[00:00:04]
I'D LIKE TO CALL GPC FOR NOVEMBER 20TH TO ORDER, AND I'LL PRESENT THE OPENING STATEMENT.
[1. Opening Statement]
THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE ARE LOCATED IN CHIEF DRYGEESE TERRITORY.FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATION.
WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INCLUDING NORTH SLAVE METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS METIS AND INUIT WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
[2. Approval of the agenda.]
MS. BASSI-KELLETT. IS THERE ANYTHING MORE TO ADD TO THE AGENDA? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR. NO, WE'VE GOT NOTHING ELSE TO ADD.THANK YOU. IS THERE DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF? DO WE HAVE ANYBODY WITH A CONFLICT OF INTEREST TODAY? NO. OKAY.
[4. A presentation regarding a high level overview of Budget 2024.]
MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR. APPRECIATE THAT.SO AS COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW, THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS IS A CYCLICAL ONE, WITH IMPLEMENTATION AND FUTURE YEAR PLANNING TAKING PLACE IN Q 1ST JANUARY TO MARCH, BECAUSE WE'RE, OF COURSE, ON THE CALENDAR, THE CALENDAR YEAR FOR A FISCAL YEAR.
Q3 TYPICALLY BRINGS PROACTIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, CARRY FORWARD CONFIRMATION FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, VARIANCE PROJECTIONS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR, COUNCIL INPUT, AND, OF COURSE, CONSTRUCTION OF THE DRAFT BEFORE Q4, WHICH STARTS TYPICALLY IN OCTOBER, WHICH INCLUDES FINALIZATION OF THE DRAFT FOR PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL IN NOVEMBER BEFORE DELIBERATIONS AND APPROVAL IN DECEMBER.
DOESN'T THAT SOUND LOVELY? WELL, THAT, OF COURSE, IS NOT THE WAY 2023 IS SHAPING UP.
SO OF COURSE WE HAVE THIS CURVE BALL OF A YEAR WHERE THINGS ARE DIFFERENT.
SO GIVEN OUR CHALLENGES THIS YEAR, WE TRULY APPRECIATE THAT MACA OUR REGULATOR, MUNICIPAL AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AT THE GWT HAS APPROVED OUR REQUEST TO SUBMIT OUR 2024 BUDGET LATE BY THE END OF FEBRUARY, 2024 IS THE TIMELINE THAT WE'VE AGREED TO INSTEAD OF DECEMBER 31ST, WHICH IS OUR TYPICAL TIMELINE AND WHICH IS OUR REQUIREMENT THROUGH LEGISLATION.
SO TODAY, ADMINISTRATION WILL PRESENT A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF BUDGET 2024.
THIS IS THE PRESENTATION THAT WE WOULD TYPICALLY PROVIDE IN SEPTEMBER EACH YEAR.
IT'S HIGH LEVEL WITH THE DETAILS TO COME IN THE ACTUAL DRAFT BUDGET DOCUMENT WHEN THAT IS RELEASED, WHICH WILL BE JANUARY 15TH, IS OUR EARLY IS OUR ESTIMATION AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE DATE THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED TO.
BUT IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT CAPITAL COSTS CONTINUE TO ESCALATE.
OPERATING COSTS FOR THE AQUATIC CENTRE, WHICH, EVEN WITH A SETBACK THIS SUMMER, IS EXPECTED TO BE OPERATIONAL BY LATE 2024 AND OF COURSE, HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN BUDGET PLANNING SINCE THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED IN 2021.
THANK YOU, MS. BASSI-KELLETT. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
SORRY THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS LIKE THIS.
SO HOPEFULLY THERE'S NO BURPEES AS PUNISHMENT IF I DON'T DO IT WELL.
WORK ON THE 2024 BUDGET HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, EVEN BEFORE I STARTED WITH THE CITY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE WHOLE ADMINISTRATION TEAM FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND SUPPORT, AND ENSURING THE BUDGET PROCESS STAYED ON COURSE DESPITE A CHALLENGING 2023.
OKAY, NOW, TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL START WITH A QUICK REVIEW OF SOME OF THE KEY CONCEPTS THAT PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION FOR BUDGET 2024 . AFTER THAT, IT WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE ANTICIPATED CAPITAL AND O&M, HIGHLIGHTS, THE KNOWN STAFFING CONSIDERATIONS, COUNCIL INITIATIVES, PUBLIC INPUT RESULTS, AND FINALLY OUTLINE THE UPCOMING MILESTONES.
NOW THE CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES ACT REQUIRES THE CITY TO ADOPT A BUDGET EVERY YEAR.
[00:05:01]
AS A REMINDER, A BUDGET IS THE MOST IMPORTANT POLICY DOCUMENT TO ACCOUNT OF COUNCIL.IT IS THE BLUEPRINT THAT DEFINES HOW RESOURCES ARE COLLECTED AND ALLOCATED, AND IT IS MADE UP OF TWO MAIN COMPONENTS THE OPERATION BUDGET AND THE CAPITAL BUDGET. WHILE EVERYONE IS SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR WITH THE GENERAL CONCEPT OF A BUDGET, WHAT IS LESS KNOWN IS HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE TO FINALIZE A BUDGET WHERE EVERYONE IS IN AGREEMENT.
A BUDGET INVOLVES A LOT OF COMPLEXITIES AS WELL AS CONFLICTING AND COMPETING INTERESTS.
BECAUSE WHAT I'VE FOUND IS, IT SEEMS PREPARING A BUDGET AND BALANCING A MUNICIPAL BUDGET HAS BECOME HARDER AND HARDER AS A RESULT OF VOLATILE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD.
AS A COMMUNITY AND A COUNTRY, WE'RE COPING WITH HIGH RATES OF INFLATION, SEEMINGLY BROKEN SUPPLY CHAINS, COUPLED WITH UNPRECEDENTED, UNPRECEDENTED CHANGES IN THE MAKEUP AND AND COLLECTIVE EXPECTATIONS OF THE WORKFORCE, AS WELL AS UNPREDICTABLE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. LOCALLY, THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE OVERALL LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND STAGNATING POPULATION GROWTH.
BUT WITH RETURNING RESIDENTS, MULTIPLE SORRY WITH RETURNING TOURISTS AND MULTIPLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS HAPPENING, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE AQUATIC CENTRE IN FULL SWING, THERE IS HOPE.
MY SLIDE IS ALREADY HINTING THAT ONE SIDE IS GOING TO WEIGH HEAVIER THAN THE OTHER, AND BUDGET 2024 WILL BE TIGHT AND FRUGAL. FRUGAL IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE WORDS, JUST LIKE FREE AND DISCOUNTS.
I JUST LOVE THEM. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I LOVE THEM.
THE CITY'S BUDGET IS BUILT ON FOUR KEY PILLARS.
OH, DID I PRESS THE WRONG ONE SORRY.
SORRY. THE CITY'S BUDGET IS BUILT ON FOUR KEY PILLARS.
THE FIRST IS ADHERING TO THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD BUDGETING PROCESS.
THE SECOND PILLAR IS FOLLOWING KEY PLANNING PRINCIPLES THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE DAY INITIALLY ADOPTED IN THE SPRING OF 2020 TO GUIDE FISCAL DECISION MAKING IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC AND WHICH STILL REMAIN RELEVANT AND PERTINENT, NAMELY, PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, FOLLOW THE RULES AND COMPLY WITH THE RELEVANT LEGISLATIONS, PRESERVE THE CITY'S ASSETS.
CONTINUE MAKING PRUDENT DECISIONS AND THIS ONE IS MY FAVORITE.
USE DATA AND EVIDENCE, NOT EMOTIONS, TO MAKE DECISIONS.
FACILITIES ARE OPEN WITH OPTIONS, AND PROGRAMS ARE DELIVERED TO A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES.
AND THE FOURTH PILLAR IS CONSULTATION, REACHING OUT TO STAKEHOLDERS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS AND INCORPORATING THE INPUTS INTO THE FINANCIAL PLAN IS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL BY THE CITY.
THE NEED TO MAINTAIN CORE SERVICES TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS.
THE NEED TO SUSTAIN OUR FACILITIES WITH OPTIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF YELLOWKNIFERS, AND THE NEED TO DELIVER PROGRAMS THAT OFFER A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES FOR OUR DIVERSE POPULATION.
BUDGET 2024 WILL RECOMMEND PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT EACH OF THESE.
NOW THE CHALLENGE IS TO DETERMINE WHICH PROJECTS WILL BE UNDERTAKEN DURING THE TERM OF THE 2024 BUDGET TO PROVIDE THESE FUNDAMENTALS, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES MENTIONED IN THE FIRST SLIDE.
NOW WE NEED TO REMEMBER A MUNICIPALITY HAS A LEGAL AND MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ITS RESIDENTS, NOT TO OVERSTRETCH ITS RESOURCES. AND IN DEVELOPING ITS BUDGET, THE FINANCIAL PLAN, AS I CALL IT.
[00:10:01]
IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO PRIORITIZE AMONG ITS LONG LIST OF PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, DELIVERY OF CORE SERVICES COMES AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST.PUT SIMPLY, THE CITY SHOULD ENSURE THAT WE CAN DELIVER SERVICES AND MEET OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE FINANCIAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS WITHOUT INCREASING OUR DEBT LEVEL, TAX BURDEN, AND DEPLETING OTHER RESOURCES EXPONENTIALLY.
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE ABOVE, AND RECOGNIZING THAT IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO UNDERTAKE EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE, ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL FOR BUDGET 2024 WERE GUIDED BY KEY ASSET MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS, AS WELL AS ALIGNMENT WITH COUNCIL PRIORITIES.
CONSEQUENTLY, AS PART OF BUDGET 2024, ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING A TOTAL OF $24.7 BILLION INCHES CAPITAL PROJECTS TO SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES.
AMONG THOSE PROPOSALS, WE HAVE $2.8 MILLION FOR LAGOON SLUDGE REMOVAL, $2.2 MILLION AS PROVISIONS FOR FUNDING ANY LAND PROJECTS, $2.1 [INAUDIBLE] FLEET MANAGEMENT, $2.2 MILLION TOWARDS NEW LANDFILL EXPANSION AND CELL DESIGN, $4.5 MILLION FOR THE FIRE HALL EXPANSION PROJECT AND $3.6 MILLION FOR THE AQUATIC CENTRE.
SIMILARLY, WE ARE ANTICIPATING TO FUND THE PROPOSED 2024 CAPITAL INVESTMENT THROUGH $2.2 MILLION FROM THE LAND FUND, $5.6 MILLION FROM THE FORMULA FUNDING, $3.2 MILLION FROM THE CANADA COMMUNITY BUILDING FUND, $4.7 MILLION FROM THE ICIP, $3.7 FROM THE COMMUNITY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING, $1.4 MILLION COLLECTED FROM USER FEES, AND $2.5 MILLION TRANSFER FROM VARIOUS RESERVES, GIVING US A TOTAL ANTICIPATED CAPITAL OF A CAPITAL FUNDING OF $24.7 MILLION.
NOW IN RELATION TO THE OPERATION BUDGET COSTS CONTINUE TO BE A PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING COMPONENT.
IT'S ALWAYS TOUGH, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE INFLATIONARY TRENDS CHANGE A LABOR MARKET, CHANGING LABOR DYNAMICS AND CERTAIN MARKETS AND CLIMATIC UNCERTAIN MARKETS AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS.
THE CITY'S OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET COVERS DAY TO DAY SPENDING ON SERVICES SUCH AS RECREATION, PARKS AND ROAD MAINTENANCE, LANDFILL, TRANSIT AND FIRE SERVICES, AMONGST OTHERS.
AS THE CITY CONTINUES TO BUILD NEW INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS SIDEWALKS, TRAILS, FACILITIES, AS WELL AS EXTEND THE RANGE OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, ONGOING MAINTENANCE COSTS INCREASES ACCORDINGLY.
IN ADDITION, THE CITY IS COMMITTED TO INCREASING ITS EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT OUR EXTENSIVE INVESTMENT IN DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS SUFFICIENTLY PROTECTED IN THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY.
THIS SLIDE IN PARTICULAR DEPICTS THE 2024 O&M COST THAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE INFLUENCED BY THE CURRENT CHALLENGES OF STAFF AND DIGITAL SECURITY, AS WELL AS ESSENTIAL EXPENSES TO STAY COMPETITIVE AND MEET REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.
DUE TO THE RISE IN STAFF TURNOVER, HR RECRUITMENT COSTS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY $35,000 FROM $18,000 THAT WAS BUDGETED IN 2023 TO $53,000 BEING PROPOSED IN 2024.
IT SECURITY AND SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY $101,000 FROM $993,000 THAT WAS BUDGETED IN 2023. WE DO HAVE ONE TIME COSTS OF $75,000 EACH FOR THE RECORD MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE AND THE RENEWAL OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, WHICH EXPIRES IN 2024.
WE ALSO HAVE $120,000 BUDGETED FOR COMPLIANCE COSTS IN RELATION TO OUR WATER LICENSE.
BY THIS TIME, I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE PROBABLY GUESSED THAT ALL THESE EXPENSES ARE ESSENTIAL, AND IF WE WANT TO, THEY'RE ESSENTIAL IF WE WANT TO KEEP A CERTAIN SERVICE LEVELS. ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACT TO NOTE IN RELATION TO BOTH OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS IS THAT THE NUMBERS PROVIDED DURING BUDGET DISCUSSIONS ARE GUESSTIMATES BASED ON THE BEST AVAILABLE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT THE TIME, AS THE FINAL NUMBERS TEND TO BE INFLUENCED BY FACTORS MOST OF THE TIME OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL.
WE DO SEE YEARLY VARIANCES BETWEEN BUDGET TO BUDGET AND BUDGET TO ACTUAL.
IN MY VIEW, BUDGETING IS A TYPICAL PLAN FOR THE WORST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST EXERCISE.
[00:15:04]
IN PREPARATION FOR BUDGET 2024 [INAUDIBLE].AS IN RECENT YEARS, SENIOR LEADERSHIP CAREFULLY REVIEWED THE IDENTIFIED NEEDS FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF AND EVALUATED THEM USING A STRUCTURED MATRIX THAT AGAIN CONSIDERED HOW THE ROLES ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S MANDATES AND COUNCIL PRIORITIES.
IT IS A KNOWN FACT THAT THE CITY'S POPULATION HASN'T INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN RECENT YEARS.
HOWEVER, STAKEHOLDER EXPECTATIONS, LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, INFRASTRUCTURE, SERVICE AND PROGRAMS HAVE ALL CONTINUED TO GROW, THEREBY INCREASING THE NEED TO STAFF TO ADEQUATELY AND SAFELY DELIVER THE ASSOCIATED SERVICES AND PROGRAMS TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS. WHILE THERE IS STILL A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF MOVING PARTS IMPACTING THE STAFFING PICTURE, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE DRAFT 2024 BUDGET DOCUMENT WILL JUSTIFY THE NEED FOR NEW POSITION TO SUPPORT FINANCIAL SERVICES, BUDGETING AND TAXATION, EMERGENCY SERVICES, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THE SWIMMING POOL OPERATIONS.
COUNCIL, WHO IS THE MAIN DRIVER OF A MUNICIPAL BUDGET, MADE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THEIR OWN FOR THE 2024 BUDGET IN THE OCTOBER 23RD, 2023 COUNCIL MEETING.
COUNCIL EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO SEE THE FOLLOWING INCLUSION OF $100,000 TO DRAFT AND CONSULT ON AN AREA DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR KAM LAKE. ADDITION OF $100,000 FOR A CONSULTANT TO REVIEW, PROVIDE AN OPERATING MODEL RECOMMENDATION AND A DRAFT AND DRAFT A MULTI-YEAR FUNDING PROPOSAL TO BE PRESENTED TO THE FEDERAL AND TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENTS FOR A STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM.
ON A SIDE NOTE, COUNCIL HAS ALSO DIRECTED THAT ONCE THE DMO IS ESTABLISHED, THE HOTEL LEVY FEES COLLECTED SHOULD PAY THIS $100,000 BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND.
PROVISIONS BE MADE FOR FUNDING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SESSION IN THE SPRING OF 2024 ON EVACUATION PREPAREDNESS, INCLUDING A THIRD PARTY TO BE A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND FACILITATOR.
ADMINISTRATION HAS ALLOCATED $20,000 TOWARDS THIS EVENT, IN COOPERATION OF $100,000 TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AFTER ACTION ASSESSMENT.
COUNCIL HAS ALSO DIRECTED ADMINISTRATION TO REPROFILE THE $100,000 PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED TO THE HOMELESSNESS EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, TO A DOWNTOWN CLEANUP PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES DAILY LITTER CLEANUP AND PRESSURE WASHING OF THE SIDEWALKS FROM JUNE 1ST TO SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2024 . INCREASE OLD PARKING FEES BY 15% AND EXCLUDE $50,000 FROM THE CAPITAL AREA COMMITTEE.
AS HIGHLIGHTED EARLIER, PUBLIC CONSULTATION IS KEY IS A KEY PILLAR TO THE CITY'S BUDGETING PROCESS.
AS SUCH, IT IS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT THIS YEAR, THE CITY HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL EMAILS FROM RESIDENTS EXPRESSING THEIR IDEAS AND INPUTS, NOTABLY ON A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS ON WATER DELIVERY SERVICES, AN OUTDOOR HOCKEY RINK WITH PERMANENT BOARDS, CONCRETE OR SYNTHETIC BASE BENCHES AND SAFETY NETTING, INCREASING THE MAINTENANCE BUDGET OF THE LAKEVIEW CEMETERY.
ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF FIREBREAKS AND FIRE SPOTTING PROGRAMS. ADEQUATE SEATING AT BUS SHELTERS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL AND WHICH ARE WITHIN REASONABLE PROXIMITY.
SAFETY OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
A TRAIL BETWEEN THE RACKET CLUB AND SKI CLUB ALONG BACK BAY.
ADDING A PICK UP AND DROP OFF POINT ON ROUTE B FOR ÉCOLE WILLIAM MCDONALD MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
EXTENDING THE MULTI-PATH ON 52ND AVENUE BETWEEN 49TH STREET AND 44TH STREET.
IN ADDITION TO THE PROPOSALS RECEIVED BY EMAIL, THREE STAKEHOLDERS ALSO PRESENTED THEIR BUSINESS CASES ON BUDGET 2024 AT THE OCTOBER 23RD, 2023 COUNCIL MEETING.
COUNCIL HEARD A PRESENTATION FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MAKERSPACE YK.
[00:20:08]
$1.1 MILLION PER YEAR, PLUS AN INITIAL START UP COST OF $350,000 FOR VAN RETROFITS AND GEAR THAT WOULD PROVIDE AN ADVANCED STREET OUTREACH SERVICES.ON A SIDE NOTE, FOR 2024, THE CITY HAS ALREADY BUDGETED $360,000 TOWARDS THIS PROGRAM.
FINALLY, COUNCIL HEARD THEIR PRESENTATION FROM MR. WESTWICK, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FOLK ON THE ROCKS SOCIETY.
MR. WESTWICK REQUESTED THAT THE CITY FORGIVES THE REMAINING $60,000 ON THE $100,000 LOAN TAKEN FROM THE CITY FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE MAIN STAGE ON THE FOLK ON THE ROCKS SITE.
NOW THAT YOU HAVE HEARD ALL THE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS FOR 2024, WHAT NEXT? THE 2024 DRAFT BUDGET IS INTENDED TO BE UNVEILED AT THE GPC MEETING OF JANUARY 15TH, 2024.
FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, THE PUBLIC WILL BE INVITED TO SEND THEIR VIEWS TO COUNCIL VIA EMAIL ON THE DRAFT DOCUMENT BETWEEN JANUARY 16TH AND JANUARY 31ST.
DURING THE SAME PERIOD, COUNCIL COULD START SENDING THEIR QUESTIONS TO ADMINISTRATION.
FURTHER, WE HAVE SET ASIDE THE EVENINGS OF FEBRUARY 5TH, 6TH, 7TH AND THE 8TH JUST IN CASE WE NEED EXTRA TIME FOR DELIBERATION TO SET THINGS UP FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE 2024 BUDGET ON THE FEBRUARY 12TH, 2024.
AND I KNOW IT'S A DIFFICULT TASK.
ON YOUR HAND BECAUSE IT IS NOT EASY TO FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE.
SORRY. BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY TO FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN BOTH.
THANK YOU. I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH AN EXTRACT I RECENTLY READ IN AN ARTICLE IN CABIN RADIO WHICH THEN LED ME TO THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.
SO THANK YOU OLLIE WILLIAMS FOR THE LEAD.
BUT I THINK THIS CAPTURES EVERYTHING THAT I'VE JUST TOLD YOU.
AND IT IS VERY, VERY RELEVANT TO THE CITY.
AND ALL OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS CANADA.
IT WILL BE EASY FOR US, FOR YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE.
BUT I DO KNOW EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
THANK YOU, MR. PANDOO, REALLY APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO JANUARY 15TH WHEN WE GET THE.
THE BIG ONE FULL OF SURPRISES AND PUNCH IN THE GUTS.
BUT DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TODAY? OKAY, BEN.
CHAIR. FIRST OFF, THANKS TO ADMIN FOR ALL THE WORK IN 2023 THAT YOU'VE DONE TO GET US HERE.
AND THANKS FOR THE PREP THAT YOU'VE DONE SO FAR ON BUDGET 2024.
AND FOR MR. PANDOO, YOUR COMMENT ON FRUGALITY, ANYBODY WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT I AM SORT OF THE LIVING EMBODIMENT OF FRUGAL, SO REALLY APPRECIATED THAT JUST. I HAVE A LOT OF THEM, BUT I GUESS TO START OFF, I JUST REFERRED RETURNED FROM TWO WEEKS AGO FROM THE CANADIAN ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS, AND AFTER THAT, THE DISCUSSION AROUND STREET OUTREACH HASN'T LEFT ME, AND I'M SURE COUNCILLOR FEQUET IS GOING TO PROBABLY BRING THIS UP OR COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THEY'VE BEEN BRINGING UP AT PAST GPCS, SO IT HASN'T LEFT ME, BUT NEITHER HAVE THE COMMENTS THAT JUST REFERENCED FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND MR. PANDOO. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION FOR ADMIN IS WE KNOW THAT THE $350,000 THAT'S CURRENTLY DEDICATED TO STREET OUTREACH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN PAST MEETINGS, DOESN'T MANAGE TO SORT OF REACH THE RFP GOALS THAT WE'VE SET IN THE RFP ANNUALLY.
[00:25:02]
SO WHEN CONSIDERING THOSE EXPECTATIONS.SO BACK TO, YOU KNOW, MEETING THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE CITY, HOW MUCH DO WE BELIEVE IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE NEEDED TO REACH THE RFP GOALS AS THEY CURRENTLY EXIST? SO NOT SOMETHING NEW, BUT JUST AS WE CURRENTLY PUT OUT THE RFP EACH YEAR, HOW MUCH DO WE THINK WOULD ACTUALLY BE NEEDED TO REACH THOSE GOALS? THANKS, MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
AND WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE KNOWN IN HOUSE RIGHT NOW THAT THE $350,000-360,000 THAT WE PUT OUT ANNUALLY SEEKING A CONTRACTOR TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER THE YELLOWKNIFE STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM IS NOT QUITE HITTING THE MARK.
AND SO WE'VE WANTED TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS APPROPRIATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, IS MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS, MEETING THE NEEDS OF SOCIAL AGENCIES AND THEIR ABILITY TO DELIVER, AND ALSO DOING SO IN A WAY THAT IS KEEPING UP WITH BEST PRACTICES THAT OR IS INFORMED BY BEST PRACTICES FROM OTHER PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
BECAUSE WE DO HEAR ANECDOTES OF OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF PROGRAMS IN DIFFERENT CITIES AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND FRANKLY, ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AND ELSEWHERE THAT ARE THAT SEEM TO BE WORKING WELL.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT COULD THOSE PARAMETERS WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL? TO COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN QUESTION, WHAT IS THE EXACT WHAT AMOUNT OF MONEY DO WE NEED TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM EFFECTIVE? THAT'S ONE WHERE WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING SOME EXTERNAL EXPERTISE.
AND SO THE IDEA OF HAVING SOME CONTRACTED EXPERTISE TO COME IN AND SAY, OKAY, WHAT WAS THE GOAL THAT WAS SET BY COUNCIL? WHAT IS THE CURRENT GOAL THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE MET? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT USER GROUPS HERE? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE VULNERABLE? POPULATION CAN IDENTIFY AS AREAS WHERE THEY WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE SUPPORT.
IF THAT BIG PICTURE CAN BE LOOKED AT.
I'LL ASK MR. WHITE IF HE'D LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING AROUND THIS.
HE'S ENGAGING REGULARLY WITH OUR CONTRACTOR AND WITH A LOT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND NGOS THAT SUPPORT THE VULNERABLE POPULATION, AND I'LL SEE IF HE WOULD LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE. THANK YOU.
NO, I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD.
I'M HAPPY TO ADD ANY OR DO ANY EXTRA WORK THAT COUNCIL NEEDS.
BUT I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO ADD RIGHT NOW.
THANKS. THANKS FOR THAT RESPONSE.
I GUESS IT JUST LEAVES ME WITH MORE TO THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
AND SORT OF THAT ADDITIONAL CONTEXT.
THE NEXT ONE IS LOOKING AT THE $20,000.
AND I KNOW THIS IS A COUNCIL INITIATIVE.
SO IT'S SORT OF ASKING OURSELVES, I SUPPOSE, BUT MAYBE ADMIN COULD PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE LIGHT.
ANYWAY, IS LOOKING AT THE $20,000 FOR THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON EVACUATION PREPAREDNESS.
BECAUSE AS I LOOK AT THIS AGAIN I'M SORT OF GOING WE'RE DOING THE AFTER ACTION ASSESSMENT.
ARE WE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE? ARE WE COMING UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT MAY NOT MEET THE NEED? BECAUSE WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT MORE, I'M LIKE THE REACTION THAT CITIZENS HAD AND RESIDENTS HAD WAS IT WASN'T NECESSARILY ABOUT PREPAREDNESS.
THE PEOPLE WHO WERE PREPARED, THEY HAD RESOURCES THEY COULD REFERENCE.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD RESOURCES.
GNWT HAD RESOURCES. WE HAD SOME RESOURCES ON OUR WEBSITE.
SO AN EVENT OF $20,000 MEET THE NEED OF THE COMMUNITY, OR IS IT REALLY MORE A LONGER TERM, PART OF THAT AFTER ACTION ASSESSMENT PIECE? SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF THIS COUNCIL INITIATIVE IS REALLY REQUIRED, BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM ADMIN OF HOW YOU SORT OF TAKEN IT TO DATE WHAT THAT MEANS.
THANKS, MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
SO THE WHEN COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD SUGGESTED $20,000 FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION ON EVACUATION PREPAREDNESS, WE'VE KIND OF BATTED THIS IDEA AROUND WITHIN OUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND COULD IDEALLY FORESEE A COMBINATION OF THINGS.
ONE WOULD BE AND WE HAVE SOME AMAZING CONTACTS THROUGH CANADA TASK FORCE TWO, THE GROUP, OF COURSE, THAT CAME TO HELP US OUT OVER THE EVACUATION AND THE WILDFIRE EMERGENCY RESPONSE THIS PAST SUMMER CAME FROM CALGARY, AND THEY'VE GOT SOME EXPERTISE WITH THEIR TEAM OR ASSOCIATED AND AFFILIATED WITH THEIR TEAM THAT COULD SERIOUSLY SPEAK TO EVACUATION PREPAREDNESS.
SO WE WOULD SEE IN AN EVENING SESSION THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC WITH QUESTIONS, WITH COMMENTS, WITH, YOU KNOW, SOME INFORMATION ON BEST PRACTICES AND HOW THAT COULD UNFOLD FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERTISE IN THE AREA.
THE OTHER PART OF THIS, OF COURSE, WOULD BE ENHANCING AND UPGRADING SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT'S ON OUR WEBSITE RIGHT NOW, SO THAT WHEN THERE IS INTEREST FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS, THAT THERE IS A RELIABLE, MODERN SOURCE OF INFORMATION THERE.
[00:30:04]
EVACUATION, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S THE PLAN? AND THE CHALLENGE OF THIS, OF COURSE, IS THERE IS NO PLAN.SO TO SIT HERE RIGHT NOW AND SAY, WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR AN ICE STORM THIS WINTER? IT WOULD DEPEND ON A LOT OF THINGS.
SO AGAIN, IT IS REALLY INFORMING THE PUBLIC.
AND WE THINK THIS IS A REALLY VALUABLE PIECE OF THAT.
THANK YOU. THANKS AGAIN FOR THAT.
AND PROBABLY JUST ONE OF THOSE ONES THAT'S GOING TO TURN MY HEAD FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
AND MAYBE OTHER COUNCILORS HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON THIS ONE AS WELL.
I JUST SOME MORE CLARITY AROUND WHAT THIS TRAFFIC STUDY WAS, WHAT IT SORT OF IS PROPOSING, AND IF THERE'S ANY ESTIMATED COST THAT WOULD ACTUALLY ALIGN WITH THAT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SORT OF A REQUEST FROM THE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, BUT WITH NO DOLLAR AROUND IT.
THANKS. MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
AND SO THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO THE TO EXTEND WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE FOR BIKE LANES ON 52ND AVENUE TO EXTEND THEM BEYOND, I THINK THEY ARE NOW 54 55TH TO MAYBE 56TH TO 52ND.
I'M NOT GOING TO LIE, THIS IS NOT ADMINISTRATION'S NOT A BIG FAN OF THAT MODEL.
SO CONTINUING THAT WE DON'T SEE AS SOMETHING THAT IS AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION RIGHT NOW, IT WARRANTS A BETTER DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF WHAT IS THE ISSUE THAT WE ARE SEEKING TO ADDRESS. BEFORE WE WOULD LOOK AT ANY RESOLUTIONS FOR THAT.
UNLESS, OF COURSE, COUNCIL DECIDES THAT THIS IS A PRIORITY.
I WILL ASK MR. GREENCORN TO SPEAK TO THIS A LITTLE FURTHER.
THANKS FOR THAT AND JUST THE ABILITY TO ADD ON TO IT.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OUR PAVING PROGRAM SET, AND IT'S ALSO ON A BIANNUAL BASIS TO ALLOW US TO FUND OTHER PROJECTS SIMILAR WITH THE WATER AND SEWER PROGRAM. SO WE'VE MOVED FROM AN ANNUAL PROGRAM TO A BIANNUAL PROGRAM TO HELP THE CAPITAL FUND AND THE OTHER PRESSURES THAT WE SEE COMING FORWARD IN SAYING THAT THERE ARE OTHER MAJOR STREETS IN YELLOWKNIFE THAT NEED SIGNIFICANT WORK.
I'M NOT SURE ANYONE'S BEEN UP AND DOWN FRANKLIN HILL LATELY, BUT THAT WILL BE OUR NEXT PRIORITY ONCE WE GET OUT OF THE CAPITAL OUTLOOK FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. SO AGAIN, TO STRESS WHAT MS. BASSI-KELLETT SAID IS THAT.
UPON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CURRENT LANES ON 52ND AVENUE, WE QUICKLY DETERMINED THAT IT'S NOT THE BEST USE OF THE REAL ESTATE AND GEOMETRY IN THE AREA, SO WE WOULD NOT PROBABLY SEEK TO RECOMMEND THIS, AND WE DON'T HAVE A COST PUT OUT AT THIS TIME.
IT WAS NOT SIMPLY A PAVE AND REPLACE.
THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT CONCRETE CURING OR NOT CURING, BUT FORMING.
AND THE WAY, JUST THE WAY THE INTERSECTIONS WERE MADE.
THANKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
AND I WOULD NEVER SUGGEST THAT THOSE LANES BE EXTENDED THE WAY THAT THEY ARE.
SO BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT RESPONSE FROM BOTH CITY MANAGER AND THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR THAT CLARITY AROUND SORT OF THE PLANNING AND LONGER TERM PAVING AND ALL OF THAT.
JUST ONE QUESTION AROUND PROCESS.
AND WE DIDN'T DO IT THIS YEAR.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE CITY HAS EVER DONE IT, BUT JUST IF IT'S EVEN VIABLE.
BUT FROM A MID-YEAR VARIANCE SORT OF REALLOCATION, HAS THAT EVER BEEN DONE FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE STANDPOINT WHERE YOU GET TO MIDDLE OF THE YEAR KIND OF GO, WHAT'S OUR VARIANCE? WHAT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN DONE? WHAT ONES AREN'T GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF X, Y, AND Z? WHAT CAN MAYBE WE WE PUT IN OUR PARKING LOT THAT WE CAN BRING FORWARD THAT MIGHT BE ACHIEVABLE.
HAVE WE EVER DONE THAT AS A CITY BEFORE? AND IS THIS SOMETHING? I'M NOT SAYING WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION NOW, BUT JUST AS I'M SORT OF LOOKING AT THIS AND CONTEMPLATING OUT AND THINKING THROUGH FRUGALITY AND THINKING THROUGH HOW DO WE BEST MANAGE OUR FUNDS AS A CITY WHILE ALSO CONTEMPLATING WHAT COULD HAPPEN? HAVE WE EVER DONE THAT SORT OF MID-YEAR BUDGETING VARIANCE, GUT CHECK OF WHAT'S BEEN DONE AND WHAT MAYBE COULD WE DO WITH THE TIME LEFT? I WOULD IMAGINE THERE'S PROBABLY NOT A DIRECTOR THERE THAT DOESN'T DO IT DAILY.
SO MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
[00:35:10]
WAS FOR THE WATER RESERVOIR AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT NEEDED SOME URGENT REPAIRS THAT HADN'T BEEN ON THE CAPITAL PLAN THAT WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS RIGHT AWAY.SO IN A CASE LIKE THAT, ABSOLUTELY, WE COME BACK.
BUT TYPICALLY WHEN WE HAVE OUR CAPITAL PLAN, PROJECTS ARE OFTEN MULTIYEAR.
THEY'RE TYPICALLY MULTIYEAR, AS A MATTER OF FACT, REQUIRING SOME NUANCES AND ADJUSTMENTS AS WE GO.
CERTAINLY WE SEE CAPITAL CARRYFORWARDS BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE MAY HAVE WE MAY BE IN THE MIDST OF A PROJECT, AND THERE MAY BE ISSUES ALONG THE WAY THAT MAY DELAY THE TIME FRAME.
IT MIGHT BE COST CHANGES, IT MIGHT BE SUPPLY CHAIN.
IT MIGHT BE DISCUSSIONS WE'RE HAVING WITH OUR CONTRACTORS AND CONSULTANTS AROUND SLIGHT CHANGES.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS WHY THERE'S DELAYS IN THEIR TIMELINES THAT CHANGE.
SO WE LOOK AT THAT VARIANCE QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY.
IT'S VERY PROMINENT FOR US IN AUGUST.
THE VARIANCE IN AUGUST IS USED BY OUR BUDGETING DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT THEY KNOW WHAT'S BEING SPENT, PARTICULARLY ON CAPITAL PROJECTS, BY THE AUGUST VARIANCE TO KNOW ABOUT CARRYFORWARDS AND THE STATUS OF PROJECTS OVERALL.
SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING NEW THAT COMES ALONG, IT CERTAINLY CAN BE BROUGHT FORWARD TO COUNCIL.
WE TYPICALLY DO SO IF SOMETHING IS URGENT.
OTHERWISE, WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE OUR HANDS FULL WITH THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THE GO.
THAT'S PERFECT. THANKS. JUST, YOU KNOW, FIRST TIME OUT FOR ALL OF THESE PROCESSES.
IT'S GOOD TO SORT OF GET CLARIFICATION ON HOW THINGS HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND THAT THAT IS A VIABLE OPTION IF IT MAKES SENSE FROM A PROJECT PLANNING PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S ENOUGH FOR ME FOR NOW. THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILLOR WARBURTON.
THANK YOU CHAIR. SOME QUESTIONS AROUND SOME OF THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK.
BACK TO THAT MULTI-USE PATH ON 52ND STREET.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
WE WOULD CERTAINLY WANT TO ENSURE THAT IF WE IT'S NEVER A GOOD THING FOR THE CITY TO PUT SOME ICING ON THE CAKE, IF I DARE PUT IT THAT WAY, BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE CAKE IS BUILT, IF YOU GET MY DRIFT.
SO IF WE HAVE A DO NICE NEW SIDEWALKS AND THEN THEY END UP GETTING BEATEN UP BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION IS GOING ON WITH HEAVY EQUIPMENT BACK AND FORTH ON THEM ADJACENT, THAT'S NEVER A GREAT WAY TO DO THINGS.
I MAY ASK MISS WHITE TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND WE ARE AWARE OF THE PROPERTY DEVELOPERS AND OWNERS INTEREST IN SEEING IF THERE'S MORE ABILITY FOR ON STREET PARKING.
I WILL ASK MS. WHITE IF SHE'D LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING.
SOME CLARITY ON IF THAT IS THE CASE OR WHERE THAT FUND IS.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
THIS CAME FROM, WE BELIEVE LONG TIME AGO, THE HARBOR MASTER PLAN AND HASN'T BEEN ON THE RADAR SINCE.
BUT I'LL ASK MS. WHITE IF SHE CAN SPEAK TO HOW THIS THE THINKING WAS AROUND THE FUNDING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SO THERE'S TWO PIECES IN THE LAND FUND.
THERE IS AN ALLOCATION FOR WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS THE RAVINE TRAIL, NIVEN TRAIL, ETCETERA.
SO THE NIVEN TRAIL DOES HAVE SPECIFIC FUNDING FOR IT.
IT WAS FUNDED BY A PORTION OF EACH OF THE LAND SALES INTO THE LAND FUND.
THE TRAIL FROM PROPOSED FROM THE SKI CLUB DOWN THROUGH BACK BAY WAS PART OF THE HARBOR PLAN, AND NO BUDGET WAS EVER ALLOCATED TO IT. NO MONEY WAS EVER PUT ASIDE FROM LAND FUND SALES TO GO TOWARDS THAT.
SO AT PRESENT, IT'S NOT A FUNDED PROJECT.
THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW.
THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN.
THANKS TO STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK ON THIS BIG DUMP OF SNOW.
YEAH, THE WEATHER THESE DAYS IS WILD.
SO FIRST QUESTION, WILL WE SEE A SPENDING VARIANCE REPORT THIS YEAR? OR WILL WE JUST LOOK TO SEE THAT IN THE CARRYFORWARDS IN THE DRAFT BUDGET?
[00:40:01]
MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.WE ABSOLUTELY DO OUR TYPICAL YEAR.
IN A TYPICAL YEAR, IF I CAN SAY THAT WE WORK TO BRING FORWARD TO COUNCIL THE VARIANCE AT THE END OF SECOND QUARTER AND THIRD QUARTER, THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT ONES TO BRING FORWARD. FIRST QUARTER OF COURSE, WE'RE JUST GETTING OUR SPENDING GOING, AND CERTAINLY THERE'S MINIMAL, IF ANY CAPITAL SPENDING THAT HAPPENS IN THE FIRST QUARTER.
SO SECOND AND THIRD ARE THE ONES THAT WE LIKE TO TYPICALLY BRING FORWARD AND ARE COMMITTED TO BRING FORWARD TO COUNCIL BECAUSE, OF COURSE, VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SEE AND TO PROVIDE THAT OVERSIGHT IN YOUR ROLE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. BASSI-KELLETT, AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
THE VARIANCE REPORT IS CURRENTLY BEING FINALIZED AND IT WILL BE AVAILABLE AS FROM DECEMBER 10TH.
[INAUDIBLE] UM, JUST FOR CLARITY, THE PROPOSED CAPITAL INVESTMENT THAT WE SAW IN THE PRESENTATION TODAY, THAT IS NEW MONEY THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE CARRYFORWARDS.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
ABSOLUTELY. ANYTHING THAT IS LISTED IN BUDGET 2024 IS NEW MONEY.
AGAIN, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF YEAR PROJECTS THAT ARE INCLUDED.
AND SO THERE WILL OBVIOUSLY BE PROJECTS THAT THERE COULD VERY WELL BE CARRYFORWARDS COMING FROM BUDGET 2023 OR EARLIER, OR EVEN IF THE FULL AMOUNT OF ALLOCATION AND BUDGET 2023 IS USED UP.
IF IT'S A MULTI YEAR PROJECT, THERE WOULD BE NEW MONEY IN 2024 IF IT'S LAID OUT THAT WAY.
MR. PANDOO, ANYTHING TO ADD? THANK YOU NOTE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IS THERE A SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT BASE GROWTH RATE THAT WE USE IN BUDGET PLANNING? MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
THE TWO THOSE TWO FUNCTIONS ARE OF COURSE TOGETHER IN ONE DIVISION.
WE HAVEN'T HAD SIGNIFICANT ASSESSMENT GROWTH HAPPEN.
I WILL SEE IF MR. PANDOO OR MS. SUE WOULD LIKE TO ELABORATE ON THAT.
WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THE RATES, EVEN THOUGH WE DO HAVE A AN ESTIMATE CURRENTLY, BUT I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE TO TO SHARE THE RATE THAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR, BUT IT WILL DEFINITELY BE AVAILABLE WHEN WE GO INTO BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.
BUT JUST WHEN I COMPARED THE 2023 BUDGETED 2024 CAPITAL SPENDING TO THE CAPITAL SPENDING NOW PROPOSED, IT IS JUST UNDER $14 MILLION LESS.
SO JUST LOOKING TO GET I GUESS INSTEAD OF ASKING ABOUT SPECIFIC THINGS NOW, ARE THERE SPECIFIC CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT MAKE UP THAT $14 MILLION THAT WE KNOW WILL BE DELAYED OR CANCELED AT THIS POINT? MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'RE LOOKING AT RISING COSTS.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROJECTIONS THAT WERE USED A YEAR AGO ARE THOSE THAT CAN BE REFINED AND CAN BE REFLECTIVE OF WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW. I WILL ASK BOTH MR. PANDOO AND MR. GREENCORN, GIVEN SO MUCH OF THE CAPITAL IS UNDER HIS PURVIEW, IF EITHER OF THOSE GENTLEMEN WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME FOLLOW UP COMMENTS.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT ARID MS. BASSI-KELLETT DID KIND OF ALLUDED TO THAT.
WE WILL GIVE MORE DETAILS WHEN WE DO HAVE BUDGET DISCUSSION.
HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE SHARE A GENERAL NOTE THAT PROBABLY MIGHT MAKE UNDERSTANDING A BIT EASIER IN TERMS OF HOW WE DO THE BUDGETS, BECAUSE PER POLICY, WE DO DO BUDGETS ON A THREE YEAR ROLLING CYCLE.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO HAVE A TEN YEAR CAPITAL PLAN THAT WE DO.
SO WHEN WE DO, THE WAY WE ROLL IS WE DO MAKE THE ASSESSMENT TO SEE WHAT PROJECTS BASED ON OUR
[00:45:03]
FINANCIAL ABILITY, WHAT PROJECTS CAN WE POSTPONE? FOR LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF WE DO HAVE SOME TIME ON OUR HAND, WE CAN MEET SOME REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND POSTPONE THOSE PROJECTS.AND THAT ALLOWS US TO BUILD FUND TO COMPLETE THOSE PROJECTS AT THE SAME TIME, WITHIN THAT THREE YEAR, TEN YEAR TIME FRAME THAT WE'RE TALKING AND AT THE SAME TIME RESHUFFLE THE MONEY AND TRY TO ATTEMPT AND COMPLETE THE PROJECTS WHOSE COSTS ARE JUST EXPONENTIALLY GOING THROUGH THE ROOF AND TRY TO ATTEMPT IT. SO THE THREE YEAR TEN YEAR CYCLE ALLOWS FOR THAT FLEXIBILITY.
SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE YEAR TO YEAR, IT DOESN'T GIVE YOU THE EXACT PICTURE.
YOU WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT IT ON THE THREE YEAR ROLLING CYCLE AT THE SAME TIME THE TEN YEAR.
THEN IT WILL KIND OF THE NUMBERS WILL PROBABLY MAKE SENSE A BIT BETTER.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN WE'RE CANCELING ANY PROJECTS.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS HAS BEEN RESHUFFLED OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN YOU SEE THOSE UP AND DOWN.
NOW, REGARDING THE REVENUE, IT'S THE SAME WAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO GRANT FUNDING.
BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT GOES DOWN.
IF WE ARE RESHUFFLING IT, PUSHING THEM FURTHER DOWN THE LINE.
THANK YOU. AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, A LOT OF THE IT JUMPS ON WHAT KAVI WAS SAYING.
WE'RE STILL NOT AHEAD WHERE WE WANT TO BE IN THE REGULATORY PROCESS.
SO THAT $9 MILLION WILL NOT BE EXPENSED IN 2024.
SO THAT'S A BIG CHUNK OF YOUR $14 MILLION.
AND AS MS. BASSI-KELLETT SAID, THAT'S FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS THAT WE'VE ALREADY FLUSHED OUT, WHETHER IT'S STAFF OR CRISES.
OH, SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT LIKE THAT AS MR. PANDOO SAID IT'LL FLUCTUATE DEPENDING ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN REAL TIME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT'S THE MUNICIPALITY AND MUNICIPALITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
AND JUST ONE MORE PROJECT ON THE GRANTS REVENUES.
CURIOUS IF WE IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO SPEND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR WHATEVER REASON OR DO A PROJECT AND WE DEFER IT BY A YEAR OR TWO, DOES THE FUNDING OR THE GRANT FUNDING WE GET, IS IT LOCKED TO WHAT WAS INITIALLY SORT OF AGREED ON FOR THE PROJECT, OR WOULD IT INCREASE WITH THE COST OF THE PROJECT? IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT, I THINK I DO.
SO WHAT WE LOOK AT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR REVENUES, FIRST OF ALL, WE LOOK AT WHAT FUNDING ARE WE GETTING THROUGH THE GRANT PROCESS THROUGH OTHER GOVERNMENTS FOR DIFFERENT VARIOUS PURPOSES? WHICH OF IT IS FETTERED? SO ICIP FUNDING FOR EXAMPLE, IS FETTERED, OFTEN FOR SPECIFIC KINDS OF CAPITAL, WATER, SEWER PROJECTS.
THERE IS NO OTHER PURPOSE THAT WE CAN USE THAT FOR THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE GOT FOR THAT OUT OF OUR PROJECTED COSTS AT THE TIME IN 2019 OF $34 MILLION FOR THE REPLACEMENT, WE GOT 75%, WHICH IS $26.8.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S SPECIFIC TO THE TERMS OF THAT GRANT.
AND EACH GRANT WILL HAVE SPECIFIC TERMS. BUT TYPICALLY IF THE MONEY IS FETTERED IT'S A DISCRETE AMOUNT AND IT'S FOR A SPECIFIC PROJECT.
[00:50:06]
MR. PANDOO, ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? NO THANK YOU. YOU'VE ELABORATED ENOUGH ON THE ON THE SUBJECT, AND I THINK IT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING.SOME QUESTIONS ON THE PUBLIC BUDGET INPUT.
THERE'S A COUPLE ABOUT THE SURFACE LINES IN OLD TOWN.
DO WE ANTICIPATE GETTING TO THAT SURFACE LINE DISCUSSION IN 2024, AND IF SO, WILL THE COST AND BENEFITS OF SEVERAL OPTIONS BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL DURING THAT DISCUSSION? MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'LL ASK MR. GREENCORN TO RESPOND TO THIS, BUT I NEED TO ABSOLUTELY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FRAMING THE DISCUSSION AROUND SURFACE WATER LINES IN OLD TOWN AS A SERVICE LEVEL DISCUSSION, AND IT NEEDS TO BE SEEN AS SUCH.
AND WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT THE MAINTENANCE OF THESE LINES IS COSTING A LOT.
I COULD BORE YOU TO DEATH WITH ANECDOTAL STORIES OF MY HOUSE, AND HOW THE LINE GOT CUT, AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT REQUIRED A LOT OF STAFF TIME TO FIX BECAUSE OF MY NEIGHBOR DOING SOME CONSTRUCTION AND INADVERTENTLY RUNNING OVER MY LINE.
THIS IS A LOT OF TIME THAT'S SPENT BY OUR STAFF, AND SO IT IS DEFINITELY A SERVICE LEVEL DISCUSSION TO SEE IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT CONTINUE OVER TO MR. GREENCORN TO ELABORATE.
YEAH. I WOULD SAY TO ANSWER YOUR DIRECT QUESTION, I'M TRYING NOT TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE A COP OUT, BUT IT REALLY DEPENDS RIGHT WHERE I WOULD FLOAT THIS IN OUR PRIORITY LIST IS PROBABLY MID TO LOW TIER.
OUR CONCENTRATION IMMEDIATELY WILL BE BECAUSE OF A LATE START AND A LATE BUDGET APPROVAL.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE GETTING OUT OF THE GROUND ON RFPS, ON TENDERS, ON THINGS LIKE THAT.
RIGHT NOW I HAVE ONE ENGINEER.
HE'S VERY BUSY, SO IT DEPENDS.
AS MS. BASSI-KELLETT JUST MENTIONED, THERE'S SEVERAL INTRICACIES OF THE SURFACE WATER LINE.
SO IF WE GET TO IT AND WE AND WE CAN BRING IT FORWARD WE DEFINITELY WILL.
BUT AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO SAY IT'S TENTATIVELY ON THE SCHEDULE.
AND IF I CAN JUST SUPPLEMENT ONE THING ON THAT, IF WE DO NOT GET TO IT, WHAT WE WILL TYPICALLY SEE IS INCREASED COST TO MAINTAIN THOSE SURFACE WATER LINES FROM SUPPLIES AND FROM RESOURCING, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S OUR STAFF DOING IT OR CONTRACTED COSTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE UPDATE.
UNDERSTOOD. ON THE PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING THE CEMETERY, DOES ADMIN OR STAFF FEEL THAT THE BUDGET IS ADEQUATE TO MAINTAIN THE CEMETERY? AND DO WE HAVE A SERVICE LEVEL STANDARD IN TERMS OF WHAT THE LAWN LOOKS LIKE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
AND I WILL ASK MR. WHITE TO ELABORATE ON THAT.
AND CERTAINLY THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SEEN THIS PAST SUMMER.
OF COURSE, THERE IS THE ABILITY FOR OUR STAFF TO PUMP WATER FROM JACKFISH LAKE TO IRRIGATE AND WATER, BUT OUR STAFF WERE BEING REDEPLOYED EVERY SECOND WEEK, IT FEELS LIKE, OR EVERY WEEK ON EVACUATION CENTRES AND DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT REQUIRED IMMEDIATE WORK.
SO I WILL ASK MR. WHITE IF YOU'D LIKE TO ELABORATE.
THANK YOU MS. BASSI-KELLETT. SO GENERALLY, I WOULD SAY THAT OUR STAFF STRUGGLE TO MEET OUR SERVICE STANDARDS FOR OUTDOOR FACILITIES.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMPETING PRIORITIES, AND LAKEVIEW CEMETERY IS OUR ONE OF OUR CLASS A FACILITIES, WHICH MEANS THAT IT HAS IT SHOULD HAVE DAILY MOWING, WATERING, TRIMMING ALL THE NECESSARY REPAIRS THAT THAT ARE REQUIRED, BUT WITH WITH A REDUCTION IN STAFF THAT WE EXPERIENCED.
THANKS FOR THE UPDATE AND THE EXPLANATION ON THAT ONE TO THE PUBLIC INPUT ON FIREBREAKS.
WHERE ARE WE AT IN THE PLANNING FOR THAT? DO WE ANTICIPATE HAVING A MAINTENANCE BUDGET FOR THOSE IN 2024, OR ARE WE NOT QUITE THERE YET? MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
SO THAT, OF COURSE, IS PRIORITY ONE.
[00:55:07]
VERY, VERY INTENSE AND TIGHT TIME FRAME THAT IT HAPPENED.THAT WORK CANNOT GO WITHOUT BEING MAINTAINED.
IT HAS PROVIDED AND WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUCH AN AMAZING PROTECTION FOR THE CITY.
SO WE'LL NEED TO INCLUDE THIS AS PART OF OUR ASSET MANAGEMENT PLANNING.
WE'LL NEED TO MAKE SURE IN DOING SO THOUGH, THAT WE ADDRESS THINGS LIKE LAND TENURE, BECAUSE AT THE TIME, IN THE HEIGHT OF THE EMERGENCY, WE DIDN'T REALLY CARE WHO OWNED THE LAND. WE WERE BUILDING FIREBREAKS.
NOW THAT THAT WE'RE NOT IN THAT SITUATION ANYMORE, WE HAVE TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF LAND TENURE.
WHAT THE THE PROPOSED USE WILL BE HOW MAINTENANCE WILL HAPPEN.
AND SO THIS IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE SEE AS PART OF AN AFTER ACTION ASSESSMENT, THAT WE WILL LOOK TOWARDS ANY ADVICE AND BEST PRACTICES FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS, BUT INCLUDING THESE, AS PART OF OUR NATURAL ASSETS FOR OUR ASSET MANAGEMENT, PLANNING AND FOR CAPITAL PLANNING IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT ADMINISTRATION IS 100% COMMITTED TO DOING.
I'LL SEE IF MR. GREENCORN, MR. PANDOO, HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK WE CLEARED SOMETHING LIKE 20 HECTARES OF LAND, WHICH IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS.
AND THIS ANY MAINTENANCE COSTS THAT WE WOULD INCLUDE IN THAT ARE BRAND NEW.
AND AT THIS POINT, WE HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH CONSULTATION.
DO WE WANT THEM TO BE MANICURED TRAILS OR ONLY A PORTION OF THE BREAK, MANICURED TRAIL OR NO MANICURED TRAIL? SO ALL THOSE DIFFERENT DECISION POINTS AND PUBLIC INPUT WILL INFLUENCE THE FUTURE BUDGET MAINTENANCE FOR THAT.
SO BUT AS A SPECIFIC LINE ITEM CALLED FIREBREAK MAINTENANCE, THAT'S NOT OCCURRED YET.
DO WE NEED LITTLE TRIMMERS? IS IT JUST CHAINSAWS? IS IT SUMMER STUDENTS? IS IT CONTRACTORS? LIKE.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S 20 APPROXIMATE 20 HECTARES.
SO IT'S SIGNIFICANT LAND MASS.
AND YEAH, WE JUST NEED SOME MORE TIME TO CATCH OUR BREATH AND WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THAT.
THANKS. AND IT WAS REMISS OF ME.
YEAH, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
GREAT, GREAT TOPIC TO BRING UP.
THE REGROWTH OF THAT AREA IS GOING TO, AS WE KNOW, WHOSE PEOPLE HAVE LIVED IN YELLOWKNIFE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE INSTANTANEOUS REGROWTH OVER ONE WINTER.
SO WE DO HAVE SOME TIME TO GET THIS RIGHT.
THERE ARE NO STANDARDS IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES FOR FIRE BREAK MAINTENANCE.
I KNOW THAT THE YUKON IS LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE TREES TOO, THAT ARE FIRE RESISTIVE TO USE.
ALBERTA AND SASKATCHEWAN DO HAVE STANDARDS THAT THEY USE AS WELL AS BRITISH COLUMBIA.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE UPDATE.
IF IT IS PRACTICAL IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING AN ACTUAL FIRE BREAK, IT'D BE GREAT TO SEE COMMUNITY GARDENS OR SOME SORT OF FOOD PRODUCTION IN THOSE AREAS. TWO MORE QUESTIONS AND THEN I'LL GET OUT OF THE WAY FOR NOW OF THE SO TO THE TRAILS.
JUST CURIOUS WHAT THE OTHER PROJECTS ARE THAT MAKE UP THAT $4.9 MILLION.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
I WILL ASK MISS [INAUDIBLE] IF SHE CAN SPEAK TO THIS.
SO I GUESS MY ONLY STATEMENT IS THERE WAS A $900,000 PROJECT LAST YEAR AND THAT WAS ALSO, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE $4.9 NUMBER COMES FROM, SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.
THANK YOU. OKAY, I TOOK IT OUT OF A NOTE IN THE BUDGET IN THE 2023 BUDGET, AND THAT WAS SORT OF
[01:00:02]
CONSISTENT WITH PREVIOUS YEARS, WHERE IT LAID OUT THE SPECIFIC DOLLARS THAT WERE FOR DIFFERENT PROJECTS.AND THEN WHAT WAS CARRIED FORWARD LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR.
IT JUST GAVE A BULK $4.9 MILLION.
SO I'LL LOOK, I'LL WAIT FOR THE DRAFT BUDGET TO SEE THAT ITEMIZED.
AND WHAT WHAT IS BEING DONE WITH THAT $4.9 MILLION? LAST QUESTION FOR NOW IN TERMS OF BUSSING AND WILLIAM MAC DOES THE CITY, IS THAT PART OF THE PLAN TO HAVE A STOP AT WILLIAM MAC OR ARE WE NOT THERE YET WITH THE NEW TRANSIT ROUTES BUSSES? MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING A TRANSIT STUDY THAT WAS COMPLETED, SO I WILL ASK MR. GREENCORN IF HE'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ONE.
SURE. THE NEW ROUTES THAT WERE CONTEMPLATED IN THE STUDY DO INCLUDE.
TWO STOPS AT TAYLOR ROAD IN EACH DIRECTION.
IT ALSO CONTEMPLATES RE SHIFTING THE ROOTS COMPLETELY, SO ANYONE RIDING THE BUS NOW MAY SEE A LITTLE DIFFERENT VERSION OF THE ROUTE YOU'RE CURRENTLY ON, BUT IT WILL STILL COVER THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE TOWN AS IT DOES, AND MAYBE WITH SOME TWEAKS AND I GUESS IMPROVEMENTS TO TIMINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT IT WILL INCLUDE THE TAYLOR ROAD WILLIAM MAC SECTION OF TOWN THAT HASN'T CURRENTLY BEEN SERVICED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S IT FOR QUESTIONS.
I HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS LATER.
UM, WELL, I JUST WANT TO START.
I'M REALLY. THIS WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION AND REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF STAFF.
AND YOUR WORK IS NOT UNAPPRECIATED.
UM, I GUESS I WANTED TO START.
I'M CONCERNED THAT ONCE WE RECEIVE THE AFTER ACTION REPORT, THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT OR SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WORK TO BE DONE.
AND I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY PLAN TO SET ASIDE FUNDING FOR THAT.
IT DOESN'T SORT OF APPEAR TO BE OTHER THAN THE PUBLIC EDUCATION.
OR ARE WE ANTICIPATING THAT WE WILL USE SORT OF STAFF TIME OR ALLOCATE LIKE THAT KIND OF FUNDING IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THOSE ITEMS? MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
YES, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE AFTER ACTION ASSESSMENT COMPLETION AS WELL.
WE DO RECALL THAT THERE WAS A SUGGESTION FROM SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS ON $100,000 TO BE SUPPORTED TOWARDS THAT, AND CERTAINLY WOULD SEE FUTURE BUDGET ITEMS COULD BE INCLUDED AS NEEDED.
YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT NOT EVERYTHING WILL BE ABLE TO BE EXECUTED, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE WE ARE ALSO ANTICIPATING AN INCREDIBLY DRY AND HOT YEAR NEXT YEAR.
AND I THINK THAT WE PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO GET A LOT OF THINGS DONE WITHIN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS.
I'M WONDERING, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WITHIN THE PUBLIC INPUT SECTION THAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT RESIDENTS HAVE TAKEN UPON THEMSELVES TO EXECUTE.
I'M THINKING SPECIFICALLY OUTDOOR HOCKEY RINK, NOT WITH PERMANENT STRUCTURES, BUT THE PEOPLE HAVE HAVE CREATED THEIR OWN POND RINKS. AND I'VE THOUGHT OFTEN BEFORE AND COMMENTED ON IT THAT THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP DELIVER THIS WORK.
SO THIS IS NOT MAYBE EXPLICITLY A BUDGET QUESTION, BUT I THINK IT AFFECTS POTENTIAL BUDGET DECISIONS, AS HAVE WE ARE THERE ANY BARRIERS IN PLACE FOR US TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO WORK ON TRAILS OR DELIVER THESE KIND OF SERVICES THEMSELVES? I THINK, FOR INSTANCE, THE BACK BAY CEMETERY, IF THERE WAS A DEDICATED GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS THAT WOULD ELIMINATE A COST AND REDUCE SORT OF STRAIN ON.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
AND THIS IS DEFINITELY A VERY EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION TO HAVE.
SO IT DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DO THINGS.
PEOPLE CAN GO OUT AND DO THEIR OWN.
[01:05:09]
PEOPLE LIKE TO USE AND MAINTAIN ON THEIR OWN.WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTAINING CITY OWNED FACILITIES AND CITY PROPERTY, THERE IS A STANDARD TO BE MET BECAUSE I HATE TO BRING THIS UP, BUT IF WE DON'T, THERE'S LIABILITY FOR THE CITY. SO IF WE KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED AND SAY, HEY, THAT'S GREAT.
SO PARTNERSHIPS ARE GREAT WHEN WE CAN DO THOSE WITH ORGANIZATIONS, ASKING GROUPS OF VOLUNTEERS TO STEP UP AND DO THINGS ON THEIR OWN, WE NEED TO REALLY NAVIGATE THAT QUITE CLOSELY. AND I WILL ASK MS. THISTLE IF SHE'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS.
SO IF THE CITY FORMALLY HAS A VOLUNTEER GROUP THAT WE FORMALLY DIRECT AND ASK TO DO SPECIFIC WORK, IF SOMEONE'S INJURED, IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE A WCC CLAIM, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING WE'D LIKE TO SEE.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE WOULDN'T WANT PEOPLE OPERATING CHAINSAWS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT WEREN'T PROPERLY TRAINED OR CERTIFIED BECAUSE, AGAIN, THEY'RE CONSIDERED EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY. AND WE TAKE SAFETY VERY IMPORTANT.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S AT THE FOREFRONT AND EVERYTHING.
RUNNING. HAVING RUN A VOLUNTEER SHOP BEFORE.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THING TO CONSIDER.
SO WE HAVE I'M THINKING SPECIFICALLY WE HAVE THE ADOPT A STREET MODEL THAT EXISTS ALREADY WHERE UM, ORGANIZATIONS OR GROUPS OF VOLUNTEERS CAN CAN TAKE ON MAINTENANCE OF A STREET AND I OR NOT MAINTENANCE, BUT CLEANUP OF A STREET.
MAYBE THAT'S A COMMENT MORE THAN ANYTHING.
I'M ALSO THINKING THAT IN TERMS OF OBVIOUSLY I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE A CITY VOLUNTEER RUNNING A CHAINSAW, BUT COULD WE REQUEST RANGERS COME IN TO DO THAT KIND OF WORK.
I THINK THAT THEY ARE OFTEN LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE EVER LOOKED AT BEFORE.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANKS I THINK WHAT COUNCILLOR MCGURK IS GETTING AT IS ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH GROUPS OUT THERE? AND SO CERTAINLY THINGS LIKE ADOPT A STREET THAT'S REALLY LOVELY WHEN NEIGHBORHOODS SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M GOING TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR GARBAGE TO KEEP IT CLEAN.
IT'S NOT I DON'T HAVE SOME MELODRAMATIC IT'S NOT A LIFE OR DEATH THING.
IF PEOPLE DON'T GET TO IT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, IF THEY DON'T PICK UP.
SO IF THERE'S OTHER KINDS OF SCENARIOS WHERE VOLUNTEERS ARE OUT DOING THINGS, WE ARE DEFINITELY OPEN TO EXPLORING AND DOING SO WITHIN PARAMETERS THAT ARE RESPECTFUL OF THE TIME THAT VOLUNTEERS WANT TO PUT IN, AND WHICH MAKES SENSE FOR THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. OKAY, I APPRECIATE THAT.
I'M. I GUESS SOME OF MY QUESTIONS ARE AROUND THE SORT OF IF THE LIABILITY IS ON ANOTHER ORGANIZATION, IF WE CAN PARTICIPATE WITH THEM, BUT I DIGRESS. WELL, I CAN SEND AN EMAIL ABOUT THAT LATER.
UM, OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTION INCLUDES ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ACCELERATOR SLASH INCUBATOR.
ALSO IN OUR IN THIS BUDGET PRESENTATION IS THE PUBLIC PRESENTATION FROM MAKERSPACE, WHICH, UM, IN WHICH THEY ASKED US TO ALLOCATE SOME FUNDING.
THE SORT OF RESPONSE TO THIS INITIATIVE WAS, WAS WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MAKERSPACE.
SO I'M WONDERING IF WE HAVE CONSIDERED THAT IN OUR, UM, AND LIKE TAKING THAT SERIOUSLY AND IF WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT WORKING WITH THE EXISTING BUDGET OR ADDING IT.
[01:10:04]
MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.SO CERTAINLY THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS LOOKING AT SOME OF THE ASKS THAT HAVE COME FROM THE PUBLIC AND FROM COUNCIL THEMSELVES TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S AN APPETITE FROM COUNCIL TO INCLUDE THEM IN BUDGET 2024.
THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION, AND OF COURSE, WE'LL COME BACK WITH FURTHER DELIBERATION ON THAT TO BE ABLE FURTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR GPC AND COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO DELIBERATE ON THAT AS TO AGAIN AMPLIFYING THE WORK OF OTHERS.
KEEPING WITH THAT STREAM OF THINKING, THERE HAD BEEN DISCUSSION, OF COURSE, THAT MAKERSPACE HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK IN THAT AREA, AND THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM CONTINUE TO BE THE INCUBATOR AND HOW WE COULD COLLABORATE WITH THEM.
SO AGAIN, SOMETHING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND ADMINISTRATION WORK PLAN.
THANK YOU. GREAT, I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING FOR ME.
THAT'S MUCH APPRECIATED TO ALL STAFF THAT THAT ENDING QUOTE SUMMARIZES MY FIRST QUESTION.
SO RECOGNIZING THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION, WILL ADMIN BE IN ADVANCE OF A MORE SYSTEMATIC OR EVEN A SEQUENCED SERVICE LEVEL STANDARD D ISCUSSION CONSIDERING ANY REDUCED SERVICE LEVELS DURING THE PREPARATION OF THE FINAL DRAFT BUDGET FOR JANUARY.
EXAMPLE OBVIOUSLY, LIKE REDUCED DUMP HOURS OR SIMILAR.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE SPECIFICALLY LAID OUT JUST YET, BUT THESE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT THAT THAT LAST SLIDE WAS A LITTLE BIT IT WAS VERY CLEAR. IT WASN'T A LITTLE BIT.
AND SO THAT'S THAT'S THE GRIM REALITY WE ALL FACE IN OUR OWN LIVES.
AND IT'S CERTAINLY THE GRIM REALITY WE FACE AS A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION.
AND THEN WE LOOK AT ITEMS THAT WE KNOW ARE THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING.
WE DON'T HAVE VERY MANY O&M ITEMS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD, SOME VERY LIMITED THINGS THAT ARE BASED ON EITHER JUST THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE'VE HAD, LIKE STAFF TURNOVER OR THINGS WHERE WE KNOW WE NEED TO GET BETTER SITUATED.
AND SO WHEN THE DECISION TIME COMES FOR COUNCIL TO REVIEW AND TO LOOK AT WHAT HAS TO BE COMPROMISES IN TERMS OF WHAT'S PROPOSED TO SPEND AND WHAT THE REVENUES LOOK LIKE, WE WILL WANT TO SUPPORT COUNCIL IN DOING SO IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE.
YEAH. I GUESS WHERE I WAS GOING IS IF IT WASN'T ALREADY ON ADMINS RADAR TO TAKE A CRACK, I JUST WASN'T SURE IF DURING THE COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT COUNCIL HAS, IF THAT IS THE MOST HELPFUL TIME WHEN WE'RE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, EXPLORING AND EVERYONE'S ANSWERING A THOUSAND QUESTIONS, OR IF IT WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL KNOWING THAT WE HAVE SOME TIME BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS FOR COUNCIL TO MAYBE THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE AREAS OF SERVICE LEVEL STANDARDS.
OKAY, WELL, IF WE REDUCE THE DUMP HOURS, THAT'S ONE TAX POINT OFF.
AND I JUST WASN'T SURE WHAT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL IF WE CAN OFFER SOME OF THOSE AREAS TO MAYBE THINK ABOUT DURING THE PREPARATION OF THE BUDGET, OR IF WE SHOULD JUST WAIT TO SEE THE DRAFT BUDGET AND ASK AT THAT TIME.
OH, MS. BASSI-KELLETT KEPT TALKING, SO I JUST THOUGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[01:15:09]
RESOURCES, AND IT DEFINITELY HELPS ESTABLISH AND CONFIRM PUBLIC EXPECTATION FOR WHAT THE PUBLIC CAN EXPECT.SO, YOU KNOW, A GREAT EXAMPLE IS SNOW REMOVAL TOP OF MIND TODAY WHERE THERE'S LOTS OF EAGERNESS TO SEE ABOUT SNOW REMOVAL BEING DONE ACROSS THE CITY, SNOW PLOWING BEING DONE ACROSS THE CITY.
WE HAVE A CERTAIN LEVEL THAT WE ADHERE TO IN OUR PROCEDURES RIGHT NOW, ONE THAT WE DO WANT TO BRING FORWARD TO COUNCIL SO THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE THIS AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU VALIDATE THAT, INCREASE IT, DECREASE IT, AND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO IDENTIFY IF THERE ARE ANY COST SAVINGS OR COST EXPENSES THAT COME WITH DOING SO.
JUST AS A LITTLE ASIDE AS WE'RE STARTING TO DO SOME PRELIMINARY LOOKING.
AND WE HAVE SEEN THIS AS SOMETHING THAT IS ON COUNCIL'S STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS, WHERE WE ARE STARTING THAT PROCESS IN 2024 TO BRING FORWARD DOCUMENTED SERVICE LEVELS SO THAT COUNCIL CAN START TO MAKE THOSE DELIBERATIONS.
THE ONE TIME THAT THESE WERE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST WAS CERTAINLY AROUND FIRE SERVICE, AND WHETHER OR NOT FIRE SERVICE WOULD CONTINUE OUTSIDE OF THE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY, IT SEEMED LIKE A PRETTY SIMPLE SERVICE LEVEL DISCUSSION TO HAVE IT.
IT WENT ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON THAT.
WERE THERE ANY THAT FELL INTO THAT REQUIRED BY THE WATER LICENSE CATEGORY, REGULATORY COMPLIANCE THAT WERE WORRIED ABOUT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE? OR DO WE NOT HAVE A SENSE YET JUST BASED ON THE LIKE, WHAT THE NUMBERS WE'VE SEEN SO FAR? MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF TIME AND ATTENTION THAT IS SPENT BY OUR PUBLIC WORKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL TEAMS. ON LOOKING AT THIS, I WILL ASK MR. GREENCORN IF YOU'D LIKE TO ELABORATE.
IT'S MORE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE TAKING MORE TIME TO GET OUT OF THE GROUND.
WE HAVE TO DO A DELINEATION STUDY IN THE IN THE LAGOON SYSTEM DRAINAGE AREA.
WE HAVE TO DO STORM WATER, INCREASED STORM WATER AND SEWER MONITORING.
THE ONES THAT I WOULD SAY ARE TOP OF MIND AND MOST IMPORTANT, THAT WE HAVEN'T GOT DONE YET.
WE HAVE TO ACCESS TRAPPER LAGOON DRAINAGE STRUCTURES TO ENSURE THE TRAPPER'S LAGOON ISN'T OVERFILLING OR OVERFLOWING INTO THE LAGOON, AND THUS IMPACTING OUR TREATMENT TIME AND OUR RETENTION TIMES.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S TOP OF MIND IS THE DESLUDGING PROGRAM.
SO AS LONG AS WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS ON THOSE THINGS, THEY SEEM PRETTY HAPPY.
THE OTHER ONE THAT'S TOP OF MIND IS LIFT STATION ONE.
AND WHILE IT'S NOT A DIRECT, IT'S NOT A DIRECT REQUIREMENT IN THE WATER LICENSE.
THE PROPER DISPOSAL AND CONVEYANCE OF SEWAGE IS PART OF THE WATER LICENSE.
AND OUR STAFF ARE DILIGENT AND THEY CAUGHT IT.
SO THAT ONE, THAT ONE IS MAKING ME.
KEEP UP AT NIGHT A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE'VE GOT A PLAN.
WE'VE GOT ENGINEERS, CONSULTANTS ON IT, AND WE'VE GOT A PATH FORWARD FOR CONSTRUCTION.
SO THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE TOP OF MIND ON IN TERMS OF WATER LICENSE COMPLIANCE.
SLIDE TEN OF THE MEETING PACKAGE THERE.
IT HAD THE ONE TIME RENEWAL OF THE ACTIVE STRATEGY FOR $75 K, AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE SEEN IN OUR MEETING MATERIALS PRIOR TO THE EVACUATION, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THEY FORMALLY COME TO COUNCIL YET, BUT I MAY BE WRONG.
THE SIX RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE.
I WAS JUST WONDERING, SHOULD COUNCIL DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THOSE SIX RECOMMENDATIONS? HOW DOES THAT, IN THIS ONE TIME RENEWAL WORK TOGETHER, OR ARE THEY BOTH ALL NEEDED?
[01:20:06]
JUST WONDERING IF ADMIN COULD SPEAK TO THAT.MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
SO OUR CURRENT [INAUDIBLE] STRATEGY WAS DEVELOPED IN FALL OF 2019, AND THE FIRST Q1 OF 2020, AND WE ALL REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
BUT WE HAVE MADE VALIANT EFFORT TO ADVANCE SO MANY OF THOSE PRIORITIES.
AND SO WHEN COUNCIL DID TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE FOR 23 AND 24 AND COUNCILLOR FEQUET, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN ABSENT, I THINK, FOR THAT MEETING, BUT THAT DID COME FORWARD AT THE END OF OCTOBER.
IT THEN THOSE ITEMS WERE ENDORSED FOR MOVING FORWARD IN 23 AND 24.
I'LL ASK MS. THISTLE IF SHE'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN MORE DETAIL TO THIS.
YEAH, I FULLY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING, MS. BASSI-KELLETT SAID. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT BUDGET WILL HAPPEN IN FEBRUARY, SO THE EARLIEST WE COULD PUT AN RFP OUT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD BE MARCH. IN MY EXPERIENCE, IT TOOK THE MOST OF THE YEAR TO HAVE THE STRATEGY COMPLETED.
WE CREATED THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO AS MS. BASSI-KELLETT INDICATED, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD ON THE SIX PRIORITY AREAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY WORK THAT GOES FORWARD ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY RENEWAL.
AND THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN ALREADY ASKED THAT ONE.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS, WHAT WOULD ADMIN INCLUDE AT THIS TIME IN THE DRAFT BUDGET, BASED ON THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK REQUESTING ENHANCED SAFETY OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN? MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE WOULD CONTEMPLATE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
VERY SIMPLE ANSWER. VERY CLEAR.
UM, AND THE THE BUS STOPS, THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK ABOUT THE BUS STOPS.
CAN YOU REMIND ME OF THE TRANSIT CITY RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE SEATING AT THE BUS STOPS? AND IF THERE ARE PLANS TO HAVE SEATS AT ALL THE BUS STOPS AND IF SO, WHAT THOSE TIMELINES ARE.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT MR. GREENCORN. THAT MIGHT BE A TAKEAWAY ITEM.
I CAN SEE US PUTTING IN BUS SEATING IN BUS SHELTERS.
SO I APPRECIATE GETTING BACK TO YOU ON THAT ONE.
ABSOLUTELY. THANKS. AND KIND OF ALONG THE SAME THE VEIN, THE INDOOR TURF, I KNOW OBVIOUSLY OTHER PRIORITIES TOOK OVER THIS YEAR IS THE TURF REPLACEMENT IN THE FIELDHOUSE IS STILL SOMETHING THAT ADMIN IS THINKING IS GOING TO BE PROPOSED IN 2024.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
SO THAT PROJECT, OF COURSE, IS A CAPITAL CARRYFORWARD.
GOSH, I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHICH BUDGET IT WAS INCLUDED IN IF IT WAS 22 OR 23, BUT IT IS ONE THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF BIG PROJECTS ON THE GO, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY ON THE BOOKS. WE KNOW WE'LL WANT TO DO SOME CONSULTATION ON IT WITH USER GROUPS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
I WILL JUST ADD THAT IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO, YOU WILL SEE THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION BEING PUT FORWARD.
THERE WILL BE CHANCES FOR BOTH ONLINE AND INPUT AS WELL AS AT THE FIELD HOUSE AS WELL.
THAT'S GREAT NEWS. AND THAT QUESTION AND THE PREVIOUS QUESTION ABOUT THE BUS STOPS, THE REASON I WANTED TO ASK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THEM IS BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE THAT AGAIN, IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH CHOICES.
AND I DON'T KNOW THE VALUES NECESSARILY.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S SOME IN THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION THAT WILL UNDERLIE THOSE.
[01:25:02]
OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL OR IT'S PEOPLE PLAYING INDOOR RECREATION.AND SORRY, THIS ONE'S MORE JUST A COMMENT.
IT'S ABOUT THE $20,000 FOR THE EVACUATION PREPAREDNESS.
THAT WE DO HAVE FIRE BREAKS AND WATER SYSTEMS IN PLACE NOW.
AND HOPEFULLY THE COMMUNITY IS MUCH LESS LIKELY TO BE EVACUATED.
AND TO BE HONEST, IF AN EVACUATION ORDER WAS GIVEN, I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD GO.
AND IN MY OPINION, I WOULD RATHER PRIORITIZE CREATING INDIGENOUS FOCUSED AND TRAUMA INFORMED RECEPTION CENTRES BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES YEAR AFTER YEAR, IN CONCERT WITH THE PARTNERS WHO ACTUALLY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HOSTING THOSE HEALTH OR OR SUPPORTING AN UPDATE TO OUR EVACUATION FRAMEWORK, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE CAME BACK FROM THE EVACUATION TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL DETAILS, BUT MOSTLY JUST IN PRINCIPLE, WE ALREADY HAVE $100,000 SET ASIDE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASSESSMENT IN CASE THERE'S REALLY HIGH PRIORITY ITEMS OR TIME SENSITIVE ITEMS. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE ALL THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COME FROM THAT ASSESSMENT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO TO SHARE THAT.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT. DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT? THANK YOU AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHERE COUNCILLOR FEQUET IS GOING WITH THIS AND WEIGHING OUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY.
JUST ONE COMMENT ON TRAUMA INFORMED RECEPTION CENTRES.
WHEN WE ARE A RECEPTION CENTRE FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES WHEN THEY COME TO YELLOWKNIFE, THE NWT EMERGENCY PLAN IS CLEAR ON STATING THAT WE PROVIDE THE BUILDING AND SOME OF THE SUPPORTS LIKE BEDS, BLANKETS, COTS, PILLOWS AND THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDES THE SOCIAL SUPPORTS, SOCIAL AND MEDICAL SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE, INCLUDING.
SO THE CITY'S ROLE IN THIS IS IS LIMITED.
WE DON'T PROVIDE THOSE SOCIAL SUPPORTS.
JUST ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
THANK YOU. OKAY, WE HAVE HIT OUR 90 MINUTE MARK AND I CAN SEE PEOPLE SHIFTING IN THEIR CHAIRS.
AND I'D SAY A LOT OF PEOPLE NEED TO PEE RIGHT NOW.
SO I WOULD IMAGINE LET'S COME BACK AT 1:45.
I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING BACK TO ORDER.
AND WE HAVE ONE MORE PERSON WHO NEEDS SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
AND THANK YOU, ADMINISTRATION, FOR THE BUDGET PRESENTATION TODAY.
CAN'T WAIT FOR JANUARY TO REALLY GET INTO THE DETAILS ON THIS ONE.
AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN FOR THE INTERESTING TOPIC OF THE VARIANCE UPDATE MID-YEAR.
MY QUESTION IS ORIGINALLY AROUND THE DMO, EVEN THOUGH MY TWO COLLEAGUES BESIDE ME WERE ALSO PROVIDING SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION ON THAT ONE AND KIND OF ANSWERING THE QUESTION. BUT JUST TO CLARIFY, FOR THE $100,000 FOR THE DMO, IS THAT GOING TO BE ENOUGH? ARE WE CONFIDENT YOU DON'T NEED A LITTLE MORE IN THERE? MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT BECAUSE NO, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT ENOUGH.
THIS WOULD BASICALLY BE START UP CASH FLOW COSTS.
I'LL TURN THIS TO MS. THISTLE TO SPEAK TO.
YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH FOR THE DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION TO COMMENCE OPERATIONS.
REALLY WE WERE LOOKING AT A 6 TO 12 MONTH DELAY AFTER THE HOTEL LEVY WAS COMMENCED COLLECTION.
I BELIEVE THAT WHEN THIS WAS PROPOSED, IT WAS, AS MS. BASSI-KELLETT INDICATED, A START UP.
WHETHER THAT'S ENOUGH TO FULLY FUND A START UP, I COULDN'T TELL YOU OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD TODAY.
IT'S DEFINITELY MONEY THAT WE CAN USE TO GET IT STARTED, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE THE LEVY COLLECTING AT LEAST AT THE SAME TIME, SO THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY REPLENISHING THAT POCKET OF MONEY BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE ONGOING COSTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HAS THE ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERING MAYBE UPPING THE FUNDS FROM THE OR TAKING FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE INITIAL START UP THEN? MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO A BIG PART OF THIS IS MAKING SURE WE GET THE VISITOR LEVY IN PLACE.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO DOING THAT, INCLUDING CREATING A BYLAW.
[01:30:09]
LEVY WAS PART OF OUR THINKING ON THIS.I BELIEVE IT WAS MAYOR ALTY THAT HAD PITCHED THIS.
THANK YOU. MAYOR ALTY, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? SURE. THANKS. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEAH. WE CAN. OH, OKAY.
SO JUST THINKING THAT, YOU KNOW.
IF ANYTHING, THE DEMO WOULD BE OPENING PROBABLY Q4 OF 2024.
SO AGAIN, IT'S IT'S NOT LOOKING TO COVER A WHOLE YEAR WORTH OF EXPENSES.
IT IS JUST ABOUT BEING THAT STARTUP FUNDING.
OKAY, WELL, THAT CERTAINLY ANSWERS OR PROVIDES SOME CLARITY.
THANK YOU MAYOR ALTY AS ALWAYS, AND I GUESS FOR THE NEXT QUESTION WOULD BE THE $3.3 MILLION FOR MULTIPLE SERVICES IN THE CAPITAL. COULD YOU JUST GIVE ME OR PROVIDE ME A LITTLE MORE OF A BREAKDOWN ON THAT ONE? MAYBE MR. PANDOO DID AND I MISSED IT, BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT NO, HE DID NOT.
IT'S A QUITE A HODGEPODGE OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. PANDOO.
SO IF YOU CAN JUST BEAR WITH ME ONE SECOND, I'M JUST GOING TO FIND IT FOR YOU HERE.
SORRY. IT JUST TOOK ME A WHILE.
SO WE DO HAVE ACCESSIBILITY IMPLEMENTATION OF $250,000.
COMMUNITY ENERGY PROGRAM $100,000.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL $440,000.
AND WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE REPLACEMENT $100,000.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, [INAUDIBLE] PANDOO.
THAT'S BASICALLY ALL I NEEDED.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, NO MORE QUESTIONS.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCILLOR PAYNE FOR CHAIRING OUR GROUP OR OUR UNRULY GROUP TODAY.
I'VE BEEN PRACTICING THIS CHAIR THING FOR A WHILE, AND I THINK I'M DOING BETTER THAN MAYOR ALTY.
SO IS THIS JUST AN ADD ON TO WHAT WE HAD ADDED LAST YEAR? MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WILL TURN THIS TO MR. MCLEAN, WHO'S BEEN SHEPHERDING THIS PROJECT THROUGH.
I WILL SAY THIS IS ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE COST FROM WHAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY PUT WHEN COUNCIL HAD APPROVED THE DIRECTION TO GO WITH AN EXPANSION OF OUR EXISTING FIRE HALL.
SO OVER TO YOU, MR. MCLEAN. YEAH, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
SO LAST YEAR DURING BUDGET 2023, WE HAD RECEIVED A CLASS D ESTIMATE FROM THE CONSULTANT ADVISING US THAT THE PROJECTED FINAL TOTAL OF THE PROJECT WAS GOING TO BE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE HAD CONTEMPLATED ON THE INITIAL BUDGETING.
[01:35:04]
WITH THE CONTRACTOR IS TO HAVE A FINAL DESIGN AND A CLASS A ESTIMATE FOR A FINAL PRICE POINT ON THAT DESIGN.THANK YOU. SO WE DIDN'T ADD WE JUST GOT AN ESTIMATE FOR LAST YEAR OR DID WE ACTUALLY ADD MONEY TO THE BUDGET? MS. BASSI-KELLETT MR. MCLEAN. THAT'S CORRECT.
THERE WAS MONEY ADDED TO MEET THE CLASS D ESTIMATE THAT WAS PROVIDED.
AND WHAT WAS THAT AMOUNT? CAN YOU REMEMBER, MR. MCLEAN? I DON'T OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
IT WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND THE RANGE OF $7 MILLION.
I THINK WE HAD THREE IN THERE ORIGINALLY, AND WE ADDED ANOTHER FOUR OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
BUT I CAN CONFIRM THOSE NUMBERS WITH YOU.
THANK YOU. SO THAT PUTS IT UP TO $12 MILLION FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WHEN JUST A QUESTION OF CLARIFICATION FOR ADMINISTRATION.
WHEN WE BUDGET FOR PROJECTS AND THEY COME IN QUITE A BIT OVER BUDGET, UM IS IT CUSTOMARY FOR US TO RELOOK AT THESE, THESE PROJECTS AND LOOK AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS? YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF JUST APPROVING WHAT'S BEEN PUT OUT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
SO IT IS A COMBINATION OF THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN RECENTLY, AND CERTAINLY IT'S BEEN QUITE A REALITY IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS, IS THAT WE SEE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES TO THE COSTS OF PROJECTS, OFTEN FROM THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE DESIGN COMPLETED BY OUR CONSULTANTS TO THE POINT OF GOING OUT TO RFP OR TENDER AND FINDING WHAT THE MARKET IS DETERMINING TO BE THE COSTS.
SO IT'S A VERY REAL PROBLEM FOR US RIGHT NOW.
BUT SOMETIMES THE COST OF THESE PROJECTS WILL BE SOMETHING WHERE WE EITHER HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL, WE RETHINK IT, OR WE NEED TO SEEK THE APPROVAL TO CONTINUE TO GO AHEAD BECAUSE IT'S SO NECESSARY.
AND REBECCA OR MAYOR ALTY DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THIS.
I GUESS WE GO ON TO ROUND TWO AND TO COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN YOU HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? SORRY, I SORT OF I GOT AHEAD OF MYSELF.
SO MY COMMENTS WILL REGARD THE NEXT POINT IN THE AGENDA.
SO NO MORE ON THIS ONE. THANK YOU.
AND I'M NOT SEEING ANY MORE QUESTIONS.
[5. A memorandum regarding whether to include and prioritize proposed initiatives submitted by members of the public in the 2024 Budget.]
MS. BASSI-KELLETT.THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR. SO AS ADMINISTRATION DEVELOPS THE BUDGET, THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL TO PROPOSE IDEAS FOR THE PUBLIC TO PRESENT TO COUNCIL ON THEIR IDEAS AND ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC TO REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO ADMINISTRATION TO PITCH ADDITIONS TO THE BUDGET.
FOR MANY OF THESE, ADMINISTRATION WILL NEED TO QUANTIFY THE BUDGET IMPACT.
AND BECAUSE WE ARE TIGHT ON TIME AND RESOURCES TO GET BUDGET 2024 FINALIZED, WE REQUEST THAT YOU RECOMMEND ONLY THOSE THINGS FOR INCLUSION THAT YOU REALLY BELIEVE SHOULD BE INCLUDED.
ADMINISTRATION CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE OUR PERSPECTIVES ON THESE SHOULD YOU WISH.
THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD QUANTIFY THAT TO BE.
OTHERS THEN WE CERTAINLY COULD BALLPARK.
THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE WE SKIPPED AROUND A LITTLE BIT ON THE AGENDA HERE.
[01:40:04]
SO BASED ON OUR PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS AND WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, I WOULD I'M OKAY DEFERRING ALL OF THESE POINTS AND NOT INCLUDING THEM IN ANY WORK FOR BUDGETING.UNFORTUNATELY FOR EVERYONE, I'M NOT AS CONCISE AS COUNCILLOR WARBURTON.
SO I'VE GOT SOME COMMENTS FOR EACH OF THESE.
SO TO MAKERSPACE I KNOW YOUR MAKERSPACE IS AN AMAZING FACILITY AND ARE HELPING THE CITY IN VARIOUS WAYS TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JUST RESILIENCE GOALS.
IT'S AN AMAZING COMMUNITY RESOURCE.
I'D PARTICULARLY LOOK TO MAKER SPACE TO WORK WITH THE CITY ON THE BUSINESS INCUBATOR.
HOPEFULLY THERE'S A WAY TO DO THAT.
AND PERHAPS ON DEVELOPING A ROUND TABLE GATHERING POLICY.
YEAH, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE MAKERSPACE.
THE CITY IS SUPPORTING THEM THROUGH TAX ABATEMENTS.
I HOPE ALSO THAT WE CAN DO SOME PROJECTS SPECIFICALLY WITH MAKERSPACE.
HOWEVER, BEYOND THIS, I DO NOT BELIEVE THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS THE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE MAKERSPACES ONGOING OPERATIONAL FUNDING GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT BUDGET CHALLENGES THE CITY IS FACING. THANKS TO EVERYONE AT MAKERSPACE FOR THEIR WORK, AND LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING MORE OF THEIR PROGRAMING IN THE FUTURE.
IT WAS A VERY GOOD PRESENTATION.
IT'S A IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND IT WOULD BE AWESOME.
HOWEVER, I'M NOT SURE I DON'T BELIEVE THE CITY HAS THE FINANCIAL OR STAFFING IS IN A FINANCIAL OR STAFFING POSITION TO BUILD AND OPERATE MORE FREE TO USE RECREATION FACILITIES. AS COUNCILLOR MCGURK MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE'S VARIOUS OUTDOOR RINKS AND I'M SURE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT BUILD THOSE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP.
THE FOCUS OF THIS SEEMED TO BE ON SUMMER HOCKEY ACCESS, AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THIS SUMMER LED TO SOME CHALLENGES IN USING THE MULTIPLEX AND INDOOR FACILITIES, HOPEFULLY NEXT SUMMER WILL BE A LITTLE BIT SMOOTHER.
WHILE I WON'T PROPOSE ANYTHING AT THIS POINT JUST TO COMMENT, I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED ANOTHER REVIEW AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE USE OF TIME OR RESOURCES.
THE YELLOWKNIFE WOMEN'S SOCIETY HAS REVIEWED VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS AND ARE PROPOSING CERTAIN PROGRAM MODELS BASED ON THIS REVIEW, AS WELL AS THEIR LOCAL LIVED EXPERIENCE DELIVERING THESE SERVICES IN YELLOWKNIFE.
WE NEED MORE PROPERLY FUNDED, CONCRETE ACTIONS TO HELP VULNERABLE POPULATIONS YESTERDAY, EXPANDING POINTS OF CONTACT AND SERVICES FOR THESE RESIDENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IS MORE VALUABLE IN MY EYES THAN WHATEVER SMALL MARGINAL BENEFIT WE MAY SEE COMING FROM A REVIEW.
IF THIS REVIEW IS EVER ACTUALLY USED.
WE HAVE PLENTY SITTING ON SHELVES ALREADY.
IN TERMS OF WHETHER THIS OUTREACH IS NEEDED.
I WOULD SPEAK TO THE REVIEWS THAT ALREADY EXIST.
THE REPORT BUILDING A COORDINATED ACCESS MODEL FROM TURNER STRATEGIES, PRODUCED FOR THE CITY IN 2018, SAYS, QUOTE, THE COORDINATED ACCESS PROCESS IS LINKED TO STREET OUTREACH EFFORTS SO THAT PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE STREETS ARE PRIORITIZED FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER PERSON.
DEVELOP A HYBRID [INAUDIBLE] MODEL WITH MULTIPLE SITES COMPLEMENTED BY MOBILE OUTREACH.
WE ALREADY HAVE THE REVIEWS AND STRATEGIES SAYING WE NEED TO EXPAND STREET OUTREACH.
WE NEED ACTION, NOT MORE REPORTS.
OKAY, SO I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF FOLK ON THE ROCKS, BUT AT THIS POINT, NOT ANY OF THE OTHER POINTS.
AND I'LL WAIT. I'LL SPEAK TO IT ONCE WE SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO INCLUDE ANYTHING ELSE.
[01:45:08]
DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE COMMENTS? JUST COMMENTS ABOUT THE MOTION ON FOLK ON THE ROCKS, BUT I'LL WAIT TO WAIT FOR THAT.OKAY. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? NO. OH, REBECCA.
UM, SO FOR ME, NOT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO DEBATING ADMINISTRATIONS, WHAT THEY'RE BRINGING FORWARD, BUT WHEN BUDGET COMES, I WILL BE LOOKING TO POSTPONE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY RENEWAL BECAUSE WE WERE BARELY ABLE TO TACKLE THE CURRENT ONE THAT WE HAVE DUE TO ALL THE CHALLENGES COVID, FIRES, ETCETERA. SO, UM, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF ACTIONS TO DO AND I THINK IT'S STILL RELEVANT.
SO I'LL BE LOOKING TO PUSH THAT TO 2025 OR LATER AND AND SAVING THAT $75 GRAND UM MAKERSPACE.
UM, THEY CAN APPLY FOR A COMMUNITY GRANTS AND, YOU KNOW, CAPITAL AND O&MS ELIGIBLE FOR EXPENSES.
SO IT WON'T BE AS HIGH AS THEIR ASK OF $40 K.
BUT AFTER TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF GETTING A COMMUNITY GRANT, THEY WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR MORE FUNDING, SO WILL BE LOOKING TO THEM TO APPLY THROUGH THE COMMUNITY GRANT STREAM.
IN REGARDS TO MAINTENANCE AT THE CEMETERY.
I DO THINK WE NEED TO FIND A VEGETATION SOLUTION THAT WILL WORK FOR OUR CLIMATE AND OUR BUDGETS.
SO SOMETHING THAT'S MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND MORE NATURAL THAN GRASS.
AND WE DO ALREADY HAVE A MOTION ABOUT THIS ON THE BUDGET BOOKS TO INCLUDE RESEARCH INTO THIS.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION.
UM, SO I'M NOT LOOKING TO INCLUDE ANY OF THESE ITEMS IN THE DRAFT BUDGET.
ONCE THE DRAFT BUDGET IS RELEASED AND CAN LOOK AT IT HOLISTICALLY WITH THESE ITEMS, I'LL, I MAY WANT TO INCLUDE SOME OF THE ITEMS, BUT AT THIS TIME I WON'T BE SUPPORTING ADDING ANY OF THE ITEMS TO THE BUDGET.
AND IT'S BEEN JUST LESS THAN A MONTH SINCE WE VOTED ON THAT.
SO, UM, AGAIN, BEFORE WE ADD MORE AND MORE TO THE BUDGET, I'D LIKE TO TO HOLD KEEPS US UNDER ADVISEMENT AND CONSIDER IT WITH THE REST OF THE BUDGET IN JANUARY.
AND I UNDERSTAND WHEN THAT CONVERSATION DOES COME FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE ANALYSIS.
SO IN ORDER TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION THAT DOES NEED TO BE BUDGETED FOR I KNOW IT CAME THROUGH THE PUBLIC INPUT SECTION, BUT I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY IS ALREADY WORKING ON OR SO WE DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT AS A SEPARATE THING.
OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT.
I HAD AS A DURING THE PRESENTATION WHEN THEY CAME IN, I HAD ASKED TO SEE IF WE COULD POSSIBLY SEE THEIR FINANCIALS AND TO PROVE THAT THERE'S NEED FOR THIS MONEY AND MS. BASSI-KELLETT DID WE GET ANY FINANCIALS IN FROM MAKER SPACE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR. HOLY SMOKES, I'M DRAWING A TOTAL BLANK.
WE WILL LOOK INTO THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE YOU BACK INFORMATION.
THANKS. THANKS, MR. CHAIR. UM, THEY DID REACH OUT TO THE CITY CLERK, BUT NO, HE'S HE'S NOT THERE TODAY TO INQUIRE IF THERE WAS A DEADLINE.
AND SO WE DIDN'T SAY THAT THERE WAS A SPECIFIC DEADLINE.
HOWEVER, THE SOONER THE BETTER.
AND THEN RECOGNIZING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD NEED TO COME BEFORE THE DRAFT BUDGET'S RELEASE.
BUT, UM, THEY ARE WORKING TO GET THAT TO COUNCIL, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'VE SENT ANYTHING IN YET.
SO I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION ON THIS UNLESS WE SEE THERE'S A THERE'S A NEED IN REGARDS TO THE WOMEN'S SOCIETY WITH THE ASK THAT THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
AND RIGHT NOW UNTIL WE GET I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE CONSULTATION TO SEE HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF US HERE HAVE THE NOT EDUCATION BUT THE EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO SEE WHAT WE
[01:50:01]
ACTUALLY NEED AS A CITY.AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE TAKING ON THIS MAGNITUDE OF FUNDING FOR STREET OUTREACH.
I THINK IT'S AT BEST OVERSTEPPING OUR MANDATE JUST A LITTLE AT MOST.
IF WE APPROVE THIS, IT'S OVERSTEPPING OUR MANDATE A WHOLE LOT.
SO I WOULDN'T BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
IN REGARDS TO FOLK ON THE ROCKS WE ENTERED, I THOUGHT WAS A VERY FAIR DEAL WITH THEM WHEN THEY APPLIED FOR THE LOAN.
IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THE PROJECT COST $200 MILLION OR $200,000.
AND WE ONLY REQUIRED THEM TO PAY BACK HALF.
AND WE WE GAVE THEM LOTS OF TIME TO BE ABLE TO PAY THAT BACK.
SO, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK THAT THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE SHOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR ONE $160,000 WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY GRACIOUSLY ASKED THEM TO BE ON THE HOOK FOR $100,000.
AND SO I'M NOT IN SUPPORT IN I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF FORGIVING THAT LOAN.
I THINK THAT WE MADE A DEAL, AND I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD OWN UP TO THEIR PART OF THE DEAL.
AND THE REST I'M I WOULD SUPPORT COUNCILLOR WARBURTON IN STRIKING IT FROM THE I WOULDN'T EVEN PUT IT INTO THE BUDGET. I THINK THIS THIS YEAR MORE THAN ANY YEAR, WE NEED A BARE BONES BUDGET.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC ARE REQUESTING FROM US AND DEMANDING FROM US REALLY.
SORRY FOR THE DELAYED QUESTION.
I JUST WANT, FOR THE SAKE OF THE PUBLIC, LIKE IF WE WERE TO FORGIVE THE LOAN.
THE FOLK ON THE ROCKS LOAN THAT DOES COME FROM OUR CAPITAL REVENUE, CORRECT? SO WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE UP FOR THAT.
OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? GARRET. GARRET.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MORE OF A QUESTION OF CLARITY HERE.
IF THE MAKER SPACE MOTION MOVES FORWARD, WILL I HAVE TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM THE GENERAL VOTE? AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, SHOULD WE NOT SPLIT THE MOTIONS TO THESE INDIVIDUAL MATTERS? MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER.
THE ONE COMMENT IS I DO SUPPORT SOME SIMILAR TO ROB.
I DO BELIEVE IN A BARE BONES BUDGET IS NECESSARY.
THE ONLY ONE I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH IS THE LOAN FORGIVENESS OF FOLK ON THE ROCKS, AS THEY ARE BECOMING THEIR ANCHOR PROJECT IN THE SUMMER HERE, AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A LOT OF BENEFIT FROM THIS INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THEM HERE.
AND I KNOW THAT THEY HAD SOME COMPLICATIONS THIS YEAR, AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO BASICALLY MAIL OUT THIS FESTIVAL TO MOVE FORWARD, I THINK IS, WELL, I THINK IT'S WITHIN OUR PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU.
THANKS. I'M SPEAKING TO KIND OF THE GENERAL THOUGHTS THAT OTHER FOLKS HAVE SHARED ABOUT THE BARE BONES BUDGET AND REBECCA ALTY COMMENT THAT, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IF WE WE DECIDE TO ADD SOMETHING LATER, WE CAN DO THAT.
BUT AT THIS TIME, FOR THE WORK OF STAFF TO GO AHEAD WITH THE BUDGET, WHICH IS ALREADY A PRETTY MONUMENTAL TASK, I WOULD SUPPORT MORE ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN HAS PUT FORWARD.
JUST THE ONE ITEM AT THIS TIME RELATED TO THE FOLK ON THE ROCKS FORGIVENESS.
SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCILLOR COCHRANE JUST SAID.
I MEAN, I VIEW THIS AS AN INVESTMENT IN ASSET MANAGEMENT.
I RECOGNIZE CERTAINLY WE WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM AND OTHERWISE THEY WOULD PAY THAT BACK.
AND FROM A LIABILITY PERSPECTIVE, I UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO AND LEVERAGE THESE FUNDS TO TRIPLE THE AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT THEY CAN PUT INTO THAT BEER GARDEN STAGE THAT IS FAILING. I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF KIND OF THE MOTION THAT COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN PUT FORWARD, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT MORE ON THE OUTREACH T OPIC IS THAT I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT WHETHER YOU'RE COMPASSION OR INTEREST IS FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY SUPPORT TO SMALL BUSINESSES, DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION, OR SUPPORTING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
AND MANY OF THEM ARE EITHER FULLY OR IN PART THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
MY DISCOMFORT IS ABOUT SITTING AND WAITING BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T THINK WE CAN.
[01:55:03]
WITH ALL THE PEOPLE LEAVING TOWN AND SHARING STORIES OF AWFUL THINGS HAPPENING AROUND TOWN.AND SO I RECOGNIZE THERE'S AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT AND ADVOCATE AND MAKE THE PITCH TO OUR NEW TEAM AT THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING THE ELECTIONS, AND I UNEQUIVOCALLY SUPPORT US DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN AS A COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT [INAUDIBLE] FUNDS AND OUTREACH PROGRAM IN YELLOWKNIFE, CONSIDERING THAT HALF OF THE POPULATION IS HERE, THAT FOR SURE IS MY PREFERRED APPROACH.
IS THERE ANY MORE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW? SO WE HAVE TWO MOTIONS ON THE TABLE.
IS THAT RIGHT? OR JUST FOLK ON THE ROCKS? SO WE HAVE ONE MOTION COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN YOU LIKE TO BRING IT FORWARD? THANK YOU. SO I'D LIKE TO BRING FORWARD A MOTION TO INCLUDE THE REQUESTED $60,000 IN LOAN FORGIVENESS TO FOLK ON THE ROCKS TO BE ADDED TO THE BUDGET.
ANY DISCUSSION? YEAH. SPEAK TO THE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO I BRING FORWARD THIS MOTION.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS REQUEST FOR THREE REASONS.
FIRST, IT WILL BE USED TO INVEST IN CITY OWNED RESOURCES.
SECOND, WILL HELP FACILITATE A PROJECT THAT WILL SEE THIS GROUP RAISE ANOTHER $250,000 THAT WILL BE PUT INTO IMPROVING THE SAFETY, ACCESSIBILITY AND USABILITY OF THESE CITY OWNED FACILITIES.
I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE CONCERNS REGARDING ALLOWING AN ORGANIZATION TO ALTER A DEAL THAT WAS AGREED UPON WITH THE CITY, AND THAT THIS MAY CREATE A PRECEDENT FOR OTHER AGREEMENTS WITH THE CITY.
I UNDERSTAND THESE CONCERNS AND SYMPATHIZE WITH THEM IN THE GENERAL SENSE.
HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE, FOLK ON THE ROCKS IS USING THIS MONEY TO INVEST IN CITY FACILITIES AND IS USING THE PROJECT OR USING THE MONEY TO TO GO FORWARD WITH A PROJECT WHERE THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING FOR X THIS MONEY THEMSELVES.
IF THE PRECEDENT CREATED HERE IS THAT YOU CAN ALTER DEALS WITH THE CITY, IF YOU RAISE FOUR TIMES THE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO INVEST IN CITY OWNED FACILITIES, I'M 100% OKAY WITH THAT. I'LL TAKE THAT DEAL ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
AND JUST ANOTHER NOTE THAT THIS WOULD MEAN WE WOULD REDUCE CAPITAL REVENUES.
I UNDERSTAND WE NEED ALL THE CAPITAL MONEY WE CAN GET.
HOWEVER, $60,000 IS A SMALL AMOUNT, AND OUR CHALLENGE AT THIS POINT SEEMS NOT NECESSARILY TO RAISE REVENUES, BUT TO BE ABLE TO SPEND IT THROUGH EITHER SUPPLY CHAINS OR LABOR ISSUES.
SO I DON'T THINK REDUCING THAT BY $60,000 WOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE BUDGET ITSELF.
COUNCILLOR WARBURTON. THANK YOU CHAIR.
YEAH. MY CONCERN, AS COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN POINTED OUT, IS REALLY PRECEDENT HERE.
I HUGELY VALUE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT THERE.
I'M JUST VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SETTING A PRECEDENT.
ESSENTIALLY, YOU CAN MAKE A DEAL AND WE AND WE WILL ALTER IT IF WE DECIDE TO.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROJECT, BUT I WILL NOT BE IN SUPPORT OF IT.
I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN AROUND THE ALTERING THE AGREEMENT.
I DO THINK THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO MAYBE WORD THE MOTION TO SORT OF WORDSMITH THE MOTION TO INDICATE THAT THERE IS A MUTUAL EXCHANGE THERE, OR THAT FOLK ON THE ROCKS HAS PRESENTED AN ALTERNATIVE OR WHEN WHEN THIS IS HOW, HOWEVER THIS IS RECORDED. IF THIS GOES THROUGH, MAYBE WE CAN MAKE A MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT PRECEDENT SETTING FOR JUST CHANGING IT WITHOUT ANY REGARD FOR WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT OR FOR WHAT THIS ACTUAL THIS IS KIND OF A LITTLE BIT TRANSACTIONAL BECAUSE THEY ARE.
[02:00:06]
WELL, I DO STRUGGLE WITH THE IDEA OF REMOVING FUNDING FROM THE CAPITAL ASSETS.I DO THINK THAT YES, THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING TO CITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
A LOT OF NONPROFITS CAN'T BOAST IN THE SAME WAY THAT THEY DO.
SO I WOULD WILL BE IN APPROVAL OF THIS MOTION.
THANK YOU COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN.
IT'S SIMILAR TO COUNCILLOR WARBURTON.
AND FOR ALL OF THE REASONS HE STATED, I WON'T BE IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION.
SO THAT'S A THAT'S A LATER DECISION.
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE MOTION FOR THE MAIN REASON THAT THIS MONEY THAT WE WOULD BE FORGIVING, REGARDLESS OF THE AGREEMENT WE HAVE, IS BEING REINVESTED SUBSTANTIALLY IN OUR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS A LIABILITY, NOT TO MENTION ALL THE OTHER REASONS THAT COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN ALREADY STATED.
I'LL SPEAK TO IT NOW AND LET MAYOR ALTY GO LAST.
OH, SORRY. I'LL LET COUNCILLOR COCHRANE YOU GO AHEAD.
I'LL JUST REITERATE, I DO SUPPORT THIS MOTION.
I'M MORE I'M A KIND OF A PRECEDENT GUY, BUT LIKE, I THINK THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE IN CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE JUST REINVESTING EVERYTHING BACK INTO OUR OWN FACILITIES.
AND AS I SAID EARLIER, I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS MOTION.
THANK YOU. I'LL SPEAK TO IT RIGHT NOW.
IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T VALUE WHAT FOLK ON THE ROCKS BRINGS TO THE CITY I ABSOLUTELY VALUE.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER OUT THERE, AND I'VE BEEN THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED.
AND I DO THINK THAT HAVING AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE AND THE CITY HAS DONE WHAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED, AND I AND I.
YOU KNOW, I'D BE HAPPY TO SEE FOLK ON THE ROCKS CONTINUING WITH THE LOAN.
THEY'VE HAD A COUPLE OF REALLY GOOD YEARS.
SO I RIGHT NOW I WILL NOT BE IN SUPPORT OF FORGIVING THIS LOAN.
AND MAYOR ALTY, YOU CAN CONCLUDE.
THANK YOU. QUESTION TO ADMINISTRATION.
ARE THEY PAYING THE DAILY RATE OR ARE WE PROVIDING THAT FREE OF CHARGE? SORRY, MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR. I'LL ASK MR. WHITE TO RESPOND.
THANK YOU. MS. BASSI-KELLETT. SO, OFF THE TOP, MY HEAD FOLK ON THE ROCKS HAS ACCESS TO THE SITE FOR THE MONTH OF JULY AT NO CHARGE.
UM, SO, YEAH, FOR MYSELF, I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF WAIVING THE $60,000 LOAN.
WE ARE CURRENTLY PROVIDING A 0% LOAN.
WE PROVIDED SOME FLEXIBILITY IN THE I BELIEVE THERE WAS THE ONE YEAR 2020 WHEN THEY DIDN'T PAY.
SO THERE WAS AN EXTENSION, UM, WHICH IS MORE THAN WHAT OTHER NGOS ARE GETTING FROM THE CITY.
PLUS THEY'RE GETTING A YEAR GRANT EVERY YEAR.
THEY'RE GETTING FREE OFFICE SPACE AND THE FREE RENT OF THE SPACE LEADING UP TO THE EVENT.
SO WE REQUIRE ALL OTHER NGOS TO USE THEIR GRANT FOR CAPITAL FUNDING.
[02:05:10]
WE DON'T OFFER FREE OFFICE SPACE TO OTHER NGOS EXCEPT FOR NAC AND OTHER NGOS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR CITY FACILITIES WHEN THEY HOST THEIR EVENTS.SO WE ARE PROVIDING A LOT OF SUPPORT TO FOLK ON THE ROCKS AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
I'M OPEN TO THAT, BUT I WON'T BE IN SUPPORT OF WAIVING IT IN GENERAL.
SO, MS. BASSI-KELLETT, HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ONE? THERE'S FOUR FOR AND FOUR AGAINST.
COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE THOUGHTS FROM ALL MY COLLEAGUES.
JUST LIKE TO CLOSE WITH A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS.
FIRST THOUGHT WOULD BE, I UNDERSTAND THE PRECEDENT.
I WOULD ALSO SORT OF BRING UP THE PRECEDENT THAT IN THIS CASE, THE ORGANIZATION IS LOOKING FOR MONEY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AN IMPORTANT PROJECT THAT IS CRUCIAL TO TOURISM IN OUR CITY.
IT MIGHT DISSUADE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES FROM NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH PROJECTS, KNOWING THAT THE CITY IS NOT WILLING TO NEGOTIATE TO ASSIST IN OTHER PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD.
SO IT'S A PRECEDENT ON BOTH SIDES, IN MY VIEW.
AND THEN THE SECOND POINT WOULD BE PUTTING THIS PUTTING THIS IN THE BUDGET NOW FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE BIGGER SCOPE, AND THEN PERHAPS MAKING THE LOAN FORGIVENESS CONTINGENT ON MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT OR SECURING OTHER FUNDING SO THAT THE LOAN FORGIVENESS WOULD ONLY COME IF OTHER PIECES ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THAT $250,000 FROM OTHER SOURCES COMES IN AND IS SPENT ON THESE FACILITIES AS WELL.
SO JUST A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS TO CLOSE THERE.
THANK YOU. OKAY, SO ALL IN FAVOR OF ADDING THIS MOTION TO THE BUDGET OF LOAN FORGIVENESS RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND MAYOR ALTY HAS VOTED AS OPPOSED.
SO WE HAVE FOUR AGAINST FOUR DEADLOCK.
OKAY. MOTION IS DEFEATED WITH FOUR OPPOSED.
OKAY. SO IS IT SAFE TO ADJOURN? [LAUGHTER] YEAH, WE CAN ADJOURN.
DO WE NEED? I DIDN'T THINK WE NEEDED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
OKAY. WHO WANTS TO PUT A MOTION FORWARD TO ADJOURN? ALL. YEAH, WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
WELL, NOT FIRST TIME DOING THIS, BUT I HAVEN'T DONE THIS VERY OFTEN.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE. COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN MOVED THE MOTION.
COUNCILMAN MCLENNAN SECONDED THAT.
WE CAN BE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
THANKS, EVERYBODY. HAVE A GREAT WEEK.
BYE REBECCA.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.