[00:00:05]
>> I WILL CALL OUR COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONDAY,
[1. Councillor Fequet will read the Opening Statement.]
MAY 27TH, 2024 TO ORDER, AND I'LL ASK COUNCIL FEQUET TO PLEASE READ THE OPENING STATEMENT.>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE ARE LOCATED IN CHIEF DRYGEESE TERRITORY.
FROM TIME AND MEMORIAL, IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIFE'S FIRST NATION.
WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS, METIS AND INUIT, WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. THERE WERE NO AWARD CEREMONIES OR PRESENTATIONS FOR THE AGENDA.
WE HAVE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF MONDAY,
[Items 3 & 4]
MAY 13TH, 2024. COUNCILOR FEQUET.>> I MOVE THAT THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING ON MONDAY, MAY 13TH, 2024 BE PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION.
>> THANK YOU. SECONDER, COUNCILOR ARDEN-SMITH, ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY WITH COUNCILOR MCLENNAN ONLINE.
NEXT, WE HAVE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF MONDAY,
[Items 5 & 6]
MAY 13TH, 2024. COUNCIL FEQUET.>> I MOVE THAT THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF MONDAY, MAY 13TH, 2024 BE PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION.
>> THANK YOU. SECONDER, COUNCILOR HENDRIKSEN, ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
NEXT, WE HAVE DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.
DOES ANY MEMBER HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN ANY MATTER BEFORE COUNCIL TODAY? SEEING NONE, THERE WAS NO CORRESPONDENCE, NOR WERE THERE ANY PETITIONS FOR THE AGENDA.
THERE WERE NO STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE AGENDA.
THERE WERE NO DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
THERE WERE NO STATEMENTS FOR THE AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBER STATEMENTS FROM THE FLOOR? NEXT, WE HAVE INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS.
[Items 13 & 14]
WE HAVE THE GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE REPORT FOR MAY 13TH, 2024. COUNCILOR FEQUET.>> I MOVE THAT COUNCIL SUPPORT THE REVISED 2024-2026 WORK PLAN AS PRESENTED AND DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO USE THE WORK PLAN TO PRIORITIZE INITIATIVES AND TASKS AND TO INFORM COUNCIL DURING THEIR DELIBERATIONS OF THE IMPACTS OF ANY POTENTIAL NEW INITIATIVES AND TASKS.
TWO, THE COUNCIL DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO HIRE ONE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER AND ONE CUSTOMER SERVICE OUTREACH COORDINATOR AS PRESENTED IN THE WORK PLAN.
THREE, THE COUNCIL SUPPORT THE EFFICIENCY RECOMMENDATIONS AS PRESENTED IN THE WORK PLAN AND DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENT EACH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, INCLUDING RETURNING TO COUNCIL WITH ANY NECESSARY BYLAW AMENDMENTS.
FOUR, THE COUNCIL SUPPORT IN PRINCIPLE, THE ADVOCACY EFFORTS WITHIN THE REVISED 2024-2026 WORK PLAN.
>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A SECONDER.
COUNCILOR WARBURTON, COUNCILOR HENDRIKSEN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE AMENDMENTS TO THE 2024-2026 WORK PLAN?
>> THANKS, MAYOR ALTY. YES. I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE REMOVE THE FOLLOWING TWO PLANS FROM THE WORK PLAN, NOTED IN PART ONE OF ITEM 14 OF THE AGENDA, THE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELL BEING PLAN FOR COMPLETION IN 2025 AND THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC TRANSIT PLAN FOR COMPLETION IN 2026.
>> DO WE HAVE A SECOND COUNCILOR ARDEN-SMITH, AND WE'VE HAD A REQUEST TO SPLIT IT.
WE WILL START WITH REMOVING THE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELL BEING PLAN.
COUNCILOR HENDRIKSEN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO JUST THAT ASPECT OF IT?
>> TO THAT ASPECT OF IT, THE KEY THING FOR ME AROUND THE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELL BEING PLAN IS THAT WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED LAST WEEK, AND I'LL GO THROUGH MORE OF MY REMARKS WHEN I TALKED TO THE SECOND PIECE.
WHEN WE SPOKE TO THAT TWO WEEKS AGO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MR. COLLINS SPOKE TO WAS THE BEST PRACTICE COMING OUT OF ONTARIO.
IN THE INTERVENING TWO WEEKS, ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WAS GO BACK AND LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE EXAMPLES COMING OUT OF ONTARIO.
BASICALLY, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES FROM 15 PAGE SWEEPING STATEMENT DOCUMENTS TO 50 PLUS, VERY SPECIFIC DETAILS OF ACTIONS AND TARGETS AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND MONEY IN ORDER TO MAKE VERY SPECIFIC OUTCOMES.
BASICALLY, LIKE I SAID, I'LL GET TO THIS WHEN IT COMES TO POINT 2.
BUT BASICALLY, OVERALL, I JUST FEEL LIKE WE'RE JUMPING THE GUN ON THESE TWO PLANS AND THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD TIME TO DIGEST WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL.
I FEEL THAT IF WE DON'T TAKE THAT TIME OUT AND STEP BACK AND GO, WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS PLAN AND THE ACTIVE TRANSIT AND PUBLIC TRANSIT PLAN THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO LEAVE HERE TONIGHT.
THE DIRECTORS WILL LEAVE HERE TONIGHT, WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS OF WHAT'S EXPECTED AND DESIRED.
IN TWO YEARS OR A YEAR FOR THIS PLAN, WE'LL COME BACK AND WE'LL ALL HAVE VERY DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDINGS OF WHAT WAS WANTED,
[00:05:01]
AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO SEE THE PLAN, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO SORT OUT WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO GO AS A COMMUNITY AT THAT TIME.WHEREAS WHAT I'M PROPOSING IS WE REMOVE THESE TWO PLANS, THIS PLAN, IN PARTICULAR, AS WELL.
JUST SO THAT IT GIVES US TIME OVER JUNE AND JULY, WE TAKE THEM BACK TO GPC AND WE HASH OUT AS A COUNCIL IN CONVERSATION WITH DIRECTORS AT THAT TIME, TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND FULLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THESE BECAUSE EACH ONE OF THESE PLANS WILL COST 150,000 OR MORE FOR CONSULTANT FEES AND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF STAFF TIME TO DEVELOP.
I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THAT STEP BACK AND REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MS. BASSI-KELLETT, WOULD ADMINISTRATION TO SPEAK TO THE ADVISABILITY OF REMOVING THE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELL BEING PLAN?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, YOUR WORSHIP CERTAINLY.
FIRST OF ALL, I THINK I DO WANT TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR THE REVISED WORK PLAN THAT HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER.
IT IS AN AMBITIOUS DOCUMENT AND IT WAS DONE IN A RELATIVELY FAST TIME FRAME DURING MR. COLLINS TIME AT THE CITY.
IT MAY OR MAY NOT CAPTURE ALL OF THE CONTEXT, THE LEGAL, THE OPERATIONAL, AS COUNCILOR HENDRIKSEN HAS POINTED OUT, THE INTENT BEHIND AND THE GOALS, THE OVERALL INTENDED OUTCOMES THAT ARE DESIRED.
SOME OF THESE WILL REQUIRE CLARIFICATION.
NOW, WE DO NOTE THAT THE WORDING OF THE MOTION IS BROAD ENOUGH TO ENABLE SOME ADJUSTMENTS AND TO," USE THE WORK PLAN TO PRIORITIZE INITIATIVES." WE KNOW, OF COURSE, AND COUNCIL IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH, WE HAD SOME GREAT PLANS IN 2023, BUT THEN OF COURSE, CIRCUMSTANCES MEANT THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO ACHIEVE MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WERE ON OUR WORK PLAN AT THAT TIME.
IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, THERE COULD BE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.
CERTAINLY, WE'VE SEEN SOME THINGS THAT WE DO NEED TO ADVANCE THAT ARE LAID OUT IN THAT PLAN OF HAVING A TIME FRAME OF BEING IN TIER 3 OR 4, WHICH WE KNOW ARE MORE IMPORTANT AND NEED TO MOVE UP.
WE DO APPRECIATE THE FLEXIBILITY ON THIS AND WE DO APPRECIATE THAT WHEN THERE IS DIRECTION PROVIDED BY COUNCIL.
WE WANT TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR ON WHAT THAT MEANS.
WITH THE GREATEST OF RESPECT, THIS WORK PLAN CAME FORWARD.
THERE WERE ITEMS IN THERE THAT MAY NOT HAVE HAD A GREAT CONSENSUS BETWEEN COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION.
THE POINT BEING MADE BY COUNCILOR HENDRIKSEN, THAT WE MAY LEAVE WITH DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDINGS OF WHAT THE INTENDED OUTCOME IS.
WE'RE FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF HAVING A TANGIBLE WORK PLAN THAT WE CAN BRING FORWARD.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY AT THIS POINT IN THE FISCAL CYCLE AS WE'RE STARTING TO GET READY TO PREPARE BUDGET 2025.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR ADMINISTRATION TO KNOW WHAT SOME OF THOSE KEY PROJECTS, INITIATIVES, AND OUTCOMES THAT COUNCIL IS WANTING TO SEE DONE, AND THAT OF COURSE, ADMINISTRATION IS PUTTING THE EFFORT INTO AS WELL.
THE WORK PLAN IS VERY IMPORTANT FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW.
IT WILL GUIDE THE FORMATION OF KEY DOCUMENTS LIKE BUDGET 2025 AND INITIATIVES THAT WE CONTAINED THEREIN.
BUT THERE ARE POINTS TO THIS THAT ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY.
THE INTENDED OUTCOME IS NOT CLEAR, AND SOME OF THE CONTEXT IS NOT NECESSARILY CLEAR AS WELL, AND THERE MAY BE SOME LEGAL PARAMETERS THAT WERE NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
SOME FLEXIBILITY ON THIS IS VERY HELPFUL WHILE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR ROADMAP TO BE ABLE TO PUT INITIATIVES AND RESOURCES BEHIND MANY OF THESE INTO BUDGET 2025.
I'M A LITTLE BIT OF A WAFFLING ON THIS, THAT WE LIKE THIS.
WE THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, BUT WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO HAVE A BETTER SENSE ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THOSE INTENDED OUTCOMES ARE FOR SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE NEW. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK TO REMOVING IT FROM THE WORK PLAN? COUNCIL WARBURTON?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YEAH, I'M NOT SUPPORTING THE WORK PLAN.
I KNOW THERE'S TWO PARTS HERE. THE SECOND PART, THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PART WE'LL GET TOO.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF REPORTS AND DATA AND STUFF WE'VE DECIDED ALREADY AS A COUNCIL.
BUT WE EFFECTIVELY HAVE NOTHING AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY AS A COMMUNITY. THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION.
THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR FOLKS AND I'D LIKE TO LEAVE IT IN, SO AT LEAST WE HAVE THIS THERE WE'RE PLANNING BUDGET '25.
WE HAVE SOMETHING TO THE FLUSH OUT, COME BACK TO COUNCIL.
WE CAN DISCUSS WHAT EXACTLY WEEDY BIT THAT INCLUDES.
BUT YEAH, I WANT TO HAVE IT IN THERE SO WE CAN HAVE A ROBUST CONVERSATION ON IT FOR BUDGET '25. THANKS.
>> YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING. WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE A WORK PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED EARLIER THIS YEAR.
THERE WAS LOTS OF THOUGHT AND TIME AND ENERGY YOU PUT INTO THIS EVEN DURING THE SHORT TIME THAT MR. COLLINS WAS WITH US BY THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, THINKING ABOUT WHAT PROJECTS ARE REALLY THE PRIORITIES.
I DO AGREE WITH COUNCILOR HENDRIKSEN ON THE FACT THAT THE WELL BEING PLAN IS A BIG BITE,
[00:10:08]
SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T REALLY FLUSHED OUT AND IT SOUNDS GREAT AND THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT EXAMPLES.BUT AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T DECIDED AS A COUNCIL TEAM, WHAT THAT MEANS OR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
FOR THAT REASON, I'M HAPPY IF THAT WAS REMOVED, BUT SIMILAR TO COUNCILOR WARBURTON, COMMUNITY SAFETY IS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR ME.
AGAIN, THIS IS COMBINED AS AN INITIATIVE IN THIS TABLE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOUGH, I COME TO MY OWN CONCLUSION THAT I RECOGNIZE MANY OF THESE ARE MULTI YEAR PROJECTS.
TIER 3 MEANS IT STARTS SOMETIME THIS YEAR OR NEXT AND FINISHES BY THE END OF NEXT.
I RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER LEADERSHIP TRANSITION COMING UP IN THE FUTURE, AS WELL AS BUDGET 2025.
I'M NOT SURE THIS REALLY MATTERS, AT THIS TIME WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON AT THE MOMENT.
I'M A LITTLE AMBIVALENT ABOUT WHETHER TO REMOVE IT OR TO KEEP IT, FOR THE REASONS I MENTIONED, I'M SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE DEPENDING ON WELL BEING OR COMMUNITY SAFETY AND REALLY, I'M NOT SURE THAT IT MATTERS BECAUSE I SUSPECT THAT THERE WILL BE SOME REFINING OF WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE, DEPENDING ON HOW THE SUMMER GOES, AND DEPENDING WHEN THE NEW LEADERSHIP ARRIVES SO, I'M NOT SURE.
I HAVE MUCH MORE TO CONTRIBUTE, AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE TEAM, BUT I FIGURE WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY TALK ABOUT THIS AGAIN.
BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO BE ASKING ADMINISTRATION TO DO ANYTHING NEW OR MORE IN THE INTERIM, ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVEN'T EVEN DISCUSSED WHAT THAT EXACTLY IS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILOR ARDEN-SMITH.
>> THANK YOU. MY THOUGHTS ON THIS, THESE ARE PIECES THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AS A DISCUSSION FOR BUDGET.
WHETHER OR NOT WE GO THROUGH WITH EITHER ONE AFTER BUDGET, THEY DO NEED TO BE A CONVERSATIONAL PIECE.
I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THEM BOTH ON OUR WORK PLAN GOING FORWARD. BLESS YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING FURTHER COUNCILOR MCLENNAN?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AGREE WITH A LOT OF THE POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, AND I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION AND I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND EDMUND LOOKING FOR A CLEAR DIRECTION ON THIS POINT, AND OUR COMMUNITY REALLY LOOKING FOR A CLEAR DIRECTION ON THIS POINT.
IT FEELS LIKE A LARGER DISCUSSION TO ME AND I'M NOT CLEAR LIKE COUNCILOR HENDRIKSEN SAID, WHAT THE GOALS ARE HERE AND IF I'M NOT CLEAR WHAT THE GOALS ARE OR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE THIS UNTIL WE HAVE THAT BIGGER CONVERSATION.
BUT I UNDERSTAND TOTALLY THAT THIS DOCUMENT MAKES SENSE AND HAVING THAT PLAN, SO I THINK I CAN SEE SUPPORTING THIS IN THE FUTURE, ONCE I HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS MEANS AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
>> THANK YOU. FOR MYSELF, I DID THE ONTARIO LEGISLATED, ALL COMMUNITIES HAVE TO HAVE A COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELL BEING PLAN.
EDMONTON ALSO HAS ONE, REGINA ALSO HAS ONE AND SO I'M OKAY WITH LEAVING IT IN BECAUSE THEN THE DRAFT 2025 BUDGET WILL BE DRAFTED BY INCLUDING IT.
IF WE REMOVE IT RIGHT NOW, IT WOULDN'T BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, AND I THINK WE RISK PUSHING THIS TO START IN 2026 IF WE DO DECIDE TO SEE VALUE IN IT, BECAUSE EVEN IF WE HAVE A DISCUSSION OF GPC IN JUNE OR JULY, ADMINISTRATION IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE US ANY FURTHER INFORMATION IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO WEEKS.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WORK THAT'S UNDERWAY.
FOR MYSELF, AM I OKAY WITH KICKING IT DOWN TO 2026? I COULD LIVE WITH THAT, THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, I'VE GOT A DIFFERENT FEELING ON.
BUT I DO THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS, THEIR COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELL BEING PLANS, YES, ONTARIO HAS DIFFERENT JURISDICTION.
THEY'VE GOT POLICE, THEY'VE GOT PUBLIC HEALTH, SO THEIR PLANS ARE DIFFERENT.
BUT WHAT I SEE THE VALUE IN THE CITY OF YALE AND I HAVING ONE IS THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY DEFINE WHAT WE CAN DO AS OPPOSED TO WHAT RESIDENTS THAT LIKE US TO TAKE ON MORE OF WHAT THE G&T AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING.
THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY CREATE A PLAN THAT SAYS, THIS IS WHAT THE MUNICIPAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE, AND THIS IS HOW WE CAN ACHIEVE IT.
FOR MYSELF, I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT IN FOR NOW AND HAVE THAT PROJECT SCOPE DISCUSSION SOMETIME BETWEEN NOW AND BUDGET.
[00:15:01]
>> COUNCILOR HENDRIKSEN TO CLOSE.
>> WELL, YOU'VE ALL MADE ME TORN ON THIS ONE, SO I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW I'M GOING TO VOTE ON THIS ONE NOW AS WE SPEAK.
I APPRECIATE WHAT ADMINISTRATION SAYS AND I APPRECIATE THE FLEXIBILITY IN THE WORK PLAN AROUND IT, AND WHAT YOU JUST SAID, MAYOR ALTY AS WELL AS COUNCILOR WARBURTON, I APPRECIATE THE NEED FOR A PLAN LIKE THIS, AND THAT'S WHERE I STAND ON BOTH OF THESE.
IT'S NOT THAT I'M SAYING, NO, FOREVER.
IT'S MORE OF A I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH YET, AND IT'S TRYING TO TEASE THOSE WEEDY BITS OUT AND WHAT OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS BY HAVING A PLAN BECAUSE HAVING A PLAN ULTIMATELY MEANS IMPLEMENTING SOMETHING, AND THAT'S WHERE I AM STUCK RIGHT NOW.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE ULTIMATELY, IS IT JUST MESSAGING ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO? IS IT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE, WHAT WE DO ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS.
FOR ME, THAT'S WHY I JUST FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD REMOVE THEM SO THAT ADMIN, ESPECIALLY PUBLIC SAFETY RIGHT NOW HAS OTHER THINGS TO BE CONCERNING THEMSELVES WITH THIS SUMMER.
I THINK EVEN TAKING TIME TO EVEN THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR A BUDGET ASK.
THAT'S MY LOGIC WITH WANTING TO REMOVE IT IS JUST TAKE THAT OFF OF PUBLIC SAFETY PLATE THIS BUDGET CYCLE OR THIS SUMMER AND LET US THINK ABOUT WHAT WE WANT.
BUT THAT'S WHERE MY HEAD WAS ON THIS ONE.
BUT I'LL WRAP UP AND I'LL SAVE THE REST OF IT.
THE ACTIVE TRANSIT ONE IS MORE WHERE MY HEAD IS AT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK ALREADY BEHIND THAT.
>> THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF REMOVING IT FROM THE WORK PLAN? OPPOSED? AND THAT'S DEFEATED WITH COUNCILOR HENDRIKSEN AND COUNCILOR MCLENNAN IN FAVOR.
TO THE MOTION OF REMOVING ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC TRANSIT PLAN, COUNCILOR HENDRIKSEN.
>> THANKS, MAYOR ALTY. MOST OF MY REMARKS FIT TO THIS ONE ANYWAY.
IT'S ALONG THE SAME REASON, BUT IT JUST MORE FULSOME BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH BACKGROUND ON THIS ISSUE.
THIS PLAN WAS BROUGHT FORWARD, HAD GPC TWO WEEKS AGO AND I'M PROPOSING WE REMOVE IT FROM THE WORK PLAN TONIGHT.
LIKE I SAID, FOR THE OTHER PLANS THAT WE CAN DISCUSS IT AND GRAPPLE WITH THIS IN JUNE, JULY.
THIS ONE IS LESS TIMELY BECAUSE IT'S SET FOR COMPLETION IN Q4 2026.
IF IT'S LATER IN SUMMER OR EVEN AUTUMN.
BUT I THINK WE NEED MORE DIALOGUE WITH OURSELVES AND THE DIRECTORS TO DETERMINE WHAT THE GOAL OF THIS PLAN IS AND WHAT OUR ROLE AS COUNCIL IS REGARDING THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION AND BUDGETING FOR THIS PLAN IF IT WAS TO COME TO FRUITION, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVE TRANSIT PLANS ALREADY AND TRANSIT PLANS AND MY CONCERN IS THAT BASICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO CREATE ANOTHER PLAN AND NOT BUDGET FOR IT APPROPRIATELY.
AS PART OF THAT, I WANT TO REALLY MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS ABOUT OUR WORK UP HERE, NOT ADMINISTRATIONS WORK BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT OUR BUDGET DECISIONS.
I JUST FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A FIVE YEAR BIKE PLAN.
WE HAVE A TRAIL ENHANCEMENT STRATEGY THAT HASN'T BEEN FULLY IMPLEMENTED.
THE FIVE YEAR BIKE PLAN HAS BEEN LARGELY IMPLEMENTED, BUT NOT IN OUR DOWNTOWN CORE, WHICH CONSIDERING WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE A NEW 70 UNIT CONVERSION AT THE BLANCA BUILDING AND A NEW 58 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING BESIDE THE GOLD RANGE, BOTH OF WHICH WILL BE NO TO VERY LOW PARKING UNITS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING AROUND OUR CITY IN A NEW WAY IN OUR DOWNTOWN CORE, WHICH IS NOT IN A VEHICLE AND SO WE NEED ACTION.
WE ALSO TIE IN THE FACT THAT THE COMMUNITY PLAN BY LAW HAS MANY VERY SPECIFIC STATEMENTS OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN REGARDING ACTIVE TRANSIT AND SO BASICALLY IT COMES DOWN TO THE FACT THAT I AM BY NATURE, AN EXTREMELY FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE PERSON.
THAT'S THE NICE WAY OF SAYING IT.
OTHERS WOULD HAVE OTHER WAYS OF DESCRIBING ME.
BUT BASICALLY, I AM NOT WILLING TO HAVE AT THIS MOMENT, ASK THE RESIDENTS OF YALE HAVE TO PAY UPWARDS OF $150,000 FOR A NEW ACTIVE TRANSIT AND PUBLIC TRANSIT STRATEGY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT PROBABLY WOULD COST PLUS HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF STAFF HOURS TO REVIEW AND TO PUT IN PLACE A NEW PLAN ON TOP OF OTHER PLANS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE AND HAVEN'T FULLY IMPLEMENTED AND BUDGETED.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, I WANT US TO ACTUALLY TAKE THE STEP BACK AND UNDERSTAND AMONGST OURSELVES, WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? WHY ARE WE NOT GOING FORWARD WITH THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM? WHAT DO WE NEED TO ADJUST? ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE CAN ADJUST WITHOUT GOING BACK OUT TO A CONSULTANT FOR A BIG NEW ASK.
REALLY, I JUST FEEL AGAIN, AS I SAID BEFORE, IF WE DON'T ASK THESE QUESTIONS NOW, WE'RE GOING TO REGRET THAT IN TWO YEARS WHEN SOMETHING COMES BACK TO US AND WE ALL REALIZE WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT IDEAS IN OUR HEAD OF WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING.
[00:20:04]
BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRANSIT PLANS FROM DIFFERENT CITIES, AGAIN VERY MASSIVELY FROM VERY SPECIFIC STATEMENTS MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE HAS DONE IN THE PAST, BECAUSE WE'RE A SMALLER CITY AND WE CAN DO THAT TO MORE GRANDER TYPE DOCUMENTS THAT CREATE SWEEPING STATEMENTS ABOUT WHAT'S TRYING TO BE ACHIEVED BECAUSE THEY'RE LARGE CITIES AND YOU'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT THEM ALL BIT BY BIT.AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT US PRIORITIZING WHAT WE THINK IS IMPORTANT.
FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT NOT WANTING TO SPEND TAXPAYER MONEY ON NEW PLANS WHEN I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE PLANS THAT NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND WE CAN BUDGET FOR, AND THAT'S ON US UP AT THIS TABLE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO DEVIATE FROM WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE ON THE BOOKS, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY AND I DON'T HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING YET OF WHY. I'LL FINISH WITH THAT.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I SUPPORT TAKING US OUT OF WORK PLAN.
I DON'T WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME AND ENERGY AND MONEY ON OUR PLAN TO TALK ABOUT PLANS. WE HAVE THE PLANS.
MUCH OUR STAFF AND TIME AND FUNDS GO TO IMPLEMENTING THE PLANS WE HAVE.
THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE LAST ONE TO ME BECAUSE THE LAST ONE, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE REALLY A COMMUNITY SAFETY LENS ON ANYTHING YET.
SO I THINK WE NEED THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK WE NEED THIS ONE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MCLENNAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO REMOVE THIS.
I'D LIKE TO STATE FORCEFULLY AND RIGHT UP FRONT.
MY QUALMS WITH THIS PROPOSAL IS NOT WITH ADMIN'S WORK OR THEIR DESIRE FOR CLEAR AND CONNECTED DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL.
MY QUALMS ARE WITH WHAT I SEE AS COUNCIL'S INABILITY TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON PLANS AND STRATEGIES.
ASKING FOR A PLAN STRATEGY, ROADMAP, OR REVIEW MEANS AT THE VERY OUTSET, TO ME, UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS MEANS COMMITTING TO RESOURCING AND IMPLEMENTING THE SUGGESTED ACTIONS.
IF WE'RE NOT READY TO COMMIT MEANINGFUL RESOURCES NOW TO IMPLEMENT A PLAN OR STRATEGY, THEN WE SHOULD NOT ASK FOR IT.
I'D LIKE TO QUICKLY POINT OUT ONE EXAMPLE THAT ILLUSTRATES WHY I'M CONCERNED THAT WE WON'T GET VALUE FROM THIS PROPOSED PLAN AND AN EXAMPLE THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE REPEATED AND USED AS AN EXAMPLE.
THAT'S THE ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN.
THIS PLAN WAS FIRST BROUGHT UP IN NOVEMBER 2020 AND INCLUDED IN THE 2021 BUDGET.
THE PLAN WAS GENERALLY SUPPORTED BY COUNCIL AND A DEDICATED STAFF POSITION WAS INCLUDED IN THE 2023 BUDGET.
THIS COUNCIL WAS ELECTED AND PROMPTLY, MYSELF INCLUDED, CUT THIS POSITION AND PROVIDED NO RESOURCES TO SEE THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THROUGH, LET ALONE ANY RESOURCES FOR ANY ACTIONS PROPOSED.
THIS PLAN NOW SITS AT THE BOTTOM OF EDMUND'S AGENDA AND FOR ALL INTENTS, HERE WE ARE JUST TWO YEARS FROM ELECTION, A VERY SIMILAR TIMING TO THE ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN, SUPPORTING TWO HUGE NEW MASTER PLANS.
THESE ARE SCHEDULED TO BE PRESENTED SOON BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION AND WILL BE THE NEXT COUNCIL WHO TRULY DETERMINES THEIR FATE.
I'M CONCERNED THAT WE WILL AGAIN GET RESIDENTS HOPES UP, USE THE VAST TALENTS AND SKILLS OF CITY STAFF, ONLY TO LET THESE PLANS DIE A SLOW DEATH WITHOUT ANY TANGIBLE ACTION.
THE EXAMPLE I'D LIKE TO POINT TO TO AVOID THIS FATE IS THE AFTER ACTION REVIEW.
THIS WAS ASKED FOR BY COUNCIL AND IMMEDIATELY RESOURCED.
MONEY WAS ALLOCATED AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS FOR IMPLEMENTATION ITEMS THAT WERE UNKNOWN.
THIS IS HOW I FEEL WE CAN GIVE CLEAR DIRECTION TO STAFF AND EFFECTIVELY PRIORITIZE.
IF WE'RE MOVING AHEAD WITH THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN, WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MEANS A COMMITMENT TO SEEING IT THROUGH.
THIS WOULD MEAN TO ME RESOURCING IT NOW AND ADVOCATING FOR IT AS INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER WE'RE ON COUNCIL OR NOT.
I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT WE NEED ACTION NOW, NOT IN 2, 3, 4, 5 YEARS, TO MAKE OUR CITY MORE RESILIENT AND LIVABLE FOR ALL.
WE HAVE THE BLUEPRINTS AVAILABLE TO TAKE THIS ACTION.
I'D PROPOSE IF WE WERE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AT ALL, TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN AT BUDGET PRIORITY SETTING, IDEALLY, ALONG WITH THE 2025 WORK PLAN.
AT THIS POINT, WE CAN EITHER RESOURCE THE PLANS WE ALREADY HAVE OR DECLARE THEM DEAD AND MOVE AHEAD WITH THIS NEW MASTER PLAN.
CRUCIALLY FOR ME, THAT WOULD MEAN RESOURCING THIS NEW MASTER PLAN NOW AND COMMITTING TO SEEING IT THROUGH.
THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR THEIR WORK REVISING THE WORK PLAN.
I DON'T WANT TO VOTE AGAINST IT, AS I FULLY SUPPORT THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT.
HOWEVER, WITHOUT THIS AMENDMENT, I CAN'T SUPPORT THE WORK PLAN.
I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THESE ISSUES BY FOLLOWING THROUGH ON EXISTING PLANS.
COUNCIL ASKING FOR NEW MASTER PLANS IS EASY AND IT'S UPLIFTING, PRIORITIZING OUR RESOURCES AND CLEARLY
[00:25:03]
COMMUNICATING WHAT WILL AND WILL NOT GET THESE RESOURCES IS VERY HARD.I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF PUSHING THESE HARD DECISIONS DOWN THE ROAD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MY APOLOGIES, MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THE VIABILITY OR THE FEASIBILITY OF REMOVING THIS FROM THE WORK PLAN?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, YOUR WORSHIP.
WE'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN TERMS OF RESOURCING PLANS AS THEY ARE DEVELOPED.
ONE THING THAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THERE'S QUITE A SCATTERGUN APPROACH RIGHT NOW TO SOME OF THE THINGS AROUND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION.
MANY DIFFERENT PIECES OF THIS PUZZLE, INCLUDING HOW WE DEAL WITH PUBLIC TRANSIT, SOME OF OUR TRAIL SYSTEMS. THERE WILL BE SOME WORK THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE TO TRY TO COHERENTLY PROVIDE AN INVENTORY OF THOSE STUDIES AND ANY OUTSTANDING WORK THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN DONE ON SOME OF OUR WORK.
WE HAVE MADE QUITE A BIT OF INROADS, PARTICULARLY ON BICYCLING TRAILS.
CERTAINLY WITH SOME CHANGES IN THE DOWNTOWN, THERE WILL BE SOME THINGS THAT WE'LL NEED TO LOOK AT.
WE DO SEE THAT THERE IS MERIT IN LOOKING AT HOW WE PULL ALL OF THESE VERY DISPARATE PIECES THAT ARE AT DIFFERENT PLACES, BUT THAT ARE ALL PART OF THAT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC TRANSIT THEME, AND IF THE GOAL, AGAIN, IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR US TO UNDERSTAND MORE EFFECTIVELY WHAT COUNCIL'S GOAL AND VISION IS AND WHAT THE DESIRED OUTCOME.
IS IT LESS VEHICLES ON THE ROADS? IS IT ACTIVE TRANSIT? WHAT IS THE OUTCOME THAT'S DESIRED? WE WILL VERY MUCH BENEFIT FROM HEARING ABOUT WHAT THAT IS, AS WE LOOK AT THE DISPARATE PIECES THAT ARE NOW IN SOME WAY SHAPE OR FORM IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF IMPLEMENTATION FROM THOSE EXISTING PLANS.
WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO A CONVERSATION ON THIS, WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A FULSOME NEW REVIEW.
WE APPRECIATE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON THINGS WHEN WE HAVE OTHER PRIORITIES THAT WE'D FAR PREFER TO SEE MONEY SPENT ON.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE DO AGAIN NEED SOME COHERENT VISION IN TERMS OF WHAT IT IS THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON THIS AS WE PULL TOGETHER THOSE PIECES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING FURTHER? FOR MYSELF, I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF REMOVING IT.
IT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES MY HEART SING IN THE WORK PLAN THAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
BECAUSE AS PEOPLE MENTIONED, WE HAVE NOT MILLIONS, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLANS AND NONE OF THEM ARE INTERCONNECTED, AND NONE OF THEM WERE CO-CREATED WITH COUNCIL, STAFF, RESIDENTS.
THERE ARE REPORTS THAT GET CREATED BY CONSULTANTS THAT PROVIDE US A LAUNDRY LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER, VERSUS TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLANS, WHICH I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF CHANGING IT IN EDMUND'S WORK PLAN TO BE MORE CLEAR THAT IT'S THE COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER CITIES, IT'S YOUR COMMUNITY PLAN AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN.
RIGHT NOW THE CITY HAS OUR COMMUNITY PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES FIVE PAGES ON TRANSPORTATION VERSUS THE CITY OF OTTAWA'S TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN IS 135 PAGES, AND IT TOUCHES ON STUFF ON INVESTMENTS.
IT TALKS ABOUT THE PRIORITY FOR CLEARING SIDEWALKS IN THE WINTER.
IT TALKS ABOUT PRIORITY, CYCLE TRAILS TO GET DEVELOPED.
FOR ME, I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING TOGETHER A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT COUNCIL'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT, AND I THINK IT ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH THE FACT THAT ADMIN WANTS TO UPDATE THE COMMUNITY PLAN.
WE COULD BE HAVING THOSE COMMUNITY PLAN DISCUSSIONS, MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN DISCUSSIONS IN THE SAME PERIOD AND COME UP WITH A BETTER PRODUCT.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THOSE OTHER REPORTS ARE WASTED.
THOSE ARE IMPORTANT REPORTS THAT GET FED INTO THE MASTER PLAN, BUT GET KICKED OUT AT THE END WITH A PLAN THAT'S ACTUALLY COMPREHENSIVE.
I CAN APPRECIATE PEOPLE WANTING TO SPEND MONEY ON ACTUAL STUFF, BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SPEND MONEY ON? IS IT WHOEVER CAN LOBBY COUNCIL THE MOST EFFECTIVELY AND WE FUND THEIR PROJECTS, OR IS IT TRANSIT? IS IT PEDESTRIANS? IS IT CYCLISTS? IS IT CARS? EACH PLAN IS ONLY FOCUSED ON ONE LITTLE COMPONENT.
I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF PULLING ALL OF OUR PLANS TOGETHER, HAVING THAT DISCUSSION AT THE SAME TIME AS THE COMMUNITY PLAN AND COMING OUT WITH A MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT WOULD BE FOR THE NEXT 25-30 YEARS BECAUSE THAT'S HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO CREATE THOSE COMPLETE CITIES.
I AM NOT IN SUPPORT OF REMOVING IT FROM EDMUND'S WORK PLAN. COUNCIL, FEQUET.
[00:30:04]
>> THANKS, MADAM CHAIR. JUST BUILDING OFF SOMETHING YOU JUST SAID.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS, DO WE HAVE ANY PLANS OR VISION OR HAVE CONVERSATIONS STARTED ABOUT ALIGNING THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY NEED A HAND?
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.