAY.
ALL OF THE CHANGES MADE BY THE BOARD OF REVISION MUST BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ASSESSMENT RULE AND A REVISED RULE CALLED THE CERTIFIED ASSESSMENT RULE SECOND REVISION MUST BE GENERATED AND PRINTED.
NOW, UNLESS THE ASSESSMENT [INAUDIBLE] THE SECOND REVISION BECOMES THE FINAL REVISION, AND IT'S THE ONE USED TO DETERMINE THE MILL RATES.
IN FACT, THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION ACT STIPULATES THAT IT MUST BE USED TO CALCULATE THE FINAL TAX LEVY.
SO ALL OF THOSE STEPS ARE WHY MILL RATES CAN'T BE SET WHEN THE BUDGET IS APPROVED.
NOW BACK TO THE BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO PROCESS, MAY WAS PARTICULARLY BUSY AS COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW AMENDMENTS TO REFLECT COMMUNITY SERVICE USER FEE CHANGES INHERENT IN BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY ONE.
AND AT THAT MONTHS, CART ADMINISTRATION MADE A PRESENTATION EXPLAINING ASSET MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS AND DESCRIBING HOW ASSET MANAGEMENT IS BEING FORMALIZED AT THE CITY.
IN JUNE, THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM TOOK A LONG, HARD LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS AROUND
[00:25:05]
[INAUDIBLE] POSITIONS AND CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR THE COMING YEARS AS WELL, PLANNING GOT UNDERWAY FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS OF OPERATING BUDGETS AND ADMINISTRATION PROVIDED COMMITTEE WITH A SECOND UPDATE ON THE ACTION PLAN RELATED TO COUNCILS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. AS WE LOOK AHEAD, CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT WILL SOON KICK OFF WITH THAT OPEN INVITATION I SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER, AN INVITATION FOR STAKEHOLDERS TO DISCUSS BUDGET CONCERNS AND CONSIDERATIONS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.AS WELL, IN JULY, ADMINISTRATION WILL BRING FORWARD THE SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS REPORT.
IN SEPTEMBER, ADMINISTRATION WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO INITIATIVES AND NUMBERS AND WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC INPUT.
COUNCIL WILL ALSO HEAR FINAL PUBLIC REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS.
IN OCTOBER, ADMINISTRATION WILL PROVIDE COMMITTEE WITH A SUMMARY OF PUBLIC INPUT AND FEEDBACK RECEIVED UP TO THAT POINT, ALONG WITH THE THIRD QUARTER VARIANCE REPORT.
THE DRAFT BUDGET DOCUMENT WILL BE UNVEILED ON NOVEMBER 1ST AND TWO WEEKS LATER, COUNCIL WILL HEAR PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS RELATED TO THAT DOCUMENT.
AS COUNCILLORS REVIEW BUDGET TWENTY TWENTY TWO DOCUMENT, THERE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE QUESTIONS, SO ONCE AGAIN, ADMINISTRATION IS ENCOURAGING THE SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN QUESTIONS AND COMMITTING TO PROVIDING WRITTEN ANSWERS AND POSTING THEM ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. THEN COMES DECEMBER AND BUDGET DELIBERATIONS, ALTHOUGH THIS YEAR, AGAIN, JUST THE WAY THE CALENDAR FALLS, THE FIRST SPECIAL GPC MEETING TO CONSIDER THE BUDGET WILL ACTUALLY BE NOVEMBER 29TH.
NOVEMBER 30TH AND DECEMBER 1ST HAVE ALSO BEEN SET ASIDE FOR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS, ALONG WITH DECEMBER 2ND, JUST IN CASE.
THIS WILL SET THINGS UP WITH THE FINAL APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET ON DECEMBER 6TH, ALONG WITH ANY FEES AND CHARGES, CHANGES THAT MAY BE COMING OUT OF THE BUDGET.
AND THEN THE CYCLE BEGINS AGAIN.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MR. WOODWARD.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BUDGET PROCESS? WOAH EVERYBODY GOT BIGGER.
NO, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYBODY DOES.
SO I GUESS IT'S SUPER CLEAR TO ALL OF US.
SO NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE 10 YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS.
[5. A presentation regarding an update on 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness.]
BUT BEFORE WE START THAT, I KNOW THAT ROBIN SAID THAT HE HAS TO LEAVE AT ONE.IS ANYBODY ELSE LEAVING? BECAUSE I THINK IF WE LOSE MORE THAN ROBIN, THEN I THINK THAT WE ARE NOT A QUORUM ANYMORE.
ROMELL. YES, I NEED TO GO FOR ONE PM ALSO.
OK, I ASSUME IT'S GRANT THAT'S DOING THIS PRESENTATION HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED GRANT? MR. ACTING MAYOR I THINK I COULD WHIP THROUGH THIS PROBABLY ABOUT 15 MINUTES.
ALL RIGHT, THEN IT'S OVER TO YOU.
I GUESS THE ACTING MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON EVERYONE IS HOME YELLOWKNIFE'S 10 YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS.
THE CITY FIRST ENTERED INTO A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND FIRST, THE CITY FIRST ENTERED INTO HOMELESSNESS FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT.
THIS AGREEMENT DESIGNATES THE CITY AS THE COMMUNITY ENTITY, MEANING THAT THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECEIVING, DISTRIBUTING AND REPORTING ON THE FUNDING PROVIDED THROUGH A FORMAL AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS INITIATIVES AND PROGRAM TITLES OVER THE YEARS, AND THE MOST RECENT IS REACHING HOME CANADA'S HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY.
EACH OF THESE FUNDING AGREEMENTS HAVE BEEN ON A FIVE YEAR CYCLE, WITH REACHING HOMETOWN TIMELINE BEING FROM APRIL 1ST OF TWENTY NINETEEN TO MARCH 31ST OF TWENTY TWENTY FOUR.
THERE ARE VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE AGREEMENT, AND ONE OF WHICH IS THE CITY TO COMPLETE A FIVE YEAR PLAN AT THE OUTSET OF EACH AGREEMENT CYCLE AND PROVIDE ANNUAL UPDATES ON THE PLAN DURING THE TWENTY FOURTEEN TO TWENTY NINETEEN CYCLE, THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD ON HOMELESSNESS, THE CAB INCLUDED THE DEVELOPMENT OR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A 10 YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS.
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SO THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS [INAUDIBLE] STRATEGY WAS CONTRACTED TO CARRY OUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 10 YEAR PLAN AND THROUGH A THOROUGH PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION PROCESS, WHICH INCLUDED MEETING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVED EXPERIENCE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INDIGENOUS ELDERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES.THE PLAN WAS DEVELOPED, PRESENTED TO CAB, AND EVENTUALLY ADOPTED BY COUNCIL IN TWENTY SEVENTEEN. THERE ARE FOUR KEY DIRECTIONS OF THE PLAN, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP, COORDINATION, RECONCILIATION AND HEALING, AND TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS PROGRESS MADE ON EACH OF THESE DIRECTIONS. FIRSTLY, IN REFERENCE TO THE ACTIONS THAT ARE DETAILED IN THE PLAN, THESE POINTS OUT THE STEPS OR THE ACTIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR EACH OF THESE DIRECTIONS OF THE PLAN TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
IT ALSO IDENTIFIES WHICH LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT OR OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WORK INDICATED.
THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE SINCE THE PLAN WAS FIRST ADOPTED IN TWENTY SEVENTEEN.
THERE ARE ELECTIONS AT THE MUNICIPAL AND TERRITORIAL LEVEL THAT DELAYED SOME OF THE KEY MEETINGS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE APPROPRIATE GNWT CITY REPRESENTATIVES.
AND ALSO THEN, OF COURSE, THERE WAS THE PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS THAT THREW A WRENCH INTO SOME OF THE WORK THAT WAS REQUIRED TO MOVE ALONG.
THERE ARE THERE'S BEEN SOME KEY MOVEMENTS ALONG THE OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL. SO STARTING WITH LEADERSHIP, THE HOMELESSNESS COMMISSION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND HAS HELD A FEW MEETINGS.
THE MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES THE YELLOWKNIFE, A CHIEF FROM THE YELLOWKNIFE DENE FIRST NATION, AN INDIGENOUS ELDER, THE MAYOR, A CITY COUNCILLOR, AND THE MINISTER OF NWT HOUSING, WHICH IS THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR HOMELESSNESS.
THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION IS TO PROVIDE HIGH LEVEL STRATEGIC DIRECTION ON MOVING TOWARDS ENDING HOMELESSNESS.
THE COMMISSION HAS HAD A FEW MEETINGS, IS BEING ESTABLISHED WITH DISCUSSIONS PRIMARILY FOCUSED AROUND UPDATES ON SERVICES FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, PRESENTATION ON COORDINATED ACCESS, DISCUSSION ON VARIOUS MODELS ON ENDING HOMELESSNESS.
AN ACCOUNTABILITY FRAMEWORK DETAILING THE ROLES OF THE COMMISSION, THE CAB, INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, INTERAGENCY COUNCIL AND A FUNDER'S TABLE.
THE ACCOUNTABILITY FRAMEWORK HAS INCLUDED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FUNDER'S TABLE, WHICH IS THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE GNWT AND THE DISCUSSIONS AT THAT LEVEL, ARE AROUND SHARING INFORMATION ON THE VARIOUS NGOS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT ARE BEING FUNDED TO REDUCE OVERLAP OF FUNDING AND TO FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW PROGRAMS ARE BEING FUNDED.
THE CITY HAS ENTERED INTO THE FEDERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN UPDATED DURING THE COVID AND AS MENTIONED, EXPIRES ON MARCH 31ST, TWENTY TWENTY FOUR, AND THE CITIES ALSO DEVELOPED STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE NWT HOUSING CORP. AND SOME OF THE VARIOUS OTHER GNWT DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE SERVING THE HOMELESS POPULATION. MOVING ALONG TO COORDINATION, THE CAB'S TERMS OF REFERENCE WERE UPDATED IN JANUARY, AS YOU MAY RECALL, OF THIS YEAR, TO INCLUDE AN EXPANDED MEMBERSHIP AS RECOMMENDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND THROUGH OUR HOMELESSNESS FUNDING, THE CITY IS OFFERED MANY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVICE PROVIDERS, GOVERNMENT STAFF AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE FEDERALLY MANDATED HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL FAMILY INFORMATION SYSTEM.
THE CANADIANS ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS TRAINING PROGRAMS HAVE INCLUDED ASSERTIVENESS ENGAGEMENT, TRAINING ON OF ACCESS, TRAINING ON INDIGENOUS HOUSING FIRST.
THERE'S BEEN SOME [INAUDIBLE] TRAINING THAT'S BEEN WELL, WELL ATTENDED BY MANY SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH INCLUDED TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICES IN SELF CARE AND ADDICTIONS THROUGH AN ATTACHMENT LENS.
IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH ALL SERVICE AGENCIES, [INAUDIBLE] A SERVICE DIRECTORY HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND IS UPDATED ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND THIS CAN BE FOUND ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
THE INTAKE ASSESSMENT TOOLS THAT ARE BEING THAT HAVE BEEN AND ARE ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED ARE THE VAT, WHICH IS THE VULNERABILITY ACCESSIBILITY TOOL AND THE YAP, WHICH IS THE YOUTH ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITIZATION TOOL.
THE CITY IMPLEMENTED THE FEDERALLY, AS I MENTIONED, THE FEDERALLY MANDATED, HIFIS THAT'S THE HOMELESSNESS INDIVIDUAL FAMILY INFORMATION SYSTEM IN TWENTY NINETEEN AS REQUIRED.
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AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE CAB FUNDED NGOS AS WELL AS THE NON FUNDED NGOS.THE HIFIS SYSTEM WILL BE USED TO RULE OUT THE [INAUDIBLE] ACCESS.
THE CITY HAS ENTERED INTO DATA SHARING AGREEMENTS WITH VARIOUS SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS A CONFIDENTIALITY WITHIN THE SYSTEM.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, EACH NGO OR SERVICE PROVIDER SIGNED THE DATA SHARING AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE. AND EACH INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
WHO WAS IN HIFIS SIGNS A RELEASE OF INFORMATION FORM AS WELL STATING THAT THEIR NAME, THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION AND THEIR VAT SCORE CAN ONLY BE SHARED WITH THE SERVICE PROVIDER THAT THEY ARE ACCESSING.
AND WITHIN EACH OF THE PROVIDERS, STAFF ALSO HAVE TO SIGN A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT SO THEY UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS AROUND THE PROGRAM AND HOW AND WHEN THE INFORMATION CAN BE USED. THROUGH THE REACHING [INAUDIBLE] AGREEMENT THE CITY IS MANDATED TO UNDERTAKE REVIEWS OF THE VARIOUS FUNDED PROGRAMS, SO THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF REVIEWS THAT ARE CARRIED OUT, INCLUDING A FINANCIAL MONITOR OR A FINANCIAL REVIEW.
AND THIS IS CARRIED OUT WITH THE CITY'S HOMELESSNESS SPECIALIST AND THE CITY'S FINANCIAL ANALYSIS. AND THEN THERE ARE PROGRAM REVIEWS AND PROGRAM REVIEWS ARE CARRIED OUT AGAIN BY THE CITY'S HOMELESSNESS SPECIALIST, AS WELL AS THE FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE ON THE FILE.
IN THE CITY'S REVIEW THAT ENSURE THAT ALL ASPECTS OF THE FUNDED PROGRAMS ARE FUNCTIONING AS PER THE CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS AND CORRECTIONS OR FEEDBACK ARE ARE MADE AS REQUIRED.
MOVING ALONG TO RECONCILIATION, AS MENTIONED, THERE WAS AN UPDATE TO THE CAB MEMBERSHIP, IT NOW INCLUDES TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM LIVED EXPERIENCE AND TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
WHICH HAS PROVIDED KEY INPUT INTO THE DISCUSSIONS AND THE PROVISIONS OF FUNDING TO ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THEY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ALL.
THERE'S BEEN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE YELLOWKNIFE DENE FIRST NATION, THE TREE OF PEACE, THE NATIVE WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION, THE ARCTIC INDIGENOUS WELLNESS FOUNDATION, TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC PROGRAM NEEDS OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS WITH A GOAL OF PROVIDING MEANINGFUL PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS TO MOVE TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS.
THERE WAS A COORDINATED ACCESS WORKING GROUP TO PLAN DEVELOPMENT OF THAT MODEL, AND THIS WORKING GROUP ALSO INCLUDES INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVES TO ENSURE THAT THE MODEL IS DEVELOPED IN A MANNER THAT IS RESPECTFUL TO THE INDIGENOUS NEEDS.
THE CITY HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE KEY SUPPORT TO THE ARCTIC INDIGENOUS WELLNESS FOUNDATION, THE AIWF A HEALING CENTER, THROUGH A SIGNING OF AN MOU FOR THE USE OF THE SITE. THERE'S BEEN FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THEIR ONGOING BREAKFAST PROGRAM AND FOR THE PURCHASE OF A VEHICLE.
AND THEN ON TO THE LAST DIRECTION OF THE PLAN, WHICH IS HEALING.
THE CITY HAS DIRECTLY FUNDED, THE STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM AND THE HOMELESSNESS EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. THERE'S BEEN A DEVELOPMENT OF THE DAY SHELTER AT THE COMMUNITY ARENA AS WELL AS THE ONGOING SUPPORT FOR THE DAY SHELTER.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS INITIATIVES.
REACHING HOME FUNDING HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR PREVENTION AND SHELTER DIVERSION AND THE NWT HOUSING CORP. HAS ESTABLISHED A HOMELESSNESS ASSISTANCE FUND AGAIN TO MOVE PEOPLE AWAY FROM LOSING THEIR HOMES AND TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ORGANIZATIONS, HOUSING, INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR THOSE AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESSNESS OR HOMELESS. AS MENTIONED, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME KEY TRAINING PROVIDED THROUGH THE CAB TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S NO BARRIER AND HARM REDUCTION APPROACH IS TAKEN BY ALL OF THE PROVIDERS. AND THERE IS A FULL SLATE OF HOUSING FIRST PROGRAMS FUNDED THROUGH THE YWCA, WHICH IS FOR FAMILIES BESIDE OR ALSO [INAUDIBLE] BASED CARE FOR YOUTH.
YELLOWKNIFE WOMEN SOCIETY HAS HOUSING FIRST PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS.
AND AS MENTIONED, THERE'S THE AIWF ALSO HOUSING HAS BEEN FUNDED FOR INDIGENOUS CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. RECENTLY, THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS TRAINING SESSIONS, AS I MENTIONED, THROUGH THE REACHING HOME FUNDING THAT HAVE BEEN WELL ATTENDED BY THE NGOS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS FROM YELLOWKNIFE, AS WELL AS OTHER JURISDICTIONS WITHIN THE NWT.
THERE'S BEEN TWO FUNDER TABLES MEETING, WHICH HAS BEEN ATTENDED BY BOTH CITY GNWT
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DEPARTMENTS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.THE CAB HAS RECEIVED ADDITIONAL COVID FUNDING THROUGH THE REACHING HOME CONTRACT AND VARIOUS PROGRAMS FROM THE SIDE DOOR, WOMEN'S SOCIETY, YWCA, SALVATION ARMY AND THE AIWF HAVE BEEN FUNDED.
AND AS YOU MENTIONED HIFIS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY UNDER THE REACHING HOME AGREEMENT AND WORK HAS BEEN UNDERWAY TO SUPPORT THE USE AMONGST THE VARIOUS SERVICE PROVIDERS.
THERE WAS A RECENT UPGRADE TO THE HIFIS SYSTEM THAT'S NOW ON HIFIS 4.0 AND IT'S NOW A CLOUD BASED APPLICATION WHICH MAKES IT EASIER FOR ACCESS TO THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
PREVIOUS TO THAT, IT WAS A HAD TO BE INSTALLED ON A LAPTOP OR A TABLET DEVICE THAT COULD BE USED WITHIN THE PROGRAMS. AND IT WAS QUITE CUMBERSOME.
COORDINATED ACTIONS I MENTIONED IS ALSO MANDATED THROUGH THE REACHING AGREEMENT MUST BE IN PLACE BY TWENTY TWENTY TWO.
THIS INITIATIVE IS WELL INTO THE PLANNING, WITH PARTNERS, INCLUDING INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATIVES REACHING HOME FUNDING FUNDED NGOS, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED AND THOSE LIVING EXPERIENCE.
AND OF COURSE, SOME ARE PARTNERS WITH THE GNWT.
WHILE FUNDING INITIATIVES THROUGH THE REGION HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS, OF COURSE, IN THIS TABLE, THE REACHING HOME FUNDING IS IDENTIFIED, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER FUNDING THAT WE'RE AWARE OF THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.
IT'S COMBINED TO GIVE A PICTURE OF THE ANNUAL FUNDING AND THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN POSITIVELY AFFECTED THROUGH THIS FUNDING.
YOU'LL SEE ON THE NEXT SLIDE THAT THERE ARE SOME CELLS THAT AREN'T FILLED IN.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS EITHER STILL UNDERWAY OR THE REPORTS ARE YET TO BE SUBMITTED. YEAH, MAYBE AND SO I'M LOOKING AT THE TIME HERE WE'LL JUST GET THROUGH.
I WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH EACH OF THOSE INDIVIDUALLY, BUT THEY'RE THERE FOR YOUR INFORMATION. AND OBVIOUSLY, I'M OPEN TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS CITY PROVIDED PROGRAMS THROUGH THE CITY'S BUDGETING PROCESS.
FUNDING HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FOR THE HOMELESSNESS EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THE STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM OF JUST OVER THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TWENTY TWENTY ONE.
THE STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM HAS ALSO BEEN SUBSIDIZED BY THE GNWT TO THE [INAUDIBLE] OF ONE HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THE YK WOMEN'S SOCIETY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL OVER THE YEARS ON BOTH OF THESE GETTING CONTRACTS FOR BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS AND GETTING THEM THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
THE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM AVERAGE COST PER PERSON SERVED IS APPROXIMATELY TWENTY SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS AND HAS RESULTED IN THE REMOVAL OF THREE OR FOUR TONS OF GARBAGE FROM CITY STREETS, SIDEWALKS, PARKS AND TRAILS IN THE STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM.
OF COURSE YOU SEE IT AROUND TOWN.
IT'S GOT A HIGHLY VISIBLE VAN AND ITS WELL RECOGNIZED.
IT'S OPERATING TWELVE HOURS A DAY IN TWENTY TWENTY.
THERE WERE JUST OVER EIGHTY NINE HUNDRED RIDES PROVIDED WITH APPROXIMATE AVERAGE COST OF FORTY DOLLARS AND THIRTY FIVE CENTS PER RIDE.
UPCOMING IMMEDIATE PLANNED PRIORITIES IS THE POINT IN TIME COUNT IT WAS POSTPONED FROM APRIL TWENTY TWENTY DUE TO COVID, HOWEVER, IT WAS CREATED ON APRIL TWENTY TWENTY ONE AND THAT REPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE LATER ON THIS SUMMER.
THERE IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OR THERE IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COORDINATED ACCESS SYSTEM CAB AND THE CITY ARE CURRENTLY WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CANADIAN ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS AND WORKING AND AS WELL AS A WORKING COMMITTEE ON A YELLOWKNIFE CATERED COORDINATED ACCESS SYSTEM.
AND AS I MENTIONED, THIS MUST BE ROLLED OUT BY MARCH 31ST, TWENTY TWENTY TWO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. THIS IS KEY AS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE 10 YEAR PLAN.
THERE'S A NEED TO START LOOKING AT OPTIONS IN YELLOWKNIFE FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. PERMANENT INDICATES THAT THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT OR EXPECTATIONS OF GRADUATION'S OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE PROGRAM, SUPPORT OF OUR WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
IT'S A PROGRAM THAT STAFFED 24 HOURS A DAY, OFFERING A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES TO ASSIST THOSE WITH THE HIGH ACUITY.
AND THERE'S NO FEDERAL FUNDING THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE.
AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YELLOWKNIFE TO HOUSE INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHILE FREEING UP OTHER HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAMS FOR THOSE WITH THE LOWER ACUITY. ADDITIONAL HOUSING IN LINE WITH COUNCILS GOALS OF DRIVING STRATEGIC LAND DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES.
COUNCIL CAN GIVE OPPORTUNITY OR SORRY CAN GIVE CONSIDERATION TO PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
AND A REVIEW AND UPDATE OF THE 10 YEAR PLAN, AS MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET.
THE PLAN WAS ADOPTED IN TWENTY SEVENTEEN AND THE PLAN WILL BE REVIEWED AND UPDATED AS NECESSARY TO ENSURE IT MEANS RELEVANT AND REFLECTS THE CURRENT STATE OF HOMELESSNESS
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PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND PROVIDES AN ACCURATE WAY FORWARD IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS IN YELLOWKNIFE. SO THAT WAS A LITTLE FASTER THAN I ANTICIPATED.I HOPE I WASN'T TOO FAST ANY QUESTIONS OR NANY FOLLOW UP REQUIRED? THANK YOU FOR THAT, I SEE THAT COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS HAS A QUESTION, COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH, JUST A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THAT POINT IN TIME COUNTS, HAS THERE BEEN A PREVIOUS POINT IN TIME COUNT AT THE KIND OF THE ONSET OF THE 10 YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS? MS. THISTLE. MR. WHITE, THANK YOU.
THIS WAS APRIL OF THIS PAST YEAR WAS OUR THIRD POINT IN TIME COUNT.
THE ONE THE PREVIOUS THE FIRST THE FIRST ONE WAS A MAGNET EVENT.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL AREAS IDENTIFIED.
WITHIN THE CITY AND THERE WERE THERE WAS FOOD PROVIDED AND AS IT WAS, THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS CAME UP, THEY WERE GOING THROUGH A PROCESS FOR AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ALL DONE IN A IN A MANNER THAT WAS RESPECTFUL.
THE FINAL OH SORRY THE LAST TWO WERE CARRIED OUT.
THEY WERE ACTUALLY SHELTER COUNTS, WHICH WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
SO WE'LL WE'LL SEE AS THE TWENTY, TWENTY ONE [INAUDIBLE] REPORT GETS FINALIZED.
WHAT WAS THAT LIKE FOR THAT ONE? AND I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM IS WILL THAT REPORT COME TO COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION ONCE IT'S RELEASED? YES, IT WILL BE.
IT'LL BE THE TYPICAL PROCESS AS IT GETS GOES OFF TO THE CAB AND THE CAB MAKES A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL AND THEN COUNCIL WILL HAVE IT IN ITS ENTIRETY.
AND I GUESS IS THIS ONE OF THE BIG METRICS THAT THE CAB IS USING TO MARK SUCCESS OR EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM OVER TIME? SO, OF COURSE, THE CAB IS A FUNDER OF PROGRAMS, NOT A PROVIDER OF PROGRAMS. IT IS ONE OF THE MEASUREMENT TOOLS.
THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT ARE FUNDED ARE TYPICALLY SELECTED THROUGH IDENTIFICATION IN THE 10 YEAR PLAN OR THROUGH A THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF ROUNDTABLES WHERE WE HEAR FROM THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING SERVICES AND NEEDS ARE IDENTIFIED THAT WAY AS WELL.
SO THE CAB IS PRESENTED WITH ALL THE INFORMATION ON EACH OF THE PROGRAMS THEY WILL SELECT THE ONES THAT THEY FEEL BEST, WILL ADDRESS, MEET THE NEEDS OF ENDING HOMELESSNESS.
AND THEN AS THE PROGRAMS WIND UP OR THEY'RE DONE AND WE GET THE REPORTS FROM THE ORGANIZATIONS. SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF [INAUDIBLE] AND REPORTS ON THE LATEST PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING SERVED THAT HELP EACH ITEM IN MOVING FORWARD AND IDENTIFYING FUTURE PROGRAMS. OK, WELL, SO IS IT LATE SUMMER THAT THAT'S EXPECTED WHEN ABOUT, YOU SAID, SORT OF SUMMER.
IS THAT AUGUST OR WILL IT BE THIS MONTH IN JULY.
I'M HOPING FOR AUGUST OR EARLY SEPTEMBER.
ALL RIGHT. I GUESS. AND I GUESS ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SEEING SOME INDICATIONS OF IMPROVEMENT? I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, COUNCILLOR MORSE BROUGHT THIS UP AND HE'S UNFORTUNATELY UNABLE TO BE HERE AT THIS MEETING.
BUT I THINK WE WERE KIND OF LOOKING TO THAT TO SHOW SOME IMPROVEMENT IS THAT THE HOPE OF ADMINISTRATION. [INAUDIBLE] OK, SO AS I MENTIONED, THE PIT COUNT IS IS ONE OF THE MEASUREMENT TOOLS AS WELL AS PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND, YOU KNOW, THE RESULTS THAT WE GET BACK FROM THE PROVIDER.
SO, YES, IT IS AN INDICATOR, AMONGST OTHERS.
OK, GREAT. WELL, I VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION.
I THINK THAT WILL BE A GOOD ONE.
AND THEN THE REVIEW OF THE PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN SOMEWHERE, SOMETIME AFTER THAT, IT GETS DISCUSSED AND DELIBERATED.
SORRY I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, THE REVIEW.
SORRY IN YOUR TASKS ARE THINGS THAT WORK TO BE DONE.
THERE WAS THE PIT COUNT WAS AT THE TOP AND THEN THERE WAS A PROGRAM REVIEW.
I THINK IT WAS THE BOTTOM ITEM.
AND I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT THAT PROGRAM REVEALED WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT PIT
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COUNT. I THINK IT WAS ONE OF YOUR LAST SLIDES.PROGRAM REVIEWS ARE ONGOING THEY CONTINUE.
THERE'S MID-TERM REVIEW AND THEN THAT OCCURS WITH EACH OF THE PROGRAMS. AND [INAUDIBLE] SO THEY'RE THERE CONTINUAL.
IS COUNCIL ASKED TO WEIGH IN ON ANY OF THOSE ON A YEARLY BASIS AND WHEN ABOUT DOES THAT HAPPEN? NO THE REVIEWS ARE DONE THROUGH, AS I MENTIONED, THE HOMELESSNESS SPECIALIST AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS THAT'S ON THE FINANCIAL REVIEW AND THE PROGRAM REVIEWS ARE DONE THROUGH THE HOMELESSNESS SPECIALIST AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
OK, OK, WELL, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY ELSE? DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT.
I THINK THAT IS THE END OF THE AGENDA [INAUDIBLE] AND THAT'S IT.
SO IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN, MOVED BY COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS, SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR SMITH, NOBODY'S GOING TO BE OPPOSED TO THAT.
SO WE'LL SEE YOU ALL IN LIKE TWO WEEKS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.