Jun 09, 2025 Council Meetings

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AND I WILL CALL OUR COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE EVENING OF MONDAY, JUNE 9TH, 2025 TO ORDER AND I WILL ASK COUNCILLOR WARBURTON TO PLEASE READ THE OPENING

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

FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIFES 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 COUNCILLOR WARBURTON.

SO JUST TO NOTE THAT WE ARE GOING TO MOVE THE DELEGATION PERTAINING TO ITEM NINE ON THE AGENDA, THAT IS ON THE AGENDA, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO MOVE IT UP TO ITEM TEN ON THE AGENDA UNDER DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, BECAUSE OF COURSE, WE TALKED ABOUT OUR ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION TODAY AND THE DELEGATION RELATES TO THAT.

SO WE'LL MOVE THAT UP. THERE WERE FOR AWARD CEREMONIES AND PRESENTATIONS.

THERE WERE NO AWARDS CEREMONIES OR PRESENTATIONS FOR THE AGENDA.

FOR ADOPTION OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETINGS.

[Items 3 & 4]

CAN I GET SECONDER? COUNCILLOR ARDEN-SMITH. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF MONDAY,

[Items 5 & 6]

I MOVE THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR SPECIAL MEETING OF MONDAY, JUNE 2ND, 2025 BE PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SECONDER, COUNCILLOR MCGURK.

ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? NO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT, WE HAVE DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.

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

THERE WAS NO CORRESPONDENCE, NOR WERE ANY PETITIONS FOR THE AGENDA.

WE HAD STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARINGS. THERE'S NO STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE AGENDA.

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

[33. A presentation from Phil Moon Son regarding the downtown homelessness. ]

SO WELCOME TO THE PRESENTATION. JUST GO OVER THE RULES, AS WE DO WITH EVERYBODY WHO PRESENTS TO COUNCIL.

YOU KNOW THEM WELL [LAUGHTER], I'M SURE. STILL IN TERMS OF WHEN MAKING A PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL, NO PERSON SHALL SPEAK DISRESPECTFULLY OF THE CROWN.

ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL, THE PUBLIC OR THE 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 ADMIN, AND REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH DECISIONS OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER REGARDING AN INTERPRETATION OF THE BY-LAW. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO SWEAR YOUR OATH THERE, BUT I APPRECIATE IT. [LAUGHTER] I DO.

YEAH. [LAUGHTER] GO AHEAD. TRYING TO BREAK THE ICE A BIT.

I ENJOY THAT, GO AHEAD MR. MOON SON. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.

I DON'T NORMALLY APPROACH COUNCIL ON VARIOUS ISSUES.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE DONE SO. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS PRIMARILY MY FIRST QUESTION.

AND THAT IS WHY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS DON'T COMPLAIN? THEY DON'T COMPLAIN FOR THREE PRIMARY REASONS.

THE FIRST ONE IS THEY FEAR RETRIBUTION. AND IT'S NOT PRIMARILY FROM THE STREET PEOPLE.

IT'S PRIMARILY FROM GOVERNMENT, FROM GOVERNMENT LEADERS, FROM BUREAUCRATS.

AND IF ANYBODY HAS GONE THROUGH THE TEDIOUS PROCESS OF HAVING TO DISCUSS VARIOUS ISSUES OR POLICIES WITH BUREAUCRATS, THEY'LL UNDERSTAND WHY SMALL BUSINESSES DON'T TEND TO DO THAT.

THE OTHER REASON WHY THEY DON'T COMPLAIN IS BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THEY ARE MARGINALIZED.

AND SO TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WHEN I WAS WITH VARIOUS ASSOCIATIONS OR ADVOCACY GROUPS, WE ALWAYS TRY TO ENCOURAGE THE SMALL MOM AND POPS TO JOIN TO SAY A FEW WORDS TO GET THEIR VOICES HEARD.

BUT IT WAS VERY FRUITLESS. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE THEY FEEL MARGINALIZED.

AND SO WHEN BUREAUCRATS, GOVERNMENT LEADERS, GOVERNMENTS MARGINALIZE THEM, PUTTING PEOPLE,

[00:05:05]

BEFORE 911. AND THEY REPORT THINGS LIKE DRUG ACTIVITY ATTACKS ON OTHER PEOPLE VIOLENCE OR EVEN WEAPONS YOU'LL QUICKLY REALIZE WHY THEY DON'T CALL THE POLICE BECAUSE IT IS A PAINFUL PROCESS IN ITSELF. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS WHEN OR IF THEY DO ARRIVE, THEY ACTUALLY ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ALMOST GIVE, WHEN THERE IS THAT DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE POLICE, THE BUSINESS OWNER AND THE PERSON CAUSING THE DISTURBANCE, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE BUSINESS PERSON THEN BECOMES VILLAINIZED. I'VE HEARD THIS MANY TIMES WHERE THE POLICE WILL SAY THAT, WELL, WHY CAN'T THIS PERSON JUST STAND HERE.

AND THAT DOES NOT HELP THE DISCUSSION. THAT DOES NOT HELP THE CONFIDENCE OF THE BUSINESS OWNER WITH THE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, AND THAT MAKES THEM FEEL MARGINALIZED.

AND THAT'S WHY THEY DON'T CALL THE POLICE. OUR LANDLORD, CAREER HOUSE LANDLORD IS HERE WITH ME TODAY.

I DIDN'T ASK HIM TO COME, BUT HE CAME. HE. ON THURSDAY, HE WAS ATTACKED IN FRONT OF KOREA HOUSE.

AND THAT'S WHY HE HAS THAT BANDAGE AROUND HIS LEG.

I MEAN, HIS LEG, HIS HAND. MY FEAR, AND I TRY MY BEST, BUT MY FEAR IS THAT ONE DAY WHEN MY MOM CLOSES UP SHOP, SHE'S 78 YEARS OLD, SHE WORKS 14 HOURS A DAY, SHE'S AT THE RESTAURANT SIX DAYS A WEEK.

THAT ONE DAY SHE IS GOING TO BE ATTACKED. AND FOR SOMEBODY LIKE MY MOM, AN ATTACK IS GOING TO BE LIKE, VERY, VERY DETRIMENTAL. AND THERE EVEN MIGHT BE RESULT IN DEATH.

AND THE SITUATION IN DOWNTOWN IS GETTING SO BAD THAT IT IS GETTING TO THAT.

AND WE HAVE TO DISCUSS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, WHICH ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND MOST GOVERNMENT LEADERS, I'M GOING TO SAY MOST, IS IGNORING THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

I DON'T THINK IT'S BASED ON DELUSIONALISM, I THINK IT'S BASED ON FEAR.

THEY DON'T WANT TO DISCUSS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

AND UNTIL WE DISCUSS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, THIS WHOLE SITUATION AND IT'S NOT JUST THE DOWNTOWN CORE, BUT IT'S ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT IS AFFECTING THE PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORY IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

SORRY, MR. MOON SON, YOU'VE HIT FIVE MINUTES, SO WE JUST HAVE TO GET AN ADDITIONAL VOTE FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWO MINUTES.

OH. SO JUST ONE SECOND. COUNCILLOR MCGURK MOTION, COUNCILLOR COCHRANE SECOND.

SO. STEVE PAYNE SAYS I HAVE 20 MINUTES. [LAUGHTER] YEAH.

[LAUGHTER] YOU HAVE YOU HAVE AN EXTRA TWO, THOUGH.

OKAY. THANK YOU. APOLLOGIES FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. SO GOING BACK TO IT, I DON'T THINK IT'S A HOUSING ISSUE. I DON'T THINK IT'S WELL, IT IS A SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUE, BUT I THINK THE SITUATION DOWNTOWN IS MAINLY A CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ISSUE, AND WE NEED TO FOCUS SOME OF THE ENERGY, NOT ALL, ON THE CRIMINAL ELEMENTS OF THE DOWNTOWN, ESPECIALLY AS ENCAMPMENTS BECOME A HOT TOPIC ITEM OVER THE SUMMER.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MOON SON.

SO, COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. MOON SON, REMEMBER, IT'S QUESTIONS FOR HIMSELF OR FOR ADMINISTRATION.

COUNCILLOR ARDEN-SMITH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN.

I KNOW IT'S DEFINITELY HARD FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AS I USED TO BE ONE MYSELF.

AND, YOU KNOW, DOWNTOWN HAS ACTUALLY PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE SINCE I HAD MY BUSINESS DOWNTOWN,

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DO YOU THINK THAT THE NEEDS OF THE VULNERABLE ARE OUTWEIGHING THE NEEDS OF TAXPAYERS, SMALL BUSINESSES? THANK YOU VERY. OH, SORRY. GO AHEAD, MR. MOON SON.

MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILLOR, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. I THINK IT IS ONE AND THE SAME.

THAT'S WHERE I SEE THAT THE THE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, THE GOVERNMENT LEADERS IS HAVING THE CHALLENGES TALKING ABOUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, BECAUSE IT'S ONE AND THE SAME.

AND UNTIL WE IDENTIFY THAT AND DISCUSS IT AT THAT LEVEL, WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE SPINNING OUR WHEELS.

I HOPE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION. COUNCILLOR ARDEN-SMITH.

THERE'S NO RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

IT'S JUST BASED ON HOW YOU FEEL AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

QUESTIONS FROM ANY OTHER COLLEAGUES? NO? I JUST WANTED TO ASK ONE QUESTION.

OH, COUNCILLOR. COCHRANE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, PHIL. UP UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, I WAS A NEIGHBOR AND ALSO A PART OF THE BUILDING AS A TENANT AS WELL, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DEALING WITH ON A VERY INTIMATE LEVEL.

HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE MOTION THAT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE GPC TODAY? COUNCILLOR, SORRY, MR. MOON SON. YES [LAUGH] NO, I HAVE NOT, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

FOR NOT BEING A MORE ASTUTE CITIZEN OF YELLOWKNIFE.

NO APOLOGIES. NO APOLOGIES. BUT BACK TO COUNCILLOR COCHRANE.

NO APOLOGIES NECESSARY WHATSOEVER. ONE OF THE PARTS OF THIS MOTION IS WE AS A CITY ARE GOING TO COMMIT THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE MUNICIPAL ENFORCEMENT DIVISION TO PRIORITIZE ENGAGEMENT AND VISIBILITY IN THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE, FOCUSING ON LITTER, UNSIGHTLY LANDS, AND ENSURING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.

NOW THIS HAS TO BE A QUESTION. DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD START? MR. MOON SON. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK THAT'S A GREAT START. HOWEVER, WE, NOT WE, THE COUNCIL HAS HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS BEFORE AND EVEN THOUGH I APPLAUD IT AND I ENCOURAGE IT, I SEE CHALLENGES IN THAT.

AND IF I MIGHT, YOU KNOW, DIGRESS A BIT. SO FIRST OF ALL, BY-LAW OFFICERS ARE JUST THAT, THEY FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF THE DIRECTORS. BUT SECONDLY, IT IS A BUDGETARY ISSUE.

AND THE REASON WHY IT'S A BUDGETARY ISSUE IS BECAUSE BY-LAW OFFICERS ARE CONSIDERED REVENUE NEUTRAL POSITIONS.

SO REVENUE NEUTRAL POSITIONS NEED TO CREATE ENOUGH REVENUE TO SUSTAIN THAT POSITION.

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO ACHIEVE THAT WHILE STILL MAINTAINING THEIR REVENUE TARGETS? AND SO EVEN THOUGH I WAS ALWAYS CRITICIZED FOR CALLING IT QUOTAS, THE REALITY IS, IS THAT UNTIL COUNCIL MAKES A DECISION THAT BY-LAW OFFICERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE REVENUE NEUTRAL POSITIONS.

I'M JUST GOING TO JUMP IN THERE. MR. MOON SON, JUST FOR CLARITY, THAT'S NOT ACCURATE. SO THE BY-LAW OFFICERS ARE NOT REVENUE NEUTRAL, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU, AND I'M HAPPY TO WALK OVER THE BUDGET WITH YOU AT SOME JUNCTURE AFTER THIS MEETING AND THIS WEEK, IF YOU'D LIKE, BUT THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT REVENUE NEUTRAL.

WE DO NOT MAKE MONEY BACK TO FUND OUR BY-LAW SYSTEM, SO I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT CLARITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR. NOT A PROBLEM.

I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT CLARITY. COUNCILLOR.

COCHRANE, BACK TO YOURSELF. NOTHING FURTHER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND COUNCILLOR WARBURTON. THANK YOU.

PHIL, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE DEFINITELY DON'T HEAR ENOUGH FROM FOLKS DIRECTLY LIKE THIS.

SO REALLY APPRECIATE IT. SO ONE OF THE THINGS IN OUR MOTION IS TO ASK, ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGE RCMP FOR MORE FOOT PATROLS AND MORE PRESENCE DOWNTOWN.

RIGHT NOW, DO YOU FEEL THERE'S ENOUGH PRESENCE OF BY-LAW OFFICERS, RCMP OFFICERS, KIND OF ANY ENFORCEMENT AT A LEVEL THAT'S DISCOURAGING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW? THE ANSWER IS NO. I HAVE RARELY, IF EVER, SEEN AN RCMP OFFICER IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED, NEVER.

I HAVE WORKED AND HELPED MY MOM AT HER RESTAURANT FOR OVER TEN YEARS AT THAT LOCATION.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN AN OFFICER THERE WITHOUT THEM BEING CALLED.

AND THE ISSUE, AND I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, BECAUSE I THINK THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON THE RCMP TO CREATE A NEW STRUCTURE BETWEEN THE

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THEY RARELY LISTEN TO THE GNWT. THEY LISTEN TO OTTAWA, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS.

WHAT'S THAT SCOTTISH TERM? HE WHO PAYS THE PIPER CALLS THE TUNE.

I BELIEVE IN THAT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

COUNCILLOR WARBURTON. GOOD, THANK YOU. THANK YOU PHIL. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. MOON SON? STEVE MUST HAVE A QUESTION. I THINK MR., I THINK COUNCILLOR PAYNE LOOKS GOOD.

OKAY. OH, MAYBE HE DOES. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU PHIL. I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING ME OUT.

THAT'S AWESOME. [LAUGHTER] WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DONE ON OUR SIDE, ON OUR END HERE.

MR. MOON SON? THANK YOU. I CAN SEE THIS BECAUSE I'M NOT ON COUNCIL, AND I KNOW IT'S VERY DIFFICULT SITTING WHERE YOU GUYS ARE.

AND SO I AM NOTA COUNCILLOR, SO I CAN EASILY SAY THIS.

THE STRUCTURE NEEDS TO CHANGE. AND UNTIL WE CHANGE THE STRUCTURE, BUREAUCRATS HAVE THEIR HANDS TIED.

AND THE STRUCTURE CAN ONLY BE CHANGED BY GOVERNMENT LEADERS, BY CITY COUNCILLORS, BY MLAS AND BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THE STRUCTURE IS THAT IT'S JUST WHO CALLS THE SHOT.

YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU. DO YOU STILL GET YOUR MONTHLY REPORTS FROM THE RCMP?.

AND HOW OFTEN ARE YOU ABLE TO IMPLEMENT OR DIRECT ACTIVITY OR POLICIES, INTERNAL POLICIES OF THE RCMP? IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY CHALLENGING.

THERE'S NO EXISTING INSTRUMENT TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

AND HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK YOU GUYS SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER IS CREATING YOUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT MUNICIPALITIES EVEN SMALLER THAN YELLOWKNIFE, ALL ACROSS CANADA ARE DOING THAT.

EVERY SINGLE JURISDICTION IN CANADA HAS AN INDIGENOUS POLICING PROGRAM.

EVERY JURISDICTION IN CANADA HAS AN INDIGENOUS DRUG TASK FORCE PROGRAM.

WE IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES SHOULD BE THE ONE UTILIZING THOSE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES THE MOST, BUT YET, WE ARE NOT. AND THAT'S WHERE THE STRUCTURE AND THE CONVERSATION HAS TO CHANGE.

COUNCILLOR PAYNE. THANKS, PHIL. I APPRECIATE I LIKE.

I KNOW IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION, YOU KNOW, AND THE FACT THAT JOHN GOT ACCOSTED AND, YOU KNOW ATTACKED OUTSIDE THERE, LIKE, PEOPLE ARE GETTING REALLY FRUSTRATED. WE'RE GETTING REALLY FRUSTRATED.

AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO WORK ON THIS FROM THE GNWT SIDE ARE GETTING REALLY FRUSTRATED AS WELL.

IT SEEMS LIKE, I DON'T, I THINK PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE PROBLEMS. I THINK WE HAVE A HOMELESSNESS ISSUE IN THIS TOWN, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE THAT I HAVE.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I THINK IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE A VAGRANCY ISSUE OF PEOPLE BREAKING THE LAW.

AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT ANYBODY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

RIGHT. SO THAT'S WHERE I SEE THE ISSUE. AND I PERSONALLY, I THINK IT'S GOING TO GET A LOT WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GET TO A POINT WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START TAKING ACTION, AND I'M AFRAID IN THIS TOWN. JUST A REMINDER, QUESTIONS.

THERE'S, YOU JUST HOLD ON. [LAUGHTER] THERE'S A QUESTION COMING. [LAUGHTER] THERE'S A QUESTION COMING, AS SOON AS I THINK OF IT.

[LAUGHTER]. YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE.

THERE IS A QUESTION. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, I WANT PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF AND I WANT ALL THE BUSINESSES OF DOWNTOWN TO GET TOGETHER AND TO COME IN HERE, AND WE NEED TO HEAR ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS NOT JUST A ONE TIME THING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO COME IN AND WE'RE GOING TO FORGET ABOUT.

I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO START SEEING A LOT MORE PEOPLE. COUNCILLOR PAYNE QUESTION. AND MY.

YEAH, SORRY. AND MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE GOING TO MAKE TIME FOR ALL THESE PEOPLE TO COME IN? [LAUGHTER] SO I CAN ACTUALLY ANSWER THAT.

[00:20:03]

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YES, WE DO HAVE AN EVENT TOMORROW AFTERNOON FROM 1:30 TO 5.

WE ARE ENGAGING WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

IT'S A COOPERATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE CITY, AND THE CHAMBER TO LOOK INTO SOME OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES THAT HAVE EMERGED IN THE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY.

JUST A WORD ON THE FACT THAT, AS COUNCIL KNOWS, WE HAVE THE VISITOR CENTER IN THE DOWNTOWN, WE HAVE THE LIBRARY IN THE DOWNTOWN, WE HAVE STAFF IN THE DOWNTOWN THAT ARE ENCOUNTERING SOME OF THE MANY ISSUES THAT MR. MOON SON HAS REFERENCED AND OTHERS HAVE REFERENCED IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE HAVE MULTIPLE REASONS WHY WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPROVEMENT IN THIS SPACE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. VAN DINE. COUNCILLOR MCGURK.

OH OH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

KOREA HOUSE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN TOWN. [LAUGHTER] QUESTION.

WHY AREN'T YOU OPEN, WHY AREN'T YOU OPEN PAST 7 P.M.? NO, I'M JUST KIDDING. [LAUGHTER] NO. YOU'VE EXPRESSED THAT YOU WANT GOVERNMENT TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THE PROBLEM, TO APPROACH THE PROBLEM DIFFERENTLY. AND YOU'VE SORT OF INDICATED THAT YOU BELIEVE THE ONUS IS ON THE GOVERNMENT.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT BUSINESSES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY HERE AS WELL? MR. MOON SON. THE BUSINESSES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY TAXES.

THE BUSINESSES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE CITY, WHICH MOST OF THE TIME THEY DO.

THE SITUATION HERE IS NOT CAUSED BY THE BUSINESSES.

AND THE SITUATION HERE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT.

IT'S NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUSINESSES.

NOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT INSIDE A MALL, WELL, YEAH, IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

AND THAT'S WHERE SECURITY GUARDS COME IN. BUT TALKING ABOUT SECURITY GUARDS, I THINK THE CITY SHOULD GIVE TAX BREAKS TO CERTAIN BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN SO THEY CAN HIRE SECURITY SO THEY CAN FEEL SAFE, SO THEIR CUSTOMERS CAN FEEL SAFE.

AND SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILLOR, MR. MAYOR IS DO THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS WHAT? I GUESS THAT'S THE QUESTION COUNCIL LOR.

YOU CAN ANSWER OR NOT, BUT BACK TO YOU COUNCILLOR MCGURK.

YEAH. WELL, I SUPPOSE THAT MAYBE PART OF WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT GOVERNMENT SEEING THE ISSUE DIFFERENTLY, IT COULD EXTENDS MAYBE BEYOND THAT.

BUT ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU IS IF THIS IS CONSIDERED A RESOURCE ISSUE? YOU SAID THAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PAY TAXES.

SO IF WE CONSIDER THIS TO BE A RESOURCE ISSUE, AND THIS IS A LEGITIMATE QUESTION, I'M NOT TRYING TO LIKE GOAD YOU OR ANYTHING.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE PAYING HIGHER TAXES? MR. MOON SON. I GUESS THE QUESTION IS. AM I COMFORTABLE WITH THE AVERAGE 2% TO 5% TAX INCREASE EVERY YEAR BASED ON CPA OR CPU? CPI. CPI? YES, I AM COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

IF THERE WAS A LEGITIMATE PROGRAM OUT THERE WHERE A CERTAIN CORRIDOR WOULD BE TAXED AND IN RETURN THERE WOULD BE A PARTNERSHIP AND SHARED AND SHARED INVESTMENTS IN THAT TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THAT PARTICULAR CORRIDOR.

I THINK A LOT OF BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN WOULD BE OPEN TO THAT, DEPENDING ON THE ARRANGEMENT, AND THAT HAS HAPPENED IN JURISDICTIONS, MUNICIPALITIES ALL ACROSS CANADA.

I THINK IT WAS A GREAT RESPONSE. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

ANY FINAL QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES? NO? WITH THAT, THANK YOU, MR. MOON SON, FOR COMING TONIGHT. I KNOW IT'S ALWAYS YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A LOT FOR SOMEBODY TO COME TO COUNCIL AND SPEAK AND TO, YOU KNOW, ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. SO JUST THANK YOU FOR FOR COMING OUT AND SPEAKING TONIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANKS. SO WITH THAT, WE MOVE ON TO MEMBER STATEMENTS.

THERE WERE NO MEMBER STATEMENTS FOR THE AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY MEMBER STATEMENTS FROM THE FLOOR? NO? NEXT WE HAVE INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS. COUNCILLOR WARBURTON WILL INTRODUCE THE FOLLOWING REPORTS, THE GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE REPORT FROM

[Items 11 - 17]

[00:25:08]

SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE REPORT FOR JUNE 2ND, 2025 AND COUNCILLOR WARBURTON.

I MOVE THAT COUNCIL ADOPT THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR MUNICIPAL ENFORCEMENT MED, FOR 25, 2025-2026. ONE FOCUS ON PEDESTRIAN AND INTERSECTION, SAFETY AND SCHOOL ZONES THROUGH THE STRATEGIC ENFORCEMENT OF THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC BY-LAW AND PRIORITIZING MUNICIPAL ENFORCEMENT ENGAGEMENT AND VISIBILITY IN THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE.

FOCUSING ON LITTER AND [INAUDIBLE] AND ENSURING SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR WARBURTON. CAN I GET A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR ARDEN-SMITH.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COLLEAGUES? NO? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCILLOR WARBURTON. I MOVE THAT COUNCIL, AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES ASSOCIATION COMMUNITIES TO RECEIVE THE CITY'S ALLOCATION OF FEDERAL DMAF FUNDING FOR NWT COMMUNITIES FOR WILDLAND FIRE MITIGATION THROUGH VEGETATION/FUEL REDUCTION.

CAN I GET A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT WE HAVE NEW BUSINESS. AND FIRST WE HAVE A MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO PROCEED WITH SURFACE PATCHING,

[Items 18 & 19]

COUNCILLOR WARBURTON. I MOVE THAT COUNCIL AUTHORIZE ADMINISTRATION TO REDIRECT CAPITAL, CARRY FORWARD FUNDING TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO FRANKLIN AVENUE FROM 41ST STREET TO 43RD STREET. IT'S A TONGUE TWISTER THERE. CAN I GET A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR MCGURK. AND ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OH, COUNCILLOR WARBURTON.

I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A CRAZY BUSY WORKLOAD, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE RESPONSE HERE TO AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM.

SO AFTER A MEETING TODAY, I HAD PEOPLE REACH OUT THAT WERE QUITE HAPPY THAT WE'RE DOING THAT ROAD, SO THANK YOU FOR READING YOUR ROOM. THERE YOU GO.

[LAUGHTER] PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO PRACTICAL PROBLEMS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? YEAH. AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. AND SO NEXT UP, WE DO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL NEW BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR COMING FROM OUR GOVERNANCE AND

[20. Is there any new business from the floor?]

SO I MOVE THAT NOTICE REQUIREMENTS BE JUST, OH WOW, THAT NOTICE REQUIREMENTS BE DISPENSED WITH PERSUASION TO SECTION 71-1C OF THE COUNCIL PROCEDURES BY-LAW NUMBER 4975.

WOW. AND THAT RESOLUTIONS RESPECTING ENCAMPMENTS AND SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARCTIC SECURITY CORRIDOR BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA. AND THESE ARE ALL THE GOVERNANCE THINGS THAT I KNOW YOU DESPISE. SO THANK YOU FOR BARRELING THROUGH THAT.

CAN I GET A SECONDER FOR THE MOTION? COUNCILLOR FOOTE.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS MOTION? TO BRING THE OTHER TWO TO THE FLOOR. NO? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILLOR WARBURTON.

OKAY. FIRST ONE. COUNCIL ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION. RESOLUTION RESPECTING ENCAMPMENTS AS WRITTEN IN THE MEMO.

VERY GOOD. NICE SUMMARY THERE. CAN I GET A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR MCGURK. AND ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE RESOLUTION? NO? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCILLOR WARBURTON. AND SECOND ONE THAT COUNCIL ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION.

RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARCTIC SECURITY CORRIDOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CAN I GET A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR COCHRANE ALREADY THE HAND UP, I LIKE IT.[LAUGHTER] ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NONE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COLLEAGUES. SO NEXT WE HAVE ENACTMENT OF BY-LAWS.

[Items 21 - 23]

COUNCILLOR WARBURTON. I MOVE SECOND READING OF BY-LAW NUMBER 5108.

I GOT SECONDER? COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

COUNCILLOR WARBURTON. I MOVE THIRD READING OF BY-LAW 5108.

SECONDER? WORK WITH ME HERE, PEOPLE. COUNCILLOR FOOTE.

[LAUGHTER] ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? [LAUGHTER] AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT, WE HAVE A BY-LAW TO SET THE 2025 SCHOOL TAX LEVY PRESENTED FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING.

[Items 24 - 26]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR MCGURK.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO? OH, COUNCILLOR WARBURTON.

JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT WE SAID A FEW TIMES IS THAT WE PASS ON THE TAX LEVY AS REQUESTED BY THE SCHOOL BOARDS, WE DO NOT DECIDE THAT NUMBER. [LAUGHTER] GOOD REMINDER.

[00:30:01]

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NONE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS. COUNCILLOR WARBURTON FOR THIRD READING.

I MOVE THIRD READING OF BY-LAW NUMBER 5109. SECONDER, COUNCILLOR ARDEN-SMITH.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS. NEXT WE HAVE DEFERRED BUSINESS AND TABLED ITEMS. THERE WAS NO DEFERRED BUSINESS AND THERE WERE NO TABLED ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA.

IS THERE ANY FROM THE FLOOR? NEXT WE HAVE OLD BUSINESS.

THERE WAS NO OLD BUSINESS FOR THE AGENDA. IS THERE ANY OLD BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR? NEXT WE HAVE NOTICES OF MOTION.

THERE WERE NO NOTICES OF MOTION FOR THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY NOTICES OF MOTION FROM THE FLOOR? NO? NEXT WE HAVE DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

THERE WERE NO DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

NEXT, WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES. THERE WERE NONE FOR THE AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY FROM THE FLOOR? COUNCILLOR FEQUET HAD A GRIN ON HIS FACE THERE. AND [LAUGHTER] TO ADJOURN.

CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? COUNCILLOR COCHRANE, SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR MCGURK. AND THAT'S THE END OF THE MEETING.

ENJOY THE OILERS GAME.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.