[00:00:03]
>> I'LL CALL OUR GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETING FOR MONDAY,
[1. Opening Statement]
SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2023 TO ORDER.I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE IS LOCATED IN CHIEF DRAGHI'S TERRITORY.
FROM TIME AND MEMORIAL, IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIFE THAN A FIRST NATION.
WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE NORTH SIDE MÉTIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS MÉTIS AND INUIT WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
[2. Approval of the agenda.]
WE WILL ADD ONE MORE ITEM, ITEM 8, WHICH ISN'T IN CAMERA PERSONNEL.WE'RE GOING TO MOVE NUMBER 7 UP TO BE RIGHT AFTER NUMBER 5 BECAUSE IT JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THAT ONE BECAUSE THAT'S AN ITEM THAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING AT COUNCIL TONIGHT AND THE CONTRACT EXPIRES TODAY.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT ANYTHING FURTHER TO ADD TO THE AGENDA?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
[3. Disclosure of pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof.]
PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.DOES ANY MEMBER HAVE A PECUNIARY INTERESTS MATTERED? SEEING NONE.
I JUST LIKE TO FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING, DEPUTY MAYOR IAN SMITH HAS JOINED US ONLINE.
I'D LIKE TO EXTEND A BIG WARM WELCOME TO MR. KEVI PENDU WHO IS OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SERVICES.
WELCOME. IT'S QUITE THE TIME TO JOIN THE CITY.
THERE'S A FEW FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS TO CATCH UP AND A LOT OF FINANCIAL PAPERWORK TO BE DONE OVER THE COMING MONTHS SO WELCOME ABOARD.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT WILL BEGIN WITH A PRESENTATION
[4. A presentation by Canada Task Force 2 on Yellowknife Recovery Framework.]
BY THE CANADA TASK FORCE TWO ON YELLOWKNIFE RECOVERY FRAMEWORK, IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR, WITH PLEASURE.
DURING OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE THIS SUMMER, THE CITY WAS ABLE TO DRAW UPON THE EXPERTS SUPPORT OF CANADA TASK FORCE 2 FOR OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
CANADA TASK FORCE 2 IS AN ALL HAZARDS DISASTER RESPONSE TEAM WITH DIVERSE CAPABILITIES THAT CAN RESPOND TO LARGE-SCALE EMERGENCIES.
THEY PROVIDE SUPPORT TO IMPACTED COMMUNITIES.
HAVING WORKED WITH THE CITY OF CALGARY AFTER THEIR FLOODS, FORT MCMURRAY AND SLAVE LAKE AFTER THEIR WILDFIRES CANADA TASK FORCE 2 BROUGHT INCREDIBLE TOOLS AND STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT OUR RESPONSE.
ON THE GROUND WITH US FROM AUGUST 19TH THROUGH UNTIL SEPTEMBER 6TH, CANADA TASK FORCE 2 PROVIDED EXPERT GUIDANCE, WHICH THE CITY AND ALL AGENCIES INVOLVED IN OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE GREATLY APPRECIATED AND BENEFITED FROM.
TODAY, CANADA TASK FORCE 2 IS PRESENTING ON WHAT RECOVERY LOOKS LIKE FOR YELLOWKNIFE BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE.
I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANKS TO SUSAN HENRY, CANADA TASK FORCE 2 LEADER AND ALSO THE CHIEF OF THE CALGARY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY WHO WILL PRESENT FROM HER PERSPECTIVE TODAY.
SUE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE JOINED BY ANYONE ELSE, BUT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
I'M ALSO JOINED TODAY BY SIMON BRADLEY, WHO IS OUR TASK FORCE MANAGER AND ONE OF OUR COMMANDERS THAT WAS ALSO ON THE GROUND AND YELLOWKNIFE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT WONDERFUL INTRODUCTION AND FOR A FEW MINUTES TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT WHAT THEIR ROAD TO RECOVERY MIGHT LOOK LIKE FOR YELLOWKNIFE BASED ON A NUMBER OF THE DIFFERENT INCIDENTS THAT WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PAST.
WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION WITH A FEW SLIDES, IF THAT IS APPROPRIATE AND I'LL ASK THE COURT TO PUT THAT UP ON THE SCREEN IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
>> HE WILL DO THAT MOMENTARILY HERE. THANK YOU.
>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE, CLERICS.
WHAT YOU SEE ON THIS SLIDE IS OUR COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MODEL.
THIS MODEL GUIDES ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOU THAT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS SO MUCH MORE THAN RESPONSE.
THE RESPONSE IS REALLY THAT RED ARC THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.
IT'S REALLY A SMALL PART OF WHAT HAPPENS IN THE OVERALL CONTINUUM FOR AN EVENT.
OUR GOAL IS ALWAYS TO RECOVER A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN WHERE WE STARTED.
IT'S TO RECOVER OUR BUSINESSES FASTER.
IT'S TO RECOVER TO A MORE RESILIENT STATE AND REALLY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE WE'RE BETTER PREPARED ANYTIME SOMETHING ELSE DOES HAPPEN.
I KNOW IT SOMETIMES FEELS FOR PEOPLE THAT THE INCIDENT WAS LONG AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO JUST MOVE FORWARD AND GO BACK TO REGULAR AND BACK TO REGULAR DOESN'T REALLY EXIST FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT OF THIS TYPE OF MAGNITUDE.
THERE'S A LOT OF RECOVERY WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE SHORT TERM, IN THE MEDIUM TERM AND IN THE LONG TERM.
IT REQUIRES A VERY FOCUSED AND CONCENTRATED EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT IN A STRATEGIC WAY AND TO ALSO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THAT IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS ALL OF THE COMMUNITY.
[00:05:03]
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PRINCIPLES TO RECOVERY THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE AND IT'S REALLY WHERE THE HARDEST WORK STARTS.
I KNOW THAT'S HARD TO HEAR FOR FOLKS THAT HAD A LONG HAUL IN THE RESPONSE.
THIS IS WHERE OUR HARDEST WORK BEGINS AND WHERE WE CAN'T JUST RETURN BACK TO OUR NORMAL PROCESSES AND BACK TO OUR NORMAL PIECES.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITIES TO ELIMINATE THE DISASTER RISKS AND EMBRACE WHAT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT LOOKS LIKE FROM HERE.
THERE'S A REALLY INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY IN YELLOWKNIFE TO BUILD UPON THE WORK THAT WAS DONE, BUILD UPON THE MITIGATION EFFORTS AND REALLY MAKE YELLOWKNIFE A MUCH MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY TO SOME OF THE FUTURE EVENTS THAT IT COULD HAVE.
THERE'S ALSO AN INCREDIBLE IMPORTANT PART OF THIS WHERE WE HAVE TO DO AN AFTER ACTION AND WE WANT TO LEARN FROM ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED.
WE CAN LEARN WHAT TO DO BETTER NEXT TIME, BUT WE CAN ALSO LEARN WHAT ACTIONS WERE DONE REALLY WELL THAT WE WANT TO ENSURE WE CONTINUE TO DO THE NEXT TIME THERE IS AN EVENT.
IT'S ABOUT THE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT AND VERY INTENTIONAL WITH WHAT WE DO FOR WORK. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
A COUPLE OF OTHER CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE I PASS TO SIMON TO WALK US THROUGH SOME OF THE DIFFERENT PILLARS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN RECOVERY.
RECOVERY IT CAN TAKE YEARS AND IT IS NOT A LINEAR PROCESS.
SOME OF THE EVENTS, I WOULD ARGUE WE'RE STILL RECOVERING IN THE CITY OF CALGARY FROM THE 2013 FLOODS AND WE'RE 10 YEARS LATER AND THAT RECOVERY HAS BEEN NON-LINEAR.
IT'S BEEN A TON OF FINANCIAL WORK WHICH WAS REFERENCED EARLIER IN THE CALL.
BUT IT REALLY IS THE HARD WORK THAT IS COMING AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIT THE RECOVERY INTO ROUTINE OPERATIONS.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK TO RE-PRIORITIZE ALL OF THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN YELLOWKNIFE.
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING SPACE FOR THOSE SHORT-TERM RECOVERY PIECES FOR NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE, BUT ALSO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TO RE-PRIORITIZE AS WE LOOK TOWARDS THINGS THAT JUST CAN'T GO BACK INTO REGULAR BUSINESS AND CONTINUE TO ADD TO THE WORKLOADS.
THEIR RESPONSE ITSELF DOES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORKLOADS FOR FOLKS.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND AND ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE WORKLOADS AND MAKE SPACE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD IN THAT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THIS IS JUST A QUICK GRAPH THAT REALLY SHOWS YOU HOW BUMPY THE RIDE CAN BE WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT HOW TO RECOVER AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME.
IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING WHAT'S HAPPENED DURING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PHASES OF THE RESPONSE.
MAKING SPACE FOR THE PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH THOSE DIFFERENT PHASES AND RECOGNIZING THAT AS WE START TO GO INTO PARTICULARLY NEXT SPRING, THERE WILL BE A WHOLE BUNCH OF FEELINGS THAT ARE BROUGHT UP FOR THE COMMUNITY AGAIN AS WILDFIRE SEASON BEGINS.
IT'S JUST SORTED A SETBACK PROCESS THAT IT'S VERY NORMAL TO HAVE BUMPS ALONG THE ROAD AND VERY NORMAL TO HAVE SETBACKS AS WE LOOK TOWARDS RECOVERY.
NEXT SLIDE AND I'LL PASS TO SIMON BRADLEY IF I COULD.
>> JUST BEFORE YOU CONTINUE WITH SIMON, YOUR PHONE JUST A LITTLE WONKY.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT COULD GET FIX THERE?
>> WE CAN CERTAINLY TRY. WE'LL MOVE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE FOR US.
>> IT'S A LITTLE ALIEN, BUT IT MIGHT JUST BE THE TECHNOLOGY SO, BUT WE CAN HEAR YOU.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE FEEDBACK THERE.
>> WELL, SORRY. WE'LL TRY TO LET US KNOW IF IT STAYS TERRIBLE AND WE CAN CALL IN ON A DIFFERENT LINE OR SOMETHING TO TRY TO GET THAT SOUNDING A BIT BETTER.
>> WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO TO TRY TO DIAL IN ON A NEW LINE?
>> LET'S TAKE A TWO-SECOND PAUSE.
>> THANK YOU. JUST TO NOTE, FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING THE PRESENTATION WILL BE POSTED ONLINE AFTER IT'S ALWAYS YELLOWKNIFE.CA AND THEN IT WILL BE ADDED AS WHAT DO THEY CALL IT? IT'S BESIDE THE AGENDA.
[NOISE] IT'LL BE POSTED BESIDE THE AGENDA IN THE ADDENDUM COLUMNS SO FOLKS CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION THEREAFTER.
>> WE'RE JUST CONNECTING THROUGH ANOTHER LINE.
[00:10:01]
IT'LL JUST BE ONE MORE SECOND.SUE, APPARENTLY, IT SOUNDS GOOD AND SOON SIMON ON THE WEBCAST, THAT WAS WHAT I WAS CONCERNED THAT FOLKS MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO HEAR IT THERE BUT WE CAN HEAR YOU. CONTINUE ON.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, AND I WILL PASS TO SIMON.
WHAT WE WANTED TO MOVE INTO IS JUST SOME RECOVERY PILLARS.
A LOT OF THESE AREN'T NECESSARILY SPECIFIC FOR YELLOWKNIFE BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY CONSIDERATIONS HERE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE A LOT OF INCREDIBLE WORK WAS DONE IN YELLOWKNIFE AND YELLOWKNIFE WAS ABLE TO AVOID DAMAGE TO PROPERTIES AND TO INFRASTRUCTURE.
A LOT OF RECOVERY IS BASED ON THE PHYSICAL BUILD BACK BETTER AND BUILDING BACK YOUR COMMUNITY IN A MORE RESILIENT WAY.
BUT I THINK WE CAN APPLY THAT TO THE PEOPLE AND THE PROCESSES AND A LOT OF WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RECOVERY IT'S NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL RECOVERY, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S MUCH MORE DEPTH TO THAT.
THE FIRST PILLAR WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS PEOPLE.
WHEN I WAS ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE CITY MANAGER WHEN WE WERE THERE AND TALK THROUGH SOME OF THESE AS WE ARE WORKING OUT OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND INTO THAT RECOVERY PHASE, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN OPERATING IN THERE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
BUT TALKING ABOUT THE CONSIDERATIONS OF HOW DO YOU TRANSFER FROM THE RESPONSE MODE TO NORMAL OPERATIONS.
THERE'S GOING TO BE WORK BEING DONE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT'S STILL WILDFIRE RELATED.
HOW DOES THAT FIT IN UNDER THE NORMAL OPERATING BUCKETS OF THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE? THERE'S CONSIDERATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO FATIGUE, STRESS, AND BURNOUT WITH THE STAFF THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE RESPONSE.
THE STAFF THAT WERE EVACUATED DURING THE RESPONSE.
THEY ARE COMING INTO THIS MODE AND COMING INTO THE RECOVERY TIMEFRAME ALREADY TIRED, ALREADY STRESSED, AND SO IT'S ABOUT BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND BE ABLE TO HAVE A PLAN TO BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THAT.
THERE'S A STRESSORS OF REGULAR WORK THAT WASN'T ATTENDED TO.
THE ENTIRE FOCUS OF THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE AND ALL OF THE STAFF MOVE TOWARDS THE RESPONSE RATHER THAN THE ONGOING OPERATIONS OF THE CITY.
IT'S ABOUT MANAGING EXPECTATIONS, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S GRACE GIVEN FOR WORK THAT WASN'T DONE DURING THAT TIME AND WE DON'T WANT TO ADD ADDITIONAL STRESS ONTO OUR STAFF WHEN WE'RE MOVING IN AND SAYING, WELL, WHERE WERE WE ON THESE PROJECTS THAT WE WERE WORKING ON BEFORE THE INCIDENT? UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS FOR RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR STAFF THAT WERE INVOLVED AND WHAT IS AN APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION? THAT'S DIFFERENT FOR EVERY COMMUNITY AND DIFFERENT FOR EVERY MUNICIPALITY.
IT'S ABOUT LOOKING WITHIN YOUR OWN FAMILY AND YOUR OWN MUNICIPALITY IN HOW THAT BEST WORKS AND HOW THAT WILL BE BEST RECEIVED.
UNDERSTANDING THAT CERTAINLY IN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THIS WHERE A LARGE PART OF THE STAFF OR THE CITY WERE EVACUATED, THEY LEFT WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE MAY BE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE STAFF WHO STAYED THROUGH THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND THOSE WHO EVACUATED.
AND DIFFERENT REASONS FOR EACH AND EVERYONE MADE THE BEST DECISION THAT THEY COULD FOR THEMSELVES.
BUT JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MINDFUL THAT THERE MAY BE A RUB WHEN YOU RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATIONS WITH JUST A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.
AGAIN, THESE ARE CONSIDERATIONS AND NOT NECESSARILY THE ANSWERS.
WE REALLY WANT YOU TO JUST BE ABLE TO THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS AS YOU MOVE FORWARD.
OBVIOUSLY, WORKING IN GOVERNMENT WE'RE USED TO FEEDBACK FROM CITIZENS AND JUST KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON THE RESPONSE AND A LOT OF CRITICISM AND A LOT OF PRAISE,
[00:15:01]
AND IT'S JUST BEING ABLE TO FIND MECHANISMS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT, TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THAT, AND MAYBE IT IS A DIFFERENT FORMAT THAN HOW WE REGULARLY INTERACT WITH OUR CITIZENS.WHEN THEY'RE UNHAPPY WITH CIVIL SERVICES, THAT'S ONE WAY.
THEY HAVE A MECHANISM FOR PROVIDING THEIR FEEDBACK.
IT MAY BE DIFFERENT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE LARGE SCALE EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
TALKING ABOUT A RESPONSE COMPENSATION FRAMEWORK FOR SENIOR LEADERS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, THIS IS SOMETHING WE LEARNED IN THE CITY OF CALGARY.
YOU MAY HAVE LEADERS THAT ARE EXEMPT FROM OVERTIME COMPENSATION AND THOSE TYPES OF MECHANISMS DURING REGULAR OPERATIONS.
WELL, THAT REALLY BECOMES TESTED DURING A LARGE-SCALE RESPONSE WHEN THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE FRONTLINES OF THEIR RESPONSE.
UNDERSTANDING THAT MAYBE A RESPONSE COMPENSATION FRAMEWORK IS NEEDED, THAT KICKS IN AT THE DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY OR WHATEVER THAT MAY BE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO COMPENSATE THOSE INDIVIDUALS FOR LONG GRUELING HOURS DURING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
A TRANSITION IN REPORTING STRUCTURE.
SO IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE WE RELY A LOT ON SOMETHING CALLED THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FOR HOW WE OPERATE.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED AND USED WITHIN THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.
WELL, THE REPORTING STRUCTURE ISN'T THE DAY-TO-DAY REPORTING STRUCTURE OF THE MUNICIPALITY.
PEOPLE MAY BE REPORTING INTO DIFFERENT LEVELS, PEOPLE MAY BE WORKING AT A LEVEL OF AUTHORITY THAT IS ABOVE THEIR NORMAL OPERATING LEVEL.
IT'S THE RETURN TO THOSE REPORTING STRUCTURES THAT MAY BE CHALLENGING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND JUST BEING MINDFUL OF THAT AND BEING COGNIZANT THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE PEERS DURING THE RESPONSE MAY BE WORKING IN A SUBORDINATE RELATIONSHIP AFTER AND JUST BEING ABLE TO BE PREPARED FOR SOME CHANGES IN THAT, AND JUST BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH STAFF AND RETURN THEM TO THOSE ROLES THAT THEY WERE IN.
LARGE-SCALE EMERGENCIES LIKE THIS DO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES AND WITH THAT, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CAPITALIZE ON THIS AND BUILD ON IT WHEN IT COMES TO TRAINING.
THE STAFF OF YELLOWKNIFE DID AN AMAZING JOB WORKING THROUGH THIS INCIDENCE AND WE ARE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO WORK BESIDE THEM EVERY DAY THROUGH THIS RESPONSE.
THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ON THAT AND INVEST IN THE MASTERCLASS THAT THEY DEMONSTRATED DURING THEIR RESPONSE AND BE ABLE TO MAKE THEM MORE RESILIENT AND MAKE THEM BETTER EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND MORE EQUIPPED TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE NEXT RESPONSE BY BUILDING ON THIS WITH TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN COME DOWN THE ROAD.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD.
YELLOWKNIFE WENT THROUGH A SIGNIFICANT EVENTS, THEY PULLED TOGETHER.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A LEADER IN THAT AND THEN INVEST IN THAT AND NOT REST ON THE FACT THAT WE DID A GOOD JOB DURING THIS RESPONSE, BUT TO BE ABLE TO INVEST IN THAT AND MOVE FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO INVEST IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
THAT'S THE PEOPLE PILLAR, HERE'S THE COMMUNITY PILLAR WHERE WE TALK ABOUT HOW IT'S IMPORTANT AND HOW WE CAN ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN THEIR RECOVERY PROCESS.
CHIEF HENRY TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE INITIAL SLIDE.
THERE'S AN EXPECTATION AND A REQUIREMENT. WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE RECOVERY PROCESS IS ONGOING, IT'S NOT OVER.
THE INCIDENT IS OVER BUT THERE IS A NEXT STEP, AND SO IT'S COMMUNICATING INTERNALLY WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION, WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION, COMMUNICATING WITH OUR CITIZENS, AND COMMUNICATING WITH OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AS WELL, THAT THE RECOVERY IS ONGOING AND THAT'S YELLOWKNIFE IS COMMITTED TO A RECOVERY PROCESS.
ENGAGE GROUPS IN THE AFTER ACTION PROCESS.
CHIEF HENRY TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO LOOK BACK AND REVIEW WHAT WAS DONE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT NOT JUST WITH AGENCIES THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE RESPONSE BUT ALSO AGENCIES THAT WEREN'T.
JUST SOME GENERIC EXAMPLES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR SLIDE IS ENGAGING, MAKING SURE THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THROUGH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD AND BE INVOLVED IN THE AFTER ACTION PROCESS.
INVOLVE MAJOR INDUSTRY, INVOLVE OUR CRITICAL SERVICES TO MAKE SURE THAT AS A MUNICIPALITY WE CAN LEARN FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE AS WELL AND HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE THEM IN BETTER RESPONSES OR HOW THEY CAN BETTER SERVE US IN FUTURE RESPONSES.
RECOVERY OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF RECOVERY AND MAKING SURE WE'RE WORKING WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS AND THEIR EXPECTATIONS AND HOW WE CAN GET THEM BACK TO OPERATING AT 100%.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE WHEN IT COMES TO WILDFIRE AWARENESS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AT A LARGE LEVEL BUT ALSO AT THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN LEVEL AS WELL.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WILDFIRE AWARENESS.
YELLOWKNIFE IS A COMMUNITY SURROUNDED BY FORESTS.
THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT EVENT AND WILDFIRES WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE,
[00:20:01]
HOPEFULLY NOT TOO THIS MAGNITUDE, HOPEFULLY NOT TO THE SCALE, BUT THERE'S CHANGES IN OUR CLIMATE.WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE PRONOUNCED FIRES. LET'S LEARN FROM THAT.
LET'S USE THE AWARENESS, LET'S USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
SOME OF THOSE INITIATIVES ARE LIKE FIRESMART.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS CAN DO AS WELL AS COMMUNITIES TO MAKE THEIR PROPERTIES SAFER.
I TALKED WITH THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THERE ARE SOME INCENTIVE PROGRAMS ABOUT GETTING CITIZENS TO PARTAKE IN A PROGRAM.
INVERMERE, PENTICTON, INSURANCE COMPANIES ALL HAVE SOME LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT THAT ENCOURAGE CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN FIRESMART AT THEIR LOCAL LEVEL.
I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT AND HOW WE CAN ENGAGE THEM IN THE WILDFIRE AWARENESS AS WELL AND HAVE THEM BE A PARTNER IN THAT.
CHIEF HENRY TALKED ABOUT IT WITH THE GRAPH AND THEN DISILLUSIONMENT AND SOME OF THE RETRIGGERS FOR FUTURE EVENTS.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT THE CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE GOING TO BE VERY AWARE OF THE WILDFIRE RISK GOING FORWARD.
YOU COULD SEE ANXIETY WHERE THERE'S SMOKE AND WILDFIRES ON THE HORIZON.
JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TALKING AND WE'RE COMMUNICATING AND BEING VERY FORWARD LEANING WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS GOING FORWARD ABOUT WILDFIRES IN THE REGION AND MAKING SURE WE'RE BEING AHEAD OF THAT AND TRYING TO MANAGE SOME OF THOSE ANXIETIES THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE.
THEN THERE'S THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
DISASTERS REALLY BRING THOSE VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND THOSE VULNERABLE SITUATIONS TO THE FOREFRONT, AND SO IT'S ABOUT BEING ABLE TO BUILD PLANS WHERE WE LOOK INTO THE FUTURE AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING THOSE POPULATIONS THROUGH THE REGULAR TIMES BUT THROUGH THOSE DISASTER SITUATIONS AS WELL, SO IT ALWAYS IMPACTS TO THEM MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE.
WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE LAST PILLAR HERE IS ON SERVICES, SO TAKING A LOOK AT HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY, HOW DOES THE PHYSICAL SERVICES OF THE MUNICIPALITY, HOW ARE THEY IMPACTED? SO LOOKING AT THAT GAP ANALYSIS OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES.
WE'RE A COUPLE WEEKS PAST THE RE-ENTRY NOW.
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES COME BACK ONLINE, BUT THERE MAY BE A GAP IN SOME OF THOSE ANALYSES.
THANKFULLY, YELLOWKNIFE DIDN'T LOSE ANY PROPERTIES, AND WHERE WE TALK ABOUT TAX IMPLICATIONS IS, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR A MUNICIPALITY THAT'S LOSING A LOT OF TAX REVENUE.
WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH RELIEF PROGRAMS, BUT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE DOWN THE ROAD, AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR THE FINANCIAL PICTURE GOING FOR? THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO BUILD ON WHAT HAPPENED, AND YELLOWKNIFE WAS INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE DUE TO A LOT OF HARD WORK BY A LOT OF PEOPLE.
BUT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE WITHIN OUR EMERGENCY PLANNING PROCESS TO GO THAT ONE STEP FURTHER AND BUILD SOME WORST-CASE SCENARIO PLANNING PROCESS.
WE'RE ABLE TO LOOK AND BUILD UPON, WELL, WHAT HAPPEN? WE CAN PLAY THE WHAT IF GAME, AS WE LOOK AT THE NEXT STEPS AND HOW WE CAN PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.
WHAT IF YELLOWKNIFE HAD LOST POWER FOR THAT WHOLE EVENT? WHAT WOULD THE DIFFERENCES BE WITHIN THE RESPONSE AND WHAT WOULD THE DIFFERENCES BE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITIZENS COMING BACK? IF THE FIBER LINES HAD BEEN DAMAGED AND YELLOWKNIFE LOSS COMMUNICATIONS, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? IF THE SHELTER IN PLACE PLAN HAD TO GO FORWARD, WE'RE KEEPING PEOPLE IN YELLOWKNIFE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FROM AN EMERGENCY SOCIAL SERVICES PERSPECTIVE? IF THERE IS LARGE-SCALE DEBRIS, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? HOW DO WE TAKE THAT TO THE LANDFILLS? ARE THE LANDFILLS EQUIPPED FOR THAT? COMMUNICATIONS. HOW ARE WE COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE IF THE FIRE HAD BEEN CLOSER TO YELLOWKNIFE? IF IT HAD STARTED CLOSER AND THE RISK WAS MORE IMMINENT AND THERE WASN'T DAYS NOTICE TO EVACUATE, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT US? FAMILY REUNIFICATION, MUTUAL AID, DONATION MANAGEMENT, EMERGENCY ALERTING, THEY'RE ALL COMPONENTS OF HOW WE CAN BUILD OUT THAT PLANNING PROCESS AND OUR RISK REGISTER, ABOUT WHAT IF THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT WORSE? HOW WOULD OUR SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THAT? THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE, AND THANKFULLY, WITHOUT ANY OF THOSE THINGS HAPPENING, TO BE ABLE TO LOOK ON THAT.
WE RECOMMEND THAT COMMUNITIES DO THAT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE MORE PREPARED AND MORE RESILIENT TO THE NEXT STEP. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THERE'S A FINANCE COMPONENT TO THIS HERE AS WELL, AND A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK STILL TO BE DONE AND AN EXPECTATION THAT THE DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDING PROCESS CAN TAKE YEARS.
ALL OF THOSE INVOICES, EVERYTHING THAT WAS SPENT, IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO BE ABLE TO ACCUMULATE THOSE PHYSICAL INVOICES,
[00:25:04]
APPLY THROUGH THE DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM AND GET THOSE FUNDS RETURNS.IT CAN'T JUST BE A REGULAR BUSINESS OPERATION WHEN IT COMES TO THE DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDING PROCESS.
JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED TO THAT TO BE ABLE TO, NOT ONLY RECOUP EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECOUP FROM OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, BUT POTENTIALLY FIND OPPORTUNITY IN THOSE FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS, WHERE MAYBE SOME PREPAREDNESS WORK IS ABLE TO BE ACCEPTED INTO THOSE FUNDING PIECES.
I KNOW IN THE CITY OF CALGARY, THERE ARE FLOOD MITIGATION MEASURES THAT WERE ABLE TO BE SUBMITTED TO THOSE PROGRAMS THAT ARE VALUABLE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK INTO.
ARE THERE FIRE SMART INITIATIVES THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO APPLY FOR UNDER THAT DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDING? SO THAT YOU CAN BUILD BACK BETTER AND BE MORE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT INCIDENT USING THOSE FUNDING.
RECONCILIATION AND VERIFICATION ACROSS IS VERY TIME-CONSUMING.
WE NEED TO CREATE THE TIME AND SPACE TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK STRONGER.
THERE IS OPPORTUNITY IN AN EVENT LIKE THIS, AND IT'S HARD TO TALK ABOUT IT IN THOSE TERMS, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND KNOW THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THIS THROUGH THE LENS OF WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH TO BE MORE PREPARED FOR WHAT MAY HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THEN THE LAST PIECE HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THAT RECOVERY PILLAR AND THE BUILD BACK BETTER.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHAT WAS PURCHASED OR WHAT WAS DONE DURING THE RESPONSE THAT MAKES SENSE TO KEEP? ARE SOME OF THE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS THAT WERE PURCHASED AND SET UP, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE MUNICIPALITY RETAINS OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IT SELLS AND RECOVERS INVESTMENT ON? THERE'S ALWAYS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
HOW MANY SAND BAGS AND SAND BAGGING MACHINES DID THE CITY OF CALGARY PURCHASE DURING THE RESPONSE? WHAT DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO KEEP FOR THE NEXT RESPONSE? WHAT MAKES SENSE DOES IT, TO ACQUIRE IT THROUGH COMMERCIAL MEANS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT? WHEN IT COMES TO FIRE BREAKS.
ARE THOSE PERMANENT FIRE BREAKS NOW OR DO WE LET NATURE RECLAIM THEM OR DO WE PAY TO RECLAIM THEM? JUST LOOK AT OUR AT-RISK INFRASTRUCTURE.
LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN PROTECT BETTER, WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PREPARED FROM AN INFRASTRUCTURE PERSPECTIVE.
WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
WE'LL CONCLUDE AT THAT POINT OUR PRESENTATION, AND AGAIN, IT ISN'T DEEP INTO ANSWERS ABOUT THIS IS HOW YOU SHOULD MOVE FORWARD.
IT'S REALLY JUST FROM OUR EXPERIENCES ACROSS MULTIPLE INCIDENTS IN MULTIPLE PLACES THAT WE'VE BEEN.
THERE'S COMMONALITY IN RECOVERY, AND A LOT OF IT IS NOT, CAN WE TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT? IT'S ABOUT, HERE'S WHAT'S POSSIBLE.
TAKING A LOOK AND BEING READY FOR THOSE WHEN YOU SEE THEM IN YOUR OWN JURISDICTION.
WE LEAVE YOU WITH THE FOUR PRIORITIES OF THE SENDAI FRAMEWORK FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION.
THIS IS A UNITED NATIONS PROGRAM.
CANADA IS A SIGNATORY TO THIS PROGRAM, ABOUT HOW DO WE REDUCE IMPACTS FROM FUTURE EVENTS.
THE FOUR MAIN PRIORITIES ARE UNDERSTANDING THAT DISASTER RISK IN YOUR COMMUNITY, DOING A DISASTER RISK ASSESSMENT THAT ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING THAT'S POSSIBLE WITHIN YOUR AREA.
STRENGTHENING THE GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK FOR MANAGING DISASTER RISK.
INVESTMENT IN DISASTER REDUCTION AND RESILIENCE, AND THEN IMPROVING PREPAREDNESS TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE RESPONSE.
IT'S UNDERSTANDING THAT RESPONSE IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART OF THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK, BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY PART.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR RESILIENCE AND WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR PREPAREDNESS TO MAKE SURE THAT RESPONSE DOESN'T NEED TO BE AS BIG OR AS STRONG AS IT IS.
WE'LL CONCLUDE THERE, AND I'LL TURN IT BACK TO THE CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU AND A BIG THANKS AS WELL, OF COURSE, TO YOUR TEAM FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU'VE PROVIDED DURING THE EMERGENCY.
I KNOW OUR TEAM LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU AND WE'LL BE TAKING ALL THESE TOOLS INTO OUR TOOLBOX FOR YEARS TO COME.
WITH THAT, OPENING IT UP TO QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILOR HENDRIKSEN.
>> THANKS, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANKS TO CAN TASK FORCE TOO.
BOTH AS MARY SAID, DURING THE EVENT, BUT ALSO FOR THIS PRESENTATION, I THINK IT'S A GREAT STAGE SETTER FOR THE CONVERSATION WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE TODAY.
BUT REALISTICALLY FOR THE REMAINING THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS, OR I GUESS, THREE YEARS NOW OF OUR TERM.
I GUESS MY QUESTION MORE COMES THROUGH, THIS IS A CLUB I WISH OUR CITY NEVER HAD TO JOIN.
ARE THE RELATIONSHIPS STARTING REBUILT FROM, PARDON ME, THIS IS A BAD COLD, THAT ARE COMING FROM THE MAYOR LEVEL, FROM THE CITY MANAGER PERSPECTIVE LEVEL, FROM THE STAFF LEVEL, ARE WE STARTING TO MAKE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS? BECAUSE IT'S A SMALL CITY,
[00:30:01]
I KNOW THERE'S A HECK OF A LOT WE CAN ALWAYS LEARN FROM OTHERS.I JUST WANTED TO KNOW FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE IN THESE VERY EARLY STAGES, I WANT TO KNOW THAT WE'RE JUMPING ON THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND NOT TRY TO MAKE THINGS UP WHERE WE CAN JUST STEAL AND GRAB, AND TAKE GOOD EXAMPLES AND IGNORE THE BAD ONES THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE FAILED.
WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT SAME THING. THANK YOU.
>>THANK YOU. TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
I'VE DEFINITELY HAVE TEXT MESSAGES AND CALLS FOR MAYORS AND ALWAYS APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE CANADA TASK FORCE TEAM TOO IN THE LUNCH ROOM AND MY OFFICE WHENEVER I HAD A QUESTION, AND REALLY APPRECIATED THEIR INSIGHT AND THEIR PAST EXPERIENCE.
FROM SMALL STUFF LIKE WALKING IN AND SEEING WE PROVIDED FOOD TO OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT WE WERE JUST LEAVING IT ON THE TABLE, AND THEREFORE, BEING SUSCEPTIBLE TO FOOD POISONING AND KNOCKING US ALL OUT OF STEPPING UP AND MAKING SURE WE HAD THAT FOOD SAFE.
THEY DEFINITELY HAD A LOT OF THAT PAST EXPERIENCE THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS JUST COME DOWN IN YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN.
BUT I'LL LET MISS BASSI-KELLETT AND THEN PERHAPS THE CANADA TASK FORCE TEAM ALSO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE, EITHER WORKING WITH OUR MUNICIPALITY OR OTHERS. MISS BASSI-KELLETT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANKS FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCILOR HENDRIKSEN, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHEN WE WERE IN THE EYE OF THE STORM FROM AUGUST.
I LOOK AT IT AS THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE WERE UNDER EITHER A STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY OR A TERRITORIAL STATE OF EMERGENCY.
IT WAS VERY INTENSE AND WE FORGED SOME VERY QUICK, IMMEDIATE, PRAGMATIC RELATIONSHIPS WHEN WE NEEDED TO RESPOND RIGHT AWAY.
I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, OBVIOUSLY, INCLUDING CANADA TASK FORCE TOO, CONTRACTORS ON THE GROUND, OTHER ORDERS OF GOVERNMENT.
I'M VERY PLEASED THAT WE EMBEDDED YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATION HERE IN CITY HALL WITH US.
WE HAD REGULAR DAILY INCIDENT BRIEFINGS, THANKS TO THEY GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CANADA TASK FORCE TOO, THAT ENABLED US TO GET TOGETHER WITH EVERY EMERGENCY PROVIDER AND ESSENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDER IN TOWN FROM THE DIFFERENT FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS, THE MILITARY, THE COAST GUARD, DOWN TO EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDERS, LIKE NORTHWESTEL AND NUL AND NTPC, RIGHT DOWN TO THE SPCA, AND GROUPS THAT WERE DOING SOME INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WORK ON THE GROUND.
THAT WAS IN THE EYE OF THE STORM, WHEN WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF THE EMERGENCY.
GOING FORWARD, WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME VERY INTENSE AND TENSE MOMENTS IN RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAD.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S SO CRITICAL NOW THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECOMPRESS FROM THAT AND START TO REALLY UNPACK WHAT HAPPENED.
HOW THINGS WENT, CAN WE DO BETTER? WHAT DID WE DO WELL? HOW DO WE MAKE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN TENSE AND TESTY AT TIMES THAT WE WERE IN THE EYE OF THE STORM? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE AND WE MOVE ON REALLY PRODUCTIVELY? I THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER ORDERS OF GOVERNMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WERE IN SOME PRETTY INTENSE CONVERSATIONS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE THING.
DEFINITELY, THE FOCUS ON RELATIONSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION, I SO APPRECIATE THAT, AND CANADA TASK FORCE TO PRESENTATION, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW GOING FORWARD AS WE ALL COME OUT OF SHELL SHOCK THAT THAT'S A CRITICAL PIECE FOR US FOR THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD. THANK YOU.
>> DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING, SUE?
I'LL JUST ADD RELATIONSHIPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ARE REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
AS YOUR COUNCILOR MENTIONED, NOBODY WANTS TO BE A PART OF THESE DISASTER CLUBS BUT THE BENEFIT OF BEING A PART OF THEM IS IT OPENS THE DOOR TO BEING ABLE TO SHARE A WHOLE BUNCH OF INFORMATION AND SHARE LEARNINGS.
I KNOW FOR BOTH SIMON AND I THAT SPENT A SHORT TIME UP THERE, WE FEEL LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND I KNOW WHEN YOUR FOLKS REACH OUT FOR HELP, WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO HELP.
PART OF THAT IS HELPING THROUGH IT AND THE AFTER ACTION PROCESS AND THAT MAKES SPACE TO HEAL ANY RELATIONSHIPS THAT NEED TO BE HEALED, TO ALSO LEARN FROM WHAT HAPPENED AND MAKE THEIR RESPONSE BETTER NEXT TIME.
>> COUNCILOR FEQUET AND THE DEPUTY MAYOR ORTON SMITH.
>> THANKS, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS OUTLINED IN THIS SLIDE PRESENTATION.
I THINK IT'S GREAT TO ENSURE EVERYBODY IS THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST SPENT MOVING FORWARD ON ONE OR TWO THINGS.
IN THE SIX PILLARS AND THE SLIDE DECK THAT WE WERE PROVIDED.
I'M CURIOUS, BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR TIME HERE IN YELLOWKNIFE AND YOUR TIME WORKING WITH YELLOWKNIFE LEADERSHIP, IS THERE ANYTHING UNIQUE OR THAT STANDS OUT ABOUT THE RECOVERY PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO UNDERTAKE? THAT MAYBE IS DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE OTHER EXAMPLES THAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED,
[00:35:05]
THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AN EXTRA SET OF ATTENTION OR ENERGY TOWARDS.>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION AND THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE COUNCILOR, THERE ARE A FEW UNIQUE PIECES TO YELLOWKNIFE.
YOUR SITUATION IN TERMS OF HAVING NO DAMAGE IN THE COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING THAT SIMON REFERENCED EARLIER THAT IS QUITE UNIQUE FOR A COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN THROUGH A LARGE EVENT LIKE THIS.
THAT'LL MEAN A LITTLE LESS EFFORT IS NEEDED IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE REBUILDING.
BUT YOU ALSO HAVE A UNIQUE COMMUNITY IN YOUR GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND HOW FOLKS EVACUATED.
THE CONCEPT OF SOME FOLKS LEAVING, SOME FOLKS STAYING IS A BIT UNIQUE.
I THINK IF THERE'S ANYWHERE TO SPEND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE TIME IT'S ON YOUR PEOPLE, IT'S ON YOUR STAFF AND IT'S ON YOUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE DEALING WITH ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH FROM THE STRESS MANAGEMENT SIDE OF THE EQUATION, AS WELL AS FROM HAVING TO EVACUATED IN SUCH A QUICK FASHION TO FAR AWAY DISTANCES.
THEN ALSO VERY NORMAL, VERY TYPICAL FOR COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS AS THE FINANCIAL PILLAR THAT IS GOING TO TAKE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EFFORT AND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS HOW IT NEEDS TO BE AND TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE ABLE TO RECOVER THE MOST DOLLARS POSSIBLE.
ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR US DEPUTY MAYOR ORTON SMITH? WE SEE YOU ON MUTE NOW, BUT WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU AND I WILL GO TO COUNCILOR MCLENNAN AND THEN COUNCILOR COCHRANE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM CHAIR AND FOR THE PRESENTATION.
FIRST ONE, JUST GIVEN YOUR GROUPS JUST TO AUCTIONS ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT RESPONSES AND INCIDENCE.
ARE THERE ONE OR TWO BIG ACTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU GUYS ARE THINKING ABOUT AND THAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT COUNCIL IMMEDIATELY RIGHT NOW IN THE SHORT-TERM?
>> THANK YOU. THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE COUNSELOR.
I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS AROUND REPRIORITIZING EXISTING WORK AND MAKING SPACE TO BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO OCCUR FROM RECOVERY.
THERE ISN'T A BUNCH OF TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND IT'S REALLY HARD.
AND WE SEE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES STRUGGLE WITH THAT REPRIORITIZATION.
BUT IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THERE IS ROOM AND SPACE FOR ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS TO OCCUR.
>> THANKS FOR THAT, DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT.
ONE OTHER QUESTION IN THIS SLIDE DECK WE RECEIVED THERE WAS ANOTHER RECOVERY PILLAR, POLICY AND PROCESS.
THIS WASN'T SHOWN OR DISCUSSED.
ANY COMMENTS ON THIS? IT JUST INCLUDES A BUNCH OF STUFF THAT I THINK IS VERY RELEVANT AND THE PUBLIC AND I THINK AS A COUNCILOR AND WE AS A GROUP, HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BYLAW, MUNICIPAL PLANNING, AFTER-ACTION REPORTS, ALL OF THIS STUFF.
>> SURE. THANK YOU. THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE COUNCILOR.
THERE WAS A SLIDE MIST IN THE PRESENTATION AND YEAH, IT JUST TALKS ABOUT THE POLICY AND POST-TEST.
A BIG PIECE OF IT, IT'S JUST ABOUT LOOKING AT BYLAWS, ZONING, MAKING SURE THAT FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU'RE NOT ONLY ACCEPTING THE WORK THAT WAS ALREADY DONE.
ONE OF THE EXAMPLES THAT I DISCUSSED WHEN I WAS UP THERE WAS THE FIRE BREAKS AND TAKING A LOOK AT FUTURE PLANNING WHEN IT COMES TO FIRE BREAKS, DO WE WANT TO LOOK AT THAT AS A BYLAW OR A DEVELOPMENT PERMITS CRITERIA FOR FUTURE AND JUST BEING ABLE TO BUILD THAT IN AT THE POLICY LEVEL AND BUILD THAT IN PREVENTIVELY.
REVIEWING THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BYLAW WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT SERVES YOUR NEEDS DURING THE EVENT.
MOST OFTEN, THERE'LL BE GAPS IDENTIFIED IN THOSE TYPES OF DOCUMENTS AND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY AS PART OF THE AFTER ACTION PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE MUNICIPALITY AND THE BYLAW, MAKE SURE THAT THE APPROPRIATE POWERS WHERE THEY'RE TALKING
[00:40:03]
ABOUT HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE IN THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE.BEING ABLE TO BUILD OUT A BETTER PROCESS FOR COUNCIL, FOR YOURSELF SO YOU KNOW HOW YOU CAN HELP THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE WHEN IT SWITCHES INTO THAT MODE OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND BUILDING TRAINING PROGRAMS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AND WHAT THAT REPORTING RELATIONSHIP LOOKS LIKE IF IT MAY CHANGE FROM THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.
THEN THEIR BUSINESS CONTINUITY.
MAKING SURE THAT YOUR MUNICIPAL PLAN BUILDS ON THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND IDENTIFIES WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE CAN'T OPERATE? OR IT DOESN'T HAVE FIBER LINES.
HOW DOES THE REGULAR BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD DURING THIS EVENT? I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TOUCH ON THAT SLIDE.
JUST SOME COMPONENTS THAT WE WANTED TO TOUCH ON IT MISS. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND THERE'S A LOT ON PLATE OF STAFF, ADMIN AND EVERYONE IN THE CITY.
JUST THINKING AHEAD TO NEXT FIRE SEASON.
IS THERE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR THOUGHTS YOU WOULD HAVE ABOUT BALANCING THE NEED TO BE UPDATE PLANS, REVIEW PLANS, MAKE SURE THOSE ARE READY FOR NEXT SEASON WHILE TRYING TO DO ALL THE OTHER WORK AND REVIEW ACTIONS IN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS?
IT'S ONE THAT REALLY, IF YOU UNDERTAKE A PROGRESSIVE AND A COMPREHENSIVE AFTER-ACTION PROGRAM, IT WILL ACTUALLY HELP YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT PIECES ARE URGENTLY NEEDED BEFORE NEXT FIRE SEASON, AS WELL AS HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMUNITY.
A LOT OF THE ANXIETY THAT WE'LL SEE WHEN WE COME UP TO NEXT FIRE SEASON WILL REALLY BE ABOUT THAT UNCERTAINTY AND ABOUT FOLKS GOING BACK AND RELIVING THOSE PIECES.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THERE'S A TON OF WORK TO DO.
BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT, A TON OF WORK WENT REALLY WELL IN YELLOWKNIFE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF ALL OF THOSE GREAT THINGS THAT CAN JUST CONTINUE ON HOW THEY WORK.
IT'S REALLY THROUGH THAT AFTER ACTION PROCESS THAT YOU'LL END UP WITH A PRIORITIZATION OF HOW TO BE READY FOR NEXT SPRING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE ANSWERS AND FOR ALL YOUR WORK DOING THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR COCHRANE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND ALL THE WORK YOU DID WITHIN OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PREPARED AND READY AND KNOWLEDGEABLE.
MY ONE QUESTION RELATES TO BOTH THE RECOVERY PILLAR COMMUNITY AND THE RECOVERY PILLAR PEOPLE.
IN YOUR EXPERIENCE OR IF YOU HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF BEST PRACTICE, WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE US TO DO TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE CITIZENS IN THIS PROCESS AS IN GENERAL CITIZENSHIP? I SEE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENGAGING STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET THE GENERAL CITIZENSHIP, BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THROUGH THE CHAIR TO THE COUNCILOR, THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING PIECES TO BE ABLE TO DO IS TO GET ACCURATE AND QUALITY FEEDBACK FROM CITIZENS.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TOOLS THAT YOU CAN USE IN TERMS OF SESSIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHERE THEY CAN COME AND PARTICIPATE IN A DEBRIEF SESSION.
BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE GOING TO HAVE VERY POLARIZED VIEWS ON WHAT OCCURRED.
BUT A LOT OF THAT FEEDBACK IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU THINK OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THINK OF HOW YOU CAN COMMUNICATE DIFFERENTLY OR WHAT METHODS OF COMMUNICATION WORKED VERY WELL FOR CITIZENS.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT ENSURING THAT WE MAKE SPACE IN ALL OF THOSE AREAS TO HEAR THE FEEDBACK THAT PEOPLE HAVE, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH SURVEYS, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH IN-PERSON SESSIONS, TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, NOT JUST THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD.
PARTICULARLY, I THINK FOR YELLOWKNIFE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE THAT IF YOU ARE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE TO DO THIS AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU. DEPUTY ORTON SMITH, ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR US? WE'RE NOT ABLE TO UNMUTE YOU ON OUR LINE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE MUTED YOUR PHONE.
[00:45:08]
IF YOU WANT, YOU COULD TRY TO CALL BACK IN.IF YOU'RE NOT ON MUTE, IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO CALL BACK IN AND MAYBE TRY CLICKING THE LINK IF YOU'RE ON A SMARTPHONE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? COUNCILOR PAYNE? WAIT. NO.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. NO REAL QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE UP HERE AND HOPEFULLY IT'S GOING TO GIVE US LOTS OF INFORMATION MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE NEXT FIRE SEASON, I'VE BEEN HEARING THAT WE COULD HAVE SOME UNDER THE SNOW FIRE ACTIVITY THIS WINTER, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE READY FOR THE NEXT SEASON, AND A LOT OF IT IS THANKS TO YOU.
THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM YOU GUYS, SO I APPRECIATE IT.
I KNOW THE CITIZENS OF YELLOWKNIFE APPRECIATE IT AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION THEN WE'LL GO FOR ROUND 2, AND I SEE COUNCILOR MCLENNAN WITH HIS HAND UP.
JUST OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS AN AFTER-ACTION REVIEW, AND I BELIEVE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE EXAMPLE OF FORT MCMURRAY WHERE THEY HAD A THIRD PARTY WHICH HAPPENED TO BE KPMG WHO DID THE AFTER-ACTION REVIEW.
JUST WONDERING IF YOU KNOW OF OTHER MODELS OR EXAMPLES OF AFTER-ACTION REVIEWS COMPLETED BY COMMUNITIES AND THE PROS AND CONS OF THAT. SEWER SIMON.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, MADAM CHAIR, AND AFTER-ACTION REVIEWS CAN BE DONE IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT THERE'S SPACE TO DO IT AND THAT THERE'S ENOUGH SCOPE TO THE AFTER-ACTION TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE PARTIES THAT NEED TO BE.
CERTAINLY IN CALGARY, WE HAVE DONE SOME AFTER-ACTIONS WHERE WE'VE DONE IT OUR SELF, AND WE'VE HAD A STAFF MEMBER ASSIGNED TO RUN THROUGH THE AFTER ACTION PROCESS.
THAT TENDS TO BE FOR SMALLER INCIDENTS WHERE THERE ISN'T AS MUCH PRESSURE ON STAFF TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE RECOVERY, AS WELL AS THE AFTER-ACTION.
THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF OPTIONS IN TERMS OF CONTRACTED PROVIDERS THAT CAN DO PORTIONS OF IT OR ALL OF THOSE PIECES.
WE'VE USED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROVIDERS THAT I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AFTERWARDS WITH A LIST OF SOME OF THE PROVIDERS THAT WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH.
BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT THE PROCESS IS VERY ROBUST, AND THE PROCESS IS ALSO FOCUSED ON FINDING THE GOOD THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO KEEP DOING FOR THE NEXT EVENT.
>> THANK YOU. I SEE DEPUTY MAYOR ANN SMITH'S BACK WITH US AND WE CAN HEAR YOU.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR ANN SMITH.
TECHNOLOGY FAILS US HOME ANYTIME.
IT'S AMAZING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN HELPING THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH WORDS TO SAY IN YOUR KUDOS.
I, ON THE OTHER HAND, AM VERY HAPPY WE ARE PART OF THIS NEW CLUB BECAUSE I THOUGHT LAST TERM THAT WE WERE EMBARKING ON SOMETHING HISTORIC WITH COVID, NONE OF US HAD EVER DEALT WITH IT BEFORE.
HOWEVER, I'M LIKE THERE WAS WORTH POLIO BACK.
I'M THINKING IT WAS THE '50S, COULD BE LATER THAN THAT.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT WE EMBARKED ON HISTORICAL EVENTS THAT NO ONE COULD EVER REMEMBER YELLOWKNIFE HAVING BEEN EVACUATED ON SUCH A LARGE SCALE OR ANY SCALE WHATSOEVER.
FOR US TO BE ABLE TO START WORKING ON AN ACTION PLAN FOR OURSELVES.
WE DO HAVE EMERGENCY MEASURES IN TERMS OF COMMAND AND OUR ROLES WITHIN THOSE.
HOWEVER, WE'D NEVER HAD TO EMBARK ON SUCH A DRASTIC EVACUATION OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM SOMEWHERE.
THIS WAS OUR BASELINE, WE ARE LEARNING.
FROM HERE WE CAN ONLY GET BETTER IN WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT IS FIRE SEASON, WHETHER IT'S SONOMA GET IN, WHETHER IT'S GOD KNOWS WHAT WILL COME AT US, BUT AT LEAST WE WILL HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF PREPAREDNESS FOR THESE THINGS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE WHEN ONE OF THE PRESENTERS WAS TALKING ABOUT THE WHAT-IFS.
[00:50:02]
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN PLANNING FOR THE WORST AND HOPING FOR THE BEST BECAUSE AT LEAST IF YOU KNOW WORST-CASE SCENARIO, YOU'RE NOT SURPRISED IF SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN AND YOU GOT WORST-CASE SCENARIO.OF COURSE, WE'RE ALWAYS STRIVING FOR BEST-CASE SCENARIO.
I THINK AS A CITY, WE'RE VERY LUCKY THAT WE DIDN'T LOSE ANY INFRASTRUCTURE, WE DIDN'T LOSE ANY HOMES OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
WE ALREADY SAW THIS SUMMER EARLIER WHEN WE HAD THE CIRCLE COME OVER TO YELLOWKNIFE WHEN THEY WERE IN NEED OF OUR ASSISTANCE AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY LOST HOMES.
FOR THEM, THEY'VE GOT A LOT MORE TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN TERMS OF GETTING BACK ON TRACK AND EMERGENCY MEASURES.
WHEREAS WE DON'T HAVE THAT ISSUE, BUT WE STILL HAD A LARGER SCALE EVACUATION AND WE HAVE TO THINK FOR FUTURE REFERENCE HOW THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT US IF IN CASE, NEXT UNFORTUNATE EVENT, WE DO LOSE INFRASTRUCTURE, WE DO LOSE HOMES AND THOSE SUCH THINGS.
I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THE PRESENTATION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT COMES OUT OF THE REVIEW AND HOW US AS A COMMUNITY CAN MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE AGAIN, WE ONLY LEARN BY MISTAKES UNFORTUNATELY, AND WE ONLY LEARN BY HAVING EXPERIENCED, AND WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE IN THIS EVENT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MCLENNAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT YOUR ORGANIZATION'S PROCESS WILL BE.
I ASSUME YOU GUYS WILL BE DOING SOME YOUR OWN REVIEW.
COULD I ASK THAT THE PUBLIC AND THE CITY GET ACCESS TO THAT?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
TO THE CHAIR, TO THE COUNCILOR, WE DEFINITELY WILL BE DOING OUR OWN REVIEW.
OUR REVIEW WILL COME ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FRONTS, ONE FRONT BEING THE RESPONSE AT THE CITY OF CALGARY THAT WAS PROVIDED TO HELP SUPPORT THE EVACUEES.
ON THE OTHER SIDE WILL ALSO BE THE RESPONSIVE CANADA TASK FORCE TOO WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO LEARN FROM EVERY TIME THAT WE HAVE AN INTERACTION WITH FOLKS.
SOMETIMES OUR REVIEWS ARE NOT PUBLIC AND THEY ARE HELD CONFIDENTIAL.
THIS ONE WE'RE STILL SCOPING TO DETERMINE WHERE THAT WILL BE.
BUT OBVIOUSLY WE WILL SHARE WHAT'S RELEVANT FOR YOUR FOLKS AND FOR YOUR PEOPLE SO THAT WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM THESE TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK, WHATEVER YOUR GROUP CAN SHARE WOULD BE VERY USEFUL FOR THE CITY.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THAT.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTERS? NO, BECAUSE THERE'S STILL KNOWN SCOPE.
AGAIN, A BIG THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT DURING THIS.
WHEN I WAS TALKING TO THE FEDERAL MINISTERS, I DID SAY HOW IMPORTANT CANADA TASKFORCE TO IS AND TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING.
BECAUSE I DO THINK MUNICIPALITIES WE CAN PLAN AND WE CAN PREPARE, BUT IT'S HAVING THOSE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND WORK ALONG WITH THE TEAMS THAT WERE REALLY ABLE TO BENEFIT AS A COUNTRY.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND WITH THAT, WE WILL LET YOU GET BACK TO YOUR REGULAR DAY-TO-DAY JOBS AND ALL THOSE FUN THINGS IN CALGARY.
WITH THAT, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER
[5. A memorandum regarding whether to proceed with an After Action Assessment: 2023 North Slave Complex Wildfires.]
TO PROCEED WITH AN AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENT OF THE 2023 NORTH SLAVE COMPLEX WILDFIRES.MS. BICYCLE IT IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR, I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT WE'RE ALL IN THE PROCESS OF COMING TO TERMS WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN THE END WT AND YELLOWKNIFE THIS SUMMER.
THE WILDFIRES, THE EVACUATION AND THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE HAVE BEEN INTENSE FOR ALL OF US.
THOSE WHO EVACUATED AND THOSE OF US WHO STAYED.
THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE WAS MULTIFACETED AND IT WAS NUANCED AS WE JUST HEARD.
THERE WAS OF COURSE, THE RELENTLESS WORK BY ECC ON THE FOREST FIREFIGHTING.
THERE WAS SO MUCH THE PRE-PLANNING THAT WAS GOING ON WITHIN THE CITY FOR STRUCTURAL FIRE PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY BUILDINGS AND ASSETS.
WE BUILD FORMIDABLE FIRE BREAKS AND SPRINKLER PROTECTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN A RECORD-SETTING AMOUNT OF TIME, WE RESPONDED TO MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP DURING THE EMERGENCY, INCLUDING EMERGENCIES WITHIN THE EMERGENCY AND IT WAS REFERENCED IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION.
BUT I STILL HAVE A LITTLE PTSD WHEN I THINK OF THAT, DAVE, WHEN WE THOUGHT THAT THE FIBER OPTIC CABLE WAS GOING DOWN, AND OF COURSE, WE WERE ALL PLANNING FOR RE-ENTRY WITH THE GREAT ADVICE FROM CANADA TASK FORCE TOO, THEY WE'RE ON THE GROUND AUGUST 19TH AND BY AUGUST 20TH,
[00:55:03]
THEY WERE COACHING US TO SAY, LET'S START PLANNING FOR RE-ENTRY.IT WAS A COMPLEX RESPONSE TO A COMPLEX SITUATION.
I APPRECIATE THEIR COMMENTS AND THAT OUR RECOVERY IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.
WHILE WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAD NO LOSS OF LIFE OR STRUCTURE, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND SOME OF THE EXAMPLES WERE PROVIDED, BUT LET ME JUST GO THROUGH CLEANING UP THE FIRE BREAKS AND REMOVING ANY OF THE SAFETY RISKS LIKE STUMPS, MAKING SURE THAT THEY DON'T BECOME THOROUGHFARES FOR CARS AND VEHICLES TO GO DOWN.
WE KNOW THAT ALL THE DEMOBILIZING OF ALL THE EQUIPMENT AND ENSURING THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE BOUGHT IS CLEANED AND ORGANIZED AND STORED FOR FUTURE USE.
WE KNOW THAT FINANCIALLY MANAGING THE COSTS AND SEEKING DISASTER RECOVERY ASSISTANCE FUNDING IS GOING TO TAKE US A LONG TIME AND WE'VE STARTED WITH TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
MANAGING EVERYTHING THAT WAS DELAYED DUE TO THE FIRES AND THE EVACUATION, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
ALL OF OUR WORK PLAN STRATEGIES, A LOT OF DAY-TO-DAY WORK AND BIG PROJECTS LIKE BUDGET 2024.
IN THE LONGER TERM, WE KNOW THAT WE WANT TO BE PLANNING FOR THESE NATURAL ASSETS, THAT THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY NOW.
THE FIRE BREAKS, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL NEED TO MANAGE AS ASSETS OF OUR COMMUNITY WILL NEED TO PROTECT THEM, ZONE THEM, AND MAINTAIN THEM IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE RELIED ON FOR FUTURE PROTECTION.
I'M VERY PROUD OF ALL THE WORK THAT WAS DONE BY THE WILDLAND AND STRUCTURAL FIREFIGHTERS, BY ESSENTIAL WORKERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, VOLUNTEERS, LITERS, AND THE CITY'S EMERGENCY OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
ALL OF THIS WORK WAS DONE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY IN THE FACE OF SUCH AN EXTRAORDINARY THREAT.
BUT EXPERIENCED LIKE THIS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LEARNING AND TO REAFFIRM WHAT WORKED AND CONSIDER WHAT WE NEED TO MOVE ON WITH AND IMPROVE ON.
ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING THAT AN EXTERNAL CONSULTANT BE HIRED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS TO OBJECTIVELY CONSIDER THE CITY'S RESPONSE.
BASICALLY TO LOOK AT WHAT WAS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN, WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED, WHAT WENT WELL AND WHY, AND WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED ON, AND HOW? WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A TYPICAL BEST PRACTICE TO ASSESS HOW THINGS WENT AFTER AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND WE ARE PROPOSING TO DO THIS TRANSPARENTLY AND OBJECTIVELY BY PUBLICLY SEEKING THIS EXPERTISE TO DO THE AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENT.
IT'S SIMILAR TO THE PROCESS THAT WAS UNDERTAKEN IN FORT MCMURRAY.
AS YOU'VE HEARD, CANADA TASKFORCE TO HELP US DEFINING THE SCOPE OF WORK AND AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW DONE TO BRING IN EXPERTISE IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND IN THAT CASE, KPMG.
THAT'S VERY HELPFUL TO BRING THAT LEVEL OF EXPERTISE AND OBJECTIVITY TO THE PROCESS.
NOW AT SOME POINT, NO DOUBT THE GNWT WILL BE UNDERTAKING A SIMILAR ASSESSMENT ON A LARGER END WT WIDE SCALE.
WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH THEM ON OUR ASSESSMENT, BUT ALSO ON THEIRS.
BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY AREAS AND TOUCH-POINTS AND OVERLAPS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
OUR TWO ORDERS OF GOVERNMENT HAVE DISTINCT MANDATES AND DIFFERENT LEGISLATIVE POWERS DURING AN EMERGENCY.
CONNECTING HOLISTICALLY ON EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND REVIEWING WHAT WORKED AND WHAT DIDN'T WILL BE CRITICAL FOR US TO DO WITH THEM.
TODAY, ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS TO GPC THAT THE CITY SEEK AN EXTERNAL EXPERT TO UNDERTAKE AN AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE AND THE ACTIONS TAKEN AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION ON THIS TODAY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. OPENING IT UP TO QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DISCUSSION, COUNCIL ROBERTSON.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE WE'RE DOING THIS FIRST THING RIGHT AWAY.
I'M SURE WE HAVE MANY QUESTIONS AND ONE THAT TURNED OUT TO ME, WHICH I'M SURE OTHER FOLKS WHO BRING UP IS, THERE'S A LOT OF POINTS IN THERE.
IT TALKS ABOUT CONSULTING WITH EXPERTS AND INDUSTRY.
I DON'T SEE ANY SPECIFIC AND POINT OF REFERENCE TO PUBLIC CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS AROUND THAT.
CAN WE SPEAK TO HOW IT'S GOING TO BE INCLUDED?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE AS YOU WILL NOTE IN THE HEADING ON THE SCOPE OF WORK, I'M JUST COMING UP TO IT.
>> WE REALLY WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT AREAS THAT INCLUDE STAKEHOLDERS AND RESIDENTS IS APPROPRIATE.
CLEARLY THINGS LIKE REVIEWING THE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE MAY NOT BE SOMETHING THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND RESIDENTS WANT TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY ON.
BUT THE ABILITY TO SHARE EXPERIENCES, PERSPECTIVES, WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T, FROM THE PUBLIC'S PERSPECTIVE WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE WOULD WANT TO PUT SOMETHING THAT WOULD ENTER THE TERMS OF REFERENCE THAT WOULD SPEAK TO EITHER A FORUM OF SOME SORT THAT WE WOULD LOOK TO THE SUCCESSFUL PROPONENT, THE SUCCESSFUL CONSULTANTS WHEREVER THAT MAY BE OF BEING ABLE TO HOLD A FORUM SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXPRESS WHAT THEY SAW THAT WORKED AND WHAT THEY SAW THAT DIDN'T.
NOW OF COURSE, I THINK PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVES WILL BE ON THE OVERALL EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE OF THE EVACUATION.
OF COURSE, RECOGNIZING SOME OF THAT WAS OUR MANDATE AND
[01:00:02]
WE WANTED TO HEAR WHAT WORKED AND WHAT DIDN'T.IT'LL BE AN INTERESTING PROCESS TO GO THROUGH FOR OUR CONSULTANTS TO BE ABLE TO DELINEATE BETWEEN OUR ROLES AND THE GNWT.
RECOGNIZING FULL WELL THAT RESIDENTS FRANKLY PROBABLY DON'T CARE.
THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE THEIR POINTS AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS RECOGNITION OF WHAT WORKED AND WHAT DIDN'T WORK AND THOSE THINGS THAT DIDN'T WORK ARE ADDRESSED IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU. THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT THERE WOULD BE A FORUM HOSTED BY THE CONSULTANTS. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR THAT. THE ILLUSTRATOR THOUGHT THERE.
LET'S COME BACK TO ME. ORGANIZE MY THOUGHTS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. JUST A QUESTION.
WHO WILL DECIDE AND DETERMINE THE TERMS OF REFERENCE AND WE'LL COUNCIL HAVE ANY INPUT ON THE TERMS OF REFERENCE BROUGHT FORWARD FOR THIS ASSESSMENT?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
THE SCOPE OF WORK HERE WOULD BE WHAT WE WOULD PUT INTO THE TERMS OF REFERENCE.
IF THERE ARE COMMENTS, QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS ON THIS SCOPE OF WORK, THEN DEFINITELY THIS IS WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION AND CONFIRMATION GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, MADAM CHAIR. MAYBE I'LL START WHERE STEVE LEFT OFF.
YEAH. I THINK ONE OF THE KNOWING THAT THIS IS PART OF THE SCOPE OF THOSE TERMS REFERENCED, WHAT'S BEEN PROVIDED IN THIS MEMO, AND IT'S VERY HELPFUL.
THANK YOU TO THE STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION PUTTING THAT ALTOGETHER.
IS THERE A VISION FOR THE FREQUENCY AND LEVEL OF REPORTING BACK TO COUNCIL AND PUBLIC THROUGHOUT THIS AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENTS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
CERTAINLY, WE HAD LOOKED AT THE DELIVERABLES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE MEMO OF BEING A FINAL REPORT, AN AFTER-ACTION WORK PLAN THAT PRIORITIZES THE ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO AND ACT ON AND THEN, OF COURSE, A PRESENTATION OF THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL.
NOW, CERTAINLY, WE LOOK TO COUNCIL TODAY IF THERE'S INTEREST IN HAVING AN INTERIM REPORTING, THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN INCLUDE IN SO THAT COUNCIL IS AWARE OF THE PROCESS AS IT IS UNFOLDING BEFORE THERE IS A FINAL REPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. YES, THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION, BUILDING ON WHAT COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN HAD ASKED.
I THINK PERSONALLY, I'M IN VERY STRONGLY SUPPORT OF SOME TYPE OF INTERIM REPORT BUILT INTO THE TERMS OF REFERENCE SO THAT ANYTIME SENSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THE UPCOMING FIRE SEASON ARE PRESENTED IN A WAY PUBLICLY TO COUNCIL THAT EVERYBODY IS AWARE OF SO THAT COLLECTIVELY, WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH WHAT IS BEING DONE BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND THAT WILL BE DONE THROUGH THIS WHOLE RECOVERY PROCESS.
I DEFINITELY THINK AN INTERIM REPORT IN TIME TO INFORM ANY PLANNING AND ACTIONS FOR THE NEXT FIRE SEASONS IS A CRITICAL PART OF THE TERMS OF REFERENCE.
IN RESPONSE TO THE OTHER QUESTION THAT COUNCILLOR PAYNE AND WARBURTON ASKED ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT AND THAT COUNCILLOR COCHRANE ASKED QANTAS 2 FOLKS, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OUT THERE AND A LOT OF EXPERIENCES FROM ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT ROLES AND FACETS, WHETHER IT WAS JUST SOMEONE DRIVING OUT, OR FLYING OUT, OR VOLUNTEERING TO STAY OR VOLUNTEERING FROM AFAR.
I THINK MAKING SURE THAT THE MECHANISMS FOR GATHERING THAT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ARE FULSOME AND ACCESSIBLE IS A VERY CRITICAL PART OF THIS TERMS OF REFERENCE BECAUSE IF WE DON'T CAPTURE AS MANY OF THOSE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THAT SOURCE, BEING THE PUBLIC, OUR AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENT ISN'T GOING TO BE AS ROBUST.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE PUBLIC IS NOT GOING TO HAVE FAITH IN WHATEVER WE DO MOVING FORWARD, SO A FORUM FOR ME, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SEVERAL ROUND-TABLE FORUMS, SOME ONLINE MECHANISM THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE CITY.
OF COURSE, I KNOW THAT THE EXPERTS OR THE THIRD PARTY TEAM THAT'S GOING TO BE DOING THIS WILL BE MANAGING ALL THAT, BUT OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S CONSTRAINTS BECAUSE WE HAVE CERTAIN RESOURCES AVAILABLE FROM US.
I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO SEE A VERY FULSOME PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT COMPONENT OF THESE TERMS OF REFERENCE THAT INCLUDES VARIOUS PLATFORMS AND VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES REGULARLY THROUGHOUT THIS, KNOWING THAT THIS IS NOT A SHORT PROCESS, THIS IS VERY LONG.
ANOTHER QUESTION FOCUSING ON THE PEOPLE, I GUESS, AND LESS ABOUT THE MEMO.
I'LL TAKE A LEAD FROM MADAM CHAIR IF YOU WANT ME TO WAIT.
I JUST WAS HOPING IN THIS, BASED ON THE MEMO, KNOWING THAT THERE'S SO MUCH WORK TO DO,
[01:05:03]
BUT WE WANT TO WORRY ABOUT OUR PEOPLE, THE STAFF AT THE CITY WHO WENT THROUGH THE WARS AND THE TRENCHES.WHAT ARE THE EXISTING SUPPORTS FOR STAFF? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING? IT'S TOTALLY OKAY IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER TODAY BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH OTHER WORK, BUT IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN SHARE OR IF YOU CAN SHARE WHEN THAT INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE, THAT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.
>> THANK YOU. BECAUSE CANADA TASKFORCE TOO WAS GENERIC, BUT ADMINISTRATION COMING FORWARD WITH A YELLOWKNIFE SPECIFIC AND TO GIVE COUNCIL A BIT OF A HEADS-UP ON ALL OF THE DIFFERENT STEPS BECAUSE YES, SOME WILL BE RELEVANT AND SOME WON'T.
BUT MS. BASSI-KELLETT TWO COUNCILORS FOR QANTAS QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND REALLY THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS.
THE FIRST ONE ON PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, I COMPLETELY AGREE AND I HEAR WHERE COUNCILLOR IS COMING FROM.
THE INTERESTING POINT FOR US ON THIS WILL BE, WHERE'S THE LINE BETWEEN CITY RESPONSIBILITIES AND GNWT? I TOTALLY GET PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY CARE, BUT CERTAINLY, WE WILL WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS A VERY CONNECTED PROCESS.
IF THERE ARE CONCERNS AS COUNCILLOR FEQUET RAISED ABOUT THE ACTIONS OF FLYING OUT, OR DRIVING OUT, OR CARE THAT WAS PROVIDED OUTSIDE OF THE TERRITORY AND THE EVACUATION CENTERS.
THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WILL NEED TO BE DONE COLLABORATIVELY WITH GNWT WHEN TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES DURING THE EVACUATION.
IN TERMS OF STAFF SUPPORT, I HOPE I DON'T GET EMOTIONAL ON THIS ONE BECAUSE I JUST SAW THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THIS TEAM PUT IN, WHICH WAS EXTRAORDINARY.
THE PEOPLE WHO STAYED ON THE GROUND DID SO MUCH WORK AND IT WAS ACTUALLY INTERESTING TO SEE THAT AS WE WERE APPROACHING DAY 15 AND DAY 16 OF 12-HOUR DAYS, AND WE SAW OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD SWAPPED OFF, PEOPLE WHO WERE REPLACED BY OTHERS AFTER SEVEN DAYS AND THIS TEAM KEPT GOING AND IT WAS RELENTLESS.
AS WE LOOK AT THE SUPPORT NOW FOR STAFF, CERTAINLY, I THINK WE'RE ALL IN A LITTLE BIT OF SHELL-SHOCKED STILL AND LOOKING AT HOW WE PRIORITIZE THE WORK GOING FORWARD.
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME WORK THAT WE ABSOLUTELY MUST WRAP UP AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL AND THAT, OF COURSE, IS TAKING PRIORITY.
THINGS LIKE COMPLETION OF OUR AUDIT, WHICH AGAIN, IS LONG OVERDUE FOR OTHER REASONS FROM DATING BACK TO THE STRIKE, TO GETTING OUR VARIANCE DONE FOR 2023, TO PLANNING FOR BUDGET 2024, TO PREPARING FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, WHICH WE'RE STARTING IN JANUARY.
THESE ARE THE CRITICAL ITEMS FOR US AND WITH THE GREATEST OF RESPECT, THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE AS CRITICAL OR AS LEGISLATIVE FOR US TO RESPOND TO RIGHT AWAY.
THE CORE ESSENTIAL SERVICES CONTINUE.
WE KNOW THEY CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE EMERGENCY, THEY CONTINUE NOW WHETHER OR NOT IT'S EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, FIRE AMBULANCE, IT IS THE PROVISION OF WATER AND SEWER, IT IS GETTING OUR RECREATION FACILITIES CONTINUED, IT'S CONTINUING WITH CRITICAL PROJECTS LIKE THE AQUATIC CENTER.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON AND WE APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THAT THOSE RELENTLESS PRIORITIES NEED TO BE PRIORITIES FOR US AS WE CAN PROCEED WITHIN THE LIMITED, AND I DON'T MEAN LIMITED IN THE SENSE, BUT THAT THE STATUS OF STAFF THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS PEOPLE ARE COMING DOWN OFF OF WHAT'S BEEN A VERY INTENSE TIME.
IN TERMS OF SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO DO THAT.
WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT YET FOR STAFF, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL DEFINITELY WANT TO PLAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT RESPONSE.
I THINK MY LAST COMMENT, PROBABLY FOR THE FIRST ROUND IS JUST THAT I RECOGNIZE ABSOLUTELY STAFF WILL BE VERY BUSY WITH RECOVERY AND CORE OPERATIONS AND TRYING TO BALANCE THOSE.
I THINK AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CONSIDERATION TODAY IS PROCEEDING WITH THIS AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENT IN A WAY THAT ACHIEVES THE OUTCOME THAT WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR.
HOW CAN WE DO BETTER? LET'S CELEBRATE THE SUCCESSES OF EVERYTHING WE DID AMAZING AND MAKING SURE THAT THE PUBLIC AGREES AND BELIEVES IN THAT WORD, MAKING THOSE DECISIONS BASED ON THE BEST INFORMATION POSSIBLE, AND ALSO NOT PUTTING EXTRA BURDEN ON OUR STAFF THROUGH THIS TIME.
FOR THAT REASON, I WOULD ALSO STRONGLY ADVOCATE FOR, IN TERMS OF REFERENCE, JUST MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS SOME REGULAR REPORTING BY THE THIRD PARTY TEAM THAT DOESN'T REST AGAIN OR FALL ON STAFF, JUST ABOUT CHANGES TO SCOPE OR CHANGES TO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT APPROACH, IT'S THE THINGS THAT ARE MAYBE MORE WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE COUNCIL, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY PROUD OF THE COMPETENCE, AND INTEGRITY, AND THE HEROIC EFFORTS OF OUR STAFF DURING ALL OF THIS WORK. I'LL LEAVE IT THERE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN.
[01:10:02]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK FIRST ROUND, I'LL JUST SAY SOME GENERAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE MEMO AND MAYBE A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
ABSOLUTELY, I'LL SAY MORE ON THIS TONIGHT IN A MEMBER STATEMENT, BUT THANKS TO THE CITY STAFF FOR ALL THEIR WORK, GREATLY APPRECIATED.
GENERAL COMMENTS ON THE MEMO, JUST FOLLOWING UP ON COUNCILLOR FEQUET'S POINT, JUST THEN TIMELINE AND CURRENT EMERGENCY PLANNING DOCUMENTS.
I BELIEVE IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE UPDATE OUR EVACUATION FRAMEWORK AND YELLOWKNIFE COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WE NEED TO PREPARE ENOUGH PLANS IN PLACE THAT RESIDENTS CAN UNDERSTAND AND HAVE FAITH IN.
BY MAY 1ST, 2024, WE NEED TO BE READY FOR THE 2024 WILDFIRE SEASON, SPECIFICALLY AND FOR ANY CIRCUMSTANCE THAT MAY REQUIRE AN EVACUATION MORE GENERALLY.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING IN TERMS OF REFERENCE OR SOMETHING WITHIN OUR OWN WORK PLAN TO SAY THOSE DOCUMENTS WILL BE UPDATED BY NEXT SPRING.
ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PART, I WON'T SAY TOO MUCH, I THINK OTHER COUNCILORS HAVE HIT ON THAT AND I WOULD ECHO THOSE SLOTS.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE COUNCIL'S ROLE.
THIS COUNCIL'S ONLY FUNCTION HERE TO APPROVE THIS RECOMMENDATION AND THEN TO LISTEN TO A PRESENTATION AT THE END.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER WAYS THAT COUNCIL CAN BE A RESOURCE IN THIS PROCESS.
THEN JUST A COMMENT ABOUT REPORTING, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME REPORTING ALONG THE WAY AND HOW THIS INFORMATION IS REPORTED.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE DONE DIRECTLY PUBLICLY AND SHOULDN'T BE VETTED BY THE CITY IN ANY WAY.
I GUESS A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
THE INTENT IS TO IDENTIFY ACTIONS THAT NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY TO ENSURE BETTER PREPARATION FOR THE FUTURE.
I THINK JUST AN UPDATED EVACUATION FRAMEWORK OR PLAN AND COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION IS KEY THERE.
FORD MCMURRAY'S REPORT FROM KPMG TOOK A YEAR, LESSER SLAVE LAKES ALSO BY KPMG TOOK 18 MONTHS.
WE CANNOT WAIT A YEAR OR 18 MONTHS TO HEAR THAT WE NEED TO UPDATE THOSE PLANS.
WE NEED TO UPDATE THOSE PLANS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND BE READY FOR NEXT SPRING.
I GUESS A SPECIFIC QUESTION WOULD BE RELATED TO ANOTHER LINE IN THE MEMO.
THE CITY LOOKS FORWARD TO COLLABORATIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GNWT ON OUR RESPECTIVE ASSESSMENTS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE THESE.
STARTING WITH THE LAST QUESTION FIRST, WE WILL WANT TO WORK WITH THE GNWT ON THIS.
WE WILL CERTAINLY INVITE THEM TO BE PART OF OUR AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENTS.
THEY ARE CRITICAL STAKEHOLDER WITH US AND WE WILL ANTICIPATE BEING PART OF THEIRS IF THEY DO SO, PROCEED WITH ONE.
WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BUT WE CERTAINLY WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO THAT KIND OF ENGAGEMENT.
IF I THINK COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL RECALL THE OUTLINE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT THAT HAPPENED AT THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATION ROUND TABLE MEETING IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, WHICH WENT THROUGH COMPREHENSIVELY THE ROLE OF COUNCIL AND EMERGENCIES AND YOU ARE THE CRITICAL POLICY GROUP ON THIS.
YOU SET THE SCOPE OF THE REVIEW, YOU LOOK AT THE PRIORITIES THAT COME OUT AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THEN YOU GIVE US THE MARCHING ORDERS ON ACTIVATING THOSE IN THE WORK PLAN, MAKING SURE THAT THE RESOURCES ARE IN PLACE TO DO SO.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S AMAZING TO THINK THAT IN THE SPRING OF 2022, WE WERE DEALING WITH RECORD HIGH WATER LEVELS IN THE GROUND THAT WAS SUPER SATURATED.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME, NONE OF US MAY HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT AN EVACUATION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE THAT WE WOULD NEED 18 MONTHS LATER. BUT HERE WE ARE.
THERE'S A LOT OF THESE PIECES THAT ARE DEFINITELY MOVING PIECES THAT WE ARE ADJUSTING TO AS WE GO.
IN TERMS OF THE EVACUATION FRAMEWORK, IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING POINT THAT COUNSELOR MCLENNAN RAISES.
BUT IT IS A DILEMMA THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS BECAUSE OUR EVACUATION FRAMEWORK AT THIS POINT IN TIME IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE NWT EMERGENCY PLAN.
WHICH SPEAKS TO THAT WE MAINTAIN AN AWARENESS OF CHANGING RISK LEVELS TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WE WORK WITH NWTEMO AND OTHER REGIONAL EFFICIENCE TO IDENTIFY THE NEED TO EVACUATE.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED THIS TIME.
OUR EVACUATION FRAMEWORK SPEAKS TO AND WAS READY FOR EVACUATING AND SHELTERING WITHIN COMMUNITY AND WHEN IT BECAME A LARGER ISSUE THAT THE GNWT DETERMINED A TERRITORIAL STATE OF EMERGENCY WAS REQUIRED AND MASS EVACUATION,
[01:15:03]
THEY LEAD THE CHARGE ON THAT.IT'S A LOT TO SAY THAT OUR EVACUATION FRAMEWORK WOULD NEED TO BE ANY MORE SPECIFIC THAN IT IS.
IT DOES NEED TO BE A FRAMEWORK.
IT DOES NEED TO IDENTIFY THE PROCESS AT A HIGH LEVEL OF HOW WE ENGAGE IN THE EVENT THAT AN EVACUATION WAS NEEDED IN THE FUTURE, EITHER PARTIAL FOR SHELTERING AND COMMUNITY OR A FULL EVACUATION HAS HAPPENED JUST RECENTLY.
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS ABSOLUTELY AND I THINK COUNSELORS HAVE MADE THIS VERY CLEAR THAT WE'LL MAKE THAT AN EXPLICIT PART IN THE TERMS OF REFERENCE THAT THERE'S A VERY CLEAR PROCESS FOR RESIDENTS, NOT JUST STAKEHOLDERS LIKE ORGANIZATIONS TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS OVERALL AND THE ASSESSMENT GOING FORWARD.
THE COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION FRAMEWORK, A REALLY CRITICAL DOCUMENT I'M REALLY PLEASED COUNSELOR MCLENNAN HAS FLAGGED THIS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY HAS UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS.
WE DO IT IN COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH GNWT.
THE DEPARTMENT HEADS IN-CHARGE OF WILDFIRES.
IT WAS ENR AT ONE POINT, ECC NOW, WE'RE DUE FOR THIS TO BE DONE IN 2024.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR MOST RECENT VERSION OF THIS FROM 2019, A LOT OF THE WORK IS ON IDENTIFYING WHERE FIRE BREAKS ARE, AND SO WE'RE REALLY FORTUNATE THAT SO MUCH OF THE WORK ON CONSTRUCTING THE FIRE BREAKS HAS BEEN DONE.
IT IS GOING TO BE A CRITICAL PIECE FOR US AS A CITY TO LOOK AT HOW WE MAINTAIN THOSE ASSETS GOING FORWARD AND HOW WE PROTECT THEM AS THE NATURAL ASSETS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I COMPLETELY TAKE COUNSELOR OR MCLENNAN'S POINT THAT COUNCIL HAS A LEADERSHIP ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS.
IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT WHAT THE PREVENTATIVE WORK IS THAT WE NEED TO DO AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S RESOURCED SO THAT THERE IS THAT ACCOUNTABILITY PUT ON ADMINISTRATION TO DELIVER. THANK YOU.
>> THE OTHER THING I WOULD ADD FOR COUNCIL'S ROLE IN THIS AFTER-ACTION REVIEW IS LIKE MS. BASSI-KELLETT JUST SAID, THE SCOPE OF WORK.
HAVE HEARD COUNCIL REQUEST AN INTERIM REPORT TO COUNCIL AND TO ADD PUBLIC FORUMS SO THAT CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK.
COUNCIL WOULD ALSO BE PART OF, AN INTERVIEW WOULD BE SET UP SO COUNSELORS WOULD PROVIDE THEIR FEEDBACK.
IT'S NOT TO SIT HERE AND JUST RECEIVE A REPORT, IT IS TO CRITICALLY ASK QUESTIONS.
I KNOW DURING MY TIME HERE ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE ASK IS, DID YOU RUN INTO ANY CHALLENGES WHILE DRAFTING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS? THESE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE ASKING AND ASKING IN PUBLIC TOO, SO THAT ALL RESIDENTS CAN HEAR.
IT'S NOT JUST TO RECEIVE AND SAY THINGS, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS TOO.
>> YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT RESPONSE.
YEAH. I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK AND MULTI JURISDICTIONAL RESPONSE TO AN EVACUATION.
HOWEVER, I THINK THAT WE AS A CITY CAN PROVIDE MORE DETAILS ON HOW WE NEED TO RESPOND AS AN ORGANIZATION AND THE THINGS THAT ARE WITHIN OUR CONTROL.
WE CAN PUT THOSE OUT THERE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE AND FOR OUR OWN STAFF TO UTILIZE.
I THINK IF WE LOOK AS AN EXAMPLE, JUST READING THROUGH THE CITY'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN, APPENDIX B DESCRIBES HOW THE CITY WOULD RESPOND IN THE CASE OF A PROLONGED WINTER POWER OUTAGE.
IT CONTAINS THINGS LIKE A MATRIX THAT DESCRIBES CONDITIONS IN WHICH WARMING CENTERS WOULD BE REQUIRED.
IT SAYS THE PRIMARY, SECONDARY LOCATIONS OF THESE CENTERS, DESCRIBES WHERE EQUIPMENT CAN BE FOUND, WHO WOULD BE CALLED ON TO ASSIST WITH COMMUNICATIONS, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSPORTATION, POINT OF CONTACTS FOR FUEL SUPPLIES.
IT PROVIDES A LOT OF SPECIFIC INFORMATION LIKE MAYBE THERE COULD BE MORE THERE, BUT IT CERTAINLY PROVIDES A LOT MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION THAN OUR EVACUATION FRAMEWORK DOES.
I THINK ACKNOWLEDGING THE MULTI JURISDICTIONAL NEED FOR RESOURCES FOR AN EVACUATION, BUT I THINK WE CAN PUBLISH A LOT MORE INFORMATION THAT WILL BE USEFUL TO THE PUBLIC AND TO STAFF AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT BY NEXT SPRING.
THE MEMO ALSO SAYS THE CITY IS INQUIRING HOW THIS COULD BE AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE UNDER DISASTER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE EMERGENCY FUNDING BY THE GNWT OR CANADA.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS WOULD QUALIFY FOR FUNDING UNDER THE DISASTER ASSISTANCE FUNDING POLICY FROM THE GNWT.
JUST ASKING WHAT SORT OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS WE'RE LOOKING INTO TO EITHER COVER THIS REVIEW OR OTHER ASPECTS OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTIONS.
YEAH. THE EVACUATION FRAMEWORK IS REALLY UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT THAN THE POWER OUTAGE, WHICH THE POWER OUTAGE WITH A MASS POWER OUTAGE FOR, I THINK OUR STANDARD HAS BEEN FOUR HOURS OR MORE AT COLD WINTER TEMPERATURES,
[01:20:02]
WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS ARE.IN THE CASE OF A MASS EVACUATION OR THE REQUIREMENT FOR ANY SCALE OF EVACUATION, THERE IS SO MUCH THAT IS DEPENDENT ON THE CONTEXT.
IF IT IS HIGH WATER, IF IT IS A MASS DISASTER OF A CASUALTY OR EXPLOSIONS OR THINGS THAT HAPPEN.
IF IT IS THE THREAT ABOUT WILDFIRE RISK, WE WANT TO KNOW THE CONTEXT FOR WHERE IT'S COMING.
WE RESPOND VERY DIFFERENTLY TO AN EVACUATION.
IF IT'S COMING ON THE WESTERN FRONT OF OUR CITY VERSUS IF IT'S COMING FROM THE NORTH VERSUS IF THE FIRE IS COMING FROM DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
THERE'S A LOT OF PIECES TO IT THAT ARE CONTEXTUAL AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE DELIBERATE WITH OUR EVACUATION FRAMEWORK BEING A FRAMEWORK.
I'LL ASK MR. MCLENNAN TO SPEAK TO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THIS.
IN TERMS OF THE DFA, YES, WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL THAT THE EXPENSES THAT WE ARE ACCRUING AS WE IDENTIFY THEM, WILL BE AS FULLY REFUNDED AND SUPPORTED BY THE GNWT AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE KNOW THAT THEIR POLICIES ARE GREAT, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE DEVIL CAN SOMETIMES BE IN THE DETAIL.
THINGS LIKE OVERTIME PUT IN FOR STAFF, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CLAIMED AND FUNDED BACK? WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR BACK ON MANY DETAILS LIKE THAT, THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THE FULL NUANCE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE INVOICING THAT WE'RE GETTING IN FROM THE CONTRACTORS WHO DID SO MUCH EXTRAORDINARY WORK FOR US ARE IN THE FORMAT THAT MEETS THE TEST OF THE AMOUNT OF DETAIL THAT IS REQUIRED BY FUNDERS OF THE GNWT AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF NUANCES TO THIS AND IT WILL BE COMPLICATED, BUT I REALLY TAKE THE POINT AND I WANT TO ASSURE COUNCIL THAT WE'RE GOING TO BEAT EVERY BUSH THAT WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT WE GET THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF DISASTER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BACK.
I WILL ASK MR. MCLENNAN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE EVACUATION FRAMEWORK AND HOW THAT'S STRUCTURED VIS-A-VIS SOMETHING LIKE OUR APPROACH TO HAVE POWER OUTAGE.
THE PROCEDURE ON SHELTERING COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE IMPACTED BY A COLD WEATHER EVENT AND NOT HAVING ACCESS TO POWER SUPPLY IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN CONTINUITY AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE SAW HERE THIS SUMMER WITH A COMMUNITY-WIDE EVACUATION.
THE PROCEDURE CONTEMPLATES PARTIAL OR PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY NEEDED TO BE HOUSED AND PROTECTED, WHICH WE HAVE THE CAPACITY WITHIN OUR MUNICIPALITY TO DO WITHIN OUR CITY SERVICE DELIVERY.
WHEN IT COMES TO LOOKING AT WHAT WE EXPERIENCED THIS SUMMER, WHICH WAS A COMMUNITY-WIDE EVACUATION.
FOR 20,000 PEOPLE, IT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE FOR THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO INTER PROVINCIALLY MAKE THOSE ARRANGEMENTS TOO WITH THE PROVINCES OF MANITOBA, ALBERTA, BC, LIKE WE SAW WHERE SOME OF OUR EVACUEES BEING TRANSFERRED TO.
WE DON'T HAVE THOSE REPORTING LINES AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT'S DONE AT THE HIGHER TERRITORIAL LEVEL, AS WELL AS IF WE REQUIRE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE, WE WOULD DO THAT THROUGH THE HIGHER TERRITORIAL LEVEL.
WE WOULD ALSO NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO PERHAPS MANAGE SOME OF THE TERRITORIAL ASSETS IN THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS STANTON HOSPITAL, NORTH SLAVE CORRECTIONAL CENTER.
THOSE ARE SOME LARGE PIECES THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO MAKE TRANSFER ARRANGEMENTS FOR THOSE PEOPLE BEING HOUSED IN EITHER OF THOSE FACILITIES.
THERE'S A LOT OF COMPONENTS IN THAT EVACUATION FRAMEWORK THAT PROCEDURALLY COMPARED TO THE SHELTER AND COMMUNITY FOR A POWER FAILURE IN A COLD WEATHER EVENT.
PROCEDURALLY, THERE'LL BE A LOT MORE INABILITY OF THE CITY TO MANAGE THOSE ASPECTS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, AND DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE PROCEDURAL CHALLENGES AND A LOT OF THAT NEED IS BEYOND OUR SCOPE.
BUT I TRULY THINK THERE'S MORE INFORMATION WE CAN PUT OUT ON THIS AND WE CAN HAVE A MORE STRUCTURED PLAN FOR THE THINGS WITHIN OUR CONTROL.
I THINK THIS IS WHAT THE PUBLIC WAS CRYING FOR LEADING UP TO THIS, WE COULD SPECIFY THINGS LIKE WHICH SECTORS, WHICH SPECIFIC BUSINESSES ARE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL BY THE CITY.
WE COULD SAY WHAT SECONDARY ROLES CITY STAFF COULD REDEPLOY TO.
WE COULD SAY WHAT FACILITIES ARE GOING TO BE USED TO, HOW WAS FIREFIGHTERS OR ANY DIFFERENT RESPONSE PERSONNEL, WHAT MEDICAL SERVICES COULD BE PROVIDED? I GET THAT'S WHAT THE GNWT.
HOW WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THESE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, AND I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ADAPT TO CHANGING SCENARIOS.
BUT I THINK HAVING A MORE STRUCTURED PLAN FOR THE CLEAREST,
[01:25:02]
HIGHEST RISKS, LIKE WILDFIRE FROM THE WEST, MAKES SENSE.IT SEEMS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED AND WE CAN DO, AND JUST ONE MORE LITTLE FOLLOW-UP AND THEN I'LL PASS IT ONTO SOME OTHER COUNCILORS AND I'LL FINISH UP ROUND ONE.
CAN MUNICIPALITIES APPLIED DIRECTLY TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR DFAA? IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT'S THE GNWT'S ROLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
CERTAINLY WHEN IT COMES TO DEFINING ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES, I WILL SPEAK VERY BRIEFLY TO WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT TRANSPIRED OVER THE LAST SIX WEEKS, AND CERTAINLY AS SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING MORE ADVICE ON THROUGH THE AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENT.
THE CITY HAD IDENTIFIED BUSINESSES THAT WERE CRITICAL TO BE ABLE TO BRING OUR RESIDENTS BACK, AND THAT INCLUDED GROCERY STORES, GAS STATIONS, BANKS, AND DEFINITELY HOSPITAL SERVICES WERE CRITICAL.
WHAT WE FOUND OUT DURING THIS IS THAT SOMETIMES THE HOSPITAL REQUIRES BUSINESSES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO OPEN BACK UP.
FOR EXAMPLE, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, CLEANING SUPPLIES, CLEANERS.
IT'S A COMPLEXITY TO THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE REQUIRED, AND WE FOUND THAT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS, THERE WERE A LOT OF BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE WHO VERY MUCH WANTED TO COME BACK, AND WE SO APPRECIATE THEIR COMMITMENTS TO COMING BACK TO SUPPORT AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, AND I DON'T MEAN TO PICK ON ANYONE IN PARTICULAR, BUT NO, I WON'T EVEN GO INTO EXAMPLE.
THERE WERE MANY, MANY PEOPLE THAT MADE A COMPELLING CASE BECAUSE THEY VERY MUCH WANTED TO RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY, AND IT HAD TO BE BASED ON WHAT WAS THE ABSOLUTE BARE MINIMUM TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP TO RETURNING RESIDENTS.
IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE WILL GO THROUGH THE GNWT, AND IF THERE ARE ANY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT ARE OPEN TO COMMUNITIES AS COUNCILOR KNOWS, WE HAVE ACCESS TO DMAF.
A COUPLE OF TIMES THROUGH WE'VE DOING IT FOR OUR WATER SUBMARINE PIPELINE.
WE'VE DIRECTLY ACCESSED IT THROUGH THE NWT ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITIES FOR WILDLAND FIRE BREAKS.
IF THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THAT WILL CERTAINLY BE LOOKING. THANK YOU.
>> BUT THE DISASTER ASSISTANCE FUNDING, THAT'S CITY TO GNWT, GNWT TO THE FEDS.
THE OTHER THING TO NOTE IS THAT WE WERE UNDER A TERRITORIAL EVACUATION ORDER.
THE CITY DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SAY WHO COULD COME OR WHO COULD GO.
WE'VE SENT OUR LIST OF WHO WE DEEM TO BE ESSENTIAL TO RETURN TO THE GNWT, AND THEN THEY WOULD ADD IT TO THEIR LIST AND THAT WOULD BE AT THE CHECKPOINTS.
THERE'S ALSO A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IF IN THE FUTURE THERE'S A TERRITORIAL EVACUATION ORDER VERSUS IF THERE'S A LOCAL AUTHORITY EVACUATION ORDER AND HOW THOSE DIFFER.
A LOT OF LEGISLATION AND NUANCE AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT WE SHOULD BE RUNNING GOING INTO THE FUTURE.
COUNCILOR MCLENNAN, ANYTHING FURTHER?
>> YEAH. SORRY, JUST ONE MORE THAT I FORGOT.
JUST A POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE REGARDING THE WILDLIFE OR WILDFIRE COMMUNITY PROTECTION PLAN FROM 2019.
THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION IN THERE, RECOMMENDATION NUMBER 9.
IT SAYS, DEVELOP A COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PRE-PLANNED FOR THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE TO PROVIDE GREATER OPERATIONAL DETAIL TO EMERGENCY RESPONDERS DURING A WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE INCIDENT.
THERE'S ALREADY RECOMMENDATION THAT EXISTS AND NOW WE HAVE A LOT MORE EQUIPMENT.
WHERE'S THAT EQUIPMENT GOING TO BE STORED? HOW'S IT GOING BE MAINTAINED? HOW WOULD IT BE DEPLOYED AND BY WHO? IT SEEMS TO ME THERE'S ALREADY A RECOMMENDATION THAT EXISTS WITHIN A PLAN THAT WE ALREADY HAVE TO PROVIDE THESE DETAILS.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE NEED TO GET GOING ON THAT.
WE DON'T NEED TO WAIT ANOTHER YEAR FOR ANOTHER REPORT TO TELL US THAT WE NEED TO DO THAT.
I'LL HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS DURING ROUND 2, BUT CERTAINLY I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE REACHED OUR 90-MINUTE MARK, SO WE WILL TAKE A 10-MINUTE BREAK AND JUST TO BE EVEN, WE WILL COME BACK AT 1:45 PM.
COUNCILOR WARBURTON, I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU BECAUSE YOU HAD A FEW MORE AND I'M GOING TO CONSIDER THIS FIRST-ROUND STILL.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. GOT MY THOUGHTS. GO HERE.
I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT COUNCILOR MCLENNAN MENTIONED SOME OF THE PORTS HAVE TAKEN A YEAR, 18 MONTHS.
THERE'S NO TIMELINES IN SCOPE OF WORK THERE.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE TIMELINES SO WHEN PEOPLE BID, LOOK AT THIS RFP, THEY CAN SEE WHAT WE WANT TO TIGHT TURNAROUND VERSUS 18 MONTHS TO 24 MONTHS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
WE'RE DOING SOME INTERNAL REVIEW OF BEST PRACTICES TO SEE WHAT MAKES SENSE.
BECAUSE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE INDICATED, ABSOLUTELY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS DONE RAPIDLY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WELL THAT THIS HAS DONE FULLSOMELY.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
[01:30:02]
OUR STAKEHOLDERS ARE AVAILABLE TO PARTICIPATE MEANINGFULLY.WE WOULDN'T WANT TO PROCEED WITH A TIGHT TIMEFRAME THAT MEANT THAT CERTAIN STAKEHOLDERS SAID, "SORRY, THAT'S TOO TIGHT FOR US.
WE CAN'T PARTICIPATE." WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BEST PRACTICES FOR THIS.
IDEALLY, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE IN A PERFECT WORLD IS TO SEE ABOUT GETTING THIS AWARDED IN DECEMBER AND TO LOOK AT HAVING THE WORK COMPLETED BY JUNE.
BUT AGAIN, AS I SAID, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL THE FACTORS INVOLVED IN SEEING IF THERE ARE SOME WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE EXPEDITE, BUT MAKES SURE IT'S AS COMPREHENSIVE AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK VERY MUCH. THEN A BIT OF GOING BACK TO THE EVACUATION PLAN THAT COUNCILOR MCLENNAN TALKED ABOUT.
FULLY UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE FRAMEWORK, COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S DIFFERENT FROM CO-WEATHER EVENT.
BUT IF THE PUBLIC HAS REPEATEDLY VERY CLEARLY STATED THAT THEY WANT MORE INFORMATION IN THIS RFP OR NAMED RFP.
YOU CAN DO IT BEFORE NEXT SUMMER.
I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW MUCH I WANT TO SEE SOMETHING, SOME MORE DETAIL IN PLAN.
PEOPLE FLED THE CITY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FEEL SAFE AND THEY COULD TRUST WHAT WE'RE GIVING THEM.
WE SAID FRAMEWORK OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND IT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
IF THE PUBLIC SAYS NOT GOOD ENOUGH, IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
WE NEED TO PROVIDE MORE INFO FOR PEOPLE FOR THEM TO FEEL SAFE, ESPECIALLY GOING INTO NEXT SEASON. THAT'S THE LAST.
>> THANK YOU. THERE IS A PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED EVACUATION PLANS, BUT WOULD NOT UPDATE OUR EVACUATION PLANS.
IF COUNCIL WANTS ANOTHER RFP FOR SOMEBODY TO DO THAT WORK, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED EITHER TODAY OR AT A FUTURE GPC, IE, BUDGET 2024 AS WELL.
THEN WE ALSO MIGHT WANT TO INCLUDE STAFF SO THAT WORK CAN HAPPEN.
I'VE GOT COUNCILOR MCGURK, THEN COUNCILOR COCHRANE, THEN DEPUTY MAYOR AND SMITH.
>> THANKS. I'M JUST ECHOING FELLOW COUNCILOR COMMENTS.
I SUPPORT THE AFTER ACTION ASSESSMENT BEING AS EXPEDIENT AND CURRENT AND AS PUBLIC AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK THIS IS MAYBE MORE OF A COMMENT ON HOW I'D FEEL THE TERMS SHOULD BE ISSUED, BUT I AM THAN A QUESTION BUT I'M NERVOUS BUT SENDING THIS ASSESSMENT PROCESS OUT WITHOUT TO AN EXTERNAL BODY, WITHOUT THEM KNOWING THE FULL SCOPE OF THE INCIDENT RESPONSE.
I UNDERSTAND THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS OF THE ASSESSMENT TO DISCOVER THAT, BUT I'M STILL NERVOUS.
I DON'T WANT OVER BURDEN THIS PROCESS.
BUT HAVING EXPERIENCE INCIDENT ON THE GROUND, I KNOW WE'VE ALL HAD VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES HERE.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDINGS OF HOW THE EVENTS UNFOLDED.
I WORRY THAT LEANING ON CITY ADMINISTRATION TO GUIDE THE STORY IS INSUFFICIENT BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND SO MANY DIFFERENT BODIES AT WORK HERE.
THEREFORE, I'M VERY KEEN ON THE PUBLIC INPUT ASPECT OF THINGS AND I BELIEVE THAT REGULAR REPORTING SEEMS LIKE A GOOD OPTION FOR KEEPING PEOPLE INFORMED.
I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE EXECUTION OF THE ASSESSMENT TO KNOW IF I SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT THAT THE FULL PICTURE MAY NOT BE CAPTURED, BUT I'M WONDERING WHAT ASSURANCES CAN BE PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE CHANCELLOR WHEN WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS OR WHEN WE'RE SETTING THE TERMS OF REFERENCES THAT THAT WILL BE CAPTURED, I GUESS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE, THAT THE FULL SCOPE OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE WILL BE CAPTURED.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE IN CITY HALL AND WHAT HAPPENED ON THE GROUND, WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CONTRACTOR'S OFFICES, WHAT HAPPENED AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
EVERYBODY HAD A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE AND I JUST DON'T WANT THAT TO BE LOST WHEN WE'RE DOING THIS ASSESSMENT.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT INCLUDES ENGAGEMENT WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND RESIDENTS ON ALL THESE ASPECTS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE COMMENT. I AGREE.
I THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES GOING ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES, GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE COMMUNITY.
DEFINITELY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS ARE A CRITICAL PART OF THIS.
THERE ARE DEFINITELY PARTS THAT ARE EXPLICIT THAT WE PUT IN THAT ARE NOT IN ANY OTHER EXAMPLE OF INCLUDING A SCOPE OF WORK INCLUDING REVIEWING THE ROLE OF VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING THE DOMESTIC ANIMAL PET STRATEGY.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE ARE AS FULSOME AS POSSIBLE.
THEN WE GET PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE IN THIS, ABLE TO COMMENT, ABLE TO ENGAGE, ABLE TO SAY WHAT WORKED, ABLE TO SAY WHAT NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED AND IMPROVED ON IN THE FUTURE.
THE STAKEHOLDER LIST WILL BE FULSOME.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR,
[01:35:02]
YOU INDIRECTLY ANSWERED ONE OF MY QUESTIONS ALREADY BY MENTIONING THE FACT THAT WE AS COUNCIL WILL BE INTERVIEWED BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE LESSONS LEARNED HERE TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS OVERALL REPORT.THE QUESTION I DO HAVE IS I DO SEE THAT WE ARE ASSESSING THE IOC, THE ICS IMPLEMENTATION.
BUT JUST TO ASSURE THROUGH EXPLICITLY STATED BECAUSE I'M SURE IT'S ENDING HERE IS WHAT CONSIDERATION IS GOING INTO STAFF EXTERNALLY AFFECTED BY THE EVACUATION AND HOW WILL THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE OVERALL BUSINESS CONTINUITY I.E REDEPLOYMENT?
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
CITY STAFF WHO EVACUATED, IS THAT LIKE HOW WERE THEIR NEEDS MET? IS THAT THE QUESTIONS BEING ASKED? THANK YOU.
>> NOT ONLY HOW ARE THEIR NEEDS MET, BUT HOW DID THEY PARTICIPATE? HOW DO THEY THINK THEY COULD PARTICIPATE IN FURTHER CRISES OF A SIMILAR SITUATION?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK I HAVE A BETTER SENSE.
WE HAD IDENTIFIED STAFF WHO WERE CRITICAL ON THE GROUND TO STAY.
WE ENCOURAGED STAFF WHO HAVE PROVEN THROUGH COVID THAT THEY'VE GOT THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO WORK REMOTELY.
WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO WORK, RECOGNIZING THAT IF YOU HAVE JUST PULLED UP STAKES, YOU'RE DRIVING OUT, YOU'VE GOT YOUR THREE KIDS AND YOUR TWO DOGS IN THE VAN AND YOU'RE GOING TO A HOTEL ROOM SOMEWHERE, YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BE IN A GOOD PLACE OR HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO WORK REMOTELY AS PERHAPS PEOPLE WERE DOING DURING COVID.
OUR UNDERSTANDING WAS IF PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO DO SOME THINGS REMOTELY, WE HAD A COUPLE OF STAFF THAT DID SOME THINGS CRITICALLY LIKE ENSURING PAYROLL AND ONE OF OUR GIS SPECIALISTS WHO COULD DIAL IN REMOTELY, THEY WERE WORKING PRETTY CONSISTENTLY, BUT WE WERE OF THE UNDERSTANDING THEN THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CRITICAL, WE'RE ON THE GROUND HERE.
WE VERY MUCH WELCOMED STAFF WHO COULD WORK REMOTELY ON EITHER PROJECTS THEY HAD ON THE GO OR ON THINGS THAT WERE REQUESTED OF THEM THROUGH THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS COMMITTEE IF THEY WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT US.
WE'RE ALL GOING THROUGH DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.
THEY HAD DIFFERENT ABILITY TO ENGAGE WITH WORK BASED ON THEIR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT AN UNDUE BURDEN ON THEM AND EXPECT THEM TO WORK AS MUCH AS PEOPLE IN THE GROUND HERE WERE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JUST MORE INTO THAT THOUGH, WE ARE COMMITTED TO CAPTURING THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THOSE WHO WERE ABLE TO WORK REMOTELY AS WELL.
IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BE AN OVERALL REVIEW OF THE STAFF WHO REMAIN.
>> WE'RE VERY MUCH AN INCLUSIVE GROUP AT THE CITY, AND WHEN PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCES AND HAVE NOTABLE THINGS THAT THEY WENT THROUGH AND IDEAS ON HOW THINGS COULD BE DONE BETTER OR HOW THEY COULD BE SUPPORTED MORE, OR HOW THEY COULD BE SUPPORTED TO ENGAGE MORE.
I'LL DEFINITELY WANT TO HEAR THAT. SORRY. IT'S NOT ME.
IT'LL BE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE OVERALL REPORT AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL WANT TO LOOK AT BEING ABLE TO IMPLEMENT WITHIN ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR SMITH.
>> AWESOME. I ECHO A LOT OF THE SAME COMMENTS AS FELLOW COUNCILORS.
I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF GOING FORWARD WITH THE ASSESSMENT.
I DON'T HAVE SO MUCH QUESTIONS AS THEY WERE ALREADY ANSWERED BY PREVIOUS QUESTIONS, THE COUNCIL.
BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE NOTE THAT WITHIN OUR LEADERSHIP ROLE, I URGE THAT WE GO OUT AND TALK WITH RESIDENTS BECAUSE OUR JOB IS TO BE A VOICE FOR THEM.
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING OUT AND TAKING PART IN ANY OPEN CONVERSATION.
THEY CAN COME SPEAK WITH COUNCILORS SO THAT WE CAN CAPTURE THEIR EXPERIENCE.
I'M SURE WE'VE ALREADY HAD MANY PEOPLE REACH OUT TO US, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEN IT BECOMES OUR ROLE ONCE THIS ASSESSMENT COMES BACK TO HAVE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
DID THEY THINK ABOUT THIS? DID THEY HAVE ANYBODY SAY SOMETHING IN TERMS OF THAT? I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US AS COUNCILORS TO MAKE USE OF OUR LEADERSHIP ROLE AND GO OUT TO AND ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY IN THAT RESPECT.
ALSO, I REALLY WANT TO URGE THE GNWT TO DO THE SAME AS WE ARE IN GO APP.
TRY AND OBTAIN AN AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENTS.
GNWT HAS EXPERIENCED 70% OF THE POPULATION UNDERGOING A MASS EXODUS OF THE NWT.
[01:40:10]
THAT SHOULD URGE THEM TO DO WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DOING SO THAT THEY CAN BE BETTER PREPARED AS WELL BECAUSE THERE'S MANY THINGS WITHIN THAT COUNCILLOR MCCLELLAN HAD QUESTIONS THAT WOULD BE OUTSIDE OF OUR SCOPE BUT THEIRS BUT WE NEED TO DO THIS AS A GROUP EFFORT BECAUSE WE ALL HAD TO EXPERIENCE THIS EVACUATION TOGETHER.IT SHOULD BE A TEAM EFFORT IN MAINTAINING GOING FORWARD.
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE NWT IS GOING TO BE UNDERGOING ELECTIONS HERE, THESE ARE KEY NOTES THAT WE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE ASKING ELECTORAL CANDIDATES.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF GOING FORWARD WITH THEIR CAMPAIGN OR IF THEY'RE ELECTED, BUT REALLY URGING THE GNWT TO GET AN ASSESSMENT TO BETTER PREPARE OURSELVES FOR NEXT SEASON. I SEE.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE SEEN MINISTER THOMPSON COMMIT TO THAT IN THE MEDIA, HOWEVER, HAVEN'T SEEN YET ABOUT WHETHER IT'LL BE A THIRD PARTY OR INTERNAL, BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY RELAY THAT.
ENCOURAGING THEM TO DO THE THIRD PARTY REVIEW JUST LIKE WE DID BECAUSE READING FOR MAX, BOTH THE MUNICIPALITY DID ONE AND THE PROVINCE DID ONE BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT ACTIONS AND DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS COME FORWARD AS A RESULT. COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSON.
I'M JUST STARTING FROM WHERE THE DEPUTY MAYOR ENDED.
FOR SOME RESIDENTS, THIS WILL BE CONTINUING AND FOR OTHERS, THIS WILL BE REBUILDING PUBLIC TRUST.
WITH THAT, MY FIRST QUESTION FOR ADMIN IS, WHO ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT YOU BELIEVE MUST PARTICIPATE OR THAT WE WILL BE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THEY PARTICIPATE IF THEY'RE WILLING.
OF COURSE, WE CAN'T STRONG ARM ANYBODY.
BECAUSE I DO REALLY THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT IT IN A SCOPE OF WORK AND IN AN RFP SO THAT IT'S NOT LEFT UP TO A CONTRACTOR TO TEASE THAT OUT AFTER THE FACT, BUT THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING TO HANG OUR HATS ON AND BE LIKE, NO, WE ASKED YOU TO GO AND TRY AND SPEAK TO THESE STAKEHOLDERS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THESE HAVE BEEN RAISED.
STAKEHOLDERS ARE REALLY CRITICAL AND PART OF IT IS THAT WE KNOW THAT FOR US WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INVOLVING THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THE GROUND HERE WITH US, THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH CLOSELY.
THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL FOR THAT, BUT IT'S BIGGER THAN THAT AS WELL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ENGAGING TO KNOW THAT THROUGH THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT WE MET THE RULES AND THE ITEMS THAT ARE LAID OUT THERE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INCLUDING AND THAT WE'VE GOT THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE.
RECOGNIZING THAT, AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, I THINK THE PUBLIC DOESN'T SEE GOVERNMENT BASED ON DIFFERENT MANDATES.
THE PUBLIC SEES GOVERNMENT OVERALL AND TO YOUR POINT OF PUBLIC TRUST, THAT'S A REALLY CRITICAL PIECE THAT I THINK WE ALL KNOW IS VERY MUCH GOING TO BE FRONT-AND-CENTER IN HOW THIS IS UNPACKED.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE GROUNDS TO GET FRUSTRATED BECAUSE DIFFERENT ORDERS OF GOVERNMENT ARE POINTING THE FINGERS AT EACH OTHER SAYING, THAT WAS THEIR ROLE, NO THAT WAS THEIR ROLE.
WE'D LIKE THIS TO BE SEAMLESS.
WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO START WITH OUR AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENTS AND THAT STAKEHOLDERS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT INCLUDES THE PUBLIC, AS WELL AS MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED.
WE WILL DOCUMENT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE RECOMMEND, OTHER ORDERS OF GOVERNMENT, CRITICAL PARTNERS IN THIS, WE KNOW THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY THAT WAS HERE, SOME OF THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS THAT WERE HERE.
THESE ARE ALL PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO BE INCLUDING AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.
BUT RECOGNIZING THAT IF WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO FOCUS ON WHAT OUR MANDATE WAS, THERE MAY BE A LOT OF COMMENTS THAT COME IN, SOME THAT ARE RELEVANT TO US AND SOME THAT WE WILL DEFINITELY WANT TO PASS ON TO OTHER ORDERS OF GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU.
>> WHICH IS SIMILAR TO OUR RECONCILIATION.
FEEDBACK IS A LOT OF TIMES IT COMES FOR HEALTH CARE OR SCHOOLS AND WE JUST PASS THAT ON.
AGAIN, FALLING FROM THE DEPUTY MAYOR'S COMMENTS THERE, I ASSUME AND I HOPE THAT THE GENE W2 WILL UNDERTAKE AN OBJECTIVE AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENT, BUT I SURE DON'T WANT TO PIN MY HOPES ON THAT.
WITH A NEW TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT COMING IN AND DECEMBER, LIKELY BY DECEMBER, WHO KNOWS, CAN TAKE LONGER.
ANY REVIEW WON'T HAPPEN FOR A LOT OF MONTHS, SO WE'RE THE ONES LEADING HERE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS THAT LEADERSHIP POSITION, WE'RE GOING TO BE HEARING THINGS THAT DO RELATE TO THE GNWT THAT DO RELATE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THAT DO RELATE TO OTHER ASPECTS BEYOND OURSELVES, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT REPORT THAT WE HAVE DOES CAPTURE THOSE OUTSIDE PIECES AND THAT
[01:45:02]
WE DON'T ASK RESIDENTS TO PARSE THAT AND THE CITY MANAGER HAS REFERENCED THAT, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.JUST IN TERMS OF THE SCOPE OF WORK GENERALLY, AND A BIT OF CONVERSATION HAS HAPPENED HERE.
BUT IF YOU COULD FLESH THIS OUT A BIT, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE BEST PRACTICES EXAMPLES THAT YOU LOOKED AT, PERHAPS LIKELY IN CONSULTATION WITH KEN TASKFORCE TO COME UP WITH THIS SCOPE OF WORK.
JUST AGAIN, SO RESONANCE CAN GET AN IDEA OF WHAT BROUGHT US TO THIS MEMO TODAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION, AND WITHOUT SEEMING TO FAN GIRL TOO MUCH, CANADA TASK FORCE TOO WERE AN AMAZING RESOURCE TO US, AND SO WE DID SAY TO THEM, HEY, IN THE EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE, WHAT HAVE OTHER COMMUNITY GOVERNMENTS DONE? WHAT DOES THE SCOPE OF WORK LOOK LIKE? THEY PROVIDED US WITH SOME OF THE DETAILS ON THERE. I'M NOT GOING TO LIE.
I HAD TO LOOK UP WHAT SENDAI WAS, AND IT IS UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS, AND ITS PLACE IN JAPAN WERE DISASTER RECOVERY WAS A BIG PIECE OF THIS, SO THEY GAVE US SOME OF THESE STANDARDS THAT ARE REALLY SETTING THE BAR FOR US TO DO A VERY FULSOME AND A RIGOROUS AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENT.
WE TOOK A LOT OF THEIR ADVICE ON THINGS THAT HAD HAPPENED FROM WOOD BUFFALO, FROM SLAVE LAKE.
BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS RELEVANT TO THE EXPERIENCE ON THE GROUND HERE.
AS I MENTIONED, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE ADDED INTO THE SCOPE OF WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE LOOKING AT COMPARING OURSELVES TO BEST PRACTICES AROUND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S RELEVANT AND APPROPRIATE FOR WHAT WE'VE JUST GONE THROUGH.
AS THEY MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION FROM KEN TASKFORCE TOO, WE DON'T HAVE TO DWELL AS MUCH ON THINGS LIKE THE ACTUAL CLEAN UP OF BURNT BUILDINGS OR DEVASTATED PROPERTIES OR INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'RE VERY LUCKY THAT WAY, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF PIECES THAT WE WANT TO UNPACK, AND WE WANT TO LOOK AT CLOSELY, SO DEFINITELY LOOKING AT THE EXAMPLES THAT THEY GAVE US, WE TOOK SOME OF THEIR BEST PRACTICES AND THEN WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDED IN THOSE THINGS THAT WERE RELEVANT TO THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE, AND YELLOWKNIFE OVERALL. THANK YOU.
ANOTHER QUESTION IS SOMETHING NOT CLEAR TO ME THROUGH THE READING THE MEMO IS WHAT THE START AND END POINT OF THE REVIEW IS.
NOT IN TERMS OF THE START AND END POINT OF A REVIEW COMING BACK TO US, BUT LITERALLY, WHAT'S THE TIMEFRAME WE'RE GOING TO BE REVIEWING? FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WHEN I THINK BACK AND GOING BACK THROUGH EMAILS AND NOTICES AND WHATNOT IS, I LOOK BACK TO JULY 13TH, THE DAY THAT COUNCIL WAS INFORMED OF THAT THERE WAS A FIRE AT RIDE LAKE, THEN I GO THAT'S MY STARTING POINT OF WHAT WE SHOULD GO CHECK.
THIS IS WHEN IT STARTS AND TO ME IT SORT OF RUNS UP UNTIL THIS MEETING TO A LARGE DEGREE.
IT'S LIKE, WHAT HAVE WE DONE UP TILL TODAY? BECAUSE EVERYTHING NOW IS SORT OF STAGE 2 TO A LARGE DEGREE, BUT THAT'S ME.
I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR FROM ADMIN ON WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE AND MAYBE A SECOND ROUND OF CONVERSATION.
WHAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THINK THAT SHOULD BE BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S THE TIMEFRAME WE'RE LOOKING AT, BECAUSE ANYTHING WE GET BACK WILL BE REFERENCED TO A TIMEFRAME, AND IF PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ON WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT, THAT'S GOING TO REALLY BLOW OPEN A CAN OF WORMS ON WHAT DIFFERENT PEOPLE EXPECT IN TERMS OF HOW THINGS WENT, WHAT WENT WELL, WHAT WENT BAD, ETC.
AGAIN, WHAT'S THAT TIMEFRAME WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR THIS REVIEW?
>> THANK YOU. MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY THOUGHTFUL QUESTION.
I APPRECIATE THAT THAT'S BEING FLAGGED.
I REMEMBER THAT DAY TOO. I'LL RELAY, ISN'T THAT SOMETHING? YEAH. THAT'S DEFINITELY A MILESTONE IN MY HEAD.
I HAD BEEN THINKING REALLY AROUND, THE MILESTONE THAT'S RESONATED WITH ME WAS JULY 24TH.
THAT WAS THE DAY THAT WE GOT NOTICE THAT THE COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT OF BEHCHOKO IS BEING EVACUATED TO YELLOWKNIFE BECAUSE OF ZF015.
IT WOULD BE TOO NARROW TO JUST SIMPLY LOOK AT THE DATE THAT THE STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED UP TO THE DATE THAT THE EVACUATION ORDER WAS LIFTED.
FAR TOO NARROW, SO I TAKE THE POINT OF JULY 13TH, I WOULD TEND TO THINK JULY 24TH BECAUSE THAT'S THE DAY THAT OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS COMMITTEE STARTED TO MEET DAILY.
THAT WAS THE DAY THAT THAT FIRE ZF015 STARTED TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON YELLOWKNIFE.
TO ME THAT WOULD BE UNNATURAL START DATE AND I WOULD TAKE THIS TO THE END OF DECEMBER BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, RECOVERY IS GOING TO TAKE US QUITE SOME TIME.
BUT END OF DECEMBER GIVES US ENOUGH OF A WINDOW FOR SOME OF THE DUST TO SETTLE ON, AT LEAST INITIALLY ON INVOICES COMING IN ON SOME OF THE WORK THAT IS GOING ON WITHIN OUR OWN STRUCTURE TO SUPPORT WHAT WENT ON IN TERMS OF THE DEFENSE OF OUR COMMUNITY, SO THAT CERTAINLY WOULD BE THE WINDOW THAT I'D BE LOOKING AT, AND I APPRECIATE THE DISCOURSE FROM GPC MEMBERS AND YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT AS WELL, AND THEY WOULD APPRECIATE THAT THIS GOT RAISED. THANK YOU.
>> MS. BASSI-KELLETT ON THAT POINT THOUGH, THE RFP WOULD BE ISSUED BEFORE THAT WITH IT BEING AWARDED,
[01:50:02]
SO THEN THE CONSULTANT COULD START WORK IN JANUARY, WOULD THAT BE THE TIMEFRAME?>> CERTAINLY, THEY MIGHT START WORK A LITTLE SOONER THAN THAT, KNOWING THAT PART OF THEIR WORK, AND LOOKING AT HOW WE WERE RESPONDING TO RECOVERY MIGHT BE SEQUENCED LATER ON IN THEIR WORK PLANNING, BUT AGAIN, OPEN TO EXPLORE THAT AND OPEN TO HEAR THE THOUGHTS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SIT ON THIS RFP UNTIL JANUARY, AND THEN ISSUE IT AND THEN WAIT FOR CONSULTANT, BLAH, BLAH.
I APPRECIATE THAT ADMIN WANTS TO TAKE THIS TO THE END OF DECEMBER.
I WON'T ARGUE WITH A LONGER WINDOW FOR SURE ON THE BACKEND.
I'LL STILL THROAT THE 13TH FOR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT.
MY LOGIC THERE BEING THAT WE HAD THE 24TH BECAUSE BEHCHOKO WAS THREATENED FIRST.
IF THAT FIRE HAD COME TO OUR WAY FIRST, WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THAT WARNING, SO THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO PITCH FOR THE 13TH STILL, BUT MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE WILL GO FOR EVEN SOONER.
JUST IN TERMS OF ANOTHER QUESTION IS SCOPE NUMBER 6 SAYS THAT IT ASKED FOR NOTICING AROUND LEGISLATION REGULATION.
REVIEW AND SUMMARIZE DISASTER RECOVERY LEGISLATION, REGULATION STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE AND BEST PRACTICES.
I JUST WAS WONDERING OF RECOMMENDATION MAYBE THAT WE AMEND THAT TO SAY THAT IT NOTICES ALSO RECOMMENDED CHANGES FOR LEGISLATION REGULATION, NOT JUST WHAT WAS THERE, BUT CHANGES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AND THAT WE SHOULD ADVOCATE FOR TO THE GOVERNMENT.
I THINK WE'VE ALL RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT THIS THAT A LOT OF THE LEGISLATION THAT MANAGES THESE EMERGENCIES IS PRETTY OUT-OF-DATE WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR COUSINS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD AS A MUNICIPALITY TO HAVE NOTED FOR US, AND I KNOW I'M SURE ADMIN HAS DOCUMENTED PLENTY OF AREAS WHERE THIS ANYWAY, I THINK IT'D BE GOOD TO HAVE THAT CAPTURED SO THAT THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AND NEXT GOVERNMENT HAS SOME PLACES TO MOVE ON WHEN THEY REVIEW CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES ACT IN THE NEXT ASSEMBLY, FINGERS CROSSED.
I GUESS I DON'T REALLY HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT ONE.
MY NEXT QUESTION THOUGH, DOES COME TO, ULTIMATELY, I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF A REVIEW OF SOME NATURE THAT THIRD PARTY.
I KNOW WE'RE TEASING THAT OUT HERE REGARDLESS, BUT BECAUSE IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT OBJECTIVITY.
BUT WITH THIS MEMO AS IT COMES TO US TODAY, DOES ANYONE HAVE AN IDEA ROUGHLY FROM DISCUSSIONS WITH KEN TASKFORCE 2, FROM FORT MCMURRAY, FROM SLAVE LAKE AROUND WHAT WE SHOULD BE SEEING IN DOLLAR FIGURES POTENTIALLY, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO PIN US IN, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A FEEL FOR THAT. THANKS.
>> SORRY. I'M GOING TO NEED A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY FROM THAT FROM COUNSELOR HENDRICKSON.
IS IT THAT THE COST OF THE EXTERNAL REVIEW OR IS THIS THE COST OF THE EXERCISE?
>> NO. SORRY. THANKS FOR ASKING THAT.
I MEAN THE COST OF THE EXTERNAL VIEW.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SEEKING TO IDENTIFY THAT, BUT PERHAPS I'LL ASK MR. MCCLELLAN TO SPEAK TO.
HE HAD QUOTED HE HAD BEEN REFERENCING A COUPLE OF OTHER EXAMPLES.
AM I MAKING STUFF UP, CRAIG, THAT I THOUGHT YOU SAID? WE HAD SOMEONE ELSE I TALKED TO.
WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING IN THE BALLPARK OF $100-150,000. THANK YOU.
>> NO. HONESTLY, THAT'S WHAT I WAS EXPECTING HERE, SO THAT'S THAT DOESN'T GIVE ME NERVES.
[LAUGHTER] JUST, I GUESS FINALLY, FOR THIS IS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HER ADMINISTRATION HAS MENTIONED HISTORICALLY AND THIS WOULD GO TO A LARGE CONSULTANCY, ETC.
ARE WE EXPECTING THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO BE SHAPING THIS IN A WAY THAT THAT'S THE ONLY POTENTIAL BIDDER OR ARE WE SHAPING THIS IN A WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT SO THAT IF THERE'S AGENCIES OR NORTHERN AGENCIES MAYBE FROM A DIFFERENT TERRITORY OR FROM OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT PIGEON HOLING OURSELVES INTO ONLY HAVING A LARGE CONSULTANCY DO IT.
THEY MAY END UP BEING THE RIGHT GROUP TO DO IT, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT PIGEON-HOLE OURSELVES THERE.
>> IT MIGHT BE THAT THEY GET FAVORED BECAUSE OF THE PROJECT TEAM AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S DEFINITELY A BALANCING ACT BECAUSE YES, WE ALWAYS LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING BUSINESS INTO YELLOWKNIFE CONSULTANTS.
WE'D LIKE TO PUT BUSINESS INTO NORTHERN CONSULTANTS.
THIS IS ONE WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE EXPERTISE AND OBJECTIVITY.
IT WILL BE A BALANCING ACT FOR US.
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO BE OUR FRIEND JOE BROWN, WHO DOES MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY OUT OF HIS HOUSE IN YELLOWKNIFE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN THIS.
WE WANT THE EXPERTISE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE EXPERIENCE OF THE TEAM AND WORKING ON DOING OTHER KINDS OF AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENTS.
[01:55:01]
WE WANT THAT KNOWLEDGE BASE OF LEGISLATION AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT.THOSE WILL BE THE CRITERIA THAT WE'LL LOOK FOR.
WE'RE NOT SOLELY GOING TO SEND THIS OUT TO THE BIG PLAYERS LIKE KPMG.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT PUTTING THAT CRITERIA TOGETHER OF WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR FROM THE TEAM AND WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO SEEK TO GET THE BEST THAT WE CAN AS A RESULT OF THAT.
BUT WE KNOW WE'RE NOT TRYING TO TARGET THIS TO A LARGE CONSULTANCY, BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT A PLAYER THAT CAN BRING THE OBJECTIVITY AND THE EXPERTISE. THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S GREAT. I THINK MY COMMENT MORE GOES TO WHAT MAYOR ALTY WAS SAYING IS WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS THAT EXPERTISE, KNOWLEDGE.
BUT ALSO, I GUESS MY THING IS JUST MAKING SURE WE DON'T GET STUCK WITH THE JUNIOR CONSULTANTS ON THIS ONE.
SOMETIMES THAT'S APPROPRIATE. WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE.
BUT ON THIS ONE, LET'S AVOID THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. FOR MYSELF I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, SO I'LL JUST DO MY COMMENTS.
FIRST OFF, A BIG THANKS TO CITY STAFF FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK LEADING UP TO THE EVACUATION, DURING THE EVACUATION, AND NOW AND GOING FORWARD IN THE RECOVERY.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE JNWT, THE YKDFN, THE INDIGENOUS GOVERNMENTS IN THE NWT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NGOS, BUSINESSES, AND RESIDENTS.
WE ALL HAD A PART TO PLAY IN THIS AND ALTOGETHER WE MADE IT THROUGH.
IT WASN'T EASY, IT WAS STRESSFUL AND DIFFICULT.
I KNOW I'M EXPERIENCING BURNOUT AND I'M ENCOUNTERING A LOT OF STAFF AND RESIDENTS WITH IT TOO.
ALTHOUGH WE'RE ALL NOW HOME, IT'S FAR FROM NORMAL AND FAR FROM OVER.
LIKE WE JUST HEARD FROM KEN TASK FORCE TOO, THE ROAD TO RECOVERY IS LONG AND THE AFTER ACTION REVIEW IS JUST ONE IMPORTANT STEP.
I KNOW WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN WE DON'T HAVE TO SAY THE F WORD, FIRE, OR THE S WORD, SMOKE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S A FEW MONTHS AWAY STILL.
WITH THAT SAID, I'D LIKE TO THANK AMIN FOR BRINGING THIS MEMO FORWARD AND FORGETTING THE RFP DRAFTED AND READY SO QUICKLY.
I KNOW WE'RE ALL, MYSELF, COUNCIL STAFF AND THE PUBLIC, LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS REVIEW.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LEARN FROM THIS EXPERIENCE AND WORK TO IMPROVE FOR THE FUTURE.
DID WE GET EVERYTHING RIGHT? NO. DID WE GET EVERYTHING WRONG? NO. WHICH IS WHY I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A THIRD PARTY SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT COMPLETING THE REVIEW AND PROVIDING US WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.
I'VE READ FORT MCMURRAY AND SLAVE LAKES AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT OURS ARE GOING TO BE.
I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO IT PLAY-BY-PLAY ON WHAT WENT RIGHT AND WHAT WENT WRONG BECAUSE I FEEL THAT'S JUMPING AHEAD AND GETTING INTO THE WORK OF THE REVIEW.
TODAY IS ABOUT APPROVING THAT WE DO A REVIEW.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT BEFORE THE EVACUATION, WE HAD A BASIC EMERGENCY PLAN AND EVACUATION FRAMEWORK.
DURING THE COURSE OF THE EVACUATION, RE-ENTRY, AND NOW THE RECOVERY PHASE WE HAVE A LOT MORE TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX FROM TEMPLATES TO CONTACT AND MORE.
WE WILL ALREADY BE IN A BETTER SITUATION IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR AGAIN, BUT A REVIEW IS IMPORTANT SO THAT WE SYSTEMATICALLY REVIEW EVERYTHING AND GET SHORT, MEDIUM [NOISE] AND LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
THE SUMMER IS HIGHLIGHTED THAT WE NEED TO INVEST MORE IN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN WORKING TO IMPLEMENT THEM, INCLUDING HAVING TO INCLUDE THEM IN BUDGET.
ALTHOUGH THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME BEING EVACUATED, WE'RE NOT THE FIRST COMMUNITY TO EVACUATE AND WE WON'T BE THE LAST.
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE RECOMMENDATION TO HIRE A THIRD PARTY TO DO AN AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENTS AND HAVE THE REPORT PRESENTED PUBLICLY TO COUNCIL.
THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT WAS USED BY MUNICIPALITIES LIKE FORT MCMURRAY AFTER THEIR FIRE AND I'D LIKE US TO FOLLOW THE SAME PROCESS.
FROM A TRANSPARENCY PERSPECTIVE, THE CONSULTANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PRESENT THE REPORT AND THE FINDINGS PUBLICLY AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY PARTICIPATE IN THE REVIEW, BUT ALSO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE GPC WHERE THE REPORT GETS PRESENTED AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE REPORT AT THAT TIME TOO.
COUNCIL WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO ASK THE CONSULTANT QUESTIONS PUBLICLY AT THE MEETING.
ONE QUESTION THAT COULD BE ASKED AND SHOULD BE ASKED IS, DID YOU RUN INTO ANY ISSUES WHEN COMPLETING THE REVIEW? THAT'S A FAIR AND IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR THIS REVIEW AND FOR EVERY REPORT THAT COMES TO COUNCIL.
IT'S A QUESTION THAT WE ASK OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE EVERY YEAR WHEN THE AUDITORS PRESENT OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE CITY IS PROPOSING TO UNDERTAKE THIS AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENTS TO REVIEW THE CITY'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS, FRAMEWORKS, AND PROCESSES WITHIN OUR MANDATE AND LEGISLATIVE SCOPE.
THE GNWT HAS INDICATED ITS INTENTION TO UNDERTAKE AN AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENTS THAT REFLECTS ITS MANDATE IN NWT WIDE SCOPE.
TOGETHER, THE TWO REVIEWS WILL PROVIDE A COMPLETE PICTURE FROM START TO FINISH.
I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN OUR ASSESSMENTS AND THE GNWT'S ASSESSMENT AS BOTH ASSESSMENTS WILL LOOK AT DIFFERENT ACTIONS.
BY PARTICIPATING IN BOTH, WE'LL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE FULL PICTURE.
BEYOND THE MUNICIPAL AND TERRITORIAL REVIEWS, I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE CANADIAN WILDLAND FIRE PREVENTION AND MITIGATION STRATEGY.
THE CANADIAN COUNCIL OF FOREST MINISTERS IS BEGINNING TO WORK ON THAT STRATEGY RIGHT NOW.
[02:00:04]
AT FCM'S MOST RECENT BOARD MEETING, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE IN YELLOWKNIFE TWO WEEKS AGO, BUT HAD TO BE HELD VIRTUALLY AS A RESULT OF THE FIRES, THE EXECUTIVE CALLED ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO EXPEDITE URGENTLY THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CANADIAN WILDLAND FIRE PREVENTION AND MITIGATION STRATEGY.AGAIN, EACH GOVERNMENT HAS DIFFERENT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN IT COMES TO WILDFIRES AND EMERGENCIES AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STRATEGIES ARE AS ROBUST AND COMPLIMENTARY AS POSSIBLE.
WHEN THERE'S MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS STRATEGY AND IF THERE'S PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, I'LL BE SURE TO SHARE.
THE OTHER ONE THAT I WAS JUST READING RECENTLY WAS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR CANADA TOWARD A RESILIENT 2030.
THEN THERE'S SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION THERE TOO ABOUT REALLY FOCUSING ON MEMBERS OF HOW TO HAVE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND HOW TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS ON RISKS THAT MAY AFFECT THEM AND ACTIONS THAT THEY CAN TAKE.
IT'S NOT JUST THE CITY'S ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT REALLY LOOKING AT PARTICIPATING IN ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
I DO WANT TO REITERATE, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDATION AS PRESENTED.
BUT OPENING IT UP TO ROUND 2 QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. I HAVE COUNCILOR FEQUET.
>> THANKS, MADAM CHAIR. JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON SOMETHING THAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS ROUND.
HUNDRED PERCENT I APPRECIATE AND AGREE THAT WITH RESPECT TO FUTURE WILDFIRES AND OTHER EMERGENCIES, THERE IS IMPORTANT CONTEXTS THAT DRIVES THE RESPONSE TO THE ACTIONS.
THERE'S EVEN DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN ACADEMIC AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE EXPERTS WHETHER A FRAMEWORK VERSUS A SPECIFIC PLAN SHOULD BE DEVELOPED.
I AGREE IN PRINCIPLE THAT THE SUGGESTION THAT OUR CURRENT DOCUMENTS COULD BE UPDATED IN A TIMELY MANNER TO PROVIDE MORE CERTAINTY AND COMFORT TO US AND RESIDENTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE FIBER LINE GOES DOWN.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TELL ME WHERE DID THEY EVEN GO TO FIND OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT.
THAT'S A QUESTION THAT I HEARD 100 TIMES EASILY THROUGH TEXTS AND FACEBOOK MESSAGES WHEN THIS WAS ALL GOING DOWN.
I DO AGREE THERE'S SOME BALANCE AND SPECIFICALLY A WAY TO JUST GET MORE BANG FOR OUR BUCK.
ITEM 8 IN THE SCOPE RIGHT NOW TALKS ABOUT COMMUNITY-BASED EVACUATION PLANS AND MAYBE INSTEAD OF RECOMMENDATIONS, WE COULD ACTUALLY JUST HAVE THEM REVIEW OURS AND MAKE TRACK CHANGE AND DO THE WORK OF STAFF TO AVOID ANOTHER STEP.
IT'S ACTUALLY UPDATING OUR EVALUATION FRAMEWORK INTO WHATEVER THEY RECOMMEND.
AGAIN, THAT WAY WE'RE DOING THAT IN A WAY THAT ALIGNS WITH A THIRD PARTY AND EXPERT REVIEW AND THE FEEDBACK THAT COMES INTO THAT PROCESS.
TO THE SECOND ROUND. IN THE CASE OF THIS PARTICULAR AFTER ACTION ASSESSMENT THAT WILL FOCUS ON THE DECISIONS AND THE ACTIONS OF OUR COLLECTIVE ORGANIZATION.
ENSURING WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS PROCESS IS WHAT I UNDERSTAND OBVIOUSLY AS OUR FOCUS AS COUNCILORS IN THE DISCUSSION TODAY.
IN A YEAR THAT WAS ALREADY ANTICIPATED TO HAVE A LARGER TAX INCREASE COMPARED TO PREVIOUS, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT EMBARKING ON THIS ACTION WILL HAVE BUDGET IMPLICATIONS.
WHETHER WE PAY SOMEONE TO DO IT OR DO IT OURSELVES INTERNALLY OR LOCALLY, BOTH WILL REQUIRE OUR RESOURCES.
BUT THE BENEFIT OF THE EXTERNAL THIRD-PARTY REVIEW IS THAT IT WILL HELP BUILD TRUST, IT WILL PROVIDE THE HORSEPOWER TO GET THIS WORK IN PARALLEL TO ALL THE OTHER IMPORTANT CORE OPERATIONS AND RECOVERY WORK OUR CITY STAFF NEED TO DO, AND THREE, IT'S MORE REASONABLE TO HAVE MORE EXPEDITIOUS TIMELINE EXPECTATIONS BECAUSE WE SET THE RFP.
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HEARD FROM QANTAS TOO THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT APPROACHES FOR HOW TO UNDERTAKE THESE AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENTS.
IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT EVALUATIONS OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS WITHIN GOVERNMENTS OFTEN INCLUDE A PROJECT TEAM AND SOME STEERING COMMITTEE, WHERE A PROJECT TEAM PROVIDES THE TECHNICAL SKILL SET, THE KNOWLEDGE, AND THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION TO UNDERTAKE THE WORK, WHERE A STEERING COMMITTEE IS SET UP TO PROVIDE ITS GOVERNANCE AND STRATEGIC INSIGHT AND ULTIMATELY A LINK TO ENSURE THAT THE INFORMATION AT THE END OF THE DAY MEETS THE NEEDS.
THERE'S OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND BC AND ALBERTA THAT ACTUALLY HAVE COMMITTEES.
THEY HAVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES AND DIFFERENT FORMS. I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT IN TYPICAL SITUATIONS, STAFF MANAGING THE PROCESS, THEIR RFPS BEFORE THEY GO TO THE DOOR IS NORMAL AND COUNCIL SHOULDN'T BE GETTING INTO THE WEEDS.
BUT GIVEN THE NATURE OF THIS PARTICULAR REVIEW AND JUST THE NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE REALLY GREAT QUESTIONS THAT EVERYONE HAS ABOUT SCOPE AND TIMING AND THE BUDGET AND THE APPROACH AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE FIRMED UP IN A TERMS OF REFERENCE, I'M HOPING IT MIGHT BE USEFUL JUST TO THROW A COUPLE OF IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT THE PROCESS THAT WILL BE UNDERTAKEN, AND THE MONEY THAT WILL BE SPENT AND THE TIME, AND THE ENERGY SATISFIES THE LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT THAT I'M SENSING THE PUBLIC IS LOOKING FOR.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE AN OPTION TODAY THAT WE APPRECIATE HAS BEEN PRESENTED BY ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.
ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO INCLUDE A STANDING ITEM ON OUR GPC MEETINGS MOVING
[02:05:03]
FORWARD OR WHETHER IT'S PART OF THAT MEETING OR BEFORE OR AFTER THAT MEETING AT SOME FREQUENCY, I WOULD SUGGEST MONTHLY IS PROBABLY APPROPRIATE KNOWING THIS IS A LONGER-TERM PROCESS, JUST TO GET AN UPDATE ON THINGS LIKE CHANGES THE SCOPE OR APPROACH, OR TIMING OR BUDGET.IF THERE'S STRATEGIC ITEMS OR THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ESCALATED, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT TO BE PUBLIC ALONG THE WAY.
WE COULD EVEN GO ONE STEP FURTHER AND WE COULD SET UP A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OR A SUB-COMMITTEE ACCORDING TO OUR COUNCIL PROCEDURES BY LAW.
THAT ESSENTIALLY MEANS ALL OF COUNCIL OR SUBSET OF COUNCIL, IF PEOPLE WISH, WOULD BE THE COUNCIL THAT APPROVES THE TERMS OF REFERENCE AND AGAIN, PROVIDES THAT STRATEGIC OVERSIGHT DURING THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY THE STAFF ON THE GROUND WHO ARE, AGAIN, MAKING UP MORE ANALOGOUS TO A PROJECT TEAM AND DOING THE WORK.
BUT THERE'S A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OR A SUB-COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT.
OF COURSE, WE CAN GO RIGHT TO THE END OF THE SPECTRUM, WHICH WOULD BE SETTING UP A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SPECIAL COMMITTEE OR SUBCOMMITTEE THAT DOESN'T HAVE COUNCIL PRESENT ON IT, THAT'S MADE UP OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OF THESE THREE OPTIONS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED TODAY HAVE DIFFERENT CONSIDERATIONS WITH RESPECT TO COST, ENERGY AND THE TIME IT TAKES.
I JUST WANTED TO THROW THOSE OUT THERE FOR MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES SO THAT WE CAN FIND THE BEST BALANCE OF HOW TO MOVE FORWARD THAT WILL SATISFY EVERYBODY'S NEEDS. MERCY.
>> THANK YOU. MY RECOMMENDATION IF COUNCIL DOES WANT TO CHANGE THAT, WOULD BE THAT WE SEND THIS MEMO BACK TO ADMINISTRATION AND I RECOMMEND THAT ADMINISTRATION COME FORWARD WITH AN ALTERNATE APPROACH AND A PROPOSED NEW GOVERNANCE FOR THIS, BECAUSE THE PUBLIC HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO ENGAGE OR WEIGH IN ON THE PROS AND CONS OF THAT.
THAT WOULD BE MY TWO CENTS ON PROCESS WISE. COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST ONE COMMENT FOR MYSELF AND THEN JUST TO COMMENT ON SOME OF MY COLLEAGUE'S STATEMENTS.
SEC OR 0.7 IN THE MEMO TO REVIEW THE DECLARATION OF STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY AND IMPACT OF THE TERRITORIAL STATE OF EMERGENCY, INCLUDING HOW EXPERT ADVICE AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
ECC IN THIS CASE IS USED TO DETERMINE.
YES, TOTALLY AGREE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND HOW IMPORTANT ROLE CLARITY IS FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
SECOND TO WHAT COUNCILLOR WARBURTON SAID, THE PUBLIC WANTED MORE INFO, THE PUBLIC NEEDS MORE INFO.
I UNDERSTAND HOW COMPLICATED IT IS AND THERE ARE MULTI JURISDICTIONAL RESOURCES NEEDED AND LEGISLATIVE RESPONSES OR JUST RESPONSIBILITIES.
BUT AS A GOVERNMENT JUST SAYING, IT'S COMPLICATED AND WE'RE DOING THINGS AND IT'S IN THIS ETHER BLACKBOX THING IS JUST NOT WHAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS OR EXPECTS.
THIS LEADS TO GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS JUST DOING THEIR OWN THING AND THAT HAS AN IMPACT ON HOW WE CAN RESPOND AS AN ORGANIZATION.
WE NEED TO BE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT AT USING COLLECTIVE RESOURCES.
I THINK GIVING A PLAN AND INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC IS CRUCIAL TO THIS.
THE SECOND COUNCILLOR COCHRANE'S QUESTION ABOUT SECONDARY ROLES FOR A CITY STAFF, PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ON THE GROUND IN EDMONTON, AS WELL AS HEARING OTHER STORIES FROM CALGARY AND RED DEER.
A LOT OF THOSE FUNCTIONS AT EVACUATION CENTERS, WELL, PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THEM WERE CITY STAFF THAT HAD BEEN REDEPLOYED TO THOSE SETTINGS.
I THINK HAVING DEFINED SECONDARY ROLES FOR CITY STAFF IS SUPER CRITICAL INSTEAD OF JUST REACHING OUT WHILE SOMEONE'S IN A VAN DRIVING TO HIGH-LEVEL.
WHAT CAN YOU DO OR HAVING THEM REACH OUT, HAVING SOME PREDEFINED ROLE THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE ON IS SUPERCRITICAL AND AMAZINGLY USEFUL IN THAT MOMENT.
TO THE TIME FRAME TO BE REVIEWED THAT COUNCILLOR HENDRIKSEN WAS DISCUSSING, I WOULD SECOND.
I THINK IT WAS JULY 13TH THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED WHEN THE FIRE BEGAN.
I THINK SETTING THE BEGINNING OF THE TIMEFRAME TO BE REVIEWED WHEN BATCH NEEDED TO BE EVACUATED, IT'S LIKE THEN WE'RE JUST REVIEWING THE RESPONSES.
I THINK WE NEED A WAY TO CAPTURE THE TIMEFRAME AND ANALYZE WHAT ACTIONS COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN A PREPARATORY MANNER OR PRE-EMPTIVE ACTIONS, INSTEAD OF JUST TREATING EVERYTHING LIKE IT WAS A LAST-MINUTE REACTION.
[02:10:04]
WHAT COULD WE HAVE DONE TO HAVE BEEN MORE PREPARED AND LOOKING THAT JULY 13TH DATE, THERE'S A FIRE THIS DISTANCE FROM TOWN.WHAT CAN WE START DOING BEFORE SOME SERIOUS ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN? WE ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCILLOR FEQUET IN HAVING A COMMITTEE WITH COUNCIL REPRESENTATION APPROVED THE FINALIZED RFP AND TO TAKE IN REPORTING ALONG THE WAY.
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS SOME WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ANY WAY TO REFINE THE SCOPE OF THIS WORK.
I ALSO DON'T WANT TO DELAY GETTING STARTED ON THIS, BUT I THINK HAVING A BODY OR SOME FUNCTION WHERE COUNCIL REPRESENTATION CAN APPROVE THE FINAL RFP AND TO TAKE IN REPORTING IS IMPORTANT.
ANOTHER COUPLE OF SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
NUMBER 8 IN THE MEMO, PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED EVACUATION PLANS, ETC.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING IN THIS MEMO TALKING ABOUT ANALYZING OR PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS ON RE-ENTRY PLANNING AND RE-ENTRY FRAMEWORK.
I WAS WONDERING IF ADMIN HAD THOUGHT ABOUT THIS AND IF ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RE-ENTRY COULD BE INCLUDED AS WELL.
WE WERE USING THE RECOVERY FRAMEWORK, BUT CERTAINLY WE CAN BE EXPLICIT AROUND RE-ENTRY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THAT MAKES SENSE.
WITH REGARD TO OUR CURRENT EVACUATION FRAMEWORK, ITS MOST DETAILED PORTION IS ACTUALLY DISCUSSING SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, INCLUDING AT-RISK POPULATIONS.
THIS IS DEFINED IN THE FRAMEWORK AS TRANSIENT OR HOMELESS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE VICTIMS, MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, AND THOSE EXPERIENCING INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA.
I'D LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED IN THE SCOPE OF THIS REVIEW, A STRATEGY, AND AN ANALYSIS OF THE WORK DONE BY NGOS TO EVACUATE AND RETURN AT-RISK POPULATIONS.
YES. THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ADD TO THE SCOPE.
>> MS. BASSI-KELLETT, IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE'S 20 DIFFERENT POINTS AND I FEEL LIKE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAPTURED UNDER POINT NUMBER 4.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CERTAINLY, THAT IS PART OF NUMBER 4, BUT AGAIN, THE END OF THE EMERGENCY PLAN DOES SPEAK QUITE A BIT TO THE ROLE OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES WHEN IT COMES TO THE SOCIAL EMERGENCY PLANNING AND SOCIAL SUPPORTS.
THIS IS ONE THAT WE DEFINITELY HAVE A ROLE IN, BUT THERE'S ALSO A SIGNIFICANT ROLE FOR G AND WT.
THE PART IN OUR EVACUATION FRAMEWORK, OF COURSE, SPEAKS TO MAKING SURE THAT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND PEOPLE WHO NEED SPECIFIC SUPPORTS AND ADDITIONAL SERVICES ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, THAT THEIR NEEDS ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
THAT'S THE INTENT IN OUR EVACUATION FRAMEWORK, AND WE CERTAINLY LOOK TO OUR PARTNERS AT A TIME OF EVACUATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE THE SUPPORT TO THE NGOS THAT ARE PROVIDING THE SUPPORT TO THOSE POPULATIONS DIRECTLY. THANK YOU.
>> DEFINITELY, I THINK IT'S USEFUL TO BE EXPLICIT HERE AS WELL, JUST PROVIDE ASSIST AND DO OUR OWN REVIEW ON HOW OUR ACTIONS AS A CITY WERE INVOLVED IN THAT WORK.
ARE WE GOING TO DO WRAP-UP COMMENTS OR SHOULD I MAKE THOSE NOW?
>> I THINK MY OVERALL THOUGHTS JUST GOING BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER.
I THINK GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE EXPLICIT AND PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION, CONCRETE, PRACTICAL INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AS POSSIBLE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS HARD AND THERE'S MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONAL CHALLENGES, BUT YEAH, JUST SAYING IT'S DIFFICULT AND WE'RE DOING SOMETHING.
I THINK WE NEED TO PROVIDE MUCH MORE DETAILED AND SPECIFIC INFORMATION, ALL OF THAT, THAT WE CAN AND ESPECIALLY WHAT'S WITHIN OUR CONTROL AS A CITY.
I'D LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING IN THE RFP STATING THAT WE WILL UPDATE OUR EVACUATION FRAMEWORK AND THE WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN PRIOR TO MAY 1ST, 2024.
SEEING AS RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND THE WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN TO UPDATE WITH OUR NEW RESOURCES.
OR I GUESS THE RECOMMENDATION DIDN'T INCLUDE THE NEW RESOURCES, BUT THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION THERE THAT ALREADY EXISTS.
THE PUBLIC COMPONENT, VERY CRUCIAL THAT RESIDENTS HAVE AN ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS.
[02:15:07]
I THINK IT'D BE EXTREMELY USEFUL FOR OUR OWN PLANNING GOING FORWARD FOR HELPING RESIDENTS DEAL WITH THE TRAUMA FROM THIS EVENT, ENSURING RESIDENTS FEEL HEARD AND BEGINNING TO REGAIN PUBLIC TRUST GOING FORWARD.I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME FORMALIZED PROCESS IN THE RFP FOR THAT WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC INPUT AND JUST REPORTING HAVING, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A BALANCE HERE AND NOT WANTING TO DELAY THE COMMENCEMENT OF WORK, BUT HAVING SOME BODY COMMITTEE OF COUNSEL STANDING ITEM ON GPC, DIRECT REPORTING TO THE PUBLIC, AND TO COUNSEL ON THE PROGRESS OF THIS AND REVIEW OF THE RFP JUST BEFORE WE SEND THAT OUT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO SEND THIS BACK TO ADMINISTRATION AND COUNSEL IS GOING TO HAVE TO SEND ALL YOUR POINTS IN BECAUSE REVIEWING AND REVISING OUR EVACUATION PLAN WOULD BE SEPARATE FROM AN AFTER-ACTION.
THAT'S A RECOMMENDATION THAT MAY COME FROM AN AFTER-ACTION.
BUT TO SAY, YOU SHOULD BE REVIEWING US AND FIXING OUR SYSTEMS AT THE SAME TIME IS PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
LOTS TO CONSIDER IN THAT REGARDS BUT COUNSEL MCLENNAN?
>> FOR SURE. HAVING TO SEPARATE ONE ITEM TO UPDATE THOSE PLANS BEFORE NEXT SEASON, I THINK. TOTALLY HAVING THOSE SEPARATE.
THEN GETTING SOME UPDATE DONE AND THEN FOLLOWING THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW TO UPDATE OR REFINE THAT, I THINK, YEAH.
I UNDERSTAND THE SEPARATION NEEDED THERE.
>> WE'LL HAVE TO WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND THE FACT THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE REVIEWING OUR CURRENT ONE WHILE SOMEBODY'S UPDATING OUR CURRENT ONE MEANS THAT OUR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE A LITTLE SKEWED ONCE IT FINALLY COMES TO COUNSEL.
SENSING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEND THIS MEMO BACK TO ADMINISTRATION AND GET EVERYBODY TO SUBMIT ALL THEIR COMMENTS.
THEN WE'LL BRING FORWARD A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS MOVING FORWARD.
FOR AROUND 2 QUESTIONS, COMMENTS. ANYTHING, COUNSEL HENDRICKSON.
>> THANKS MY LOYALTY. I DON'T WANT TO GET TO THAT POINT OF SAYING WE HAVE TO SEND IT BACK TO ADMIN YET.
I THINK THERE'S THINGS THAT MAYBE WE CAN TEASE OUT HERE.
BUT MAYBE THAT'S JUST ME BEING [LAUGHTER], A FOOLISH, ETERNAL OPTIMIST.
BUT FROM WHAT I'M HEARING IS THERE ARE THOSE TWO DISTINCT PIECES.
BUT JUST FOCUSING ON THE MEMO AT HAND AND THINKING THROUGH THE REVIEW PIECE, IS THAT WHAT COUNSEL KEPT PUT FORWARD THERE IN TERMS OF OPTIONS FOR MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S PUBLIC TRUST IN THE PROCESS, JUST IN TERMS OF OBJECTIVITY.
JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE I WOULD SAY IS, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS A LOT OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND SPEND MY WHOLE WEEKEND DIVING DOWN COMMITTEE STRUCTURES FROM OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
BUT BASICALLY FROM WHERE I'M THINKING THIS ONE THROUGH IS THAT WE GO FORWARD WITH THE REVIEW AS ADMIN HAS PUT IT FORWARD WITH MAYBE A CAVEAT THAT THE RFP COMES TO COUNSEL AS AN INFO ITEM OR GPC AS AN INFO ITEM STRICTLY FOR OUR NOTIFICATION, THE CITY'S NOTIFICATION AS THE RESIDENTS REPRESENTATIVES, SO THAT WE CAN JUST HAVE A FINAL YET WE'RE HAPPY WITH THE RFP FIRST.
NOT AN OVERARCHING WHERE THEY'RE MANAGING THE REVIEW JUST WE AS THE RESIDENTS REPRESENTATIVES, WERE HAPPY WITH THE RFP AND THEN A MONTHLY CHECK-IN ADDED TO THE GPC OR BIMONTHLY, WHATEVER SEEMS APPROPRIATE.
BUT THAT JUST BECOMES PART OF GOOD PROJECT MANAGEMENT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING STRUCTURALLY DIFFERENT.
THEN THERE'S THE RABBIT HOLE THAT I'VE GONE DOWN THE [LAUGHTER] LAST WHILE WHICH IS THAT STRUCTURE FROM A COMMITTEE PERSPECTIVE.
THIS BRINGS ME TO A QUESTION FOR YOU MY LOYALTY AND FOR CITY MANAGER IS I KNOW THAT ALL OF OUR WORK SCHEDULES ACROSS THE CITY AND TERRITORY HAD BEEN BLOWN APART OVER THE LAST MONTH.
I REALLY NOT EXPECTING A CLEAR ANSWER ON [LAUGHTER] THIS, BUT ROUGHLY, WHEN IS THE WORK AROUND COMMITTEE REVIEW EXPECTED TO COME TO COUNSEL? BECAUSE I THINK THIS HAS SHOWN THAT A PUBLIC EMERGENCY PUBLIC PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE, AS EVIDENCED BY EVERY MUNICIPALITY OF DECENT STANDING THAT I CAN SEE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, A PROVINCE THAT IS FACED WITH TSUNAMI THREADS FOR WILDFIRE THREATS, EARTHQUAKE THREATS AND THEIR LEGISLATION REQUIRES THIS TYPE OF PLANNING.
[02:20:04]
I JUST THINK THAT THERE'S A SPACE FOR LET'S GET THIS UNDERWAY IN A WAY THAT WE'RE NOT HOLDING UP THE PROCESS FOR ONE.BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I ALSO THINK AND COUNSELOR COCHRAN, YOU MENTIONED THIS EARLIER IS WE'RE PART OF THIS TOO.
THERE IS A PART OF ME THAT JUST LIKE A MINISTER AND THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT OR MINISTER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED BEFORE AS WELL.
EVEN THOUGH WE WERE ONLY IN THESE SEATS FOR NINE MONTHS, WE OWN IT. THIS IS ON US.
IT'S NOT ON ADMIN, IT'S NOT ON CAN TASK FORCE TOO, IT'S US.
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED BEFORE IS ON US AND EVERYTHING WE DO FROM HERE ON OUT IS ON US.
THIS IS WHERE HONESTLY, AS I THINK ABOUT, I DON'T WANT A COMMITTEE THAT I'M A PART OF THAT'S JUDGING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONTRACTS OR ANY OF THAT.
I THINK A PLACE THAT'S MAYBE THE MOST HAPPY BALANCE IS ADMIN GOES WITH THE SCOPE WITH COUNSEL'S COMMENTS TODAY.
THEY TRIED TO FIND A WAY SO WE DON'T HAVE TO.
BUT ALSO I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT MOVE IN MY HEAD.
BUT ADMIN GOES FORWARD WITH THE SCOPE AS WE HAVE TODAY WITH THE COMMENTS WE'VE HAD, BRINGS THAT BACK TO THE NEXT COUNSEL MEETING, WE CAN DO AN RFP UP ON THAT.
THE RFP COMES BACK TO COUNSEL NOT AS AN APPROVAL STAGE, BUT AS AN INFO ITEM.
AS AN INFO ITEM TO THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY AND US AS THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.
THAT GIVES US OUR FINAL CHANCE TO JUST GO, YEAH, WE'RE HAPPY WITH THIS RFP ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.
THEN THE REVIEW HAPPENS BY EXPERTS WHO ARE IN THIS FIELD.
WE CAN GET MONTHLY OR BIMONTHLY REVIEWS, AND THEN ULTIMATELY WE SEPARATELY, I THINK, NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THAT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE STRUCTURE.
WHEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT ALSO YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE COMMITTEES IN THE CITY.
WE HAVE THEM FOR SOCIAL ISSUES, WE HAVE THEM FOR FINANCIAL ISSUES.
WE DON'T HAVE THEM FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.
WE DON'T HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT FOCUSES ON THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ALL AGREE, EVEN WITHOUT A REVIEW IS SOMETHING WE CAN FILL WITHOUT WAITING FOR REVIEW.
THAT'S A LONG [LAUGHTER] SPIEL THERE.
APOLOGIES FOR THAT, BUT I'M ALSO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY, I DON'T WANT TO SEE US GO BACK TO REVISE A MEMO FOR TWEEKS THAT I'M NOT SURE WILL IMPROVE THE ULTIMATE PROCESS.
OBVIOUSLY, I THINK WHAT I'M SAYING IS MAYBE THE WAY TO GO FORWARD OTHERWISE I WOULDN'T SAY IT, BUT THAT'S WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO DO NOW. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE'S GENERAL SUPPORT FROM COUNSEL TO PROCEED WITH THE RECOMMENDATION AS PRESENTED, THEN IT DOESN'T GO BACK.
BUT IF PEOPLE WANT TO ADD MORE TO THIS SCOPE OF WORK BEYOND A FEW COMMENTS AT THE BEGINNING WHERE IT WAS LIKE ADD AN INTERIM REPORT TO COUNSEL AT PUBLIC FORUMS, THAT'S OKAY.
IF WE'RE STARTING TO ANALYZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RE-ENTRY AND RECOVERY FRAMEWORK.
THOSE ARE SMALLER PIECES IF WE'RE STARTING TO DO AND THE CONSULTANT HAS TO REVIEW AND REVISE THE EVACUATION PLAN.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A COMMITTEE THAT THIS CONSULTANTS REPORTING TO, THAT CHANGES THE BUDGET, IT CHANGES THE TIME-FRAME AND COUNSEL DOES NEED TO SEE WHAT THIS TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THIS COMMITTEE IS.
IF COUNSEL WANTS TO MOVE DOWN THE PATH OF CREATING A SEPARATE COMMITTEE AND NOT JUST HAVING THE INTERIM REPORT AND THE FINAL REPORT COMING FORWARD TO GPC.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IN REGARDS TO SEEING THE RFP, THIS IS BASICALLY THE RFP.
IT'S THE SCOPE OF WORK AND IT'S THE DELIVERABLES.
TRUE, THERE'S NOT THE EVALUATION CRITERIA.
I DON'T KNOW IF COUNSEL REALLY WANTS TO GET INTO THE WEIGHTING OF PROJECT TEAM GETS 20% VERSUS RELEVANT EXPERIENCE 25.
IF WE WANT TO DELAY THIS, AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR POLICY PRINCIPLES ARE.
WE DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS A TRANSPARENT ENOUGH PROCESS, IT NEEDS MORE WORK.
WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT NEEDS MORE TIME AND WE'RE GOING TO DELAY THE PROCESS SO EYES WIDE OPEN DECISIONS ON THAT STUFF.
IN REGARDS TO COMMITTEES, HOPEFULLY, THIS FALL.
BUT YEAH, IF COUNCIL WANTS TO ADD ANOTHER COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, I SEE WOOD BUFFALO DOES THAT.
THERE'S ALSO AN RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO LOOK AT GEORGE CUFF'S GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE WOULD BE THAT COMMITTEES CAN BE QUITE EXCLUSIVE AND SO REALLY SHOULD IT BE THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS LOOKING AT THE EMERGENCY PLAN BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT FOUR MAX EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE.
[02:25:06]
THEY REVIEW THE EMERGENCY PLAN EVERY YEAR OR SHOULD JUST THE EMERGENCY PLAN COME TO GPC ONCE A YEAR? THEN THAT'S A PUBLIC THING.AGAIN, BEFORE WE GO HOG WILD ON COMMITTEES, THERE ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES THAT GEORGE CUFF PROVIDED.
THERE CAN ALSO BE AN ANNUAL ROUNDTABLE, WHICH I THINK COULD BE REALLY VALUABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE PRESENT.
DON'T TRUST US, GET A THIRD-PARTY EXPERT TO COME IN AND TALK ABOUT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, BUT ALSO HAVE OUR STAFF THERE TO TALK ABOUT.
THIS IS HOW IT WORKS AT THE CITY.
SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE WE GET TO THE COMMITTEE STAGE, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC, BUT COUNCILLOR HENDRIKSEN.
>> THANKS FOR THAT. ONE THING I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS AND YOU MADE REFERENCE TO ABOUT TRUSTING THE PROCESS OR TRUSTING AND MEN THROUGH THIS.
TO ME THIS IS NOT ABOUT THAT AT ALL.
BUT AS I CAN'T REMEMBER, WHICH COUNCILLOR OR MAYBE THERE'S ONE OR TWO, THE PUBLIC IS LACKING TRUST.
NOT SO MUCH IN THE CITY SPECIFICALLY, BUT JUST IN A PROCESS AROUND EVERYTHING.
NOT JUST IN THE CITIES PROCESSES AROUND OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT PROCESSES.
WHILE WE MAY NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE ACTIONS, WE AS PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES HAVE TO OWN THAT AGAIN.
IT'S JUST THAT I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK THROUGH WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IN ORDER TO KEEP THINGS SMOOTH, OPERATIONAL IN TERMS OF GETTING AN RFP OUT.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME MAKES THE CITY AND OUR RESIDENTS KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE UP FRONT.
BUT OVERALL I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE SCOPE OF WORK AS IT IS.
I KNOW IT'LL COME BACK TO COUNCIL ANYWAY FOR FINAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL BECAUSE THAT'S THE PROCESS AS OPPOSED TO THE DISCUSSION OR IN THE COMMITTEES I THINK IS DEFINITELY I WON'T GO DOWN THAT RABBIT HOLE BECAUSE AGAIN I'VE BEEN DOWN THIS RABBIT HOLE THE LAST WHILE AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT STRUCTURES BEYOND JUST A SMALL COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL.
I'M THINKING SOMETHING MUCH MORE ROBUST THAN THAT.
BUT THAT'S A DISCUSSION FOR THAT AUTUMN CONVERSATION.
ANYWAY, I'LL STOP AT THAT. THANKS VERY MUCH, MADAM MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU. IF COUNCILS IN GENERAL SUPPORT WITH A FEW OF THE TWEAKS, THOSE TWEAKS WOULD BE DONE BEFORE IT COMES FORWARD TO OUR OCTOBER 10TH COUNCIL MEETINGS.
IT WOULDN'T COME BACK TO ANOTHER GPC, BUT WE COULD JUST ADD THOSE SO THAT WHEN WE'RE PROVING THIS RECOMMENDATION AT THE OCTOBER 10TH COUNCIL MEETING THAT YOU SEE THAT X, Y, AND Z ITEMS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED.
HOWEVER, IF WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO STUFF LIKE REVIEWING AND REVISING THE EVACUATION PLAN, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DISCUSS AND VOTE ON BEFORE THAT COMES TO COUNCIL.
WE'VE GOT COUNCILLOR HENDRIKSEN.
>> YOU JUST SAID SOMETHING ELSE THAT PIQUED MY INTEREST.
TO ME WAS MY UNDERSTANDING AND MAYBE THIS IS WHEN AND THEN I'LL STOP AND THEN THIS WILL KICK THIS TO COUNCIL MCLENNAN COUNCIL FEQUET ON BEHALF OF THIS.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS NOT NECESSARILY THAT THEY'RE UPDATING THE EVACUATION PLAN, ETC.
IT WAS TO BE WRAPPED INTO THIS AND THEREFORE BE PART OF THE SCOPE OF WORK, BUT THAT WOULD BE SEPARATE AND THEREFORE NOT PART OF THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR THIS REVIEW.
IN WHICH CASE, TO ME, THAT DOESN'T STOP IT.
IF THINKING I AGREE WITH YOU, IF WE WERE ADDING IT TO THE SCOPE OF REVIEW, THEN I THINK IT'S GOT TO COME BACK BECAUSE THEN BECOMES A WHOLE DIFFERENT BEAST.
BUT IF IT'S SCOPE OF REVIEW AND THEN WE STILL NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION OF DO WE DO SOMETHING PRIOR TO THAT REVIEW BEING COMPLETED? I THINK THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS AND WE SHOULDN'T STOP THIS TRACK FOR THIS PIECE.
>> AGREED. I DID HEAR COMMENTS THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS, SO COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN.
>> I THINK SEPARATE MAKES SENSE.
I AGREE WITH COUNCILLOR HENDRIKSEN TWEAKS ADDING INTERIM REPORT, REGULAR UPDATES, PUBLIC INPUT COMPONENT, EXPLICITNESS ON A REVIEW OF THE RE-ENTRY.
I CAN PROPOSE SEPARATELY, MAYBE A SEPARATE RFP OR SOME MECHANISM TO UPDATE THE PLANS SEPARATELY AS NOT TO FOLD IN AND COMPLICATE THE AFTER-ACTION REVIEW.
I'M JUST DOING SECOND ROUND BEFORE WE GO TO ONE MORE ROUND.
COUNCILLOR FEQUET YOU HAD A POINT?
>> YEAH. MAYBE JUST TO IN THE VEIN OF TRYING TO HELP US ADVANCE THE CONVERSATION.
WHAT I'M HEARING FOLKS SAY IS THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT THEY THINK ARE EITHER NECESSARY OR THEY WANT.
ONE IS AN APPROVAL OF, THIS IS THE SCOPE IT'S ON A TERMS OF REFERENCE.
IT DOESN'T HAVE THE REPORTING IN THE ENGAGEMENT PIECE WHICH I THINK IS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY.
[02:30:01]
I'M JUST WONDERING, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS THIS TO BE DELAYED AND BECAUSE SUPPORT OF THIS RECOMMENDATION HAS PROPOSED TODAY WAS GOING TO COME BACK TO THE OCTOBER 10TH COUNCIL MEETING IS MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF IT'S POSSIBLE CAN WE HAVE THE FULL RFP DONE BY THAT TUESDAY AND BE PART OF THE GPC MEETING.IF THERE'S ANY FURTHER TWEAKS THAT ARE NEEDED AT THAT TIME, WE CAN DISCUSS THEM.
COUNCILLORS GETTING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROCESS WILL CARRY OUT AND I'M ALSO IN FAVOR.
NOT LIKE MY PREFERENCE IS NOT TO ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE.
I AGREE THAT WOULD NOT BE IDEAL.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION HOLISTICALLY AND LOOK AT ALL OUR COMMITTEES AND WHERE WE REALLY NEED IT.
BUT I THINK WE DO NEED A REGULAR OPPORTUNITY TO BE UPDATED.
NOT JUST ON THE PROGRESS OF THE ASSESSMENT, BUT IF THERE ARE ISSUES RELATED TO SCOPE APPROACH, TIMING, OR BUDGET, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE PROVIDED AS A STANDING ITEM TO GPC.
I THINK THAT'S THE LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE THAT THIS ASSESSMENT IS TAKING TO THE COMMUNITY.
AS COUNCIL, THAT'S A WAY WE COULD RECOGNIZE THAT IMPORTANCE THAT WE'RE INCLUDING IT ON OUR MEETINGS AND BEING INFORMED TO THE LEVEL THAT THE PUBLIC IS BEING INFORMED AND IF THERE'S CHANGES TO HOW WE'RE DOING SOMETHING OR WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETED OR THE TAX IMPLICATIONS OF THE REVIEW THAT THOSE ARE ALL PARTS OF THE UPDATE THAT COMES.
IT MAYBE IT'S JUST ONE OF OUR GPC MEETINGS A MONTH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
MY PREFERENCE IS NOT FOR COUNCIL.
I THINK THAT THE STICKING POINTS WHERE THE DESIRES THAT I'M HEARING TODAY ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT FINAL RFP.
IT CAN BE IT CAN BE TO REVIEW IT AND OR APPROVE IT.
I DON'T CARE. I THINK THE PUBLIC WOULD ALLOW US TO WALK SOMETHING ON TO COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 10TH FROM GPC, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S LIKE WITH MINOR MODIFICATIONS OR IT'S PERFECT AS IS THAT GPC.
I THINK THAT I'M OKAY WITH THAT AND THAT DOESN'T DELAY THE PROCESS AND IT GIVES US THAT CHICKEN.
AS LONG AS THAT REGULAR REPORTING HAPPENS ALONG THE WAY, I FEEL LIKE ALL OF THE GREAT SUGGESTIONS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE TODAY WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE FINAL TERMS OF REFERENCE.
I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE PUBLIC FORUMS AND ALL THOSE THINGS BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY CLEAR HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
I JUST WANT TO THROW THAT OUT THERE AS A SPECIFIC SUGGESTION, I GUESS THAT SECOND OPTION OR WHATEVER THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER JUST TO HELP FOCUS MAYBE THE LAST COMMENTS PEOPLE HAVE MOVING FORWARD, IF THAT WOULD SATISFY THE PROCESS AND THE NEEDS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IN MY HEAD SO WE WILL.
THE SCOPE OF WORK AND DELIVERABLES ARE AS MERYL D, CHAIR ALTE SAID, THE MEAT OF WHAT WILL BE IN TERMS OF REFERENCE.
THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE WOULD INCLUDE IN THE TERMS OF REFERENCE WOULD BE A BACKGROUND PIECE, WHICH IS BASICALLY WHAT WOULD BE IN THE MEMO'S BACKGROUND.
WE WOULD ADD BUDGET AMOUNT, WE WOULD ADD TIMEFRAME, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE THE EVALUATION CRITERIA. THIS WILL BE IT.
I'VE HEARD COUNCIL TODAY THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE WILL ADD IN HERE, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC FORUM THAT'S VERY EXPLICIT.
THE INTERIM REPORT TO COUNCIL, ADJUSTMENTS TO NUMBER 6, ADJUSTMENTS TO NUMBER 8, ADJUSTMENTS TO NUMBER 13 THAT WERE RAISED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M JUST CURIOUS ON THE REPORTING TO GPC MONTHLY BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE REALLY REPORTING ON THE PROCESS.
CONSULTANT IS WORKING AND WE DID IN A DATA DUMP ON THEM LAST WEEK AND THEY'RE GOING THROUGH EVERYONE'S EMAILS.
NOW IT IS THAT THEY ARE TALKING TO STAKEHOLDERS.
I'M CURIOUS BECAUSE I SEE THAT THERE'S REAL MERIT IN THAT WE BUILD INTO THE DELIVERABLE AND INTERIM REPORTING THAT THE CONSULTANTS DO.
THEY COME TO GPCR OR TO COUNCIL AND THEY SAY, OKAY, SO AT THIS POINT IN THE PROCESS, HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW.
HERE'S THE DISCUSSIONS WE WANT.
WE WANT TO TALK TO MORE PEOPLE IN AREA X BECAUSE WE THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
THAT TO ME WOULD BE THE WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO COUNCIL AND MAYBE I'M MISSING THE POINT AROUND THE REGULAR REPORTING IN TWO GPC BECAUSE THAT WOULD REALLY BE REPORTING ON PROCESS.
IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, WHAT COUNCIL IS LOOKING FOR IS, WHAT'S THE SUBSTANTIVE? WHAT ARE THE FINDINGS? WHAT ARE YOU SEEING? WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND WE CHANGE? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY? WHAT ARE THE GREAT THINGS THAT HAPPENED? I KNOW COUNCIL REALLY WANTS TO HEAR THAT AS WELL, TO HEAR ALL OF THE POSITIVES THAT CAME OUT.
IF I CAN JUST SEEK TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE, BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THIS.
WE CAN GET IT BACK FOR EXPLICIT COUNCIL APPROVAL BY THE 10TH.
THAT ADDS IN THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED TODAY AND THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THIS OUT THEN AND EXPEDITE THE PROCESS.
BUT IF I COULD JUST GET SOME TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CHECK-IN AT GPC WOULD INVOLVE IF IT WASN'T JUST THE PROCESS UPDATES, EITHER FROM ADMINISTRATION TELLING WHAT THE CONSULTANTS HAVE DONE OR DIRECTLY FROM THE CONSULTANTS THEMSELVES. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, MADAM CHAIR. THANKS, GREAT QUESTION.
BECAUSE IF THAT'S NOT CLEAR, THEN THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE CLEAR FOR SURE.
[02:35:03]
MY ASSUMPTION OR WHAT I WAS TRYING TO ARTICULATE WITH THAT, REGULAR REPORTING A GPC WOULD BE ON SCOPE, APPROACH, TIMING, OR BUDGET CHANGES, NOT THE RESULTS.WE SHOULD NOT BE TOUCHING THE RESULTS UNTIL THE PROPER INTERIM REPORT COMES OUT WAS NOT WHAT I WAS TRYING TO INFER, JUST ANY CHANGES TO THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS ITSELF.
SO SCOPE, APPROACH, TIMING, BUDGET, AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD ARISE THAT MAY IMPACT THE PERCEIVED RESULT OF THIS WHOLE ASSESSMENT.
[INAUDIBLE] SAID THIS MORNING, REGULAR EXTERNAL INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS DURING THIS ASSESSMENT PROCESSES IS NEEDED.
THIS MONTHLY REPORTING IS SIMPLY A SUGGESTION TO BALANCE.
HAVING A FULL COUNCIL TO OVERSEE THE WHOLE PROCESS VERSUS NOT HEARING ABOUT THIS UNTIL FOR SIX MONTHS.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND I FEEL LIKE IT DOESN'T PUT US INTO A PROBLEM AREA WITH RESPECT TO OUR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT JUST HELPS GIVE THE PUBLIC AND COUNCIL JUST AN ADDITIONAL LEVEL OF COMFORT THAT THERE'S REGULAR COMMUNICATIONS COMING OUT ABOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
IF THE PROCESS CHANGES, SCOPE, APPROACH, TIMING, BUDGET, OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT MAY IMPACT THE PERCEPTION OF THOSE RESULTS WHEN THEY COME IN THE INTERIM AND FINAL REPORTS, THAT'S THE STUFF THAT WOULD BE REPORTED.
THREE LESSONS ARE IMPORTANT WITH OUR WELFARE PLAN SO FAR.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET INTO THOSE DETAILS. SO HOPEFULLY IT HELPS.
>> AN UPDATE FROM ADMIN IS SUFFICIENT OR DOES THE CONSULTANT HAVE TO PRESENT TO COUNCIL EVERY MONTH?
>> MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE WOULD BE IT WOULD BE SOMETHING PREPARED BY THE CONSULTANT THAT ADMIN COULD PRESENT, SO IT'S LESS WORK FOR ADMIN.
THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE, NOT SOMETHING THAT EXTERNAL PARTY HAS TO BE PRESENT AND WE'RE PAYING FOR THAT TIME AND EXAMINE ADDITIONAL COST IN THE PROCESS. THAT WOULD.
>> BECAUSE PAST PRACTICES HAS BEEN LIKE IF I TAKE THE AQUATIC CENTER FOR EXAMPLE, IS IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL.
IF A SCOPE CHANGE THEN IT HAS TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL.
BUT IF WE WANT A PROACTIVE MONTHLY FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO SAY NO CHANGES, WE CONTINUE ON. WE COULD DO THAT.
I DON'T THINK IF THAT'S THE LEVEL THAT COUNCILS COMFORTABLE WITH, THAT IT'S JUST AN UPDATE FROM ADMIN THAT NOTHING'S HAPPENED OVER THE MONTH.
THAT'S NO CHANGE TO THE CONTRACT.
SEEING NODDING HEADS. THAT'S GOOD.
AGAIN, THIS MEMO IS THE BASICALLY THE RFP, IT HAS THE SCOPE OF WORK, IT HAS THE DELIVERABLES.
DOES COUNCIL NEED THE FULL RFP TO COME FORWARD OR?
>> I WILL DISCUSS IT AGAIN AT GPC ON OCTOBER 10TH. SO WE'RE OKAY..
>> WALKING ON TO COUNCIL THAT NIGHT.
BECAUSE ASSUMING IT'S GOING TO BE TWEETS, IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY TWEETS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'LL SEE WHAT GPC IS OCTOBER 10TH THERE.
I GUESS NOTHING FROM A PROCUREMENT PERSPECTIVE.
WE JUST ISSUING IT BEFORE PUTTING IT ON THE WEBSITE LIKE WE GENERALLY DO.
BUT ANY PROCUREMENT CHALLENGES WITH THAT?
IF WE ARE, WE WILL MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE'VE NOTED TODAY.
THIS IS GREAT, IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT A MUCH BETTER DOCUMENT.
THE ABSOLUTELY COMMIT THAT ONCE THIS IS OUT, IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES TO SCOPE, APPROACH, TIMING, AND BUDGET, THAT THIS WILL COME BACK TO GPC.
IF WE MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS NOW AND WE HIGHLIGHT THOSE IN THE ADJUSTMENT THAT GOES TO COUNCIL AS ALWAYS THE GPC COMMITTEE REPORTS GO TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, WE CAN HIGHLIGHT THE CHANGES IN HERE.
WITH THAT SUFFICE IS THAT THIS IS QUITE WOULD THAT MAKE THAT THE ADJUSTMENTS FROM TODAY TO BE INCLUDED AND THAT THEY COULD BE PART OF THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON OCTOBER 10TH.
I'M JUST SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ADDITIONAL GPC STEP WAS. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, MADAM CHAIR. I WAS JUST SUGGESTING THAT IN LIEU OF AGAIN, A COMMITTEE THAT WOULD BE APPROVING THE RFP OR IN LIEU OF COUNCIL AT NEEDING TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR FORMAL APPROVAL.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY OR COUNCIL COULD JUST SEE EVERYTHING PUT TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS KICKED OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT.
BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST REITERATED TODAY, CAPTURING AND SUMMARIZING ALL THE SUGGESTIONS, I FEEL LIKE IT'S PRETTY TIGHT AND THAT'S WHY I'M CONFIDENT.
MAYBE WE COULD WALK IT ON THAT SAME EVENING.
[02:40:01]
BUT YEAH, IT'S JUST PROVIDING THAT OPPORTUNITY.I DON'T KNOW HOW OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS FEEL ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE SUGGESTION.
>> IT'S FOR INFORMATION ITEM AT GPC ON OCTOBER 10TH OR IS IT FOR COUNCIL TO APPROVE THERE? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT COUNCIL DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO SEEK EXTERNAL EXPERTISE TO COMPLETE AN AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENT.
[NOISE] AS GPC REQUESTING THAT THE RFP COME FORWARD ON OCTOBER 10TH FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF COUNTS BY COUNCIL, OR BECAUSE THIS IS THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF THE RFPS IS THE SCOPE OF WORK AND THE DELIVERABLES.
ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO UPDATE IT TO INCLUDE THE POINTS THAT WE NEED.
THEN COUNCIL IS GOING TO APPROVE THIS MOTION THAT DIRECTS ADMINISTRATION TO SEEK EXTERNAL EXPERTISE AT OUR COUNCIL MEETING ON OCTOBER 10TH.
I'M STRUGGLING, I GUESS, TO SEE OUR TWO SEPARATE WELL, I CAN SEE THE TWO SEPARATE EMOTIONS WHEN WE DIRECT ADMINISTRATION THE MOTION AFTER WE APPROVE THE RFP.
ANY CLARITY ON, JUST I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR.
COUNCIL IS REQUESTING THAT ADMINISTRATION BRING FORWARD AN RFP ON OCTOBER 10TH FOR COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
IS THAT WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED? COUNCILOR MCLENNAN.
>> THANK YOU. IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO THAT, SO LIKE MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION NOW? IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THAT TO COME FORWARD AT GPC ON OCTOBER 10TH? AT THIS POINT, ASSUMING THAT IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT EXISTS WITH A FEW ADDITIONS OR TWEAKS AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
IF THAT IS THE CASE AND COUNSEL SAYS, YEAH, TOTALLY ALL GOOD.
IS IT POSSIBLE THEN TO VOTE ON IT FOR ADMIN TO SEEK A CONTRACTOR USING THIS RFP THAT EVENING IN THE COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 10TH?
>> IT IS POSSIBLE. I'M TRYING TO GET CLARITY THAT COUNCIL DOESN'T WANT.
COUNCIL WANTS THIS RECOMMENDATION AND COUNCIL WANTS A SECOND MOTION TO COME FOR IT ON OCTOBER 10TH WHERE WE OFFICIALLY APPROVE THE RFP.
>> I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO OFFICIALLY APPROVE IT A GPC AND THEN TALK ABOUT IT COUNCIL THAT EVENING.
I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME.
>> SEEING COUNCILOR HENDRICKSON, COUNCILOR MCLENNAN, COUNCILOR COCHRANE, AND WARBURTON.
WE WILL COME BACK TO GPC ON OCTOBER 10TH WITH THE FULL RFP FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL PENDING HOW THAT DISCUSSION GOES.
IT MAY GET WALKED ONTO THE AGENDA THAT NIGHT.
IT LEAVES THIS MOTION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> COUNCILOR DEPUTY MAYOR ANN SMITH.
>> YES. I JUST WANTED TO ASK ADMINISTRATION A QUESTION.
>> WHAT IS THEIR NORMAL PROCESS IN RSP?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
TYPICALLY RFPS ARE NOT APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
CERTAINLY IN THIS CASE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY SPECIAL AND THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO BRING THE SUBSTANCE OF THE RFP IN THE MEMO ITSELF, THE SCOPE OF WORK AND THE DELIVERABLES.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE BRINGING FORWARD AND THEN WE WOULD TURN AND PUT THIS INTO AN RFP. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, BY ADDING THAT ADDITIONAL STEPS WITH OCTOBER 10TH, WHAT WE'RE ESSENTIALLY DOING IS WE'RE ADDING AN EXTRA STEP THAT DOESN'T REALLY NEED TO BE THERE BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE FORWARD IS AN RFP THAT ADMINISTRATION HAS BROUGHT FORWARD FOR OUR REVIEW SO THAT WE CAN ADD OUR COMMENTS WHICH ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO DO FOR US.
THEN SHOULD BE BROUGHT OVER TO COUNCIL, BUT WE'RE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL STEP.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE? THAT'S MY QUESTION.
THE COUNCILORS IN SUPPORT OF THIS ARE LOOKING FOR THAT EXTRA STEP.
>> WELL, I'M IN SUPPORT AS SUGGESTED ON THIS MEMO.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED TO ADD ADDITIONAL STEPS CONSIDERING THIS IS THE STEPS.
IT'S RFP IS BROUGHT FORWARD, WE HAVE HAD OUR VERY FULSOME DISCUSSION ON IT.
WE HAVE MAYOR COMMENTS TO ADMINISTRATION, WHICH I HAVE FULL FAITH IN THEM, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PUT EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE JUST BROUGHT FORWARD INTO THAT RFP, SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS UNDERWAY.
I THINK BY ADDING AN ADDITIONAL STEP,
[02:45:02]
IT TAKES AWAY FROM YOU.[NOISE] NOT THAT IT TAKES AWAY, BUT IT ADDS AN UNNECESSARY EXTRA STEP INTO THE PROCESS.
THAT'S WHERE I'M AT. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE ADDING MORE STEPS WHEN THE MEMO DOESN'T NEED TO BE.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE ABOUT TO EXCEED OUR THREE-HOUR MARK.
IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO EXTEND BEYOND THREE HOURS, MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSON SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR FOKEDS.
ANYBODY OPPOSED, SEEING NONE, WE CAN GO BEYOND THREE HOURS. COUNCILLOR MCGURK.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ITERATE MY SUPPORT FOR REVIEWING THIS ON OCTOBER 10TH.
WELL, FIRST OFF, THIS IS NOT A USUAL RFP PROCESS, AND FROM MY INTERPRETATION OF OTHER COUNCILORS' COMMENTS AND MY OWN FEELINGS ABOUT HOW THIS SHOULD PLAY OUT, IS THAT THIS EXTRA STEP IS AN ATTEMPT TO BE EXPLICITLY TRANSPARENT IN WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE TRANSPARENT BECAUSE THE PUBLIC IS LACKING IN TRUST.
THAT IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT TO THE REASONING FOR THE OCTOBER 10TH.
I THINK IT'S AN ACT OF GOODWILL AND FAITH FOR THE PUBLIC JUST TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES THAT CONSTITUENTS HAVE TALKED TO ME ABOUT DIFFICULTIES THEY'VE HAD WITH RFPS, AND THEY'RE NOT THINGS THAT LAND ON OUR DESK IMMEDIATELY AND THAT'S OKAY, BUT THIS IS NOT THE SAME SITUATION.
I DON'T KNOW, I THINK IT JUST SEEMS PRETTY EVIDENT TO ME THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS EXERCISE IS TRANSPARENCY SO WHY NOT BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE?
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T THINK IT'S A CASE OF NOT TRYING TO BE TRANSPARENT, IT'S JUST THE BULK OF THE RFPS HERE, SO IT JUST MAKES PROCEDURALLY DIFFICULT TO RECOMMEND THAT WE BRING THIS MOTION FORWARD ON OCTOBER 10TH, BECAUSE AT A GPC ON OCTOBER 10TH, COUNCIL MAY NOT SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT'S IN IT, IF THIS MEMO CONTRADICTS THAT ONE.
AN INTERESTING PROCEDURAL CHALLENGE, BUT WE'LL WORK THROUGH THAT ONE STEP-BY-STEP.
SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, COUNCILLOR MCGURK?
>> IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT BECAUSE IT'S IN THE MEMO DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE RFP.
THE POINT OF BRINGING THE RFP FORWARD IS TO PROVE TO THE PUBLIC THAT THESE ITEMS ARE THERE AND ARE A PART OF THE RFP.
>> ADMIN WILL BE COPYING AND PASTING THE SCOPE OF WORK, AND SO THE WAY THAT A COUNCIL PACKAGE COMES FORWARD, THERE WILL BE THIS GPC AGENDA AT THE BACK.
HOWEVER, THIS MEMO WOULD BE UPDATED WITH AN UPDATED SCOPE OF WORK BASED ON COUNCIL'S COMMENTS.
HOWEVER, WE'LL HAVE A SECOND MEMO ON OCTOBER 10TH AT 12:05 THAT REITERATES THE MINUTES OF THIS MEETING.
THAT'S WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED.
IT'S REVIEWING THE MINUTES AT 12:05.
>> THANK YOU. I'M NOT SURE IT'S REVIEWING THE MINUTES OF WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT NOW.
IT'S TO SEE MAYBE THIS DOCUMENT TO THE MEMO EXACTLY WHAT'S HERE IS 75%, MAYBE IT'S 90%, BUT TO SEE 100% OF THE RFP.
THESE ARE THE CHANGES HERE THEY ARE, THIS IS IT, YES, LET'S GO FORWARD WITH THAT.
IT'S NOT TO REVIEW WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, IT'S TO SEE THIS IS THE RFP HERE IT IS. YES.
>> THANK YOU, YES. SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, WE WILL BRING FORWARD THE RFP ON OCTOBER 10TH TO 12.05.
WE WILL ALSO BRING THIS RECOMMENDATION FORWARD TO COUNCIL THAT NIGHT AT 07:00 P.M. PENDING OUR DISCUSSION AT 12:05.
WE MAY HAVE TO TABLE THIS MOTION, BUT WE WILL WORK THROUGH THOSE PROCEDURAL POINTS AT A LATER DATE.
WITH THAT, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR,
[7. A memorandum regarding whether to authorize the Mayor and City Manager to enter into a two (2) year contract renewal with Dragon Toner for the services of Integrity Commissioner for the City of Yellowknife.]
AND CITY MANAGER, TO ENTER INTO A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH DRAGON TONER FOR THE SERVICES OF INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE? COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSON?
>> THANK YOU. JUST A QUICK QUESTION FOR ADMIN,
[02:50:03]
IS I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT THIS IS A ONETIME RENEWAL FOR THE CONTRACT AND THAT IN TWO YEARS WE'LL HAVE TO GO OUT FOR ANOTHER RFP.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THAT'S CORRECT.
THE TERMS OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT, ALLOW FOR A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION ON TOP OF THE FIVE-YEAR THAT WAS AWARDED IN 2018. THANK YOU.
>> SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, WE'LL BRING THIS FORWARD TO COUNCIL TONIGHT.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS A DISCUSSION REGARDING ACCESS FOR ALL,
[6. A discussion regarding Access for All.]
AND WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION.THIS IS FOLLOWING UP ON OUR DISCUSSION AT THE JUNE MEETING, WHERE COUNCIL TO GIVE DIRECTION.
ADMINISTRATION JUST NEEDS A BIT FURTHER OF DECISION POINTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLICY IS FORMULATED AND BROUGHT BACK TO COUNCIL, AS THE WILL OF COUNCIL.
MS. BASSI-KELLET, IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
I'M JUST HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY MOUSE.
COUNCIL HAS CONSIDERED THE ACCESS FOR ALL POLICY WHICH FORMALIZES THE PROGRAM THAT THE CITY HAS HAD IN PLACE SINCE 2014.
THE PROGRAM OPERATES SUCCESSFULLY AT THIS TIME, AND A KEY BASIS FOR THIS IS THAT IT'S SIMPLE AND TRANSPARENT.
IT'S ALSO COMPARABLE TO SIMILAR PROGRAMS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT SEEK TO ENSURE INCOME IS NOT A BARRIER TO BEING ABLE TO ACCESS PUBLIC TRANSIT, OR MUNICIPAL RECREATION SERVICES.
DISCUSSIONS ON THE METRICS USED TO DETERMINE WHO QUALIFIES HAVE BEEN A FOCUS OF COUNSEL, WITH THERE BEING INTEREST IN BEING ABLE TO USE AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE MARKET BASKET MEASURE, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL STANDARD USED IN THE FEDERAL POVERTY REDUCTION ACT, TO DETERMINE POVERTY ACROSS EACH PROVINCE AND TERRITORY.
OUR CITY CLERK COLE KELLY WILL SPEAK BRIEFLY TO THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS PREPARED FOR THE AUGUST 14TH GPC.
HE WON'T GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE BIT SLAMMED SINCE AUGUST 14TH, AND OF COURSE IT TAKES SOME TIME TO GET BACK INTO THE NUANCES OF EACH PART OF THIS, BUT COLE WILL STAY HIGH LEVEL AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW ON SOME OF THE THINKING OF ADMINISTRATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COLE AND OVER TO YOU.
>> HI EVERYONE. I WANTED TO CHECK.
DEPUTY MAYOR, MARTIN SMITH, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY AND CAN YOU SEE THAT PRESENTATION ON GO TOO?
I DON'T HAVE THE PRESENTATION IN FRONT OF ME [OVERLAPPING]
>> GOOD, EXCELLENT. THANK YOU.
AS MRS. BASSI-KELLET SAID AM BEFORE YOU TODAY BECAUSE ON JUNE 19TH, COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM POLICY.
COMMITTEE ASKED THAT THOSE CHANGES COME FORWARD TO COUNCIL ON JULY 24TH, AND ON JULY 24TH, COUNCIL REFERRED THE POLICY BACK TO GPC, CITING THAT COUNCIL NEEDED TO PROVIDE MORE INPUT ON HOW TO FORMULATE THIS POLICY.
SO MY PRESENTATION TODAY IS MEANT TO PROVIDE CONTEXT FOR COMMITTEE'S DISCUSSION ABOUT THE POLICY.
I'M BRIEFLY GOING TO TALK ABOUT THREE MAIN ISSUES.
I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON THE PURPOSE OF THE POLICY, I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON COMMITTEE'S PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FROM A PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION PERSPECTIVE, AND THEN VERY BRIEFLY OUTLINE THE OPTIONS FOR COMMITTEE TODAY.
PURPOSE OF THE ACCESS FOR ALL POLICY NUMBER 1, TO REDUCE BARRIERS AND INCREASE ACCESS TO RECREATION ACTIVITIES FOR THOSE WHOSE INCOME MIGHT BE A BARRIER TO THAT PARTICIPATION.
NUMBER 2, TO ESTABLISH A STANDARDIZED AND TRANSPARENT PROCEDURE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THIS PROGRAM.
NUMBER 3, ESTABLISH CRITERIA FOR THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
WITH THESE THREE PURPOSES OF THE POLICY, TWO MAIN POINTS THAT I WANT TO RAISE HERE FOR YOU TODAY.
NUMBER 1, IN DETERMINING THE QUALIFYING INCOME FOR THE PROGRAM, WHETHER IT'S A QUALIFYING INCOME METRIC THAT COUNCIL CREATES ITSELF, OR WHETHER COUNCIL USES A STANDARDIZED LOW-INCOME OR POVERTY METRIC, COUNCIL ESSENTIALLY BECOMES THE GATEKEEPER FOR WHO QUALIFIES FOR THIS PROGRAM AND WHO DOESN'T.
NUMBER 2, IS THAT SECOND POINT, THE STANDARDIZED AND TRANSPARENT PROCEDURE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS PROGRAM IS CRITICAL.
WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO ASSIST PEOPLE WITH THESE ACCESS FOR ALL APPLICATIONS, THAT THEY PREFER, TRANSPARENT, STANDARDIZED ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE PROGRAM.
[02:55:01]
RESIDENTS IN COMPLETING THEIR APPLICATION WITH THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE, SO APPROPRIATELY AND EFFICIENTLY.IT ALSO MAKES IT VERY CLEAR FOR THE PUBLIC IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THEY QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM, THEY CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, AND VERY CLEARLY SEE WHETHER THEY QUALIFY OR NOT.
SO STANDARDIZED AND TRANSPARENT IS CRITICAL.
THIS SLIDE IS THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL ABOUT WHICH QUALIFYING INCOME TO USE FOR THE ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM.
THE UNDERLINED PORTIONS ARE KEY.
SO THE RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT ADMINISTRATION, WE USE 50% OF THE AFTER-TAX MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR VARIOUS HOUSEHOLD SIZES.
STAFF WOULD USE STATISTICS CANADA DATA SHOWING THE AFTER-TAX MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR EACH HOUSEHOLD AND DIVIDE THAT NUMBER BY TWO.
WHICH SOUNDS EASY ENOUGH, BUT THE QUESTION IS, HOW DOES ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENT THAT? THE APPROACH RECOMMENDED BY COMMITTEE IS A SPECIFIC STATISTICS CANADA TABLE.
IT'S CALLED THE HOUSEHOLD AFTER-TAX INCOME GROUP BY HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS.
I'M GOING TO OPEN THAT TABLE UP SO YOU CAN HAVE A LOOK AT IT.
IT'S CUSTOMIZED FOR YELLOWKNIFE.
THERE ARE FOUR VARIABLES THAT GO INTO READING INCOME METRICS THAT COME OUT OF THIS TABLE.
ONE VARIABLE BEING THE HOUSEHOLD TYPE, AND THAT BREAKS DOWN INTO VARIOUS HOUSEHOLD TYPES.
ONE COUPLED WITH OR WITHOUT CHILDREN, WITHOUT CHILDREN, WITH CHILDREN, ONE-PARENTS CENSUS FAMILY, ETC.
HOUSEHOLD SIZE IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD, GOES ONE TO FIVE OR MORE.
AGES OF THE HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS MATTER, ARE THEY AGED 0-5 AND HOW MANY, 0-17 AND HOW MANY, PERSONS AGE 65 AND OLDER AND HOW MANY? THERE IS ALSO A VARIABLE FOR THE NUMBER OF EARNERS IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
FOR CLARITY, THIS TABLE IS NOT A LOW-INCOME MEASURE.
THE FIGURES IN THIS TABLE SUPPORT THE CALCULATION OF THE FEDERAL LOW-INCOME MEASURE.
BUT GOING BACK TO COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO USE THE AFTER-TAX MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR EACH HOUSEHOLD AND DIVIDE BY TWO, QUESTIONS ARISE FROM A PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION PERSPECTIVE.
WHICH VARIABLES WILL HAVE BEEN USED TO ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM? FROM A LENS OF LOOKING AT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION FROM A STANDARDIZED AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS THAT SET OUT IN THE POLICY, SOME QUESTIONS THAT ARISE ARE, HOW DOES ADMINISTRATION DECIDE WHICH VARIABLES TO USE? IS IT BASED ON THE APPLICATIONS THAT WE RECEIVE? IF SO, DOES ADMINISTRATION CUSTOMIZE THE TABLE FOR EACH APPLICANT? I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THAT WOULD BE TIME-CONSUMING AND UNWIELDY DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS.
IT ALSO INTRODUCES ROOM FOR HUMAN ERROR IF DIFFERENT STAFF ARE APPROVING APPLICATIONS AND THEY HAVE TO USE THESE VARIABLES TO COME UP WITH A QUALIFYING INCOME.
ALSO, IF ADMINISTRATION ONLY CHANGE THIS HOUSEHOLD SIZE VARIABLE AND USE THAT METRIC, IS THERE A PRINCIPLED REASON WHY WE'RE ONLY USING THAT METRIC AND NONE OF THE OTHER ONES? AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, CHANGING ANY OF THESE VARIABLES TO OBTAIN A MEDIAN AFTER-TAX INCOME RESULTS IN A DIFFERENT INCOME DEPENDING ON WHICH VARIABLE YOU USE.
SOME OF THOSE CALCULATIONS ARE SET OUT FOR YOU IN THE SLIDES THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION SINCE AUGUST 14TH.
SLIDE 7-12 GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES.
THERE'S A TWO-PERSON HOUSEHOLD, THREE-PERSON HOUSEHOLD, THREE-PERSON HOUSEHOLD WITH CHILDREN, WITH ONE PERSON WHO'S 0-5.
NOW AS YOU CAN SEE AS THE VARIABLES CHANGE, SO DOES THE MEDIAN INCOME, NO SURPRISES THERE.
BUT IT MIGHT LEAD TO SOME PROBLEMATIC IMPLEMENTATION IF ADMINISTRATION HAS TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH VARIABLES TO USE.
MY POINT IS THOUGH, THE ISSUE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TODAY IS WHETHER THE PROCESS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM IS STANDARDIZED AND TRANSPARENT, LIKE THE POLICY REQUIRES.
[03:00:01]
A QUICK POINT ABOUT THE LOW-INCOME MEASURE AFTER-TAX, THAT'S WHAT THIS LIM-AT MEANS.LIKE I MENTIONED, IF USING THAT STATISTICS CANADA CHART RECOMMENDED BY COMMITTEE, COMMITTEE IS NOT RECOMMENDING A LOW-INCOME MEASURE, BUT IT'S ESSENTIALLY CREATING ITS OWN LOW-INCOME MEASURE USING THESE AFTER-TAX MEDIAN INCOMES FOR HOUSEHOLD SIZES.
THIS SLIDE, AND I WON'T READ IT THROUGH, BUT IT SETS OUT HOW THE LOW-INCOME MEASURE THRESHOLDS ARE CALCULATED.
THEY'RE COMPLICATED, THEY'RE NOT UNIQUE TO THE NORTH, AND ACTUALLY, IGNORING ALL OF THESE CALCULATIONS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE FEDERAL LOW-INCOME AFTER-TAX MEASURE, THE RESULTING CALCULATIONS ARE ACTUALLY QUITE A BIT LOWER THAN WHAT'S BEEN RECOMMENDED BY COMMITTEE ANYWAY.
MY POINT HERE IS THAT WHILE CREATING A LOW-INCOME MEASURE FOR YELLOWKNIFE USING THE MEDIAN AFTER-TAX INCOME FOR A SET OF HOUSEHOLD POPULATIONS WILL PERMIT MORE PEOPLE TO QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM, IT'S NOT A STANDARDIZED METRIC AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
ALSO, MOST OTHER MUNICIPALITIES USE A LOW-INCOME CUTOFF MEASURE OR MARKET BASKET MEASURE.
I DID FIND ONE MUNICIPALITY IN BC THAT USES A LOW-INCOME AFTER-TAX MEASURE, BUT IT USES THAT ACTUAL LOW-INCOME MEASURE, NOT JUST A PERCENTAGE OF THE MEDIUM INCOME FOR THAT AREA.
I COULD NOT FIND A PROGRAM THAT DIDN'T RELY ON A STANDARDIZED METRIC AND PREFERRED TO CREATE IT OWN.
THIS IS A CHART THAT OUTLINES THE QUALIFYING INCOME RECOMMENDED BY COMMITTEE.
THE MEDIAN AFTER-TAX HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR THIS SIZE OF HOUSEHOLD CALCULATES TO THIS FIGURE HERE ON THE LEFT AND 50% IS HERE ON THE RIGHT.
THIS FIRST ONE, A HOUSEHOLD SIZE OF ONE, IS ABOUT $7,000 HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT MARKET BASKET MEASURE FOR A ONE-PERSON HOUSEHOLD THAT WE USE IT WITH THE ACCESS FOR OUR PROGRAM RIGHT NOW.
THIS ONE HERE, NUMBER 5, WITH FIVE PEOPLE IN THE HOUSEHOLD, IS $91,000 FIGURE IS ABOUT $23,000 HIGHER THAN THE FIVE-PERSON HOUSEHOLD THAT WE CURRENTLY USE WITH THE MARKET BASKET MEASURE.
AS I MENTIONED, USING THESE FIGURES DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR ANY OF THE OTHER VARIABLES IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
IT IS POSSIBLE THE ACTUAL MEDIAN INCOMES DO NOT PROPERLY REFLECT THE POPULATION THAT THEY WILL BE APPLIED TO.
BUT IF COMMITTEE WISHES TO USE THAT VARIABLE IN THE MEASURE, IT DOES RAISE CONCERNS FROM A PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION PERSPECTIVE ABOUT WHICH CRITERIA APPLY TO THE APPLICATION, TO THE TIMELINESS OF THE APPLICATIONS, THAT CONSISTENCY OF ULTIMATELY OF APPLYING THE METRIC.
BUT IF THIS IS THE DIRECTION THAT COMMITTEE IS GOING TO RECOMMEND, ADMINISTRATION NEEDS COUNCIL'S DIRECTIONS ON WHICH VARIABLES TO USE OR WHETHER COUNSEL PREFERS JUST TO USE A STATIC CHART MEDIUMS FOR HOUSEHOLD SIZE.
BUT AGAIN, MY CAUTION IS THAT ONE OF THE MAIN PURPOSES OF THE POLICY IS THAT THIS APPLICATION PROCESS BE STANDARDIZED AND TRANSPARENT.
THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, I'LL BRIEFLY GO THROUGH THEM.
THIS IS THE MARKET BASKET MEASURE.
MARKET BASKET MEASURE FOR THE NORTH IS WHAT THE PROGRAM CURRENTLY USES.
BUT THE MARKET BASKET MEASURE IS A FEDERAL MEASURE.
IT IS ADOPTED BY CANADA'S POVERTY REDUCTION ACT AS THE OFFICIAL POVERTY LINE IN CANADA.
THERE'S A LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS SET OUT IN THAT ACT THAT THE MARKET BASKET MEASURE BE UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS.
THAT'S ACTUALLY SIMILAR TO THE LOW-INCOME MEASURE, [NOISE] BUT IT'S SET OUT IN THE LEGISLATION.
THE PURPOSE OF THAT REVIEW IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BASKET OF GOODS AND THE BASIC STANDARD OF LIVING IN CANADA ARE UP-TO-DATE AND ACCURATELY REFLECTED IN THAT MARKET BASKET MEASURE.
THE COMPONENTS, HOWEVER, OF THAT MARKET BASKET MEASURE, LET ME MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, SO IT'S NOT A MEASURE OF INCOME OF A POPULATION,
[03:05:01]
IT'S A MEASURE OF DISPOSABLE INCOME REQUIRED TO PURCHASE A BASKET OF GOODS.THE COMPONENTS OF THAT BASKET OF GOODS, THE FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING, AND TRANSPORTATION, ARE ALL UPDATED ANNUALLY TO REFLECT INFLATION.
MARKET BASKET MEASURE IS LOOKED AT AND ANALYZED EVERY FIVE YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT REFLECTS A STANDARD OF LIVING.
BUT THE COMPONENTS THEMSELVES ARE UPDATED ANNUALLY.
I THINK EVERYONE IS AWARE THAT THE MEASURE WE USE RIGHT NOW WITH THE ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM IS THE MARKET BASKET MEASURE FOR THE NORTH.
IT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE NORTH TO ADDRESS THE HIGHER COST OF LIVING HERE.
FOR EXAMPLE, NORTHERN COMMUNITIES HAVE THEIR OWN MARKET BASKET MEASURE FOR NEEDS THAT THEIR COMMUNITIES REQUIRE.
FOR EXAMPLE, ATVS OR FOUR-BY-FOUR VEHICLES ARE EXPENSES THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS THEM.
THEY'RE BUILT INTO THAT COMPONENT AS PART OF THE MARKET BASKET MEASURE.
THIS IS THE CHART OF THE MARKET BASKET MEASURE FOR THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES FROM 2018-2021.
WE CURRENTLY USE THE 2021 FIGURES, BUT SINCE THIS CHART WAS PUT INTO THE PRESENTATION FOR AUGUST 14TH, BETWEEN THEN AND NOW, THE TOP THREE OF THOSE 2021 FIGURES.
FAMILY SIZE OF ONE-PERSON, TWO-PERSON, THREE-PERSON HAVE ALL BEEN UPDATED.
I THINK THEY'RE INCREASED BY ABOUT $1,000 FOR EACH OF THOSE MARKERS.
THE MAIN POINT OF SEEING THIS SLIDE IS TO SHOW YOU THAT THE FIGURES ARE UPDATED ANNUALLY OR MOSTLY ANNUALLY.
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL IN CONSIDERING QUALIFYING INCOME MEASURE FOR THE ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM.
BASICALLY YOU HAVE THREE OPTIONS.
ONE, CONTINUE WITH THE APPROACH RECOMMENDED BY COMMITTEE.
USE A VARIATION OF THAT LOW-INCOME MEASURE MODIFIED FOR YELLOWKNIFE AND PROVIDE ADMINISTRATION CLEAR DIRECTION ON HOW TO USE THAT TABLE.
THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES TO EACH OPTION BUT THE MAIN ONE I WOULD POINT OUT TO COMMITTEE ON USING THIS VARIATION OF A LOW-INCOME MEASURE IS THAT IT'S NOT A STANDARDIZED APPROACH.
THE SECOND OPTION IS TO RECONSIDER THE USE OF THE MARKET BASKET MEASURE FOR THE NORTH.
IT'S PREDICTABLE, IT ALIGNS WITH FEDERAL POVERTY MEASURE, ADMINISTRATION'S FAMILIAR WITH APPLYING THE METRIC, THERE ARE NO CONCERNS ABOUT STANDARDIZED, OR TRANSPARENT METRICS.
THE DISADVANTAGE BEING THAT IT MIGHT NOT MEET COMMUNITY'S DESIRED RESULTS TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE QUALIFY FOR THE ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM.
THE THIRD OPTION OBVIOUSLY IS TO SEND IT BACK TO ADMINISTRATION FOR MORE WORK, SOME RESEARCH ON BEST PRACTICES.
BUT AS YOU'VE ALL HEARD AT LENGTH TODAY OUR CAPACITY IS LOW FOR ADMINISTRATION, SO THAT IS THE TASK THAT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME.
THAT'S MY CONTEXTUAL REVIEW FOR YOU SUBJECT TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
>> THANK YOU. JUST TO CONFIRM DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL IS THAT WE HAVE THIS LOW-INCOME MEASURE MODIFIED FOR YELLOWKNIFE.
JUST NEED IF COUNCIL IS STILL ON THAT PATH.
PROVIDE CLARITY AND DIRECTION TO ADMINISTRATION ON THE USE OF VARIABLES.
WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE ANY OR WHETHER IT SHOULD JUST BE A TABLE.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD FLAG IS THAT AS MENTIONED, THE MARKET BASKET MEASURE IS ADJUSTED ANNUALLY AND THEREFORE, OUR ACCESS FOR ALL THRESHOLDS GET ADJUSTED ANNUALLY.
IF COUNCIL IS CHOOSING TO GO WITH OUR OWN FORMULA, THE POLICY DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE ANYTHING THAT SAYS THAT WE WOULD UPDATE THE DEFINITION ANNUALLY SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER.
OTHERWISE, WE WOULD HAVE THESE INCOME THRESHOLDS FOR THE NEXT FIVE OR UNTIL THE NEXT TIME THAT THIS POLICY IS REVIEWED BY THE CITY.
JUST OPENING IT UP TO QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DISCUSSION, COUNCIL MCCLELLAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO STAFF FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT PUT INTO THIS PRESENTATION,
[03:10:05]
ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS.THE CRITICAL EYE OF ADMIN ON COUNCIL'S DIRECTION IS VERY VALUABLE AND MUCH APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU FOR ALSO INCLUDING THE SPEAKING NOTES ALONG WITH THE PRESENTATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE CONCERNS RAISED REGARDING THE MODIFIED LOW-INCOME MEASURE AND TO PROVIDE A PROPOSAL FOR DIRECTION AND CLARITY REQUESTED BY ADMIN.
I PROPOSED TO MAINTAIN THE DIRECTION OF COUNCIL TO USE WHAT I'LL CALL THE YELLOWKNIFE LOW-INCOME MEASURE TO AVOID INCONSISTENT APPLICATION AND THUS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.
I'D PROPOSE TO USE ALL THE DATA AVAILABLE FOR EACH HOUSEHOLD SIZE, I.E THE ONLY VARIABLE TO BE ADJUSTED IS HOUSEHOLD SIZE.
I'LL DRESS ADMINS CONCERNS WITH THIS APPROACH BELOW.
THIS COULD BE CLARIFIED IN THE POLICY AS FOLLOWS.
ADDING RECENTLY, THIS POLICY SHALL TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1, 2024.
THE DEFINITION, SO THIS WOULD BE SECTION 3 OF THE DEFINITIONS.
YELLOWKNIFE LOW-INCOME MEASURE THRESHOLD MEANS THE INCOME WHICH IS 50% OF THE YELLOWKNIFE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME, SORRY, YELLOWKNIFE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD AFTER-TAX INCOME FOR THE APPLICABLE HOUSEHOLD SIZE AS DETERMINED BY STATISTICS CANADA.
HOUSEHOLD SIZE IS THE ONLY VARIABLE TO BE ADJUSTED SO THAT THE THRESHOLD IS 50% OF THE MEDIAN INCOME FOR ALL THRESHOLDS OF EACH SIZE.
THE THRESHOLDS WILL BE UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS USING STATISTICS CANADA DATA PUBLISHED AFTER EACH CENSUS.
FOR 0.1, 0.1 A WOULD BE UPDATED.
THE APPLICANT'S HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS AT OR BELOW THE APPLICABLE YELLOWKNIFE LOW INCOME MEASURE THRESHOLD FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE HOUSEHOLD, AND WE CAN PUBLISH A CHART EVERY FIVE YEARS SO IT'S JUST AN EASY DIRECT COMPARISON FOR STAFF AND FOR RESIDENTS.
FOR 0.1, 0.2, IN THIS POLICY, HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS DETERMINED BY ADDING TOGETHER ALL NET INCOMES.
AS SET OUT IN THE NOTICE OF ASSESSMENTS FROM THE CANADIAN REVENUE AGENCY FOR THE YEAR IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE APPLICATION AND FOR ALL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS OVER THE AGE OF 18.
THIS APPROACH ALLOWS THE USE OF ALL THE DATA AVAILABLE TO US AND GIVES US THE BEST PICTURE OF THE OVERALL MEDIAN INCOME FOR EACH HOUSEHOLD SIZE.
THE CITY CAN MAKE THE CALCULATION TO DETERMINE THE YELLOWKNIFE LOW-INCOME MEASURE, AND PUBLISH THESE THRESHOLDS.
IN MY OPINION, THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE WE ARE SEEKING WITH THIS POLICY THAT IS ONE THAT ALLOWS THOSE FACING FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS TO ACCESS TO THE FACILITIES WHILE ENSURING THOSE WHO CAN PAY DO SO.
THE CORE ISSUE RAISED BY ADMIN IN REGARDS TO USING THE YELLOWKNIFE INCOME MEASURE, IS THAT ON ONE HAND, USING ALL OF THE SPECIFICS WITHIN THE DATA IS TOO COMPLICATED WHILE USING A LARGER SET OF DATA IS NOT COMPLICATED ENOUGH.
THIS IS REFERENCING THE SPEAKING NOTES THAT USING THIS LARGER SET OF DATA, IE JUST ADJUSTING THE HOUSEHOLD SIZE IS ESSENTIALLY ARBITRARY.
THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE AN APPLICATION OF THE THRESHOLD TO ACHIEVE A BETTER BALANCE WITH THE ACCESS FOR ALL POLICY NEED NOT BE.
I AGREE THAT ASKING STAFF TO COMPARE EACH APPLICANT'S SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, HIGH EARNERS IN THE HOUSEHOLD AGE OF CHILDREN, ETC, TO CREATE A SPECIFIC THRESHOLD FOR THAT APPLICANT IS TOO CUMBERSOME.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THESE SPECIFIC COMPARISONS ARE NOT HOW LOW-INCOME METRICS ARE COMMONLY USED, IN FACT, THIS IS NOT HOW THE CURRENT NORTHERN MARKET BASKET MEASURE'S APPLIED.
THERE'S NO REASON TO ABANDON COMMON PRACTICE AND APPLICATION OF LOW-INCOME THRESHOLD IN THIS CASE.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, USING THIS LARGER DATASET TO COMPARE AN APPLICANT'S INCOME TO THE THRESHOLD INCOME FOR THAT PARTICULAR HOUSEHOLD SIZE IS CERTAINLY NOT ARBITRARY.
THIS COMPARISON IS DONE FOR THE REASON THAT DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLD SIZES ON AVERAGE HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS AND DIFFERENT INCOMES AND THIS IS A WAY TO COMPARE THESE RELATIVE NEEDS.
AGAIN, THIS IS A MORE GENERAL COMPARISON IS HOW THE NORTHERN MARKET BASKET MEASURE CURRENTLY OPERATES.
THE ARGUMENT HERE SEEMS TO BE THAT BECAUSE MORE SPECIFIC DATA EXISTS BUT ISN'T USED, THE MORE GENERAL COMPARISON IS ARBITRARY.
HOWEVER, THIS LOGIC COULD BE ARGUED THAT ANY STATISTICS IS ARBITRARY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE NORTHERN MARKET BASKET MEASURE IS BASED ON A REFERENCE FAMILY OF TWO ADULTS AND TWO CHILDREN, SPECIFICALLY, GIRL AGE NINE AND A BOY AGE 13.
I COULDN'T FIND ANY JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS BEING USED AS A REFERENCE FAMILY. WHY WAS IT CHOSEN? IT COULD BE ARGUED THIS SELECTION IS ARBITRARY, PARTICULARLY AFTER CONSIDERING THE AVERAGE FAMILY SIZE IN CANADA IS 2.9 PERSONS NOT FOUR, DESPITE THIS, NOT CALLED THE NORTHERN MARKET BASKET MEASURE ARBITRARY.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE GENERALIZATIONS IN STATISTICS THAT ADVANTAGE SOME AND DISADVANTAGE OTHERS.
USING DATA FOR ALL THE HOUSEHOLDS OF A CERTAIN SIZE ALLOWS US AN APPROXIMATELY ACCURATE WAY TO ASSESS RELATIVE NEED IN A WAY THAT'S MANAGEABLE AND EASY TO USE.
IN THE PRESENTATION THERE WAS ALSO ISSUES RAISED ABOUT WHAT IF STATS CANADA CHANGES THE TABLE OR CHANGES VARIABLES? AGAIN, THIS COULD BE SAID OF ANY STATISTIC.
IN THIS CASE, THERE'S NO FORESEEN REASON FOR THEM TO DO SO AND I HAVE FAITH IN COUNCIL AND ADMIN WILL BE ABLE TO ADAPT TO ANY CHANGES.
[03:15:04]
THE OVERALL CONCERNS SEEM TO BE ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY AND I THINK WE CAN DO THAT WITH THIS DEFINITION, PUBLISHING A CHART.I UNDERSTAND THAT CREATING A SPECIFIC MEASURE FOR YELLOWKNIFE IS DIFFERENT, BUT IT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS AND SPECIFIC GOALS OF THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS TO MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS CAN ACCESS TO THE FACILITIES REGARDLESS OF THEIR FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS, WHICH I AND IT SEEMS COUNCIL IN PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS AGREE THAT THIS POLICY USING THE NORTHERN BASKET MEASURE IS NOT ACCOMPLISHING.
ALSO, IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT EVACUATION, THE RESOURCES AND EFFECTS OF THE EVACUATION DIRECTLY RELATE TO RESIDENTS ECONOMIC SITUATIONS.
THE GREATEST CHALLENGES AND HARMS HAVE BEEN FELT AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE FELT BY THOSE WITH FEWER ECONOMIC MEANS.
ONE LAST TIME, REVISITING A STATE OF INTENT OF THIS PROGRAM IS THAT EVERY CITIZEN LIVING IN YELLOWKNIFE SHOULD HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY OUR MANY FACILITIES IN YELLOWKNIFE REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.
I BELIEVE THESE CHANGES ARE NEEDED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THIS INTENT CAN BE MET.
I'D WELCOME INPUT FROM COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU.
WE WILL TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK AND WE WILL COME BACK AT THREE, WE'LL TAKE 12 MINUTE BREAK.
WE WILL CALL OUR MEETING BACK TO ORDER.
NEXT, I HAVE COUNCILLOR FEQUET.
>> THANKS, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE TWO CONCERNS THAT ADMINISTRATION HAS RAISED AS THE TRANSPARENCY TO OUR APPLICANTS IS IMPORTANT IN AVOIDING AN UNREASONABLE LEVEL OF ADMINISTRATION ARE CERTAINLY TO FACTORS AND CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHEN DECIDING HOW TO PROCEED.
IF COUNCIL DECIDES TO UPDATE THE ACCESS FOR ALL POLICY THAT INCLUDES A FORMULA WHILE NOT STANDARDIZED BUT IS EXPLICITLY WRITTEN INTO THE POLICY.
DOES ADMINISTRATION HAVE ANY OTHER CONCERNS REGARDING TRANSPARENCY?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WILL ASK CITY CLERK IF HE WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THIS ONE.
>> CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? CAN YOU REPEAT YOUR QUESTION?
>> FOR SURE. MAYBE I'LL JUST ASK IT IN AN EASIER WAY TO ARTICULATE.
SORRY. THE DRAFT POLICY, I THINK ON PAGE 2 HAS A TABLE AND A DEFINITION IN THERE THAT EXPLAINS TO APPLICANTS OR RESIDENTS HOW THE FORMULA IS WORKING.
OTHER THAN INCLUDING THAT IN THERE EXPLICITLY SO PEOPLE ARE VERY AWARE OF HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK, WAS THERE ANY OTHER CONCERNS REGARDING TRANSPARENCY? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT WORD CAME UP A LOT IN THE PRESENTATION AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT MISSING OTHER RELATED CONCERNS OR IF WRITING IT DOWN ON THE POLICY ADDRESSES THAT TRANSPARENCY PIECE SPECIFICALLY.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE OR SOMETHING ELSE I WAS MISSING.
>>> I THINK IT DEPENDS WHAT EXACTLY GOES INTO THE POLICY, BUT TRANSPARENCY SHOULD BE HIVED OFF BY BEING AS CLEAR AS WE CAN ON THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND THE QUALIFYING INCOME. THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. THANKS. I AGREE 100% WITH WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
WE HAVE TO NAIL THOSE ON THE HEAD SO THERE'S NO MISUNDERSTANDING.
WITH RESPECT TO THE SECOND CONCERN THAT WAS RAISED JUST ABOUT ALL THE VARIABLES AND UNDERSTANDING THE FOUR DIFFERENT ONES, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT MY ASSUMPTION FROM PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS AND MAYBE THIS WASN'T FORMALIZED AND THIS HAS BEEN PART OF THE CONFUSION IS I ASSUMED WE WERE JUST USING ONE VARIABLE.
[LAUGHTER] I ASSUMED WE WERE JUST USING THE HOUSEHOLD NUMBER VARIABLE AS PER THE TABLE IN THE DRAFT POLICY AS PRESENTED ON PAGE 2.
IF THAT WERE THE WAY THAT COUNCIL PROCEEDED TODAY.
IS THAT RELATIVELY SIMPLE TO ADMINISTER, AND DOES THAT ADDRESS ADMINISTRATION'S CONCERNS WITH RESPECT TO MAKING THIS OBVIOUSLY VERY BURDENSOME TO ADMINISTER.
OR ARE THERE OTHER ELEMENTS THAT MAY BE OR MISSING.
>> JUST BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID FIRST ABOUT, YOU HAD ASSUMED THAT THERE WAS ONE VARIABLE.
THAT IS ADMINISTRATION'S CONCERN WITH TRANSPARENCY AND THAT'S WHY THE DISCUSSION TODAY
[03:20:03]
TO BRING IT BACK TO COMMITTEE TAB A FULSOME DISCUSSION ON WHAT USING THIS METRIC ACTUALLY MEANS, SO IT IS FULLY TRANSPARENT.FROM A PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION PERSPECTIVE, IF ADMINISTRATION IS GIVEN A CHART THAT CLEARLY EXPLAINS WHO QUALIFIES AND BY HOW MUCH, THAT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER.
WHERE IT GETS DIFFICULT IS WHERE ADMINISTRATION WOULD HAVE TO GUESS AT VARIABLES, ETC.
THE OTHER CONCERN THOUGH THAT IS WHETHER IT'S A STANDARDIZED APPROACH AND THAT'S WHERE THE PURPOSE OF THE POLICY COMES IN.
IT'S A PRINCIPLED POLICY, SO IS THE APPROACH STANDARDIZED AS WELL AS TRANSPARENT?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S HELPFUL.
FOR SURE, I RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN THERE ARE STANDARDS AVAILABLE THAT SUIT THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS THAT SHOULD BE THE WAY WE LEAN FOR SURE.
BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE MBM IS, AGAIN, AS COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN SUGGESTED, COULD BE CONSIDERED ARBITRARY AS WELL BECAUSE IT'S A FAMILY OF FOUR AND JUST THE EXAMPLES THAT ADMINISTRATION PRESENTED TODAY, WE'RE VERY HELPFUL IN UNDERSTANDING THAT AT THE BOTTOM END, A DIFFERENCE OF $7,000 AND THAT AFTER A TAX, 50% MEDIUM INCOME AND OVER 20,000 AT THE TOP END MEANS THAT THIS POLICY WILL IMPACT AND SUPPORT MORE FAMILIES AT A TIME WHEN IT'S NEEDED.
FOR ME IS A GOOD REASON TO GO OFF OF MAYBE THE COMMON PRACTICE OF USING A STANDARDIZED APPROACH AND MAKING SURE THAT THE UNIQUE ECONOMIC AND GEOGRAPHIC REALITIES OF RESIDENTS IN YELLOWKNIFE ARE CONSIDERED AND THAT OUR POLICY MIGHT NEED TO BE CUSTOMIZED TO ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
I THINK I'M UNDERSTANDING NOW THAT WHAT IS PROPOSED IN THE POLICY THAT TABLE THE CHART AS YOU MENTIONED, IS SIMPLE AND EASY AND NOT NECESSARILY ADDING MORE BURDEN OR AN UNREASONABLE LEVEL OF EFFORT TO ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM.
I THINK FOR THOSE REASONS, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED POLICY AS DRAFTED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SO THAT WILL BE THE ONLY ONE VARIABLE IS USED.
THE POLICIES STILL ABSENT ON BEING UPDATED.
YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING FURTHER ON HOW OFTEN THIS SHOULD BE UPDATED?
>> ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE IF THIS IS BEING BASED ON THE CENSUS, THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE UPDATED AFTER EACH CENSUS.
>> I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT THEN WE JUST WRITE THAT INTO THE POLICY SO THAT'S AUTOMATICALLY HAPPENS AND IT DOESN'T NEED TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR THAT PURPOSE.
>> IT WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL BECAUSE IT'S A POLICY THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE A TABLE AND THEREFORE, TO MODIFY THE TABLE, IT'LL HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL SO IT WILL BE A DISCUSSION.
ANYTHING FURTHER I'M JUST GOING TO DO FIRST-ROUND FIRST. COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSON.
CAN ADMIN JUST GO OVER WHAT OTHER COMPARABLE CITIES WERE LOOKED AT WHEN DETERMINING OR DRAFTING THE PROGRAM ORIGINALLY AND THEN PROPOSING THE MARKET BASKET OF GOODS.
THE REASON I ASK IS WHEN I'VE HAVE POKED AROUND AND I'VE DONE A POKE AROUND.
THIS IS WHY I'M ASKING ADMIN FOR WHAT THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS.
BECAUSE WHEN I LOOKED AT EDMONTON, GRAND PRAIRIE, HALIFAX LLOYD, MR. FORT SCOTT, YOU ON JUST TO NAME THE ONES I LOOKED AT THROUGH GOOGLING, THEY ALL USE EITHER THE LOW-INCOME MEASURE OR THE LOW-INCOME CUTOFF.
THEN LLOYD MINSTER ACTUALLY JUST DOES HERE'S MINIMUM WAGE FOR SOMEBODY IN THEIR CITY AND ANYTHING BELOW THAT IS THE CUTOFF FOR ALL OF THEIR EQUIVALENT ACCESS PROGRAMS SO I'M JUST TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND.
WHO DID WE LOOK AT THAT SHOWS US THAT THE MARKET BASKET IS BEST MEASURE BECAUSE AS A POLICY, DORK AND GEEK, I BOTH LOVE THIS AND FEEL BAD FOR COLE AND THANK YOU AGAIN COLE FOR PRESENTING THIS.
BUT I REALLY JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'VE GOT MY HEAD AROUND THIS TOOL VERSUS THE OTHER BECAUSE I'M SEEING THE COMPLEXITY THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FROM AN ADMIN PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF THE LOW-INCOME MEASURE.
AT THE SAME TIME, I'M LIKE IF THEY CAN DO IT, LIKE WHAT AM I MISSING AND CLEARLY I'M MISSING SOMETHING AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THAT ONE AT THIS COUNCIL MEETING.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THIS SHOULD DRAG FURTHER.
LORD KNOWS, I'M NOT SAYING THAT, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND
[03:25:02]
IT AND SO THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR ADMIN IS, WHO ELSE DID WE LOOK AT WHEN DEVELOPING THIS PROGRAM ORIGINALLY, I SUPPOSE, AND THEN RECONFIRMING THE MARKET BASKET IS THE BEST TOOL THANKS.>> I THINK THE OTHER THING I'D PROBABLY RECOMMEND TO COUNCILLORS THAT WE ACTUALLY CHANGED THE DEFINITION SO IT'S NOT THE YELLOWKNIFE LOW INCOME MEASURE, BUT IT'S THE QUALIFYING INCOME LEVEL.
BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED, MOST MUNICIPALITIES USE THE LOW-INCOME MEASURE, WHICH IS A NATIONAL MEASURE.
THEREFORE, THE NORTHERN MARKET BASKET MEASURE WAS USED IT BECAUSE IT REFLECTS THE NORTHERN REALITY SO THE NORTHERN REALITY IS, IF WE USE THE LOW-INCOME MEASURE, THE THRESHOLD IS MUCH LOWER SO THAT'S WHY BACK IN THE DAY IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT WE USE THE NORTHERN MARKET BASKET MEASURE BECAUSE IT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THAT IT COSTS MORE.
ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, SO PEOPLE DON'T GET CONFUSED BETWEEN THE LOW-INCOME MEASURE AND WHAT WE'RE DEVELOPING IS THAT WE SHOULD CHANGE THE DEFINITION, IN MY VIEW, TO THE QUALIFYING INCOME LEVEL JUST SO THAT IT'S DIFFERENT AND FOLKS KNOW THAT.
BUT MS. BESSIE KAHAK TO ANYTHING FOR THERE TO ADD?
>> ESSENTIALLY, THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS COVERED THAT, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF CHOOSING BETWEEN THE LOW-INCOME MEASURE AND THE MARKET BASKET MEASURE.
BUT THE FACT THAT THIS USING THE AFTER-TAX MEDIUM AND MEDIAN INCOME AND DIVIDING IT INTO IS ITS OWN METRIC.
IT'S BEING CREATED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE AND MY INTENT WASN'T TO SAY WHETHER COMMITTEE SHOULD RECOMMEND A LOW-INCOME MEASURE OR A MARKET BASKET MEASURE.
THOSE ARE TWO STANDARDIZED APPROACHES, ONE HAS BEEN ADOPTED THROUGH FEDERAL LEGISLATION AS A POVERTY LINE AND THE OTHER ONE IS, YOU'RE RIGHT, I DON'T HAVE A LIST OF COMMUNITIES IN FRONT OF ME.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, THAT WE LOOKED AT, BUT YES, MOST OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE IDENTIFIED USE EITHER THAT LOW-INCOME CUTOFF, THE LICO OR THE LOW-INCOME MEASURE OR THE MARKET BASKET MEASURE.
MY POINT WAS, I DID NOT OR ADMINISTRATION WASN'T ABLE TO FIND A COMMUNITY THAT CREATES ITS OWN MEASURE. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR THAT RESPONSE FROM [INAUDIBLE] AND THERE'S INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY FROM THE MAYOR. THANK YOU.
I MEAN, I'M STILL STRUGGLING WITH THAT, THE POINT THAT IT COME TO OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE VERY FIRST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AS THE POLICY IS CALLED THE ACCESS FOR ALL, NOT ACCESS FOR MOST, NOT ACCESS FOR MANY, NOT ACCESS FOR THOSE WITH LOW INCOMES.
IT'S ACCESS FOR ALL AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO STRUGGLE WITH IS TO MEET THE MARKET BASKET JUST DOESN'T GET US THERE.
LIKE IF IT'S AN ACCESS FOR ALL WE HAVE TO MAKE IT THAT'S WHAT IT IS, IS GET AS CLOSE TO THAT AS WE CAN AND IF THAT'S NOT, I MEAN, THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER COMMUNITIES AGAIN, LOOKING AROUND THAT TERM THEM THINGS LIKE LEISURE ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOME, LIKE THE LONG-WINDED THINGS.
BUT IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO DO, THEN WE SHOULD CALL IT APPROPRIATELY TOO SO I'LL STOP WITH THAT, BUT THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHERE I'M STUCK ON.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT OF FIXING THOSE PIECES, BUT THAT'S WHERE ON THAT. THANKS.
>> I TAKE YOUR GUISES POINTS SO I UNDERSTAND THE BURDEN ON THIS WHOLE THING.
I THINK THE SUGGESTION IS PROVIDED BY COUNCILLOR MCCLELLAN THROUGH THE PREDICTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY BY BASING IT UPON THE HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND REGULARLY UPDATING THE GRAPH, MEETS ALL MEATS AND I SUPPORT THE YELLOWKNIFE LOW-INCOME MEASURE OR IF WE WANT TO REFER TO IT AS THE QUALIFYING INCOME.
>> THANK YOU. SEEING NOTHING FURTHER ON FIRST ROUND.
JUST MY POINTS I'D RECOMMEND THAT WE CHANGED THE DEFINITION JUST TO BE A QUALIFYING INCOME LEVEL SO WE DON'T GET CONFUSED AND THAT WE NEED DIRECTION ON HOW OFTEN WE UPDATE IT SO RECOMMEND THAT IT CHANGED TO INCLUDE SOMETHING ABOUT EVERY CENSUS OF POPULATION.
AFTER EVERY CENSUS OF POPULATION IS RELEASED, WE UPDATE THE FORMULA.
SUPPORTIVE OF ADDING THE SECOND PART OF THE MOTION THAT IT BECOMES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2024.
I'M STILL NOT IN FEVER THE FORMULA BECAUSE I THINK THIS WAY WE'RE ONLY UPDATING IT EVERY FIVE YEARS VERSUS THE NORTHERN MARKET BASKET MEASURE THAT GETS ADJUSTED BY CPI EVERY YEAR.
IT'S MORE COMPLICATED FOR STAFF TO ADMINISTER BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO CREATE THE FORMULA.
[03:30:04]
BUT YES, THAT'S ONLY ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS AND IT DOESN'T ALIGN WITH THE MEASURES THAT THE TERRITORIAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT USED, WHICH IS HARD TO EXPLAIN TO RESIDENTS.PLUS I JUST LIKE MORE CONSISTENCY ACROSS GOVERNMENTS, BUT HEARING GENERAL SUPPORT OF AND I THINK WE'VE GOT THE DIRECTION THAT WE NEED IN REGARDS TO YOU ONLY USE ONE OF THE FOUR VARIABLES SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, BUT COUNCILLOR MCCLELLAN TO CLOSE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INFERENCE INPUT AND STAFF MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE VERY CLEAR, TOTALLY END THE VERBIAGE.
EXACTLY IT'S CALLED MAKING SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT IT'S UPDATED AFTER EACH CENSUS, ALL OF THAT STUFF.
EXCELLENT AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THOSE CONSIDERATIONS IN THAT WORK AND EVERYONE'S THOUGHTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DIRECTION? SORRY. DEPUTY MAYOR ARDEN SMITH?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I'M SORRY FOR JUMPING IN THERE LAST MINUTE AFTER CLOSING REMARKS.
TOM WANTS TO REITERATE CLOSING REMARKS AND RIGHT AFTER USE MORE THAN WELCOME.
I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF CONTINUING ON WITH THE LOW-INCOME MEASURE.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF MADAM MAYOR WAS SAYING, I TOO AGREE WITH CONSISTENCY ACROSS GOVERNING BODIES AS WELL AS STANDARDIZATION AND REALLY TAKE TO HEART WHAT COLE HAD TO SAY ABOUT, IT'S VERY RARE THAT YOU WOULD FIND A COUNCIL THAT WOULD CREATE ITS OWN MEASURE.
I THINK THAT'S OUT OF STEP OF OUR ROLE.
BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY FORMULAS BROUGHT FORWARD IS, IS STANDARDIZED, IS EASY FOR ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO BE ACCESSING IT TO BE ABLE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM AND NOTING WHAT COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSON SAID IN TERMS OF THE TITLE, ACCESS FOR ALL, WELL, ACCESS FOR ALL COULD MEAN THAT EVERYONE GETS TO GO WITH THIS FREE FOR ALL AND EVERYBODY GETS TO GO.
BUT THE UNFORTUNATE PART ABOUT OUR ROLE IS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY UNFORTUNATELY.
UNFORTUNATELY WITH THIS, THERE'S JUST GOING TO BE SOME CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PEOPLE WON'T HAVE ACCESS FOR WHATEVER REASON THERE MIGHT BE.
WE ALSO HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WELL.
WE CAN'T BE EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE.
WE CAN TRY OUR DARNEST TO BE BUT I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH OUR MARKET BASKET MEASURE THE WAY IN WHICH WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR MANY YEARS AND BEING ON PAR WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT, I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH COUNCIL INPUT TO FINALIZE THE POLICY AND SO THAT CAN BE BROUGHT FORWARD AT OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10TH AT 07:00 P.M. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS AN INK CAMERA PERSONNEL ISSUE.
[Additional Item]
IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO MOVE IN CAMERA MOVED BY COUNCILLOR COCHRANE SECOND BY COUNCILLOR WARBURTON.ANYBODY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE, WE CAN MOVE IN CAMERA.
AND WE HAVE NO BUSINESS ARISING FROM IN CAMERA AND JUST TO NOTE THAT WE WILL BE SCALING BACK ON GPC IS IN OCTOBER SO WE'RE CANCELING GPC ON OCTOBER 3RD AND 16TH SO JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STAFF TO CATCH UP ON WORK FOCUS ON THE RECOVERY WORK, AS WELL AS COMPLETING OUR 2022 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE DRAFTING OF THE 2024 BUDGET.
OUR NEXT GPC WILL BE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10TH AT 12:05, THAT'S OUR NEXT GPC, BUT WE WILL SEE EVERYBODY AT COUNCIL SHORTLY.
MOTION TO ADJOURN MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR FEQUET, ANYBODY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE. WE WILL SEE EVERYBODY SHORTLY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.