[00:00:05]
[1. Councillor McLennan will read the Opening Statement.]
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. 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 PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS METIS AND INUIT WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
AND JUST TO NOTE, WE HAVE COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN ONLINE.
NEXT WE HAVE AWARD CEREMONIES AND PRESENTATIONS.
THERE WERE NO AWARDS CEREMONIES OR PRESENTATIONS FOR THE AGENDA.
MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF MONDAY, MAY 27TH, 2024.
[ Items 3 & 4]
DEPUTY MAYOR COCHRANE.COUNCILLOR ARDEN-SMITH ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT, WE HAVE DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.
DOES ANY MEMBER HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BEFORE COUNCIL TODAY? SEEING NONE.
THERE WAS NO CORRESPONDENCE, NOR WERE THERE ANY PETITIONS FOR THE AGENDA.
[ Items 7 & 8]
AMENDED. WE RECEIVED A WRITTEN SUBMISSION AND WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM ADRIAN BELL, THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE YELLOWKNIFE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, IN OPPOSITION TO LAND ADMINISTRATION.SO WITH THAT, I WILL ASK ADRIAN TO COME ON UP TO THE MIC.
MY APOLOGIES. WE ARE ACTUALLY IN A STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARING, SO YOU HAVE A FEW EXTRA MINUTES FOR SPEAKING. BUT I WILL TURN THE MIC OVER TO YOU ADRIAN.
HELLO, MAYOR ALTY AND COUNCIL.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT. IT'S GOOD TO GOOD TO BE BACK IN THIS ROOM AGAIN.
I WON'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE WRITTEN TWO LETTERS ON THE SUBJECT TO COUNCIL IN THE PAST.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO KIND OF SUMMARIZE SOME OF OUR THOUGHTS.
AND I DO WANT TO EXPRESS AS WELL, THAT I WOULDN'T CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE IN OPPOSITION TO THE BYLAW.
THERE ARE MANY GREAT COMPONENTS AND A LOT OF GOOD CLEANUP THAT'S BEEN DONE.
BUT THERE'S ONE PARTICULAR PART THAT WE ARE IN OPPOSITION TO.
SO WE'RE HOPING FOR AN AMENDMENT.
NOW, WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN MANY CASES THERE THERE IS STILL A ZONING CHANGE REQUIRED.
AND SO THERE IS SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND FOR COUNCIL INPUT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE AND PAST OBSERVATIONS, CURRENT OBSERVATIONS OF THE BOARD WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED THAT THIS GREATLY REDUCES TRANSPARENCY SURROUNDING LAND DISPOSAL AND GREATLY REDUCES OPPORTUNITIES NOT ONLY FOR COUNCIL INPUT, BUT FOR PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT AS WELL. WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING TO DO IS DIMINISH THE ABILITY FOR DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED CITY COUNCILLORS TO BRING FORWARD THEIR CONCERNS, AS WELL AS THE CONCERNS OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS, AS A PART OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THE CASE CAN BE MADE THAT THIS DOES REMOVE SOME STEPS FROM THE PROCESS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE MOTIVE BEHIND THIS CHANGE WAS STREAMLINING.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE IN YELLOWKNIFE, RESIDENTS, STAKEHOLDERS AND COUNCILLORS, YOU'VE LONG BECOME USED TO A VERY ROBUST PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS.
AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD ALL BE VERY PROUD OF.
AND NOW YOU'RE TAKING A LOOK AT SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISHING THAT.
AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE THIS REQUIREMENT IN PLACE.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT SETS THE BAR AT THE RIGHT LEVEL, AND IT CREATES THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC FEEDBACK THAT WE HAVE COME TO VALUE, AND THAT I THINK MANY MUNICIPALITIES HAVE LIKELY COME TO VALUE AS WELL.
[00:05:01]
SO IT SEEMS THAT NOW MIGHT BE A REALLY BAD TIME TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.I MEAN THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE VERY CHALLENGING.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE OBVIOUSLY A WIDE VARIETY OF OPINIONS FOR AND AGAINST, BUT THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDERS AND YOURSELVES THAT TIME TO UNDERSTAND FULLY THE OPINIONS ON THESE MATTERS.
AND AS YOU KNOW, QUITE OFTEN IT TAKES RIGHT TO THE END OF A SECOND READING TO REALLY GET A SENSE OF EVERYTHING THAT'S OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND THE DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS ON THE MATTER.
SO WE THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
WE DON'T WANT TO SEE TRANSPARENCY AROUND LAND DISPOSAL REDUCED.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC FEEDBACK REDUCED.
THAT'S MORE OR LESS IT I MEAN, I GUESS FROM A CHAMBER PERSPECTIVE, YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING, YOU KNOW, WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE? AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I'VE SPOKEN WITH MANY OF YOU AND PROBABLY WE'VE SPOKEN AS A GROUP ABOUT SOME OF OUR CONCERNS ABOUT LAND DISPOSAL STRATEGIES AND THE COMMUNITY PLAN FROM 2019.
SO SOME OF THESE UPCOMING CONVERSATIONS WE INTEND TO BE A PART OF.
NO NEED TO REALLY DIG INTO THE DETAILS ON OUR POSITIONS ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS AT THIS POINT.
BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CHANGES THAT WOULD PREEMPT THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
BUT THE CHAMBER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
AND SO THAT'S YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR CONCERNS.
AND WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THESE THINGS SURROUND THE NEED FOR HOUSING IN THIS TOWN.
AND WE CERTAINLY ARE SUPPORTIVE OF MOST THINGS THAT MAKE HOUSING AVAILABLE IN YELLOWKNIFE.
BUT NOT ALL THINGS, AND NOT IF IT COMES WITH A REDUCTION IN TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC FEEDBACK.
SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH OUR POSITION ON THIS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
OPENING IT UP TO QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTER COUNCILLOR PAYNE.
THANK YOU, ADRIAN, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE? I MEAN, YOU ARE RIGHT.
I MEAN, IT WAS A STREAMLINED PROCESS.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AS A NEW WAY MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS NEW BYLAW? THANK YOU, I THINK.
I THINK SIMPLY RETURNING REINSERTING THE REQUIREMENT FOR LAND DISPOSAL BYLAW.
OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILLOR FEQUET. THANKS, ADRIAN, FOR SUMMARIZING AND GETTING RIGHT TO THE POINT ABOUT THAT.
YEAH, THE ONE KIND OF ISSUE WITH THE PROPOSED LAND AMEND BYLAW AMENDMENTS.
YOU KNOW, HAVING TO DO CONSULTATION AND GET COUNCIL APPROVAL ON THE SALE PART.
SO I GUESS I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF DRILL DOWN INTO ARE THOSE TWO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WHERE PUBLIC CONSULTATION WILL HAPPEN, REZONING AND AREA DEVELOPMENT PLANS SATISFACTORY TO GUIDE KIND OF THE BIG DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT SHOULD GO WHERE.
AND THIS THIRD STEP OF THE SALE, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE TWO OTHER TOOLS SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE STREAMLINED, BUT I'M DEFINITELY CURIOUS TO HEAR LIKE, IS IT A THIRD KICK OF THE CAN IN CASE COUNCIL IS NOT LISTENING THE FIRST TWO TIMES? OR WHAT WOULD BE THE BENEFIT OF THAT KIND OF THIRD OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
ABSOLUTELY. IT'S NOT ONLY A THIRD KICK AT THE CAN, BUT IT'S A MORE GRANULAR KICK AT THE CAN.
WHICH I THINK IN HINDSIGHT, ONCE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BECAME AWARE OF THAT WHICH WAS AFTER THE FACT, IT WAS REALLY QUITE SHOCKING AND FRUSTRATING. AND I THINK THE PROBLEM WAS THAT SOME OF THESE PLANNING EXERCISES ARE SO FAR IN ADVANCE OF THE MORE MATERIAL WHAT PEOPLE ASSUME TO BE, THE MORE MATERIAL DECISIONS THAT THEY'RE TUNED OUT.
AND AS YOU KNOW PEOPLE ARE VERY BUSY AND THEY'RE NOT WATCHING ALL OF THESE MEETINGS, ALTHOUGH I'M SURE TONIGHT THEY'VE BEEN VERY TORN BETWEEN THE OILERS GAME AND THIS MEETING. BUT IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO GIVE THEM THOSE ADDITIONAL STEPS.
[00:10:05]
YOU KNOW, I FIND IT INTERESTING EVERY TIME WE HAVE AN AGM FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND WE DO THAT SORT OF CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR, AND WE DO IT THREE TIMES.ONE MORE TIME. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR TWO MORE TIMES.
YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER REALLY SEE MUCH CHANGE DURING THAT.
BUT EVERY TIME THAT HAPPENS, I RESPECT THE PROCESS AND I APPRECIATE WHY THAT'S THERE.
THEY DON'T ALWAYS MAKE UP THEIR MINDS UNTIL LATER ON IN A PROCESS.
AND I THINK YOU REALLY NEED TO GIVE THEM THAT TIME AND GIVE THEM THE DETAIL THAT ONLY COMES IN LATER STAGES, TO BE ABLE TO FULLY EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS OR TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS THAT IT MAY HAVE ON THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, THEIR COMMUNITIES, OR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.
THANK YOU AGAIN, ADRIAN, FOR COMING.
THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE PROPOSED BYLAW? THE LAND ADMINISTRATION BYLAW.
WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED BYLAW? I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE HERE FOR SOMETHING ELSE, BUT IF YOU DID HAVE THE INKLING TO WANT TO COME.
NOBODY FURTHER FOR OR AGAINST THE.
TOM, ARE YOU LOOKING TO ASK A QUESTION OF ADRIAN? ASK A QUESTION OF ADMIN IN RELATION TO ADRIAN'S PRESENTATION.
TWO SECONDS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY GOTTEN TO SECOND READING YET, SO.
WE CAN DO QUESTIONS NOW OR COUNCIL CAN DO QUESTIONS AT SECOND READING.
BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK YOUR QUESTIONS NOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
JUST TO ADMIN WITH THIS REMOVAL OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR A BYLAW FOR SALE.
AND SORT OF RELATED TO THAT, LOOKING AT THE PUBLIC NOTICES THAT ARE REQUIRED.
SECTION 10, NUMBER ONE FOR DISPOSAL OF LAND BY BALLOT DRAW CALLS FOR DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS.
I'M JUST LOOKING TO GET A SENSE OF LIKE WHAT LAND SALES WOULDN'T EITHER GET A BYLAW BY CHOICE OR BE NOTIFIED TO THE PUBLIC IN THIS WAY. LIKE WHAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHY THIS REMOVAL IS ADVANTAGEOUS? MS. BASSI-KELLETT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
I WILL ASK MISS WHITE AS OUR PLANNING LEAD TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
SO IT'S NOT JUST FOR LAND SALE.
SO THIS INCLUDES LEASES AS WELL.
SO THIS WOULD BE FOR ANY LEASE GREATER THAN THREE YEARS IN LENGTH.
MOST OF OUR LEASES MAYBE THAT YOU'VE SEEN HAVE BEEN FOR FIVE YEARS, USUALLY WITH THE ABILITY TO EXTEND FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS, AS WELL AS ALL DISPOSALS FOR SALE.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ADMINISTRATION? COUNCILLOR FEQUET. THANKS, MADAM CHAIR.
JUST MAYBE BUILDING OFF OF COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN'S LAST QUESTION.
FIRST, SO FOR LEASES THAT ARE LESS THAN THREE YEARS YOU KNOW, AND THEY ARE KIND OF STRATEGIC IN NATURE OR, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO ACHIEVE A CERTAIN GOAL LIKE THE ARCTIC INDIGENOUS WELLNESS FOUNDATION.
BEHIND THE MULTIPLEX, IS THERE A TOOL THAT HAD BEEN FORESEES USING TO CONSIDER THOSE? MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
JUST FOR MY EDIFICATION, IF YOU COULD CLARIFY, PLEASE COUNCILLOR FEQUET A TOOL THAT WOULD HELP WITH DETERMINING WHEN WE DECIDE ON A LEASE THAT IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS. IS THAT THE QUESTION? YES. SO, LIKE FOR THE KIND OF OUT OF THE ORDINARY REQUEST FOR SPACE AND LEASES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ACHIEVING STRATEGIC DIRECTION OR OUTCOMES THAT THE CITY IS KIND OF COLLECTIVELY WORKING TOWARDS.
ARCTIC INDIGENOUS IS THE ONE THAT POPS INTO MY MIND.
BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS, LIKE, HOW WILL ADMIN CONSIDER THAT IS THERE GOING TO BE CRITERIA SET UP?
[00:15:05]
IF THEY'RE KIND OF UNIQUE WILL THEY STILL COME TO COUNCIL? LIKE WHAT? JUST HOW WILL THAT PROCESS WILL LOOK OR WORK OR I GUESS, WILL IT WILL IT NOT BE PUBLIC OR TRANSPARENT IN ANY WAY? MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON WHEN WE HAVE A REQUEST THAT COMES FROM A PROPONENT AROUND WANTING TO HAVE ACCESS TO LAND, AND DETERMINING SOMETIMES WHETHER OR NOT A LEASE IS MORE IDEAL FOR THEIR PURPOSES.
DOES IT MEET OUR INTERESTS? THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT, AND THEY ARE VERY MUCH CRITICAL IN DEFINING WHAT IT IS THAT WE ULTIMATELY END UP USING AS THE DISPOSAL TOOL FOR THE PURPOSES THAT ARE GOING TO MEET THE INTENT OF THE PROPONENT AND ALSO MEET THE CITY'S INTERESTS.
BUT, MISS WHITE, YOU ARE FAR BETTER VERSED AT THIS THAN I.
AND REALLY, I THINK YOU'VE ADDRESSED IT.
USUALLY LEASES THAT COME IN THAT ARE FOR LESS THAN THE FIVE YEARS SO THE THREE YEAR LEASES THEY ARE FOR SOMETHING VERY SPECIFIC, OR THEY'RE IN TRANSITION TO ANOTHER LOCATION AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH ANOTHER AGENCY OR ANOTHER LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, AND WE'RE TRYING TO ASSIST THEM KIND OF IN A MORE SHORT TERM WAY TO TRY TO MEET WHATEVER THEIR NEEDS ARE.
IT IS ALL ON A SITE BY SITE BASIS BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL REQUEST, AND NO TWO REQUESTS ARE THE SAME.
SO NOT LOOKING TO REMOVE ANY OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE.
JUST MAYBE TO REFRESH MY MEMORY.
COULD ADMIN, JUST SPEAK TO WHAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS DO WITH RESPECT TO THIS PROCESS.
MS. BASSI-KELLETT. MISS WHITE.
SOME OF THE LARGER COMMUNITIES ARE SAME AS US.
ANYTHING LESS THAN THREE YEARS THEN THEY'RE DONE BY ADMINISTRATION.
IF IT'S GREATER THAN, THEN IT COMES TO COUNCIL.
AND SOME MUNICIPALITIES IN OUR PROVINCE TO THE SOUTH THEY DO KIND OF A COMBO WHERE ALL LEASES ARE DONE ALL BY ADMINISTRATION, AND THEN ALL OF THE LAND DISPOSALS ARE DONE AT COUNCIL.
AND THEN THERE'S SOME WHERE ALL OF THEM ARE DONE AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL.
SO I THINK WHAT IS REFLECTED THERE IS ACTUALLY BY THE SIZE OF THE MUNICIPALITY.
SO THE LARGER THE MUNICIPALITY, THE GREATER THE DELEGATION TO THE, ADMINISTRATION.
THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL RESPONSE.
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SPEAK MORE TO ADMINS PREFERENCE TO KIND OF THE FULL.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT JUST THAT BALANCING ACT AND WHY THIS PROPOSAL IS, YOU BELIEVE, MEETS THE BEST INTERESTS OF YELLOWKNIFE? MS. BASSI-KELLETT. MISS WHITE.
THANK YOU. SO WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH DISPOSAL OF LAND, USUALLY IT IS INITIATED THROUGH AN AREA DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR A LARGER PARCEL OF LAND THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DIVIDE, WHETHER THAT'S INCLUDING LOTS, ROADS, PARKS, ETC..
NOT ALL PARCELS DO GO THROUGH THAT AREA DEVELOPMENT PLAN PROCESS.
SOME START AT THE ZONING BYLAW AREA DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND ZONING ARE BOTH PUBLIC PROCESSES.
AND THAT IS ALSO AN OPEN AND PUBLIC PROCESS AS WELL.
THEN IT WOULD COME TO COUNCIL.
SO THAT'S ACTUALLY A FOURTH STEP.
AND WE'RE JUST IT'S NOT THAT WE PREFER ONE OR THE OTHER.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO YEAH EXPEDITE THE LAND DISPOSAL.
AND SO WE PROPOSED IT AS SUCH AND IT'S PART OF OUR RECOMMENDATION.
[00:20:03]
IS WILL THIS ACTUALLY SAVE? SO LIKE IF AN AREA DEVELOPMENT PLAN TAKES SIX MONTHS, IS THIS GOING TO SAVE LIKE A MONTH ON AVERAGE? LIKE JUST LOOKING FOR KIND OF A SENSE OF THE IMPACT OF THIS STREAMLINING THAT IT WILL HAVE ON OUR PROCESSES.BUT THERE'S ALWAYS THE BACKGROUND WORK THAT LEADS UP TO BRINGING SOMETHING FORWARD TO COUNCIL.
MISS WHITE, ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? THANK YOU. FROM COUNCIL'S PERSPECTIVE, YES, IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE ONE MONTH.
BUT ON AN ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE, IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 6 MONTHS BY THE TIME WE WORK WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT WE HAVE TO SURVEYORS, ETC., AND BRING FORWARD A MEMO, BRING FORWARD THE PLANS TO COUNCIL, GET IT ON FOR OUR AGENDA SCHEDULE, THAT'S MINIMUM FOUR MONTHS.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR ADMINISTRATION? SEEING NONE.
AS PER THE STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARING, ADRIAN, YOU'RE ABLE TO NOW COME UP AND HAVE AN EXTRA TWO MINUTES IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO ANY NEW INFORMATION THAT'S ARISEN OR IF YOU'D JUST LIKE TWO MORE MINUTES.
SO FEEL FREE TO COME ON UP AND THEN I'LL DECLARE THE STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARING OVER ONCE YOU'RE DONE.
THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS LIKE THE LAST WORD.
I JUST WANTED TO JUST CLARIFY FOR THE COUNCILLORS ASKING QUESTIONS.
YOU KNOW, THE THE TIME SAVINGS.
AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THE TIME IS NOT AN ISSUE.
SO, YOU KNOW, A MONTH HERE OR THERE OR SIX MONTHS OF ADMINISTRATIVE TIME IS NOT A CONCERN TO US.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, RESOURCES ARE ALWAYS STRETCHED THIN.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REALITIES FOR THE CITY.
BUT WE FEEL THAT THAT IS TIME WELL SPENT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS THAT.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL DECLARE OUR STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.
NOW THAT IT IS CLOSED, WE CAN DECIDE WHETHER WE WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED WITH SECOND READING TONIGHT.
WHETHER WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT ADMINISTRATION CREATE A SUMMARY OF WHAT WAS HEARD, AND WE'LL BRING THAT BACK TO GPC FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION OR WE CAN PUSH SECOND READING TO A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.
IS THERE A WILL OF COUNCIL TO PROCEED TO SECOND READING TONIGHT? PUSH IT TO A NEXT MEETING OR A SUMMATION FROM ADMINISTRATION OF POINTS HEARD.
I'VE GOT COUNCILLOR PAYNE THEN COUNCILLOR ARDEN-SMITH.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SUMMATION BROUGHT BACK TO US ABOUT WHAT WE HEARD.
WE DID JUST KEEP IN MIND WE DID RECEIVE ANOTHER EMAIL THIS EVENING AS WELL VOICING CONCERNS.
SO WE'RE DEFINITELY HERE FOR THE PEOPLE OF YELLOWKNIFE.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CROSSING OUR T'S AND DOTTING OUR I'S.
JUST TO NOTE, THAT EMAIL WASN'T PART OF THE STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARING.
SO WE JUST HAVE TWO, BOTH FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
COUNCILLOR ARDEN-SMITH. AND THEN COUNCILLOR HENDRIKSEN.
THANK YOU. I CONCUR WITH COUNCILLOR PAYNE.
I'D LIKE TO GET A SUMMATION AND BRING THIS BACK TO GPC.
I THINK WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH TRANSPARENCY, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
WE'RE LOW LEVEL GOVERNMENT, BUT STILL VERY IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR HENDRIKSEN.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY, AS YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING THIS THROUGH AND I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION FROM THE CHAMBER PRESIDENT, BUT I KIND OF COME AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY AND OPEN PROCESS AND GOOD GOVERNANCE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE INSERTING OURSELVES IN THESE PROCESSES WHEN WE GET IN THERE AT THE LAST MINUTE, AND THE PUBLIC HAS OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE AS WE ESTABLISH THOSE STRATEGIC ZONING BYLAWS AND AREA PARDON ME, AREA DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
[00:25:09]
AND SO MY CONCERN BY NOT MOVING FORWARD, BUT AGAIN, I'LL DIGRESS FOR TODAY, BUT AND SPEAK TO IT MORE IN THE FUTURE.SO I WILL AGAIN, I'LL, GO WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
THANKS, MAYOR ALTY. THANK YOU.
DEPUTY MAYOR COCHRANE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE PUT IT ANY BETTER THAN COUNCILLOR HENDRIKSEN.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY FINE MOVING IT OVER TO SECOND TONIGHT.
BUT I WILL ACCEPT THE WILL OF MY COLLEAGUES AND TAKE THE SUMMATION.
I AGAIN, DON'T THINK I COULD ADD ANYTHING BETTER THAN SAYING THAT ADDING WHERE THERE'S ALREADY ADEQUATE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES GOING THROUGH, WHETHER IT BE REZONING, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH THE AREA DEVELOPMENT PLAN, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH THE SUBDIVISION, I THINK THERE'S PLENTY ON THAT.
AND AT THE END, THERE WOULD JUST BE US PUTTING INTO POLITICAL TAMPERING.
SEEING GENERAL SUPPORT THEN WE WILL GET A SUMMATION FROM ADMINISTRATION AND BRING THAT FORWARD.
JUST A REMINDER, STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARINGS CLOSED.
SO IF SOMEBODY STOPS YOU AT THE GROCERY STORE, YOU HAVE TO SAY, SORRY, I CAN'T HEAR THIS RIGHT NOW.
WE CAN ONLY HEAR WHAT WAS PRESENTED TONIGHT FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AND WE WON'T DO SECOND READING TONIGHT.
WITH THAT, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
[9. DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA]
AND WE HAVE 4 PRESENTERS.YOU'LL BEGIN FOLLOWED BY SHAWN FOLLOWED BY MINDY, FOLLOWED BY DOT.
AND WE WILL ASK QUESTIONS IF WE HAVE THEM FOR THE PRESENTERS AFTERWARDS.
SO WITH THAT, KATHY, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
THANK YOU. JUST A QUICK QUESTION ON PROCESS BEFORE MY TIME STARTS.
FOR SURE. I KNOW THAT DOT HAS TO LEAVE SOON.
WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR HER TO GET SWITCHED AROUND AFTER AFTER ME? YEAH. FOR SURE.
OKAY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND COUNCIL, I LIKE TO START BY SAYING THAT I APPRECIATE THE WORK PUT IN BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, POURING THROUGH DOCUMENTS TO SEARCH OUT AND ANY POSSIBLE AREAS OF NONCONFORMITY IN MY APPLICATIONS.
I UNDERSTAND THIS IS YOUR JOB.
THERE WERE, HOWEVER, A FEW DOCUMENTS THAT WERE MISSED DURING THE ASSESSMENT.
I NOTICED THE TWO LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM THE BACK BAY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE MISSING, WHICH I FIND ODD CONSIDERING THE SECOND ONE WAS REQUESTED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED THERE, BUT IN THE SUMMARY REPORT SAYS SIGNIFICANT ROAD IMPROVEMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ENSURE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY RELATED TO ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES.
ALSO COMMENTS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THEY'RE SAYING FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT THIS IS IN THE PLANNING SUMMARY SAYS THAT THERE WAS A LACK OF EMERGENCY ACCESS CAN CURIOUSLY, HOWEVER, AS I READ OVER THE FIRE DIVISION'S COMMENTS ON APPENDIX E, I READ ROAD ACCESS IS NOT AN ISSUE.
ANOTHER FLAW IN THE SUMMARY REPORT IS THE WHAT I CALL THE BUSINESS EXPANSION PREMISE.
I HAVE RAISED THIS POINT WITH PLANNING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO EXPAND ON THE CONTRARY, LIKE OTHER TOUR OPERATORS, WE HAVE BEEN PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED BY GLOBAL EVENTS AND ARE EXPERIENCING SHRINKING PAINS RATHER THAN GROWING PAINS, WITH CLIENT NUMBERS DOWN 65% SINCE PRE-COVID.
[00:30:08]
DEPARTMENT. THE REMAINING CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TO DO WITH ZONING, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE PRECEDENT A COMMERCIAL DESIGNATION MAY SET FOR ANY FUTURE BUYER.SHOULD I CHOOSE TO SELL AT SOME POINT, OR A PRECEDENT THAT MAY BE ESTABLISHED FOR OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO MIGHT COME FORWARD IN FUTURE AND REQUEST SIMILAR ZONING CHANGES? TO BE CLEAR, WE NEVER WANTED A ZONING CHANGE OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL.
SO HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD? I'M SUGGESTING TO COUNCIL THE FOLLOWING AS A WAY FORWARD THAT WILL ADDRESS THE CONCERNS AND THE SUPPORT AND THE ASPIRATIONS OF ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.
TWO PARTS LAND DISPOSAL AND ZONING.
RECOGNIZING THE UNIQUE AND ISOLATED NATURE OF THE SLIVER OF ORPHANED LAND, AS WELL AS PROVIDING A RESOLUTION, AS STATED IN THESE BYLAWS, TO THE ISSUE OF ENCROACHMENTS THAT HAVE EXISTED ON SITE FOR 35 YEARS.
LEAVE THE ZONING AS A RESIDENTIAL AS PER THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION.
RECOGNIZING THAT NARWHAL HAS OPERATED AS A HOME BASED BUSINESS FOR DECADES WITHOUT FORMAL COMPLAINT, AND HAS EARNED BROAD NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT FOR BOTH THE LAND SALE AND THE CONTINUATION OF THE BUSINESS IN ITS PRESENT FORM.
IT WILL SHOW RESPECT FOR THE STRONG SUPPORT EXPRESSED BY NEIGHBORS, AND DEMONSTRATE COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO THEIR BROADER VISION FOR HEALTHY AND VIBRANT TOURISM INDUSTRY.
I HOPE, IN MR. PAINE'S WORDS AT THE GP MEETING, THAT EVERYONE WILL SEE THIS AS A WIN, WIN, WIN ALL AROUND.
CATHY, CAN I ASK JUST TO CLARIFY.
SO YOU WANT TO REMAIN A HOME BASED BUSINESS, WHICH MEANS YOURSELF AND ONE MORE PERSON WHO RESIDES AT THE HOUSE WOULD BE THE ONLY EMPLOYEES.
IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY.
YOU'RE JUST LOOKING FOR A HOME BASE.
SO A HOME BASED BUSINESS WITH THE PRESENCE OF CLIENTS OR VISITORS ON SITE.
OKAY. SO OPENING IT UP TO QUESTIONS FROM.
WELL, I GUESS ONE MORE QUESTION FROM ME THEN BUT YOU WANT TO BUILD A STRUCTURE ON YOUR SITE, AND YOU WOULD OPERATE YOUR HOME BASED BUSINESS OUT OF THAT STRUCTURE AS OPPOSED TO YOUR HOUSE.
THE ACCESSORY STRUCTURE WOULD BE FOR STORAGE, MAINTENANCE, REPAIR.
OKAY. QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTER.
COUNCILLOR HENDRIKSEN. QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTER COUNCILLOR FEQUET.
THANKS, KATHY FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANKS, MADAM CHAIR. JUST CURIOUS.
SO, YEAH, WHAT I HEAR YOU'RE SAYING IS NOT ABOUT THE ZONING ANYMORE.
UNDERSTANDING THE CURRENT ZONING, THOUGH, OF THAT NATURAL AREA PRESERVE NEXT TO YOUR HOUSE.
ARE YOU STILL INTERESTED IN ACQUIRING THAT PARCEL UNDER THE CLARIFICATIONS THAT YOU JUST PROVIDED, REMAINING A HOME BASED BUSINESS? AND IS THAT STILL SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE.
I MEAN, IT'S BEFORE COUNCIL, SO I'M JUST WANTED TO KNOW, IS THAT STILL ON THE TABLE AND SOMETHING YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? JUST TO CLARIFY, IT'S NOT A NATURE PRESERVE.
I BELIEVE THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.
AND YES, I'M STILL LOOKING TO ACQUIRE THAT LITTLE SLIVER OF LAND.
BECAUSE THAT LITTLE SLIVER OF LAND YOU WANT TO PUT AS STORAGE A GARAGE, BASICALLY.
OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTER?
[00:35:05]
SEEING NONE.NEXT UP DOT, IF YOU WANT TO COME ON UP TO THE PODIUM.
I HAVE LIVED ON ANDERSON THOMPSON BOULEVARD FOR 28 YEARS, JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM KATHY.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT ALREADY, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY MAINLY WHY I CAME.
MY WHOLE FAMILY HAS TAKEN COURSES FROM HER OVER A PERIOD OF 30 YEARS.
THE COURSES THAT SHE PROVIDES THE FIRST AID, THE WILDERNESS FIRST AID, THE WATER SAFETY.
I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE HOW MANY KIDS.
I ALSO WORKED AT THE MUSEUM FOR MANY YEARS AND SAW THE VOYAGEUR CANOE PROGRAM THERE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MUSEUM BE A HUGE INTRODUCTION TO WATER SAFETY FOR KIDS AND AND HISTORY LESSON AS WELL.
YEAH, I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO THE BYLAW SITUATION.
I JUST KNOW THAT I DID WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING AND APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO STEVE PAYNE, THE COUNCIL DID DIRECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO WORK TOGETHER WITH HER TO MAKE THIS HER BUSINESS WORK.
AND IT DIDN'T COME BACK LIKE THAT.
IT SEEMED LIKE ALL THAT CAME BACK WERE PROBLEMS. SO I'M JUST LOOKING TO FOR THE COUNCIL TO AGAIN, TO WORK WITH ADMINISTRATION TO SEE IF THERE'S A RESOLUTION THAT CAN WORK FOR HER.
AS A RESIDENT ON THAT STREET, I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY ISSUES EVER WITH PARKING OR TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. SO YEAH, I JUST REALLY WANTED TO VOICE MY FAMILY'S SUPPORT FOR HER BUSINESS.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT WORK FOR HER.
DOT IF YOU'RE OPEN FOR QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.
YOU'RE FORGIVEN. DOT I JUST WANTED TO ASK ONE QUESTION.
SO JUST ON THE ZONING ASPECT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE.
I'M CLEAR. YOU'RE OKAY AS LONG AS IT REMAINS A HOME BASED BUSINESS.
SO ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF COMMERCIAL OR RESTRICTING IT TO HOME BASED OR EITHER? I GUESS IF IT WAS TO BE REZONED AS COMMERCIAL, I WOULD NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT, WHAT THAT MEANS.
BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND EACH BUSINESS APPLICATION WOULD BE ASSESSED ONE BY ONE.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE ONE GETS IN AND THEN THE WHOLE STREET CAN BE REDEVELOPED FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.
I'M NOT INFORMED ENOUGH TO KNOW ABOUT THAT YET.
NO. NO PROBLEM. I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK.
IT IS YES, APPLICATION BY APPLICATION.
BUT APPRECIATE YOUR POINT THERE.
OKAY. THANKS. NEXT SHAWN, MINDY EITHER ONE.
SHAWN WELL, COME ON UP TO THE MIC.
GOOD EVENING, I'M SHAWN COCKLE AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY, WHICH IS A FAMILY OF FOUR.
WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SPECIFICS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED MAY HAVE BEEN MODIFIED SINCE THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION, I'M HERE TODAY TO SHOW MY FAMILY'S FULL SUPPORT FOR KATHY AYALU'S REQUEST TO ACQUIRE THE SMALL CORNER OF LAND ADJACENT TO HER EXISTING PROPERTY, AND STRONGLY RECOMMEND AN AGREEMENT BE REACHED THAT IS AMENABLE TO BOTH THE CITY AND TO KATHY TO ENSURE THE LONG TERM VIABILITY OF NARWAL NORTHERN ADVENTURES.
OUR FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH NARWAL DATES BACK TO 1998, WHEN WE FIRST VISITED YELLOWKNIFE FOR AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND TOOK A FEW EXTRA DAYS TO GET A FLAVOR OF THE CITY AND THE AREA AS WE WERE CONSIDERING A MOVE NORTH.
[00:40:05]
LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER, OUR MOVE NORTH TO YELLOWKNIFE WAS COMPLETE.OVER THE YEARS, KATHY AND NARWAL HAVE ADDED STRONG VALUE TO THE PEACE RIVER FLATS NEIGHBORHOOD, AS WELL AS TO RESIDENTS OF AND VISITORS TO THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE, WHILE MAINTAINING A SMALL FOOTPRINT AND LIMITED LOCAL TRAFFIC.
SUMMER IS A VERY BUSY TIME IN OUR SPECIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, INCLUDING THREE TIME SLOTS OF SOFTBALL GAMES NIGHTLY WITH ASSOCIATED TRAFFIC, MUSIC AND MOSTLY GOOD NATURED CHEERING, WEEKEND SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS INCLUDING BEER GARDENS, CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND, AND A BEACH VOLLEYBALL COURT.
TRAFFIC GENERATED BY NARWAL IS MINOR IN COMPARISON, AND CUSTOMERS ARE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED TO ARRIVE ON SITE BY FOOT AND TAKEN AS A WHOLE, A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF NARWAL BUSINESS OCCURS OFF SITE.
ALL FOUR MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY HAVE BENEFITED FROM VARIOUS NARWAL CLASSES OFFERED OVER THE YEARS, INCLUDING KIDS PADDLE CAMPS, MOVING WATER SAFETY AND RESCUE, AND VARIOUS TRAINING FOR SCHOOL GROUPS HEADED OUT FOR ANNUAL SCHOOL PADDLING PROGRAMS SUCH AS GRADE A, HIDDEN LAKE CAMPING HIGH SCHOOL, SOUTH NAHANNI RIVER EXPEDITION, AND THE GRADE 12 VOYAGEUR CANOE RACE HERE ON FRAME LAKE.
BEING A CERTIFIED PADDLE CANADA INSTRUCTOR, KATHY HAS CONDUCTED A BROAD RANGE OF BEGINNER THROUGH INTERMEDIATE SKILLS TRAINING ON BOTH FLAT AND WHITEWATER, ALONG WITH SAFETY AND FIRST AID INSTRUCTION.
AS A SMALL LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR, KATHY HAS HELPED TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT TO MANY LOCAL YOUTH OVER THE YEARS, TAKING THEM UNDER HER WING AND PROVIDING THEM WITH TRAINING, MENTORSHIP AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS, ALONG WITH MANY VARIED SKILL SETS AND A STRONG SENSE OF CONFIDENCE.
AS A BUSINESS, NARWAL OFFERS UNIQUE PROGRAMING TO YOUTH IN YELLOWKNIFE AND IMPORTANTLY, ALSO TO OTHER NORTH SLAVE COMMUNITIES, INTRODUCING THEM TO IMPORTANT ON THE WATER SKILLS. NARWAL ALSO PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCALS AND VISITORS TO GET OUT ON THE WATER THROUGH THEIR EQUIPMENT RENTAL PROGRAMS. THE RENTAL OF TWO LARGE VOYAGEUR CANOES ENABLES VARIOUS TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CULTURAL EVENINGS OUT ON THE WATER, WHERE LOCAL MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS ARE OFTEN FEATURED ALONG WITH TRADITIONAL EVENING MEAL.
AS A NEIGHBOR, KATHY OFFERS AN ANNUAL SUMMER EVENING OUT ON THE LAKE, INCLUDING A HOME COOKED TRADITIONAL MEAL, ADDING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S SPECIAL SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND A CHANCE TO SHARE THE FLAVOR OF HER BUSINESS WITH FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT NARWAL'S LOCATION IN PEACE RIVER FLATS OVER MANY DECADES HAS ALLOWED FOR A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP TO DEVELOP BETWEEN NEIGHBORS AND THE BUSINESS, AND HAS ADDED TO THE CHARACTER AND APPEAL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AGAIN, WE'RE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF ENSURING AMENDMENTS CAN BE AGREED UPON THAT WILL ALLOW NARWAL TO OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND COMFORTABLY, HOPEFULLY INCREASING ITS LIKELIHOOD OF A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE AND A CONTINUATION OF ITS LONG STANDING OPERATION WITHIN PEACE RIVER FLATS NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO. AND WOULD YOU BE IN SUPPORT OF REZONING IT TO OLD TOWN MIX, WHICH THEN DOES OPEN IT UP TO MORE ARTISAN STUDIO, BREWPUB, RESTAURANT, ETC.? OR ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF JUST HOME BASE? AGAIN, I WANT TO DO THE MORE OF THE BACKGROUND READING, BUT BEFORE THIS, YOU KNOW, SORT OF CHANGE WE WERE IN SUPPORT OF KATHY'S PROPOSAL AND WHETHER THERE'S SOME CAPACITY, GIVEN HOW LONG HER BUSINESS HAS BEEN OPERATING AND IN PLACE AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPLAINTS TO BE LODGED OVER A 35 YEAR PERIOD, IT WOULD SEEM THAT SOME KIND OF GRANDFATHERING IN CAPACITY WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO BE WORKED OUT TO ALLOW FOR PERHAPS A MORE BROADER LICENSE.
THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT IT WAS AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY.
OKAY. SO YES, IN THEORY, YEAH.
SO JUST SEEING IF YOU HAVE A POSITION ON THAT OR IF YOU NEED MORE TIME.
I THINK I AM AMENABLE TO IT FOR THIS PARTICULAR BUSINESS.
SOUNDS GOOD. ANYTHING FURTHER.
MINDY IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME ON UP.
I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS. I SHOULD HAVE GONE BEFORE SHAWN SHE SPOKE SO WELL.
MERCI AND I'LL ADD MY GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ABOUT OUR HISTORY AND
[00:45:05]
OUR LITTLE WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOOD.I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY HUSBAND, WHO IS SITTING THERE, AND OUR TWO CHILDREN.
WE HAVE ALSO LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
I HAD THE TWO KIDS IN THE BABY JOGGER.
I RAN ALL THE WAY DOWN THE STREET.
I SAID, I WANT TO BUY YOUR HOUSE.
AND SHE SAID, DON'T YOU WANT TO COME INSIDE? I SAID, I DON'T CARE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE INSIDE.
I WANT TO LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
SORRY, DEVIN, I DON'T MEAN TO EMBARRASS YOU.
I CAN TEACH MY KIDS HOW TO PADDLE.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO TEACH YOUR OWN KIDS? IT'S HARDER. AND I HAD JACK, I DON'T KNOW, WAS HE SEVEN OR 8 OR 9 OR SOMETHING? I HAD A ROPE.
AND THEN I COULD PULL HIM BACK BY THE ROPE AND HE COULD GO AND.
AND THEN HE GOT BETTER AND BETTER AT IT.
AND THEN I LET HIM GO UNTIL THE ICE COULD CATCH HIM.
DO YOU THINK HE MIGHT LIKE TO COME AND WORK FOR ME? AND THAT STARTED HE'S NOW ACTUALLY WORKS FOR KATHY'S COMPETITION AT JACKPINE AND SHE DOESN'T HOLD IT AGAINST HIM.
HE WANTED TO DO THE BIG COPPER MINE ADVENTURE STUFF THAT SHE'S NOT DOING RIGHT NOW.
YOU TRY AND FIND A GOOD RESOLUTION SO THAT YOU BOTH FEEL GOOD IN YOUR HEART.
HE WAS FEELING REALLY GUILTY, FELT GUILTY.
SHE DIDN'T MAKE HIM FEEL BADLY.
THEY BOTH WANT TO COME HOME, PARTLY BECAUSE OF KATHY.
THIS IS THE PLACE THEY WANT TO LIVE.
I CARED WHEN MY LITTLE KIDS WERE RUNNING AROUND WHERE THERE'S NO SIDEWALKS.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHERE THE TRAFFIC IS? AND I LIVE RIGHT ON LOIS LANE.
SO EVERY SINGLE TIME KATHY AND HER CANOES GO BY, THEY HAVE TO GO PAST MY HOUSE.
SHE DRIVES WAY SLOWER THAN ANY SKIDOO HEADING OUT ONTO THE LAKE.
THEN HALF THE TIME WE'RE PULLING LIKE I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE STUFF THAT HAPPENS DOWN THERE.
IT'S NOT KATHY'S BUSINESS, SO I CARE ABOUT SAFETY.
ALTHOUGH I ALSO LOVE THE WOODYARD, SO I JUST.
I'M NOT SO SURE I'D MIND ANOTHER BREWPUB IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO IN TERMS OF VALUE ADDED, NOT JUST FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT SHAWN AND DOT BOTH SPOKE SO WELL ABOUT THE VALUE FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
I'D PROBABLY DO A SHOW OF HANDS THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE, DAVE, I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY ELSE HAVE THEIR KIDS GO THROUGH ONE OF KATHY'S COURSES DOWN ON THE LAKE, AND I'LL ADD MY VOICE TO DOT'S AND SHAWN'S.
I DON'T I'M NOT ON CITY COUNCIL.
I'M NOT GETTING PAID TO READ EVERY BYLAW.
AND I'M NEVER GOING TO BE THAT PERSON.
BUT I DO WANT YOU TO FIGURE IT OUT.
SHE'S JUST A SMALL BUSINESS TRYING TO PAY HER BILLS.
WE WANT KATHY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A VIABLE NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS.
AND IT'S THE KIND OF BUSINESS THAT WE NEED.
IT'S GOT A SMALL FOOTPRINT, AS SHAWN POINTED OUT, AND IT TRAINS OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND IT MAKES IT A REALLY COOL PLACE TO LIVE.
IN FACT, RECENTLY, THIS YEAR, WHEN THE CANADIAN CANOE MUSEUM CAME TO YELLOWKNIFE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR NEW NATIONAL MUSEUM, KATHY WAS ONE OF THE ONES THEY SPOKE BECAUSE THEY KNOW HER NATIONALLY.
SHE IS PART OF OUR CITY'S TREASURE.
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT WORK.
[00:50:05]
WITH ONE SECOND OVER.[LAUGHTER] BUT OTHERS WERE 20 SECONDS SHORT, SO IT ALL BALANCES OUT.
DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE OR YOU OKAY WITH EITHER ON THE LOT? RECOGNIZING IT DOES TRANSFER WITH WITH OWNERSHIP.
I DO WHAT MY NEIGHBORS HAD ALSO SAID BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WHAT DOT ASKED IN TERMS OF IF ANY OTHER BUSINESS WAS PUT FORWARD WHEN AND IF SHE DOES SELL, WE GET TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN IN THE SENSE OF WHAT THAT BUSINESS IS.
AND I WOULD ALSO JUST SAY I DON'T THINK OTHER THAN US, AND IT'S ONLY BECAUSE WE CAN'T EXPAND.
I THINK WE'RE THE ONLY HOUSE THAT ISN'T USING CITY'S PROPERTY ILLEGALLY RIGHT NOW IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THEY'RE PARKED, WHERE THE FENCES ARE, WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR DOG TEAMS. IF YOU GUYS ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH AND MEASURED WHERE THE GARDEN BOXES ARE, WHERE THE FENCES ARE, THERE ISN'T A SINGLE ONE OTHER THAN US, AND IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE ALL SURROUNDED BY NEIGHBORS. I'D LOVE TO PARK MY BOAT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
SO SHE'S TRYING TO ACTUALLY, LEGITIMATELY PUT SOMETHING ON A TINY PIECE OF LAND BESIDE HER HOUSE.
LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE DONE IT AND THEY JUST HAVEN'T ASKED.
SO ANYWAYS, LET'S JUST ALL GET ALONG AND MAKE SURE KATHY CAN RUN HER BUSINESS THERE.
OKAY, SEEING NOTHING FURTHER I DIDN'T MISS.
WITH THAT NEXT ITEM IS MEMBER STATEMENTS.
THERE WERE NO STATEMENTS FOR THE AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBER STATEMENTS FROM THE FLOOR? SEEING NONE. NEXT WE HAVE INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS.
[Items 12 - 14]
WE HAVE OUR GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE REPORT FOR JUNE 3, 2024.DEPUTY MAYOR COCHRANE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MOVE IT.
I SO MOVE THAT COUNCIL, ONE DENY THE REQUEST FOR PURCHASE OF MUNICIPAL LAND KNOWN AS LOT 100,001 QUAD 5-8 CITY LAND AND TWO DENY ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT APPLICATION PL 2023-0033 TO CREATE A SITE SPECIFIC ZONE ON LIGHT LOT 24, BLOCK 13 4702 ANDERSON THOMPSON AND A PORTION OF LOT 1001 QUAD 85/8 PLAN 1334 CITY LAND. THANK YOU.
DO WE HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR FEQUET.
DEPUTY MAYOR COCHRANE, IF I PASS THE CHAIR OVER TO YOU.
THERE WE GO. MADAM MAYOR I'D JUST LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE TABLE THIS.
JUST RECOGNIZING KATHY'S INFORMATION TONIGHT.
I JUST NEED A BIT MORE TIME TO CONSIDER IT VERSUS AS A HOME BASED BUSINESS VERSUS OLD TOWN MIXED.
SO IF COLLEAGUES ARE IN SUPPORT, I'D PROPOSE THAT WE TABLE THIS MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECONDER TO THE TABLING? COUNCILLOR PAYNE? ALL IN FAVOR? COUNCILLOR ARDEN-SMITH? YOU'RE. YEAH.
NO, I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF TABLING THIS WITH THE INFORMATION BROUGHT FORWARD.
I WOULD LIKE US TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT KATHY GETS TO MAINTAIN AN OPERATION.
COUNCILLOR ARDEN-SMITH. COUNCILLOR HENDRIKSEN.
THANKS, DEPUTY MAYOR COCHRANE.
YEAH, I'M IN SUPPORT OF TABLING IT.
I HAVE A LOAD OF QUESTIONS THAT CAME OUT OF TONIGHT.
AND HOW OR BECAUSE I APPRECIATE ALL BOTH KATHY, YOUR COMMENTS TONIGHT AND ALL OF YOUR NEIGHBORS.
SO AND I KNOW KATHY HAD MENTIONED THAT AT THE START.
SO THANK YOU TO ADMIN ON THAT.
THANKS AND THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR HENDRIKSEN.
YEAH, I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF TABLING THIS.
[00:55:03]
AND BECAUSE MINDY NARKED ON ALL THE NEIGHBORS, I THINK WE SHOULD GET BYLAW OUT THERE TO SEE ABOUT ILLEGAL LAND USE.ALSO FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF TABLING AND FINDING A WAY TO MAKE THIS WORK.
JUST CURIOUS, A QUESTION FOR ADMIN.
WHAT WOULD THE STEPS BE FOR COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE LAND SALE AND REZONING OF THAT SLIVER OF LAND TO R1 TO MATCH THE CURRENT PROPERTY? MADAM CITY MANAGER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
SO WE'LL NEED TO LOOK AT THIS.
BUT I WILL ASK MISS WHITE IF SHE'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP.
THANK YOU. AS THIS IS A ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT APPLICATION BEFORE COUNCIL, WE'LL NEED AN AMENDMENT TO THE APPLICATION OUTLINING IN WRITING SPECIFICALLY WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED, AND WE WILL HAVE TO GO FROM THERE.
ANYTHING FURTHER, COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN? NO, THANKS.
YEAH. ENCOURAGED AND VERY HOPEFUL OF FINDING A PATH.
AND THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES ON THE MATTER OF TABLING? NO. WELL, I WILL SAY I WILL SUPPORT THIS.
WHY NOT? IT SEEMS THAT WE HAVE A MAJORITY ON THIS ANYWAY.
YOU'VE GOT SOME GREAT NEIGHBORS.
YOU REALLY DO. SO YES, I WILL ALSO BE IN SUPPORT OF THAT.
SO ON THAT FACT, ALL IN FAVOR OF TABLING SAID DOCUMENT.
IT IS TABLED, AND I'LL TAKE THE CHAIR BACK.
DEPUTY MAYOR COCHRANE. IF YOU'D LIKE TO MOVE THE NEXT MOTION.
BUT TABLING TO PLAIN LANGUAGE, IT MEANS WE PUT IT ON PAUSE.
WE'LL THINK ABOUT IT. WE'LL DISCUSS IT.
BUT FOR NOW IT'S ON THE TABLE AS WE CONSIDER AND REFLECT AND ASK QUESTIONS.
I SO MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPOINT COLLEEN WELLBORN, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM A LANDLORD ASSOCIATION AND OR NON-GOVERNMENT HOUSING SECTOR TO SERVE ON THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD OF HOMELESSNESS, CAB, COMMENCING JUNE 10TH, 2024 AND ENDING JUNE 9TH, 2026.
THANK YOU. SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR HENDRIKSEN.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THERE WAS NO NEW BUSINESS FOR THE AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY NEW BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR? WE HAVE DEFERRED THE SECOND READING THERE, SO WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 20, WHICH IS BYLAW NUMBER 5088.
[Items 20 - 22]
A BYLAW TO SET THE 2024 MUNICIPAL TAX LEVY IS PRESENTED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING.THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I SO MOVE THE FIRST READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5088.
THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECOND ORDER, COUNCILLOR FEQUET? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I SO MOVE THE SECOND READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5088.
THANK YOU. SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR ARDEN-SMITH.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[Items 23 - 25]
DEPUTY MAYOR COCHRANE.THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I SO MOVE THE FIRST READING OF BYLAW NUMBERS 5089.
THANK YOU. SECOND BY COUNCILLOR FEQUET.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY TO SECOND READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5089.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I SO MOVE THE SECOND READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5089.
THANK YOU. SECOND BY COUNCILLOR ARDEN-SMITH.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THERE WAS NO DEFERRED BUSINESS AND THERE WERE NO TABLED ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY DEFERRED BUSINESS OR ARE THERE ANY TABLED ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR? THERE WAS NO OLD BUSINESS FOR THE AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY OLD BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR? THERE WERE NO NOTICES OF MOTION FOR THE AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY NOTICES OF MOTION FROM THE FLOOR? THERE WERE NO DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
THERE WERE NO ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES FOR THE AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES FROM THE FLOOR?
[01:00:02]
WITH THAT IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN.MOVE BY COUNCILLOR ARDEN-SMITH AND WE CAN BE ADJOURNED.
SEE, EVERYBODY AT OUR NEXT GPC, WHICH IS MONDAY, JUNE 24TH AT 12:05 P.M..
HAVE A GREAT WEEK.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.