>> AND I'LL CALL OUR GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETING FOR MONDAY,
[1. Opening Statement]
[00:00:04]
MAY 8TH, 2023 TO ORDER.I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE IS LOCATED IN CHIEF DRAGHI'S TERRITORY.
FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT'S BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIFE STANLEY FIRST NATION.
WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES, AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS METIS [INAUDIBLE], WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT, ANYTHING FURTHER TO ADD TO THE AGENDA?
[2. Approval of the agenda.]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
NO, NOTHING ELSE TO ADD TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE DISCLOSURE, PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.
DOES ANY MEMBER HAVE A PECUNIARY INTEREST TODAY? SEEING NONE. NEXT,
[4. A presentation regarding 2023 Mill Rates.]
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE 2023 MILL RATES.>> MS. BASSI-KELLETT, IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WITH PLEASURE.
AS GPC MEMBERS KNOW, THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION ACT, ALONG WITH THE CITY'S TAX ADMINISTRATION BY-LAW, LAYS OUT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MILL RATES AND THE VARIOUS PROPERTY CLASSES ACROSS THE CITY.
THE COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL MILL RATES HAS BEEN A 2.26:1 SINCE 2019 UP UNTIL LAST YEAR.
THAT IS IN THE BALLPARK FOR MANY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IN SPRING OF 2022, COUNCIL DID DECIDE TO ADJUST THE MILL RATE RATIO 1:2.26, DOWN TO 1: 2.13, WHAT IT WAS PREVIOUSLY BEFORE THE LAST GENERAL ASSESSMENT, IN OTHER WORDS.
THIS PROPORTION OF TAX BURDEN SHIFTED FROM COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION TO HAVE TODAY.
AS WE LOOK AT CONFIRMING WHAT THE MILL RATES WILL BE, WE NEED TO DO THIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VERY TIGHT AND AGGRESSIVE TIMELINE THAT'S SET IN THE PAD OF THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION ACT, BECAUSE WE NEED TO ISSUE THE FINAL TAX NOTICES.
I WILL TURN THINGS OVER NOW TO MS. WOODWARD WHO WILL WALK THROUGH THE ISSUES AROUND THE MILL RATES.
THE IMPORTANCE THAT THEY HAVE FOR US AS THEY SET OUT A LOT OF THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUES THAT WE GET.
AND IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT MATTER FOR US TO CONSIDER EVERY YEAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU MS. BASSI-KELLETT AND GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT FOR THE 2023 MILL RATE BY-LAWS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
AS COMMITTEE IS AWARE, PROPERTY TAXES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CITY'S PLANS.
ONE OF COUNCIL'S DUTIES IS TO PASS THE MILL RATE BY-LAWS THAT DISTRIBUTE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE TAXES.
IN SUPPORT OF THIS, EACH YEAR, ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS MILL RATES THAT WILL RAISE THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE REQUIRED IN THAT YEAR'S BUDGET.
TODAY, WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD THE RECOMMENDED 2023 MILL RATES.
WE'LL PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THESE MILL RATES AND THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN MEETING THE CITY'S REVENUE REQUIREMENTS, AND THEN ADDRESS THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE RECOMMENDED MILL RATES.
TO ENSURE EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE, I'LL START WITH A REALLY QUICK REVIEW OF THESE BASICS AROUND PROPERTY TAXATION AT THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.
MOST BASIC QUESTION, WHY? WHY DOES THE CITY NEEDS TO LEVY AND COLLECT PROPERTY TAXES? REALLY THE MOST BASIC ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS BECAUSE THE CITY, LIKE ANY MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, EXISTS TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
PARTICULARLY SERVICES FOR THE BROADER PUBLIC THAT ARE NOT EFFECTIVELY OR EFFICIENTLY PROVIDED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
NOW AS COMMITTEE IS AWARE THESE SERVICES INCLUDE THE CORE SERVICES, THOSE ESSENTIAL THINGS LIKE FIRE AND AMBULANCE, WATER AND SEWER, ROADS AND SIDEWALKS, AS WELL AS SERVICES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE, AND YOU KNOW, IN YELLOWKNIFE.
OUR FACILITIES, PARKS, TRAILS, AND THE PROGRAMS THAT OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF LEARNING, SOCIAL, AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
PROVIDING THESE SERVICES REQUIRES REVENUES, AND PROPERTY TAXES ARE A SIGNIFICANT REVENUE RESOURCE.
THEY EXIST PRIMARILY TO RAISE REVENUE.
THEY AREN'T THE PARTICULARLY GOOD TOOL FOR INCENTIVIZING OR DEINCENTIVIZING CERTAIN TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT.
BUT THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT TOOL IN THE CITY'S REVENUE TOOLBOX, AND ONE THAT HAS SURPRISINGLY FEW TOOLS.
MOST OF THE CITY'S REVENUES COME FROM THREE MAIN SOURCES.
PROPERTY TAXATION, USER CHARGES, AND GOVERNMENT GRANTS, WITH LAND SALES AND INVESTMENT INCOME PROVIDING THE MARGINAL OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS.
THIS PRETTY LIMITED MENU IS EVEN FURTHER CONSTRAINED WHEN THE NEED TO DELIVER A BALANCED BUDGET STIPULATED BY THE CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES THAT IS FACTORED IN.
THIS BALANCED BUDGET CRITERIA MEANS THAT EVERY YEAR THE CITY MUST FIND REVENUES TO COVER ALL OF ITS EXPENDITURES.
IT ALSO IMPLIES THAT IF ANY PIECE OF THAT REVENUE PIE
[00:05:02]
THAT WE SAW EARLIER GETS SMALLER OR IS DECREASED, THEN EITHER SOME OTHER PIECE OF THAT PIE HAS TO GET BIGGER TO MAKE UP THAT REVENUE SHORTFALL OR THE EXPENDITURES PIE HAS TO SHRINK ACCORDINGLY.WHEN BUDGET 2023 WAS DEVELOPED AND ADOPTED, IT WAS BASED ON A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF REVENUE COMING FOR EACH OF THOSE REVENUE SOURCES.
SPECIFICALLY OF INTEREST TO US TODAY IS THE FACT THAT THAT BUDGET ASSUMED THAT 33% OF THE CITY'S TOTAL REVENUES WILL BE COMING FROM PROPERTY TAXATION IN 2023.
BUT WHAT ALLOWS THE CITY OR GIVES US THE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS? COMMITTEE WILL RECALL THE TERRITORIAL LEGISLATION PROVIDES THE BIG PICTURE AUTHORITY, MOSTLY BY WAY OF THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION ACT AND THE RELATED REGULATIONS.
THEN CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE BY-LAWS STIPULATE THE CITY'S SPECIFIC PROCESSES.
SPECIFICALLY TODAY, THE TAX ADMINISTRATION BY-LAW, WHERE ALL OF THE PROPERTY CLASSES ARE SET OUT.
THE FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION BY-LAW, THAT TALKS ABOUT HOW THE CITY WILL TAKE THE TAX PAYMENTS AND THEN THE FEES AND CHARGES BY-LAW, WHICH INCLUDES CHARGES FOR PROPERTY TAX CERTIFICATES.
THIS LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK NOT ONLY ESTABLISHES THE CITY'S AUTHORITY TO COLLECT OR LEVY AND COLLECT PROPERTY TAXES, BUT IT ALSO MAKES IT ONE OF THE MORE PRESCRIPTIVE AND REGULATED PROCESSES WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION.
WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT THE CITY HAS TO COLLECT TAXES AND THAT WE'RE AUTHORIZED TO DO SO.
LET'S JUST TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT HOW THOSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE CALCULATED.
IF WE ONLY HAD ONE PROPERTY, AND ONE PROPERTY OWNER, IT WOULD BE REALLY SIMPLE BECAUSE ALL OF THE TAX REVENUES WOULD COME FROM THAT ONE OWNER.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PROPERTIES IN YELLOWKNIFE AND A LOT OF PROPERTY OWNERS.
HOW DO WE DISTRIBUTE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES ACROSS ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT PROPERTY OWNERS? NOW IN SPITE OF PROPERTY TAXATION BEING A LITTLE BIT COMPLEX AND VERY REGULATED, TAX CALCULATION REALLY BOILS DOWN TO TWO SIMPLE THINGS, PROPERTY VALUE AND PROPERTY USE.
PROPERTY TAX IS AFTER ALL, AN AD VALOREM OF A VALUE-BASED TAX ON REAL PROPERTY.
THEREFORE, PROPERTY VALUE IS A REALLY FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENT IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAX TO BE ASSIGNED TO AN OWNER OF THE PROPERTY.
RATIONALE IS REALLY QUITE BLUNT.
IF YOU CAN AFFORD BIG PROPERTY, YOU CAN AFFORD BIG TAXES.
OR THAT'S THE VERY, VERY BASE ASSUMPTION THERE.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A PROPERTY'S VALUE FOR THE PURPOSES OF TAXATION, THAT VALUE IS REFERRED TO IT'S ASSESSED VALUE.
A PROFESSIONAL ASSESSOR USE STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY TERRITORIAL LEGISLATION TO ASSIGN ONE VALUE TO THE LAND AND ANOTHER VALUE TO THE IMPROVEMENTS, THE HOUSE, THE BUILDING, THE GARAGE, ETC, ON THAT LAND.
IN YELLOWKNIFE, LAND IS ASSESSED BASED ON MARKET VALUE.
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ASSESSED BASED ON TYPICAL DEPRECIATED REPLACEMENT COSTS USING GUIDELINES, LEGISLATED BY THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.
ONCE THOSE VALUES ARE IN PLACE, THE TWO ARE ADDED TOGETHER TO GIVE YOU THE TOTAL ASSESSED VALUE OF A PROPERTY.
THEN THE CITY ADDS UP ALL THE PROPERTY TOTALS TO ARRIVE AT WHAT'S CALLED THE TOTAL TAXABLE ASSESSMENT.
REFERRED TO TOTAL TAXABLE ASSESSMENT BECAUSE SOME PROPERTIES ARE EXEMPT FROM TAXATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, PLACES OF WORSHIP.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TOTAL TAXABLE ASSESSMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF MILL RATES AND TAXATION, IT'S OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE ASSESSMENT BASE.
THOSE TWO ARE USED INTERCHANGEABLY.
NOW, IF WE ASSUME FOR A MINUTE THAT PROPERTY TAXES ARE BASED SOLELY ON PROPERTY VALUE, ASSESSED VALUES GIVE US A VERY RUDIMENTARY WAY TO DISTRIBUTE THE PROPERTY TAX RESPONSIBILITY AMONG THE PROPERTY TAX OWNERS.
BECAUSE DIVIDING THE TOTAL TAXATION REVENUE REQUIREMENT BY THE TOTAL TAXABLE ASSESSMENT WILL TELL US HOW MUCH OF THE REVENUE A PROPERTY OWNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, FOR EVERY DOLLAR OF PROPERTY VALUE.
BUT SINCE THAT'S LIKELY TO BE A VERY SMALL NUMBER, THE CONVENTION IS TO MULTIPLY IT BY 1,000 TO GIVE US WHAT WE CALL THE MILL RATE.
THAT MILL RATE REPRESENTS THE TAX THAT ARISES FROM EVERY $1,000 OF ASSESSED VALUE.
FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S USE SOME VERY SMALL NUMBERS TO MAKE THE MATH SIMPLE.
[00:10:01]
THE CITY'S TOTAL TAXATION REVENUE HAS TO BE $40,000, AND WE HAVE AN EIGHT MILLION DOLLAR TOTAL TAXABLE ASSESSMENT THAT WILL YIELD A MILL RATE OF FIVE, MEANING THAT FOR EVERY $1,000 IN ASSESSED VALUE, THE OWNER OF THAT PROPERTY WOULD BE LEVIED FIVE DOLLARS IN PROPERTY TAXES.IF WE HAVE A SAMPLE PROPERTY WITH A TOTAL ASSESSED VALUE OF $1,000, THAT PROPERTY OWNER HAS TO PAY $500 IN PROPERTY TAXES.
LET'S LOOK AT THIS BASIC CALCULATION JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE TO SEE THE INTERACTION OF THE COMPONENTS IN THE MILL RATE CALCULATION.
AS WE JUST SAW, WITH THE REVENUE REQUIREMENT OF 40,000 AND ASSESSMENT BASE OF EIGHT MILLION, WE NEED A MILL RATE OF FIVE, GIVING OUR PROPERTY OWNER A $500 TAX BILL.
BUT IF WE SUPPOSE FOR A MINUTE THAT THE MUNICIPALITY'S REQUIRED TAX REVENUE ROSE TO $50,000, ASSUMING THAT TOTAL TAXABLE ASSESSMENT BASE REMAINS THE SAME, THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A MILL RATE OF 6.25 IN ORDER TO RAISE THE REQUIRED REVENUE, MEANING OUR PROPERTY OWNER IS ON THE HOOK FOR $625,000.
BUT ONE OTHER VARIATION, IF WE ASSUME THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME ASSESSMENT GROWTH AND THAT ASSESSMENT BASED NOW SITS AT $10 MILLION, THE CITY COULD RAISE THE SAME AMOUNT OF REQUIRED REVENUE AT A MILL RATE OF FIVE, BRINGING OUR PROPERTY OWNER'S TAX BILL BACK TO $500.
THE TAKEAWAY IS THAT WITH GROWTH, THAT ENABLES THE MUNICIPALITY TO RAISE MORE TAX REVENUE WITHOUT INCREASING TAXES.
BUT IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT GROWTH, IF WE NEED TO RAISE MORE MONEY, WE HAVE TO RAISE TAXES.
WHEN WE APPLY THAT THEORETICAL CONCEPT TO THE CITY'S CURRENT REALITY.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT FOR 2023, THE CITY SAW SLIGHTLY MORE GROWTH IN ITS ASSESSMENT BASE THAN WHAT HAD BEEN ANTICIPATED BACK IN DECEMBER.
THAT MEANS THAT THE 4.37% TAX INCREASE THAT WAS ANTICIPATED WHEN BUDGET DELIBERATIONS CONCLUDED LAST DECEMBER, IS NOW SITTING AT 4.04%.
OKAY, NOW BACK TO THEORY FOR A BIT.
OBVIOUSLY THOSE EXAMPLES WERE REALLY SIMPLIFIED BECAUSE THEY ONLY LOOKED AT ASSESSED VALUE.
AS I'D MENTIONED EARLIER, PROPERTY USE ALSO PLAYS A ROLE IN WHAT SHARE OF TAXES A PROPERTY OWNER HAS TO ASSUME.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT NOT ALL PROPERTIES ARE USED FOR THE SAME PURPOSE.
SOME PROVIDE HOUSING, SOME ARE USED UP AS PLACES OF BUSINESSES, THERE ARE INDUSTRY ON OTHERS.
THESE DIFFERENCES OR THESE DIFFERENT USES ARE REFLECTED IN THE PROPERTY CLASS THAT'S ASSIGNED TO A GIVEN PROPERTY, AND THESE CLASSES ARE GENERALLY TREATED DIFFERENTLY WHEN IT COMES TO PROPERTY TAX RESPONSIBILITIES.
TO REFLECT THIS, THE CITY'S TAX ADMINISTRATION BYLAW IDENTIFIES SIX BASIC PROPERTY CLASSES TO REFLECT THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PROPERTY USE.
IN EACH SPRING, COUNCIL ADOPTS A MUNICIPAL MILL RATE BYLAW, THAT ASSIGNS MILL RATES TO EACH OF THOSE CLASSES.
THIS IS WHAT'S BEING BROUGHT FORWARD TODAY.
THESE ARE THE RECOMMENDED 2023 MUNICIPAL MILL RATES FOR EACH PROPERTY CLASS.
IF COUNCIL APPROVES THESE, THEY WILL BE USED TO DISTRIBUTE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CITY'S 2023 REVENUE REQUIREMENTS.
NOW, THE CITY ALSO COLLECTS TAXES ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BOARDS.
THAT'S BASED ON REQUISITIONS THAT ARE DEVELOPED AND SUBMITTED BY THE BOARDS.
LEGISLATION REQUIRES THAT COUNCIL PASS A MILL RATE BY-LAW EACH YEAR TO LEVY AND COLLECT THOSE TAXES.
THESE BY-LAWS ALSO COMING FORWARD TO YOU TODAY.
HOWEVER, THESE REVENUES GO DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOL BOARDS.
THE CITY HAS NO SAY IN HOW THE BUDGETS ARE DEVELOPED, HOW THE REQUISITIONS ARE PREPARED, OR EVEN HOW THE FUNDS ARE SPENT.
IT'S JUST THAT THE PEDA REQUIRES YOU AS COUNSEL TO SET THE MILL RATES.
NOW, GOING BACK A BIT IN THAT REALLY SIMPLE ONE TYPE OF PROPERTY EXAMPLE, I SAID THAT IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF TAX DUE ON A GIVEN PROPERTY, WE HAVE MULTIPLIED THE ASSESSED VALUE BY THE MUNICIPAL MILL RATE.
ADDING DIFFERENT MILL RATES DOESN'T CHANGE THIS BASIC FACTOR.
YOU JUST APPLY DIFFERENT MILL RATES.
BUT PROPERTY CLASSES DO AFFECT HOW PROPERTY TAX RESPONSIBILITY IS DISTRIBUTED.
LET'S DEMONSTRATE THIS BY LOOKING AT THE COMMERCIAL MILL RATE AND THE RESIDENTIAL MILL RATE.
WE'LL KEEP WITH THAT REALLY SIMPLE ASSESSED VALUE OF $100,000.
NOW, IF WE ASSUME THAT THAT $100,000 PROPERTY IS A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY,
[00:15:03]
IN OTHER WORDS, ITS PRIMARY USE IS TO SERVE AS A RESIDENCE, IT'S TAX RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE DETERMINED USING A MILL RATE OF 6.28, MEANING THAT PROPERTY OWNER WILL CONTRIBUTE $628 OF TAXES.ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THAT WAS A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, MEANING THE PRIMARY USE OF THAT PIECE OF LAND WAS FOR A COMMERCIAL ENDEAVOR.
THE APPLICABLE MILL RATE FOR 2023 WOULD BE 13.36, AND THE OWNER OF THAT PROPERTY WOULD BE OWING $1,336.
OF COURSE, TAX IS FOR OTHER PROPERTY TYPES OR CLASSES WOULD BE CALCULATED IN THE SAME WAY, JUST WITH THE APPLICABLE MILL RATE.
BUT IN THAT PARTICULAR SLIDE, I PURPOSELY BROUGHT FORWARD RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BECAUSE THOSE TWO MILL RATES ARE USED TO DERIVE A VERY COMMON METRIC.
THE MILL RATE RATIO. NOW THE MILL RATE RATIO IS NOTHING MORE THAN A SIMPLE MATHEMATICAL CALCULATION THAT DIVIDES THE COMMERCIAL MILL RATE BY THE RESIDENTIAL MILL RATE.
IT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY OF THE OTHER MILL RATES, NOR DOES IT CONSIDER THE COMPOSITION OF THE CITY'S ASSESSMENT BASE OR THE PROPORTION OF TAXES PAID BY OWNERS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROPERTY.
AS MS. BASSI-KELLETT NOTED, BASED ON THE RECOMMENDED MILL RATES IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY, THE 2023 MILL RATE RACIAL WILL REMAIN AT 2.13.
THAT'S THE SAME MILL RATE RATIO THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE DAY DIRECTED ADMINISTRATION TO OBTAIN LAST MAY OR JUNE WHEN THEY ADOPTED THE 2022 MILL RATES.
ON A RELATED NOTE DURING BUDGET DELIBERATIONS OF 2020, BACK IN 2022 US COUNCIL DIRECTED ADMINISTRATION TO DEVELOP A MILL RATE POLICY.
THIS HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE 2023 WORK PLAN.
HOWEVER, IT WASN'T GOING TO BE POSSIBLE TO DO THE REQUIRED ANALYSIS AND CONSULTATION TIME TO INFORM THE 2023 MILL RATES.
THE GOAL NOW IS TO BRING THIS FORWARD TO INFORM THE 2024 MILL RATES.
THE OTHER FACTOR THAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW IS THIS IS A GENERAL ASSESSMENT YEAR.
WE'LL SEE POTENTIALLY SHIFT IN OUR UNDERLYING ASSESSMENT BASE.
IT MAKES SENSE TO BRING FORWARD A POLICY IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS INFORMATION THAT WILL AT THAT POINT BE NEWLY UPDATED.
IN THE ABSENCE OF THIS POLICY, ADMINISTRATION IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE MILL RATES THAT CREATE A 2.13 RATIO BE MAINTAINED SO THAT WE'VE GOT STABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY FOR OUR PROPERTY OWNERS.
HISTORICALLY, ADMINISTRATION HAS ONLY RECOMMENDED OUR MILL RATES THAT CHANGE THE MILL RATE RATIO.
IF THERE HAS BEEN AN UNDERLYING SHIFT IN THE ASSESSMENT BASE WHEN RESULTING FROM A GENERAL ASSESSMENT.
BACK IN 2000 WHEN THE CURRENT ASSESSMENT CLASSES WERE ADOPTED, THE MATHEMATICAL EXERCISE OF DIVIDING THE COMMERCIAL MILL RATE BY THE RESIDENTIAL ONE YIELDED A RESULT OF 1.76.
IN 2007 THAT SHIFT OR THAT RATIO, I SHOULD SAY, SHIFTED TO 1.83 REFLECTING CHANGES IN THE UNDERLYING ASSESSMENT BASE THAT CAME TO LIGHT DURING THE GENERAL ASSESSMENT IN 2006.
THE NEXT CHANGE WAS IN 2014 WHEN THE MILL RATES CREATED A MILL RATE RATIO OF 2.13 THIS TIME REFLECTING THE RESULTS OF THE SHIFTS FROM THE 2013 GENERAL ASSESSMENT.
THE RACIAL CHANGED AGAIN SLIGHTLY IN 2019 DUE TO ASSESSMENT SHIFTS FROM THE 2018 GENERAL ASSESSMENT.
THIS PRACTICE OF SETTING MILL RATES THAT MAINTAIN THE MILL RATE RATIO EXCEPT WHEN THERE WAS A SHIFT RESULTING FROM A GENERAL ASSESSMENT ENABLED THE CITY TO RAISE THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IT NEEDED AND AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDING STABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
BECAUSE THE PROPERTY TAX CHANGES WERE APPLIED EVENLY ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT JUST TO COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL, BUT ACROSS ALL PROPERTY CLASSES.
THEN AS MS. BASSI-KELLETT MENTIONED, LAST SPRING THE COUNCIL OF THE DAY DIRECTED ADMINISTRATION TO BRING FORWARD MILL RATES THAT WOULD RETAIN OR OBTAIN A 2.13 RATIO.
NOW BECAUSE THERE WAS NO UNDERLYING SHIFT IN THE ASSESSMENT BASE, THIS IN EFFECT, DISTRIBUTED OR REDISTRIBUTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOME OF THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS ONTO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS.
[00:20:03]
THAT SHIFT MEANT THAT INSTEAD OF THE APPROXIMATELY 5% TAX INCREASE THAT WAS ANTICIPATED AT THE CONCLUSION OF BUDGET 2022.WHAT WE REALLY SAW THIS TIME LAST YEAR WAS THAT COMMERCIAL TAXES WENT UP 2.7% WHERE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS FACED A 9% INCREASE.
AS I SAID EARLIER, WHEN YOU CONCLUDED YOUR BUDGET 2023 DELIBERATIONS, IT WAS ANTICIPATED THAT YOUR DECISIONS WOULD RESULT IN A 4.37% TAX INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD.
BUT THANKS TO A LITTLE BIT MORE ASSESSMENT GROWTH THAN WHAT WE HAD ANTICIPATED.
NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT A 4.04% TAX INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD.
THE MILL RATES THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED BY ADMINISTRATION WILL SEE ALL THE PROPERTY CLASSES ASSUME A INCREASE OF 4.04% ALL ELSE BEING EQUAL, IF SOMEONE'S ADDED ANOTHER STORY TO THE HOUSE AND BUILT A HUGE GRUDGE, THEIR TAXES ARE GOING TO GO UP A LITTLE MORE THAN 4.04%, BUT ALL ELSE BEING EQUAL, THE RECOMMENDED MILL RATES WILL DISTRIBUTE THAT INCREASE EVENLY ACROSS ALL THE PROPERTY CLASSES, WHILE STILL RAISING THE REQUIRED REVENUE OF JUST OVER $35.8 MILLION.
LOTS OF THEORY, LOTS OF NUMBERS.
WHAT'S NEXT? COUNCIL HAS TO PASS TO MILL RATE BY LAWS.
ONE TO SET THE MUNICIPALLY RATES TO ENSURE THE CITY RAISES ENOUGH REVENUE TO PROVIDE ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AND ONE TO SET THE SCHOOL MILL RATES SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE WITH THEIR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
ONCE THOSE BYLAWS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR GREETING, ADMINISTRATION WILL USE THE MILL RATES TO CALCULATE THE 2023 FINAL TAXES AND SEND OUT THE TAX NOTICES.
THESE NOTICES, AS I MENTIONED, WE'LL HAVE THAT FINAL TAX AMOUNT LESS THE INTERIM AMOUNT THAT WAS CHARGED BACK IN JANUARY.
THIS FINAL TAX AMOUNT WILL BE SLIGHTLY MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR TAXES.
THESE NOTICES ARE GOING TO BE MAILED ON JUNE 30TH, STIPULATED BY THE LEGISLATION.
TAX PAYMENTS ARE GENERALLY DUE AUGUST 31ST.
NOW, ANYONE WHO'S ON THE INTEREST-FREE TAX PAYMENT PLAN WILL SEE THEIR MONTHLY MOUNTS ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. WOODWARD.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST A QUESTION.
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT CHURCHES EXEMPT FROM TAXES.
WHAT ABOUT THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHURCHES, THE RECTORIES, THE HOUSES THAT ARE ASSOCIATES ARE THOSE NON-TAX AS WELL?
>> RESIDENTIAL GETS TAXED ACCORDING TO PATTA, BUT MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
>> IT'S ALL ABOUT PRIMARY USE BUT I'LL ASK MS. WOODWARD TO EXPAND ON THIS ONE.
>> THANK YOU. I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT.
THE CHURCH BUILDING ITSELF WOULD BE EXEMPT BECAUSE OF THE CRITERIA IN THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT IN TAXATION ACT.
WHEREAS IF IT'S NOT USED PRIMARILY AS A PLACE OF WORSHIP, IT WOULDN'T AUTOMATICALLY BE EXEMPT UNDER THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
THE FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION BYLAW DOES INCLUDE SOME OTHER PROPERTIES, INCLUDING FOR EXAMPLE THE SPCA, THAT HAVE MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE COUNCIL POLICY TO BE EXEMPT AND COUNCIL HAS SPECIFICALLY EXEMPTED THEM.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MCCLELLAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THE MILL RATE RATIO POLICY IS IN THE WORKS AND EXCITED TO SEE THAT FOR THE GENERAL ASSESSMENT YEAR AND LOOK AT THAT NEXT YEAR.
JUST A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THE SCHOOL MILL RATES.
LOOKING AT THE REQUISITIONS FOR YK1 AND THE YELLOWKNIFE CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD.
YK1 IS ASKING FOR AN AVERAGE OF $860,000 FOR THEIR EIGHT SCHOOLS AND THE YELLOWKNIFE CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD IS ASKING FOR AN AVERAGE OF $1.54 MILLION FOR THEIR THREE SCHOOLS.
IS THERE ANY ANALYSIS OR JUSTIFICATION PROVIDED BY THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD AS TO WHY THEY'RE RECEIVING NEARLY DOUBLE THE MONEY FOR SCHOOL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
SCHOOL BOARDS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY INFORMATION OR RATIONALE.
THEY MERELY PROVIDE US WITH THE AMOUNTS THAT THEY REQUIRE.
I'LL ASK MS. WOODWARD IF SHE'D LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
THE SCHOOLS ARE STRICTLY UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE GENE WT.
THE EDUCATION THAT GIVES THEM THEIR PRIORITIES ARE THEIR POWERS.
ALL THAT THE CITY OR IN ANY MUNICIPALITY HAS IS WE HAVE TO SET THE MILL RATES AND COLLECT AND PASS ON THE TAXES.
WE HAVE NO SAY INTO HOW THEIR REQUISITIONS ARE DEVELOPED, WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES.
THAT'S ALL HANDLED BY THE SCHOOL BOARDS THEMSELVES.
[00:25:05]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT UNDERSTANDING.
I THINK THAT'S MAIN QUESTIONS.
>> NOW FOLKS DO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARDS, I'M SURE THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM AND ALSO PROBABLY HAVE SOME FOLKS ATTEND THEIR MEETINGS AS WELL.
I'VE GOT COUNCIL HENDRIKSEN, THEN MCGURK, THEN WARBURTON.
>> THANKS MAYOR ALTY. WE'LL JUST START OFF WITH SAYING, I'VE BEEN SUPPORT OF NO RATE RATIOS AS SET OUT IN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A NO RATE POLICY THAT'S BEING CREATED, I'M NOT PROPOSING A MUCK WITH ANYTHING THIS YEAR.
BUT JUST SINCE WE'RE ON IT, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS I WANT TO ASK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE HIGH DENSITY PARKING CLASS, AND I KNOW THAT SORT OF FITS MY NARRATIVE.
BUT IF WE HAD AT WALMART PARKING CLASS, I'D BE LOOKING AT THAT ONE TOO.
JUST SEEMED WEIRD TO ME THAT WE HAVE A CLASS THAT'S SEEMINGLY HITS ONE, BUT THAT'S WHERE MOST QUESTIONS WILL START SO CAN ADMINISTRATION TALK TO HOW MANY PROPERTIES ARE ACTUALLY CLASSIFIED UNDER THE HIGH DENSITY PARKING CLASS.
>> THANK YOU. THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO PROPERTIES IDENTIFIED UNDER THIS CLASS, BUT REALLY IT'S ONLY ONE PROPERTY.
IT IS THE PARK AID IN THE CENTER SQUARE DEVELOPMENT.
THE ASSESSMENT CLASS AND QUESTION WAS INTRODUCED IN 1989.
PRESUMABLY AN ANTICIPATION OF THAT BUILDING BEING DEVELOPED ALONG WITH THE ACCOMPANYING PARK AID.
>> PERFECT. THANKS FOR THAT. THANK YOU.
YOU ALREADY ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS, BUT WHEN I CAME IN, SO THAT'S GOOD.
JUST IN TERMS OF OTHER PARKINGS OF GROUND-LEVEL PARKING IN THE REST OF THE CITY, WOULD THAT BE CLASSES COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL THEN.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
PROPERTY CLASS IS ALWAYS ASSIGNED BASED ON PRIMARY USE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE CASE, I THINK YOU HAD CITED SHOPPERS DRUG MART AND OVERLANDER SPORTS BECAUSE THOSE PROPERTIES ARE PRIMARILY USED FOR COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL.
THAT CLASS IS ASSIGNED TO THE ENTIRE PROPERTY.
>> PERFECT. FOR ANY REFERENCES, I HAD JUST MAILED THAT QUESTION IN ADVANCE.
THAT'S WHY MS. WOODWARD WAS REFERENCING THOSE ONES IN ADVANCE.
I JUST USED THOSE AS EXAMPLES.
JUST IF WE'RE THINKING ABOUT AGAIN, HIGH-DENSITY PARKING AND THE VALUE OF IT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO INCENTIVIZE IN THE CITY IF WE HAD RECENTLY, AND THIS IS MORE OF A COMMENT, I GUESS MY COUNSEL COLLEAGUES RECENTLY HAD PARKING STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH OF PARKING.
AGAIN, I JUST HAPPENED TO BE LOOKING AT THIS ONE BECAUSE IT HITS ONE, AND AGAIN IF IT WAS A WALMART-SPECIFIC ONE, IT'D BE GOING THERE.
AS I'M STARTING TO LOOK AT THIS, I'M GOING TO BE FLAGGING FOR MY COUNSEL COLLEAGUES NOW THAT WHEN WE COME TO THE MILL RATE POLICY DISCUSSION, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'LL BE WANTING TO LOOK AT A LITTLE FURTHER INTO.
IS THIS REALLY NECESSARY TO INCENTIVIZE SOMETHING THROUGH OUR MILL RATE PROCESS AND OUR PROPERTY TAXATION SYSTEM WHEN WE HAVE SHOWN THROUGH RESEARCH THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH OF IT? AGAIN, I DON'T PLAN ON MUCKING WITH ANYTHING BECAUSE WE HAVE PATTERN REGULATIONS WE HAVE TO MEET, AND IF SOMEBODY WORKS IN GOVERNMENT, I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT GOING FORWARD.
I'M SURE ADMIN WHEN WE GET TO THAT MILL RATE POLICY RATIO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON WHETHER HIGH-DENSITY PARKING GETS THE SAME MILL RATE AS COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL, OR PERHAPS IT JUST GETS ELIMINATED AND ABSORBED INTO COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL OR WHATEVER CONFIGURATION IS RECOMMENDED, OR MAYBE IT STAYS STILL BECAUSE IT'S THE RECOMMENDATION.
COUNCIL MCGURK, THEN COUNSEL WARBURTON.
>> THANKS. I GUESS IT'S TECHNICAL, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN ANSWER THIS.
I'M JUST CURIOUS IF PROPERTY OWNERS ARE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT THEIR TAXES GO TO THE CATHOLIC OR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD.
DOES THAT AFFECT HOW WE CALCULATE THE MILL RATE FOR THAT OR DOES THAT MAKE SENSE IF THERE'S ONLY SO MANY PEOPLE PAYING INTO CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD OR PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
YES, THE CITY DOES KEEP TRACK OF WHERE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE DECLARED WHICH SCHOOL BOARD THEY WOULD LIKE THEIR TAXES TO SUPPORT.
OUR DEFAULT IS THAT TAXES ARE SPLIT BASED ON THE PERCENTAGE DETERMINED EACH YEAR BASED ON PROPERTIES OWNERSHIP.
WE AT THIS POINT, HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING WITH THE SCHOOL BOARDS THAT BOTH SCHOOL BOARDS WILL USE THE SAME MILL RATES TO GENERATE THEIR REVENUES.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OR THE SYSTEM THAT WOULD BE COMPLEX ENOUGH TO INTRODUCE YET ANOTHER WHOLE SET OF MILL RATES, SHOULD ONE BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER.
THE SCHOOL BOARDS UNDERSTAND THIS, AND IT'S BEEN A PRACTICE THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
IT GENERATES THEIR REVENUES BUT IN A PROCESS THAT IS MANAGEABLE FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE POINT OF VIEW.
[00:30:02]
>> THAT HELPS. I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF A FEW, SAY LIKE 25% OF HOUSES HAVE DECIDED TO OPT OUT OF PAYING TOWARDS ONE SCHOOL BOARD, DOES THAT THEN THE NEXT TIME WE ASSESS MILL RATES, ADJUST THE MILL RATE THAT IS NEEDED OVERALL? I'M WONDERING, IF THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD WAS ASKING FOR CLOSE TO DOUBLE WHAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD IS ASKING FOR, BUT LESS PEOPLE ARE NECESSARILY PAYING INTO THEIR FUND, DOES THAT CHANGE HOW WE ASSESS MILL RATES?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY PROVIDE US WITH THE REQUEST FOR THE OVERALL AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT THEY WANT, AND WE SEEK TO SET THE RATES THEN ACCORDINGLY TO RAISE THAT.
I'LL ASK MS. WOODWARD IF SHE WANTS TO ELABORATE FURTHER.
>> THANK YOU. I GUESS OVER TIME, YES.
WE SEE SOME PARENTS OR SOME PROPERTY OWNERS MOVE AWAY FROM SUPPORTING ONE, BUT THEN OTHERS DECIDE TO SUPPORT THAT, SO IT PRETTY MUCH ON AVERAGE EVENS OUT OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW YEARS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST A QUESTION AROUND THE MILL RATE POLICY.
IS THERE ANY ROUGH ETA AND WILL WE BE SEEING THAT AS A COUNSEL?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
BEFORE, THE MILL RATES NEED TO BE SET IN 2024.
THANK YOU. WILL HAVE THEM BEFORE THEN.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. JUST TO ELABORATE UPON COUNSEL PANE'S QUESTIONS THERE IN RELATION TO THE ADMINISTRATION OFFICES OF THE CHURCHES SUCH AS THE CATHOLIC DYNASTY AND THE BISHOP'S OFFICE, ARE THEY UNDER THE CONDITIONAL RATE?
>> I'M SORRY, THOSE ARE SPECIFICS.
I WILL HAVE TO LOOK UP, I'M NOT AWARE OF THE INDIVIDUAL DETAILS.
>> THANK YOU. QUESTIONS WITHIN THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH THAT ALSO HAS A RESIDENCE ATTACHED TO IT.
ARE THEY BEING GIVEN THE ABATEMENT AS WELL? AND I KNOW THIS IS SPECIFIC.
>. I THINK THE RESIDENTIAL PART HAS TO BE CARVED OFF AND THEY HAVE TO PAY TAXES ON THAT ACCORDING TO PATO, BUT MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH. WE'LL LOOK INTO THIS AND GET BACK. THANK YOU.
>> PERFECT. THAT'S A POLICY SET BY COUNSEL, BUT GUIDED BY PATO, WE CAN GO WILLY-NILLY ON WHO WE GIVE IT TO AND WHO WE DON'T.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE THE POWER TO SAY, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE TAX ABATEMENT TO THIS OR THAT.
THAT CAN BE SOMETHING WE CAN CONSIDER OVER THE TERM IF THERE'S INTEREST.
ANYTHING FURTHER? I DO HAVE ONE.
IF A HOME IS NOW BEING FULLY USED AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, WOULD IT BE CONSIDERED A COMMERCIAL USE NOW? MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
I WILL ASK MS. WOODWARD IF SHE HAS ANY INSIGHT ON THAT.
>> WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT, SEE WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE.
IT'S ONLY BEEN IN PLACE FOR SUCH A SHORT TIME.
WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU.
>> PERFECT. I FIGURED NOW THAT WE'VE MADE THAT CHANGE, YOU MIGHT DO A BIT OF A SPLIT.
BUT IF YOU ARE USING YOUR HOME FOR THE STRICTLY COMMERCIAL VERSUS THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL WHERE YOU LIVE THERE, BUT YOU RENT OUT A PORTION OF IT, I CAN SEE THAT STILL GETTING THE RESIDENTIAL RATE.
BUT I WILL AWAIT THE RESPONSE FROM YOU ON THAT ONE.
ANYTHING FURTHER FROM COUNSEL? THIS IS JUST ON THE PRESENTATION.
SEEING NONE. THANK YOU, MS. WOODWARD.
THE NEXT ONE, THOUGH OF COURSE, IS CONNECTED TO THIS,
[5. A memorandum regarding whether to adopt the 2023 Municipal Tax Levy and 2023 School Tax Levy by‐laws.]
AND IT'S A MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO ADOPT THE 2023 MUNICIPAL TAX LEVY AND 2023 SCHOOL TAX LEVY BYLAWS.ANY QUESTIONS ON THE MEMO? THAT'S BASICALLY JUST ALSO PRESENTED IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT COUNCIL MCCLELLAN?
>> YEAH, THANK YOU. JUST A [NOISE] GENERAL COMMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE STATUS QUO AT THIS POINT WHILE WE AWAIT THE POLICY.
>> THANK YOU. SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, WE WILL BRING THAT FORWARD TO COUNSEL AT OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS MONDAY, MAY 22, AT 07:00 PM.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS A MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO APPROVE
[6. A memorandum regarding whether to approve strategic priorities for the Municipal Enforcement Division for 2023/24.]
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR THE MUNICIPAL ENFORCEMENT DIVISION FOR 2023/ THE BEGINNING OF 2024.MS. BASSI-KELLETT, IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WITH PLEASURE, MADAM CHAIR.
THE BY-LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY LAYS OUT PRIORITIES FOR ENFORCEMENT FOR THE CITY AND INCLUDES A SPECIFIC SECTION SEEKING ANNUAL DIRECTION FROM COUNSEL TO ENSURE TIME AND RESOURCES ARE
[00:35:02]
DEDICATED TO CURRENT ISSUES THAT COUNSEL FEELS ARE APPROPRIATE TO BE PUTTING TIME AND RESOURCES TOWARDS.EACH SPRING SINCE THE POLICY WAS IMPLEMENTED AND ADMINISTRATION HAS PRESENTED PROPOSED PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
WE ALSO REPORT OUT ON HOW PREVIOUS DIRECTION FROM COUNSEL OVER THE LAST YEAR WAS ADVANCED.
THIS YEAR, ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES THAT PRIORITY CONTINUE TO BE PLACED ON RECONCILIATION, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND VISIBILITY, AND UNAUTHORIZED PARKING, PARTICULARLY WHERE IT IMPACTS EMERGENCY VEHICLE ACCESS.
AS WELL FOR 2023/24, EMPHASIS ON ENFORCING THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC BYLAW CONTINUES, WITH THE FOCUS BEING ON PEDESTRIAN AND INTERSECTION SAFETY.
LAST YEAR THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC BYLAW FOCUS WAS ON SPEEDING.
WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS THIS YEAR.
WE'VE GOT A VERY DYNAMIC BYLAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION THAT'S BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO TAKE ON A MORE COMMUNITY POLICING ROLE AS OPPOSED TO A HARDCORE ENFORCEMENT.
THEY ARE WORKING TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY IN A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE WAY TO SUPPORT GOOD BEHAVIORS, GOOD ACTIONS, AND SUPPORTED ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JUST TO NOTE, AS MUCH AS THE MILL RATES ARE IMPORTANT, WE WON'T BE MEETING ON THE STATE HOLIDAY OF MONDAY, WE'LL MEET TUESDAY, MAY 23 AT 07:00 P.M.
BUT OPENING IT UP TO QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR DISCUSSION ON THE MUNICIPAL ENFORCEMENT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.
AGAIN, TO NOTE, MED CONTINUES TO ENFORCE EVERYTHING.
HOWEVER, THERE'S JUST MORE EMPHASIS ON WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED TODAY. COUNSEL WARBURTON.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M EXCITED TO SEE YOUR PRIORITIES SHIFTING A LITTLE BIT HERE MORE TOWARDS PEDESTRIAN INTERSECTION SAFETY VERSUS SPEEDING.
THE MEMO DID TALK ABOUT TRAINING, SO I'M JUST WONDERING, IS IT ANNUAL? IS IT TRACKED? WHAT'S THE PROCESS MED HAS FOR THEIR CURRENT TRAINING PLAN?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
I'LL ASK MR. MCLAIN IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. MED HAS STRATEGIC TRAINING BASED ON THE CRITICALITY OF THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE, SO HIGH-LEVEL TRAINING, THINGS LIKE USE OF FORCE DRIVING.
SOME OF THE TRAINING THEY USE TO DE-ESCALATE SITUATIONS ARE DONE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND OTHER TRAINING IS AS OFFICERS ARE BROUGHT ON NEW POSITIONS, THERE'S BASIC TRAINING REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO THEM. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THEN AROUND ENFORCEMENT, WHEN WE DO HIGH TRAFFIC ACT, THESE THINGS, DO WE TRACK LOCATION AND INTENT THOSE THINGS SIMILAR TO RSP?
>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION. I'LL JUST ASK YOU, COULD YOU REPHRASE THAT AGAIN FOR ME JUST SO I CAN CATCH WHAT THE NATURE OF THE QUESTION WAS?
>> BASICALLY DO YOU TRACK LOCATION OF THINGS, SO IF YOU'RE HAVING A HIGH NUMBER OF INCIDENTS THAT HAVE CERTAIN CROSSWALK, FOR EXAMPLE?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WE DO ANNUAL STATISTICAL REPORTING ON AREAS THAT WE PROVIDE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY ON AND THROUGH THAT, WE CAN DETERMINE TRENDING.
SOME OF THAT'S ALSO BASED ON COMPLAINT FROM THE PUBLIC.
WHEREAS IF WE SEE ONGOING COMPLAINTS IN A SPECIFIC AREA, THAT MAY LEAD US TO FOCUS ON ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES IN THAT AREA. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MCCLELLAN AND THEN COUNCIL COCHRANE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IT'S MENTIONED IN THE MEMO THAT MED HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN RECRUITING MORE INDIGENOUS EMPLOYEES IN RECENT YEARS.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF WE KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF MED EMPLOYEES ARE INDIGENOUS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION. I'LL TAKE THIS ONE.
ACROSS THE CITY WE'RE NOT TRACKING SPECIFICALLY AT THIS TIME THE DEMOGRAPHIC MAKEUP OF OUR WORKFORCE.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF STARTING TO DO THAT WITH OUR TALENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AS WE START TO IMPLEMENT THAT.
WE ANECDOTALLY KNOW THAT OUR MANAGER AND SUPERVISOR ARE BOTH INDIGENOUS AT THIS TIME, BUT OTHERWISE OUR TRACKING WILL START CORPORATE WIDE AS PART OF THE WORK AROUND OUR TALENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. JUST ACKNOWLEDGING WE HAD THE, LET'S SEE IF I GET THIS RIGHT, ADMINISTRATIVE MONETARY PENALTY SYSTEM AMPS COME INTO EFFECT LAST SEPTEMBER.
[00:40:03]
I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT EFFECT THIS HAS HAD ON MED AND IF MED OFFICERS HAVE HAD A BIT MORE TIME TO DO OTHER THINGS.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
WE ARE FILLING THIS AS IT EVOLVES OVER THE COURSE OF THE WINTER.
I THINK WE'LL HAVE A BETTER SENSE AFTER WE'VE GONE THROUGH A FULL ANNUAL CYCLE.
BUT I WILL ASK MR. MCLAIN IF WE HAVE ANY PRELIMINARY SENSE OF SOME OF THE IMPACTS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AMPS ON OUR MED WORKFORCE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION ON THAT.
CURRENTLY, WE'RE STILL PARTIALLY WORKING IN THE OLD SYSTEM THAT WE HAD PRIOR TO AMPS.
THE REASON FOR THIS IS WE HAD TICKETS THAT WERE ISSUED UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM THAT WE ARE STILL PROCESSING THROUGH SUMMONS AND COURT APPEARANCES.
WE ANTICIPATE HAVING THAT MODEL COMPLETELY PHASED OUT THROUGH THE PROCESS BY THE END OF JUNE 2023.
AT THE POINT IN THAT TIME, WE'RE ABLE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE FULL IMPACT OF AMPS AND REVIEW HOW THE OVERALL IMPLEMENTATION OF AMPS AND THE ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED AROUND THAT ARE AFFECTING OUR DIVISION. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR AND THANKS FOR THE UPDATE.
THEN JUST ONE TECHNICAL QUESTION, FROM MY OWN UNDERSTANDING, IT'S STATED IN THE MEMO, 24% INCREASE IN SPEED ENFORCEMENT APRIL 2022 TO MARCH '23.
JUST WONDERING WHAT IS MEANT BY SPEED ENFORCEMENT.
IS THAT TRAFFIC TICKETS OR IS THAT TIME FOR OFFICERS AND VEHICLES AT THAT SPOT?
>> THANKS AGAIN FOR THE QUESTION.
SPEED ENFORCEMENT IS SOLELY FOCUSED ON DEALING WITH TRAFFIC STOPS SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARDS TO SPEEDING AS OPPOSED TO ANOTHER TERM THAT IS USED IS TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT RELATES MORE SO TO ALL OTHER MOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS, CELLPHONE USE WHILE DRIVING, SEAT BELTS, PEOPLE RUNNING AMBER LIGHTS, RED LIGHTS, THINGS OF THOSE NATURE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL COCHRANE.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. I HAVE A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO THE ROBUST FOOT AND BIKES SCHEDULE, SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING ON THE DOWNTOWN CORE.
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE PATROLS?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED REGULARLY FOOT AND BIKE PATROLS.
FOOT PATROLS ARE YEAR-ROUND, BIKE PATROLS ARE IN THE SUMMER.
I WILL ASK MR. MCLAIN IF HE'D LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING MORE IN TERMS OF HOW THESE ARE SCHEDULED AND THE REGULARITY OF THESE. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION. FOOT PATROLS RIGHT NOW ARE REGULAR SCHEDULED ON A DAILY BASIS.
PART OF THAT FOOT PATROL IS DONE BY OUR CURRENT MED1 OFFICERS WHO ARE PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
WE THEN ADDITIONALLY HAVE OUR MED2 AND OUR MED3 OFFICERS OUT ON REGULAR SCHEDULES.
I BROUGHT MR. MITCH ROWLAND WITH US TODAY, WHO IS OUR MUNICIPAL ENFORCEMENT MANAGER.
MAYBE MR. ROWLAND IF YOU'D LIKE TO PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE OF A SYNOPSIS ON OUR PATROL SCHEDULE IT'D BE APPRECIATED.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. SPEAKING OF ROBUST FOOT AND BIKE PATROL SCHEDULES, IS THAT OBVIOUSLY AS MCLAIN STATED EARLIER, WE'VE MOVED TO A COMMUNITY POLICING APPROACH RATHER THAN STRICT ENFORCEMENT WORKING TO FOCUS ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION OF THE COMMUNITY.
AS PART OF THAT, OBVIOUSLY, IT GOES HAND IN HAND.
THIS PRIORITY, AS YOU'VE SEEN IT IN SOME FASHION OR ANOTHER, SINCE THESE PRIORITIES BECAME A THING IN 2019, I BELIEVE, IT WAS THROUGH THE BY-LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY.
SPEAKING TO THE SCHEDULES IS THAT OFFICERS WILL BE ON, SPECIFICALLY MED2 AND 3 OFFICERS WILL BE DAILY FOOT PATROLS DOWNTOWN.
NOW WE'RE MOVING INTO BICYCLE, WHETHER THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY CONDUCT BICYCLE PATROLS AS WELL.
ALL OFFICERS NEW TO THIS YEAR FROM LAST YEAR THAT ALL OFFICERS ARE NOW TRAINED IN BICYCLE PATROLS OR SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT BIKING THAT'S REQUIRED.
NOW THAT THE ALL THE OFFICERS HAVE THAT TRAINING, WE'RE ABLE TO BE MORE ROBUST IN OUR PATROLS AND MORE ACTIVE IN OUR PATROLS.
WE ALSO DO THESE PATROLS BY OURSELVES AND SOMETIMES WITH THE RCMP AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR WORSHIP. I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO THE GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE.
THE GROUP OF DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT HAVE JOINED INTERESTED IN DOWNTOWN ISSUES, HOW OFTEN DO THEY MEET?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN.
ONE THAT WAS VERY ACTIVE, WAS BESIDE THE FORMER LOCATION OF THE DAY SHELTER ON 50TH STREET.
WE WERE ONE OF A NUMBER OF PARTNERS AT THE TIME THAT WORKED TOGETHER TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT
[00:45:01]
WERE ARISING IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.SINCE THE RELOCATION OF THE DAY SHELTER TO THE OTHER END OF 49TH STREET, WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS.
CERTAINLY, WE WILL BE INVOLVED IN ANY GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS WHERE WE SEE THAT THERE IS BENEFIT TO US, TO THE COMMUNITY OVERALL.
WE CERTAINLY FOUND THAT IT WAS VERY HELPFUL IN THAT CASE FOR US TO BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT BECAUSE IT BECAME ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THE RESPECTIVE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT HAD, AND THEY WERE SPELLED OUT IN THOSE AGREEMENTS THEMSELVES.
FOR EXAMPLE, PREVIOUSLY, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN EXPECTATIONS ABOUT WHY ISN'T MED INTERVENING IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY? WHY ISN'T MED SEIZING OPEN LIQUOR AND DUMPING? THAT WAS A VERY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CLARITY AROUND WHAT THE POWERS OF MED OFFICERS ARE, WHAT THE ROLE OF THE CITY IS BECAME VERY CLEAR, AND WE WERE ABLE TO WORK VERY COLLABORATIVELY THEN WITH THE OTHER PARTNERS LIKE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS, THE RCMP, THE G&WT, THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE AUTHORITY, ETC, WHO ALL HAD A ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS AS WELL.
WE ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS WHEN THEY'RE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS THAT WERE A PART OF THAT ARE ACTIVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S ALL FROM ME.
JUST A THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING ON THIS.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE IMPLEMENTATION.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL HENDRICKSON.
>> THANKS, MERRILLT. FOR THE MED STRATEGIC PRIORITIES ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTIVE OF 3 AND 4.
I WILL SUPPORT THE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR 2023.
PRIORITIES 1 AND 2 ARE ALL ABOUT PARKING AND SPEEDING.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF OUR TIME AS A CITY AND IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO YELLOWKNIFE.
I'M NOT CRITICIZING [LAUGHTER] THE CITY IN THIS BUT FOCUSING ON CAR IS GOING TOO FAST OR NOT MOVING AT ALL.
[LAUGHTER] THAT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS IT.
WITH THAT, UNDER THE LEGISLATIVE CONSIDERATION SECTION OF THE MEMO, IT SAYS THAT MANDATING MED TO ENFORCE MOTOR VEHICLES AND REGULATIONS, ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES, AS WELL AS CITY BY-LAWS WITH AN ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT, WHICH LEADS ME TO ASK WHAT ARE THEIR BY-LAWS? ARE WE NOT PRIORITIZING IT IN ORDER TO HAVE TO PRIORITIZE THE CARS THAT ARE GOING TOO FAST OR NOT MOVING AT ALL?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
MED HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN ENFORCING A BROAD RANGE OF BY-LAWS.
WHAT WE CERTAINLY HAVE LAID OUT IN THE ENFORCEMENT POLICY IS THAT THE EMPHASIS WILL ALWAYS BE ABOUT BEING PROACTIVE ON ISSUES RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY, SO CERTAINLY, SCHOOL CROSSINGS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE AREAS THAT WE PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO OTHER THAN AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC WHERE THERE'S A PUBLIC SAFETY COMPONENT, THE WAY THAT WE OPERATE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LIMITED STAFF THAT ARE ON DUTY AT ANY POINT IN TIME.
SO WE NEED TO BE STRATEGIC WITH HOW THESE RESOURCES WITHIN OUR MUNICIPAL ENFORCEMENT DIVISION ARE UTILIZED.
WE ARE DRIVEN THEN BY COMPLAINTS-BASED.
IT COULD BE COMPLAINT AROUND LOOSE DOG.
IT COULD BE COMPLAINT AROUND UNSIGHTLY PROPERTY.
IT COULD BE COMPLAINT AROUND VEHICLE PARKED ON STREETS FOR LONGER THAN 72 HOURS.
THERE'S A RANGE OF DIFFERENT THINGS THEN THAT MUNICIPAL ENFORCEMENT DIVISION STAFF RESPOND TO AND THEY WILL DO IT ON A COMPLAINTS BASIS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST PRIORITY WILL ALWAYS BE THE ISSUES RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND AFTER THAT IT IS COMPLAINTS-BASED.
OF COURSE, THE POLICY AS WELL DOES SPEAK TO THE PRIORITY THAT IS SET EACH YEAR BY COUNCIL AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR THAT. ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS JUST ON STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2.
IT TALKS ABOUT ENFORCEMENT GOING UP BY 112%. IT SEEMS GREAT.
WONDER IF ADMIN HAS THE HARD REAL NUMBERS AROUND THAT JUST TO GET A SENSE OF THE ACTUAL WORKLOAD.
>> I WILL ASK MR. MCLAIN AND MR. ROWLAND IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD.
>> THAT'S THE PRO-ACTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF UNAUTHORIZED PARKING TO ENSURE UNOBSTRUCTED ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
THE PRIORITY FROM LAST YEAR SAYS ENFORCEMENT INCREASED BY 112 PERCENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MCCLELLAN.
>> MR. OWEN, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT, PLEASE? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I DO HAVE SOME NUMBERS OBVIOUSLY.
THIS IS PART OF OUR QUALITATIVE DATA THAT WE COLLECT OBVIOUSLY AND TICKETS AND WARNINGS, TRAFFIC STOPS, DIFFERENT THINGS.
PART OF THIS LAST YEAR, 2022, 2023 PRIORITIES, THOSE TYPE OF COMPLAINTS THEY ARE FILINGS, FIRE HYDRANTS,
[00:50:05]
VEHICLES OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC, THOSE ARE TYPICALLY COMPLAINT BASE UNLESS OFFICERS SOUGHT WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING, BIKE ANYTHING IN ACCORDANCE WITH A BYLAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY, OF COURSE.BECAUSE THIS IS A SPECIFIC FOCUS AREA THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, WE WERE MORE PROACTIVE IN OUR ATTEMPTS TO DEAL WITH IT.
2021, 2022 AGAIN, THIS IS TICKETS ONLY.
THIS IS NOT WARNINGS ISSUED JUST SOLELY TICKETS BECAUSE THAT'S THE DATA THAT WE'RE ABLE TO READILY COLLECT AND HAVE AVAILABLE.
2021, 2022, THERE WERE 64 TICKETS ISSUED FOR PARKING TICKETS ISSUED FOR FILINGS, FIRE HYDRANTS, OR PARK OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC, 2022, 2023 THERE WAS 136 TICKETS ISSUED FOR THAT BECAUSE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN MORE PROACTIVE AND STUFF.
THEREFORE, 112 PERCENT INCREASE COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
I THINK THAT JUST HIGHLIGHTS FOR ME ONE GREAT JOB.
THERE'S FIRST-ORDER HIGHLIGHTS FOR ME TWO, IS THAT IN THIS AGAIN, IS NOT UNIQUE TO YELLOWKNIFE, AND THAT'S WHY I SAY I SUPPORT THE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR 2023.
BUT A HIGHLIGHTS FOR ME ABOUT THINKING OF DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING THINGS AND HOW WE HAVE DESIGNED STANDARDS FOR OUR CITY SO THAT WE HAVE MUNICIPAL ENFORCEMENT NOT HAVING TO DEAL WITH CARS MOVING TOO FAST OR NOT AT ALL.
PEOPLE NEED TO MOVE IT AROUND THE CITIES IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EMERGENCY VEHICLES HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY SO THAT MUNICIPAL ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO AND TICKET VEHICLE OWNERS FOR OBSTRUCTING ACCESS IN POTENTIAL EMERGENCY SITUATION, WHICH IS A HUGE THING FOR ME.
SUPPORTIVE OF THE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES THIS YEAR, ABSOLUTELY, BUT I DO THINK IT'S JUST I WANT TO TAKE THAT CHANCE AGAIN TO GO, WHAT CAN WE BE DOING DIFFERENTLY AND HOW CAN WE THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT DESIGNING OUR LIVED SPACE SO THAT MED CAN FOCUS ON BYLAWS OTHER THAN HUNKS OF CAR OR HUNKS OF METAL THAT ARE SITTING IN THE WAY OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT OF STAFF TIME.
THAT'S MEANT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY THAT IS ACTUALLY HAVING TO BE SPENT TO TICKET A VEHICLE THAT IS OBSTRUCTING PUBLIC SAFETY, SO THANKS FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? FOR MYSELF SO NUMBER 1 IS ABOUT FOCUSING ON PEDESTRIAN AND INTERSECTION SAFETY ISSUES, AND WE'LL ALWAYS BE CHASING OUR TAIL IF WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET THE OFFICERS TO CATCH PEOPLE AND HOPE THAT THAT'LL CHANGE PEOPLE'S FUTURE BEHAVIOR.
THE ONE THING AND IT WAS RAISED AND ASKING ABOUT THE DATA ON DO WE HAVE THESE PROBLEM AREAS IS ALSO GETTING MED TO WORK WITH PUBLIC WORKS ON THOSE PROBLEM AREAS, AND THERE'S THE HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS PERSPECTIVE WHERE WE NEED TO TRY TO FIND ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS, TO FIX BEHAVIOR INSTEAD OF RELYING ON PEOPLE THAT'S THE LEAST EFFECTIVE CONTROL, WE CAN HAVE.
STUFF LIKE NARROWER STREETS OR RAISED CROSSWALKS CAN ACTUALLY SLOW PEOPLE DOWN, AND THAT'S THAT ENGINEERED SOLUTION THAT WILL HELP US REDUCE INCIDENCE, AND I KNOW THESE CAN HAVE IMPACTS ON OUR EQUIPMENT AND WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE THE STREETS.
THEY'RE SO NARROW THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE A FIRE TRUCK DOWN, BUT I DO WANT TO SEE THE SHIFT ON THAT PRIORITIZING SAFETY FOR PEOPLE, SO THE ONE AMENDMENT I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST WAS ON THE FIRST ONE IS AGAIN, KEEPING IT AS IS BUT THEN AFTER HIGHWAY TRAFFIC BYLAW ADDING AND THROUGH ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS WITH THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING, AND SO RECOGNIZING THAT ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS DO REQUIRE BUDGET.
HOWEVER, HOPING THAT MED AND PUBLIC WORKS CAN START WORKING AND PLANNING AND LENS.
MAYBE IT'S THROUGH ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS WITH THE CITY'S OTHER DEPARTMENTS SO THAT THEY CAN TALK TO THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO SAY, HEY, WE'VE GOT THIS ONE PLACE AND IT'S ALWAYS AN ISSUE AND HOW CAN WE TRY TO GET COMPLIANCE,.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT, ANY THOUGHTS OF MAKING THE AMENDMENT, WOULD ADMINISTRATION BE OPEN TO THAT?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM ON THIS AND WANTING TO LOOK AT SOME OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE.
WITH RESPECT, I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS BROUGHT FORWARD AS PART OF COUNCIL'S OVERALL PRIORITIES FOR YOUR TERM OF OFFICE.
IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THINGS LIKE DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN STANDARDS.
IT HAS TO DO A LOT WITH THINGS LIKE PEOPLE FIRST, AS OPPOSED TO THE PRIORITIES THAT SET OUT FOR MED FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
WE HAVE TALKED QUITE A BIT INTERNALLY AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL AROUND SOME OF THE OPTIONS, THINGS LIKE RACE CROSSWALKS ARE TERRIFIC.
[00:55:02]
THEY DO POSE ISSUES WHEN WE DO WANT VEHICLES TO GO FAST TO A DESTINATION LIKE FIRE TRUCKS AND AMBULANCES.THERE ALSO A CHALLENGE FOR SOME OF OUR SNOW REMOVAL EQUIPMENT AND SOME OF THE ACTIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT THEY CAN BE VERY HARD ON EQUIPMENT.
THE POINT ABOUT LOOKING AT OTHER SOLUTIONS WERE TOTALLY IN FAVOR OF THAT.
WE REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE.
WE WANT TO LOOK AT SOME THAT WORK OVERALL, AND WE REALLY WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO WITHIN THE OVERALL CONTEXT OF COUNCIL'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR YOUR TERM OF OFFICE, AS OPPOSED TO SPECIFICALLY HER ON MED'S PRIORITIES FOR THE YEAR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I'M OKAY WITH HOLDING ON THAT AND KEEPING IT AS IS BECAUSE THE OTHER ONE WOULD BE NUMBER 2, AND WE HAVE IT WHERE RESIDENTS ARE EMAILING US IN PIECEMEAL OF, HEY, THE CITY SHOULD CONSIDER NO PARKING ON MY STREET BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HARD TO SEE AROUND, AND SO TO HAVE THAT HOLISTIC LOOK, THAT STREET IS ONLY FIVE METERS WIDE, SO YOU CAN'T PARK THERE.
RECOGNIZING NO STREET IS ACTUALLY FIVE METERS WIDE, BUT I WON'T GET INTO THE DETAILS HERE, BUT I DO THINK IF WE CAN START TO HAVE SOME OF THESE BIGGER PICTURE HOLISTIC LOOKS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ENDLESS RESOURCES TO HIRE 12 MORE MUNICIPAL ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, SO WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO TO TRY TO CURB PEOPLE'S BEHAVIORS? OF COURSE, IF EVERYBODY JUST FOLLOW THE RULES AND WE'RE GOOD RESONANCE, WE COULD KEEP TAXES LOWER, BUT UNTIL THEN WE'LL KEEP FOCUSING ON SOME OF THESE PRIORITY AREAS, SO GROUND TO COUNCIL MCCLELLAN.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO SAY A WHOLE HEARTEDLY SUPPORT THAT BUILT ENVIRONMENT APPROACH, AND JUST A QUESTION ABOUT IS ANY OF THAT DESIRED STANDARD STUFF ON THE HORIZON AND THE WORK PLAN GOING TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL OR IS THAT A LONGER TERM PROJECT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S AN ITERATIVE PROCESS RIGHT NOW WE'VE HAD SOME OF OUR DEVELOPMENT DESIGN STANDARDS THAT HAVE BEEN FINALIZED FOR THINGS THAT ARE TECHNICAL IN NATURE, THEY ARE QUITE DONE.
I DON'T THINK COUNCIL CARES ABOUT SIZE OF PIPE, NOR SHOULD YOU.
WE CERTAINLY ARE WORKING ON A LOT OF THAT WHEN THERE ARE SOME MORE NUANCED ISSUES LIKE WHERE SHOULD THERE BE SIDEWALKS, PARKS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
CERTAINLY WE WILL HAVE SOME INFORMATION THAT'S COMING FORWARD.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S ITERATIVE AND WE'RE CATCHING UP ON A LOT OF THINGS AFTER TUMULTUOUS START TO 2023, SO WE APPRECIATE THE PATIENTS ON THAT. THANK YOU.
>> YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT MAKES SENSE.
JUST WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT APPROACH, AND THANKS TO MADAM MAYOR FOR BRINGING IT UP, AND COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSON, POINTING OUT, MED OFFICERS SPENDING THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME DEALING WITH CARS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS THING IN OUR CITIES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.
WE WILL BRING THOSE FORWARD ON TUESDAY, MAY 23RD, AT 7:00 PM WITH THAT, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A MEMORANDUM
[7. A memorandum regarding whether to approve the recommendations of the City of Yellowknife Community Advisory Board on Homelessness to allocate funding for the 2023/2024 fiscal year.]
REGARDING WHETHER TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD ON HOMELESSNESS TO ALLOCATE THE REMAINING FUNDING FOR THE 2023, 2024 FISCAL YEAR.MS. BASSI-KELLETT ANYTHING FURTHER TO ADD FROM ADMINISTRATION?
>> THANKS VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, GPC MEMBERS WILL RECALL CAB RECOMMENDED AND COUNCIL APPROVED SPENDING ALLOCATIONS FOR 2.3 MILLION OUT OF THE TOTAL 2.7 ALLOCATION THAT WE HAVE FOR 2023, '24 THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TO SUPPORT HOMELESSNESS.
CAB HAS CONSIDERED OPTIONS FOR THE REMAINING 404,000 AND RECOMMENDS A GO TOWARDS PROJECTS THAT ARE RELATED TO A FOOD SUPPORT PROGRAM, TWO PROJECTS OFFERED BY THE SALVATION ARMY RELATED TO A CAPITAL PROJECT THEY HAVE ON THE GO AND SOME BASIC NEEDS SERVICES AND TWO PROJECTS OFFERED BY THE ONLINE WOMEN'S SOCIETY FOR CASE MANAGEMENT AND FOR CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, AND ADMINISTRATION IS IN SUPPORT OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAB HAS MADE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DISCUSSION, COUNCIL COCHRANE.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR WORSHIP. WHAT IS THIS SALVATION ARMY CAPITAL PROJECT THAT WE SPEAK OF?
>> COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSON, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT?
>> SURE. THANKS. I'LL SPEAK TO IT AS CHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD.
WHAT THIS IS IS THEY HAD PUT IN A FEW DIFFERENT CAPITAL PROJECTS PROPOSALS.
THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR IS TO RENOVATE THE BATHROOMS IN LIVING QUARTERS, SO IF YOU'VE EVER HAD THE CHANCE TO GO IN THEY'RE QUITE DATED AND QUITE IN NEED OF A FACE LIFT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF YELLOWKNIFE WHO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE NEED TO UTILIZE SALVATION ARMY, SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S FOR IS THOSE BATHROOM RENOVATIONS.
>> ANYTHING FURTHER? SEEING NONE.
WE'LL BRING THAT FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH IS TUESDAY,
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MAY 23RD AT 7:00 PM, AND I WILL JUMP TO MY AGENDA AGAIN.THE FINAL ONE IS IN CAMERA. IT'S A COMMERCIAL MATTER.
[IN CAMERA]
IF I CAN GET A MOTION MOVING CAMERA MOVED BY COUNCIL ROBERTON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MCCLELLAN.SEEING NONE, WE CAN MOVE IN CAMERA.
THERE'S NO BUSINESS ARISING FROM IN CAMERA.
IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN MOVED BY COUNCIL MCCLELLAN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MCGURK ANYBODY OPPOSED, SEEING NONE, WE'LL SEE EVERYBODY AT 7:00 PM TONIGHT.
[NOISE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.