Feb 06, 2023 Governance & Priorities Committee

[00:00:02]

AND I WILL CALL OUR GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETING FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH, 2023 TO ORDER.

[1. Opening Statement: The City of Yellowknife acknowledges that we are located in Chief Drygeese territory. From time immemorial, it has been the traditional land of the Yellowknives 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 our vibrant community.]

FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT'S 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.

[2. Approval of the agenda.]

NO, NOTHING ELSE TO ADD.

[3. Disclosure of pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof.]

DOES ANY MEMBER HAVE A PECUNIARY INTEREST? COUNCILLOR WARBURTON.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

I HAVE A FINANCIAL INTERESTS IN THE CORPORATION MAKE AN APPLICATION.

THANK YOU. ANYTHING FURTHER? SEEING NONE COUNCILLOR WARBURTON, YOU CAN EXCUSE YOURSELF.

SO, YEAH, YOU CAN HEAD ON OUT TO THE LOBBY AND WE'LL CALL YOU BACK WHEN IT'S DONE.

[4. A memorandum regarding whether to dispose of Lot 1086, Quad 85 J/8, Plan 2547 (181 Kam Lake Road) to Aurora Tracking Station Inc. (the Lessee).]

(THE LESSEE). MS. BASSI-KELLETT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE CURRENT LEASE HOLDER OF THE PROPERTY AT 181 KAM LAKE ROAD IS SEEKING TO EXERCISE THE CLAUSE IN THE CURRENT LEASE AGREEMENT THAT PERMITS THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL TO PURCHASE THIS LOT.

THERE'S A LONG HISTORY ON THIS LOT.

IT'S BEEN USED OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS PLUS FOR SATELLITE TRACKING AND AS A SATELLITE CONTROL STATION.

IT WAS FIRST OWNED BY TELESAT.

AND THEN AFTER THE TRANSFER TO THE CITY, IT WAS LEASED BY IRIDIUM AND OTHERS SUBSEQUENTLY .

TRANSITIONING FROM LEASE TO OWNERSHIP IS BEING RECOMMENDED TODAY BY ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S WITHIN THE TERMS OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT.

THE CITY WILL RECEIVE THE SALE AMOUNT INTO THE LAND FUND.

WE WILL RECEIVE ONGOING PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH ARE PROJECTED TO BE SLIGHTLY MORE THAN THE ANNUAL LEASE FEE, AND THE REQUIREMENT TO RETURN THE LAND TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE IS NO LONGER REQUIRED, WHICH COULD SEE STRUCTURES BEING REMOVED AND PLACED IN OUR SOLID WASTE FACILITY.

SO FOR THOSE REASONS, THE CITY ADMINISTRATION IS BRINGING THIS FORWARD FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION TODAY.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

THANK YOU. AND I'LL PUT IT OUT THERE FOR COUNCIL.

FOR MYSELF I NEED A BIT MORE TIME TO CONSIDER THIS.

THIS PAST WEEKEND WAS PRETTY INVOLVED WITH OTHER DISCUSSIONS.

SO IN GENERAL, I SUPPORT THE ISSUE.

I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, SO I JUST NEED A BIT MORE TIME.

AND IF OTHER COUNCILLORS ARE IN THE SAME BOAT, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT WE DEFER THIS DISCUSSION TO OUR NEXT GPC, WHICH IS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH, AND HAVE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DISCUSSION AT THAT TIME.

SO SEEING, NODDING HEADS, FOLKS ARE IN AGREEMENT.

OKAY. SO WE'LL DEFER THIS TO NEXT MONDAY.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING, IF POSSIBLE FOR ADMINISTRATION, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE THE PROPONENTS BESIDES COUNCILLOR WARBURTON AVAILABLE TO SPEAK. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON THE INTENTION OF THE PROPERTY.

SO AND SEEING OTHERS SHAKING HEADS THAT IF SO, IF IT'S POSSIBLE FOR NEXT MONDAY TO HAVE THE PROPONENT COME IN AND AND SHARE WITH US WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE OR A FUTURE GPC IF THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE NEXT MONDAY.

WITH THAT, WE CAN CALL COUNCILLOR WARBURTON BACK.

[5. A memorandum regarding whether to select properties to auction for tax arrears, when to hold the auction, and what minimum price to establish for each property.]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.

THE CITY FOLLOWS THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION ACT AND OUR LONG STANDING POLICY ALSO WHICH WAS BESET BY COUNCIL MOTION IN DEALING WITH TAX ARREARS THROUGH THE OPTION OF AUCTIONING PROPERTIES WITH LONG STANDING ARREARS.

THIS MEANS THAT WHEN TAXES ARE MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN ARREARS, CITY ADMINISTRATION WILL ADVANCE TO AUCTIONING PROPERTIES TO SEEK TO RECOUP OUTSTANDING TAX REVENUES.

PRIOR TO REACHING THIS POINT OF AUCTION, THE CITY DOES SEEK TO NOTIFY AND WORK OUT ALTERNATE PAYMENT PLANS AND OPTIONS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE FACING THIS CHALLENGE.

TYPICALLY, MOST OWNERS WORK WITH US TO FIND AN ARRANGEMENT THAT WORKS FOR THEM AND ENABLES THEM TO PAY IN INSTALLMENTS.

SOME DON'T. TODAY WE SEEK GPC AND COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT TO PROCEED WITH THE SALE OF PROPERTIES WITH OUTSTANDING TAX ARREARS AS OF THE 2021

[00:05:10]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. OPENING IT UP TO QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DISCUSSION.

IT'S KIND OF ONE OF OUR REGULAR PROCESSES.

AND A BIG, BIG STRESS IS IF YOUR PROPERTY IS ON THIS, PLEASE DO REACH OUT TO THE CITY TO TO GET ON A PAYMENT PLAN SO THAT YOUR YOUR NAME IS REMOVED. AND AGAIN, THE AUCTION SET FOR JUNE.

SO YOU HAVE BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE AS WELL YOU HAVE 30 DAYS AFTER THE AUCTION TO TO STILL COME IN AND PAY OFF YOUR YOUR TAXES.

COUNCILLOR FEQUET. THANKS, MADAM CHAIR.

YEAH. SEEMS PRETTY EFFECTIVE.

POLICY PAGE TEN THAT TABLE THAT SHOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE PAY UP BEFORE THEY LOSE THEIR PROPERTIES.

SO YEAH, DEFINITELY IN SUPPORT.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

SEEING NOTHING FURTHER.

WE WILL BRING THIS TO OUR COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH IS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH AT 7:00 PM.

WITH THAT, THE NEXT ITEM IS ON ITEM.

[IN CAMERA]

IF I GET A MOTION TO MOVE IN CAMERA.

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR COCHRANE SECOND BY COUNCILLOR MCGURK.

ANYBODY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE. WE CAN MOVE IN CAMERA.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.