[1. Opening Statement]
[00:00:04]
AND WE'LL CALL OUR GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 11TH, 2023 STARTING WITH THE OPENING STATEMENT . THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE ARE LOCATED ON CHIEF DRYGEESE TERRITORY.
FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATION.
WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURE OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS, METIS AND INUIT, WHOSE PRESENCE ENRICHES CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
[2. Approval of the agenda.]
DO WE HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, MS. BASSI-KELLETT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.NO, WE DO NOT. NOTHING ELSE TO ADD.
SORRY. DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST IN THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.
[3. Disclosure of pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof.]
SEEING NONE.A MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO APPROVE THE 2023
[4. A memorandum regarding whether to approve the 2023 Reconciliation Action Plan.]
RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN, MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.SINCE COUNCIL APPROVED THE CITY'S RECONCILIATION FRAMEWORK IN 2021, WHICH OF COURSE IS OUR HIGH LEVEL POLICY DOCUMENT THAT LAYS OUT THE LONG TERM COMMITMENTS TO RECONCILIATION. SINCE THAT TIME, THE CITY HAS PROPOSED AN ANNUAL ACTION PLAN TO ADVANCE A RANGE OF CONCRETE ACTIONS THAT WE CAN TAKE ON OUR JOURNEY TOWARDS RECONCILIATION. IN APRIL 2022, COUNCIL APPROVED THE DRAFT RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN FOR ENGAGEMENT AND COMMENT, AND ONE OF THE ACTIONS OUT OF THAT PLAN WAS TO HOLD A PUBLIC GATHERING ON RECONCILIATION, WHERE RESIDENTS AND PARTNERS COULD ENGAGE ON THE TOPIC OF WHAT RECONCILIATION LOOKS LIKE IN YELLOWKNIFE TODAY. ADMINISTRATION PRESENTS THE DRAFT RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN FOR 2023 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE, COMMENT AND ENGAGEMENT, AND WE WILL WELCOME ONGOING COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS AS WE HAVE DONE WITH OTHER ACTION PLANS.
WE'RE ALSO RELEASING TODAY FOR REVIEW THE WHAT WE HEARD DOCUMENT WHICH SUMMARIZES THE AUGUST 31ST RECONCILIATION GATHERING THAT TOOK PLACE IN 2022, AND IT DOCUMENTS THE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS MADE AT THAT TIME.
WHAT WE HEARD WILL BE SENT TO PARTNER GOVERNMENTS AND AGENCIES SO THAT WE CAN SHARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND IDEAS FOR THOSE GOVERNMENTS TO CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING THEM AS APPROPRIATE. THE CITY, OF COURSE, IS LOOKING IN DEPTH AT THOSE AND WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT HOLDING ANNUAL GATHERINGS THAT ENABLE OUR COMMUNITY TO DISCUSS WHAT RECONCILIATION LOOKS LIKE TO ALL OF US.
THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? OH, I'M HAVING A BRAIN MOMENT.
JUST A QUESTION ABOUT THE ELDER CIRCLE.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE STILL JUST LOOKING TO CHECK IN.
IF WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR AN ELDER OR A TEACHER FOR THOSE PROGRAMS. MS. BASSI-KELLETT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
YES, THESE ARE ONGOING PROGRAMS. WE HAVE DIFFERENT INSTRUCTORS AND ELDERS MADE AVAILABLE.
I WILL ASK MR. WHITE TO SPEAK TO THIS, SINCE IT IS PREDOMINANTLY THE LIBRARY THAT IS OFFERING AND PROMOTING A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO TO DATE, WE HAVE HAD, I GUESS, SOME CHALLENGES IN FINDING BOTH ELDERS AND PEOPLE TO DO THE LEARN TO SPEAK PROGRAMS. OUR STAFF HAVE REACHED OUT THROUGH THEIR NETWORKING AND WE'RE STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK.
SO WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE HAS REACHED OUT TO YELLOWKNIFE'S DENE FIRST NATION CHIEFS AND COUNCIL, AND THERE WAS ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE CULTURAL AREAS WITHIN THE YKDFN WHO HAS BEEN TASKED TO WORK WITH THE CITY ON THIS.
IF THEY'RE FEDERAL BODIES OF WATER.
[00:05:07]
ETCETERA, THAT HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN THE NAMING OF SOME OF THOSE LANDMARKS, BUT WE'RE MORE THAN EAGER AND READY TO DO SO.THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILLOR FEQUET.
DID I MISHEAR THAT OR IS THAT A FUTURE STEP? COULD YOU ELABORATE ON THE PROCESS? MS. BASSI-KELLETT THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THIS.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY WE SEE OUR PROCESS AROUND RECONCILIATION AS BEING ONGOING AND ITERATIVE, AND SO WE DON'T WAIT FOR RELEASE OF DOCUMENTS OR FOR EVENTS TO HAPPEN.
WE'RE CONSTANTLY SEEKING AND LOOKING FORWARD TO ANY COMMENTS, UPDATES, SUGGESTIONS, IDEAS THAT RESIDENTS MAY HAVE AND THAT WE CERTAINLY LOOK TO MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE THOSE INTO ACTIONS MOVING FORWARD.
SO THE RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN FOR 2023 IS INTENDED TO BE RELEASED AS A DOCUMENT AND WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, THOUGHTS FROM RESIDENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME.
THANK YOU. ANYTHING FURTHER? COUNCILLOR FEQUET. THANKS FOR THAT RESPONSE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT WOULD BE OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT WE BRING THIS FORWARD TO COUNCIL NOW, CERTAINLY BY BRINGING SOMETHING FORGIVE ME, BRING IT TO GPC TODAY, TO COUNCIL IN TWO WEEKS, AND WE DO SO KNOWING THAT THERE'S USUALLY SOME ATTENTION PAID BY THE MEDIA.
FOLLOWING UP FROM COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN QUESTION, I WAS CURIOUS, HAVE WE REACHED OUT TO AURORA COLLEGE AND ECE REGARDING THE LANGUAGE AND THE ELDERS? I NOTICED THAT THE LANGUAGE IN THE ACTION PLAN IS NON-COMMITTAL UNDERSTANDING WE CAN'T RUN THEM WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE FOLKS, BUT I MYSELF AM IN A PROGRAM WITH AURORA COLLEGE AND I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE LOTS OF CAPACITY AND HAS VARIOUS MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS FOR LANGUAGES AND ELDERS.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF A WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THEM AND B, IF WE CAN CHANGE THAT LANGUAGE TO BE A BIT MORE OF A COMMITMENT, NOT KIND OF A QUALIFIER, BECAUSE I THINK THE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE AND OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WE CAN'T DO THINGS IF WE DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THEM.
THAT'S A THAT'S A GREAT SUGGESTION AND CERTAINLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UNDER ADVISEMENT.
IF WE KNOW THERE'S GOOD PROGRAMING OUT THERE.
MAYBE WHAT OUR ROLE SHOULD BE IS TO AMPLIFY THE AWARENESS AND INSTEAD OF COMPETING WITH IT, BUT I WILL SEE IF MR. WHITE HAS ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS AROUND THE AURORA COLLEGE ROLE, AND IF NOT, WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO TAKE THIS SUGGESTION FROM COUNCILLOR FEQUET UNDER ADVISEMENT.
THANK YOU. OKAY, THANKS FOR THAT.
DOES THE CITY HAVE AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY TO PROMOTE INDIGENOUS EMPLOYMENT? MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
WE HAVE A PROCESS THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED WHEN OUR HR POLICIES WERE REVISED IN 2020, I BELIEVE, WHERE IN OUR HIRING AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
WE ALSO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF VISIBLE MINORITY OR HAVE A DISABILITY TO SELF-IDENTIFY, AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS AND SELF-IDENTIFY ARE AUTOMATICALLY PUT INTO A SHORTLIST SCREENING.
THEY ARE SCREENED INTO INTERVIEWS THAT WILL HAPPEN.
SO THAT IS THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE USING AT THIS TIME.
THANKS FOR THAT. DO WE HAVE DATA ON HOW MANY EMPLOYEES CURRENTLY WORK WITH THE CITY THAT IDENTIFY AS INDIGENOUS? MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION AND THANK YOU FOR THIS.
WE ANECDOTALLY KNOW AND HAVE A SENSE, BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A NUMBER OF LONG TERM STAFF AND WE HAVE NEVER COLLECTED DATA AND WE HAVE MADE IT OPTIONAL FOR PEOPLE TO LONG TERM STAFF TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THEIR BACKGROUND, INCLUDING THEIR INDIGENOUS STATUS, BUT THE INFORMATION WE HAVE IS NOT COMPULSORY AT
[00:10:03]
THIS POINT. SO IT'S A BEST GUESS BY THE CITY NOW THAT WE ARE OF COURSE COLLECTING INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS.WE DO HAVE INFORMATION GOING FORWARD ON PEOPLE THAT HAVE APPLIED SINCE WE'VE IMPLEMENTED OUR NEW RECRUITMENT APPROACH UNDER OUR REVISED HR POLICIES, BUT OVERALL, IT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT WE ONLY HAVE ANECDOTAL INFORMATION ON WHEN IT APPLIES TO THE ENTIRE CITY WORKFORCE.
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE CURRICULUM THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED.
IT'S AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE SIX OF THE OR MAYBE THAT'S WRONG.
SORRY, BUT IT'S THE CURRICULUM THAT'S UNDER DEVELOPMENT, AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, IN LIGHT OF BOTTOM OF PAGE 532 OF OUR PDF CONSIDERING THE LIVING WELL TOGETHER PROGRAM THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER WITH THE GNWT AND VARIOUS RESIDENTS FROM AROUND THE NWT AND UNDERSTANDING AND HAVING GONE THROUGH THAT PROGRAM MYSELF, IT'S QUITE FULSOME AND COMPREHENSIVE AND I RECOGNIZE THAT A LOT OF INDIGENOUS GOVERNMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS HAVE SPOKEN, SPOKE VERY HIGHLY ABOUT THAT PROGRAM AND I'M JUST CURIOUS, DID THE CITY CONSIDER USING THAT PROGRAM INSTEAD OF DEVELOPING ITS OWN CURRICULUM, AND YEAH, IF YOU COULD JUST SPEAK TO THAT.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
WE HAVE TO, OF COURSE, BALANCE PEOPLE'S OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND THEIR JOBS.
WE HAVE MADE TRAINING MANDATORY SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE RICHNESS OF INDIGENOUS CULTURE, THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE LEGACY OF RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS, SOME OF THE INTERGENERATIONAL IMPACTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, AND SO WHAT WE'VE ASKED THE CONSULTANTS TO PUT TOGETHER IS A CURRICULUM THAT FITS INTO ONE DAY, THAT IS INTERACTIVE, THAT IS SOMETHING WHERE LEARNING CAN HAPPEN IN A WAY THAT IS RELEVANT.
IT WILL BE IN AN ON THE LAND CONTEXT.
IT WILL END WITH ENGAGEMENT WITH KNOWLEDGE HOLDERS, AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AS OPPOSED TO PUTTING STAFF DOWN IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, WE WANTED SOMETHING THAT IS INTERACTIVE IN PERSON AND ENABLES GROUP LEARNING IN A WAY THAT WORKS FOR SO MUCH OF WHAT IT IS THAT CITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DELIVER.
THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THAT RESPONSE.
YEAH, AND I THINK THAT'S OBVIOUSLY REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK THAT MOVING FORWARD, THE BACKGROUND OF THE LIVING WELL TOGETHER, MY UNDERSTANDING FOR THE GNWT WAS THAT THEY FACED IT IN OVER 12 MONTHS SO THAT FOLKS WOULDN'T HAVE TO SIT IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER FOR A WEEK STRAIGHT, BUT IT'S YEAH, THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT MORE INFORMATION THAN WOULD BE ABLE TO BE DELIVERED IN ONE DAY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OF THE VISITOR CENTER IS SOMETHING THAT WILL LIKELY COUNCIL WILL LIKELY BE CONSIDERING LATER THIS YEAR AND UNDERSTANDING THAT A WHOLE SECTION OF WHAT WE HEARD REPORT IS ON GOVERNANCE.
I'M WONDERING IF NOW IS THE TIME TO OR TO GET AT LEAST AN UPDATE ON ARE WE CONSIDERING ANY INDIGENOUS POSITIONS WITHIN THAT GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE? AND SIMILARLY, THEY TALKED ABOUT INDIGENOUS RESIDENTS AND COUNCIL AS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND I'M WONDERING WHEN ADMINISTRATION THINKS THAT WOULD BE THE RIGHT TIME TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT EXPLORING THOSE OPTIONS.
ON FIRST ON THE VISITOR CENTER MODEL.
YES, INFORMATION WILL BE FORTHCOMING ON THAT.
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF A DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE JUST PUT TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATION THAT FOCUSES AS A VISITOR'S GUIDE, THAT FOCUSES ON THE INDIGENOUS EXPERIENCE OF VISITORS TO YELLOWKNIFE AND HOW THEY CAN UNDERSTAND APPRECIATE THE RICH HISTORY OF THIS AREA WHERE SO MANY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES HAVE, HAVE LIVED, HAVE TRAVELED, HAVE HUNTED, AND SO THERE IS A VERY DETAILED AND VERY SPECIFIC BROCHURE THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED THAT WE'RE QUITE PROUD OF THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR VISITORS RIGHT NOW.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OVERALL, WE ARE DEFINED, OF COURSE, BY THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES ELECTIONS ACT AND THE CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES ACT WHEN IT COMES TO THE COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL, AND WE ABSOLUTELY WELCOME A DISCUSSION WITH COUNCIL ON WHAT'S POSSIBLE.
[00:15:06]
SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT FOR GOVERNANCE.YEAH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, I GUESS, CONVEY MY STRONG ENCOURAGEMENT THAT WHEN WE SEE THOSE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE VISITOR CENTER, THAT IT BE CONSIDERED THAT INDIGENOUS POSITIONS BE BE INCORPORATED INTO THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY.
I'M WONDERING IF AND MAYBE I MISSED THIS OR IF IT DID HAPPEN, APOLOGIES, BUT IN THE FUTURE, WHAT ABOUT SHARING THIS ACTION PLAN WITH OUR INDIGENOUS PARTNERS IN ADVANCE TO KIND OF ENSURE THAT WHAT WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING TO WORK TOWARDS RECONCILIATION ALIGNS WITH THEIR THEIR PRIORITIES, THEIR WORLDVIEWS, THE THINGS THEY THINK ARE IMPORTANT AND MAYBE THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST OR MAYBE IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF OBVIOUSLY EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED RECENTLY, BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING IF ADMINISTRATION COULD SPEAK TO THAT AND WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD DO OR HAVE DONE AND CAN CONTINUE TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION, AND IT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT THAT'S BEEN MADE.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST IS THAT WE HAVE SHARED THIS IN ADVANCE WITH THE YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATION AND WITH NORTH SLAVE METIS ALLIANCE, AND I KNOW THAT THIS TIME THIS DOCUMENT WAS SHARED IN ADVANCE WITH THE CHIEFS AND COUNCIL IT I FORGIVE ME, I FORGET OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD IF WE'VE SHARED YET WITH THIS VERSION WITH NORTH SLAVE METIS ALLIANCE, BUT WE DO MAKE A POINT OF SHARING THIS IN ADVANCE WITH PARTNERS WHERE WE KNOW THAT THOSE INDIGENOUS GOVERNMENTS ARE OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS AND HAVE A VERY REAL AND VERY INVESTED ENGAGEMENT WITH US.
WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS ON RECONCILIATION, YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATION HAVE ASKED FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSIONS WITH MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND WE HAVE SOUGHT TO SET THOSE UP AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE A VERY DIRECT AND SUPPORTED CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THAT RESPONSE.
SO YEAH, I THINK I HEARD THAT WE DO TRY TO DO THAT.
UNDERSTANDING CAPACITY IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE AND OTHER THINGS GOING ON, BUT YEAH, I WOULD JUST AGAIN I GUESS CONVEY MY STRONG ENCOURAGEMENT TO ENSURE THAT IN THE FUTURE WHEN PREPARING THESE ANNUAL WORK PLANS, THAT ALL INDIGENOUS GOVERNMENTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO INFORM THIS PLAN, AND I THINK THAT'S MY LAST ONE FOR NOW.
ANYTHING FURTHER? COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN.
MY QUESTION IS REALLY MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS BEYOND THE ANNUAL ROUNDTABLE WHEN ALL YELLOWKNIVERS CAN COME TOGETHER AND SPEAK ABOUT RECONCILIATION IN THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY AND LIVING AND BEING WELL TOGETHER IS HOW ARE WE INCORPORATING INTO THE ACTION PLAN, REACHING OUT TO RESIDENTS WHO ARE INDIGENOUS, WHO AREN'T WHITE OR NORTH SLAVE METIS ALLIANCE, BECAUSE WE HAVE RESIDENTS FROM ACROSS THE NWT, NUNAVUT ACROSS CANADA WHO ARE INDIGENOUS, WHO LIVE IN OUR CITY BUT WOULDN'T BE CAPTURED BY THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
AND SO CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO A BIT OF HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT IN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WE ARE BRINGING THEM INTO THE CONVERSATION? I'VE HEARD MANY TIMES DURING THE ELECTION ABOUT A LOT OF INUIT RESIDENTS WHO OFTEN FEEL SORT OF PULLED APART FROM BEING RECOGNIZED AS INDIGENOUS WITHIN YELLOWKNIFE.
SO HOW DO WE MAKE SURE GOING FORWARD AS A CITY THAT WE ARE CAPTURING THOSE PARTS OF OUR CITY AND THE REALLY KEY FABRIC THAT MAKES US WHO WE ARE? THANKS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION AND CERTAINLY REFLECTIVE OF THE FACT THAT AS THE CAPITAL CITY, WE ARE A CROSSROADS FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES FROM ACROSS THE NWT, ACROSS THE CIRCUMPOLAR WORLD AND CERTAINLY ACROSS CANADA AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS WHO IDENTIFY AS INDIGENOUS, WHO ARE NOT NORTH SLAVE METIS, WHO ARE NOT YKDFN MEMBERS, BUT ARE COMING FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE TERRITORY AND COUNTRY, AND WE CERTAINLY DO WELCOME THE COMMENTS, THE ADVICE, THE INPUT THAT COME.
PART OF THE GATHERING ITSELF IS INTENDED TO REALLY CREATE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE DELIBERATE AND COME OUT AND SEE WHAT THE CITY IS DOING AND MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ENGAGE AT THAT LEVEL.
ANY TIME THAT THERE IS AN IDEA, SOMETHING THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT WE COULD DO DIFFERENTLY OR DO BETTER, WE WILL ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO ANY INDIGENOUS PERSON COMING FORWARD AND MAKING THAT POINT TO US.
SO THE GATHERING IS INTENDED TO BE OUR ANNUAL CYCLE WHERE WE REALLY WELCOME PEOPLE IN, BUT IF THERE'S ANY POINT IN TIME WHERE AN INDIGENOUS PERSON WHO IS RESIDENT IN YELLOWKNIFE WANTS TO SHARE THAT IDEAS ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, WE WILL WELCOME THAT FROM ANY INDIGENOUS PERSON ON OUR PATH TO RECONCILIATION.
[00:20:07]
THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THAT, AND ONE OF MY THOUGHTS AROUND THIS IS NOT EVEN JUST NECESSARILY INDIVIDUALS, BUT THERE'S LOTS OF REPRESENTATIVE ORGANIZATIONS, AND, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS I WANT IT TO BE INCUMBENT ON US TO REACH OUT, I WANT IT TO BE KNOWN FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT TO THE CITY AND, YOU KNOW, BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AND THAT WE WANT TO WORK WITH AS MANY ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE TERRITORIES AND ACROSS CANADA. SO PLEASE DO REACH OUT TO US BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO WORK WITH ANY ORGANIZATION IN THE CITY.SO THANKS. THANK YOU, ANYONE FURTHER BEFORE WE GO A SECOND ROUND? SEEING NONE COUNCILLOR FEQUET.
I WAS HOPING TO GET IF ADMIN COULD SPEAK TO THE EVOLUTION AND THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE APOLOGIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
THANK YOU, AND WAS THE PURPOSE OF THAT POSITION RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO HELPING IMPLEMENT OUR RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN OR DID THE POSITION HAVE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES? MS. BASSI-KELLETT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO THE POSITION WAS REALLY INTENDED TO TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY ORGANIZATION AND TO WORK WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS, RESIDENTS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON ISSUES THAT WERE COMING UP, AND PART OF THIS WAS, OF COURSE, THE LEAD UP TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR RECONCILIATION FRAMEWORK AND OUR ACTION PLAN. WE'D UNDERTAKEN A NUMBER OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION EVENTS OVER THE SUMMER OF 2019, EVENTS CALLED STARTING THE CONVERSATION, WHERE WE WENT OUT AND MANY PUBLIC VENUES, MANY DIFFERENT MEETING VENUES, INCLUDING A FACILITATED SESSION THAT HAPPENED IN FALL OF 2019 TO SEEK INPUT ON WHAT OUR FRAMEWORK SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THE ACTION PLAN SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
SO THAT WAS A BIG PART OF THE ROLE OF THE POSITION AT THAT TIME.
I THINK LAST QUESTION, JUST FOLLOWING UP ON COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN COMMENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TYPES OF PLANS THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE THAT IS INFORMED BY THE PUBLIC AND ESPECIALLY INDIGENOUS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
SO NOTING THAT WE HAVE SPECIFIC REPRESENTATIVE ORGANIZATIONS IDENTIFIED IN OUR ACTION PLAN MOVING FORWARD, WILL WE CHANGE THAT FOR 2024? OF NOTE, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, THE [INAUDIBLE] GOVERNMENT IS NOT LISTED IN HERE, AND WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE GRAND CHIEF BACK IN THE FALL.
WE'VE SENT COPIES TO EVERY INDIGENOUS GOVERNMENT IN THE NWT AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL.
I DON'T THINK WE SENT AT ALL BAND LEVELS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL, BUT WE DID SEND OUR FRAMEWORK OUT AND WE HAVE DONE OUTREACH POLITICALLY WITH OUR RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN ANNUALLY, AND THAT OF COURSE WILL CONTINUE BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS ARE AWARE OF THE DOCUMENTS AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE PRODUCING SO THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE COMMENTS, THEY CAN ENGAGE WITH US.
AS I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING COMMENTS, IT'S OUR INTENTION TO BE ABLE TO SEND OUT THE WHAT WE HEARD DOCUMENT AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT LEADERS, INDIGENOUS LEADERS ACROSS THE GNWT ARE AWARE AND THEY CAN PROVIDE COMMENT BACK.
TO CLOSE, I JUST HAVE A FEW COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
JUST RECOGNIZING THAT THE RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN IS A LIVING DOCUMENT, IT CONTINUOUSLY CHANGES, AND AS THE CITY, WE RELY ON RESIDENTS TO PARTAKE TO BE ABLE TO PUT IN THEIR INPUT, TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST US TO MOVING FORWARD AS TO WHAT RECONCILIATION SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND WILL LOOK LIKE AS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS PRESENT DURING OUR MOST RECENT GATHERING, WE HAD MANY WALKS OF LIFE THAT WERE THERE.
WE HAD INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE.
WE HAD MANY FROM YKDFN SHOW UP.
WE HAD MANY FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] GROUP COME IN.
WE EVEN HAD THE [INAUDIBLE] SHOW AND WE HAD A REALLY GREAT CHAT ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FOR THE FUTURE, AND I HOPE THAT RESIDENTS STILL COME FORWARD NOT RELYING JUST ON THESE GATHERINGS, BUT NOTING THAT THEY CAN COME TO COUNCILLORS, THEY CAN COME TO THE CITY AND THEY CAN EXPRESS HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT
[00:25:06]
RECONCILIATION AND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.YEAH, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DOCUMENT THAT CAME FORWARD.
A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT WAS PUT INTO IT AND IT WAS REALLY WELL WRITTEN, AND WITH THAT, I SEE GENERAL SUPPORT FOR MOVING THIS FORWARD. YES.
SO WE WILL MOVE THIS FORWARD TO COUNCIL.
MOVING FORWARD, WE WILL BE GOING IN-CAMERA.
[IN CAMERA]
SO I THINK THE PUBLIC FOR COMING AND WE WILL BE MOVING IN-CAMERA.[7. Business arising from In Camera Session.]
SO BUSINESS ARISING FROM IN-CAMERA.WE HAVE APPOINTED TO THE ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
RILEY OLDFORD, CORNELIUS VAN DYKE, DENISE MCKEE AND LINDA [INAUDIBLE].
WERE YOU FOR THE ADVISORY BOARD REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THIS ONE.
QUESTIONS FOR THIS. ALL RIGHT, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE? COUNCILLOR FEQUET. THANKS, MADAM CHAIR.
THINKING BACK TO THAT ACCESSIBILITY AUDIT THAT TOOK PLACE BEFORE MY TIME AROUND 2018 OR SO, HAS IT BEEN STANDARD PRACTICE THAT COUNCIL WOULD RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT ADMINISTRATION COULD COULD PUT TOGETHER? AND IF SO, WHAT WOULD BE A REASONABLE TIME TO EXPECT TO EXPECT AN UPDATE LIKE THAT? AND I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE AUDIT SPECIFICALLY, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A THOUSAND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THERE OR TEN.
SO ASKING WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
SO THE ACCESSIBILITY AUDIT TOOK A LOOK ACROSS ALL CITY FACILITIES, PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND HOW WE OPERATE TO TAKE A LOOK AT PHYSICAL BARRIERS, OTHER KINDS OF BARRIERS THAT MAY EXIST FOR PERSONS WHO MAY BE CHALLENGED TO BE ABLE TO EQUITABLY ACCESS CITY FACILITIES PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
IT MADE A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS, EVERYTHING FROM, AS I MENTIONED, THE DOORS AT RUTH INCH POOL, HOW WE NEEDED TO CHANGE THOSE UP TO THE LOOK AND FEEL OF OUR WEBSITE FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE MAY BE VISUALLY IMPAIRED.
SO THERE'S A QUITE A DETAILED ARRAY OF DIRECTION THAT CAME FROM THAT AUDIT.
THAT WAS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL AND COUNCIL HAD ALSO APPROVED AT THE TIME AN ANNUAL BUDGET FIGURE THAT WOULD BE SPENT ON ADDRESSING ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES ACROSS THE CITY, AND THAT'S BEEN AN ONGOING THING FOR AT LEAST THE LAST THREE BUDGET CYCLES.
I'LL ASK MR. WHITE IF HE'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN ANY MORE DETAIL TO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON WITH HOW WE ROLL OUT THE ACCESSIBILITY AUDIT AND OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AROUND THAT. THANK YOU.
SO THE AUDIT LAID OUT SEVERAL PRIORITIES FOR US TO FOLLOW, AND THEN SO WE DO THAT AND THEN WE ALSO GET SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE JUMPSTART PLAYGROUND.
SO WHEN THE JUMPSTART PLAYGROUND CAME ALONG, WE USURPED SOME OF THE MONEY FROM THAT YEAR TO MAKE THAT PARK, AND THEN WE START, YOU KNOW, DOING THE PRIORITY LIST AGAIN, AND THEN AND THEN WE CONTINUE ALONG.
YOU CAN GO BACK TO OUR LAST BUDGET CYCLES AND UNDER THE ACCESSIBILITY CAPITAL WRITE UP, WE GIVE AN EXAMPLE OR WE GIVE AN INDICATION OF ALL THE WORK THAT WAS DONE ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AS WELL AS LAYING OUT THE WORK THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
SO OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK I'LL JUST LEAVE IT THERE.
YEAH, THE REASON I'M ASKING THAT QUESTION IS I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT THE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT IN THAT TERMS OF REFERENCE, IT TALKS ABOUT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO COUNCIL.
SO I JUST AM TRYING TO, IN MY OWN MIND, FIGURE OUT HOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THAT COMMITTEE WILL MESH WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE AUDIT AND HOW THAT WILL COME TO COUNCIL AT A TIME THAT IS HELPFUL TO INFORM BUDGETING PROCESSES FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
SO I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING IS, IS THERE A TIME THAT WOULD BE OBVIOUS TO ADMINISTRATION OF WHEN RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHOULD COME FORWARD TO COUNCIL.
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN, YOU KNOW, SETTING UP THE WORK PLAN AND THE BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
[00:30:03]
SO THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS PROVIDING OPERATIONAL ADVICE TO ADMINISTRATION ON PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY, AND SO AS THEY ARE INVOLVED IN LOOKING AT THE WORK THAT'S UNDERWAY THAT WE HAVE LAID OUT IN THE ACCESSIBILITY AUDIT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, WE'LL START WITH PROJECTS, AND I'M TRYING TO THINK OF A COUPLE OF RECENT ONES, MR. WHITE I THINK THE ACCESSIBLE SINKS, THE TROUGH SINKS IN THE MULTIPLEX IS ONE EXAMPLE AS WELL.SO WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE'RE IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THOSE CHANGES THAT WE KNOW ARE INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY, THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT CAN PROVIDE US WITH OPERATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON THAT.
SIMILAR TO WEBSITE CHANGES FOR VISUAL ACCESS, BUT IF THERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES LIKE THAT, WE DO LOOK TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATION WITH INPUT ON WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T, WHAT USER EXPERIENCE WILL DICTATE IS BEING REALLY HELPFUL OR NOT, AND THAT'S WHERE THE REAL VALUE OF THIS COMMITTEE COMES INTO PLAY.
MR. WHITE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? THANK YOU. I GUESS I'LL JUST BUILD ON A LITTLE BIT WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER WHERE THE N.W.T.
ONE WAS THE CITY OF CALGARY, ONE WAS ONTARIO, AND SORRY I DON'T RECALL THE THIRD ONE.
SO WE HAVE SO WE'RE BUILDING TO A CERTAIN STANDARD, AND THEN IF THERE'S ANY SOME OF THE FINE TUNING THAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO IN TERMS OF AS MS. BASSI-KELLETT MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, A SPECIFIC TYPE OF SINK OR OR EVEN, YOU KNOW, DOOR OPENERS, THEN THAT'S WHERE THE ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IN TERMS OF PROVIDING SOME OF THE FINE TUNING ON THOSE.
THANKS. THANKS FOR THAT RESPONSE.
YEAH, SO WHEN I READ THE TERMS OF REFERENCE, I GUESS MY YOU MENTIONED OPERATIONAL KIND OF ADVICE.
I INTERPRETED THE TERMS OF REFERENCE IN THE SCOPE AND IN THE BACKGROUND WHEN IT TALKED ABOUT ESTABLISHING CRITERIA FOR PRIORITIZING HOW FUNDING SHOULD BE DETERMINED TO IMPLY THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE AN ADVISORY ROLE IN HELPING DETERMINE THE PRIORITIES FROM THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THAT AUDIT AS WELL.
SO CAN YOU CONFIRM IF THE COMMITTEE IS INTENDED TO BE USED IN THAT WAY, OR IS IT ONLY ABOUT ONGOING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE VARIOUS CITY OPERATIONS? MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND YEAH, MY PLEASURE TO TRY TO REFINE THINGS.
IF, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HAD A PLAN THAT WE WANTED TO CHANGE OUT TROUGH SINKS AT AND WE WERE ASKING THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THAT AND THEY SAID, WELL WE DON'T THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST ISSUE YOU HAVE.
WE THINK IT'S THE YOU NEED TO HAVE NON-SLIP FLOORS, YOU NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING ELSE.
WE'RE VERY MUCH, VERY MUCH ATTUNED TO WHAT THE COMMITTEE WILL TELL US.
WE WANT THAT DIVERSITY OF REPRESENTATION ON THE COMMITTEE FOR EXACTLY THAT REASON SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST FOCUSED ON ONE KIND OF, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST ON PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, BUT WE DO WANT TO HAVE A RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES THAT CAN GUIDE THE KIND OF WORK THAT IS CONDUCTED.
SO MORE THAN JUST OPERATIONAL, WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE IN THE WEEDS ON THIS, BUT WE DO WANT SOME VERY STRATEGIC ADVICE ON WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US AND HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING AS RESPONSIVE AS POSSIBLE TO THE DIFFERENT NEEDS OF DIFFERENT RESIDENTS OF YELLOWKNIFE.
SO CAN THE COMMITTEE BE USED TO HELP IDENTIFY THE OUTSTANDING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ACCESSIBILITY AUDIT TO HELP US PRIORITIZE MOVING FORWARD? MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL DEFINITELY WANT TO SEEK THEIR ADVICE ON THINGS.
WE CERTAINLY THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER FACTORS AT PLAY, AS MR. WHITE LAID OUT, THAT WHEN WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE JUMPSTART PLAYGROUND, THAT BECAME OUR PRIORITY.
THAT'S WHERE WE PUT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OUR ACCESSIBILITY FUNDS THAT WE HAD AVAILABLE IN THAT YEAR TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE AND MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE PART OF THAT PROJECT AND THAT PARTNERSHIP.
SO THERE ARE WE WILL TAKE THE BEST ADVICE THAT WE CAN FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS, RECOGNIZING THAT THERE MAY BE TIMES WHERE WE END UP THANKING THEM FOR THAT INPUT AND PERHAPS USING THAT IN ANOTHER YEAR BECAUSE OF SOME DIFFERENT PRIORITIES THAT CAN EMERGE.
I'LL ASK MR. WHITE IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE.
YEAH, I GUESS MY PREVIOUS ANSWER JUMPED AHEAD TO THE HOW TO'S, BUT CERTAINLY WE'D USE THE EXPERTISE WITHIN THE COMMITTEE TO HELP SET PRIORITIES BASED ON WHAT HAS BEEN DONE AND WHAT'S LEFT OUTSTANDING ON THE AUDIT.
SO I DON'T RECALL RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER TWO, MAYBE EVEN THREE YEARS OF FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE THAT WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD FOR DELIBERATIONS AT BUDGET TIME, AND FOR SURE, WE'LL HAVE INPUT FROM THEM ON THAT.
[00:35:04]
EXPERTISE TO HELP GUIDE COUNCIL'S ULTIMATE DECISION.ANYTHING FURTHER TO ADD? COUNCILLOR MCGURK.
IT ALSO REFERS TO OTHER SYSTEMIC AND POLICY, THE LANGUAGE, ETCETERA.
SO, I GUESS IN THAT SENSE, IF THE COMMITTEE IS IDENTIFYING SOMETHING THAT IS A BARRIER, THAT IS NOT SORT OF LIKE A PHYSICAL SORT OF PROJECT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THEIR ADVICE ON WHAT THE WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE A VOICE HERE.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT. WE WILL BE LOOKING TO THE COMMITTEE TO NOT JUST PROVIDE ADVICE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACCESSIBILITY AUDIT, BUT IF THERE ARE EMERGING ISSUES THAT THEY NOTE THAT ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, WE WILL REALLY WELCOME GETTING THAT INFORMATION FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I ASSUME IT'S NOT JUST RECOGNIZING HOW HARD IT IS TO GET VOLUNTEERS THESE DAYS POST-COVID.
ABC REPORT THAT WAS DONE BY [INAUDIBLE] ASSOCIATES ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO THAT RECOMMENDED THAT WHERE THERE IS SOMEONE THAT IS, FOR EXAMPLE, MANY MEMBERS ARE ATTENDING AND PARTICIPATING IN THE COURSE OF THEIR DAY.
SO IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO COMPENSATE THEM, BUT IF THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE TAKING TIME AWAY FROM THEIR PROFESSIONAL WORK, OR IF THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE RELYING ON FOR THEIR SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE THAT WE REALLY REQUIRE THEM TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL ADVICE THEN WE DO COMPENSATE THEM FOR THAT TIME.
AS MS. THISTLE POINTED OUT, CERTAINLY TOO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE RECOGNIZING THAT IF WE ARE LOOKING AT PEOPLE WITH A CERTAIN PERSPECTIVE, THAT WE WANT TO HONOR THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING COMPENSATION THAT'S APPROPRIATE SO WE CAN BRING THAT INFORMATION TO COUNCIL.
THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
YEAH, I GUESS I WOULD JUST CONVEY MY STRONG ENCOURAGEMENT TO IN THE VEIN OF ACCESSIBILITY, ENSURE THAT FOLKS WHO AREN'T PARTICIPATING IN OUR COMMITTEES, AS IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL ROLES, BEING COMPENSATED BY THEIR PRIMARY DAY JOBS, THAT WE ENSURE WE'RE PROVIDING COMPENSATION FOR ALL OF THOSE MEMBERS ACROSS ALL OF OUR COMMITTEES, NOT JUST FOR CONSISTENCY, BUT FOR ACCESSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE.
THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR COCHRANE.
SORRY, I JUST GOT OFF FROM VACATION.
CAN I HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHY WE DECIDED TO HAVE THE CHAIR CHOSEN FROM THE PUBLIC AND NOT ACTUALLY HAVE A COUNCILLOR CHAIR THIS PARTICULAR ADVISORY COMMITTEE, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO HAVE A NOT ONLY A PERMANENT MEMBER HERE BEING ABLE TO DIRECTLY PARTICIPATE WITH US, BUT ALSO HAVE A DIRECT ADVOCATE FOR THEM ON THIS COUNCIL.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
JUST TO CLARIFY, AGAIN, THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS ADVISORY TO ADMINISTRATION, SO THEY ARE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH ADMINISTRATION ON THE PROJECTS THAT WE BRING FORWARD AROUND ACCESSIBILITY.
I'LL SEE IF MS. THISTLE HAS ANYTHING SHE'D LIKE TO ADD.
[00:40:01]
REFERENCE PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO THE ADMIN COMMITTEE AS WELL AS A STRUCTURED REPORTING MECHANISM TO ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND SO IT SAID WHILE IT'S NOT TYPICAL TO HAVE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE, THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE IS TIED TO A COUNCIL POLICY AND AS SUCH A DEGREE OF FORMALITY IS RECOMMENDED, AND SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS WHY THERE'S NO MEMBER OF COUNCIL ON IT, BUT WE FELT THAT BECAUSE IT WAS PURSUANT TO THE FORMAL COUNCIL POLICY, BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER, COUNCIL ADOPTED AN ACCESSIBILITY POLICY THAT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.THANK YOU, AND WITH THAT FURTHER BUSINESS THAT AROSE FROM IN-CAMERA, WE WILL BE APPOINTING JASON BRINSON AS A NON-GOVERNMENT HEALTH ORGANIZATION TO THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD ON HOMELESSNESS.
IF THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER FROM COUNCIL, CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION BY COUNCILLOR MCGURK.
SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN.
ALL IN FAVOR? THAT MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE WILL SEE EVERYBODY ELSE THIS EVENING AT 7:00 DURING COUNCIL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.