May 12, 2025 Council Meetings

[00:00:03]

SO I'LL CALL OUR MEETING FOR MONDAY, MAY 12TH, 2025 TO ORDER COUNCILLOR PAYNE.

[1.Councillor McLennan will read the Opening Statement. ]

FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT HAS BEEN A TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATION.

WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE MÉTIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS, METIS AND INUIT WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE FOR AWARD CEREMONIES AND PRESENTATIONS.

THERE WERE NO AWARDS CEREMONIES OR PRESENTATIONS FOR THE AGENDA.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS. MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF MONDAY,

[Items 3 & 4]

AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. AND NEXT WE HAVE THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF MONDAY,

[5. Minutes of Council for the special meeting of Monday, May 5, 2025 are presented for adoption. ]

I MOVE THAT THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF MONDAY, MAY 5TH, 2025 BE PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION.

CAN I GET A SECONDER? COUNCILOR COCHRANE. ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS. NEXT, WE HAVE DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.

DOES ANY MEMBER HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BEFORE COUNCIL TODAY? NO. NEXT, WE HAVE CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS.

THERE WERE NO CORRESPONDENCE, NOR WERE THERE ANY PETITIONS FOR THE AGENDA. NEXT, WE HAVE STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARINGS.

[9. Statutory Public Hearing regarding By‐law No. 5105, a by‐law to amend Zoning By‐law No. 5045, as amended, by rezoning Lots 1, 2 Block 119, Plan 634 and Lot 1‐1, Block 119, Plan 1192 and Part of Lane (Road Plan 85) from PR to RI‐1 (Gitzel Street). ]

SO WE HAD THREE WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN OUR AGENDA PACKAGE.

AND THEN WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.

SO JUST THE ORDER THAT WE'LL GO IN IS FIRST ROBERT HAWKINS, THEN JUSTIN NELSON, THEN SHANNON AND LOUISE CUMMING, AND THEN DIANE BALDWIN. SO FIRST JUST BEFORE YOU COME UP, MR. HAWKINS JUST THIS APPLIES TO EVERYBODY. SO YOU HAVE UP TO TEN MINUTES EACH TO SPEAK WHEN MAKING A PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL.

NO PERSON SHALL SPEAK DISRESPECTFULLY OF THE CROWN, ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL, THE PUBLIC OR AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY.

USE OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE. MAKE PERSONAL REMARKS ABOUT ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL, THE PUBLIC, OR AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY.

REFLECT UPON THE MOTIVES OF MEMBERS WHO MAY HAVE VOTED FOR A PARTICULAR MOTION.

REFLECT UPON THE MOTIVES OF ADVICE GIVEN TO COUNCIL BY ADMINISTRATION AND TO REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH THE DECISION OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER REGARDING ANY INTERPRETATION OF COUNCIL PROCEDURES BYLAWS. SO, WITH THE FORMALITIES FOR EVERYBODY, MR. HAWKINS, I'LL PASS IT OVER TO YOU. JUST THE GREEN BUTTON THERE.

NOT A PROBLEM. JUST DOUBLE CHECKING IF I WORK THE MIC. NO PROBLEM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY HERE TO PROVIDE SOME COMMENTS.

I'M NOT PROVIDING COMMENTS FOR OR AGAINST, BUT WHAT I'M DOING IS PROVIDING COMMENTS FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER WHEN THEY'RE WORKING TOWARDS THEIR DECISION.

SO, IN OTHER WORDS, I DON'T OUTRIGHT SAY DON'T DO THIS OR DO THIS, BUT THESE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AS YOU FORMULATE YOUR FINAL POSITION ON THESE PARTICULAR THINGS.

SO, THE TRUTH IS, IT'S NO SURPRISE TO ANYONE HERE IN THIS ROOM THAT CHANGE IS INEVITABLE.

AND AS SUCH, SOMETIMES WHEN WE BUY INTO THINGS SUCH AS BUY RESIDENTS OR MOVE INTO NEIGHBORHOODS, WE KIND OF EXPECT THEM TO STAY THE SAME FOREVER.

SO IT'S REALLY TOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE SEA CHANGE AS IT PROCEEDS.

SO I ALSO UNDERSTAND AT THE SAME TIME, THE NEED FOR HOUSING AND THE PROGRESSIVENESS OF DENSITY NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED.

SO THIS IS A STRUGGLE YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH. AND I SHOULD HAVE SAID AT THE VERY BEGINNING, I'M HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF, MY WIFE, AND OF COURSE IN SOME WAYS WITH MY NEIGHBORS, AND MAYBE DIFFERENTLY AS WELL.

SO , I OBVIOUSLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE AND OPPORTUNITY THAT INFILL OPPORTUNITIES CREATE.

AND BEING A FORMER CITY COUNCILOR AS WELL, I CAN APPRECIATE THE COST AND THE NECESSITY TO TAKE THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

WHEN YOU HAVE ACCESSIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S REALLY HARD TO IGNORE.

SO, THE CHALLENGE REALLY HERE I'M TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF A NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO, WHAT IS THE CHARACTER OF A NEIGHBORHOOD? I LOOK AT IT AS IT REFERS TO THE LOOK AND FEEL OF AN AREA IN A PARTICULAR RESIDENTIAL AREA, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES THE ACTIVITIES THAT OCCUR THERE.

SO IT REMINDS ME THAT SOMETIMES THINGS ARE, AS THEY SAY, CONGRESS.

THAT'S ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING IN HARMONY. IT DOESN'T MEAN IN ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE RENTALS, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE WAY THINGS FLOW. IT ALSO LOOKS AT THE OPPORTUNITY OF HOW SHOULD THEY FLOW AND HOW SHOULD THEY COME TOGETHER? SO I DO AGREE WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THAT'S A MUCH LARGER PROBLEM THAN THESE PARTICULAR FIVE LOTS.

[00:05:02]

BUT THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS THE RIGHT WAY? WHEN RESEARCHING AND WONDERING, COULD THESE FIVE LOTS TURN INTO 30 RENTAL UNITS, WHICH POTENTIALLY COULD BE BETWEEN 60, MAYBE EVEN 100 INDIVIDUALS? IS THIS THE RIGHT PATH THAT WE NEED TO TAKE IN THIS TYPE OF NEIGHBORHOOD? BECAUSE IT'S MORE ABOUT, IS IT CHANGING THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS OPPOSED TO ANYTHING ELSE? SO I WONDERED ALOUD, BY LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, DOES RENTAL UNITS CHANGE A NEIGHBORHOOD? AND IN FACT, THE ANSWER MORE OFTEN THAN NOT CAME BACK IS YES.

IT AFFECTED THE WAY THE EBBS AND FLOWS AND CHARACTER OF A NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT HAD A LOT OF DYNAMICS THAT WE DON'T NEED TO GO INTO.

BUT THE TRUTH IS, IT DOES. BUT THE REVERSE IS ALSO TRUE BECAUSE WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT MAINTENANCE OWNERSHIP, RELIABILITY AND CONDITIONS. IN OTHER WORDS, PEOPLE FEELING AS THEY'RE PART OF THE OWNERSHIP OF THE RENTAL UNIT OR IN OTHER WORDS, THE HOME OPPORTUNITY SHIFTS. SO WHEN YOU GO FROM JUST A PURE RENTER TO AN ACTUAL OWNER, YOUR ATTITUDE TENDS TO SHIFT, INCLUDING THE WAY YOU TREAT THOSE THINGS. SO THE STICKING POINT HERE TO KEEP IN MIND FOR COUNCIL IS AS YOU'RE CONSIDERING REZONING THIS, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU REALLY DOING? YOU'RE CHANGING THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY ESSENTIALLY APPROVING FIVE LOTS, UP TO 30 UNITS EACH. AND 30 UNITS, AS I POINTED OUT, CAN GROW.

SURELY RENTAL UNITS BRING DIFFERENT TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORHOODS.

NOW, IN SOME CASES, WE SEE LANDLORDS LIVE IN THEIR UNITS OR THEY LIVE IN THEIR OR LIVE DAILY OR WORK DAILY WITHIN THE VICINITY OR PROCESS, AND HENCE THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF OUTCOME WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE THINGS. BUT THE CHARACTER IN ESSENCE DOES CHANGE.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT METONYMY STREET SPECIFICALLY NOW ON ONE END OF IT, ON THE FRANKLIN END, WE HAVE GRANITE CONDO. IT TURNS OUT TO BE AN EXCELLENT INVESTMENT THERE.

WE HAVE 24 UNITS THERE. IT HAS INCREASED THE DENSITY OF THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S WELL MAINTAINED BECAUSE IT'S OWNED, IT HAS RESPONSIBILITIES. IT HAS PRIDE IN WHO IT IS.

FURTHERMORE, WE HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITY.

NOW WE HAVE 52ND STREET ACROSS FROM THE POLAR BOWL.

AND I JUST TOOK A QUICK PICTURE OF THE 54TH STREET CONDOMINIUM.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE I'M PUTTING MY PARTICULAR POSITION HERE IS TO THINK ABOUT THE APPEARANCE.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE APPEARANCE. IT'S ABOUT HOW IT FITS IN WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BACK TO PRIDE, RELATIONSHIP AND OWNERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY. SO WHEN THINKING ABOUT LOTS LIKE THIS, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE PARTICULAR SIZE.

SO I DON'T KNOW. AND FRANKLY, I DON'T REALLY CARE WHERE ANY OF YOU LIVE PER SE.

BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, IF YOU PUT 30 RENTAL UNITS NEXT TO ANY ONE OF YOUR HOMES TODAY OR TOMORROW, I GUARANTEE YOU WOULD UNANIMOUSLY SAY THE CHARACTER OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGED.

NOW, IS IT GOING TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER? THE PROBLEM IS, ALL THE RISK IS ON THAT PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD, BECAUSE COUNCIL IS LONG GONE. BY THE TIME THESE THINGS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS AND THE PROCESS OF BEING BUILT AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS STARTING TO FIT IN OR BE NESTED IN. I'M REALLY ABOUT ADVOCATING OPPORTUNITIES HERE, AND THE OPPORTUNITY HERE IS IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL TO INCREASE THE DENSITY BUT SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS. NOW, CITIZENS SUCH AS MYSELF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO RELY ON THE EXPERTISE.

NOW, COUNCIL HAS THE GREAT BENEFIT OF THE SKILLS AND EXPERTISE OF OUR CITY STAFF.

THEY HAVE ENGINEERS, TECHNICAL PEOPLE, LAND PEOPLE, ETC.

ETC. TO MAKE GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS. I BELIEVE THAT ARE WITH THE HEART AND INTENT OF SUPPORTING THE CITY.

I DON'T UNDOUBTEDLY, I UNDOUBTEDLY FULLY BELIEVE IN THAT.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT CITIZENS LIKE MYSELF AND OTHERS HERE, WE DO NOT HAVE THOSE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND CHALLENGES TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR THINGS. SO WE PUT A LOT OF GOOD FAITH AND EMOTION BEHIND OUR POSITIONS.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, WE MAY NOT BE PLANNERS AND ENGINEERS, BUT WE HAVE TO TRY TO SENSE OUT WHAT ARE THE FUTURE ANTICIPATED PROBLEMS WE MAY POTENTIALLY SEE HERE. SO IF THIS WAS A COURT HEARING BEFORE A COURT, IN OTHER WORDS, WE'D HAVE A LEGAL AID PERSON HERE SUPPORTING US IN SOME FORM.

BUT AS CITIZENS, AS WE'RE CHALLENGING THE SYSTEM, WHO IF ALL OF THIS VAST WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE AND SOME OF IT I REALLY DO AGREE WITH. BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T HAVE THE SKILLS AND ABILITY TO SAY, BUT THIS IS WHY.

OR THESE ARE THIS IS WHY WE ARE JUST EVERYDAY NEIGHBORS WHO SEE AND ANTICIPATE THE PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES WE MAY HAVE TO END UP LIVING WITH.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE HAD A COURT APPOINTED OR A CITY APPOINTED PLANNER, OR A CITY APPOINTED LANDS PERSON, ETC. OR ENGINEER, WE'D BE IN A MUCH MORE COMPARABLE FAIR POSITION TO ARGUE THESE THINGS.

SO IT'S NO SURPRISE TO MANY OF US THAT YOU NEED INVESTMENT.

IT'S NO SURPRISE IN ME AS A COMMUNITY PERSON, AS A PROPERTY OWNER, ETC.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS AND I DO APPLAUD THE CITY AND ITS GOALS AND AMBITIONS, I REALLY DO.

MY CONCERN IS AGAIN ABOUT THE OVERALL CAPACITY AND STRESS ON THIS PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD.

IF IT WAS JUST TO ADD PEOPLE BY WAY OF EXAMPLE AND PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.

I MEAN, YOU COULD ADD A GIANT APARTMENT BUILDING, BUT I ASSURE YOU THIS THESE FIVE LOTS WILL NOT SAVE THE CITY FROM ITS CHALLENGES OF ACCESSING LAND. IT WILL NOT SAVE ON HOUSING PROBLEMS AS LARGE.

[00:10:01]

THEY HAVE TO MAKE A PROFIT. THAT'S NOT A SHOCK TO ANYONE.

THESE ARE NOT GOING TO BE FREE. LOTS. THESE ARE NOT GOING TO BE CHEAP.

LOTS. THESE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE. LOTS. ESPECIALLY LOOKING AROUND THIS PARTICULAR CITY AT LOTS RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S ONE BY THE GREENSTONE BUILDING. IT'S OVER $300,000.

I COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THESE APPRAISED LOTS WILL FINALIZE AS.

AND THEN WHEN YOU BUILD IN THE RANGE OF $400 PER SQUARE FOOT OR MORE, DEVELOPERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO SAVE MONEY, AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND PEOPLE TO GET INTO THEIRS.

SO BACK TO CONDOS. CONDOS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY, I THINK.

NOW SOME WILL SAY, WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA HERE TODAY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I SAY TO YOU, THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO RECONSIDER THESE LOTS IN A WAY TO DESIGN THEM TO HELP CONTINUE TO FOSTER DEVELOPMENT, LONG TERM INVESTMENT, LONG TERM PRIDE IN THESE PARTICULAR COMMUNITY INITIATIVES BECAUSE OWNERS REALLY DO GIVE A DARN ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEY ARE PARTNERS, WHETHER THEY LIKE EACH OTHER OR NOT.

AND AS THEY SAY, GOOD FENCES MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS.

BUT THE FACT IS, WHEN YOU HAVE A STAKE IN A PARTICULAR INITIATIVE, YOU REALLY DO CARE ABOUT THE EVENTUAL OUTCOME.

SO WHERE DO WE START? SO I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND TIME ON ON THE TRAFFIC STUDY.

I MEAN, OTHERS MAY WANT TO DO THAT, BUT I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT WHEN THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY HAVEN'T ALWAYS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER. SO YEARS AGO, THE CITY DID UPDATE THE STREET.

AND I THANK THE CITY FOR DOING THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF CHALLENGES THERE. BUT WHEN THEY UPDATED THE STREET, THEY MODERNIZED THE SIDEWALKS AND INSTEAD OF DOING THE MOST DIFFICULT THING THEY COULD HAVE DONE, WHICH IS TAKE ONE EXTRA METER INTO EVERYONE'S PERCEIVED PROPERTY BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE'S PROPERTY LINE GOES TO THE ROAD.

THEY ACTUALLY MOVED INTO THE STREET, WHICH SHRUNK THE WIDTH OF THE STREET.

NOW, THAT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT WHEN TWO PEOPLE PARK NOW TODAY BECAUSE THEY WALK, PEOPLE FROM OTHER AREAS OF TOWN COME PARK ON THE STREET NOW AND TWO VEHICLES CANNOT PASS.

ANOTHER CHANGE INFLICTED RECENTLY TO MUTANABBI STREET CLOSING OFF HALF THE ALLEY IN THE BACK.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S NOW ONE WAY. NO LONGER GOES BOTH WAYS.

MORE RECENTLY, THE CHANGE BEHIND AVON'S. NOW THAT'S A ONE WAY AGAIN, FURTHER STRESS, NOT TO MENTION LITTLE COMPLEXITIES OF THE CORNER LOT AS IT GOES AROUND. PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO BE CONSIDERATE. I'M WATCHING THE TIME. I KNOW IT'S TEN MINUTES OR I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO GIVE ME YOUR TEN MINUTES.

OKAY, SO NOT A PROBLEM. SO JUST CAN I GET A MOTION TO EXTEND BY TWO MINUTES? COUNCILLOR MCGURK SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR WARBURTON. SO TWO MORE MINUTES, MR. HAWKINS. OH, I WAS GOING TO WRAP UP, BUT NOW THAT I HAVE MORE TIME, JUST LIKE WORK. SO ULTIMATELY, I'M SAYING SO MUCH HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON THAT STREET.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DRIVE DOWN MY STREET AND I SWEAR THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE LAND SPEED RECORDS BY ZOOMING AROUND GETZEL AND HAMMERING, HITTING THE HAMMERS. YOU CAN GO BY, YOU CAN HEAR PEOPLE COMING FOR, WE'LL SAY, QUITE A FEW METERS AWAY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CHANGES BEFORE YOU ARE THIS, YOU SEE, YOU SEE A ZONING BYLAW.

I SEE SOMETHING THAT CHANGES THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I SEE IT DOESN'T HELP US BECAUSE ONCE YOU PASS YOUR LAW, YOUR BYLAW, SORRY, IT'S OUT THE DOOR. IT'S NO LONGER COUNCIL'S PROBLEM.

IT'S NO LONGER YOU DON'T HAVE TO CARE ABOUT THE DISRUPTION OR THE FRUSTRATION OF THE CHALLENGES.

THE RENTAL UNITS WILL BE. RENTALS AREN'T BAD ON ITSELF, BUT WHEN LEFT ALONE WITH THE PERSON WHO'S JUST WORRIED ABOUT MAKING THE BOTTOM LINE, THEN WE RUN INTO THE PROBLEM. SO I IMPLORE COUNCIL, AS I FINISH, BY SAYING, CONSIDER THIS WHEN YOU'RE DEVELOPING ON THE TIMELINE OF A CITY NOT AS AN INDIVIDUAL, BUT AS A CITY, TAKE A LITTLE EXTRA TIME, ENGAGE THE NEIGHBORHOOD, MAYBE EVEN CONSIDER STARTING A COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP EVERY TIME YOU CONSIDER A MAJOR ZONING, AND THEN YOU ASK THE COMMUNITY, HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THESE GOALS? AND AS SUCH, THAT'S THE GENERAL COMMENTS I WANT TO HAVE.

I HAVE MORE. BUT THAT SAID, IT'S FUNNY HOW FAST TEN MINUTES REALLY GOES.

THANK YOU, MR. HAWKINS. DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. HAWKINS? AND REMINDER? JUST QUESTIONS AND QUESTIONS FOR ADMIN WILL COME AT THE END.

SO, ANY QUESTIONS? NO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. HAWKINS. BRAVO. NEXT UP, WE HAVE MR. NELSON.

BEFORE YOU JUST HIT THE BUTTON THERE SO IT LIGHTS UP GREEN.

MY NAME IS JUSTIN NELSON, AND I'D LIKE TO FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME THE NEW MAYOR.

CONGRATULATIONS. THAT'S MY KISSING. BUT PART OF MY SPEECH.

MOST OF WHAT ROBERT SAID IS EXACTLY WHAT ESPECIALLY THE LAST PART IS WHAT I'VE BEEN THINKING.

I HAVE SOME CONCERNS WHEN IT COMES TO THAT DEVELOPMENT.

NOT SO MUCH DEVELOPING THOSE FIVE BLOCKS OF LAND LIKE, I THINK THAT'S GREAT IF THEY WERE SINGLE OR DUPLEX UNITS.

MY CONCERN IS THE TRAFFIC. AND I FIGURE IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD FIVE LOTS THERE, MORE THAN LIKELY GOING TO BE MAXIMIZED TO BE SIX APARTMENTS IN EACH, EACH LOT. IT KIND OF MAKES SENSE. SO, WHAT I'M THINKING IS, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING AT EACH APARTMENTS GOING TO HAVE A VEHICLE,

[00:15:08]

NOW I LIVE RIGHT NOW. MY BACKYARD FACES EVANS MANOR AND OR EVANS PAVILION, I SHOULD SAY.

AND RIGHT NOW, WHAT I'VE SEEN, I'VE NOTICED IS THERE'S SORT OF A, THE PARKING LOT.

WHAT THEY HAVE IS, IS SORT OF REACHED ITS CAPACITY.

AND SO THERE'S SOME OVERFLOW. AND THAT OVERFLOW IS NOW LINED UP AGAINST THE BACK ALLEY.

SO, IF YOU PUT THOSE FIVE UNITS, I'M SURE THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH PARKING STALLS TO FIT 45 VEHICLES.

WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO PARK? SO THEY'RE GOING TO PARK ON THE STREET.

AND AS ROBERT SAID, THERE IS CONGESTION ON THAT STREET, ESPECIALLY IF TWO CARS ARE GOING BACK AND FORTH.

RIGHT. AND MY CONCERNS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. THERE'S LOTS OF KIDS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, AND KIDS LIKE TO DART OUT FROM OTHER CARS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

AND THAT STREET IS, IS, YOU KNOW, GETTING A LOT OF TRAFFIC DOWN THERE.

SO I THINK THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU LOOK AT THE SAFETY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT BACK ALLEY, TOO. I MEAN, THAT BACK ALLEY GETS USED FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE DO THEIR WALKING.

THEY WALK THEIR DOGS DOWN THERE AND I HAVE SOME CONCERNS THERE.

I MEAN, IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT WITH ALL THE TRAFFIC. AND THAT'S NOT A ROADWAY.

I MEAN, THAT WAS A LANEWAY. AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE AVON'S PAVILION TRAFFIC AND NOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING MORE.

SO REALLY THAT'S REALLY MY MAIN CONCERN. AND I JUST HOPE CITY COUNCIL CAN THINK ABOUT THAT BEFORE THEY MAKE ANY DECISIONS.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? I'LL HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ADMIN ON THAT ISSUE LATER.

BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANKS. THANK YOU. AND NEXT UP WE HAVE SHANNON AND LOUISE COMING.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. AND WELCOME EVERYBODY.

YEAH, I'M SHANNON CUMMINGS, MY WIFE LOUISE, AND WE LIVE ON GHIZO STREET.

THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL AND SPEAK TO THE ISSUES.

AND THE FOLKS THAT PRECEDED ME DEALT WITH A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE AS, AS PROPERTY OWNERS.

SO I DON'T WANT TO GO OVER PLOWED GROUND. BUT I DID APPRECIATE MR. HAWKINS POINT ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU KNOW, I'M A LONG TERM RESIDENT OF YELLOWKNIFE.

I'M FROM FORT SMITH, ORIGINALLY THE GREATEST COMMUNITY IN THE NORTH.

BUT YELLOWKNIFE IS THE CAPITAL. SO HERE I AM.

AND I LOVE IT HERE. YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN MY HOME FOR MOST OF MY LIFE.

I REMEMBER GRADUATING FROM MILDRED HALL SCHOOL.

I REMEMBER RUNNING THROUGH A HOUSE JUST DOWN THE STREET ON ONE OF THE COURTS THERE AT JUDGE MORROW USED TO LIVE IN AS HIS SON WENT TO SCHOOL THERE.

SO WE ALL GREW UP IN THIS LITTLE COMMUNITY. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT MR. HAWKINS TALKED ABOUT. IT'S THE CHARACTER OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FOR MANY YEARS.

WATANABE GITZEL THAT AREA WAS SEEN AS A PLACE FOR FAMILIES.

A LOT OF THOSE THE BIG TOWNHOMES DOWN THE FAR END OF GITZEL WERE CROWN HOUSING UNITS.

AND SO THEY HAD YOUNG FAMILIES A LOT OF THEM COMING FROM THE SOUTH AND WORKING UP HERE AND MAKING THEIR LIVES.

BUT NOW IT'S WENT INTO A DIFFERENT SITUATION AND THERE'S SOME CHALLENGES AROUND THAT.

BUT THE POINT THAT WE WANTED TO SPEAK TO TONIGHT IS THAT THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THERE'S IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, AND WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH A FEW YEARS OF BLASTING, YOU KNOW, TO PUT IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND KNOCKING DOWN TREES HERE AND THERE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE PREPARED TO ABSORB OUR BIT OF PAIN FOR THAT IF IT MEANS MORE HOUSING, WHICH WE DESPERATELY NEED.

BUT IT'S ONE OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS SAID THESE UNITS, HOWEVER MANY YOU ARRIVE ON APPROVING, ARE NOT GOING TO FIX OUR HOUSING CRISIS. AND SO THERE MAY BE ANOTHER APPROACH FOR CITY TO CONSIDER.

AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO SPEAK TO, IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT CITIES IN THE SOUTH, LIKE IN CALGARY, THEY HAVE A HUGE RESERVE ON THE WEST END THAT'S A TINY NATION.

AND WHILE THAT'S AN INDIAN RESERVE THEY CAN LEASE OUT THOSE LANDS, THEIR LANDS FOR 99 YEARS, AND THEY CAN HAVE PEOPLE LIVING ON, ON THAT LAND INCLUDING NON-INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S A GREAT WAY OF MAKING AN ECONOMIC RETURN OFF OF INDIGENOUS LANDS.

NOW, HERE IN YELLOWKNIFE, OF COURSE, THE PROCESS IS UNDERWAY, AND THESE PROCESSES TAKE A LONG TIME.

I OUGHT TO KNOW. IT DIDN'T WORK ON THAT ONE. BUT, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE VERY COMPLEX FILES.

WE KNOW THAT YELLOWKNIFE HAS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH GETTING LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT.

SO IF YOU CAN'T GET IT BECAUSE LAND CLAIMS ARE UNDER NEGOTIATION, WHY NOT CONSIDER SOME APPROACH WHICH MIGHT INCLUDE APPROACHING SOME OF THE FIRST NATIONS THAT ARE UNDER NEGOTIATIONS AND HAVING THEM CONSIDER LEASING THEIR LANDS FOR DEVELOPMENT.

[00:20:03]

AND I THINK LOUISE WANTS TO SPEAK. THANK YOU.

MY FAMILY IS FROM VANCOUVER, AND AS YOU KNOW, VANCOUVER PROPER HAS A SHORTAGE OF HOUSING, THE SAME AS EVERYWHERE ELSE. AND ONE OF THE OPTIONS THEY'VE GONE TO TWO IS WHAT ARE CALLED LANEWAY HOUSES, WHICH PEOPLE WHO OWN PROPERTY CAN PUT. BASICALLY, IT'S A TINY HOUSE ON THEIR LAND WHERE, SAY, A GARAGE USED TO BE IN THE BACKYARD. AND IT, IT KEEPS THE, THE SENSE OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT HELPS PEOPLE TO PAY FOR THEIR HOUSE, AND THEY LOOK AFTER THEIR PROPERTY.

AND IN VANCOUVER, IT HAS REALLY INCREASED THE RENTAL PROPERTIES AND THERE'S OTHER CITIES WITHIN CANADA THAT ARE DOING THE SAME. SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT CHANGING THAT THAT'S ONE WAY YOU COULD INTENSIFY. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WE HAVE LEFT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE LIVE NEXT TO THE ROW HOUSING.

AND IN THE TIME THAT WE'VE LIVED IN THAT UNIT, WE'VE SEEN THE UNITS DETERIORATE.

THEY'RE NOT BEING LOOKED AFTER LIKE THEY WERE THE USED TO BE MOSTLY FAMILIES, AND NOW IT'S MOSTLY MULTIPLE SINGLE PEOPLE IN THESE UNITS. PARKING PAST OUR HOUSE IS BECOME RIDICULOUS.

YOU SHOULD COME AND DRIVE DOWN GITZEL IN THE EVENINGS AND SEE THAT THERE'S CARS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET.

YOU CAN'T PASS. PEOPLE ARE PARKED WHERE THERE USED TO BE GREEN SPACE IN THAT AREA.

WHEN WE MOVED THERE THOSE UNITS, THEY USED TO MOW LAWNS.

THERE ARE NO LAWNS. THERE'S NO GREEN SPACE LEFT ANYMORE BECAUSE EVERYONE'S PARKING IN THEM.

SO IF YOU THINK YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A PARKING PROBLEM AT THESE NEW ONES, I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM.

YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM OF SECURITY OF CHILDREN IN THE AREA, BECAUSE I'VE ALMOST SEEN CHILDREN RUN OVER IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE MORE TIMES THAN I CARE TO TELL YOU. AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME.

IF YOU HAVE THAT DENSITY OF PARKING IN THAT CORNER, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS. SO I'D LIKE YOU TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT'S THE DENSITY THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN THIS AREA AND HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE FAMILIES IN THE AREA. ANYWAY I'M NOT AGAINST US DEVELOPING THOSE LOTS AT ALL.

I JUST, LIKE, WOULD LIKE YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT HOW IT WILL CHANGE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND MAYBE THINK OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE YOU TO THINK ABOUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO WITH THIS ZONING.

ALSO ALLOW PEOPLE WHO WANT TO JUST BUILD A SINGLE HOUSE AS WELL, OR A DUPLEX, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE ONLY SAYING IT CAN BE A 4 OR 6 PLEX. YOU'RE NOT GIVING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A HOUSE THERE ANYWAY.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? JUST ON THAT.

LOUISE AND SHANNON. YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN REFERENCED A FEW TIMES NOW, AND SO I'M ASKING YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE THE MOST RECENT ONE, BUT IN FAIRNESS, IT'S COME UP, WE TALK ABOUT SORT OF THE CHANGE IN THE CHARACTER OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT A LOT OF, A LOT OF THE ISSUES YOU REFERENCE ARE SORT OF THE, THE THINGS THAT ARE TRAFFIC SAFETY, SECURITY, SORT OF, YOU KNOW, MAINTENANCE OF OTHER PROPERTIES, NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT THE TYPE OF PROPERTY ITSELF.

SO IS THAT I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH.

I GENUINELY TRYING TO GET TO WHERE MY THOUGHTS ARE.

IS IS IT SO MUCH ABOUT THE TYPE OF HOUSING AS THE MAINTENANCE OF SAID HOUSING AND SORT OF THE CARE OF HOUSING THAT MIGHT BE THERE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GETS PASSED A ZONING ISSUE AND INTO LONGER TERM, YOU KNOW, ENFORCEMENT OF, YOU KNOW, BYLAWS AND OTHER THINGS.

AND THEN TRAFFIC DESIGN IS AS JUSTIN WAS TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC SAFETY.

BUT IS IS THAT WHAT SORT OF THE, THE, THE RUB OF THE ISSUE IS RATHER THAN DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING GENERALLY.

[00:25:02]

WHAT I, I ALSO SHOULD SAY THAT I WORK FOR HOUSING NWT AND I'M ALSO THE COLLECTIONS OFFICER FOR HOUSING NWT.

SO I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH RENTAL PROPERTIES.

OKAY. I HAVE SEEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR DNR RENTAL UNITS BESIDE US.

HOW THE CLIENTELE HAS GONE DOWN IN THE TIME THAT WE'VE LIVED THERE.

THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD ARE PARTLY THAT YOU DON'T WANT ME TO SAY BAD THINGS ABOUT THE OWNERS.

SO THE A LOT OF OWNERS ARE MORE MOTIVATED BY PROFIT.

SO PERHAPS THEY AREN'T MAINTAINING UNITS LIKE THEY WOULD.

THEY'RE NOT PROVIDING ENOUGH DUMPSTERS THAT THEY SHOULD.

WE HAVE GARBAGE THAT BLOWS INTO OUR YARD ALL THE TIME IN THE SPRING.

SEVERAL YEARS BACK, I ASKED THEM TO COME AND CLEAN IT UP BECAUSE IT WAS COMING FROM THE DUMPSTERS.

THEY WOULDN'T DO IT. SO, THE PROBLEM THAT THE CITY'S OFFLOAD, YOU GUYS ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE YOU SAY IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THEY'RE NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY.

AND AS HOMEOWNERS, WE HAVE NO ONE TO GO TO. RIGHT.

I CAN COMPLAIN ALL I WANT, BUT NOBODY'S GOING TO SAY ANYTHING OR DO ANYTHING.

SO I WOULD PREFER TO SEE HOMEOWNERS. AND I KNOW WE NEED RENTAL PROPERTY. BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE REVENUE PROPERTIES IN THEIR HOMES OR ON THEIR LAND BECAUSE THEY'LL LOOK AFTER THE AREA BETTER. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND COUNCILLOR MCGURK HAS A QUESTION. HAVE YOU EVER SPOKEN DIRECTLY WITH THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT OWNS THOSE UNITS TO EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS? YES. AND WE'VE ALSO HAD FOUR POLICE CARS IN OUR DRIVEWAY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

IN REGARD TO OUR NEIGHBORS. HAVE YOU EVER HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS DIRECTLY? THE ONES WHERE THE POLICE WERE THERE? NO. I HAVE TALKED TO THE THE RENTAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ON MANY OCCASIONS. THEY OFTEN SAY, OH, WE'VE NEVER HAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT THEM.

THEN I GO TALK TO OUR OTHER NEIGHBORS IN THE RENTAL PROPERTIES AND THEY ALL SAY, OH, WE PHONED MULTIPLE TIMES.

SO BASICALLY THE MANAGEMENT JUST PLAYS STICKBALL WITH US AND DOESN'T HANDLE ANYTHING THEY SAY TO PHONE THE AFTER HOURS PEOPLE OR TO PHONE THE RCMP. WHICH THERE WAS A PERIOD THERE WHERE WE ALMOST HAD THEM ON SPEED DIAL.

SO I FIND THAT THE, THE, THE MANAGEMENT ISN'T HOLDING UP THEIR SIDE OF THE BARGAIN.

YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT. WOULD YOU SAY THEN IT'S FAIR TO ASSUME, OR IS IT FAIR FOR ME TO ASSUME THAT YOUR MAIN ISSUE IS, IS NOT NECESSARILY WITH RENTALS IN GENERAL, BUT WITH THIS RENTAL AGENCY? NO, THAT ISN'T CORRECT. I, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GOOD RENTAL PROPERTIES.

BUT I DON'T FEEL THAT RENTAL PROPERTIES WITHIN A COMMUNITY OF OWN HOMEOWNERS IS NECESSARILY A GOOD MIX.

I WOULD PREFER TO SEE THAT OWNERS ARE LIVING ON THAT PROPERTY AND HAVE RENTAL UNITS WITHIN THEIR, THEIR PROPERTY. BECAUSE ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS DRIVE AROUND YELLOWKNIFE, AND A LOT OF THE RENTAL PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO DETERIORATE AND AREN'T BEING MAINTAINED.

AND IT'S BEING A LOT OF THE COMPANIES THAT HAVE BOUGHT IN ARE FROM THE SOUTH.

SO I. THANKS. APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWERS. COUNCILLOR WARBURTON.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. EVERYBODY ELSE SO FAR. SO I'M GENERALLY HEARING THAT THE RENTALS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM.

IT'S THE OWNERSHIP OF THOSE RENTALS THAT'S THE PROBLEM. SO, IT WOULD LOCAL OWNERSHIP BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE MORE IF IT'S RENTAL I'M HEARING CORRECTLY IS I'M HEARING CORRECTLY THAT LOCAL OWNERSHIP IS WHAT YOU'RE KIND OF GETTING AT VERSUS KIND OF NOT LOCAL.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH RENTALS. WITHIN WHERE THE HOMEOWNER LIVES ON THE PROPERTY BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AFTER

[00:30:07]

THANK YOU. AND THAT'S JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE HERE FOR. AND WE APPRECIATE IT. THANKS.

OH, COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. SORRY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR. I'M JUST GOING TO PREFACE THIS WITH THE FACT THAT I AM A RENTER, AND I.

POLAR DEVELOPMENTS IS A GREAT BUSINESS THAT TAKES CARE OF ALL OF THEIR PROPERTIES AND IS ACTUALLY BUILT RIGHT WITHIN A BUNCH OF RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

MY QUESTION, BECAUSE YOU DID BRING THIS UP. YOU MENTIONED ABOUT REACHING OUT TO THE CITY ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY ENFORCEMENT.

HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU DONE THAT FOR WHAT SAY YOU WERE SAYING THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THE CITY, BUT YOU WEREN'T GETTING ANYWHERE. WHEN HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO THE CITY? ABOUT, SAY, A FEW YEARS AGO AND DIDN'T GET ANYWHERE.

SO YOU JUST STOPPED CALLING? VERY FAIR. WAS THAT DIRECTLY WITHIN JUST OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE LINES, OR DID YOU REACH OUT TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISION, TO OUR BYLAW OFFICERS? DO YOU REMEMBER AT HAND? I KNOW IT WAS ONLY A FEW YEARS AGO.

IT WAS YOUR MAIN, MAIN DESK. AND I BELIEVE STEVE, DO YOU KNOW WHO? WHO? THEY SENT ME TO. I'M TRYING TO THINK WHO IT WAS.

I DON'T RECALL EXACTLY WHO IT WAS THEY SENT ME TO.

BUT THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND THANKS, EVERYONE ELSE SO FAR FOR THE PRESENTATIONS AS WELL. AND I'M NOT SAYING ALL RENTERS ARE BAD, JUST TO BE CLEAR. THAT'S FAIR ENOUGH. AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING ALL OF THE QUESTIONS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION STIRRED THE QUESTIONS AND THEN YOU HAD TO ABSORB THEM ALL.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT. NEXT UP WE HAVE DIANE BALDWIN.

I HOPE THIS DOESN'T GENERATE MORE QUESTIONS, BUT IT PROBABLY WILL.

I DIDN'T REALLY MAKE A PRESENTATION FOR TONIGHT, BUT SINCE I'VE SENT IN A COUPLE LETTERS, I FIGURED THAT STOOD FOR ITSELF. AND YOU RECEIVED MANY LETTERS FROM THE NEIGHBORS HERE.

AND AND SO I WON'T GO INTO ALL THE DETAILS OF PARKING AND SAFETY AND AND THE OTHER ISSUES, GARBAGE AND OTHER THINGS. BUT WHAT MY MY PURPOSE OF TALKING TONIGHT IS JUST TO MAKE IT SUPER CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, NONE OF THE NEIGHBORS HAVE MENTIONED THE FACT THAT WE ARE LOSING A PARK RIGHT ON THE CORNER OF OUR LOT OF OUR AREA IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CORNER PARK. IT WAS A LITTLE PRESERVE OF LAND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SAVED FOR A WHILE, FOR A POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR A PREMIERES HOUSE.

SO, IT WAS A VERY, VERY SPECIAL LOCATION AND LOT VERY IN NICE, WALKABLE DISTANCE TO DOWNTOWN AND THE LEDGE AND SO IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL SPOT TO CUT THROUGH GOING HOME, YOU KNOW, BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND HAVING THAT NICE TREED LOT IN THE AREA.

NONE OF NONE OF THE LETTERS THAT I READ FROM OUR NEIGHBORS REALLY MENTIONED THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT PARK, YOU KNOW, DON'T REZONE IT BECAUSE OF THE PARKS AND REC.

WE'RE ALL OKAY WITH A BIT OF DEVELOPMENT. WE ALWAYS SORT OF KNEW THAT THOSE FIVE LOTS WOULD EVENTUALLY BE DEVELOPED.

BUT YOU CAN SEE THE LEVEL OF INTEREST HERE BY OUR NEIGHBORS THAT THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT OR THIS STYLE OF DEVELOPMENT ON THESE FIVE LOTS IS VERY INTENSE. AND THE LIKE THE RE ZONE ZONATION THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IS A LITTLE HIGH FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE DO HAVE FAIRLY INTENSE DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE CORNER ON GETZEL STREET WITH THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND THE ROW HOUSES.

AND WE DO KNOW HOW THE PARKING AND THE GARBAGE ARE HUGE ISSUES THERE.

AND SO PLANTING ANOTHER VERY INTENSE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT IN ON THAT BEAUTIFUL LOT REALLY, REALLY HURTS.

WE LOVE WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT COME AROUND ALL THE WAY, YOU KNOW, INTO THAT AREA TOO. NOW, I KNOW THAT DEVELOPMENT CAN BE BEAUTIFUL AS WELL.

SO I THINK THE CITY IS LOOKING TOWARDS MODELS TO CREATE, YOU KNOW, THESE TWO 4 OR 6 PLEXES.

BUT WHEN WE ALL HEARD SIX PLEXES TIMES FIVE, THAT'S 30 LOTS.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT EVERYONE HAS 1 OR 2 CARS, AND ALL THOSE OTHER ISSUES COME, COME OUT.

RIGHT. SO, I THINK WE'RE ALL JUST REALLY CONCERNED AT THE LEVEL OF INTENSIFICATION THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING.

SO THAT'S WHERE I REALLY WANTED TO PUT IT OUT THERE THAT PERSONALLY, I'D LOVE TO JUST HAVE THE PARK THERE AND KEEP IT THERE AND DEVELOP IT.

BUT I KNOW THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO SELL THAT LAND.

THEY SPENT TWO YEARS TRYING TO ACQUIRE IT, AND THEY NOW HAVE IT.

AND ALL THE PRESSURES THAT THE CITY FEELS TO PROVIDE HOUSING IS ON IN YOUR LAPS RIGHT NOW.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT. AND SO I DON'T THINK YOU GOT ONE LETTER SAYING DON'T DEVELOP IT.

[00:35:06]

THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION. NOT ZONING AT RI BUT INCLUDING RESIDENTIAL BECAUSE OUR AREA IS RESIDENTIAL AND THERE'S PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHILDREN WHO WOULD LOVE TO, WHO GREW UP IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, WHO WOULD LOVE TO BUY A LOT AND BUILD A HOUSE.

AND YOU HAVE, SEEM TO HAVE A SHORTAGE OF HOUSING LOTS.

SO WHY NOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN? YOU KNOW, MAYBE ONE DUPLEX OR, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE DUPLEXES OR A MIX OF OF, YOU KNOW, LOWER LEVEL INTENSE INTENSITY COMPARED TO, YOU KNOW, FIVE, SIX PLEXES, WHICH WOULD BE VERY EASY TO DEVELOP FOR SOMEONE.

SO, THAT'S THE POINT I'D LIKE TO BRING OUT TO YOU AND FOR YOU TO CONSIDER CHANGING OR AMENDING YOUR ZONING BYLAW TO INCLUDE RESIDENTIAL AND LOW LEVEL RI, I GUESS DUPLEXES IS WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. DIANE. ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? COUNCIL? COUNCILLOR MCGURK? THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

YOU ARE ONE OF EVERY PRESENTER WHO HAS MENTIONED TRAFFIC.

AND SO QUESTION TO YOU WOULD BE IF WE WERE TO CHANGE THE NATURE OF TRAFFIC MOVEMENT THROUGH THAT STREET, DO YOU THINK THAT THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM? LIKE IF THAT WAS A ONE WAY THAT TURNED YOU TURN RIGHT AT MILDRED HALL AND THEN EXIT THROUGH ON THE. I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP A LOT.

YOU KNOW, THE TRAFFIC FLOW THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP.

IT'S THE INTENSITY. IT'S YOU KNOW, WITH FIVE TIMES SIX, 30 UNITS WITH ONE CAR EACH.

THAT'S THE MINIMUM THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING. BUT IN REALITY, EVERY PERSON OR MOST NEIGHBORS AND MOST PEOPLE OFTEN HAVE TWO CARS OR ONE CAR AND A BOAT OR ONE CAR IN A SKIDOO. SO REALLY, TWO IS IS REALISTIC.

I KNOW LIKE LOUISE MENTIONED, VANCOUVER. THEY'VE ACTUALLY CHANGED THEIR, THEIR THEIR PROPOSED AMOUNT OF VEHICLES PER HOUSING OR UNIT TO TWO NOW. SO, SO I RECOMMEND, YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, UPPING UPPING THE AMOUNT.

I THINK YOU JUST HAVE ONE WITH THESE TYPES OF THIS RE DEVELOPMENT.

YOU JUST HAVE ONE VEHICLE PER UNIT FOR PARKING ON SITE AND EVEN THAT I CAN'T QUITE PICTURE HOW YOU GET SIX CARS ON EVERY ONE OF THOSE LOTS I THINK, PLUS SIX MORE ON THE STREET. I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE I DON'T THINK IT'S WORKABLE.

SO, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO THANK YOU DIANE. THANK YOU.

SO, COLLEAGUES, NOW IF DO ANY OF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ADMIN COUNCILLOR WARBURTON PUBLIC WORKS QUESTION, BUT A PLANNING QUESTION. SO, A LOT OF FOLKS YOU HEARD TALKED ABOUT RIGHT NOW WHERE IT'S CONGESTED, STREETS ARE NARROW. YOU OFTEN CAN'T GO BOTH WAYS.

YOU GOT TO KIND OF STOP AND WAIT FOR TRAFFIC. SO, IN GENERAL, DOES A NARROWER STREET REDUCE SPEED OR INCREASE SPEED? IS IT IS IT SAFER, QUOTE UNQUOTE, BEING NARROWER? MR. VAN DINE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'LL INVITE MR. GREENCORN TO RESPOND TO THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION.

WITHOUT SPECULATING TOO MUCH, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO ANSWER BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON THE PERSON BEHIND THE WHEEL.

BUT I CAN SAY ANECDOTALLY THAT 5051 AVENUE BY ITLO SCHOOL DRAMATICALLY SLOWS DOWN.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT WILL TRANSFER TO OTHER STREETS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

THANKS. SO, A PLANNING QUESTION. SO CURRENTLY IT'S ZONED THAT NEIGHBORHOOD'S OWN ZONED RC-1, I DO BELIEVE COULD YOU BUILD A FOURPLEX OR A SIX PLEX IN THAT CURRENT ZONING IF SOMEONE WANTED TO, IF THEY COULD. MR. VAN DINE? I'LL INVITE MISS WHITE TO RESPOND TO THAT.

SO THERE'S A COUPLE ANSWERS. THE ANSWER IS YES.

AND IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE HOME. PEOPLE CAN ALSO, WHO HAVE SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS.

WE ALREADY RECENTLY HAVE CREATED LANE HOUSES.

SECONDARY SUITES ON THOSE PROPERTIES. THOSE ARE ALREADY PERMITTED IN THE AREA.

SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF OPTIONS THAT, YES, ARE CURRENTLY ALREADY PERMITTED.

AND I WOULD ALSO IDENTIFY THAT THE R-1 ZONE ACTUALLY ALLOWS MULTI UNITS.

YOU COULD HAVE AN APARTMENT BUILDING IF YOU ZONED R-1.

SO, THE REASON THAT WE WERE PART OF OUR JUSTIFICATION FOR THE RI IS IT ACTUALLY COULD BE SEEN AS LESS DENSE BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE LOTS THAT WE'VE PROPOSED THAN SAY AN R1 ZONE OR AN RC-1 ZONE.

AND IT WOULD POTENTIALLY MIX IN BETTER THAN, SAY, IF SOMEONE I KNOW THERE WAS A CONCERN LAST TIME ABOUT BUYING ALL THOSE LOTS AND

[00:40:08]

SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS BY THE CREATION OF THOSE LOTS, REDUCE THAT AMOUNT OF DENSITY AND OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU. AWESOME. THANK YOU. AND YOU KIND OF GOT INTO MY NEXT QUESTION, SO THAT'S GOOD.

I'LL SKIP THAT. KIND OF. WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT GARBAGE, UNSIGHTLY PROPERTIES.

SO, I KNOW IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY QUESTION OR WHICH WAY TO GO, BUT DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE LAWS ON THE BOOKS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS THESE THINGS? IS THAT A QUESTION? COUNCILLOR WARBURTON? HOW DO YOU WANT TO? YEAH.

WHAT ARE THE BYLAWS? THANK YOU, MR. VAN DINE .

THERE ARE SEVERAL. BUT WITH RESPECT TO HOW THEY'RE APPLIED WE ARE FOLLOWING A COMPLAINT BASED PROCESS.

SO WE WOULD ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS IF THEY DO HAVE THE.

INDICATION THAT THERE IS A PROPERTY PROBLEM THAN TO LET US KNOW, AND WE WILL PROCEED AND FOLLOW THE BYLAWS TO ENFORCE IT.

WE ALSO, FROM TIME TO TIME, WITH VACANT LOTS OR OTHER PROPERTIES THAT SOMETIMES COME INTO DISREPAIR, AND WE WILL TAKE PROACTIVE MEASURES AS RESOURCES AND TIME PERMIT.

SO WHAT I HEARD THERE IS WE DO HAVE SOME MECHANISMS, IF NOT ALL.

OKAY. SO WE HAVE SOME WORK THERE TO DO. WE HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS.

WE'LL DO THAT LATER. AND YOU MENTIONED THE BALLOT DRAWS.

SO CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN HOW A BALLOT DRAW WORKS? LIKE ONE PERSON CAN'T JUST BID AND GET ALL SIX. LIKE, LIKE, WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR BALLOT DRAW? AND COULD SOMEONE BUY ALL SIX LOTS AT ONCE? MR. VAN DINE BALLOT DRAWS ARE A LOT OF FUN, BUT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MISS WHITE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU. YES. SO THERE IS WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD ADVERTISE IF WE WENT WITH A BALLOT DRAW, WE WOULD ADVERTISE, AND PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO PUT UP A DEPOSIT AND MAKE AN APPLICATION TO BE A PARTICIPANT IN THE BALLOT DRAW.

SO, IF EACH MEMBER OF COUNCIL HYPOTHETICALLY WAS IN THE BALLOT, IF I PULLED COUNCILOR WARBURTON'S NAME OUT, YOU'RE NO LONGER IN THE BALLOT. SO, YOU GET TO PICK WHICH LOT YOU WANT AND YOU'RE PUT ASIDE. AND THEN IT WOULD BE, OH, I PULLED OUT COUNCILLOR MCGURK, COUNCILLOR MCGURK WOULD PICK WHICHEVER IT IS IN THE LOT.

THE LAST BALLOT DRAWS WE HAD WERE FOR I CAN'T I THINK IT WAS LIKE FOUR LOTS, AND WE HAD OVER 100 PEOPLE APPLY GET ONE SHOT.

SO, IT'S NOT THAT YOU CAN BUY IN A ROW. THANK YOU.

AND THEN TYING TO THAT QUESTION, ONCE YOU GET THAT DRAW FOR THAT LOT, YOU GOT TO BUILD ON IT OR GIVE IT BACK.

RIGHT. YOU CAN'T JUST SOMEONE CAN'T JUST THEY CAN'T CONSOLIDATE ON THE BACK END. RIGHT? THEY CAN'T BUY FROM THE PERSON THAT GOT IT ON BALLOT.

MR. VAN DINE? OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU. SO THERE'S TWO ANSWERS TO RESPOND TO THAT.

SO, THE FIRST IS WE BUILD IT INTO THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT THAT THE DEVELOPMENT HAS TO TAKE PLACE AND BE WITH OCCUPANCY WITHIN 24 MONTHS OF THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE IS ALSO A CLAUSE THAT SAYS THAT IF YOU DO NOT DEVELOP IT, YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY TRANSFER THE TITLE.

THE AUTUMN LIKE WE GET FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL TO PURCHASE THAT LAND BACK.

SO THERE'S KIND OF TWO CATCHES INCLUDED IN THAT.

AND WE GO THROUGH THAT WITH PEOPLE WHEN THEY PURCHASE IT, SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE WHEN THEY TAKE ON THAT THAT LOT. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES? COUNCILLOR FEQUET? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND THANKS TO THE PRESENTERS SO FAR TONIGHT.

WE'VE HEARD TRAFFIC COME UP A LOT, AND I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT PREVIOUS GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETING, AND I BELIEVE WE HEARD THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME KEY INTERSECTIONS INCLUDED IN THE UPCOMING SUMMER TRAFFIC COUNT.

I GUESS MY QUESTION IS FOR ADMIN ABOUT WHETHER IF THIS GOES AHEAD AS INTENDED AND THERE IS TRAFFIC PROBLEMS THAT RESULT, AS MANY PEOPLE ARE ASSUMING WILL HAPPEN.

ARE THERE ANY TRAFFIC FLOW OR OTHER MOVEMENT MITIGATIONS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO AT THAT TIME? IF THIS GOES AHEAD, STEALING MY QUESTIONS BEFORE I GET THERE, I LIKE IT.

MR. VAN DINE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. GREENCORN IN A MOMENT, BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION THAT WE RECEIVED BY RESIDENTS AT THE GPC MEETING SOME TIME BACK WE DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO RESIDENTS AFTER SUCH MEETING, TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT WAS THE EXISTING TRAFFIC SITUATION IN THE AREA.

AND WITH THAT, I WOULD INVITE MR. GREENCORN TO DISCUSS WHAT AVENUES MAY BE AVAILABLE BUT WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSCORE AND EXPRESS SOME GRATITUDE TO THE RESIDENTS FOR BRINGING THOSE ISSUES FORWARD.

THANKS. JUST TO ELABORATE ON THAT. WE DID NOTE SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS MR.

[00:45:03]

KIDS TRY TO CROSS THE STREET. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.

MAYBE THERE'S AN INTRODUCTION OF A CROSSWALK THERE. THE TURN MAY NEED TRAFFIC CONTROL ON IT.

IT'S AN AWKWARD TURN BECAUSE IT TURNS OFF ONTO METONYMY AND GETS A IN A IN AN ODD SHAPE.

SO WE'LL LOOK AT SOME TRAFFIC CONTROL MEASURES THERE.

IT'LL ALSO LOOK AT THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENT OF THE LANEWAY.

AND IF THAT CAN BE IMPROVED, BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD SOME LEGITIMATE CONCERNS AND OBSERVATIONS ON HOW PEOPLE CAN ONLY MAKE CERTAIN TURNING MOVEMENTS IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS.

REALIZING THERE ARE LIMITATIONS THAT WE WANT TO PUT IN PLACE THERE FROM SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, NOT FROM FOR ANY OTHER NEFARIOUS REASONS. SO LONG STORY SHORT, IS WE ARE GOING TO ENGAGE A PROFESSIONAL.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT IN MORE OF A HOLISTIC WAY THAT WILL ALSO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE SIGNIFICANT OR SPECIFIC CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED HERE TONIGHT AND ON A PREVIOUS OCCASION. THANKS, COUNCILOR PAQUETTE. THANK YOU FOR THAT REPLY.

AND THAT'S AWESOME NEWS. I'LL BE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE'RE DOING THAT.

IN RESPONSE TO THE ENGAGEMENT AND THE FEEDBACK THAT RESIDENTS GAVE.

I GUESS THEN BASED ON THAT RESPONSE WHAT WOULD IT MEAN, RECOMMEND THE SEQUENCE OF DECISION MAKING BE SO WE DON'T MISSTEP AND CAN'T UNDO A BAD DECISION? IF THIS WORK IS GOING TO BE DONE.

MR. VAN DINE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

SO ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMIND OURSELVES WITH IS THIS IS A PROPOSAL THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO PRE DESIGN, TO ALLOW A PRIVATE PURCHASER TO COME IN AND MAKE SOME DECISIONS SUBSEQUENTLY, SO THAT IT CAN ALLOW THEM TO MOVE RELATIVELY QUICKLY WITH THE DESIGNS THAT WE SET FORWARD.

THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY THAT MEAN THAT THAT THE TIMING, THE PACE, THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OCCURS ON THOSE LOTS WILL BE WHAT HAS BEEN PRE PRESUPPOSED. AND SO THEREFORE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT'S BEEN RAISED WE WILL UNDER WE BELIEVE THAT WITH THE, THERE WILL BE NO SLOWDOWN WITH RESPECT TO THE ABILITY TO, TO MOVE THESE LOTS TO MARKET.

WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THE PROPER STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SAFETY AND THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD IS IMPROVED, AS WELL AS ACCOMMODATING ANY FUTURE SAFETY QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT ARISE AS A RESULT OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS.

GO AHEAD, COUNCILOR PAQUETTE. THANKS, MR. CHAIR.

YEAH. AND I JUST RECOGNIZE THE REALLY HELPFUL RESPONSE THAT DIRECTOR WHITE GAVE EARLIER ABOUT WHAT COULD ACTUALLY BE CONSTRUCTED THERE UNDER THE CURRENT ZONING AND WHAT ACTUALLY, THAT WOULD MEAN FOR TRAFFIC. SO, YEAH, THANKFUL TO ADMIN FOR DOING THAT WORK.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ADMIN? MINE WAS TAKEN BY COUNCILOR PAQUETTE.

SO, THANKS. SO, WITH THAT COMING TO THE END OF THE STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARING WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS BEFORE US COUNCIL. WE CAN EITHER DECIDE TO ASK FOR SUMMATION OF WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO US TONIGHT, OR WE CAN MOVE TO SECOND READING TONIGHT.

IS THERE ANY PREFERENCE FROM COUNCIL? I SEE COUNCILLOR WARBURTON GOING FOR SECOND READING.

COUNCILLOR MCGURK SAME. OKAY. EVERYBODY'S NODDING.

OKAY. COUNCILLOR PAYNE. IF YOU CAN READ THE MOTION I HAD SENT YOU IN THE EMAIL EARLIER.

THE SECOND OF THE TWO. I MOVE THAT COUNCIL PROCEED TO SECOND READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5105.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CAN I GET A SECONDER? COUNCILOR WARBURTON.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT THIS POINT? NO. COUNCILLOR COCHRANE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE NEIGHBORS OF GAINESVILLE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.

IT WAS VERY APPRECIATED FROM YOUR PRESENTATION, AND I HOPE THAT YOU HEARD FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TONIGHT THAT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK GOING FORWARD ON THIS, AND THAT WE WILL BE ADDRESSING THIS THROUGH TRAFFIC STUDIES, THROUGH SAFETY STUDIES TO TRY TO BETTER SAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS IS THE SECOND READING. THERE IS STILL ANOTHER READING AFTER THIS TOO.

SO FEEL FREE TO CONTINUOUSLY CORRESPOND WITH US AS WELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT, COUNCILOR COCHRANE.

SO WITH THAT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

SO NEXT ON THE AGENDA WE HAVE DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

THERE WERE NO DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

WE HAVE MEMBER STATEMENTS. THERE WERE NO MEMBER STATEMENTS FOR THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY MEMBER STATEMENTS FROM THE FLOOR? OH. NEXT, WE HAVE INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[Items 16 - 18]

[00:50:03]

GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE REPORT FOR APRIL 28TH, 2025.

I MOVE THAT COUNCIL ONE DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO A, ESTABLISH A TOURISM TOURIST ACCOMMODATION TAX RESERVE.

B, DIRECT ADMINISTRATION, ENTER INTO A THREE YEAR SERVICE CONTRACT WITH THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES OR NORTHWEST TERRITORIES TOURISM NWT FOR THE PROVISION OF DESTINATION MARKETING SERVICES AND C, DIRECT ADMINISTRATION AND MAINTAIN OPERATIONS OF THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER FOR THE DURATION OF THE CONTRACT WITH NORTHWEST TERRITORIES TOURISM AND NUMBER TWO, DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO ESTABLISH A DESTINATION MARKETING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. CAN I GET A SECONDER? COUNCILOR COCHRANE AND ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR WARBURTON LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO SPLIT NUMBER ONE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION TWO THOSE THREE POINTS.

AND NUMBER TWO, DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO ESTABLISH A DESTINATION MARKETING ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO VOTE SEPARATELY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CITY CLERK. JUST TELL ME WHERE I'M WRONG ON THIS, BECAUSE INEVITABLY I WILL BE DO WE NEED TO PASS A MOTION NOW TO SPLIT THE MOTION? NO, WE CAN JUST GO AHEAD. SPLIT. PERFECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OH, COUNCILOR FEQUET, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I ALSO HAD A QUESTION. JUST ABOUT THE FIRST MOTION WILL BE DECIDING ON ONE.

SEE, I WAS WONDERING IF ADMIN COULD ELABORATE ON THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTENT OF THE DURATION OF THE CONTACT CONTRACT WITHIN NORTHWEST TERRITORIES TOURISM. MY UNDERSTANDING FROM OUR CONVERSATION WAS THAT WE WOULD DO IT FOR THREE YEARS AND DECIDE WHAT THE PROCESS WAS, BUT IF WE PUT THAT WORDING IN THERE, WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS IF NONE OF US ARE HERE, WHEN THAT IS UP AND THAT GETS RENEWED, THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUALLY OPERATE THE VISITOR CENTER. PERPETUITY. SO, YEAH.

WAS THAT THE INTENT OR DID THE WORDING CHANGE OR JUST MAYBE NOT TALK ABOUT THAT LAST TIME? SO, THIS IS MR. VAN DINE . IN A SECOND. BUT THE WAY IT'S WORDED, AT LEAST FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, IT HAS THE DIRECT ADMIN TO ENTER INTO THAT THREE YEAR CONTRACT AND THEN DO THE VISITOR CENTER FOR THE PERIOD OF THAT CONTRACT SO THEY WOULD BE TIED TOGETHER.

RIGHT. SO, THE VISITOR CENTER IS TIED TO THE THREE YEAR CONTRACT WITH NWT TOURISM.

BUT I'LL PASS IT TO MR. VAN DINE. SO, MR. VAN DINE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. IT'S EXACTLY WHAT MR. CHAIR SAID, MR. CHAIR. COUNCILLOR FEQUET. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE OR ARE YOU STILL.

I THINK YEAH. I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE WHAT MY COLLEAGUES THINK IN THE ROOM.

WHAT? YOU SENSE THE TEMPERATURE, BUT AM I? MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THERE WAS ALL SORTS OF SUGGESTIONS FOR THE PROCESS, AND I THINK PEOPLE IN THE INTERIM WERE COMFORTABLE DOING THIS FOR THREE YEARS.

I WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE SAYING THREE YEARS THAN THE DURATION OF THE CONTRACT, KNOWING THAT THAT CONTRACT MIGHT LIKELY BE RENEWED.

SO, THE CITY OPTIONS TO DISCUSS AN RFP OR ANOTHER OR WRAPPING IT INTO THE CONTRACT OR ANY OTHER OPTION AT THAT TIME.

MR. VAN DINE. SO, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SO, I, JUST TO CLARIFY, I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION TO MEAN THAT THERE IS A STANDARD RENEWAL IN MOST CONTRACTS AND AS A RESULT OF THAT STANDARD RENEWAL, THEN THEN AUTOMATICALLY THE QUESTION OF THE VISITOR CENTER MAY GET ROLLED INTO THE RENEWAL WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE A DIFFERENT OPTION.

THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE INTENTION OF THIS, BUT I'LL INVITE MISS THISTLE TO CLARIFY THAT POINT FOR COUNCIL.

THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. NO, THERE'S NO INDICATION OF RENEWALS.

AND SPECIFICALLY IN SECTION B, IT SAYS ENTER INTO A THREE YEAR CONTRACT WITH NORTHWEST TERRITORIES TOURISM FOR THE PROVISION OF DESTINATION MARKETING SERVICES, AND THEN THAT THE DURATION OF THE CONTRACT. OPERATION OF THE VISITOR CENTER WOULD CORRESPOND WITH THAT.

THE REASON FOR THE CORRELATION WAS THAT AT THE END OF THE THREE YEAR PERIOD, DEPENDING ON HOW THE RELATIONSHIP AND HOW TOURISM FEELS ABOUT THEIR POSITION AS ACTING FOR OUR MARKETING AGENCY OR ORGANIZATION.

WHETHER THEY FEEL LIKE THEY WOULD EVEN WANT TO VENTURE INTO VISITOR SERVICES WE MIGHT BE IN THE SITUATION WHERE WE WOULD GO OUT TO RFP FOR BOTH DESTINATION MARKETING AND VISITOR CENTER OR ONE OR THE OTHER. SO THAT WAS WHY IT WAS WRITTEN IN THIS WAY.

WE DID NOT SAY FOR THREE YEARS WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW IN HERE, THERE IS POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD RENEW A CONTRACT WITH NORTHWEST TERRITORIES TOURISM FOR THEIR MARKETING EXPERIENCE, AND ACT AS OUR DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION.

BUT IT WAS NOT THE INTENTION THAT THIS COULD GO ON FOR PERPETUITY.

COUNCILLOR FEQUET. THANK YOU FOR CONFIRMING. THE INTENT IS WHAT I UNDERSTOOD FROM OUR PREVIOUS CONVERSATION.

THE LANGUAGE STILL MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT HAPPY TO PROCEED IF EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM IS READY.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROPOSE? I'M NOT TRYING TO PUSH YOU TOWARDS IT, BUT WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION TO MAKE YOU MORE COMFORTABLE,

[00:55:06]

INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY. GOT IT. OKAY. SO, WITH THAT, WE WILL SPLIT THE MOTION, LEAVING THE REST OF THE WORDING IN ORDER.

SO WITH THAT, FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE MOTION SO PART ONE A, B AND C ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THAT PART? COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. YES, I FULLY SUPPORT THIS.

GLAD TO SEE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NTAC HERE OR HERE.

LOOK FORWARD TO OUR ONGOING AND HOPEFULLY CONTINUED RELATIONSHIP.

PERFECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO WITH THAT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF PART ONE AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS.

OH, SORRY WITH THAT. SO, FOR PART TWO OF THE MOTION, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THE, OR, SORRY, CAN WE GET? I KNOW IT'S ALREADY BEEN MOVED, SO WE'RE GOOD ON THAT FRONT.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COLLEAGUES YET? COUNCILLOR WARBURTON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YEAH.

FOR ME, THIS IS GOING BACK TO MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH BEING ON BOARDS AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND BEING A TOUR OPERATOR.

I FULLY APPRECIATE THAT THE FEEDBACK, LOUD AND CLEAR FROM THE TOURISM COMMUNITY WAS THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE FEEDBACK.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM. I HAVE NEVER HEARD A SINGLE TOUR OPERATOR SAY THEY WANT TO BE PART OF A FORMAL COMMITTEE AND COME IN AND SPEND MORE TIME ON A PROCESS.

I HAVE NEVER, EVER HEARD THAT. SO THIS WEEKEND, JUST TO CONFIRM, MAKE SURE IT WASN'T MY OWN BIAS.

I DID REACH OUT TO A NUMBER OF HOTEL OPERATORS, TOUR OPERATORS AND THEY JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS.

THEY JUST WANT TO TALK TO PEOPLE, AND THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM TALKING DIRECTLY TO THE DMO AND THE CEO IN THE ROOM HERE.

SO THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE ACCESS. THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A FORM TO DO THAT. SO WE ARE THAT FORUM.

I FEEL THEY CAN COME. YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR WE GET OUR UPDATE.

THEY CAN COME. FEEL FREE TO TELL ME ALL THE BAD AND HORRIBLE THINGS WE'RE DOING WITH THEIR MONEY. I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD USE OF NUMBER ONE STAFF TIME AND NUMBER TWO OF THAT GROUP'S TIME. I THINK WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER COMMITTEE, WHICH WILL HAVE A REALLY HARD TIME FILLING SPOTS AND GETTING QUORUM. AND I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO HAVE A FORMAL FEEDBACK LOOP. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I JUST DO NOT THINK THIS IS WORTH THE TIME AND EFFORT.

FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO FOR STAFF.

I THINK WE HAVE METHODS. WE'RE NOT THAT BIG. WE'RE VERY ACCESSIBLE.

AND I'LL TAKE THAT HIT IF WE GET YELLED AT LATER.

SO, I YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO STRIKE THIS FROM THE FROM THE WELL, I'LL BE RUNNING AGAINST THAT.

YEAH. SORRY. PERFECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE? COUNCILLOR FEQUET. THANKS, MR. CHAIR. YEAH. I MEAN, THERE'S REASONS YOU STRIKE A COMMITTEE BECAUSE YOU WANT HORSEPOWER TO GET SOMETHING DONE. YOU NEED MORE ATTENTION AND FOCUS ON SOMETHING, OR YOU NEED RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE TO HELP INFORM DECISIONS.

I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION FOR THREE MAIN REASONS.

ONE, I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN A DEMONSTRATED NEED FOR THIS COMMITTEE.

YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE 270% OF THE 200 MEMBERS FROM TOURISM OPERATE IN YELLOWKNIFE.

THEY HAVEN'T EVER ASKED FOR A COMMITTEE TO BE FORMED.

I THINK ALSO THE MEMO REFERRED TO THE TERRITORIAL MARKETING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

AND THIS WOULD BE THE SAME AS THE TMAC. BUT THE MEMO DIDN'T MENTION THAT THE TMAC ACTUALLY CHOSE TO DISBAND ITSELF BECAUSE IT BELIEVED IT WASN'T USEFUL.

ONE OF OUR CITY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WAS ON THAT ON THAT COMMITTEE AT THAT TIME.

WE KNOW FROM THE APRIL 28TH MEMO ALSO THAT THE CITY'S GOALS ALIGN IN THIS SPACE WITH [INAUDIBLE] TOURISM AND WAS EXPLICITLY ONE OF THE REASONS GIVEN FOR SOLE SOURCING THEM FOR THIS THREE YEAR CONTRACTED SERVICE. AND THE CITY HAS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY THAT WAS APPROVED IN 2020, AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IN 2020. ONE. OF THOSE 17 INITIATIVES, THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE PICKED THE TOP SIX.

THIS COUNCIL APPROVED THOSE TOP SIX. AND WHEN I ASKED DONNA LEE AT THE LAST GPC YOU KNOW, SHE SAID THERE'S LOTS OF WORK TO BE DONE.

WHETHER THERE'S A COMMITTEE OR NOT. DOESN'T MATTER TO THEM, BUT THERE'S LOTS OF WORK TO GET GOING. SO I THINK THAT COUNCIL HAS ALSO PROVIDED A LOT OF IDEAS AND DIRECTION ALREADY. THE SECOND REASON IS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE UP STAFF TIME AND EFFORT.

WE JUST HAD A CONVERSATION LAST WEEK ABOUT REPRIORITIZING GETTING STUFF OFF THE WORK PLAN.

SO, TO TAKE TIME TO TWEAK THE TERMS OF REFERENCE, AT LEAST IN THE AREAS OF SCOPE AND COMPOSITION, THE COMMITTEE HAS TO BE POPULATED. ONGOING COORDINATION AND SUPPORT.

OUR CURRENT WORK PLAN IS ALREADY AMBITIOUS. SO, FOR ME EVEN IF WE THOUGHT THERE WAS A NEED FOR THIS COMMITTEE, WE'D STILL HAVE TO EVALUATE WHETHER IT WAS ACTUALLY A TOP PRIORITY TO SPEND STAFF TIME AND ENERGY ON.

AND THE THIRD REASON IS, IS THAT IF WE DID DECIDE, THIS COMMITTEE WOULD BE HELPFUL AND WE DECIDED IT WOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY I WOULDN'T BE

[01:00:03]

THERE'S A PRETTY SERIOUS ISSUE WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT COUNCILS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE RECEIVING STRATEGIC MARKETING ADVICE, RECEIVING FINAL MARKETING PLANS, AND RECEIVING ADJUSTMENTS TO MARKETING PLANS. COUNCIL SHOULD NOT BE WEIGHING IN ON THESE SPECIFIC OPERATIONAL ELEMENTS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO. WE DON'T MEDDLE IN HOW THE CITY DOES ITS BUSINESS.

WE SET STRATEGY, POLICY, OVERSIGHT. THIS WOULD GO WAY BEYOND GOVERNANCE AND INTO OPERATIONS, WHICH WOULD GO AGAINST THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE. AND AS YOUR FOLKS LIKELY ARE NOT, WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED. AND TOURISM DOES NOT SEEK APPROVAL FROM ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR ITS ANNUAL MARKETING.

SO, FOR THEM, THIS COUNT, THIS COMMITTEE, TO BE DOING THAT TO COUNCIL JUST IS REALLY, REALLY WEIRD.

AND WE SET THE ORIGINAL STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS.

COUNCIL DISCUSSED AT LENGTH THE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEVERAGE THE ENERGY AND SKILLS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO DO MORE PART OF THE RATIONALE ADMINISTRATION PROVIDED TO COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE SOLE SOURCE, TOURISM AS THE OPERATOR FOR THREE YEARS.

IS THAT THEIR GOALS ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S. THE CITY'S ALREADY WORKING WITH NWT TOURISM ON VARIOUS INITIATIVES, AND THEY HAVE A PROVEN RECORD AS A DESTINATION MARKETING OFFICE.

SO, IT'S PRECISELY FOR THESE SAME REASONS THAT I WOULD IMPLORE COUNCIL TO JUST TRUST NWT TOURISM, THAT IT UNDERSTANDS THE NEEDS OF ITS MEMBERS IN THE TOURISM SPACE.

IF AT ANY POINT NOW, TOMORROW OR IN THE FUTURE, THEY BELIEVE THAT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD BE HELPFUL OR THE MEMBERS DEMAND IT, THEY CAN DO THAT. BUT IT DOESN'T NEED TO LEAN ON THE MONETARY AND HUMAN RESOURCES OF THE CITY.

CITY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN CONTROL. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, I THINK, WHERE WE TALK ABOUT JUST GETTING OUT OF THE WAY AND ACTUALLY DO WHAT THE APRIL 20TH MEMO SAYS AND LEVERAGE THE EXISTING RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE, AND LET THE DMO TAKE THE LEADERSHIP ROLE IN ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS.

SO THAT'S WHY I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILLOR FEQUET. NEXT, WE HAVE COUNCILLOR MCGURK. THANK YOU.

QUESTION FOR ADMINISTRATION. WHEN WE WERE SPEAKING WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS, WE ASKED THEM ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN BEING A PART OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

MR. VAN DINE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR THISTLE TO TALK ABOUT THE CONSULTATIONS.

BUT REST ASSURED THAT THIS CONCEPT IS NOT ONE THAT KIND OF WAS HATCHED INDEPENDENT OUT OF THE CONSULTATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT THAT HAS OCCURRED.

BUT I'LL ALLOW DIRECTOR THISTLE TO DESCRIBE IT FURTHER.

THANKS. YES. PART OF OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH ACCOMMODATION PROVIDERS.

SPECIFICALLY, REGARDING THE TOURIST ACCOMMODATION TAX.

THERE WAS A REAL CONCERN OR INTEREST VOICED IN HAVING SOME OVERSIGHT OR INPUT INTO HOW THE LEVY FUNDS WOULD BE USED. WE DIDN'T GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT MEMBERSHIP AND SITTING ON A COMMITTEE.

AND DO YOU WANT TO BE A MEMBER? BECAUSE WE HAVE TO, WE DON'T WANT TO PRESUPPOSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT COUNCIL.

BUT YES, THERE WAS AN INTEREST FROM, YOU KNOW, AND LIKE I SAID, IN SOME CASES ALMOST A CONCERN THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW THOSE LEVY FUNDS WOULD BE USED BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES COLLECTING THE MONEY AND REMITTING IT.

AND SO, THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS USED FOR THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH WE HAD SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE USED FOR.

SO THAT'S THE EXTENT OF THE CONSULTATIONS. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IT'S NOT A PUSH. MORE JUST A QUESTION.

MORE JUST SEEING. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILLOR PAYNE.

I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING THAT I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY, BUT I AGREE WITH RYAN 100%.

SO, I'M YEAH, I KNOW, I KNOW. YEAH. I THINK THIS IS THE KIND OF THING TO TAKE RYAN'S WORDS LIKE, JUST FOR US TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. AND THERE IS THERE IS A WAY ,THAT PEOPLE CAN VOICE THEIR CONCERNS TO US.

SO I'M NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT IT. LESS COMMITTEES, THE BETTER.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF NOTHING AT ALL, THIS IS GOING TO BE BETTER FOR OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY AND WE'RE NOT IN THE TOURISM BUSINESS, AND I'D SAY LEAVE IT UP TO THE PROFESSIONALS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILLOR PAYNE .

COUNCILLOR COCHRANE? THANKS SO MUCH, MR. CHAIR.

THIS ONE'S BEEN A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE THIS WAS A RECOMMENDATION BROUGHT FORWARD, AND THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A LOT OF FORESIGHT OR A LOT OF FORETHOUGHT INTO THE IMPLEMENTATION AND CREATION OF THIS, BUT I DO STAND WITH THE REST OF COUNCIL BY THE MEMBER OF THE SHORT MAJORITY OF NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THIS, BUT I WOULD NOT BE AGAINST FOR JUST BECAUSE THIS IS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL TRANSFORMING IT INTO AN ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE WITH OUR DISABILITIES OR OUR ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE, OR EVEN MORE SO, AS COUNCILOR PAQUETTE BROUGHT UP UTILIZING THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH HASN'T MET IN OVER A YEAR. SO IF WE WANT TO UTILIZE OUR ACTUAL SYSTEMS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE OR USE SOMETHING WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION,

[01:05:04]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILOR COCHRANE.

ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCILOR, GET YOUR HANDS UP STILL.

IS THAT AGAIN OR STILL? IT'S AGAIN, I JUST. YEAH.

COUNCILLOR COCHRANE MADE ME REMEMBER SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT WORTH MENTIONING.

JUST FOR ANYBODY OUT THERE WHO IS ONE OF THOSE FOLKS WHO'S WORRIED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE'RE GOING TO KNOW IF THE MONEY'S BEING SPENT PROPERLY.

FOR ME, ACCOUNTABILITY ISN'T ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER THERE IS A COMMITTEE OR NOT.

THE ACCOUNTABILITY IS ABOUT THE METRICS OF SUCCESS THAT WE PUT INTO OUR CONTRACT AGREEMENT WITH TOURISM, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO KNOW EVENTUALLY ONCE WE GET THE FUNDING SORTED AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, LIKE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE AND BE ABLE TO EVALUATE THAT PRIOR TO THE THREE YEARS COMING UP.

SO THAT'S NOT ABOUT A COMMITTEE OR NOT. THAT'S ABOUT IS OUR AGREEMENT PRETTY TIGHT AND PRETTY CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.

SO BECAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT. OF COURSE IT IS.

WE'RE COLLECTING THIS FUND FOR A VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSE, AND THE LEGISLATION REQUIRES US TO SPEND IT IN THAT WAY, REGARDLESS OF POLICY OR COMMITTEE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SEEMS LIKE THAT'S IT. ON COMMENTS. YEAH. I'M ALSO NOT IN SUPPORT OF THIS.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD BE OPEN TO IT. IF WE FEEL LIKE WE END UP NEEDING THIS COMMITTEE IN THE FUTURE, BRING IT BACK ON BOARD. BUT I AGREE WITH COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. I THINK WE HAVE TO UTILIZE THE SYSTEMS WE ALREADY HAVE AND THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE, AS YOU RIGHTLY POINT OUT, WHICH HASN'T MET SINCE 2023, IS A GOOD START. NOT THAT IT'S THE RIGHT PLACE, BUT IT'S JUST IF THERE'S PLACES TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS UTILIZING THOSE FIRST.

SO WITH THAT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OH, YEAH. NOPE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? OH, IN FAVOR? SORRY. STACIE.

SORRY. APOLOGIES. COUNCILLOR ARDEN-SMITH WAS IN FAVOR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. AND THAT IS THE REST OF US.

NEXT, WE HAVE GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE REPORT FOR MAY 5TH, 2025.

THERE WAS NO BUSINESS ARISING FROM THAT MEETING.

LET'S MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS. A MEMO REGARDING WHETHER TO APPOINT GABRIELLA SAATKAMP AS A DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.

[Items 20 & 21]

AND NUMBER TWO, THE TERM OF APPOINTMENT SHALL EXPIRE UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT'S UNANIMOUS. IS THERE ANY BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR? NEW BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR? NO. ENACTMENT OF BYLAWS.

[Items 24 - 32]

AND AS IT IS IN THE AGENDA. I'M GOING TO STOP READING THERE.

COUNCILLOR PAYNE, I MOVE SECOND READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 505105.

SECONDER. COUNCILLOR MCGURK, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OH. APOLOGIES. JEEZ. OKAY. SORRY. THE AMENDMENT FOR THE SKETCH.

DO YOU HAVE IT THERE, SIR? OKAY.

SLAVISA HAS IT HERE. THE WORDING. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

YEAH. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THANKS, DEBBIE. I MOVE THAT BYLAW NUMBER 5105 BE AMENDED BY DELETING AND REPLACING SCHEDULE A TO REMOVE LOT NUMBER 19. SO, IF YOU REMEMBER, COLLEAGUES THIS IS THE ERROR WITH THE MAP.

SO, THANK YOU TO THE CITY CLERK FOR CATCHING THAT BEFORE WE MOVE TOO QUICKLY.

PARDON. THAT'S I DON'T I THINK WE ALL SAW IT.

YEAH. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO THE MOTION? NO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? PERFECT. OH. SECOND COUNCILLOR MCGURK.

SEE, EVERYBODY. SO MANY THINGS TONIGHT GETTING THROWN AT US THE FIRST TIME.

OKAY. SO NEXT. COUNCILLOR PAYNE. IT'S THE ONE THAT YOU HAVE THERE, JUST AS AMENDED.

NO, WE'VE AMENDED IT WITH THE MAP, AND NOW WE HAVE TO DO THE SECOND READING, AS AMENDED.

I MOVE SECOND READING, AS AMENDED OF BYLAW NUMBER 5105.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SECONDER. COUNCILOR COCHRANE, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

[01:10:03]

DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

WE'VE ALREADY PASSED THAT. I'M JUST SCROLLING.

YEAH. ONE SECOND, I NEED TO. WE CAN'T BECAUSE TOM'S NOT HERE.

RIGHT, RIGHT. OH, NO, THAT'S THE OTHER ONE. SORRY.

YEP, YEP. I'M JUST GETTING THERE. YEAH. SO, COUNCILLOR PAYNE FOR THIRD READING.

I MOVE THIRD READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5105. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SECONDER. COUNCILLOR WARBURTON. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO. YEAH. YES. YES. YEAH. GO AHEAD. THANKS. YEAH.

I, WE HEARD A LOT TONIGHT FROM FOLKS ABOUT THIS DEVELOPING THIS SECTION OF THE CITY.

I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES BEING VERY SUPPORTIVE OF DOING THAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO CHANGE A CITY, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE HAVE A ZONING BYLAW THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE ONES IN THE COUNTRY. I UNFORTUNATELY THINK THAT FOLKS MISS THAT WHEN WE DID THAT A FEW YEARS AGO.

THIS IS CONTINUING ON THAT VEIN OF, OF KIND OF INFILLING, INTENSIFYING OUR CITY.

AND FOR ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS DOING WHAT IS FISCALLY PRUDENT FOR THE CITY.

TEN YEARS, 20 YEARS, 30 YEARS OUT. AND WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF FOLKS HERE THAT LIVE ON GITZEL.

WE HEARD A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE CONCERNS, WHICH I'M GLAD TO HEAR. WE'RE LISTENING AND GOT SOME PLANS TO MITIGATE. BUT WHO I'M I THINK ABOUT IS WHO IS NOT HERE IS LIKE, I KNOW 30 UNITS WOULD BE A HIGH DENSITY. I THINK THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT IS VERY LOW, BY THE WAY. BUT IF 30 UNITS GO IN THERE, THAT'S 30 MORE HOUSING UNITS FOR 30 MORE FAMILIES TO LIVE IN.

IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT AND CHANGE THAT COMMUNITY? 100% IT IS. BUT I GOT TO WEIGH. WE GOT TO WEIGH WHAT IS THE GOAL, RIGHT.

THE GOAL IS TO HOUSE MORE PEOPLE FOR ME ANYWAY.

AND WE STATED THAT IN OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTION.

HOUSING IS A PRIORITY FOR US. THAT UNFORTUNATELY MEANS THAT IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THINGS.

SO IT'S NOT THAT I'M WANTING THIS NAIVELY. I'M FULLY AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.

IT'S JUST THAT THE GOAL FOR ME, IT GOES ABOVE KIND OF THE POTENTIALLY NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT COMMUNITY.

SO YEAH, I'LL BE VOTING IN FAVOR, OBVIOUSLY. BUT YEAH, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TIME AND THOUGHT ON THAT.

AND EXCELLENT QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OH, YEAH. COUNCILLOR MCGURK. I GUESS I JUST KIND OF WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE A LITTLE BIT BLUNT.

I'M GENERALLY, LIKE, GENUINELY OR GENERALLY NOT REALLY PERSUADED BY THE CONCERNS OF PRESENTERS.

I HAVE SYMPATHY FOR WHAT MUST BE QUITE ANXIOUS ANTICIPATION FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS, ESPECIALLY MULTI-UNIT DEVELOPMENTS.

BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE A PRIORITY TO INCREASE DENSITY IN THIS IN, IN THIS AREA, OR IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO INCREASE DENSITY IN THIS AREA BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SUCH A NEED. AND AS COUNCILLOR WARBURTON MENTIONED, EVEN A FEW UNITS IS GOOD. YEAH. WE MIGHT NOT BE SOLVING THE HOUSING CRISIS WITH THESE LOTS, BUT WE ARE PUTTING A DENT IN IT.

AND THE OBJECT IS TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN. SOME PRESENTERS MENTIONED EXPANSION OUTSIDE OF OUR CURRENT FOOTPRINT, AND THAT'S NOTA SUPER FEASIBLE OPTION. OR IT COULD LEAD TO HIGHER TAXES.

THIS IS READILY AVAILABLE LAND. NOW, THAT WAS ALWAYS BEEN ALWAYS HAS BEEN CONSIDERED FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.

AND I THINK AND I REALLY HOPE THAT IN GENERAL, THE COMMUNITY CAN REFLECT ON THAT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT THIS CHANGE WILL HAPPEN IF WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THE CITY AND MAINTAIN THE GROWTH OF THE CITY.

AND IF YOU WANT TO ALSO MAINTAIN A LOWER TAX RATE, I WANT TO THANK THE PRESENTERS FOR COMING OUT.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY DID. AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TRY TO MITIGATE THEIR CONCERNS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE WHILE ALSO WEIGHING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. BUT I DO THINK IT IS A FAIRLY PRIVILEGED POSITION TO BE IN, TO BE CONCERNED WITH THE CHARACTER OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OVER HOUSING.

OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR COMMUNITY. AND I KNOW THAT'S PROBABLY A HARSH THING TO SAY, BUT IT'S THE TRUTH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WITH THAT. OH, COUNCILLOR COCHRANE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WILL GO ON THOSE LOTS.

AS OF YET, WE'RE JUST PUTTING IT TO LAND. THERE WILL BE TIME FOR FUTURE DEVELOPERS TO GO IN TO DECIDE WHAT WILL BE PUT THERE.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY, AS A RENTER, MOST OF US ARE VERY UPSTANDING, PARTICIPATORY CITIZENS WHO JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL. A LOT OF US TAKE CARE OF OUR PROPERTIES.

A LOT OF US ARE ADDING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL.

[01:15:02]

THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN A LIVE IN AN AFFORDABLE PLACE, AND A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE THAT WOULD ALSO ATTRACT THEM AS WELL.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING MORE RENTAL UNITS IN PLACES SUCH AS? MATANABE, SUCH AS MATANABE GITZEL. BECAUSE IF ANYTHING, IT WILL ADD TO THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THE UNACCESSIBLE.

I DON'T EVEN STATIC CENTER OF WHERE THIS IS CURRENTLY SITUATED.

IT IS A GORGEOUS NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IF ANYTHING, I THINK ONE OF THOSE UNITS, THEY WOULD BE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A CONTRIBUTION TO THAT CHARACTER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR COCHRANE.

SO WITH THAT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

SO NEXT WE HAVE A BYLAW TO AMEND FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION.

BYLAW NUMBER 4206 AS AMENDED, TO ESTABLISH THE TOURIST ACCOMMODATION TAX RESERVE PRESENTED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING.

WE CAN'T DO THIRD READING TONIGHT BECAUSE COUNCILMAN MCLENNAN IS NOT HERE. SO, WITH THAT COUNCILLOR PAYNE I MOVE FIRST READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5106.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SECONDER. COUNCILOR PAQUETTE.

HE WAS QUICK OFF THE DRAW THIS TIME. PROBABLY BEFORE HE EVEN HEARD IT.

AND WITH THAT ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM ANYONE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, DEBBIE. SEE? WE'LL GET IT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

SECOND READING. COUNCILLOR PAYNE I MOVE SECOND READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5106.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CAN I GET A SECONDER? COUNCILOR MCGURK.

NOW, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM ANYBODY? NO.

WITH THAT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

SO AGAIN, WE CAN'T DO THIRD READING. SO NEXT WE HAVE BYLAW NUMBER 5102A BYLAW TO AMEND COMMUNITY PLAN.

BYLAW NUMBER 5007 IS PRESENTED FOR THIRD READING.

COUNCILLOR PAYNE I MOVE THIRD READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5102.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CAN I GET A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR MCGURK.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THAT'S JUST MYSELF.

OPPOSED.

SO THERE WAS NO DEFERRED BUSINESS AND TABLED ITEMS. SO THERE WAS NO DEFERRED BUSINESS AND NO TABLED ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA.

AND IS THERE ANY DEFERRED BUSINESS OR TABLED ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR.

OLD BUSINESS. THERE WAS NO OLD BUSINESS FOR THE AGENDA.

IS THERE ANY OLD BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR? NOTICES OF MOTION.

THERE WERE NO NOTICES OF MOTION FOR THE AGENDA. ANY NOTICES OF MOTION FROM THE FLOOR? DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

THERE ARE NO DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA AND ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES.

ARE THERE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES FOR THE AGENDA? THERE WERE NONE. ARE THERE ANY FROM THE FLOOR? AND WITH THAT WE CAN GO TO ADJOURN. CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR WARBURTON. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.