May 09, 2022 Council Meetings

[1. Councillor Morse will read the Opening Statement.]

[00:00:05]

ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO THE MONDAY, MAY 9TH, CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE COUNCIL MEETING.

I THINK WE HAVE MAYOR ALTY AND COUNCILLOR MORSE ON THE PHONE.

COUNCILLOR SMITH, ARE YOU THERE AS WELL? DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT. ALL RIGHT.

COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA WILL READ THE OPENING STATEMENT.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE ARE LOCATED IN CHIEF DRYGEESE TERRITORY.

FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIFE DENE FIRST NATION.

WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE MÉTIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS, MÉTIS AND INUIT, WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH THE VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO AWARD CEREMONIES OR PRESENTATIONS FOR THE AGENDA.

WE HAVE ADOPTION OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS.

[Items 3 & 4]

COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I MOVE THAT MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF MONDAY, APRIL 24TH, 2020.

BE PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION.

SECONDER. COUNCILLOR SILVERIO.

ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS ON THAT? NOPE. ALL IN FAVOR.

IN FAVOR. COUNCILLOR MORSE? IN FAVOR. THANK YOU.

THAT IS UNANIMOUS.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.

[5. Does any Member have a pecuniary interest in any matter before Council tonight?]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

HEARING NO ONE ELSE.

THERE ARE NO CORRESPONDENCE, NOR ARE THERE ANY PETITIONS FOR THE AGENDA.

THERE ARE NO STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE AGENDA.

THERE ARE NO DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

THERE WERE NO MEMBER STATEMENTS FOR THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY MEMBER STATEMENTS FROM THE FLOOR?

[10. Are there any Member statements from the floor?]

THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE OUR HARDWORKING AND WONDERFUL NURSES AS WE MARK THE BEGINNING OF NATIONAL NURSING WEEK.

I INVITE ALL YELLOWKNIFERS AND NORTHERNERS TO JOIN ME IN THANKING OUR NURSES.

WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR HARD WORK, SACRIFICES AND DEDICATION.

AND AS A CITY, A TERRITORY AND A COUNTRY, WE OWE YOU SO MUCH.

NURSING WEEK IS CELEBRATED NATIONALLY IN CANADA, FROM COAST TO COAST TO COAST.

THIS YEAR IT WILL BE HELD FROM MAY 9 TO 15, AND WE CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THE COURAGE, SACRIFICE AND COMMITMENT OF NURSES AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE THEY PLAY IN SUPPORTING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE IN CANADA AND AROUND THE WORLD.

THIS YEAR'S THEME IS #WEANSWEREDTHECALL, BUT NURSES HAVE ALWAYS ANSWERED THE CALL, EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

THE SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED NURSES THAT CANADA ALREADY FACED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HAS BECOME MORE CRITICAL.

COVID 19 PANDEMIC HAS HELD CANADA AND ALL THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD IN ITS GRIP.

NURSES HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.

NURSES ARE OVERWORKED AND EXHAUSTED.

SOME ARE LEAVING THE PROFESSION.

MANY MORE ARE CONSIDERING IT.

NURSES WORK ARE IMPORTANT, BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE IS MORE TO BE DONE TO ENSURE ALL HEALTH CARE WORKERS HAVE THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO KEEP US SAFE. I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THE TIRELESS EFFORT OF THOUSANDS OF NURSES WHO SHOW UP EVERY DAY IN CANADA HOSPITALS, LONG TERM CARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH SETTINGS TO KEEP US AND OUR LOVED ONES SAFE.

OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THEY HAVE WORKED LONG HOURS, RISKED THEIR HEALTH, AND FACED PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EXHAUSTION ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE PANDEMIC.

MANY HAVE ALSO WORKED BEHIND THE SCENES IN EVERYTHING FROM CONTACT TRACING TO SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND KEEP CANADIANS HEALTHY. AND EVERY DAY, WE CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR VULNERABLE, TO ADMINISTER VACCINES, BOOSTER SHOTS, AND WORK HARD TO PROTECT US IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ONCE AGAIN, I AM THRILLED AND HONORED TO BE PART OF THIS AMAZING PROFESSION AND CONTINUED CONTRIBUTION AND DEVOTION IN PROVIDING THE ULTIMATE CARE OF OUR

[00:05:05]

IF YOU SEE A NURSE, JUST GIVE THEM A PAT ON THE BACK AND AND A WORD OF THANK YOU.

TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES FROM YELLOWKNIFE AND THE TERRITORIES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU GUYS DO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR SILVERIO.

AND THANK YOU TO ALL OUR NURSES.

ANYONE ELSE? HEARING NONE. WE WILL MOVE TO INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[Items 11 & 12]

COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I MOVE THAT COUNCIL DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO MAINTAIN THE MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAX RESPONSIBILITY DISTRIBUTION AS REFLECTED BY THE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL MILL RATE RATIO FOR THE 2022 TAXATION YEAR.

THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS. IS THERE ANY MOTIONS OR ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY WANTS TO PUT FORWARD? [LAUGHTER] DO YOU WANT TO DO IT? SINCE I'M SITTING HERE AS CHAIR? OKAY. COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE MIL RATE RATIO FROM 2.26 TO 2.13.

THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT? COUNCILLOR SILVERIO.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO IT? SURE.

I'LL JUST SORT OF ECHO SOME OF MY COMMENTS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS SORT OF FOR ME FEELS A LITTLE BIT FULL CIRCLE.

YOU KNOW, I LIKE HOW THIS COUNCIL WAS SORT OF REACTING TO DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTS AT THE TIME, I THINK, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS TERM.

THERE WAS THE HOSPITAL CERTAINLY CAPITALIZED ON SOME OF THAT.

BUT NOW CERTAINLY COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO SORT OF RE-TILT THE BALANCE [INAUDIBLE].

ANOTHER CONSIDERATION, OF COURSE, IS WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS HAPPENING.

SO I KIND OF SEE THAT AS A NICE HEALTHY BALANCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT LANDSCAPE HERE IN YELLOWKNIFE.

SO I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE.

I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP SUPPORT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY MOVING FORWARD OUT OF A POST-PANDEMIC ENVIRONMENT.

AND I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, A GOOD MOVE TO MAKE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO IT? COUNCILLOR MORSE OR MAYOR ALTY.

SURE YOU CAN [INAUDIBLE]. YOU CAN GO NEXT MAYOR ALTY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION AS AMENDED.

I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE MAIN MOTION.

AS THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NOTED WHEN THEY CAME TO GPC AT THE END OF APRIL, THEY WERE ADVOCATING FOR CONSISTENCY AND FOR NO INCREASE TO THE RATIO FOR THE COMMERCIAL RATES.

THEY WEREN'T NECESSARILY REQUESTING THAT WE DECREASE THE MILL RATE THIS YEAR, ALTHOUGH I AM SURE THAT THEY WOULD BE WELCOME FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE.

AS THE ADMINISTRATION SHOWED US AT LUNCH TODAY IN 2020, RESIDENTIAL TAXES WENT UP 1.7%, WHEREAS COMMERCIAL TAXES WENT UP A LITTLE BIT LESS AND THEY ONLY WENT UP 1.58%.

IN 2021 WAS THE SAME THING.

RESIDENTIAL TAXES WENT UP 2.6% AND COMMERCIAL TAXES WENT UP JUST A BIT LESS AT 2.54%.

THIS YEAR, I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF HAVING RESIDENTIAL TAXES GO UP 9% AND COMMERCIAL TAXES GOING UP 2.7%.

FINANCIALLY, I APPRECIATE [INAUDIBLE] THIS WILL BE A TOUGH YEAR FOR MANY, WHETHER IT'S A RESIDENT OR A BUSINESS.

INFLATION AND THE IMPACTS OF COVID WILL BE TOUGH, WHICH IS WHY I DON'T WANT TO SHIFT THE BURDEN FROM ONE CLASS TO ANOTHER.

I WANT TO KEEP THE MILL RATE RATIO THE SAME AS IT'S BEEN FOR THE PAST YEAR.

I CAN ALSO SEE PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVE THAT THEY WANT TO TRANSFER MORE OF THE TAX RESPONSIBILITY FROM COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL BECAUSE RESIDENTS USE THE SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY MORE THAN BUSINESSES.

ALTHOUGH IT HASN'T BEEN A DRASTIC CHANGE, THE PERCENTAGE OF TAXES-- OF TOTAL TAXES PAID BY RESIDENTS HAS BEEN INCREASING OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

THE TAX BURDEN SINCE 2020--.

SORRY, 2019 HAS SHIFTED FROM COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL BY 0.66%.

AGAIN, NOT A BIG CHANGE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING.

AS COUNCIL APPROVES THE MILL RATE RATIO CHANGE TONIGHT, AN APPROVE IT TO THE 2.13 RATIO, WE'LL BE SHIFTING 1.92% OF THE TAX BURDEN FROM COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL.

SO I GET IT, IT'S MORE OF A SHIFT, AND IF COUNCIL WANTS THE BIGGER SHIFT IN ONE GO, THEN THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO GO.

[00:10:01]

THEY'LL START TO WORK TO GET THE TAX NOTICES READY SO THAT RESIDENTS WILL HAVE A 9% TAX INCREASE AND BUSINESSES WILL HAVE THE 2.7% INCREASE.

ONCE WE MAKE THE DECISION, WE HAVE TO SUPPORT IT.

IT'S NOT A [INAUDIBLE] DECISION [INAUDIBLE].

FOR ME, I'LL BE VOTING TO SUPPORT THE CURRENT MILL RATE RATIO OF 2.26.

I'VE MENTIONED AT THE PREVIOUS TWO GPC, I'LL ENCOURAGED THE NEXT COUNCIL TO DEVELOP A MILL RATE RATIO POLICY EARLY IN THEIR NEW TERM TO CREATE MORE CERTAINTY TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE REST OF THE TERM.

I'D ALSO ENCOURAGE THEM TO CONSIDER NEXT YEAR, WHEN LOOKING AT THE MILL RATE, WHETHER THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHIFT THE MILL RATE RATIO WITHOUT HAVING THE BIG TAX PERCENT INCREASE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL SINCE THERE WILL BE A NEW BIG COMMERCIAL ASSESSMENT GROWTH HAPPENING WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] SCHOOLS AND THERE MAY BE COMPLETED MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL WHICH WOULD ALSO INCREASE THE ASSESSMENT VALUE.

SO THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME RATIO SHIFTS WITHOUT HAVING SUCH A BIG SPLIT BETWEEN THE TAX INCREASE BETWEEN THE TWO CATEGORIES.

AGAIN, SOMETHING FOR A FUTURE COUNCIL, BUT SOMETHING I'D ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU, MR.-- SORRY, YOUR WORSHIP.

THANK YOU, MAYOR ALTY.

COUNCILLOR MORSE? YEAH, I'LL SPEAK TO IT.

YOU'RE UP. THANKS.

YEAH. NO, I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THE, I BELIEVE IT'S AN AMENDMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE MOTION AS WRITTEN IN THE AGENDA.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN SAY THAT MAYOR ALTY DIDN'T ALREADY COVER IN HER STATEMENT.

SO FOR SAKE OF BREVITY, I'LL JUST DEFER TO HER COMMENTS AS WELL.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

COUNCILLOR MORGAN? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. CAN I JUST GET CLARIFICATION? SO FOLLOWING MAYOR ALTY'S COMMENTS, FROM ADMINISTRATION THAT IF WE DECIDE ON A TAX INCREASE AT BUDGET TIME, THAT SAME TAX INCREASE IS APPLIED TO A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OR A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AT THE SAME RATE? NO? OR AM I MISUNDERSTANDING? MS. BASSI-KELLETT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

A LITTLE BIT MORE TO IT THAN THAT.

AS MS. WOODWARD HAD LAID OUT IN THE PRESENTATION TODAY, I'LL ASK HER TO SPEAK TO THIS BRIEFLY.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY.

ESSENTIALLY, IF THE BUDGET IS PREDICTING IT, AS YOU DID THIS YEAR WHEN YOU PASSED BUDGET 2022, A TAX INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 5.53%, RESIDENTS ALL ELSE BEING EQUAL, COULD EXPECT TO SEE AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 5.53%.

COMMERCIAL BUSINESS OWNERS COULD ALSO EXPECT TO SEE THAT INCREASE.

IT MAY NOT BE EXACTLY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GENERATE THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF REVENUE.

SO SOMETIMES WE'RE OFF BY LESS THAN 1/10 OF A PERCENT, BUT THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT WE'LL END UP.

SO IF THE MILL RATES RATIO IS MAINTAINED, WE CAN EXPECT ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASES OF ABOUT 5.53%.

IT'S WHEN THAT MILL RATE IS SHIFTED THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY GOES ON TO A DIFFERENT CATEGORY, IN THIS CASE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REDUCING THE COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL RATE, MEANING THAT WE WOULD SHIFT SOME OF THE TAX RESPONSIBILITY FROM COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL, AND OF COURSE, WITH THAT SHIFT COMES A DIFFERENT TAX INCREASE THAN THE ONE THAT IS COMING OUT OF THE BUDGET COMMUNICATIONS.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

AND I THINK WHERE I GOT CONFUSED IN MAYOR ALTY'S COMMENTS, I THINK WHEN SHE WAS REFERRING TO DISCREPANCIES IN TAX INCREASES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, I THINK SHE MEANT LIKE THE CATEGORY OF COMMERCIAL AS A WHOLE MAY HAVE INCREASED THE PROPORTION OF TAXES VERSUS THE CATEGORY OF RESIDENTIAL AS A WHOLE IN TERMS OF CATCHING UP OR--.

I MEAN, I'M MORE CONCERNED WITH HOW AN INDIVIDUAL COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNER IS AFFECTED OR AN INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL AS OPPOSED TO THE CATEGORY OF COMMERCIAL VERSUS THE CATEGORY OF RESIDENTIAL IS AFFECTED.

I HAVE DIFFERENT THOUGHTS ON THIS.

I, ON THE ONE HAND, I DO THINK THAT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE SEEN A CREEPING UP OF THE BURDEN PUT ON ON COMMERCIAL, AND I KNOW THE ATTEMPT WAS TO KEEP THE BALANCE THE SAME BETWEEN COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL, BUT I NOW FEEL THAT THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY A POLICY GOAL THAT I WOULD STRONGLY SUPPORT.

[00:15:08]

BUT I ALSO, AT THIS POINT DON'T HAVE A STRONG POLICY RATIONALE FOR PICKING A CERTAIN NUMBER.

I DO THINK THE COMMERCIAL SHOULD PAY MORE, LIKE THAT THE RATIO SHOULD BE MORE THAN 1 TO 1, BUT I DON'T HAVE A STRONG RATIONALE FOR PICKING 2 .26 OVER 2.13.

I KNOW THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A STRONG PULL TOWARDS THE STATUS QUO OR WHAT IS EXPECTED, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO BOTH RESIDENTS AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS THAT THEY HAVE SOME DEGREE OF PREDICTABILITY AND STABILITY.

[COUGH]. I ALSO DID NOTE MAYOR ALTY'S COMMENTS THIS AFTERNOON THAT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES POTENTIALLY TO OFFSET PROPERTY TAX COSTS BY WRITING IT OFF IN THEIR TAXES TO THE FEDERAL OR TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENTS IN WAYS THAT RESIDENTIAL OWNERS MAY NOT, BUT THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BE DISCUSSED AND REFLECTED ON BY FUTURE COUNCILS.

I THINK I'M LEANING BACK TOWARDS JUST KEEPING THE STATUS QUO FOR NOW, IN TERMS OF THAT I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THE ORIGINAL MOTION AND NOT THE AMENDMENT, GIVEN THAT, AS MAYOR ALTY POINTED OUT, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WAS ASKING FOR STABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY GOING FORWARD, NOT NECESSARILY A DECREASE IN THE CORPORATE TAX RATE--.

NOT CORPORATE TAX RATE, THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAX RATE.

SO I DO THINK THAT CERTAINLY THE RATIO SHOULDN'T INCREASE BEYOND 2.26 WITHOUT SOME COHERENT SORT OF POLICY GOAL OR OBJECTIVE FROM COUNCIL.

BUT AT THIS POINT, I'LL SUPPORT THE STATUS QUO RATIO IN TERMS OF WHAT PEOPLE HAD BEEN EXPECTING AND WOULD ADVISE FROM MY PART THAT THAT RATIO NOT CHANGE ANY FURTHER WITHOUT-- YEAH, POLICY ARTICULATED BY THIS COUNCIL OR THE NEXT ONE.

SO I'LL SUPPORT THE MOTION AS IS WITHOUT THE AMENDMENT.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO IT? [INAUDIBLE]. SEEING NONE TO THE AMENDMENT-- COUNCILLOR KONGE, COULD I RUN IT ONE MORE TIME? YUP. YOU MAY.

THANKS. SORRY.

COUNCILLOR MORGAN JUST ON HER COMMENTS, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I CLARIFIED MY POINT BECAUSE I WAS USING TWO DIFFERENT-- TALKED ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS AND BOTH WERE ABOUT PERCENTAGES.

SO IN THE PRESENTATION FROM ADMINISTRATION THIS AFTERNOON, THEY TALKED ABOUT MILL RATE RATIOS VERSUS TAX INCREASES.

AND SO IN 2020, OUR BUDGET ANTICIPATED THAT WE'D HAVE A 1.6% TAX INCREASE, AND WHEN THAT WAS SPLIT OUT, COMMERCIAL ENDED UP WITH JUST A 1.58% TAX INCREASE, WHEREAS RESIDENTIAL HAD A 1.7% TAX INCREASE.

SO IT WAS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TAX INCREASES FOR THE TWO CATEGORIES, BUT AS MS. WOODWARD JUST SAID, ADMINISTRATION ALWAYS AIMS TO HAVE IT IN A .10-- OR 0.1% RANGE.

SO THAT WAS ONE FIGURE THAT I WAS SHOWING THAT RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN PAYING A BIT MORE OF THEIR FAIR SHARE OR A BIT MORE IN TAXES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

THE OTHER ONE I WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS THE TOTAL IN TAXES PAID IN 2019, RESIDENTS PAID 41.6% OF TOTAL TAXES, WHEREAS IT'S GROWING IF WE GO WITH THE MILL RATE AS PRESENTED BY ADMINISTRATION, THEY'LL BE PAYING 42.2%.

SO THE SHARE OF TAXES THAT RESIDENTS PAYING IS GOING TO INCREASE IN 2022 WITH THE MILL RATE AS PRESENTED BY ADMINISTRATION.

IT COULD GROW EVEN FARTHER IF WE GO TO 2.13.

WHICH IS ALSO ADMINISTRATION PUT IN THE MEMO, IT COULD GROW TO RESIDENTS COULD PAY 43.5% OF TAXES IF WE INCREASE IT TO 2.13.

SO I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME CLARITY ON THOSE TWO PERCENTAGES, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE I MIGHT OF CONFUSED FOLKS THERE.

[00:20:06]

ANYTHING FURTHER FROM ANYBODY? ALL RIGHT TO THE AMENDMENT TO DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO HAVE A RESIDENTIAL MILL RATE-- COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL MILL RATE RATIO OF 2.13.

ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? OPPOSED. OPPOSED.

AND THAT CARRIES WITH COUNCILLOR MORSE, COUNCILLOR MORGAN AND MAYOR ALTY OPPOSED.

NOW WE HAVE GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE REPORT FOR MAY 2ND, 2022.

COUNCILLOR--.

GILLARD. IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

I'M GETTING IT WRONG.

TO THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED.

OPPOSED. OPPOSED.

THANK YOU AND THAT CARRIES WITH COUNCILLOR MORSE MORGAN AND MAYOR ALTY OPPOSED.

NOW FOR GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE REPORT FOR MAY 2ND, 2022.

[Items 13 - 15]

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I MOVE THAT COUNCIL NUMBER ONE, ADOPT THE 2021 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.

NUMBER TWO, APPROVED THE INTERFUND AND RESERVE TRANSFERS AS OUTLINED IN THE 2021 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND NUMBER THREE, APPROVED THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE OF $10.7 MILLION, WHICH EXCEEDS THE MAXIMUM 15% OF BUDGETED EXPENDITURES OUTLINED IN THE FUND STABILIZATION COMPONENT OF THE BUDGET POLICY, BUT LEAVES THE GENERAL FUND IN A SOLID POSITION TO ABSORB POTENTIAL FINANCIAL IMPACTS RESULTING FROM THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES OF THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU. CAN I GET A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR MORGAN.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE? SEEING NONE.

TO THE MOTION, ALL IN FAVOR.

IN FAVOR. IN FAVOR.

THANK YOU. AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCILLOR MERCHANDIZER, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. I MOVE THAT YELLOWKNIFE CITY COUNCIL NOT TAKE ANY OFFICIAL POSITION WITH REGARD TO THE GNWT SEASONAL TIME CHANGE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

THANK YOU. A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR MORGAN.

IS THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS? YEAH, I THINK, MR. CHAIR, I THINK I MADE MY COMMENTS PRETTY CLEAR AT GPC, BUT I JUST WANT TO REITERATE NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS ONE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ALIGNED WITH, YOU KNOW, OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH ON AN ONGOING BASIS.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THESE TIME CHANGES IS NICE TO HAVE, UNLESS WE HAVE A COORDINATED APPROACH, I WOULDN'T BE IN FAVOR FOR THIS.

SO CERTAINLY BE OPEN TO IT IN THE FUTURE WITH A COORDINATED APPROACH, BUT WITHOUT THAT, NOT REALLY IN FAVOR OF THIS ONE.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? IN FAVOR. IN FAVOR.

AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NO. SORRY. [LAUGHTER] ALL THOSE OPPOSED? CAN'T SEE THAT FAR. SO THAT CARRIES WITH COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS OPPOSED.

NEW BUSINESS. THERE'S NO BUSINESS FOR THE AGENDA.

IS THERE ANY NEW BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR? ENACTMENT OF BYLAWS.

[Items 18 - 22]

COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS IS LEAVING.

ENACTMENT OF BYLAWS.

BYLAW NUMBER 5056, A BYLAW TO ACQUIRE FEE SIMPLE TITLE OF ALL UNSERVED ROADS AND LANE COMMISSIONER'S LAND PARCEL AS IDENTIFIED IN SCHEDULE "A" OF BYLAW NUMBER

[00:25:08]

WE CAN'T DO THIRD READING AS WE'RE MISSING SOME MEMBERS TONIGHT.

COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I MOVE FIRST READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5056.

THANK YOU. A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR MORGAN.

ALL IN FAVOR.

IN FAVOR. IN FAVOR.

THANK YOU. AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

SECOND READING, COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I MOVE SECOND READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5056.

AND COUNCILLOR SILVERIO SECONDS THAT.

IS THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OR AMENDMENTS? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? IN FAVOR. IN FAVOR.

AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

AND THEN ON TO BYLAW 5057, A BYLAW TO

[Items 23 - 27]

COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I MOVE FIRST READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5057.

THANK YOU. A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR SILVERIO.

ALL IN FAVOR.

IN FAVOR. IN FAVOR.

THANK YOU.

AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

SECOND READING, COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I MOVE SECOND READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5057.

THANK YOU. A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR MORGAN.

WAS THERE ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS OR AMENDMENTS? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR.

IN FAVOR. COUNCILLOR MORSE.

SORRY. I MUST NOT HAVE MUTED PROPERLY.

ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF SECOND READING OF BYLAW 5057.

YES, I'M IN FAVOR.

CAN YOU NOT HEAR ME? WE COULDN'T, NO.

THANK YOU. THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ITEM NUMBER 28, BYLAW NUMBER 5058.

[Items 28 - 30]

COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I MOVE FIRST READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5058.

THANK YOU. A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR SILVERIO.

ALL IN FAVOR.

IN FAVOR. IN FAVOR.

THANK YOU.

AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

SECOND READING, COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I MOVE. SECOND READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5058.

THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS. DO WE HAVE ANY? COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS YEAH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THAT THIS IS SORT OF AN EXCITING MOMENT, I THINK, FOR THIS COUNCIL, BECAUSE THIS IS SORT OF REPRESENTS SORT OF THE TRIFECTA OF THE BIG BYLAWS THAT ARE OUT THERE, THE BUILDING BYLAW, THE ZONING BYLAW AND THE COMMUNITY PLAN.

SO I THINK THIS REALLY DOES CLOSE THE BOOK TO SOME REALLY GREAT WORK THAT WAS DONE OVER THE TERM AND, YOU KNOW, WAS SOMETHING THAT A GOAL FOR ME DURING THIS TERM.

SO REALLY GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

SO REALLY BIG THANKS TO ADMINISTRATION AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO TO GET THESE MASSIVE BYLAWS AND MASSIVE CONSULTATIONS DONE WITH THE PUBLIC AND IN FRONT OF US AND STILL ALLOWING SOME TIME FOR SOME DEBATE AND SOME BACK AND FORTH.

SO, YEAH, THIS IS A GREAT ONE.

SPECIFIC TO THIS BYLAW, I THINK SOME OF THE GREAT EVOLUTIONS OF IT IS CERTAINLY SOME MORE PRESCRIBED OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR THE DIYERS OUT THERE AND I'M CERTAINLY EXCITED TO JUMP IN AND EXPLORE THIS BYLAW WITH MY TOOLS.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT IN THE FUTURE.

ANYWAY, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO ADMINISTRATION.

THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR OUR COUNCIL AND HOPEFULLY AN EXCITING TIME FOR YELLOWKNIFE.

[00:30:01]

HEAR, HEAR. ANYONE ELSE? I RECEIVED A QUESTION TODAY FROM A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO I GUESS THIS IS A QUESTION FOR ADMINISTRATION, AND IT WAS QUITE SPECIFIC ON MODULAR UNITS.

THE MODULAR UNITS, THEY COME SOMETIMES FROM AS FAR AWAY AS SASKATCHEWAN.

IT'S QUITE THE ROAD TO GET HERE.

AND SOMETIMES WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN YELLOWKNIFE, SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR BUILDING BYLAW ARE NOT QUITE MET IN TERMS OF THE AIR TIGHTNESS OR ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

AND THE QUESTION THAT I RECEIVED THAT THEY WANTED TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY DON'T QUITE REACH OUR REQUIREMENTS.

MS. BASSI-KELLETT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

I'LL ASK MISS WHITE TO TAKE A KICK AT ANSWERING THIS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND ACTUALLY WE HAVE WITH US TONIGHT GREG LITTLEFAIR AND I WILL ASK HIM BECAUSE I KNOW HE'LL GIVE A GOOD COMPREHENSIVE ANSWER.

THANK YOU. IN THE SPECIFIC CASE OF MANUFACTURED HOMES, WE WOULD OFFER THE APPLICANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A AIR TIGHTNESS TEST FROM THE FACTORY BY A QUALIFIED INNER GUIDE ENERGY ADVISER WOULD BE ONE OPTION. AND THEN ONCE THE HOME IS HERE OR THE STRUCTURE IS HERE, WE TRY TO WORK WITH THE APPLICANTS TO REACH COMPLIANCE.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF NEW MATERIALS OUT AND A LOT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION METHODS TO FIX LEAKS IN-- AIR LEAKS, IN PARTICULAR AFTER THE DRYWALL AND PAINT STAGES [INAUDIBLE].

IT DOES HAPPEN WITH BUILDINGS THAT ARE CONVENTIONALLY FRAMED.

BUT AT THE TIME OF THE FINAL TEST, THEY DON'T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS AND THE ENERGY ADVISOR IS ABLE TO ACTUALLY PINPOINT WHERE THE AIR LOSS IS OCCURRING AND CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FIXING.

IT IS REALLY QUITE SOMETHING.

IT'S A LITTLE MORE OF A SCIENCE THAN THAN YOU WOULD THINK, BUT THEY CAN GET IT DOWN TO WHICH VENT IS LEAKING OR WHICH WINDOW. SO THERE ARE METHODS THAT WE CAN EMPLOY AND ENCOURAGE THE APPLICANT TO FIX TO MEET THE BYLAW. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. AND SEEING NOTHING ELSE, TO SECOND READING ALL IN FAVOR? IN FAVOR. IN FAVOR.

THANK YOU. AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

DEFERRED BUSINESS AND TABLE ITEMS. THERE ARE NO DEFERRED BUSINESS AND THERE ARE NO TABLE ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA.

IS THERE ANY DEFERRED BUSINESS OR ARE THERE ANY TABLE ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR? SEEING--. HEARING NONE.

OLD BUSINESS. THERE IS NO OLD BUSINESS FOR THE AGENDA.

IS THERE ANY OLD BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR? SEEING AND HEARING NONE.

NOTICES OF MOTION.

THERE ARE NO NOTICES OF MOTION FOR THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY NOTICES OF MOTION FROM THE FLOOR? SEEING NONE OF THOSE EITHER.

DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

THERE ARE NO DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS, NOT ON THE AGENDA.

ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES.

[39. Are there any administrative enquiries from the floor?]

ARE THERE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES FROM THE FLOOR? COUNCILLOR SILVERIO, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, WORSHIP.

JUST A QUESTION FOR ADMINISTRATION.

I KNOW THAT [INAUDIBLE] MY WORK, THEY ASKED US TO BE ON HOLD FOR THE FLOOD.

I WAS JUST WONDERING IF WE END UP EVACUATING PEOPLE FROM, SAY, FORT SMITH, HAY RIVER, WHEN THEY COME TO YELLOWKNIFE, WHO MANAGE THAT? IS IT THE CITY OR THE TERRITORY? MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

IT'S VERY, VERY RELEVANT TODAY AS WE ALL WATCH, QUITE HORRIFIED WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN HAY RIVER RIGHT NOW, THE WORST FLOODING THEY'VE SEEN IN 50 OR 60 YEARS.

FOR THIS FLOOD SEASON, WE WERE APPROACHED BY THE GNWT, BY THEIR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION TO TALK ABOUT THE APPROACH THAT THE GNWT WAS PLANNING TO TAKE WITH COMMUNITIES FOR THIS FLOOD SEASON.

WHAT THEY SAID TO US IN MID-APRIL WAS IF WE COULD BE PREPARED TO ACCEPT ANY POTENTIAL EVACUEES FROM FORT SIMPSON, THEY WERE WORKING ON A SYSTEM WHERE HAY RIVER AND FORT SMITH WOULD SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

JEAN MARIE RIVER HAS A SOLUTION THAT'S RELEVANT TO THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE GOING TO HIGHER GROUND.

NAHANNI BUTTE IS WORKING OUT THINGS ON THEIR OWN AS WELL.

SO WE WERE ASKED TO BE PREPARED TO ACCEPT EVACUEES POTENTIALLY IF NEEDED, FROM FORT SIMPSON.

[00:35:02]

WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS TODAY THAT IN THE EVENT THAT THIS HAS TO HAPPEN, THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE ANY KIND OF AN EVACUATION OF PEOPLE FROM HAY RIVER JUST BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN SO SLAMMED WITH THE ICE, THE WATER, THE WEATHER, THE SNOWFALL, THE RAINFALL.

IF THAT IS THE CASE, WE HAVE BEEN ASKED IF WE CAN BE PREPARED TO WELCOME AND SHELTER SOME OF THE EVACUEES THAT WOULD COME HERE.

SO WE WOULD TAKE ONE OF OUR FACILITIES, THE YELLOWKNIFE COMMUNITY ARENA, OR IF THERE ARE MORE THAN 150 EVACUEES, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY THE MULTIPLEX.

WE HAVE COTS UP TO ABOUT 150.

WE WOULD BE SUPPLIED WITH MORE COTS BY THE GNWT'S EMO.

THEY'RE DOING THE COORDINATION OF BRINGING PEOPLE OUT OF COMMUNITIES WHEN THEY HAVE TO.

WE WOULD PROVIDE THE RECEPTION CENTER, WE WOULD WELCOME PEOPLE INTO ONE OF OUR FACILITIES WITH COTS AND BEDDING, AND THE GNWT TAKES CARE OF REGISTERING WHO'S ARRIVED AND ANY FOOD, ANY OTHER NEEDS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

SO WE'RE WORKING REALLY CLOSELY, AND IN THE EVENT THAT WE DO NEED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, WE OF COURSE, WILL BE READY TO DO SO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

YEAH, IT'S--. AFTER GPC TODAY, I WATCHED SOME OF THOSE VIDEOS FROM PARADISE GARDENS.

IT'S A--.

YEAH. IT'S PRETTY CRAZY WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE.

SO HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY STAYS SAFE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ADMINISTRATION? NOPE. SO ANYBODY WANT TO MOVE TO ADJOURN? OH, LOOK AT EVERYBODY'S HAND FLIES UP.

[LAUGHTER] COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS, SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR SILVERIO.

ANYBODY OPPOSED? ANYBODY WANT TO STAY? NO? HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, THEN, EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU. THANKS, EVERYBODY.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.