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[00:00:04]

AND I'LL CALL OUR COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 12TH, 2022, TO ORDER.

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

AND I'LL BEGIN BY ASKING COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN TO READ THE OPENING STATEMENT.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE ARE LOCATED IN CHIEF DRYGEESE TERRITORY.

FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LANDS 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, MATIS AND INUIT WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. THERE WERE NO AWARDS CEREMONIES OR PRESENTATIONS FOR THE AGENDA MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH, 2022, ARE PRESENTED FOR

[Items 3 & 4]

ADOPTION. COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN.

I MOVE THAT THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH, 2022, BE PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION.

THANK YOU DO I HAVE A SECONDER, COUNCILLOR PAYNE.

ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

WE DO HAVE TO NOTE THAT COUNCILLOR WARBURTON WASN'T AVAILABLE FOR THAT ONE.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND THE 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.

THERE WERE NO DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

THERE WERE NO STATEMENTS FOR THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY MEMBER STATEMENTS FROM THE FLOOR? SEEING NONE.

NEXT, WE HAVE INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[Items 11 & 12]

WE HAVE GOVERNANCE AND COMMITTEE REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 28TH, 2022.

COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. SO I MOVE THAT COUNCIL DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE A RISK OVERSIGHT UPDATE TO COUNCIL IN Q1 2023.

THE UPDATE SHOULD INCLUDE, AT MINIMUM ONE, A HIGH LEVEL SUCCESSION PLANNING ASSESSMENT FOR ALL SENIOR STAFF TO THE TOP 5 TO 10 CORPORATE RISKS AND THREE A SUMMARY OF OUTSTANDING CLAIMS. THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECONDER.

COUNCILLOR COCHRANE, ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT, WE HAVE GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE FOR DECEMBER 5TH, 2022.

[Items 13 & 14]

COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN.

SO I'M MOVING THAT COUNCIL IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 102 B OF THE CITY'S TOWNS AND VILLAGES ACT DESIGNATE MAYOR REBECCA ALTY, COUNCILLOR STACIE ARDEN-SMITH, COUNCILLOR GARRETT COCHRANE, COUNCILLOR RYAN FEQUET, COUNCILLOR BEN HENDRICKSEN, COUNCILLOR CAT MCGURK, COUNCILLOR TOM MCLENNAN, COUNCILLOR STEVE PAYNE AND COUNCILLOR ROB WARBURTON TO BE SIGNING AUTHORITIES FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS MONEY IN THE EVENT OF THE ABSENCE OF BOTH THE MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR.

THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECONDER.

COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN.

COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN. DO YOU HAVE AMENDMENT? YES. I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION.

SO FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION, THE PURPOSE OF THE AMENDMENT IS ON ONE HAND TO ENSURE THE WORDING.

WE'LL JUST GO STRAIGHT TO THE AMENDMENT, THEN WE'LL GET A SECONDER AND THEN YOU CAN GO.

SO THE AMENDMENT IS ONE TO REMOVE REBECCA ALTY AS A DESIGNATE FROM THE LIST, BECAUSE IN HER ROLE AS MAYOR, SHE ALREADY POSSESSES THIS AUTHORITY THROUGH THE CITY'S TOWNS AND VILLAGES ACT TWO TO END THE FINAL SENTENCE OF THE CURRENT MOTION AFTER THE WORD MONEY.

THEREFORE, REMOVING THE PHRASE IN THE EVENT OF THE ABSENCE OF BOTH THE MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR AND THEN THREE TO ADD THE FOLLOWING THREE SENTENCES TO THE END OF THE MOTION.

SO SUCH DESIGNATION AS SIGNING AUTHORITY ONLY COMES INTO EFFECT WHEN THE MAYOR IS ABSENT OR OTHERWISE UNABLE TO FULFILL THEIR DUTIES.

AND THE MAYOR ASSIGNS SIGNING AUTHORITY TO THE DEPUTY MAYOR OR OTHER COUNCILLOR.

IF THE MAYOR IS UNABLE TO MAKE SUCH AN ASSIGNMENT, THE DEPUTY MAYOR WILL HAVE SIGNING AUTHORITY AND THE ABILITY TO MAKE SUCH AN ASSIGNMENT.

IF BOTH THE MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR ARE UNABLE TO ACT AND UNABLE TO ASSIGN SIGNING AUTHORITY TO A COUNCILLOR, ANY COUNCILLOR MAY EXERCISE THEIR SIGNING AUTHORITY AT THE REQUEST OF THE CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECONDER.

COUNCILLOR COCHRANE.

COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO YOUR AMENDMENT? THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME OF THE PROCESS THERE.

SO THE PURPOSE OF THE AMENDMENT IS, ON ONE HAND, TO ENSURE THE WORDING AROUND THE DESIGNATION OF SIGNING AUTHORITY FOR THE MAYOR IS ACCURATELY REPRESENTED AND ON THE OTHER HAND, ENSURE THAT THE MOTION FULLY CAPTURES COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS.

I BELIEVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BALANCES THESE DIFFERENT GOALS.

I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IN DRAFTING THE MOTION, I ENSURED THAT ADMINISTRATION WITH ADMINISTRATION THAT THE WORDING MEETS THE PURPOSE FOR WHY I'M BRINGING THE MOTION FORWARD, BUT THAT IT DOESN'T STRAY FROM ANY LEGISLATIVE BOUNDARIES CONTAINED WITHIN THE CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES ACT.

SO WITH THAT, I MOVE I MOVE THOSE AMENDMENTS AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS ON WHY I'M PROPOSING THIS, IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED, OR TO LISTEN TO THE DISCUSSION. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT? SEEING NONE A BIG THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD.

TO THE AMENDMENT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY TO THE MOTION AS AMENDED.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

[00:05:04]

SEEING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS AMENDED.

AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT, WE HAVE GOVERNANCE, GOVERNANCE, THE SPECIAL GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE REPORT FOR DECEMBER 5TH AND DECEMBER SIX.

[Items 15 & 16]

COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO I MOVE THAT ONE COUNCIL DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO INCLUDE WITHIN THE ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

ACTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING ARTS AND CULTURE COORDINATOR FUNCTIONS TWO COUNCIL DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO OFFICIALLY NAME THE VISITOR CENTER ARTS BASE.

THREE. COUNCIL DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO ADD FINALIZING THE ARTS BASED GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE TO THE 2023 WORK PLAN TO BE DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE VISITOR CENTER GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE FOUR COUNCIL RECOMMEND THAT THE NWT ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITIES CONSIDER SPONSORING THE ARCTIC INSPIRATION PRIZE ON BEHALF OF ALL COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES IN THE FUTURE YEARS.

FIVE. COUNCIL DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO DRAFT A NO RATE POLICY.

SIX. THE 2023 DRAFT BUDGET TO BE APPROVED AS WRITTEN IN THE AGENDA.

OH, AND THAT COUNCIL ADOPT THE 2024 AND 2025 BUDGET IN PRINCIPLE.

THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE A SECONDER? DEPUTY MAYOR ARDEN-SMITH OPENING IT UP TO COMMENTS.

COUNCILLOR MCGURK. YEAH, I JUST.

I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN AMEND THE SECOND PART OF THIS JUST MOSTLY FOR CLARITY. THERE IS AN ARTS.

IT'S LIKE A PLACE, AN ART SPACE CALLED ARTSPACE EXISTING IN YELLOWKNIFE.

AND I THINK I KNOW THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE INTENTION OF THIS MOTION TO NOT BE TO NAME THE VISITOR CENTER ART SPACE, BUT IT KIND OF READS THAT WAY.

I SUPPOSE.

JUST TO CHANGE IT. SO THE COUNCIL DIRECTS ADMINISTRATION TO OFFICIALLY NAME THE ART SPACE IN THE VISITOR CENTER.

JUST A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

IT'S JUST KIND OF SEMANTICS.

WE CAN JUST UPDATE THAT.

DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK FURTHER TO THE MOTION AS PRESENTED? NO, THAT WAS JUST FLAGGED BY ANOTHER COUNCILLOR AS WELL WHO THOUGHT THAT WE WERE NAMING IT ART SPACE.

PERFECT. COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. SO I JUST HAVE A COMMENT BASICALLY ON THE WHOLE BUDGET PROCESS AND ON THESE MOTIONS.

SO I'D LIKE TO THANK ADMINISTRATION AND CITY STAFF FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK ON THE BUDGET AND ANSWERING ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND MADAM MAYOR FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND VIEWPOINTS DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

THIS PROCESS IS CERTAINLY A DELICATE BALANCING ACT.

OUR COMMUNITY FEELS THE PRESSURES OF RISING COSTS MORE THAN MOST, AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE AS A COUNCIL MUST KEEP IN OUR MINDS MOVING FORWARD.

AT THE SAME TIME, DESPITE THE COST SAVINGS, I'M DISAPPOINTED TO HAVE CUT THE ARTS AND CULTURE COORDINATOR POSITION.

I'D LIKE TO SAY TO THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY THAT YOU ARE VALUED AND ARE A CENTRAL PART OF THE CITY.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT SOME OF THE ROLES DETAILED IN THE ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN HAVE ALREADY BEEN ASSIGNED TO EXISTING POSITIONS WITHIN THE CITY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN COME FORWARD AS WELL AS A NAME AND GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE FOR THE VISITOR CENTER OR THE ARTS SPACE IN THE VISITOR CENTER.

MOST OF ALL, I WAS VERY EXCITED.

I AM VERY EXCITED TO SEE THE SHOWS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE SPACE NEXT YEAR.

I LOVE THE SHOW THAT'S ON NOW YELLOWKNIFE NOW THAT'S CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY.

IT'S A GREAT DISPLAY OF THE TALENT AND CREATIVITY IN THE CITY AND I'D HIGHLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO HEAD DOWN TO THE MALL AND CHECK IT OUT.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR, I MUST SAY I CAN'T WAIT TO GET STARTED.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO TAKE PART IN THE ONGOING PUBLIC CONSULTATION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE BYLAW.

THE CONSULTATION CLOSES ON DECEMBER 31ST AND YOU CAN FIND DETAILS ABOUT IT AND LINKS TO A SURVEY ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

IN THE NEW YEAR, THERE WILL ALSO BE A PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE NEW SURFACE FOR THE FIELD HOUSE.

AND I AGAIN LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO HAS USED OR PLANS TO USE THAT FIELD TO TAKE PART.

HAVING JUST FINISHED THE BUDGET, I CAN TELL YOU THAT INPUT FROM RESIDENTS IS ESSENTIAL FOR US TO MAKE INFORMED AND CONSTRUCTIVE DECISIONS.

AS WE MOVE INTO OUR FIRST FULL YEAR AS COUNCIL I'D LIKE TO CLOSE BY REMINDING MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES TO KEEP RECONCILIATION AND SUSTAINABILITY IN MIND AS WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS. I BELIEVE THESE ARE THE TWO OR TWO OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AREAS WHERE OUR CHOICES WILL BE FELT INTO THE LONG INTO THE FUTURE.

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND INPUT.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.

THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR WARBURTON.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YEAH, JUST SOME GENERAL COMMENT ON THE BUDGET.

I WILL. I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE BUDGET, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR IT'S NOT WITHOUT RESERVATION.

WHILE WE MANAGED TO BRING DOWN THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASES THIS YEAR, WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WAS LARGELY ACHIEVED BY DRAWING DOWN OUR GENERAL FUND.

WE DO NOT HAVE THIS OPTION IN THE FUTURE AS WE MOVE INTO MULTIPLE YEARS OF LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS WITH INCREASING RISK OF LABOR SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS, INCREASING INTEREST RATES

[00:10:06]

AND A HIGH INFLATIONARY ENVIRONMENT, KEEPING THE TAX INCREASE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE IS NOT SUSTAINABLE THROUGH CUTS ALONE.

WE DO REQUIRE MORE REVENUE.

THIS BUDGET WAS SET WITH THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES IN MIND, INCLUDING GROWING AND DIVERSIFYING OUR ECONOMY.

HOWEVER, THIS BUDGET MISSES THE MARK BY NOT ADDING ANYTHING SUBSTANTIAL IN REGARDS TO ACTUALLY GROWING OR DIVERSIFYING OUR ECONOMY BEYOND LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS.

WE ARE SPENDING ALMOST AS MUCH ON A NEW SURFACE IN THE FIELDHOUSE AS WE ARE ON THE ENTIRE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY.

THE PALTRY BUDGET ALLOCATION THIS DEPARTMENT RECEIVES THIS YEAR IN PREVIOUS YEARS, SPEAKS VOLUMES TO HOW LOW OF A PRIORITY THIS IS CURRENTLY, IN SPITE OF PREVIOUS COUNCIL DIRECTION AND GOOD INTENTIONS.

WE ARE ALL AWARE OF THE ECONOMIC SHIFTS COMING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS TO CONTINUE TO BUDGET ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY GROWTH AS OPTIONAL INSTEAD OF REQUIRED IS ONLY GOING TO INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON RESIDENTS THROUGH PROPERTY TAX INCREASES IN FUTURE YEARS.

WE NEED TO DO. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS FOCUS ON GROWING OUR TAX BASE, ADDRESSING OUR SEVERE HOUSING SHORTAGE AND INCREASING REVENUE WITHOUT FURTHER BURDENING OUR RESIDENTS.

NEED TO APPROACH THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMOVE ECONOMIC BARRIERS AND EMPOWER OUR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND THOSE LOOKING TO COME HERE TO ALL INVEST IN OUR CITY. IN NEW YEAR COUNCIL GET TO DIG INTO SOME EXCITING BYLAWS, LAND DISPOSAL, BYLAW ACCOMMODATION LEVY AND REVIEW PLANS FOR FUTURE INFILL LOTS AND LAND DEVELOPMENT, JUST TO NAME A FEW. APPROACHING THESE AND ALL OUR FUTURE DECISIONS AS COUNCIL WITH A LENS OF GROWTH, REDUCING ECONOMIC BARRIERS AND EMPOWERING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES NEEDS TO HAPPEN. THIS WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR FUTURE BUDGETS AND DECREASE THIS CONTINUAL PRESSURE TO CUT OUR WAY THROUGH THE NEXT ONE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.

YES, IT IS. [INAUDIBLE], AN INTERESTING ONE.

AND IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO TO SEE WHAT THE CITY IS UP TO, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO KIND OF FLIP THROUGH AND SEE THE BIG PROJECTS AS COUNCILLORS HAVE NOTED AND YEAH, LOOK FORWARD TO SETTING THE STRATEGIC PLAN IN FEBRUARY AND WELL WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED ONE MORE LOTS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL BUT TO LOOK AT THE COMMERCIAL AS WELL AS RESIDENTIAL I THINK WILL BE A PRETTY BIG, PRETTY BIG FOCUS AREA FOR 2023.

WITH THAT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.

AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THERE WAS NO NEW BUSINESS FOR THE AGENDA.

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

[Items 19 - 20]

BYLAW NUMBER 5065 IS A BYLAW TO AMEND FEES AND CHARGES.

BYLAW NUMBER 4436, AS AMENDED BY AMENDING PART 615 AND 17 OF SCHEDULE B TO REFLECT CHANGES APPROVED IN BUDGET 2023 AND PART 18 OF SCHEDULE B TO CLARIFY WORDING AROUND DEVELOPMENT THAT PROCEEDS WITHOUT A PERMIT IS PRESENTED FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING.

COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN TO SECOND READING.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I MOVE THAT SECOND READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5065.

THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR WARBURTON, ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN.

[Item 21]

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I MOVE FOR THIRD READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5065.

THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECONDER? DEPUTY MAYOR ARDEN-SMITH.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

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? WITH THAT, WE CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN FOR THE WHOLE YEAR 2022.

DEPUTY MAYOR ARDEN-SMITH ANYBODY OPPOSED SEEING NONE.

WE ARE BACK HERE FOR OUR FIRST MEETING MONDAY, JANUARY 9TH AT 12:05 P.M..

SEE EVERYBODY THEN.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.