[00:00:01]
AND I'LL CALL OUR COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH, 2022 TO ORDER.
[1. Councillor Cochrane will read the Opening Statement.]
AND I'D LIKE TO ASK COUNCILLOR COCHRANE TO PLEASE READ THE OPENING STATEMENT.IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF YELLOWKNIFE DENE FIRST NATIONS.
WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS, METIS AND INUIT, WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUE TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. THERE WERE NO AWARDS CEREMONIES OR PRESENTATIONS FOR THE AGENDA.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
[Items 3 & 4]
MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH, 2022.COUNCILLOR COCHRANE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT.
OR IF YOU WANT TO JUST PUSH YOUR.
THANK YOU. SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR FEQUET.
ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
IN FAVOR. AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
JUST TO NOTE, WE HAVE DEPUTY MAYOR ARDEN-SMITH ON THE LINE.
NEXT, WE HAVE DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST IN GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.
DOES ANY MEMBER HAVE A PECUNIARY INTEREST IN ANY MATTER BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT? SEEING NONE. THERE WAS NO CORRESPONDENCE, NOR WERE THERE ANY PETITIONS FOR THE AGENDA.
THERE WERE NO STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE AGENDA.
AND WE DO HAVE DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
SO WE'LL START OUT WITH THE PRESENTATION FROM MS.
[Item 8]
LINDA BUSSEY REGARDING THE ARCTIC INSPIRATION PRIZE.AND UNFORTUNATELY, MICKEY BROWNE AND JOHN FREDERICKS COULDN'T MAKE IT.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE MELISSA SAYER FROM THE YELLOWKNIFE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WHO WILL GO AFTER LINDA.
SO, LINDA, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM, LET ME REVIEW THE RULES, SPEAK RESPECTFULLY.
IF NOT, WE'LL MAKE A MOTION AND YOU CAN HAVE AN EXTRA 2 MINUTES.
THEN WE'LL HAVE Q&A AFTER IF COUNCIL HAS ANY.
BUT THIS TIME I'M COMING WITH AN ASK AND NOT JUST AN INTRODUCTION.
OKAY, SO WHAT IS THE PRIZE? THE ARCTIC INSPIRATION PRIZE IS THE LARGEST ANNUAL PRIZE IN CANADA.
IT PROVIDES SEED FUNDING FOR INNOVATIVE PROJECTS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
IT PROVIDES UP TO 3.7 MILLION ANNUALLY.
THE IAP GOES FROM THE YUKON TO [INAUDIBLE].
SO ALL SIX REGIONS ARE INCLUDED THE YUKON, NWT, ISR, INUIT INUVIALUIT SETTLEMENT, NUNAVUT, NUNAVIK AND LABRADOR.
WHY AM I HERE? TO ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE $10,000 ANNUALLY FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS? I THINK I'M. THE NEXT SLIDE IS GOING TO TALK TO YOU.
I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE SINCE 2012 AND THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS NOT JUST ON OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN YELLOWKNIFE, BUT ACROSS THE NORTH, AND ALSO TO REQUESTS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BECOME AMBASSADORS.
SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE WERE NOMINATED BY HER WORSHIP, REBECCA, MAYOR ALTY AND SOME OTHERS THAT YOU'LL SEE.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT AND YOU CAN TAKE A VERY ACTIVE ROLE AS AN AMBASSADOR.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS SOMEONE THAT HAS A GREAT IDEA CAN COME TO YOU FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
THEY NEED SOMEONE TO NOMINATE THEM.
AND THAT CAN BE A ROLE THAT YOU CAN TAKE.
SO THAT'S ON TOP OF THE $10,000 A YEAR.
SO HOW THE PRIZE IS DONE IS 1 MILLION FOR A TEAM ACROSS THE SIX TERRITORIES, UP TO 500 FOR FOUR TEAMS AND UP TO 100,000 FOR SEVEN YOUTH. YOUTH IS UNDER 30, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERYBODY ON THE TEAM HAS TO BE UNDER 30.
BUT THE CORE OF THE TEAM HAS TO BE UNDER 30.
[00:05:02]
ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE DRIVEN BY THE NORTH.THEY'RE SUPPORTED BY NORTON PARTNERSHIPS, FOR SURE.
THERE'S A LOT OF UNIVERSITIES THAT SUPPORT OUR PROJECT, BUT EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN THE NORTH.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, SINCE 2012, SO ONE OF THE FIRST RECIPIENTS FOR $100,000 WAS THE [INAUDIBLE] INITIATIVE, AND THAT BECAME A NATIONAL PARK THAT CREATED TOURISM.
AND SO TOURISM HAS AN IMPACT HERE ON YELLOWKNIFE.
IN 2014, FOXY WAS AWARDED $1,000,000.
SO FOXY IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT FOSTERS OPEN EXPRESSION AMONG YOUTH IS SEXUAL HEALTH.
IT'S EDUCATION, LEARNING, HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
17 WHERE THE ARCTIC INDIGENOUS WELLNESS PROJECT, WE'RE WELL AWARE OF THAT PROJECT IN 18-19 AND 18, THE NORTON COMPASS THAT WAS AWARDED $1,000,000 WAS THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN NUNAVUT, NWT AND THE YUKON.
THEY CREATE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THEM.
ARTSPACE, ARTS AND CULTURE WAS AWARDED $100,000 ON 2020 AND 2021 IS THE LATEST THIS YEAR.
SUPPORT WELLBEING IS A PROJECT WHERE WE DO TRAINING FOR LAND BASED PROGRAM.
SO THIS IS OUR PARTNERS AS OF TODAY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A LOT OF PARTNERS.
THE CITY IS THERE, THE CITY OF WHITEHORSE IS THERE.
SO THEY CONTRIBUTE PRIZE MONEY.
THEY PROVIDE EXPERTISE, NETWORK FUNDS FOR SUSTAINABILITY.
THEY MIGHT BE PART OF A NOMINATING TEAM.
THEY SHARE GOOD NEWS STORIES ABOUT THE PRIZE AND LAUREATES AND THEY CELEBRATE.
THEY LEAD. THEY'RE PART OF THE TRUSTEE HERE IN THE NORTH.
AND AFTER THAT THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE CORE PRIZE FUND.
MY FRENCH COMES OUT AND HERE'S OUR SOUTHERN PARTNERS.
THERE'S BUT THESE ARE THE BASICS.
SO THERE IS AGREEMENTS WITH A LOT OF BIG BUSINESSES DOWN SOUTH.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTER? JUST A NOTE ON PROCESS.
SO WE BEGIN BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.
IT'S CRAZY, BUT IT WILL BE NEXT MONDAY AT 5:30 P.M.
SO THIS IS KIND OF FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
JUST AS A PROCEDURAL POINT, COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
HOW WOULD ONE GOING GO ABOUT APPLYING FOR THIS? I ASSUME THE INFORMATION IS ON THE WEBSITE, BUT JUST MAYBE A LITTLE QUICK WALKTHROUGH.
YOU CAN SEE THERE'S YEAH, IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S ON THE WEBSITE.
IT'S QUITE A LENGTHY PROCESS TO APPLY, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT EVEN THAT YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL LIKE SEVEN WEEKS PRIOR TO AND IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THE TEAM OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF WORK IS DONE AT THE RIDEAU HALL FOUNDATION.
WE'RE PARTNERS WITH THE RIDEAU HALL FOUNDATION.
AND OFTEN IF YOU'RE A FINALIST, THEY THEY MAY NOT THEY FOSTER A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU THAT THEY ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME BACK THE NEXT YEAR, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A FINALIST. SO YOUR CHANCES OF BECOMING LAUREATES ARE VERY HIGH.
AND DO YOU KNOW IF THE FUNDING IN PAST YEARS CAME FROM COMMUNITY GRANTS OR STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BUDGET, OR WOULD THAT BE A QUESTION FOR ADMINISTRATION? THAT ONE CAME, I BELIEVE, FROM MAYOR AND COUNCILS, BECAUSE WE HAD A SURPLUS ONE YEAR OR EXTRA FUNDING THAT WE HADN'T USED, BUT NOT FROM COMMUNITY GRANTS BECAUSE.
COMMUNITY GRANTS. THE POLICY SAYS THAT IT HAS TO BE IN THE NORTH AND ACTIVITIES HAVE TO BENEFIT, WHEREAS THIS MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY GO TO A YELLOWKNIFE ORGANIZATION.
[00:10:05]
THANKS, COUNCILLOR COCHRANE? THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. LINDA.IT'S ALWAYS SO NICE TO SEE FORMER COUNCILLORS REMAIN SO ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
MY QUESTION IS WHAT SPECIFICALLY WILL THE $10,000 BE GOING INTO? IT GOES TO THE PRICE PARTNERS.
IT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE LAUREATES.
IT'S THERE'S AN ENDOWMENT FUND.
I MEAN QUICKLY, IF I CAN SAY IF YOU.
BUT IT REALLY BECAME A GIFT, I MEAN, AN ENDOWMENT IN 2017.
SO THIS IS THE BASE AND THAT RUNS THE OPERATIONS.
THERE IS NO ADMIN FUND ON THAT.
THANK YOU, LINDA. YOU'RE WELCOME.
COUNCILLOR MCGURK? DOES IAP RECEIVE FUNDING FROM ANY OTHER COMMUNITY IN THE TERRITORY? NO. NO, ONLY BUSINESS.
I MEAN, PRICE PARTNERS OR THE CO OWNERS.
NOT ANOTHER ORGANIZATION, BUT THEY GET MONEY FROM LIKE FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S WHERE THE OTHER CO-OWNERS, THEY ARE PART OF THE TRUST FOR THE NWT.
AND AFTER THAT, THE PRIZE PARTNERS.
BUT PRIZE PARTNERS ALSO FOR SURE, THERE'S MONEY LIKE WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE CITY.
SO THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS OF CONTRIBUTING.
COUNCILLOR FEQUET? THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION, LINDA.
I WAS JUST LOOKING AT YOUR WEBSITE.
DO YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, KIND OF THE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WILL BE GIVEN OUT VERSUS THE TOTAL COST FOR ADMINISTRATION, JUST LIKE THAT SPLIT? SORRY IF YOU JUST POINT.
THAT'S WHAT'S THE TOTAL PERCENTAGE OF ADMINISTRATION.
THAT'S DONE BY RIDEAU HALL AND.
THE MONEY FROM THE PRIZE DOES GO TO THE PRIZE TO THE LAUREATES.
IT'S THE ENDOWMENT FUND THAT COVERS ALL THE OTHER COSTS.
COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN? THANKS, LINDA. JUST ALSO, CAN YOU JUST TALK A BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE EVENTS OR THE WORK THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS WITHIN YELLOWKNIFE FROM EITHER THE PARTNERS OR FROM THE ARCTIC INSPIRATION PRIZE ITSELF, JUST SO YOU KNOW? WE'RE INVESTING $10,000 INTO THE AWARD.
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE BENEFIT FROM A COMMUNITY LEVEL PERSPECTIVE AS WELL? WELL, I THINK THE MONEY GOES DIRECTLY TO PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACT OF THE ARCTIC WELLNESS.
YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACT OF FOXY AND SMASH OVER THE YEARS AND OF ARTSPACE, I HAVE TO SAY.
SO I MEAN THOSE AND EVEN IF IT'S NOT DIRECTLY IN THE CAPITAL, WHEN WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK, IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT ON YELLOWKNIFE BY TOURISM OR THE THE WELLBEING PROJECT WHERE THEY'RE TRAINING PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE NORTH, EVEN PROJECTS IN THE SOUTH TO COME BACK AND HAVE AN IMPACT HERE IN YELLOWKNIFE.
SO I THINK WHERE THE FUNDING GOES IS ALL TOWARDS THESE PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES THAT YOU KNOW A LOT.
AND IF I MAY, WE ALL KNOW THAT NGOS SPEND 60% OF THEIR TIME GOING FOR MONEY, SO THIS ALLOWS THEM SOME SEED MONEY TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO GROW. I MEAN, FOXY'S BEEN THERE SINCE 2012.
I'M SURE WITHOUT THIS MILLION DOLLARS, MAYBE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE SURVIVE THAT LONG.
AND TRUST ME, ARNOLD WEITZIG IS VERY FOCUSED THAT THE PROJECTS HAVE TO HAVE AN IMPACT AND A LONG TERM IMPACT ON YELLOWKNIFE RESIDENTS TO BE APPROVED. WE JUST WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SELECTION BOUND BY SECRECY NOW.
BUT IT'S INTERESTING JUST TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SELECTION, HOW STRINGENT IT IS.
SO THAT MAKES ME PROUD TO TO TALK HERE ABOUT THEM.
A QUESTION, COUNCILLOR PAYNE? WELL, LINDA STARED AT ME TO SAY SOMETHING, SO.
NO, I APPRECIATE IT. THANKS, LINDA.
I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN TO PRESENT HERE.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THIS ORGANIZATION DOES A LOT OF GOOD THINGS.
I MEAN, FOXY ITSELF AND THE ARCTIC AND THE WELLNESS CENTER, I MEAN, IS A FANTASTIC FACILITY.
[00:15:04]
SO, I MEAN, WE'RE SEEING THE BENEFITS OF IT.I KNOW MYSELF, I'M A BIG FAN OF WHAT YOU DO, SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. SEEING NOTHING FURTHER.
AND OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT ANOTHER WEEK.
SO IF A QUESTION COMES UP, I'M SURE MISS BUSSEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER IT VIA EMAIL.
SHE DID COME PRESENT IN SEPTEMBER, SO IF FOLKS WERE INTERESTED, YOU COULD WATCH THE WEBCAST ON THAT.
AND THERE'S, I BELIEVE, A LITTLE COMMENT FURTHER ON IN THE MEMO ABOUT THAT.
BUT, MELISSA, I'LL INVITE YOU ON UP TO THE PODIUM.
[Item 10]
AGAIN, SPEAK RESPECTFULLY, ET CETERA.5 MINUTES. 2 MINUTES, IF NEED BE.
THANKS. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR ALTY.
COUNCILLORS. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO I'VE NOT MET, I'M MELISSA SAYER.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE YELLOWKNIFE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WE RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE CITY FOR THE FULSOME PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT CONDUCTED AS A PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND WE'D LIKE TO THANK ADMINISTRATION FOR THE DETAILED BUDGET PRESENTATION GIVEN TO COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY THANKS TO MS. WOODWARD FOR THE THOROUGH PRESENTATION, THE VIDEO OF WHICH IS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR US AND SOMETHING WE REFERENCE MANY TIMES WHEN WE'RE DISCUSSING THE DRAFT BUDGET.
I WON'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME IN THIS VENUE.
WE DID SEND IN A DETAILED WRITTEN SUBMISSION AT THE END OF LAST WEEK.
I WON'T REHASH ALL THE DETAILS HERE.
WHAT I WILL DO IS HIGHLIGHT FIVE OF OUR MAIN COMMENTS RECOMMENDATIONS.
STARTING OFF, I JUST LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THIS BUDGET WAS PREPARED AND THAT NEW COUNCIL WAS APPROXIMATELY ZERO DAYS OLD WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED WITH WITH THIS DOCUMENT. NOW YOU FIND YOURSELVES IN THE DIFFICULT POSITION OF SCRUTINIZING IT IN ITS ENTIRETY AS ONE OF YOUR FIRST TASKS IN THE JOB.
I DON'T ENVY YOU THAT SAYING THAT WE, AS THE CHAMBER TOOK THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DELVE A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO SOME OF THE DETAILS OF THE BUDGET AND LOOK AT THE LONGER TERM TRENDS THAT WE ARE SEEING WITH RESPECT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BUDGET POLICY AND MAKING SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON CHANGING CHANGES TO IT.
SO NUMBER ONE, WE'RE REITERATING A RECOMMENDATION FROM PAST YEARS THAT AN EXTERNAL FINANCE COMMITTEE BE APPOINTED, WHICH WOULD REPORT TO COUNCIL WITH THE GOAL OF EXPLORING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES AND COST SAVING MEASURES.
THIS IS REALLY CRYSTALLIZED THIS YEAR.
STANDING AT THE CROSSROADS HERE IN FRONT OF A NEW COUNCIL, HAVING JUST COME OUT OF AN UNPRECEDENTED GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND FACING DOWN DUBIOUS ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, INCLUDING INFLATION, LABOR SHORTAGES AND THE CLOSING DOWN OF THE DIAMOND MINES.
WE SEE NO REASON TO DELAY RETURNING TO THIS POLICY LIMIT.
NUMBER THREE, AMEND THE BUDGET POLICY TO FIX MIL RATE RATIOS AT THEIR CURRENT LEVEL.
NUMBER FOR NEW STAFF POSITIONS.
WE HOPE COUNCIL WILL CLOSELY SCRUTINIZE THE SUBSTANTIATION FOR PROPOSED NEW STAFF POSITIONS.
WITH RESPECT TO THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT RESERVE, WE THINK THAT COUNCIL SHOULD EITHER LOWER PARKING FEES OR RESUME PARKING REVENUE ALLOCATIONS TO THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT RESERVE AND EXPEDITE REVITALIZATION INITIATIVES.
OF THESE TWO OPTIONS, WE PREFER THE LATTER WITH RESPECT TO THE REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE RESERVE.
WITH RECENT DEVELOPMENTS THIS PAST YEAR, A POSSIBILITY OF 180 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING PROPOSED FOR THE 5050 LOT AND THE CITY'S INVESTMENT IN THE BEAUTIFUL NEW DOWNTOWN VISITOR CENTER. WE BELIEVE IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE OLD CORNER MART LOTS MIGHT SELL FOR MORE THAN $1.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE BALANCE SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE REVITALIZATION RESERVE AND DEPLOYED FOR THE PURPOSES WITH WHICH THE FUND WAS ESTABLISHED RATHER THAN SITTING IN THE LAND FUND. FINALLY, WITH THE MOBILE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT RESERVE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESERVE, THESE FUND BALANCES SHOULD NEVER EXCEED THE YEAR'S APPROVED EXPENDITURES. IF AND WHEN COUNCIL MAKES CUTS TO PURCHASES PROPOSED IN THE DRAFT BUDGET, COUNCIL MUST BE VIGILANT TO ENSURE THE ENTIRE FUND TRANSFER TO THE RESERVE FUND IS REDUCED ACCORDINGLY. FAILING TO DO THIS IS WHAT RESULTS IN THE BALANCE ACCUMULATING OVER TIME.
FEEL FREE TO CONTACT, CONTACT US AND DO SO.
[00:20:02]
OTHERWISE I'LL TRY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING TO IN THE WEEDS, I MIGHT NEED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE BRAIN TRUST.
OPENING IT UP TO QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.
COUNCILLOR WARBURTON? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, MEL, FOR PRESENTATION.
SO IN THE DRAFT BUDGET, THEY DO HAVE A DRAW DOWN ON THE GENERAL FUND OVER TWO YEARS.
WOULD THAT BE THAT KIND OF MEET YOUR CRITERIA OF GOING BACK TO THE POLICY? YES. IT'D BE A NICE MEETING IN THE MIDDLE.
YEP. ANYTHING FURTHER FROM COUNCIL ? AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR THE DETAILED SUBMISSION.
NEXT, SAYING NOBODY FURTHER UNLESS MR. BUSSY WANTS TO MAKE A.
[Items 11 & 12]
ACTUALLY, SIR, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN.SO WE'LL START WITH COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK YELLOWKNIFE WHO KEPT YOUR OWN SIDEWALKS CLEAR AND THOSE WHO WERE PATIENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND APPRECIATE THAT THIS MORE THAN DOUBLING OF THE TEN YEAR AVERAGE SNOWFALL WAS A CHALLENGE TO ALL OF OUR RESOURCES.
AND NOW ACKNOWLEDGING THAT HARD WORK THIS LAST WEEK.
WE REALLY NEED TO BE BETTER AT COMMUNICATING QUICKLY WITH THEM.
PEOPLE ARE PATIENT, BUT THEY'RE ONLY PATIENT WHEN THEY KNOW THAT SOMETHING'S HAPPENING.
WHETHER WE ALL LIKE IT OR NOT, AN ABSENCE OF INFORMATION LEADS TO SPECULATION AND HEARSAY.
REALLY? LET'S BE HONEST OURSELVES.
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM TALKS AND SPECULATES WHEN OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT DON'T COMMUNICATE.
AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DID DID WITH US OURSELVES AS WELL.
IT'S HUMAN NATURE TO FILL GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE WITH IDEAS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND IN THE PRESENT DAY HOURS WITHOUT INFORMATION, IT'S THE SAME AS WHAT USED TO BE DAYS.
WE NEED TO PROACTIVELY SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YELLOWKNIFERS.
ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THESE CHANNELS ALSO HELPS REDUCE THE BURDEN ON CITY STAFF, WHO I KNOW HAD TO SPEND TIME RESPONDING TO CALLS AND EMAILS FROM RESIDENTS AND OURSELVES AS COUNCILLORS ASKING ABOUT PROGRESS.
THAT BARRIER ONLY CAUSED MORE SPECULATION.
I KNOW FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE THAT PEOPLE WERE REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHEN I WAS ABLE TO EXPLAIN THAT ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES WERE DEPLOYED AND THAT MORE RESOURCES WERE BEING SOUGHT. I HOPE THAT WE ALL TAKE AWAY A FEW THINGS FROM THE LAST WEEK.
SNOW IS WHAT MAKES YELLOWKNIFE AND GIVES US LIFE.
TO OUR STAFF HAVE PROVED THEIR DEDICATION OVER THE LAST WEEK AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE SO MANY YELLOWKNIFE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR GREAT WORK AND DEDICATION AS A SIGN THAT EVEN SOCIAL MEDIA CAN SHOW THEIR SUPPORT.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTANDING WHEN THEY'RE WHEN THEY GET GREAT COMMUNICATION.
IT'S A SIGN THAT PEOPLE, WHEN THEY HAVE INFORMATION, THEY CAN BE POSITIVE EVEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
IT WAS GREAT COMMUNICATION WHEN IT HAPPENED.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF BEING MORE RESPONSIVE TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM US.
SOME PEOPLE WILL NEVER BE HAPPY WITH WHAT THEY HEAR.
I KNOW THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT, BUT FOR MOST PEOPLE, ALL THEY WANT IS SOME INFORMATION.
NOW, WITH A NOTICE OF MORE INFORMATION TO COME AS PLANS BECOME CLEARER.
[00:25:04]
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, FOR YOUR TIME.THANKS TO COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN FOR THE GREAT STATEMENT.
I'LL KEEP MINE SHORT AND SWEET COVERS A LOT OF WHAT I HAD TO SAY, SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY VOICE IN THANKING CITY STAFF AND CONTRACTORS FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK, CLEARING THE SNOW THIS WEEK AND WEEKEND AND ALL YEAR.
THERE'S AN AWESOME WEBSITE CALLED YELLOWKNIFE WEATHER FACTS AND THEY COMPILE DATA FROM ENVIRONMENT CANADA THAT SHOWS THAT THIS WINTER WE'VE GOTTEN MORE SNOW SO FAR THAN TEN OF THE LAST 12 WINTERS TOTAL.
REBECCA, FOR YOUR COMMUNICATION.
MADAME MAYOR, FOR YOUR COMMUNICATION.
YEAH. WELL, THERE'S CERTAINLY AREAS THAT STILL NEED MORE WORK.
WE'RE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN WE WERE BEFORE THE WEEKEND.
COUNCILLOR COCHRANE? THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, AND THANK YOU.
COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN AND COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN.
THIS IS SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY IN MY FIRST MEMBER STATEMENT BEFORE COUNCIL TO PUT THIS FIRST MONTH OF SERVING INTO PERSPECTIVE AND HOW REPRESENTATION MATTERS. I WANT TO START OFF BY FORMALLY CONGRATULATING MY COLLEAGUES AT THEIR SUCCESS AT EITHER ELECTION, REELECTION OR, IN THE MAYOR'S CASE, AN ACCLAMATION.
I'M BEYOND HONORED TO SERVE IN THE CLASS OF 22.
AND AFTER GETTING TO KNOW ALL OF YOU ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND AS OF NOW IN THIS TEAM OF NERDS, NEWBIES AND LOCAL LEGENDS, I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT KIND OF FUTURE WE CAN HELP BRING INTO FRUITION FOR THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.
SNOW YOU REPRESENT THE BEST OF PUBLIC SERVICE, EXPECTING LITTLE IN REGARDS OF YOUR EFFORTS AND SOMETIMES PATIENTLY HEARING OUT CITIZENS FRUSTRATIONS WHILE CONSTANTLY TROUBLESHOOTING WHATEVER IS THROWN AT YOU.
I'M ONLY I'M ONE OF ONLY A SMALL HANDFUL OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE TO HAVE SERVED ON COUNCIL.
ALSO HAVING THE MOST TWO SLGBTQ+ PEOPLE EVER TO SIT ON COUNCIL.
AND THAT KIND OF REPRESENTATION MATTERS.
AS A CLOSETED GAY KID WHO GREW UP HERE AND FOR A LONG TIME NEVER THOUGHT I COULD BE MY MOST AUTHENTIC SELF WHILE ALSO PURSUING AN INTEREST IN SERVING TO THE POINT WHERE I THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN WHAT WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME, LOVE OR PASSION.
SITTING HERE NOW SENDS ALL THOSE TEARS AND FEARS AND TO THE ASH HEAP OF MY PERSONAL HISTORY.
SITTING HERE AS A PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVE WILL HOPEFULLY SEND A MESSAGE TO OTHER QUEER YELLOWKNIFERS QUESTIONING WHAT LIMITATIONS AUTHENTICITY WILL BRING, THAT THERE ARE FEW AND EVEN FEWER AS THE YEARS GO BY, THAT EVEN AS THIS WORLD GETS HARSHER AND DARKER FOR QUEERS, AS DEMONSTRATED IN A MOST HORRIFIC FASHION IN COLORADO, YELLOWKNIFE WILL BE AND REMAIN TO BE THE NORTHERN LIGHT OF ACCEPTANCE AND PROGRESS.
REPRESENTATION MATTERS AND WHAT WE REPRESENT AS PEOPLE MATTERS.
THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU.
ANY FURTHER MEMBER STATEMENTS? SEEING NONE.
NEXT, WE HAVE INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS.
[Items 13 & 14]
WE HAVE THE COMMITTEE REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 14.COUNCILLOR COCHRANE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MOVE THE MOTION.
THAT COUNCIL APPOINTS KAREN WILLIE AS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ORGANIZATION SERVING SENIORS TO SERVE ON THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD ON HOMELESSNESS CAB FOR A TWO YEAR TERM COMMENCING NOVEMBER 29TH, 2022, AND ENDING NOVEMBER 28TH, 2024.
THANK YOU. DO HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR PAYNE, ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.
IN FAVOR AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[Items 15 & 16]
COUNCILLOR COCHRANE FOR NOVEMBER 21ST, PLEASE.THAT ONE, THE MAYOR BE AUTHORIZED TO TRAVEL TO OTTAWA, ONTARIO, FROM FEBRUARY 7TH-10TH, 2023 TO PARTICIPATE ON THE FEDERATION OF CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES, FCM 2023 SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE AND TWO SCC PANEL ENTITLED FORGING RENEWED
[00:30:09]
RELATIONS FOR RECONCILIATION AND SUSTAINABILITY ADMINISTRATION REVIEW PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON COUNCIL TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION POLICY.THANK YOU TO HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR MCGURK.
IN FAVOR. AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
FOR NEW BUSINESS, THERE WAS A MEMORANDUM REGARDING BUDGET 2023 PUBLIC INPUT.
AND SO FOLKS CAN TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE BEGIN DELIBERATIONS NEXT MONDAY NIGHT.
IS THERE ANY NEW BUSINESS FOR THE FLOOR? SEEING NONE. NEXT, WE HAVE ENACTMENT OF BYLAWS, BYLAW NUMBER 5064, A BYLAW TO DISPOSE OF LOTS 12-16, 18-23 AND
[Items 19 - 23]
37-41. BLOCK 908 PLAN 4727 AND A PORTION A LOT 84 BLOCK 907, PLAN 4727.COUNCILLOR COCHRANE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MOVE FIRST READING? FIRST READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5064.
SO I HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR FEQUET.
IN FAVOR, AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT, COUNCILLOR COCHRANE? SECOND READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5064.
DO HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR WARBURTON OPENING IT UP TO QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DISCUSSION.
COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION JUST ABOUT THE LET ME FIND THE EXACT HERE THE LOT 84 BLOCK 907, THAT BIG AREA THERE THAT REQUIRES SURVEYING.
JUST A QUESTION TO ADMINISTRATION.
IS THERE ANY INTEREST IN THAT LOT SPECIFICALLY OR ANY ADVANTAGE TO LEAVING THAT ASIDE FOR FOR LATER? MS. BASSI-KELLETT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
YES, THERE IS INTEREST IN THAT LOT.
LET'S SEE IF MISS WHITE HAS ANYTHING SHE WOULD LIKE TO ADD.
THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
IN FAVOR. AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
COUNCILLOR COCHRANE TO ITEM NUMBER 22 ABOUT MOVING TO THIRD READING.
THAT BYLAW NUMBER 5064 BE PRESENTED FOR THIRD READING.
DO I HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON RIGHT NOW, IS WHETHER TO DO ALL THREE READINGS IN ONE ONE NIGHT.
IT'S PRETTY COMMON, BUT IT IS A REQUIRED PRACTICE AS PER COUNCIL PROCEDURES.
SO TO GIVE EFFECT TO THIRD READING.
IN FAVOR. AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY, WHICH MEANS WE CAN GO TO THIRD READING.
COUNCILLOR COCHRANE? THIRD READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5064.
THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECONDER.
IN FAVOR, AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT, WE HAVE DEFERRED BUSINESS.
THERE WAS NO DEFERRED BUSINESS AND THERE WERE NO TABLED ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY DEFERRED BUSINESS OR 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.
[Items 31 & 32]
BUT, COUNCILLOR FEQUET, YOU HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRY.THIS QUESTION DOESN'T COME FROM A PLACE OF BEING JUST POINTED OR ANGER, BUT RATHER FROM A PLACE OF KNOWING ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT WAS GOING ON AT ALL LEVELS IN THE BACKGROUND. BUT THE ANGER AND CONFUSION OF MANY RESIDENTS AND A DESIRE FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
ADMINISTRATION, IF IT'S TOO EARLY, THAT'S OKAY, TOO.
[00:35:08]
ESCALATED KIND OF THROUGH THE SYSTEM, AT WHAT POINT THAT USUALLY TAKES PLACE AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING MAYBE THAT WE'VE LEARNED GAPS OR ANYTHING IN OUR SYSTEMS OR PROTOCOLS INTERNALLY, THAT WE WE CAN DO BETTER NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS, BECAUSE I'M SURE IT WILL AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.SO ANY DETAILS YOU COULD PROVIDE WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.
WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER 14 YEARS.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO COUNCILLOR FEQUET FOR THE REALLY THOUGHTFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE INQUIRY.
SO. THE EXTRAORDINARY SNOWFALL THAT WE HAD THIS PAST WEEK IS REALLY RAISED ON SO MANY ISSUES.
SO THAT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE.
AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO THANK OUR AMAZING STAFF AND THE CONTRACTORS WHO STEPPED UP ON FRIDAY WHEN IT BECAME VERY APPARENT THAT WE HAD CROSSED OVER A THRESHOLD WHEN WE HAD ISSUES WITH EMERGENCY AND ESSENTIAL SERVICE VEHICLES BEING STUCK, WE REALLY HAD TO TAKE DEFINITIVE ACTION.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
OUR TEAM MOBILIZED TO GET CONTRACTOR HELP IN PLACE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNICATION ON THIS? YOU KNOW, IN MY EXPERIENCE, COMMUNICATION IS AN ART.
IT'S HARD TO MAKE IT A SCIENCE SOMETIMES.
AND I THINK WE REALLY DO STRIVE TO GET THE BEST POSSIBLE COMS OUT.
AND WE USE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PLATFORMS, WHETHER OR NOT IT IS THE SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS THAT THE CITY HAS, OUR WEBSITE, WE HAVE THE CAPITAL UPDATE THAT PEOPLE CAN SUBSCRIBE TO THAT WILL ARRIVE IN THEIR MAILBOX.
WE USE THE NOTICE BOARDS BY THE MULTIPLEX AND BY STANTON.
THERE'S A LOT OF WE USE RADIO ADS, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS WE USE.
AND I AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE AND AGAIN, PLEASE FORGIVE ME ON THIS, IT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION.
I AGREE THAT I THINK THAT MAYOR ALTY DID SOME GREAT COLUMNS.
MR. GREENCORN PROVIDED EXCEPTIONAL INFORMATION AROUND WHAT WAS GOING ON.
FROM A TECHNICAL POINT OF VIEW, FROM HOW WE OPERATE, HOW OUR TYPICAL SNOW REMOVAL PROCESS AND SNOW CLEARING PROCESS WORKS, WHICH IS NOT A MATTER OF WHEN SNOW HITS THE GROUND. WE GET RIGHT IN THERE WITH A PLOW AND PLOW DOWN TO THE ASPHALT.
SO THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO SHARE AND WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THAT HAPPENED.
AND TODAY WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE'VE HAD ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US TO COMMUNICATE, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT HONESTLY, IT CAN HELP, BUT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND I SAY THAT WITH THE MOST STRAIGHT FACE POSSIBLE, RECALLING OVER A YEAR AGO OR OH GOSH, I SHOULD SAY JUST ABOUT A YEAR AGO THIS TIME WHEN WE WERE APPROACHING THE REFERENDUM ON THE AQUATIC CENTER AND SEEKING THE OPINION OF YELLOWKNIFE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO BORROW MONEY TO BUILD THE AQUATIC CENTER, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDED AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE TO YELLOWKNIFERS SO THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE REFERENDUM WAS ABOUT, THE IMPLICATIONS AROUND THIS. SO WE HAD HEIGHTENED RESOURCES THAT WENT SPECIFICALLY INTO A VERY DEDICATED, PROACTIVE COMS PLAN THAT TOOK PLACE OVER A PERIOD OF ALMOST EIGHT WEEKS, INCLUDING IN-PERSON REVIEWS DURING COVID, WHICH WAS CRAZY.
AND WE SET UP A BIT OF AN OBSTACLE COURSE AT THE OH MY GOD, DID I JUST SAY JERRI MURPHY? WOW. AT THE MULTIPLEX, WE SET UP SOME ONLINE, SOME IN-PERSON COMMS. THERE WERE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE DID.
AND STILL WE FOUND THE DAY OF PEOPLE WERE SAYING, HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY? IS SOMETHING HAPPENING? SO WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE BUSY.
BUT WE DO KNOW THAT OFTEN PEOPLE ARE VERY SWAMPED AND HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION COMING AT THEM.
SO THAT UP TO THE MOMENT WHEN THEY WANT THE INFORMATION, WE'LL SEE THAT.
WE'LL ALWAYS TRY TO PROVIDE THAT IN THE WAY THAT THEY CAN GET.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS A REALLY INTERESTING ONE.
WE ALSO TAKE THE CALLS THAT COME IN TO OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES.
[00:40:03]
ANYONE WHO ENTERS INFORMATION ON CLICK AND FIX ABOUT BIG PILES OF SNOW.OUR PUBLIC WORKS STAFF AT THE PUBLIC WORKS GARAGE TAKE CALLS DIRECTLY AS WELL.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS A BIT OF AN INTERESTING CAT AND WE SAW A LOT OF COMMENTS OVER THE PAST WEEK, NOT JUST PEOPLE SAYING HELP, I REALLY NEED TO SEE MY STREET GET CLEANED OR GET MY SIDEWALK CLEANED SO THAT I CAN GET OUT AND BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, DO THE THINGS THAT I NEED TO DO, LIKE GET TO WORK OR GET TO SCHOOL.
IT CAME TO THE POINT THAT A LOCAL MEDIA OUTLET REACHED OUT TO US TO PROPOSE.
SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN CELEBRITIES READ MEAN TWEETS ABOUT THEM.
WE HAD THE MEDIA OUTLET PROPOSED BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME PRETTY MEAN TWEETS THEY WERE PROPOSING THAT SOME OF OUR STAFF THAT ARE WORKING ON SNOW CLEARING READ SOME OF THOSE MEAN TWEETS AND THEY WOULD CATCH IT ON CAMERA.
AND JUST TO POINT OUT, JUST, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS WERE OVER THE TOP.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? UNFORTUNATELY OR FORTUNATELY, OUR STAFF DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.
THEY WERE BUSY. THEY WERE IN THE EQUIPMENT CLEARING SNOW.
BUT IT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING POINT THAT THE MEDIA SAW THAT SOME.
AND SOCIAL MEDIA ISN'T ALWAYS A GREAT INTERACTIVE WAY OF MAKING CONSTRUCTIVE OBSERVATIONS.
SO HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ABSOLUTELY ALWAYS LOOK FOR WAYS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH RESIDENTS, THAT THEY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING. WE ALSO KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE VERY BUSY AND SO WE'LL ALWAYS STRIVE TO FIND THE BEST WAY TO REACH THEM WITH THE MESSAGES WE HAVE.
COUNCILLOR FEQUET, ANOTHER QUESTION? YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT ANSWER.
AND JUST JUST KIND OF A FOLLOW UP, I GUESS, TO CLOSE IT.
SO RECOGNIZING THAT COUNCIL IS ABOUT TO GO UNDER THE KNIFE INTO BUDGET DELIBERATIONS NEXT WEEK, IS THERE ANYTHING FROM A BUDGETING PERSPECTIVE THAT COUNCIL CAN DO TO SUPPORT ADMINISTRATION OR ARE THERE LESSONS LEARNED AT AN OPERATIONAL LEVEL? SO EXAMPLE, DOES HAVING THE ABILITY TO ACTIVATE THIRD PARTY CONTRACTORS OR ASSISTANCE REQUIRE MORE MONEY, OR IS IT JUST SIMPLY THRESHOLDS AND PROTOCOLS THAT YOU KNOW NOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED, ADMINISTRATION WILL WILL LOOK TO AND CONSIDER TO ADDRESS SIMILAR SITUATIONS IN THE FUTURE? MS. BASSI-KELLETT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND SO THAT SOME HAS DETECTED THAT A FEW LINES ARE STILL CONNECTED TO THE CONFERENCE AND WILL ATTEMPT TO DISCONNECT THEM.
IF YOU WISH TO REMAIN IN THE CONFERENCE, PLEASE PRESS STAR ONE.
IT'LL BE SO GREAT WHEN WE GET OUR NEW SYSTEM, WON'T IT? SLAVISA. I ASSUME THAT YOU'RE ASKING QUESTIONS, AND SPECIFICALLY NOT JUST ABOUT THE COMS, BUT AROUND OUR SNOW REMOVAL APPROACH OVERALL.
AND ABSOLUTELY COMING UP TO BUDGET PLANNING CYCLE, WE KNOW AND AS A NUMBER OF COUNCILLORS HAVE POINTED OUT, WE HAVE HAD ONE FREAKISHLY EXTRAORDINARY DUMP OF SNOW IN FALL OF 2022.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH AND THAT WE'VE RAMPED UP.
DOES THIS MEAN THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING THING THAT WE SHOULD BUDGET FOR? IT'S VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE THIS DOES COME TO A REAL ANALYSIS OF THE RISK AND WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO BUDGET FOR VERSUS WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT IT IS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND MANAGE.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR WE WERE HAVING THE EXACT OPPOSITE PROBLEM BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SNOW AND GROUND COVER AND THE DEPTHS OF THE FROST WAS GETTING DOWN INTO OUR PIPES, CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEM WITHOUT THAT INSULATING LAYER OF SNOW.
YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT. THAT'S CERTAINLY THE LESSON FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR.
BUT I WILL ASK MR. GREENCORN SPECIFICALLY AROUND SNOW CLEARING BECAUSE HE AND HIS TEAM WORK, IT'S LIKE WATCHING CHOREOGRAPHY TO SEE HOW THEY PLAN WHAT SNOW REMOVAL WILL LOOK LIKE AND HOW IT IS THAT THEY INVOLVE OUR PARTNERS IN THE CONTRACTING WORLD WHEN THEY'RE AVAILABLE.
MR. GREENCORN? SURE. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHIME IN.
THIS YEAR IS A LITTLE BIT ABNORMAL COMPARED TO OTHERS.
WE GOT A LOT OF ACCUMULATION OF SIMILAR MAGNITUDE IN 2008.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE GOING TO CONTEMPLATE IS WE'RE GOING TO OBSERVE TRENDS.
OBVIOUSLY, WE DO THAT EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S HOW WE BUDGET ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
SO WE'LL BE OBSERVING THOSE TRENDS.
AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO LOOK AT SOME SORT OF AN ACCUMULATION POLICY, I BELIEVE.
[00:45:02]
SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE DIDN'T ENGAGE THIRD PARTY CONTRACTORS FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.ONE IS CONTRACTORS HAVE THEIR OWN SNOW REMOVAL OBLIGATIONS.
SO THERE'S THAT AND THEN THE RATE OF ACCUMULATION THAT I SPOKE TO.
SO SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, THEY'LL BE, ME AND MY TEAM WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT AND THEN SEE IF WE CAN MAKE SOME, AT LEAST, CONTEMPLATION IN OUR PROCESSES FOR A QUICK RATE OF ACCUMULATION.
SO IN EVERY CRISIS, SO TO SPEAK, THERE PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK THE CREW DID A GREAT JOB WITH WITH WHAT THEY HAVE AT HAND.
EVERYBODY WAS ALL HANDS ON DECK.
AND WE HAD SOME GREAT PARTNERS ON THE WEEKEND WORKING THEIR BUTTS OFF.
SO I'D LIKE TO THANK THEM AND OUR STAFF AND.
JUST EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY FOR THEIR PATIENCE.
ANY OTHER? COUNCILLOR PAYNE? THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO, SHEILA, I APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE TO RYAN'S QUESTION HERE EARLIER.
AND IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN THAT WE ACTUALLY COME OUT AS A CITY AND ACKNOWLEDGE MAYBE SOMETIMES BEHAVIOR THAT WE SEE OVER THE LAST WEEK. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE COULD HAVE WRITTEN EVERYTHING DOWN ON A STARBUCKS CUP AND HAND DELIVERED TO THESE PEOPLE AND THEY STILL BE PISSED OFF.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE WE CAN DO.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A COMMUNICATIONS ISSUE.
I THINK WE HAVE A BEHAVIOR ISSUE WITH SOME PEOPLE IN YELLOWKNIFE.
AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WORKED A LOT AND.
THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO REALIZE THAT EVERY STUPID COMMENT THAT'S MADE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IT'S OUR WORKERS THAT SEE IT, AND IT'S THE WORKERS KIDS THAT SEE IT. AND I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE A BIT MORE COUTH.
COUNCILLOR MCGURK, YOU HAD A QUESTION? FIRST OFF, I KNOW EVERYONE SAID IT A FEW TIMES, BUT I THINK IT'S TO DESERVE TO BE SAID AGAIN.
LIKE THE STAFF DID A GREAT JOB ADDRESSING THIS.
I THINK THEY WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
JUST FROM A BUILDING SCIENCE PERSPECTIVE.
SNOW LOADS LIKE THE BUILDING CODES MAY CHANGE FOR SNOW LOADS THROUGHOUT, ACROSS CANADA, AND I KNOW STANDARDS COUNCIL OF CANADA IN 2019 ADOPTED A CHANGE OF MANAGING SNOW LOAD IN THE NORTH.
AND YOU WERE JUST YOU DID JUST MENTION THAT TOTAL ACCUMULATION FOR THE YEAR IS KIND OF HOW YOU.
DECIDE WHAT THE BUDGET OR KIND OF ASSESS WHAT THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE.
OR THE THOUGHT OR THE TRUTH, THE REALITY THAT SNOW LOADS ARE JUST INCREASING.
SO QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE MONITORING SNOW LOADS ON THE ROOFS OF OUR BUILDINGS RIGHT NOW.
NO, I THINK I JUST REALLY MEANING THIS JUST USING AS A CARPENTER.
IT'S EASY FOR ME TO REFERENCE SNOW LOADS ON ROOFS, BUT I MEAN, AS IT WAS MENTIONED, WE MEASURE WHAT HAS BEEN OCCURRED IN PREVIOUS YEARS, BUT DO WE USE ANY OTHER TOOLS TO DO, FOR INSTANCE, THE STANDARDS COUNCIL OF CANADA.
HAVE THEY ISSUED ANYTHING THAT WE FOLLOW OR IS THERE ANY SORT OF TOOL THAT WE'RE ABLE TO USE TO BETTER PREDICT OTHER THAN JUST OUR OWN DATA COLLECTION? MS. BASSI-KELLETT? IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND I WILL PASS THIS TO MR. GREENCORN, BUT I THINK YOU'VE HIT ON SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING FOR ANYONE WHO WAS SHOVELING THEIR OWN DRIVEWAYS OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO.
YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS HEAVY, WET SNOW.
IT'S NOT THE STUFF WE TYPICALLY GET TO SWEEP OFF OUR DECKS AND PORCHES AND DRIVEWAYS WITH A BROOM.
THINGS ARE CHANGING. AND OF COURSE, WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS DOING TO THE AMOUNT OF SNOW THAT WE'RE GETTING, THE TYPE OF SNOW WE'RE GETTING AND HOW WE RESPOND TO THAT. I'LL ASK MR.
[00:50:02]
GREENCORN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF MS. WHITE HAS ANYTHING FROM A BUILDING PERSPECTIVE.OKAY. TO DATE, WE BASICALLY USE ENVIRONMENT CANADA HISTORICAL DATA WE HAVE'T LOOKED AT FUTURE FACING MODELS.
I THINK YOU'VE RAISED A GOOD POINT HERE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE STANDARDS COUNCIL.
SO AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO, I GUESS, REEMPHASIZE THE POINT THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEFINITELY TAKE THIS YEAR'S EVENTS INTO CONSIDERATION AT THE VERY LEAST, SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR.
SO I THINK THAT'S THE INITIAL APPROACH THAT I'M THINKING AT THIS TIME, BUT IT NEVER HURTS TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT TOOLS MOVING FORWARD. SO I APPRECIATE THE THE STANDARD COUNCIL REFERENCE AND WE'LL HAVE A LOOK AT THAT FOR SURE.
ANY FURTHER ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES FROM THE FLOOR.
SEEING NONE, IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOVED BY COUNCILLOR COCHRANE, SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN ANYBODY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE.
AND YEAH, GPC NEXT MONDAY AT 12:05.
AND THEN WE BEGIN SPECIAL COUNCIL AT 5:30 HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
SEE YOU THEN.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.