[Special Council Meeting on August 14, 2023.]
[00:00:03]
AND I'LL CALL OUR SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 14TH, 2023 TO ORDER.
AND I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE IS LOCATED IN CHIEF DRYGEESE TERRITORY FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT'S 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 METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS, METIS AND INUIT, WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
SO THE ITEM ON OUR EMERGENCY MEETING IS A DECLARATION OF STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY, WHEREAS THERE IS A WILDFIRE THREAT IMMINENTLY FACING THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.
AND WHEREAS, THIS WILDFIRE THREAT REQUIRES PROMPT COORDINATION OF ACTION OR SPECIAL REGULATION OF PERSONS OR PROPERTY TO PROTECT THE HEALTH SAFETY OR WELFARE OF PEOPLE, OR TO LIMIT DAMAGE TO THE PROPERTY.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 28 OF THE CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES ACT OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, SECTION 18 OF THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES AND SECTION 7 OF BYLAW NUMBER 4996.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE, ITS EMPLOYEES, SERVANTS AND AGENTS, ARE EMPOWERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 18 OF THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES AND SECTION SEVEN OF BYLAW NUMBER 4996.
THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BYLAW TO DO ALL ACTS AND IMPLEMENT ALL PROCEDURES THAT ARE CONSIDERED NECESSARY, TO PREVENT OR TO ALLEVIATE THE EFFECTS OF THE EMERGENCY. THIS IS ORDERED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THIS DATE AUGUST 14TH, 2023, AND WILL REMAIN IN FORCE FOR SEVEN DAYS UNTIL AUGUST 21ST, 2023 AT MIDNIGHT, UNLESS CANCELED BY THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.
MOVED BY DEPUTY MAYOR ARDEN-SMITH, SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR FEQUET.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE DECLARATION, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, YOUR WORSHIP.
AGENDA TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE WILDFIRE SITUATION AROUND YELLOWKNIFE.
CERTAINLY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DEVELOPMENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE AFTERNOON.
WE OBVIOUSLY ALWAYS WORK CLOSELY WITH THE ECC, THE NORTH SLAVE OFFICE.
THEY HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD COLLEAGUES TO US AND THEY LET US KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN AROUND THE FIRE JUMPING BOUNDARY CREEK AND THAT THAT HAD HAPPENED.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE QUITE SERIOUSLY.
WE DO THINK IN TERMS OF WHEN LOOKING AT THE FIRE RISK, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IN RECOMMENDING THAT COUNCIL DECLARE A STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY THAT IT'S DONE TO ENABLE US TO DO EXACTLY WHAT WE INTEND WITH THE STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY, WHICH IS TO ENABLE US TO BE ABLE TO BRING IN OTHER RESOURCES THAT MAY OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN OCCUPIED.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, CONTRACTORS WHO ARE VERY COMMITTED TO A NUMBER OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON AROUND TOWN MAY NOT VOLUNTARILY TAKE THEIR PROJECTS OR LEAVE THE PROJECTS AND TAKE THEIR EQUIPMENT OFF OF WHAT WORK IS UNDERWAY.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A VERY IMPORTANT FIRE BREAK AT THE SAND PITS.
WE KNOW THAT OUR FRIENDS AT ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE SEE THAT AS BEING A VERY IMPORTANT LINE OF DEFENSE, THAT THEY'VE GOT SOME PLANS THAT THEY WANT TO WORK BACK FROM TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY IS FULLY PROTECTED.
SO IT'S A VERY WORTHWHILE THING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MOBILIZE MORE HEAVY EQUIPMENT TO TAKE PREEMPTIVE ACTION TO PROTECT THE CITY. THANK YOU.
AND SAID IT BEFORE AND I'M SURE I'LL SAY IT A MILLION TIMES AGAIN BEFORE THE END OF THE SEASON.
MYSELF, COUNCIL AND ALL RESIDENTS CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.
THE SITUATION IS SERIOUS AND WE'VE BEEN TAKING IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
WE MEET DAILY AND SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY OR EVENINGS OR WEEKENDS OR ANY TIME THAT'S REQUIRED TO REVIEW THE SITUATION AND MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR PLAN IF NEED BE.
THE DECLARATION OF A STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY IS NOT AN EVACUATION ALERT.
[00:05:01]
IT'S NOT AN EVACUATION ORDER.WHAT IT IS, IS IT'S ABOUT MOBILIZING ALL RESOURCES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FOREST FIRES.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR TO PEOPLE THAT THE DECLARATION OF A STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY IS GIVING THE CITY AND THAT EXTRA POWER TO MOBILIZE ALL RESOURCES NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THIS RISK.
OPENING IT UP TO QUESTIONS COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL.
COUNCILLOR FEQUET. THANKS, MADAM CHAIR.
SO JUST CONFIRMING, YOU MENTIONED WHAT IT'S NOT THE EVACUATION ALERT AND THE EVACUATION ORDER JUST CONFIRMING THIS IS ALSO NOT AN EVACUATION NOTICE, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. YES.
I KNEW I WAS MISSING THE THIRD EVACUATION STATUS, BUT CORRECT.
THIS IS ABOUT MOBILIZING ALL RESOURCES.
ANYTHING FURTHER? COUNCILLOR FEQUET.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANKS VERY MUCH TO STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK.
DO WE KNOW OR HAVE WE HEARD FROM ECC EXACTLY HOW FAR THE FIRE IS FROM TOWN CURRENTLY? MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
WE DO KNOW THAT WE BASED ON INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE FROM ECC, WE KNEW THAT WHEN THE FIRE WAS AT BOUNDARY CREEK, WHICH IS KILOMETER 306, THAT WAS THE TRIGGER POINT THAT WE WANTED TO USE FOR THE STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY.
WE KNEW THAT WHEN THERE WAS AN EVACUATION ALERT EARLIER TODAY FOR THE AREA, KILOMETER, 307 TO 320, WE DECIDED THAT WHEN IT HIT AT AN EVACUATION ORDER FOR THAT AREA, THAT THAT WAS TIME FOR US TO TAKE ACTION, TO MOBILIZE THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING THE CITY TO THE MAXIMUM WAY THAT WE CAN. SO IT'S MAKING SURE THAT THAT DISTANCE IS ENOUGH FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET AS MUCH EQUIPMENT AS WE CAN IN A TIMELY WAY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE PREEMPTIVE MEASURES THAT WE WANT TO TAKE.
IN TERMS OF WHERE THE ACTUAL FIRE IS AT RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.
I THINK OUR FRIENDS AT ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE CAN SPEAK TO THAT MUCH BETTER THAN I CAN.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR COCHRANE.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND ECHO THE SAME SENTIMENT.
OUR STAFF AND OTHER STAFF ON THE OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN DOING TO ADDRESS THIS.
BEING THAT THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION, IF I COULD JUST ASK AND WE DECIDE THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO RECALL THE DECLARATION WITHIN SEVEN DAYS, WHAT WOULD THE PROCESS LOOK LIKE? THANK YOU.
GREAT QUESTION. THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT ONLY ALLOWS IT TO BE FOR SEVEN DAYS.
SO IF WE NEED IT FOR MORE THAN SEVEN DAYS, WE'LL CALL ANOTHER MEETING TO TO RENEW IT.
AND THEN IF IT NEEDS TO BE REVOKED, WE'LL CALL A MEETING TO REVOKE THAT.
ANYTHING FURTHER TO ADD? MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT WILL COME TO A NATURAL CONCLUSION AFTER SEVEN DAYS UNLESS COUNCIL CHOOSES TO RENEW IT.
AND IF WE FIND THAT WE ARE BLESSED WITH A MIRACULOUS RAIN THAT SOME WEATHER OUTLETS ARE FORECASTING ON THURSDAY AND EVERYTHING IS TERRIFIC, THIS CAN CERTAINLY BE ENDED BY COUNCIL AT A TIME BEFORE THE SEVEN DAYS ARE UP.
THANK YOU. AND JUST ADD, OF COURSE, CONTINUING TO CONSULT AND ENGAGE WITH THE ECC AND ALL THE MATTER EXPERTS ON THAT BEFORE IT GETS REVOKED AND THAT STUFF, SIMILAR TO WE ARE KIND OF FAMILIAR NOW WITH TERRITORIAL EMERGENCY MEASURES AFTER COVID, WHERE EVERY 14 DAYS IT HAD TO GET RENEWED.
IT'S THE SAME ACT, BUT COUNCILS ONLY GET IT FOR SEVEN DAYS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM ME.
ANYTHING FURTHER FROM COUNCIL? DEPUTY MAYOR ARDEN-SMITH? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
WHAT SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T YELLOWKNIFERS BE DOING? STAY CALM.
DO NOT PANIC. THAT'S NUMBER ONE.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT, IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADD MORE INFORMATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ABSOLUTELY.
MAYOR ALTY HAS REALLY NAILED IT.
AND WE DO URGE PEOPLE, STAY CALM, GET YOUR UPDATES AND NEWS FROM TRUSTED NEWS SOURCES, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT GETTING TOO INFLUENCED BY SOMEBODY SAYING, OH, I HEARD THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED BECAUSE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABSOLUTELY LEGITIMATE.
WE REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE AS WELL.
FIRESMART YOUR HOMES, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING RID OF BRUSH AROUND YOUR HOME.
WE ACCEPT THAT FOR FREE AT THE SOLID WASTE FACILITY.
[00:10:09]
THE DETRITUS THAT COMES FROM HAVING DONE SOME FIRE SMARTING AROUND YOUR PROPERTY.NONE OF US LIKE TO DO THAT, BUT IT'S ALWAYS REALLY GOOD TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE, WHAT MEDICATION YOU NEED, WHAT ID, ANY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT YOU MAY WANT. AND THAT'S CERTAINLY I DON'T MEAN TO BE INFLAMMATORY AROUND THAT, BUT I ALWAYS HAVE A PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY THAT IF I PREPARE FOR THE WORST, IT NEVER HAPPENS.
SO I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL DO.
THAT IS A GOOD PREEMPTIVE STRIKE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
BUT STAYING CALM, FIRE SMARTING, KNOWING THE IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS THAT YOU NEED AND YOU THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU IN THE EVENT THAT YOU NEED TO BE OUT OF YOUR HOME FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THEN THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO REALLY PREPARE FOR.
IT'S IT'S VERY, VERY HEROIC WORK.
JUST A QUESTION WITH THIS ORDER THAT'S GOING IN, WOULD THERE EVER BE, I GUESS, A REQUIREMENT TO ASK FOR RESIDENT VOLUNTEERS WHO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF TREE CUTTERS UP HERE, LOTS OF AMATEUR LUMBERJACKS.
WOULD THERE EVER BE LIKE A CALL OUT FOR PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND HELP OUT ON THE LINE? MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION, AND THAT'S ONE THAT WE REALLY WANT TO WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND.
WE'RE NOT AT THAT POINT YET, BUT WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER THAT IN THE FUTURE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FLAGGING THAT.
COUNCILLOR FEQUET DID YOU HAVE ONE MORE? COUNCILLOR FEQUET. THANKS, MADAM CHAIR.
I RECOGNIZE THAT EVERYBODY IS DOING A LOT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
AND WE'RE DECLARING IT BECAUSE WE NEED MORE RESOURCES.
YEAH, NO, WE CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE GNWT, BUT WHAT WE CAN SPEAK IS FOR THE CITY.
AND SO THROUGH A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY, IT GIVES US THE POWER TO ITS SECTION 20.B, ACQUIRE OR USE REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY, WHETHER PRIVATE OR PUBLIC CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO PREVENT COMBAT OR ALLEVIATE THE EFFECTS OF THE EMERGENCY.
AND SO THAT IS REQUIRING ALL CONTRACTORS TO WORK ON THE FIRE BREAKS.
AND CERTAIN CONTRACTORS HAVE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS RIGHT NOW.
SO I WOULDN'T SPEAK FOR THE FEDERAL OR TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.
I WOULDN'T SPEAK FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EITHER.
BUT AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL, THAT'S THE CONTRACTORS AND BEING ABLE TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE NOT IN BREACH OF THEIR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND THEY'RE ABLE TO COME AND WORK FOR THE CITY. MS. BASSI-KELLETT ANYTHING FURTHER TO ADD? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT REALLY NAILS IT.
THESE FIRE BREAKS ARE MASSIVE, THEY'RE BIG.
I'M GLAD WE'RE DOING IT. THANK YOU.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE DECLARATION.
AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY WITH THAT.
THAT'S THE END OF OUR MEETING.
OF COURSE, IF ANYTHING CHANGES BETWEEN NOW AND SEVEN DAYS, WE CAN REVOKE THE DECLARATION IF NEEDED.
WE CAN EXTEND THE DECLARATION.
STAY CALM AND COLLECTED AND COOL.
THIS IS NOT AN EVACUATION NOTICE.
[00:15:02]
WHAT ARE THE THREE? ALERT. NOTICE, ALERT OR AN ORDER? THIS IS SO THAT WE CAN MOBILIZE ALL RESOURCES WITH THAT.IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MOVE BY COUNCILLOR COCHRANE SECOND BY COUNCILLOR MCGURK.
ANYBODY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE. WE CAN BE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.