Oct 24, 2022 Council Meetings

[00:00:02]

AND I'LL CALL OUR COUNCIL.

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

THANK YOU. 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 METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS, METIS AND INUIT, WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

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

MINUTES OF COUNCIL.

[Items 3 & 4]

COUNCILOR MORSE. THANK YOU.

I MOVE THAT MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 TO BE PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION.

THANK YOU, SECONDER.

COUNCILLOR SILVERIO.

ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCILLOR MORSE.

[Items 5 & 6]

OH, OKAY. THANKS.

I MOVE THAT MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2022 BE PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION.

THANK YOU. SECONDER.

COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS. ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT, WE HAVE DISCLOSURE, PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.

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

BUT WE CAN ADD THAT TO THE RECORD.

SEEING NOTHING FURTHER.

THERE WAS NO CORRESPONDENCE, NOR WERE THERE ANY PETITIONS FOR THE AGENDA.

THERE WERE NO STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE AGENDA.

THERE WERE NO DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

THERE WERE NO STATEMENTS FOR THE AGENDA.

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

I'LL START OFF. COUNCILLOR KONGE.

THANK YOU. TEN YEARS.

IT'S BEEN QUITE THE JOURNEY.

I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT RENEE.

TEGAN, MY NUMBER ONE SUPPORTER.

SHE HAD TO COME TODAY.

MISSING SOME SCHOOL.

SHE CAME TO MY FIRST COUNCIL MEETING EVER AND SHE WANTED TO COME TO THE LAST ONE.

SO THANKS FOR ALWAYS COMING TEGAN.

AND LEO, OF COURSE. SO THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY FOR SUPPORTING ME THROUGH THESE TEN YEARS, DECADE, 20% OF MY LIFE I'VE BEEN A POLITICIAN.

THAT'S SOMETHING I NEVER DREAMED I WOULD BE.

POLITICIANS ARE NOT VERY WELL REGARDED IN THE HOUSEHOLD THAT I GREW UP IN.

[LAUGHTER] SO, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU COME IN HERE.

AND IT'S IT'S INTERESTING.

LIKE, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT A POLITICIAN DOES, BUT I KNEW WHAT I WANTED TO DO, AND IT TOOK A LITTLE WHILE TO GET IT DONE.

BUT. IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING JOURNEY FOR ME.

LIKE I LEARNED A LOT, YOU KNOW, BEING PRIVATE ENTERPRISE BASICALLY MY WHOLE LIFE, NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY GOVERNMENT DOES CERTAIN THINGS.

WELL, I GOT EDUCATED.

I NOW UNDERSTAND A LOT MORE ABOUT HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS AND AND WHY IT WORKS THAT WAY.

SO FOR THAT, I HAVE TO THINK ADMINISTRATION.

THERE ARE A FEW FACES OVER THERE THAT WERE HERE TEN YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY, QUITE A FEW.

AND SHEILA, SHEILA, YOU'VE BEEN THE LONGEST SERVING SAO SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP FOR, I DON'T KNOW, FIVE YEARS NOW.

SIX.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT. REBECCA, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU FROM A HOLE IN THE GROUND TEN YEARS AGO.

NO IDEA WHO YOU WERE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP.

THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS LISTENING.

THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME WHEN I'M BEING AN IDIOT.

PEOPLE NEED TO DO THAT WITH ME BECAUSE I WAS A BULL IN A CHINA SHOP.

YOU'RE TOO GOOD FOR YELLOWKNIFE.

I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME THAT YOU KNOW THAT THEY SHOULD BE PRETTY THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE THE MAYOR OF YELLOWKNIFE BECAUSE, YOU COULD BE ANYTHING.

YOU REALLY COULD. SO THANK YOU FOR THE FRIENDSHIP.

IT'S WHAT I CHERISH THE MOST OF BEING HERE.

MY OTHER, FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT'S BEEN A SLICE.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT I NEVER TAKE IT PERSONALLY.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY GREAT WHEN YOU GUYS HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU FEEL IS VALUABLE.

NEVER LOSE THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS BECOMING LESS AND LESS IN THE WORLD.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

YELLOWKNIFE. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, OH, THE MINES ARE CLOSING AND THIS IS HAPPENING AND THAT'S HAPPENING.

[00:05:02]

DON'T FORGET THAT. DON'T SIT UP HERE AND THINK THAT IT'S ALL DOOM AND GLOOM BECAUSE YELLOWKNIFE IS NOT DOOM AND GLOOM.

THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES HERE FOR PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY.

KEEP INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE GREAT.

THERE'S NO NEW COUNCILLORS HERE, BUT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE FUN.

ENJOY IT. IT'S IT CAN BE A PRETTY STEEP LEARNING CURVE, BUT DON'T TAKE IT TOO SERIOUSLY BECAUSE, I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE ANYTHING TOO SERIOUSLY IN LIFE, QUITE FRANKLY.

AND YEAH, MY LAST COUNCIL MEETING IN YELLOWKNIFE AFTER, I DIDN'T DO THE MATH ON HOW MANY THERE WERE.

BUT IT'S BEEN A LOT OF MEETINGS.

I HAVEN'T MISSED VERY MANY.

AND I'VE QUITE ENJOYED IT.

AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN ALONG ON THIS JOURNEY WITH ME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND I WOULDN'T CHANGE IT FOR THE WORLD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE ANY.

I HAVE NOTHING FURTHER TO ADD TO YOUR COMMENTS.

YOU, YOU'VE SO ELOQUENTLY SPOKEN.

AND THAT'S A REFLECTION, I GUESS, OF YOUR TEN YEARS VERSUS PERHAPS YOUR FIRST MEETING.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR MORSE, DID YOU HAVE A OPENING STATEMENT? YES. THANK YOU.

YEAH, I WAS GOING TO START BY SAYING A FEW PEOPLE IN THE ROOM WILL PROBABLY BE HAPPY THAT THIS WILL BE THE LAST SPEECH THEY'LL HEAR FROM ME IN HERE.

BUT I DON'T THINK I CAN PROMISE THAT.

[LAUGHTER] JUST PROBABLY GOING TO END UP ON THAT MIC.

I HOPE NOT TOO SOON.

YEAH. SIMILAR TO COUNCILLOR KONGRE.

I WANTED TO SAY A FEW THANKS AT THE END OF MY SEVEN YEARS ON COUNCIL, WHICH IS NOW COMING TO A CLOSE.

SO I'LL TRY AND KEEP IT AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE.

BUT FIRST I WANTED TO THANK ADMINISTRATION FOR ALL YOUR WORK SUPPORTING COUNCIL AND THE WORK WE DO AND ENSURING CITY SERVICES ARE DELIVERED EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.

I'VE REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AND DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND COMMITMENT YOU'VE GIVEN TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES AND STRENGTHENING OUR DECISIONS WITH THE BACKING OF YOUR EXPERTISE AND ADVICE.

I'M GOING TO MISS SHAROLYNN'S TRADEMARK PRESENTATIONS IN PARTICULAR, BUT THANK ALL OF THE DIRECTORS FOR YOUR SOUND ADVICE AND GUIDANCE OVER THE YEARS.

I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY STRONG TEAM AND IT'S ONLY GOTTEN STRONGER UNDER SHEILA'S LEADERSHIP AND AND I THINK THAT THERE'S LOTS OF GOOD TO COME.

I DO HAVE TO EMPHASIZE AND WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL DECISIONS I THINK I WAS A PART OF MAKING DURING MY TWO TERMS WAS HIRING SHEILA BASSI-KELLETT AS OUR CITY MANAGER. SHEILA HAS REALLY HELPED TO FOSTER AND GUIDE COLLABORATION BETWEEN COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION AND HAS BROUGHT A LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM AND COMPETENCE TO HER ROLE THAT YELLOWKNIFE IS VERY, VERY LUCKY TO HAVE.

AND SIMILAR TO WHAT NIELS SAID ABOUT REBECCA, WHICH I AGREE WITH, I THINK YELLOWKNIFE IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE SHEILA AND YOU'RE TOO GOOD FOR THIS CITY.

IT'S TRUE. I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE BETTER CITY MANAGERS IN THE COUNTRY.

SO VERY, VERY GLAD TO HAVE YOU, SHEILA, AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU.

I'M SURE THEY'RE LOOKING IN ONLINE AND I'VE KIND OF MISSED THEIR PRESENCE IN COUNCIL CHAMBER EVER SINCE COVID HIT.

BUT I WANTED TO THANK THE PRESS FOR REPORTING ON COUNCIL AND THE CITY'S WORK.

MOST PEOPLE'S CONNECTION TO THE CITY AND COUNCIL HAPPENS THROUGH THE NEWS, AND SO YOUR WORK IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, AND I'VE REALLY ENJOYED INTERACTING WITH JOURNALISTS OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO REPORT WITH ACCURACY AND FILTER THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR OUR MEETINGS TO ENSURE CITIZENS ARE INFORMED.

I WANT TO THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR COLLEGIALITY AND COLLABORATION IN WHAT UNEXPECTEDLY BECAME QUITE A DIFFICULT TERM.

COVID ENDED UP DEFINING AND GUIDING A LOT OF THE OUTCOMES OF THIS TERM AND PUT US IN SOME DIFFICULT SITUATIONS.

NEVERTHELESS, IN COLLABORATION WITH ADMINISTRATION, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE STABLE GOVERNANCE THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME, WHICH I THINK IS AN ACHIEVEMENT IN ITSELF.

REBECCA, I THINK YOU'VE BEEN AN EXCELLENT MAYOR AND I CONTINUE TO BE IN AWE AND APPRECIATION OF YOUR FORMIDABLE RESEARCH SKILLS AND ABILITY TO CONVINCE US OF YOUR POSITION MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.

I CAN'T COUNT THE AMOUNT OF TIMES I SHOWED UP TO THIS CHAMBER WITH AN IDEA IN MY HEAD AS TO HOW I WAS GOING TO VOTE.

LISTEN TO A TRADEMARK REBECCA ALTY SPEECH AND PROMPTLY CHANGE MY MIND.

SO.

NO, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUT INTO THE POSITION AND YOUR EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP.

I THINK YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB AND I THINK THE CITY CONTINUES TO BE IN GREAT HANDS.

OF COURSE, I HAVE TO THANK CITIZENS FOR THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF SERVING IN THE TWO TERMS I'VE HAD ON COUNCIL.

IT REALLY HAS BEEN AN HONOR.

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN AND I'VE DEEPLY ENJOYED THE WORK.

AND SO, YEAH, I HOPE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING SOME OF WHAT YOU WERE HOPING FOR WHEN YOU VOTED FOR ME.

[00:10:02]

TO THE NEW COUNCIL. I'LL JUST SAY CONGRATULATIONS.

AND I REALLY THINK THE CITY IS IN GOOD HANDS.

I REALLY APPRECIATED SEEING EVERYONE WHO PUT THEIR NAMES FORWARD AND AM VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU DO AND HOPE THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO ACHIEVE WITHIN OUR TERM YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE.

I'VE MET WITH MOST OF THE NEW COUNCILLORS AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT THIS, AND SO THEY'VE HEARD WHAT I HAD TO SAY ON THAT SUBJECT.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE NEW FRESH ENERGY AND IDEAS THAT NEW COUNCILLORS BRING AND TO THE KIND OF SAGELY GUIDANCE THAT OUR CONTINUING COUNCILLORS CAN OFFER IN THEIR SECOND AND THIRD TERMS RESPECTIVELY.

JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT MISSING ANYTHING.

NOPE, I THINK I'VE GOT IT ALL.

SO YEAH. NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO EVERYONE.

I'M DEEPLY GOING TO MISS THE WORK.

I'VE REALLY, REALLY ENJOYED BEING ON COUNCIL.

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN. SO YEAH, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AND YEAH, LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT'S NEXT.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

COUNCILLOR MORSE. YEAH.

COUNCILLOR SILVERIO.

THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP.

WHEN I WAS READING THIS AFTERNOON, I WAS GOING TO TRY TO MAKE A SPEECH, BUT I COULDN'T.

I SAID, WELL, I'M JUST GOING TO GO AND SIT AND SPEAK, AND IT WILL JUST FLOW OUT OF MY HEART.

FIRST OF ALL, EVEN THOUGH THE ELECTION RESULT DIDN'T GO IN MY WAY.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE AND THANKS TO THE CITIZENS OF YELLOWKNIFE.

IT'S BEEN A HUMBLED EXPERIENCE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE HERE FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.

FROM A NEWBIE TO AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, TWO TERMS UNDER MY BELT.

IT'S QUITE AN EXPERIENCE, QUITE A JOURNEY.

AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AS WELL TO THANK MY FAMILY, MY WIFE, JANICE, MY KIDS, SAME AS NIELS.

THEY WERE YOUNG WHEN WE STARTED AND LOOK AT THEM NOW.

THEY ARE TALLER THAN US.

SO, MY KIDS, THEY'RE ALL BORN AND RAISED IN YELLOWKNIFE.

MY MOM, PRISCILLA, MY SIBLINGS, MY BIG SISTER VIVIENNE, AND MY LITTLE BRO ERIC AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THEY WERE MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER.

I COULDN'T DONE ANYTHING MY FIRST AND SECOND TERM WITHOUT THEM.

EVEN THE LAST MINUTE OF THIS ELECTION.

OF COURSE, MY COMMUNITY, MY KABABAYAN, MY COUNTRYMEN, THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY, MY FAMILY IN STANTON, AND IN PRIMARY CARE.

I THANK THEM ALL.

AND ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES HERE.

COUNCILLOR O'CONNOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

COUNCILLOR MORSE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

COUNCILLOR SMITH, YOU CONTINUE ON YOUR SECOND TERM.

I WISH YOU THE BEST.

COUNCILLOR PAYNE, FOR YOUR THIRD TERM, SAME THING.

WISHING YOU THE BEST COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS AND OF COURSE, MUFANDAEDZA AND COUNCILLOR MORGAN.

AND OF COURSE, AS I ALWAYS SAY, OUR MAYOR AND I HAD THE CHANCE TO WORK WITH HER, YOU KNOW, WHEN SHE WAS A COUNCILLOR AND THEN SHE BECAME MAYOR.

AND WHATEVER COUNCILOR MORSE OBSERVATION IS CORRECT.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THESE THINGS IN YOUR HEAD, BUT AS SOON AS SHE SPOKE, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO ALL YOU GUYS, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR FRIENDSHIP, YOUR ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE AS WELL.

AND OF COURSE, WE CANNOT DO OUR JOB HERE WITHOUT THE ADMINISTRATION PART.

MS. MS. BASSI-KELLETT, I SPOKE TO YOU MANY TIMES AND THANK YOU MANY TIMES FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND YELLOWKNIFE IS LUCKY TO BE, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU HERE.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR DIRECTORS.

MS. WHITE, MS..

WOODWARD, MS. THISTLE, MR. GREENCORN, MR. WHITE AND MR. MACCLEAN THERE, AND OF COURSE, DEBBIE IS NOT HERE AND MS. JOVIC. AND OF COURSE, PAULA.

I ALWAYS CALL HER. [LAUGHTER] SHE ALWAYS HELPED ME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND BEFORE I FINISH MY LITTLE SPILL, I HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY HERE IN THE NORTH, IN YELLOWKNIFE.

[00:15:03]

THIS IS MY CANADIAN DREAM.

YOU KNOW, I FINISHED AND ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT, WHO SUPPORTED ME THROUGHOUT MY BEGINNING YEARS IN YELLOWKNIFE.

OF COURSE, I WILL CONTINUE TO BE PART OF YELLOWKNIFE AS A CITIZEN AND OF COURSE TO BE ABIDING CITIZEN.

AND LASTLY, BEFORE I END, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A QUOTE FROM NELSON MANDELA.

AND I QUOTE, "WHAT COUNTS IN LIFE IS NOT THE MERE FACT THAT WE HAVE LIVED.

IT IS WHAT DIFFERENCE WE HAVE MADE TO THE LIVES OF OTHERS THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LIFE WE LEAD." SO THIS IS COUNCILLOR ROMMEL SILVERIO SIGNING OFF. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU COUNCILLOR SILVERIO.

ANY OTHER MEMBERS STATEMENTS? COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

YEAH. I SHARED MOST OF MY THOUGHTS LAST TIME, BUT MS. SHEILA BASSI-KELLETT WASN'T HERE.

YES, I GUESS, LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

SO JUST FIRST OFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING A YOUNG COUNCILLOR ALONG AND SHOWING US THE ROPES AND THE GOINGS ON AT CITY.

IT'S CERTAINLY FOR ME, I HAVE LEARNED JUST A TON BEING HERE OVER THE LAST LITTLE BIT.

I AM FORTUNATELY, I'M SORRY THAT IT'S JUST A ONE AND DONE FOR ME, BUT, WELL, MAYBE NOT SO DONE.

BUT THIS GREAT COMMUNITY HAS JUST SUPPORTED ME IN MY BUSINESS SO WELL THAT I REALLY NEED TO KNOW WHERE MY CALLING IS AND SPEND THE ENERGY WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE SPENT AT THIS TIME. SO THAT'S KIND OF THE REASONS FOR THAT.

BUT LOVED MY TIME ON COUNCIL.

I WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS OF YELLOWKNIFE FOR PUTTING ME IN THIS SEAT AND FOR ENCOURAGING ME TO DO IT AGAIN.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, MAYBE IN THE FUTURE.

BUT FOR NOW, IT'S GOING TO BE MY FULL ATTENTION ON FRANKLIN AVENUE [LAUGHTER].

BUT ANYWAY, TO MY COLLEAGUES, IT'S BEEN THRILLING.

THERE'S BEEN DEBATES, THERE'S BEEN BUDGETS, IT'S BEEN EXCITING.

I JUST REALLY LOVE THE WHOLE PROCESS AND BEING EXPOSED TO THE INNER WORKINGS OF GOVERNMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THINGS THAT A LOWLY BUSINESS PERSON DOESN'T GET OFTEN EXPOSED TO.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

LOVE YOU ALL. WE'LL SEE YOU AROUND.

THANK YOU COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS [APPLAUSE].

ANY OTHER MEMBER STATEMENTS? SURE. COUNCILLOR PAYNE.

I WANT TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO YOU GUYS.

LIKE IT WAS.

IT WAS A GREAT SEVEN YEARS WITH SOME AND A GREAT FOUR YEARS WITH OTHERS.

YOU GUYS WERE A HELL OF A GOOD PEOPLE TO WORK WITH.

AND IT'S, YELLOWKNIFE IS GOING TO MISS YOU, AND I HOPE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE AROUND FOR SOME ADVICE.

I'M SURE THAT WE'LL ALL BE TEXTING TO GET SOME GET SOME INPUT, BUT BEST OF LUCK IN EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.

AND DON'T BE REALLY HARD ON US.

AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S, IT'S LIKE THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN AN EX-SMOKER.

THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN AN EX COUNCILLOR [LAUGHTER].

SO BE NICE. BE GOOD.

BE NICE TO US.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] MADAM CHAIR, CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION, THOUGH? JUST LIKE, KIND OF ON A RELATED NOTE, ONE THING I'VE REALLY ENJOYED DURING THIS PROCESS IS THE ACTUAL, THE COUNCIL PACKAGES THAT COME OUT ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

SO LIKE, ARE THOSE STILL TOTALLY LIKE TO THE DEPTH THAT A COUNCILLOR, ASIDE FROM SOME OF THE IN-CAMERA STUFF, IS THAT STILL ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AND CAN WE GET OUR, YOU KNOW, SOME OF US EX-COUNCILLORS WHO WANT TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF READING IN THEIR SPARE TIME, IS THERE A WAY OF THE PUBLIC GETTING ACCESS TO THAT? YOU BET. EVERYTHING IN OUR COUNCIL AGENDA, MINUS THE BLUE SHEETS, WHICH IS THE IN-CAMERA, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION IS POSTED AND IF PEOPLE HAVEN'T SIGNED UP FOR IT YET, I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE THE SUBSCRIBE FUNCTION ON OUR WEBSITE AND YOU CAN GET ALL OF THE NEWS RELEASES, THE CAPITAL UPDATE.

THE CAPITAL UPDATE CAN GET SENT TO YOUR EMAIL EVERY FRIDAY, BUT BASICALLY EVERY SATURDAY MORNING YOU COULD JUST LOG ON TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE, DOWNLOAD THE COUNCIL PACKAGE FOR THE WEEK AND STAY INFORMED.

WELL, COUNT ME A NEW SUBSCRIBER.

THANKS, MADAM CHAIR.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILLOR SMITH. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MIGHT AS WELL JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON HERE.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY MAHSI CHO TO ALL MY FELLOW COUNCILLORS.

IT HAS BEEN A TREAT THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

EVEN WHEN WE DIDN'T ALWAYS GET TO SEE EACH OTHER IN PERSON.

[00:20:01]

AND IF ANYTHING, BEING ON COUNCIL HAS TAUGHT ME PLENTY OF PATIENCE.

SO MAHSI CHO AND BEST OF LUCK ON YOUR ENDEAVORS [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU. AND YEAH, BEING THE LAST SPEAKER, EVERYBODY'S REALLY TAKEN THE WORDS ALREADY AND A BIG THANK YOU TO COUNCIL FOR A GREAT FIRST TERM AS MAYOR.

I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER TEAM.

AND AS I ALWAYS SAY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE.

AND I THINK THAT WAS THE ONE THING THAT WE APPROACHED SOME OF OUR DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS AND YEAH, OVER THE TEN YEARS.

SO IT WAS LIKE A QUARTER OF MY LIFE, HA, ON COUNCIL.

DEFINITELY LEARNED A LOT AND I JUST HAD COUNCIL ORIENTATION THIS WEEKEND AND YOU TALK ABOUT WHY YOU WERE IN AND HOW I STARTED AS A SOCCER COACH AND THAT'S, THAT WAS MY INTERFACE WITH THE CITY.

AND THEN BEING IN COUNCIL, HOW MUCH MORE YOU LEARN ABOUT SOLID WASTE AND ZONING.

AND I WILL NEVER SEE AN EMPTY PARCEL AND SAY, WOW, THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE EMPTY AND I'M GOING TO BUY THIS LOT.

SO I WILL ALWAYS CHECK THE ZONING BEFORE MAKING MY HOUSE PURCHASE.

A BIG THANKS TO YEAH, TO, TO EACH COUNCILLOR.

I THINK YOU BRING A DIFFERENT ELEMENT AND IT MAKES ME THINK AND REALLY ANALYZE THE DECISIONS BEFORE US IN A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE OR ELABORATE WAY AND MISS EVERYBODY.

EVERYBODY'S LITTLE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS AND THE NEW COUNCIL REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO WORKING WITH YOU.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE FIRST TERM WE WERE ELECTED AND SIX OF THE NINE OF US WERE NEW AND WE'RE BACK TO THAT CYCLE AGAIN.

AND OF COURSE, A BIG THANKS TO NOT ONLY STAFF THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM, BUT TO ALL THE STAFF AT THE CITY.

COVID WAS PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT.

BUT THE BULK OF OUR WORKFORCE IS FRONTLINE AND THEY WEREN'T WORKING FROM HOME.

THEY WERE OUT IN THE DITCHES, THEY WERE IN THE WATER AND SEWER.

THEY WERE RESPONDING TO ALL THOSE MEDICAL CALLS.

SO YOU AND I DON'T TOUCH ON EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT.

I KNOW YOU'LL FEEL LIKE I'M NEGLECTED, BUT IT FOR MAKING [LAUGHTER], STOPPING ALL THOSE SPAMWARE SO THAT WE DON'T GET $10 MILLION FRAUD CASES.

EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE CONNECTS.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK OF WHAT YOU WOKE UP THIS MORNING, FIRST THING YOU DID WAS PROBABLY USED A CITY SERVICE AND YOU JUST CONTINUE TO USE CITY SERVICES ALL THE WAY UP TO RIGHT NOW. SO, YEAH, THE CITY WOULDN'T RUN WITHOUT THE INCREDIBLE STAFF.

AND, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL CAN SIT HERE AND GIVE GREAT IDEAS, BUT WITHOUT THE GREAT STAFF, WE CAN'T GET THAT DONE.

SO BIG THANKS, I THINK WE'VE ALL GROWN A LOT OVER OUR TERM, PROBABLY PARTICULARLY THIS PAST TERM.

AND WE DID SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS, YOU KNOW, NOT TO LET COVID OVERSHADOW OUR TERM, BUT I THINK OF THE ZONING BYLAW, WHICH IS A MONUMENTAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

IF YOU LOOK AT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ACROSS CANADA, EVERYBODY'S LOOKING TO DO WHAT WE JUST DID IN MARCH, AND THAT'S TO ALLOW MULTIFAMILY UNITS OR MULTI UNIT RESIDENTS ACROSS ALL RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

SO WE'RE THE LEADERS.

I'M SURE THE GLOBE AND MAIL WILL CATCH UP AND QUIT SAYING THAT EDMONTON OR VICTORIA IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST.

SO YEAH, REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S HARD WORK AND ALWAYS APPROACHING THE, THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IN MIND, MAKING A GREAT COMMUNITY.

WITH THAT WE WILL CONTINUE ON.

GROUP HUG LATER.

YEAH. THANKS, EVERYBODY.

AND MY RESEARCH IS REALLY JUST I HAVE A REALLY GOOD FILING SYSTEM ON MY COMPUTER AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH ANYBODY.

BUT NEXT, WE HAVE INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[Items 13 & 14]

COUNCILLOR MORSE. THANK YOU.

I MOVE THAT COUNCIL NOT ENDORSE A SPECIFIC OPTION FOR YELLOWKNIFE AIRPORT AND DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES OUTLINING THE CITY INTERESTS AND CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO ANY FUTURE YELLOWKNIFE AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT 20 YEAR MASTER PLAN OPTIONS.

THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILOR KONGRE. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEW BUSINESS. WE HAVE THE COVID RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM.

[Items 15 & 16]

I MOVE THAT COUNCIL DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO UTILIZE THE REMAINING 2021 COVID SAFE RESTART FUNDING (APPROXIMATELY $260,000) BY DEVELOPING A VARIETY OF COVID RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAMS AS FOLLOWS: (I) BUSINESS LICENSE FEE WAIVER PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000 TO WAIVE BUSINESS LICENSE FEES FOR ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES FOR A ONE YEAR PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER 1ST, 22ND, SORRY, SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2022 TO AUGUST 31ST, 2023; (II) FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

[00:25:08]

AND (III) COVID RECOVERY BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $200,000, DIRECT GRANTS OF UP TO $10,000 EACH TO ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES IN YELLOWKNIFE TO MAINTAIN THE STABILITY OF LOCAL BUSINESS.

THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR SMITH.

COUNCILLOR MORRIS. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE AN ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENT TO POINT (I).

INDEED. LET ME JUST GRAB THAT ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE AN AMENDMENT THAT WE CORRECT ITEM ONE WHERE IT SAYS BUSINESSES FOR A ONE YEAR PERIOD FROM, FROM SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER 1ST, 2022 AND AUGUST TO OCTOBER 31ST, 2023.

HAVE A SECONDER. COUNCILLOR SMITH.

YEAH, JUST TO NOTE THIS, PEOPLE HAVE PAID FOR THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE.

SO INSTEAD OF GOING BACK AND DOING THE REFUND FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS OR THE PAST TWO MONTHS, IT'S JUST THAT NEXT YEAR THEY WOULD GET THEIR BUSINESS LICENSES WAIVED.

SO EVERYBODY STILL GETS THE SAME DEAL.

IT'S JUST, REDUCES THE ADMINISTRATIVE WORK TO REFUND EVERYBODY.

ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

TWO. THE MOTION IS AMENDED.

ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DISCUSSION? COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I KNOW THAT IT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE PACKAGE, BUT JUST FOR THOSE TUNING IN, JUST ELIGIBILITY FOR RESIDENTS AND WHATNOT, JUST AN ADMINISTRATION, WHAT DOES A SMALL BUSINESS NEED TO DO TO BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM? THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO, THEY'RE GOING TO DEVELOP THE PROGRAM CRITERIA FOR IT.

SO STILL TBD, BUT MS. BASSI-KELLETT, IF YOU'D LIKE TO ELABORATE ON THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE BUSINESS LICENSE FEE WAIVER IS, OF COURSE, PRETTY OPEN TO ANY BUSINESS THAT'S APPLYING FOR A BUSINESS LICENSE.

WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CRITERIA THAT WILL TARGET THE GRANT FUNDING INTO THE HANDS OF SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE REQUIRING THIS.

I'LL ASK MS. THISTLE IF SHE COULD SPEAK TO THE PROCESS WE'RE USING.

THANK YOU. YEAH, THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE BUSINESS LICENSE FEE WAIVER PROGRAM WILL BE THE SAME AS THEY WERE FOR PREVIOUS.

IT'S EASY ONLINE APPLICATION AND ONCE PEOPLE MAKE THE APPLICATION AND IT'S APPROVED, THEN THEY JUST DON'T NEED TO PAY THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE FOR THE YEAR.

HENCE THE REASON WE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO DO REFUNDS FOR THE TWO MONTHS.

SO THAT'S THE FULL YEAR FOR THAT.

THE FESTIVAL IS AN EVENT.

AGAIN, IT'LL BE AN ONLINE APPLICATION.

WE'LL DEVELOP SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND IT'LL BE TO A MAXIMUM OF $5,000 PER APPLICATION.

AGAIN, MAKE IT AS EASY TO ADMINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATION.

AND THE FINAL PROGRAM IS THE ONE FOR ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES.

WE HAVEN'T DEFINED THE EXACT CRITERIA.

HOWEVER, PREVIOUS GRANT FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE CITY THROUGH THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS FOR COVID RELIEF WERE REALLY AIMED AT THE SECTORS THAT WERE HARDEST HIT AND SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESS.

WE WILL REFINE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THIS GRANT PROGRAM IN CONSULTATION AND WITH FEEDBACK FROM THE YELLOWKNIFE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. BUT PREVIOUS PROGRAMS DID NOT PERMIT FUNDING OF THIS NATURE TO BE USED FOR RENT OR ANY KIND OF WAGES.

AND SO WE'VE, IN THIS MOTION, APPROVED THAT TYPE OF SPENDING OUT OF THE GRANT FUNDING.

DO YOU HAVE SORT OF A LOOSE TIMELINE, A GOAL ON WHEN THE CRITERIA IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED AND SPECIFICALLY FOR BOTH TWO AND THREE? JUST BECAUSE IF THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING AT PLANNING FOR, SAY, SUMMER EVENTS OR WELL, ANY TIME EVENTS, WE'RE A REALLY WINTER CITY.

SO IT COULD BE A WINTER EVENT AT THE SNOW CASTLE, TOO.

WHO KNOWS? SO YEAH, JUST SO YEAH.

THERE YOU GO. TAKE IT AWAY.

FOR SURE. MS. BASSI-KELLETT.

MS. THISTLE.

OUR GOAL WILL BE TO HAVE THESE ROLLED OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE COVID FUNDING WAS TO PROVIDE COVID RELIEF, AND BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW ARE TRYING TO RECOVER AND REBUILD COMING OUT OF COVID AND HENCE THE SUGGESTION THAT IT COULD BE USED FOR THINGS SUCH AS RENT OR WAGES, OR EVEN FOR BUSINESSES TO GET MORE SAVVY ONLINE MARKETING.

WE DID HEAR THAT BUSINESSES INCUR COSTS, FOR EXAMPLE, EVEN IMMIGRATION.

YOU HAVE TO ADVERTISE SO MANY TIMES BEFORE YOU CAN APPLY FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS. AND SO THIS TYPE OF FUNDING, WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLE SO THAT IT WOULD PROVIDE BUSINESSES THAT TYPE OF RELIEF OR ASSISTANCE.

SO IT WOULD BE OUR HOPE TO GET THESE ROLLED OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

HAVING SAID THAT, WE ARE A LITTLE SHORT STAFFED, CAPACITY WAS, BUT DEFINITELY IT WILL BE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS BECAUSE THESE ARE HIGH PRIORITY, BECAUSE IT WAS COVID FUNDING

[00:30:08]

YEAH, BUSINESSES ARE RAPIDLY COMING OUT OF THAT.

YOU KNOW, LIKE WE'RE ALL, WE'RE ALL OPERATING ON A DAILY BASIS.

SO CERTAINLY THERE'S SOME URGENCY THERE.

WE'VE GOT A BIT OF A CUSHION BECAUSE IT'S THE GOLDEN QUARTER AND THINGS WILL BE GOING GOOD.

BUT YEAH, I'M NERVOUS ABOUT JANUARY, YOU KNOW, TALKS OF RECESSIONS, THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES.

SO I THINK A POT OF FUNDING LIKE THIS WOULD COULD REALLY COME IN HANDY FOR A LOT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANK YOU. YEAH.

IN THE UPCOMING WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON OF COURSE, SHOP LOCAL AND THAT SHOP LOCAL CAMPAIGN, I THINK WE'LL HAVE A PRESS RELEASE COMING OUT TOMORROW ABOUT THAT.

BUT SHOP LOCAL BINGO AND PEOPLE CAN WIN PRIZES.

ANYTHING FURTHER FROM COUNCIL ON THIS MOTION AS AMENDED.

SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS AMENDED.

AND THAT CARES UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCILLOR MORSE.

[Items 17 & 18]

OH, SORRY. ACTUALLY, WE'LL USE THE NAME WHICH IS SUE MCKINNEY.

IS THAT. YES, SUE MCKINNEY.

OKAY, THANKS.

I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPOINT SUE MCKINNEY PURSUANT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE BY-LAW NO.

4127 TO SERVE ON THE YELLOWKNIFE CITY, THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE AUDIT COMMITTEE FOR A THREE YEAR TERM COMMENCING OCTOBER 25TH, 2022, AND ENDING OCTOBER 24TH, 2025. THANK YOU.

DO I HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILOR WILLIAMS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[Items 19 & 20]

MATTHEW YAP TO THE DEVELOPMENT APPEAL BOARD.

COUNCILLOR MORSE. THANK YOU.

I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPOINT MATTHEW YAP FOR A THREE YEAR TERM EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 25TH, 2022 UNTIL OCTOBER 24TH, 2025, ON THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE DEVELOPMENT APPEAL BOARD.

THANK YOU. SECONDER.

COUNCILLOR SILVERIO.

ANY COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

AND THAT CARES UNANIMOUSLY.

[Items 21 & 22]

BY-LAW NO.

5063 IS A BY-LAW AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE TO DISPOSE OF THE PORTION OF LOT 3, BLOCK 500 PLAN 4224 (ADJACENT TO THE FIELD HOUSE) THROUGH LEASE AGREEMENT FOR A TERM OF FIVE YEARS WITH AN OPTION TO RENEW FOR A FURTHER FIVE YEARS IS PRESENTED FOR FIRST READING.

COUNCILLOR MORSE. THANK YOU.

I MOVE FIRST READING OF BY-LAW NO.

5063. THANK YOU.

SECONDER. COUNCILLOR KONGE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

AND AS WE NOTE, SECOND READING HAS TO WAIT TILL WE GET THE DEVELOPMENT PERMITS BECAUSE IT'S A CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED USE, WHICH IS WHY WE ONLY HAVE FIRST READING TODAY. NEXT, THERE WAS NO DEFERRED BUSINESS AND THERE WERE NO TABLED ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA.

IS THERE ANY DEFERRED BUSINESS OR ARE THERE ANY TABLED ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR? THERE WAS NO OLD BUSINESS FOR THE AGENDA.

IS THERE ANY OLD BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR? THERE WERE NO NOTICES OF MOTION FOR THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY NOTICES OF MOTION FROM THE FLOOR? THERE WERE NO DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

THERE WERE NO ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES FOR THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES FROM THE FLOOR? [LAUGHTER] SEEING NONE.

IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR KONGE, SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR SMITH.

ANYBODY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE. WE CAN BE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.