[00:00:02]
>> I'D LIKE TO CALL GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER FOR MONDAY,
[1. Opening Statement]
JULY 14TH, 2025, OPENING STATEMENT.THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE ARE LOCATED ON CHIEF DRYGEESE TERRITORY.
FROM TIME MEMORIAL, IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATION.
WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES, AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS, METIS, AND INUIT WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
I'D LIKE TO NOTE MY DAD IS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND TO ADD THE AGENDA, MR. VAN DINE.
[2. Approval of the agenda]
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. NOTHING TO ADD, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST A REORDERING IF THAT'S POSSIBLE, BEGINNING WITH THE PRESENTATION REGARDING BUDGET 2026, FOLLOWED BY THE MEMORANDUM REGARDING THE VARIANCE REPORT FOR DECEMBER 31ST, AND THEN MOVING ON AS LISTED.
>> THANK YOU. NOT SEEING ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT,
[7. A presentation regarding Budget 2026.]
WE WILL REARRANGE THAT.WE'LL START WITH MR. PANDOO'S PRESENTATION.
HAPPY TO SEE YOU ALL IN PERFECT SHAPES.
WELL, IT MAY SEEM HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT IN ONLY 112 DAYS WHEN IT WILL BE GLUEY, THE AIR WILL TASTE LIKE ICE, AND THERE WILL BE BITING WIND THAT WILL SEEM TO HUG YOUR BONES, YOU WILL BE RECEIVING A DOCUMENT OF OVER 250 PAGES IN SIZE, PACKED WITH CONTENT THAT EXPLAINS HOW THE CITY WILL OBTAIN AND SPEND MONEY IN 2026, '27, AND 2028.
THIS PRESENTATION WILL INTRODUCE SOME OF THE KEY CONSIDERATIONS INFLUENCING THOSE BUDGETS, ESPECIALLY BUDGET 2026, LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT.
AS YOU WOULD KNOW, THIS IS A YEARLY RITUAL.
HOWEVER, TODAY THERE IS NO SLIDES ON NEW PY REQUESTS AS ADMINISTRATION IS WAITING ON THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION REVIEW TO PROCEED ON THAT FRONT.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE BUDGET 2026 CONTEXT, JUST A QUICK REMINDER AS TO WHAT A GOOD BUDGET PROCESS LOOKS LIKE.
THE CITY'S BUDGETING PROCESS AIMS TO EMBRACE THE KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD BUDGET PROCESS AS DEFINED BY THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION'S NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON STATE AND LOCAL BUDGETING.
THE GFOA'S NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL STATES THAT A GOOD BUDGET PROCESS CONSIDERS THE FUTURE AT ALL STAGES SO THAT ADEQUATE FUNDING CAN BE IDENTIFIED FOR THOSE LONG-RANGE PROJECTS THAT AREN'T IMMINENT, BUT WILL EVENTUALLY REQUIRE FUNDING.
A GOOD PROCESS ALLOCATES LIMITED RESOURCES BY STARTING WITH OBJECTIVES AND WORKING BACKWARDS FROM THERE.
WHAT DOES COUNCIL WANT TO ACCOMPLISH AND HOW ARE FUNDS ALLOCATED TO DO THAT? THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ITEMS THAT ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE FUNDED TO SUSTAIN A COMMUNITY, BUT ANY ITEMS OUTSIDE OF THESE CRITICAL AND CORE SERVICES SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH COUNCIL'S STRATEGIC PLAN.
IN A GOOD BUDGET PROCESS, BUDGETING DECISIONS FOCUS ON OUTCOMES.
WHAT IS THE BUDGET PROVIDING? RATHER THAN SIMPLY DETERMINING HOW MUCH OF A TAX INCREASE OR DECREASE IS PALATABLE EACH YEAR, AS WELL, CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO WHAT SERVICES THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE.
INSTEAD OF JUST LOOKING AT THE LISTINGS OF EXPENSES FOR EACH DEPARTMENT, THE FOCUS IS ON THE BENEFITS RATE PAYERS RECEIVE FOR EACH PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND FACILITY.
A GOOD BUDGET PROCESS ALSO INVOLVES AND PROMOTES EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS.
BUDGETING DECISIONS ARE FOCUSED ON GOALS AND OUTCOMES, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO COMMUNICATE THIS WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS.
FINALLY, WHEN COUNCIL'S OBJECTIVES ARE ALIGNED AND INCORPORATED INTO THE BUDGETING PREPARATION PROCESS, IT CAN INCREASE BUY-IN ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION AS EMPLOYEES ARE MORE CLEARLY ABLE TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS IS CONTRIBUTING TO GOALS AND THAT THESE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY.
FOLLOWING THESE PRINCIPLES RELIGIOUSLY WILL HELP COUNCIL AVOID SHORT-TERMISM.
AFTER THIS GENTLE REMINDER BY GFOA, LET'S GET BACK TO BUDGET 2026.
AS YOU'RE ALL AWARE, BUDGETING INVOLVES A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AND IT IS A BALANCING ACT.
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WHEN DEVELOPING A MUNICIPAL BUDGET, WE ALWAYS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE CONTEXT, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, JUST LIKE MY HEIGHT, ELEMENTS ON THIS SLIDE HAVE NOT CHANGED ONE BIT SINCE THE LAST TWO YEARS.[LAUGHTER] NOW, IN FACT, THERE ARE OTHER KEY FACTORS THAT WILL IMPACT THE 2026 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
NOTABLY, THE WORK PLAN, OUR RESERVES AND DEBT LEVELS, THE DIFFERENT MODERNIZATION INITIATIVES THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN, THE GENERAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT, SOME POLICIES THAT WILL NEED TO BE DISCUSSED AND FINALIZED BEFORE WE HEAD INTO BUDGET 2026.
LASTLY, THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR OF ALL.
I SHOULD NEVER HAVE LISTENED TO DIRECTOR MCLENNAN, SO I WILL REMOVE THIS ONE FROM HERE.
[LAUGHTER] THE PAST YEARS HAVE PROVEN TO BE QUITE A CHALLENGE IN COMPLETING ALL PROJECTS THAT THE CITY HAD ENVISIONED.
THERE APPEARS TO BE SO MUCH TO DO, BUT NOT ENOUGH STAFF AND TIME TO GET EVERYTHING DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
AS A REMINDER, IN 2026, THE FOLLOWING MAJOR INITIATIVES WOULD OCCUPY MOST OF CITY'S RESOURCES.
JUST A NOTE THAT THESE TASKS, IN ADDITION TO ROUTINE WORK THAT GETS DONE ON OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
HERE, ROUTINE SHOULD BE BETWEEN INVERTED COMMAS, BECAUSE THEY ARE IMPORTANT TASK IN THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS, AND THIS IS WHERE MOST OF STAFF TIME IS SPENT.
BUDGET 2026 WILL TRY TO BALANCE THE MAJOR PROJECTS WITH THE NORMAL DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS OF THE CITY, RECOGNIZING THAT ROUTINE OPERATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
COMMITTEE IS ALREADY AWARE THAT WE DO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH OUR CURRENT DEBT SERVICE LEVELS.
ALSO, AS HIGHLIGHTED IN RECENT TIMES, WE SHOULD BE SETTING ASIDE MUCH MORE INTO OUR RESERVES AND INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS.
BUDGET 2026 WILL PROVIDE ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL AN OPPORTUNITY TO REASSESS BOTH THE DEBT SERVICE AND RESERVES' LEVELS, AND COME UP WITH A SOLID PATH FORWARD.
ANOTHER ASPECT THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS WELL AWARE IS THAT THE CITY AS AN ORGANIZATION IS AT CROSSROADS.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY CRUCIAL TO TACKLE COMPLEX OPERATIONAL ISSUES AND FOSTER SUSTAINABLE GROWTH.
FROM STREAMLINING OPERATIONS AND CREATING EFFICIENCIES TO IMPROVING SERVICE DELIVERY AND ENHANCING THE EXPERIENCE, MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND PROCESSES HOLDS THE PROMISE TO HELP MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE OURS, MEET THE EVER-EVOLVING NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.
TO MOVE CONFIDENTLY IN THIS DIRECTION, WE CURRENTLY HAVE NUMEROUS INITIATIVES UNDERWAY; THE ORG REVIEW, THE IT AUDIT, AND RECORDS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AUDIT.
GPC ALSO RECENTLY ENGAGED ON THE FINAL REPORT OF THE WATER AND SEWER RATE STRUCTURE REVIEW.
THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THESE REVIEWS IS TO PROVIDE A STRONG BASIS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FULLY FUNCTIONAL ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING AND CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS TO BETTER SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF YELLOWKNIFE.
FINALLY, ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO WORKING ON TRANSFORMING OUR WEBSITE INTO A MORE MODERN AND USER-FRIENDLY ESERVICES WEBSITE THAT CAN EVOLVE WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS.
THE FIRST PHASE WILL BE COMPLETED IN APRIL OF NEXT YEAR.
NOW, FUNDING REQUESTS WILL BE INCORPORATED IN BUDGET 2026 TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THESE HIGHLIGHTED REPORTS.
THE CITY'S ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION PROCESSES ARE DRIVEN BY THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION ACT, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS PATA.
THIS LEGISLATION IS VERY PRESCRIPTIVE AND SETS OUT MANY SPECIFIC STEPS THAT MUST BE TAKEN WITHIN WELL-DEFINED SCHEDULES.
ONE OF THE TIME FRAME THAT PATA SETS OUT IS THAT OF THE GENERAL ASSESSMENT.
SECTION 12 OF THE PATA MENTIONS THAT GENERAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS MUST BE CARRIED OUT AT EVERY NINE YEARS.
HOWEVER, IN 2014, THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTED TO CONDUCT THE GENERAL ASSESSMENTS EVERY FIVE YEARS.
EVEN THOUGH THIS CREATES SOME COMPLICATIONS IN TERMS OF ALIGNING TIMELINES AND RESOURCES, I THINK THIS WAS A VERY GOOD DECISION.
AS A REMINDER, THE LAST GENERAL ASSESSMENT WAS COMPLETED IN 2018.
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AFTER SOME DELAYS, THE GENERAL ASSESSMENT IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, AND WE ARE EXPECTING THIS EXERCISE TO BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT TWO MONTH IN TIME FOR BUDGET 2026 INCLUSION.LET'S PAUSE FOR A MINUTE ON THE GENERAL ASSESSMENT THAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING.
AS I MENTIONED, THE LAST GENERAL ASSESSMENT WAS IN 2018 AND SEVEN YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THEN.
FROM 2018-2025, WE HAVE SEEN A MIX OF IT ALL IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC FLUCTUATIONS.
SLOWDOWN IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY, GLOBAL ECONOMIC DOWNTURN DUE TO COVID-19.
MODERATE GROWTH IN JOB CREATION AND WAGES.
INFLATION RETURNING TO BANK OF CANADA'S TARGET RANGE WITH MODERATE GROWTH.
INTEREST RATES CUT MULTIPLE TIMES TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY.
NOW THE FORECAST ARE SHOWING MODERATE GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY, BUT CHALLENGES WITH HIGH INTEREST RATES AND INFLATION WILL STILL PERSIST.
BUT WHY AM I TELLING YOU ALL THIS? BECAUSE GENERALLY, THE STATE OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY DOES IMPACT PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS, PRIMARILY THROUGH ITS EFFECT ON MARKET VALUE.
ECONOMIC FACTORS LIKE INTEREST RATES, JOB GROWTH, INCOME LEVELS, AND EVEN CONSTRUCTION COSTS INFLUENCE DEMAND FOR HOUSING, AND BY EXTENSION, LAND.
THIS IN TURN AFFECTS PROPERTY VALUES AND ULTIMATELY ASSESSMENT.
ALL THIS TO SAY THAT WE ARE EXPECTING TO SEE INCREASES IN MOST ASSESSED VALUES.
WE DO NOT HAVE A PERCENTAGE YET, BUT IN 2018, I AM TOLD THE GENERAL ASSESSMENT SHOWED INCREASES BETWEEN 3.17% TO 20.06%, DEPENDING ON THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT CLASS.
HAVING SAID THAT, I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT IT IS A COMMON MISCONCEPTION THAT AN INCREASE IN ASSESS VALUES AUTOMATICALLY MEANS HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES FOR ALL RESIDENTS OR HIGHER TAXATION REVENUE FOR MUNICIPALITY.
WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT THE OPPORTUNITY DOES EXIST FOR MUNICIPALITIES IN A GENERAL ASSESSMENT YEAR TO HARVEST SOME OF THE POTENTIAL REVENUE INCREASE BY EITHER KEEPING THE SAME TAX RATES OR INCREASING TAX RATES AFTER AN ASSESSMENT.
BUT I WOULD SAY TO THE MOST PART, COUNCILS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE SENSITIVE AND SENSIBLE ENOUGH TO ADJUST THE MILL RATES DOWNWARD TO KEEP TAXES THE SAME OR TAX INCREASES AT MARGINAL LEVELS.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE EXERCISE OF PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS IS MORE NUANCED THAN THIS, AND I AM JUST TRYING TO SIMPLIFY FOR THE GENERAL AUDIENCE, BUT AS YOU WOULD HAVE PROBABLY GUESSED THAT THE IMPACT OF A GENERAL ASSESSMENT ON RESIDENTS DEPENDS AND VARIES ON A CASE BY CASE, NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND PROPERTY CLASS BY PROPERTY CLASS BASIS.
MOVING ON FROM THE GENERAL ASSESSMENT, AS THE GUARDIANS OF THE ASSETS OF THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE, WE ARE COMMITTED TO DEMONSTRATE FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY.
PART OF THIS RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ENSURE WE ARE STRATEGICALLY MANAGING CITY RESOURCES WITH A LONG-TERM VIEW AND HAVE PROCEDURES, POLICIES, AND BYLAWS IN PLACE THAT ALLOWS US TO DO SO.
FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET, ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING TO BRING FORWARD THE LONG-AWAITED EMERGING ISSUES RESERVE POLICY, THE INVESTMENT POLICY, AND THE MILL RATE POLICY FOR DISCUSSION.
THE EMERGING ISSUES RESERVE POLICY HAS BEEN COOKING FOR A WHILE, AND IT IS NOW READY TO BE PLATED.
THIS POLICY SEEKS TO HELP THE CITY NAVIGATE UNEXPECTED EVENTS, AND WITH MORE ASSURANCE AND CONFIDENCE.
THE ERI HAS TWO PRIMARY OBJECTIVES.
FIRST, TO PROVIDE CLARITY ON FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEALING WITH OR RESPONDING TO EMERGING ISSUES.
THE SECOND IS TO HELP ABSORB AND DEAL WITH THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF EMERGING ISSUES, AND PREVENT FURTHER RISK TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE PUBLIC.
JUST TO NOTE, WE CURRENTLY DO HAVE 3.5 MILLION EARMARKED FOR THIS PURPOSE IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND ADMINISTRATION INTENDS TO BRING A MEMO FOR DISCUSSION ON SEPTEMBER 8TH LATER.
THE CITY CURRENTLY DOES HAVE AN INVESTMENT POLICY BYLAW, WHICH WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN DECEMBER 2008 AND AMENDED IN MAY 2011.
THE INTENTION OF THIS POLICY IS TO INVEST PUBLIC FUNDS IN A MANNER WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE HIGHER INVESTMENT RETURN WITH THE MAXIMUM SECURITY, WHILE MEETING ITS DAILY CASH FLOW REQUIREMENTS AND CONFORMING TO
[00:15:04]
ALL TERRITORIAL STATUTES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE INVESTMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS.NEEDLESS TO SAY, AFTER SUCH A LONG TIME, THERE IS A NEED TO REVIEW THIS POLICY.
AT THE MOMENT, UNDER THIS POLICY, ANY INTEREST EARNED IS SUPPOSED TO BE ALLOCATED TO THE OPERATING OR RESERVE FUND FROM WHICH THE INVESTMENTS WERE MADE.
ADMINISTRATION'S QUESTION TO THIS COMMITTEE IS, SHOULD WE EXPAND THE SCOPE AND BE MORE STRATEGIC IN THE USE OF THESE INVESTMENT INCOME? WHAT WE HAVE IN MIND IS TO ALLOCATE THE EARNED INTEREST, EXCLUDING PORTIONS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE SPECIFIC RESERVES IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER.
TWO-FIFTH TOWARDS DOWNTOWN INITIATIVES, 1/5 TOWARDS CONTINGENCY TO TACKLE ORGANIZATIONAL INEFFICIENCIES, AND 2/5 AVAILABLE FOR POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION.
A MEMO IN THIS RESPECT, AGAIN, WILL BE COMING TO THE SEPTEMBER 22ND GPC.
A PRESENTATION ON MILL RATE POLICY WAS DONE BY YOUR VERY ATTRACTIVE DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SERVICES EARLIER ON MAY 26.
TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN, THE INTENTION OF THE MILL RATE POLICY IS TO SET THE PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH THAT COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION CAN USE AS A GUIDE TO SET PROPERTY TAXES, INCLUDING THE STRATEGY BEHIND MILL RATE RATIOS AND THE WAY THE PROPERTY TAX BURDEN IS DISTRIBUTED.
WHAT ADMINISTRATION HEARD WAS THAT GPC WAS IN FAVOR OF SEEING A RECOMMENDATION BROUGHT FORWARD AROUND 2026 BUDGET TIME.
THERE WAS SPLIT, HOWEVER, BETWEEN THE FIXED SHARE APPROACH, 50/50 BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, AND TAX RATIO APPROACH.
GPC MEMBERS WERE UNANIMOUSLY IN FAVOR OF SCRAPPING THE HIGH-DENSITY PARKING CLASS AND RECLASSIFYING THE TWO PROPERTIES IN EITHER RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CLASS.
THIS WOULD BE DONE IN A PHASED-IN APPROACH, AND ADVANCE NOTICE TO THE OWNERS WILL BE GIVEN.
NOTHING WAS DECIDED OR SUGGESTED BY GPC ON DERELICT BUILDINGS, EXCEPT THE DASHING COUNCILOR COCHRANE.
>> SORRY, IT'S MY FRIEND, TOURETTE, AGAIN PLAYING.
WANTED TO HAVE SOME FEEDBACK AS TO HOW THIS WAS WORKING FOR THE CITY OF EDMONTON.
>> ON VACANT LANDS, THE PROBLEM AND FRUSTRATION WAS HIGHLIGHTED AS BEING A LOT OF VACANT LANDS ARE CURRENTLY HELD IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP WITHOUT ANY DEVELOPMENT BEING DONE.
IN SOME INSTANCES, THESE LOTS APPEAR TO BE CONTAMINATED AS WELL.
GPC HAVE EXPRESSED THE DESIRE FOR ADMINISTRATION TO CONDUCT A CITY-WIDE REVIEW AND SCOPING OF ALL VACANT LANDS IN THE CITY.
A MEMO RECOMMENDING POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS AND NEXT STEPS WILL BE ON THE AGENDA OF THE OCTOBER 6TH GPC.
NOW LET'S TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THE 2026 BUDGET SCHEDULE.
COUNCIL HAS ALREADY ADOPTED THE 2025 TAX RATES, WHICH STANDS AT 5.86%.
AS A REMINDER, COUNCIL HAD AGREED TO A MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE OF 6.02% WHILE ADOPTING BUDGET 2025 LAST DECEMBER.
BUT A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE CITY'S ASSESSMENT BASE SUBSEQUENTLY ALLOWED COUNCIL TO DECREASE THIS FIGURE TO 5.86.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN CURRENTLY SUBMIT THEIR BUDGET PROPOSALS USING THE ONLINE FORM AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.
THE CUTOFF DATE FOR PROPOSALS TO BE INCLUDED IN BUDGET 2026 IS AUGUST 15TH.
THIS DATE IS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL.
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO ASK FOR THE SUN, MOON, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
BUT PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THE POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE OR PROGRAM CUTS THAT YOUR PROPOSALS MIGHT LEAD TO.
THE BEST WAY IS TO ENSURE YOUR IDEAS ARE ALWAYS TIED TO COUNCIL'S STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS.
IN SEPTEMBER, ADMINISTRATION WILL PROVIDE THE PUBLIC SUBMISSIONS TO GPC WITH ITS RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE DICTATED BY THE 2026, 2028 WORK PLAN, COUNCIL DIRECTIONS, AND OTHER MASTER PLANS.
IN OCTOBER, WITH THE PRESENTATION OF THE THIRD QUARTER VARIANCE, ADMINISTRATION WILL ALSO SEEK TO HAVE COUNCIL MUNICIPAL TAX OBJECTIVES.
THE 2026 DRAFT BUDGET WILL BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC ON NOVEMBER 3RD, AND PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, IF ANY, ON THE DRAFT BUDGET WILL OCCUR THREE WEEKS LATER.
DECEMBER 1ST-4TH ARE BEING SET ASIDE FOR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS,
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AND WE HOPE TO WRAP UP BY DECEMBER 8TH, BY ADOPTING THE 2026 BUDGET ALONG WITH ANY FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW AMENDMENTS.TO CONCLUDE THIS PRESENTATION, I JUST WANTED TO SUMMARIZE THAT IN RELATION TO BUDGET 2026, THE CITY WILL REEVALUATE ITS DEBT SERVICING AND RESERVE LEVELS WITH A FOCUS ON LONG TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY, AS A CORPORATION CONTINUE TO ADOPT MODERN TECHNOLOGIES AND STREAMLINE PROCESSES TO IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY, ENHANCE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, AND PROVIDE A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR RESIDENTS.
WE ARE EXPECTING TO SEE HIGHER PROPERTY VALUES AFTER THE CURRENT GENERAL ASSESSMENT IS COMPLETE.
FINALLY, THE POLICIES OF THE EMERGING ISSUES, RESERVE, INVESTMENT, AND MILL RATE WILL BE PRESENTED TO GPC FOR DISCUSSION IN THE COMING MONTH.
NOW, THESE POLICIES WOULD BE UP FOR DISCUSSION.
WE'RE NOT SAYING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, WE DO WANT TO HAVE YOUR INPUT, SO THAT GOING INTO BUDGET 2026, WE'RE ABLE TO INCORPORATE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU MAY DEEM FIT.
WITH THAT, I'LL SAY THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PANDOO. IS THERE QUESTIONS? TOM MCLENNAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
LOTS OF GOOD INFO. JUST A QUESTION, AND THIS MAY BE TOO EARLY.
YOU DID A VERY GOOD JOB EXPLAINING THE GENERAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT AND HOW THE IMPORTANCE IS RELATIVE SHIFTS BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS OR PROPERTY CLASSES, NOT NECESSARILY THE NOMINAL VALUE OF EVERYONE'S PROPERTY.
DO WE HAVE ANY UNDERSTANDING OR ANTICIPATE ANY LARGE RELATIVE ASSESSMENT INCREASES IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS OR CLASSES, AS I BELIEVE HAS HAPPENED IN KAM LAKE IN THE PAST, OR WE'RE NOT SURE?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WE DO NOT HAVE A LINE OF SIGHT ON THAT AT THIS TIME, BUT WE ARE, AS MR. PANDOO'S POINTED OUT, HOPEFUL TO GET A FIRST GLANCE AT IT WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOPEFULLY A FEW WEEKS IF NOT MONTHS.
ONCE WE'VE DONE THAT, CERTAINLY THE EXPERIENCE THAT OCCURRED BACK THEN IS CERTAINLY VERY WELL AWARE AND SENSITIZED TO ADMINISTRATION, SO WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL HAS A LINE OF SIGHT ON ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE EYE CATCHING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND YEAH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC IF THEY HAVE ANY BUDGET IDEAS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ONLINE FORM AND GET THOSE IN BY AUGUST 15TH. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. GREAT TO HEAR THE GENERAL ASSESSMENT IS UNDERWAY AFTER BEING DELAYED FOR A FEW YEARS. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.
TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION JUST REFLECTING ON THE LONG-TERM DEBT AND RESERVES.
MY QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE, IS ADMINISTRATION PLANNING ON DOING THE MATH AND PROVIDING SOME GOLDILOCKS RECOMMENDATIONS AS PART OF THE BUDGET? SOME OPTIONS FOR IF WE WANTED TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE AND PAYING IT DOWN, MAYBE WE HAVE TO BE MORE FISCALLY CONSTRAINED, OR THAT ONE THAT'S JUST RIGHT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING FORWARD RECOMMENDATIONS AS PART OF THE BUDGET.
I SEE HEADS NODDING, SO THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.
HAS THE ADMINISTRATION HAD A CHANCE? YOU MENTIONED THAT IT WAS A BYLAW, AND I KNOW ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WAS THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT FINANCIAL POLICIES, AND SOME EXIST AS POLICIES AND SOME EXIST AS BYLAWS, AND OBVIOUSLY BYLAWS ARE THERE FOR A REASON, BUT THEY ALSO COME WITH A LITTLE MORE ADMINISTRATION ON OUR SIDE.
JUST WONDERING IF ALL OF THOSE THREE POLICIES, IF YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE YET TO EXPLORE WHETHER THEY WILL COME IN THE FORM OF A POLICY OR A BYLAW, OR IF THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED AS PART OF THAT UPCOMING DISCUSSION.
>> MR. PANDOO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT?
>> YEAH. CAN I SAY NO? [LAUGHTER] NO, I CAN'T.
THE EMERGING ISSUES RESERVE, WILL COME AS A BYLAW BECAUSE THERE WILL BE RESTRICTION CLAUSES AND HOW TO USE IT, THE SCOPE AS WELL.
YOU'RE RIGHT IN SAYING WE WOULD WANT COUNSEL TO HAVE A SAY ON THAT.
THE INVESTMENT POLICY CURRENTLY IS THE INVESTMENT POLICY BY LAW, SO DEPENDING ON HOW THE DISCUSSION GO, IT MIGHT STAY AS A BYLAW.
THE MILL RATES, THIS ONE, I AM NOT SURE BECAUSE WE'VE NOT INTERNALLY HAVE A DISCUSSION TO SAY HOW WE WANT TO GO ABOUT IT, SO THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY FOR NOW.
[00:25:02]
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT RESPONSE.
JUST A COMMENT, I GUESS, ON THE VACANT LAND TAX THAT COUNCIL MCLENNAN HAD PREVIOUSLY BROUGHT TO OUR DISCUSSIONS, AND I SAW THE UPDATE JUST ABOUT THERE WAS NO CLEAR CONSENSUS EXCEPT THE CITY-WIDE SCOPING.
RESIDENTS THAT HAVE SPOKEN TO ME ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT POSSIBILITY.
I WOULD AGREE THAT IT'S DEFINITELY THE ACCOMPANYING STICK TO THE DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES CARROT.
DEFINITELY SOMETHING I THINK WE NEED TO DO TO TRY TO GET LAND MOVING.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT COUNCIL CAN PUT IN OUR WISH LIST BY AUGUST 15TH, TOO.
THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU. ANY MORE QUESTIONS, MY COLLEAGUES? NO. THANK YOU, MR. PANDOO.
OH, I MISSED DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR GENERALLY THEREOF, APOLOGIES. NO ONE HAS ANY.
GOOD. PRESENTATION REGARDING PLANNING DEVELOPMENT, AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
ARE YOU GOING TO GO THERE? [BACKGROUND] OH, SORRY.
[8. A memorandum regarding variance report for the year ended December 31, 2024.]
VARIANCE REPORT. IS THAT YOU AGAIN?>> MR. JERALD, [LAUGHTER] WE'LL INVITE MR. PANDOO TO RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY PRESENTED A FOURTH QUARTER VARIANCE REPORT.
I'VE TALKED TO THE TEAM ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS BEING A BIT OF A SNAPSHOT FOR COUNCIL TO HAVE AS THEY'RE TURNING THEIR ATTENTION TO BUDGET 2026 AS INPUT.
THIS COMPLIMENTS THE INFORMATION THAT COUNSEL WOULD HAVE SEEN ON OUR YEAR-END FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT YOU'VE RECENTLY APPROVED.
THIS IS A LEVEL DOWN INTO THE GRANULARITY OF OUR FINANCES.
MR. PANDOO'S PROVIDED SOME OVERVIEW OF ARROWS AND DIRECTIONS OF THINGS IN THE MEMO WITH RESPECT TO WHERE VARIOUS FUNDS HAVE PERFORMED OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
AT THIS TIME, COUNSEL CAN TAKE IT AS INFORMATION AND REFLECT ON IT AS YOU TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO BUDGET 2026.
OTHER THAN THAT, WE'LL JUST BE IN A RESPONSIVE SITUATION TODAY IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
>> HEY, MR. VAN DINE, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE VARIANCE REPORT? COUNCIL MCLENNAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
IT IS A GREAT LINE OF SIGHT, AND IT'S VERY WELL TIMED TO START THINKING ABOUT BUDGET AND GET A SENSE OF HOW 2024 WENT, I GUESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ON PAGE 35 OF THE MEMO, IS THE INCREASE IN LEGAL FEES FOR THE HR DEPARTMENT, HAS THAT BEEN A TREND OVER SEVERAL YEARS, OR IS THAT A BLIP IN 2024?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULDN'T CALL IT A TREND.
I WOULD SAY THAT IT VARIES FROM YEAR TO YEAR, AND THIS PAST YEAR, 2025, WAS A BUSY YEAR FOR US.
>> THANK YOU. ON THAT SAME PAGE, SO WE HAD A COUPLE STAFF POSITIONS AND SOME FUNDING WE'RE USING FROM THE STAFF VACANCY VARIANCE.
HERE INCLUDES BASICALLY, THERE WAS AN EXTRA $2.6 MILLION FOR STAFF POSITIONS THAT WERE VACANT.
DOES THAT MONEY INCLUDE THE MONEY WE'RE USING FOR THOSE STAFF POSITIONS FROM THAT VARIANCE, OR IS THAT SUBTRACTED FROM THE 2.6 MILLION?
>> MR. PANDOO, DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT?
>> YEAH. NO, THE BALANCE THAT YOU SEE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE EXPENSES.
THIS IS JUST SHOWING YOU, WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ANYTHING ELSE, WHAT THIS LINE ITEM IS, EITHER AS A BALANCE.
WE DO HAVE A RUNNING TOTAL THAT WE ARE KEEPING IN LINE OF SIDO IN TERMS OF ALL THE OTHER EXPENSES THAT COUNCIL HAD APPROVED.
>> AWESOME. GREAT TO KNOW. THANK YOU VERY CLEAR.
ON PAGE 36, ARE THE MINOR CAPITAL DOLLARS BEING ROLLED OVER INTO 2025'S MINOR CAPITAL SPENDING, OR IS THIS MONEY THAT'S GENERALLY REASSIGNED TO CAPITAL PROJECTS?
>> I WOULD SAY IT DEPENDS ON WHAT TYPE OR WHAT NATURE OF THAT MINOR CAPITAL IS.
TO THE MOST PART, DEPARTMENTS DO REQUEST US TO ROLL IT OVER IN THE NEXT YEAR?
ON PAGE 38, THERE'S ONE OR TWO MENTIONS ABOUT
[00:30:05]
VARIANCES AND CARRY FORWARDS DUE TO JUST CAPACITY ISSUES AND PLANNING, AND LANDS, AND WITH ALL THE LAND WORK WE'RE TRYING TO DO.HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED CONTRACTING OUT SOME LAND FUND OR OTHER PLANNING DEVELOPMENT WORK THAT WE DON'T HAVE CAPACITY FOR?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR. CHOKES FROM WHEN I HEAR COUNCIL RAISING QUESTIONS LIKE THAT.
THAT IS AN INNOVATION THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY EMPLOYING RIGHT NOW IN OUR PLANNING AND LANDS GROUP TO DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES.
WE'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT INTENDING TO DO ANY MAJOR SHIFT GENERALLY ACROSS CORPORATE LINES IN THAT DIRECTION AT THIS POINT, BUT WHEN WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL DEMANDS AND NEEDS, AND WE'VE HAD LONG-STANDING VACANCIES IN A PARTICULAR AREA FOR QUITE SOME TIME, THEN WE'VE ADOPTED THAT APPROACH TO ADDRESS AND CLOSE THE GAP IN THE SHORT TERM.
>> THAT'S AWESOME. GREAT TO HEAR.
I KNOW PLANNERS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THESE DAYS.
HAS THE DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING PERMIT AUTOMATION PROJECT BEEN COMPLETED?
>> I'LL INVITE DIRECTOR WHITE TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
WE LAUNCHED THE PROGRAM ON THE BEGINNING OF JUNE, AND WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH THE SOFTWARE GROUP TO WORK OUT A FEW KINKS, BUT IT HAS BEEN LAUNCHED AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT GOING FORWARD, NOT ONLY IS IT GOING TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE TO OUR CLIENTS, WHICH IS THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO BE ABLE TO PULL MORE INFORMATION FROM ALL OF THOSE PERMITS SO THAT WE CAN REPORT OUT TO COUNCIL AND BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.
ALSO USE THAT INFORMATION FOR THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATE, OR WHEN WE UPDATE SOME OF OUR BYLAWS THAT WE HAVE ONGOING.
WE ARE HOPEFUL IT IS COMPLETED/IN PROGRESS OF BEING FINESSED. THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. THAT'S AWESOME NEWS ON BOTH FRONTS, BEING EASIER TO USE AND ALSO THAT DATA THAT CAN HELP US MAKE DECISIONS. THAT'S AWESOME.
LAST ONE, ON PAGE 39, JUST A FOLLOW-UP.
WE'D HAD A MEMO ABOUT THE SUBMARINE WATER LINE AND SOME DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WE COULD TAKE AND WE ASKED FOR A PRESENTATION FROM GIANT MINE ON THE RISKS AND LOOKING FOR AN UPDATE ON, DO WE NEED TO REVISIT THE MEMO ON THE SUBMARINE LINE TO GIVE ADMIN A FIRM DECISION.
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE OUT ON THAT.
>> NO REVISITING AT THIS TIME.
I THINK WE HAVE ALL THAT WE NEED. THANK YOU.
>> I IMAGINE THAT WILL BE IN BUDGET CONVERSATION AT THE END OF THE YEAR. COUNCIL FEQUET.
>. THANKS, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PROVIDING THIS VARIANCE SUPPORT AND THE HELPFUL ARROWS AND COLORS.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A LINE OF SIGHT ON ALL THIS STUFF.
DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NUMBERS.
ACTUALLY, JUST ABOUT THE TIMING.
WHAT'S OUR VISION FOR MOVING FORWARD? WHEN DOES THE ADMINISTRATION THINK WE'LL GET Q4 VARIANCE REPORTS MOVING FORWARD IN FUTURE YEARS?
>> THAT'S ACTUALLY A VERY LARGE QUESTION.
[NOISE] OUR AMBITION ACTUALLY IS TO IMPROVE ALL OF OUR FINANCIAL REPORTING SYSTEMS, WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO DO.
BUT RIGHT NOW, SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT WE'RE STILL FAIRLY MORE ANALOG-BASED IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE RECORDING OUR FINANCES, AND THEREFORE, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANTLY LARGE TIME DELAY.
ONE OF THE VARIABLES WITH WHICH COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION HAS TO DEAL WITH IS THAT, AS WE'RE PREPARING BUDGETS GENERALLY, AND THIS BUDGET 2026 WON'T BE TOO DIFFERENT, IS THAT WE LOOK AT OUR THIRD QUARTER VARIANCE AS BEING THE POOL PERIOD OR SNAPSHOT WITH WHICH WE LOOK AT OUR OVERALL FINANCIAL HEALTH.
IT'S OUR HOPE THAT THE LOOK AT THIS VARIANCE REPORT FOR 2024 WILL ALLOW US TO AT LEAST MAYBE APPROXIMATE WHERE WE MAY HAVE SOME HOPEFULLY ASSUMPTIONS AROUND THIS YEAR'S THIRD QUARTER VARIANCE.
LOOKING AT LAST YEAR'S FOURTH QUARTER, LOOKING AT THIS YEAR'S THIRD QUARTER VARIANCE, MAYBE WE CAN GET A BETTER LEVEL OF PRECISION AS TO WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY.
BUT GOING FORWARD, I BELIEVE THE DESIRE WOULD BE TO VERY MUCH GET AS CLOSE TO FOURTH QUARTER VARIANCE REPORTS EARLIER IN THE NEW YEAR AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT COUNCIL HAS A LINE OF SIGHT, IDEALLY BEFORE APRIL WOULD BE AT A TARGET PERIOD.
BUT WE CERTAINLY WON'T BE ABLE TO HIT THAT IN 2026, UNFORTUNATELY.
[00:35:03]
>> ALSO, NO, THANK YOU. THAT MAKES SENSE.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS THE PLAN MOVING FORWARD, SO THAT'S GREAT.
THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAD AGAIN, ON NUMBERS, BUT IT'S ABOUT THE LINE ITEM EMERGENCY RADIO INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL, AND I KNOW IT GOT DELAYED FROM LAST YEAR.
IT'S EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR.
WOULD ADMINISTRATION JUST BE ABLE TO UPDATE US ON? IS THAT ALL THE NEW EQUIPMENT AT THE FIRE HALL THAT WAS APPROVED, OR IS THAT SOMETHING DIFFERENT? > MR. VAN DINE.
>> EXCUSE ME, I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS ON TRACK, AND WE DID ISSUE IT, BUT WE DO HAVE A SERIES OF EMERGENCY.
IT'S PRETTY DATED, AS WAS POINTED OUT, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE'RE FOLDING IT INTO THE OVERALL UPDATE WITH OUR FIRE HALL.
>> THANK YOU. ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY? I SEE NONE. THANK YOU.
PRESENTATION REGARDING PLAN DEVELOPMENT,
[4. A presentation regarding Planning and Development Future Development Plans.]
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PLANS. MR. VAN DINE.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR. I'LL TURN IT OVER VERY QUICKLY TO DIRECTOR WHITE IN A MOMENT.
YOU'LL RECALL THAT COUNCIL WAS INTERESTED IN GETTING A SENSE OF OUR MEDIUM-TERM PLANS WITH RESPECT TO LAND.
LAND HAS BEEN A LARGE AREA OF PREOCCUPATION, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DIRECTOR WHITE, WE'VE PUT TOGETHER SOME INFORMATION FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER OVER AND ABOVE WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH RESPECT TO INTENSIFICATION.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR WHITE TO WALK US THROUGH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AS EXCITING AS I KNOW THE BUDGET CONVERSATION WAS, THIS WILL BE EQUALLY OR GREATER IN THE EXCITEMENT VALUE.
BEFORE I GET INTO THE PRESENTATION, WHAT I DO WANT TO DO IS REMIND NOT JUST MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, BUT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LAND, LAND USE, LAND DEVELOPMENT, COMMISSIONERS LAND, TRANSFERRING TO THE CITY.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING AND EMBARKING ON THE COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATE, AND SO THERE WAS A NUMBER OF POP UPS IN THE LAST WEEK, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO BE USING TO INFORM NOT JUST OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT CURRENT DEVELOPMENT AND WHERE LAND USE GOES, BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND GOING TO NEED INTO THE FUTURE.
AND AS PART OF THAT COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATE, WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO UPDATE NOT JUST OUR POPULATION PROJECTIONS, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT ARE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTIONS OUR NEEDS, WHICH ISN'T JUST COMMERCIAL, BUT IT ALSO LOOKS AT LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, HEAVY INDUSTRIAL, AND OTHER USES THAT YOU HAVE SEEN SOME PRESENTATIONS ON RECENTLY, WHICH ARE MAYBE MORE TERRITORIAL OR FEDERALLY DRIVEN.
WE ARE THEN GOING TO TAKE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AND UTILIZE IT TO CREATE THE IDEA OF HOW MANY HECTARES OR BUILDABLE AREA DO WE NEED? JUST FOR GENERAL INFORMATION, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE LAND THAT WE NEED, WHEN YOU SEE WHETHER IT'S AN IMAGE THAT WE'RE SHOWING TODAY IN THE PRESENTATION OR SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE FUTURE, ABOUT 30-35% DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT'S RESIDENTIAL VERSUS INDUSTRIAL OF ANY LAND MASS THAT WE DEVELOP IS GOING TO BE FOR EITHER MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE OR SOMETHING LIKE PARKS.
WHILE IT MAY BE TEN HECTORS, BEING PROPOSED FOR DEVELOPMENT, IT MAY ACTUALLY ONLY BE SAY SIX.
ONCE YOU PUT THE ROADS IN, ONCE YOU PUT PARKS IN, ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED MAYBE FOR A LIFT STATION OR A PUMP HOUSE.
JUST KEEP THOSE CONSIDERATIONS IN MIND.
I CREATED A CHART JUST TO OUTLINE WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING.
WE'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FOCUSING POLICY ON INTENSIFICATION FIRST.
WE'VE DONE A BIT OF PROMOTION ON THAT.
THE ORIGINAL MOTION FROM COUNCIL IS ACTUALLY FROM 2023.
WE ALL REMEMBER WHAT AN EXCITING YEAR THAT WAS.
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, NO PRIORITY ORDER, ASKED COUNCIL FOR DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH INTENSIFICATION IN CERTAIN AREAS THAT WE IDENTIFIED HAD SEWER AND WATER, ROADS, AND THE AVAILABILITY TO PROVIDE INTENSIFICATION OF HOUSING, SPECIFICALLY.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THESE ARE THE LOTS THAT OR GROUPINGS OF LAND THAT WE PROPOSE WOULD BE GREAT FOR RESIDENTIAL INTENSIFICATION.
ON THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN, YOU SEE THE STATUS.
MOST ARE UNDERWAY AND OR WE HAVE APPLICATIONS IN PROGRESS THAT WILL BE COMING FORWARD TO COUNCIL.
THAT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM ZONING.
I DON'T BELIEVE TAYLOR ROAD WILL NEED A COMMUNITY PLAN AMENDMENT, BUT MOST OF IT IS ZONING SUBDIVISION AREA DEVELOPMENT PLAN IF REQUIRED.
THIS IS JUST A STATUS UPDATE ON THAT.
NOT RELATED TO RESIDENTIAL INTENSIFICATION.
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL WITH REGARDS TO KAM LAKE AND THE DEVELOPMENT THERE.
[00:40:04]
MOSTLY LIGHT INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL, WE'RE HOPING TO ALSO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT AGRICULTURAL USES.ANOTHER SEPARATE, WHICH WAS WHEN WE DID RECEIVE THE MISSING LINK PIECE OF LAND FROM THE GNWT, GITZEL CAME FORWARD AND THAT HAS GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS.
CURRENTLY WE'RE DOING THE SURVEY, BUT WE'RE REGISTERING AND THEN GOING TO APPRAISE IT AND HOPEFULLY HAVE IT TO MARKET THIS YEAR.
JUST USING GITZEL AS AN EXAMPLE, WHEN ALL THE STARS LINE, THAT'S ABOUT A SEVEN MONTH PROCESS FROM USING IT FIRST AND STARTING THOSE PLANNING APPLICATIONS TO ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO MARKET LAND.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE BENEFITS WE'RE SAYING WITH INFILL AND INTENSIFICATION IS IT CAN MOVE QUICKER, WHEREAS, WE'LL TALK ABOUT TAYLOR ROAD IN A MINUTE.
AS WE WORK THROUGH THOSE PLANNING APPLICATIONS, SOMETIMES A FEW ADDITIONAL PIECES NEED TO BE DONE.
THEN WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION TODAY ABOUT FRAME LAKE.
JUST TO REFRESH, THESE ARE SOME OF THE PIECES THAT ARE EITHER MOVING FORWARD MORE SLOWLY OR THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMING FORWARD TO COUNCIL SOON.
NIVEN IS ON THE RIGHT HAND PICTURE, THAT'S NIVEN PHASE 8, AND THEN BURWASH CON ROAD.
AS WE MOVE THROUGH HERE, WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE.
IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL LAND NEEDS THAT WE NEED? WHEN IT COMES TO THE NIVEN, THERE'S A FEW LAND ISSUES THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING THROUGH.
TAYLOR ROAD, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE TODAY IN THE MEMO THAT FOLLOWS THIS PRESENTATION AND ASK FOR ACQUISITION BYLAWS.
AS WE'VE MOVED FORWARD AND LOOKING AT SEPARATION DISTANCES FROM CON MINE AS WELL AS WHAT WE NEED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, ETC.
THERE'S A FEW PIECES THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING WE ACQUIRE FROM THE GNWT BECAUSE THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING SOME A LAND SWAP, I'LL CALL IT FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM BECAUSE SOME OF THEIR USE HAS BEEN ON CITY LAND, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HOPEFULLY SWAP THAT LAND IN AND OUT.
THIS IS TAKING A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
WE NEED TO SORT THE LAND OUT FIRST BEFORE WE EVEN HAVE THESE LAND USE CONVERSATIONS.
THEN THE ROAD R1 THERE THAT YOU'RE SEEING IS TO ALSO HELP OBTAIN ACCESS, SO WE CAN HAVE MULTIPLE INS AND OUTS, SO IT'S NOT JUST A STRAIGHT LOOP.
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT KAM LAKE.
AS I STATED EARLIER, THIS IS LIGHT INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL AND POTENTIAL AREA FOR AGRICULTURAL.
AS WE TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR NEW COMMERCIAL AND DEFINITELY RESIDENTIAL, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TENS, POSSIBLY HUNDREDS OF HECTORS OF LAND THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
THIS AS IT SAYS HERE IS ONLY 41 HECTARES.
IT'S A LARGE PARCEL OF LAND, AND THIS WOULD HELP US TO MEET THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, NOT ONLY THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING FORWARD AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY PLAN, BUT ALSO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RESIDENTIAL, INTENSIFICATION ISN'T GOING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WHILE IT IS A GREAT PLAN, IT IS THAT SHORT WIN, WE NEED TO ALSO BE LOOKING LONG-TERM.
THIS IS PART OF THAT LONG-TERM CONSIDERATION, AND IN THE MEMO, WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT WE WOULD NEED A LAND ACQUISITION BYLAW FOR THIS.
QUICK REMINDER OF THE PROCESS.
I HAVE SHOWN THIS DIAGRAM BEFORE.
ANYWHERE ALONG THE WAY, WE MAY NEED INPUTS FROM OTHER AGENCIES, OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE SOMETHING FROM ACQUISITION ALL THE WAY TO OUR DISPOSAL.
BUT THE INFILL, ALL OF THEM EXCEPT FOR ONE ARE SLOWLY MOVING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND IF WE WERE SUCCESSFUL WITH THE FRAME LAKE, WE WOULD START THIS PROCESS AS WELL WITH THAT PARCEL OF LAND.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PIECES THAT ARE ALL MOVING AT THE SAME TIME.
SOME STARTS WITH OUR PLANNING, MOVES ONTO OUR LANDS, MOVES BACK TO PLANNING, MOVE BACK TO LANDS.
IT'S AN IN AND OUT SYSTEM THAT WE WORK.
THEN WHEN I TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT CONSIDERATIONS, THIS SLIDE I ALSO SHOWED BEFORE WHEN WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT LAND, JUST AS A REMINDER, THE DIFFERENT INPUTS AND THINGS THAT WE CONSIDER, DIFFERENT CIRCULATION, DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO COMMENT OR A PART OF THESE CONVERSATIONS, AS WE MOVE LAND IN AND OUT OF BOTH FROM ACQUISITION TO THEN BEING ABLE TO SELL IT ON THE MARKET.
AGAIN, TRYING TO MEET THE NEEDS, NOT JUST TO RESIDENTIAL, BUT ALSO COMMERCIAL, LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND AGRICULTURAL USES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MY COLLEAGUES, NOTING THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE MEMORANDUM TO TRANSFER [INAUDIBLE] LAND AFTER THIS.
GET QUESTIONS ON THE PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION AND ALL THE WORK FROM YOUR TEAM AND THE COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATE ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS.
SAW A COUPLE OF THOSE AROUND THE COMMUNITY, AND THOSE ARE GREAT AND LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE BEING WELL USED.
[00:45:01]
THANK YOU. IS IT POSSIBLE TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ON THE GNWT, THE LAND SWAP IDEA, SO I CAN JUST UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS?>> THANK YOU. AS PART OF THE LEASE THAT WAS GIVEN FOR CON MINE BACK MANY MOONS AGO.
WHILE THERE WERE USES ON THAT PROPERTY, THE CITY'S PROPERTY ABUTS RIGHT UP AGAINST IT.
THAT TRIANGLE THAT YOU SAW IS A DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO ANOTHER TRIANGLE THAT IS ACTUALLY CITY LAND THAT THEY'VE BEEN USING, WE'RE PROPOSING THAT WE A TRIANGLE OUT FOR A TRIANGLE IN, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
THEY WERE ON THE PROPERTY, THEY'RE CURRENTLY USING THAT PROPERTY, IT'S A CLEAN SWAP ALMOST, ONE FOR ONE.
>> I SEE. WOULD THOSE SWAPS, WOULD THOSE REQUIRE ACQUISITION BYLAWS FROM COUNCIL?
SOME OF THEM, WE ALREADY HAVE BYLAWS FOR.
YOU'RE NOT SEEING THEM ON THE MEMO THAT FOLLOWS THIS BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE A BYLAW THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE AND ENACTED PREVIOUSLY.
THE MEMO THAT'S FOLLOWING THIS PRESENTATION IS ONLY THE ONES THAT WE STILL HAVE OUTSTANDING OR THAT WE ARE BEING REQUESTED WHEN WE GO TO REGISTER TO PULL IT OUT OF A BYLAW WE USED TO DO THEM WHERE WE HAD 2030 PROPERTIES IN A BY LAW.
NOW THEY'RE ASKING US TO DO INDIVIDUAL BYLAWS.
>> I'D LOVE ANOTHER GNWT PROCESS.
IS THERE ANY OF THOSE RESIDENTIAL INFILL AREAS, PART OF THE IDEA IS THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE.
ARE THERE ANY OF THOSE INFILL AREAS THAT WOULD REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION TO CITY INFRASTRUCTURE, PARTICULARLY THINKING OF WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE?
>> MR. VAN DINE, AND WE HAVE A MEMO AFTER.
REMEMBER, WE CAN DO THAT MEMO SECTION. MR. VAN DINE.
>> THE ANSWER IS NO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MARY HENIKINSON.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK ADMIN FOR BRINGING THIS PRESENTATION FORWARD.
I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN, ASKING FOR FOR, PUBLIC HIGHLIGHTING FOR QUITE A WHILE.
JUST THANK YOU TO ADD FOR PROVIDING THIS AND REALLY HITTING HOME THROUGH THIS THAT YES, INTENSIFICATION FIRST AS A PRIORITY OF THE CITY AND COUNCIL IN ORDER TO USE THE LAND THAT WE HAVE AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
BUT INTENSIFICATION FIRST DOES NOT MEAN INTENSIFICATION ONLY.
I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN REITERATE TO ADMIN FOR THE APPRECIATION FOR MYSELF FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND REALLY SHOWING THE BREADTH OF WORK THAT IS GOING ON.
AS DIRECTOR WHITE WAS SAYING, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT BITS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD AND YES, IT CAN BE FRUSTRATING THAT IT MOVES SLOWER THAN WE ALL WANT.
THAT GETS SOME OF THE BUDGET CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE JUST BROUGHT UP AND THAT WE'LL BE HAVING.
BUT JUST AGAIN, THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK OF ADMIN, JUST IN TERMS OF THE DAILY SLOG.
BUT IN TERMS OF BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND PUTTING THE WHOLE SCOPE OF THINGS IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY.
AS THE CHAIR SAID, WE'LL GET INTO THE BITS AND PIECES AND THE NUTS AND BOLTS ON THE NEXT PIECE, BUT JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILOR COCHRANE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR ALL THE WORK.
I THINK I CAN ECHO THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT ABOUT SHOWING US THIS ROADMAP IS INCREDIBLY GOOD, NOT ONLY FOR US, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC AS A WHOLE.
THE ONLY QUESTION I DO HAVE IS IN RELATION TOWARDS NIVEN DRIVE.
IT INDICATED ON THE PRESENTATION THAT THE STATUS WAS NONE, BUT THEN AFTER YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE IS SOME LAND COMPLEXITY AROUND THERE.
MEANING A LITTLE BIT OF A CONTRADDICTION THERE.
COULD YOU ELABORATE UPON THIS ISSUE?
>> OVER TO MS. WHITE. THANK YOU.
ONE IS ACTUALLY FRONT THE SUGGESTION WAS FRONTING ON BOTH SIDES OF NIVEN.
THAT WAS THE ONE THAT IS UNDERWAY AND WE'RE WORKING ON.
THE OTHER ONE IS NIVEN PHASE 8, WHICH IS WHEN YOU COME IN NIVEN GATE, IF YOU LOOK NORTH AND IN BEHIND THE CHURCHES THERE.
THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH NOT JUST THE GNWT, BUT ACTUALLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR SOME REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE IN THERE.
THAT ONE WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. IT SOUNDS VERY COMPLEX AND NUANCED, AND I WISH YOU LUCK.
>> THANK YOU. ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR MY COLLEAGUES? SEEING NONE. THANK YOU, MS. WHITE.
NEXT, MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO ACQUIRE FEE SIMPLE TITLE AND COMMISSIONERS LANDS,
[5. A memorandum regarding whether to acquire fee simple title in Commissioner’s lands: Road R1 Frame Lake, Plan 3850; Parcel A, Quad 85 J/8; Parcel B, a Portion of Block 77A, Plan 512; and Lots 26 and 27, Block 201, Plan 4639.]
ROAD R1 FRAME LAKE, PLAN 3850,[00:50:01]
PARCEL A QUAD 85J8, PARCEL B, PORTION OF BLOCK 77A, PLAN 512 AND LOTS 2627 BLOCK 21 PLAN 4639.>> THIS IS ALL ABOUT ACQUISITION, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR COUNCIL'S SUPPORT TODAY TO MOVE THIS MEMORANDUM FORWARD TO EVENTUALLY TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL AND LAYS OUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SOME OF THE SPECIFICS REFERENCED IN SUMMARY FASHION AND THE PRESENTATION THAT DIRECTOR WHITE JUST PROVIDED.
WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ON EACH OF THESE.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GO TO QUESTIONS ON OUR MIND, COUNCIL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACQUIRING LAND.
THE USE OF THAT LAND WILL BE TALKED ABOUT AT A LATER DATE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACQUISITION OF LAND JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MCCLAREN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST TO TOTALLY CLARIFY.
THERE'S ONE TRIANGLE AND IT WAS IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDES, AND THEN THE R1 ROAD FRAME LAKE IS SURROUNDED BY A COMMISSIONER'S LAND CHUNK, JUST LOOKING TO CONFIRM THAT BOTH OF THOSE PARCELS ARE BEING APPLIED FOR BUT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPLIED FOR.
>> I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR WHITE, BUT I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS YES.
>> THE ANSWER IS YES, ACTUALLY.
WE'VE MADE APPLICATION ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO.
SOME OF THESE BYLAWS, AS I STATED EARLIER, WE ALREADY HAVE IN HAND FROM COUNCIL.
THESE ARE THE ADDITIONS AND OR, I'LL JUST SAY THESE ARE THE ADDITIONS.
>> PERFECT. DO WE HAVE ANY TIMELINE FROM THE GNWT ON GETTING ANY OF THESE LANDS? I KNOW THAT IS THE QUESTION WE ALL WANT TO ANSWER TO.
>> THANK YOU. AS MENTIONED TO COUNCIL, SOME WEEKS BACK, WE DID PROCEED AND SIGN OFF A MEMORANDUM OF COLLABORATION WITH THE GOVERNOR OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES ON THESE MATTERS.
THAT TABLE HAS AFFORDED US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A CLOSER LINE OF SIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE FILES ARE BEING ACTIVELY ADVANCED.
WHILE WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC TIMELINE COMMITMENTS, I'M CONFIDENT THAT THAT PROCESS WILL YIELD SOME PROGRESS ON EACH OF THESE PARCELS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU. ALL VERY HOPEFUL.
LAST ONE FROM ME ON THE PARCEL A, THE BIT ADJACENT TO FRAME LAKE, HAVE WE CONSULTED WITH YKDFN ON TAKING OR ASKING TO GET THIS LAND? JUST COGNIZANT THAT IT BORDERS LAND WITHDRAWAL.
>> I WOULDN'T USE THE CONSULTATION TERM, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE YKDFN WITH REGARD TO OUR LARGER LAND REQUIREMENTS AND OUR INTEREST IN PARTNERING WITH THEM WHERE POSSIBLE, BOTH ON THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SIDE, BUT AS WELL AS ON LAND QUESTIONS IN GENERAL.
>> AWESOME I GREAT TO HEAR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL, [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. NO QUESTIONS, JUST COMMENT.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE ACQUISITION OF ALL OF THESE PROCESS GOING FORWARD, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE CONVERSATION OF HOME LAND USE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FEQUET.
>> MR. CHAIR, I GOT A COUPLE AND A COUPLE COMMENTS TOO.
THE FIRST ONE IS MORE JUST A LITTLE EXTRA CONTEXT FOR ANYONE WHO'S HERE TODAY WATCHING ONLINE OR WE'LL WATCH THIS RECORDING AFTERWARDS.
[LAUGHTER] IT WAS JUST ABOUT THE STATEMENT ON THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 1, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT THE MOTION FROM BACK IN THE DAY WHEN COUNSEL UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED THE INFILL AND INTENSIFICATION HOUSING PLANS.
OBVIOUSLY, EVERYONE HOPEFULLY KNOWS BY NOW.
HOUSING IN LAND IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THIS COUNCIL.
THAT WAS MADE VERY CLEAR IN MANY CONVERSATIONS, BUT THE INFILL EXPLORATION, THERE'S STILL PROCESSES AND DECISIONS TO BE MADE ON THOSE FRONTS.
WHILE WE WERE UNANIMOUS THAT WE WANTED THEM ALL EXPLORED, DEFINITELY WAS SOME STRONG RESERVATIONS OR CONCERNS ON ONE OR TWO OF THEM.
I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW, [LAUGHTER] SO WE DON'T GET A LOT OF MORE EMAILS ON THAT.
THERE ARE PROCESSES, STEPS, WE HEAR YOU.
THANK YOU. THE SECOND IS MORE QUESTION TO ADMIN.
I KNOW THERE ARE SOME RESIDENTS WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE OF ALL THE CITY IS DOING TO PRIORITIZE HOUSING AND LAND DEVELOPMENT.
I WAS GOING TO ASK ADMIN, IF YOU COULD PLEASE REFRESH OUR MEMORIES ON JUST HOW THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT STAFF ARE SET UP TO WORK TOWARDS THE MULTITUDE OF INITIATIVES BEFORE THEM WITH RESPECT TO HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT AND ANY OTHER INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE TO HELP THE PROCESS.
YOU GUYS ALREADY MENTIONED ONE TODAY ABOUT THE ONLINE SYSTEM.
MOSTLY JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING IN THAT SPACE.
[00:55:02]
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THE EDUCATION IS ONGOING.
WE'VE DEFINITELY BEEN TAKING A MORE CONCERTED EFFORT IN WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM HERE AS WORKING WITH OUR PLANNING DEVELOPMENT TEAM.
CERTAINLY THE COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATE PROVIDES LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON BOTH THE FUTURE VISION OF THE CITY AS WELL AS DAY-TO-DAY TRANSACTIONS.
WE ARE UPDATING THE WEBSITE, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, IN MR. PANDOO PRESENTATION, THAT WE ARE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO BRING FORWARD A MORE INTEGRATED, EASY TO USE SPACE FOR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH THE CITY ON A VARIETY OF THINGS, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT.
AS MS. WHITE LAID OUT, WE LAUNCHED IN JUNE AND ARE UPDATING OUR PROCESS WITH RESPECT TO PERMITTING.
WE HAVE OUR VARIOUS TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.
CERTAINLY HOUSING IS A SUPER LARGE PRIORITY FOR US, AND WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY THANKS TO THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE HOUSING ACCELERATOR FUND FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA.
WE ARE DOING THE MEMORANDUM OF COLLABORATION WITH THE GOVERNOR OF NORTHWEST TERRITORIES ON LAND.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE YELLOWKNIFE TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT FUTURE POTENTIAL WITHIN THE CITY.
WE ARE ENGAGING OTHER INDIGENOUS PARTIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH RESPECT TO THE FUTURE VISION OF THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE AS WELL.
THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF THINGS, MR. CHAIR, THAT WE'RE UNDERTAKING TO ADVANCE THIS OVERALL EFFORT.
THE FUTURE OF YELLOWKNIFE IF IS LOOKING REASONABLY OPTIMISTIC IN TERMS OF GROWTH POTENTIAL.
THERE ARE REAL CONSTRAINTS WITH RESPECT TO THE CURRENT LAND, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THIS CONCENTRATED EFFORT WILL START DELIVERING SOME RESULTS AND DEALING WITH SOME OF THE COMPRESSION THAT WE'RE ALL FEELING WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED LAND AVAILABILITY.
>> COOL. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.
I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE DOING SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
YOU MENTIONED ALSO EARLIER TODAY THAT, THERE'S CONSULTANTS OR EXTERNAL EXPERTISE, GIVING, PROVIDING HORSEPOWER TO ON SOME OF THE PROCESSES WHERE THAT'S APPROPRIATE. THANK YOU.
FROM THE EARLIER PRESENTATION, YOU MENTIONED THE TAYLOR ROAD COMMUNITY PLAN AMENDMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY PLAN AMENDMENT WOULD BE NEEDED.
WILL THOSE TIMELINES ALIGN WITH THE LARGER COMMUNITY PLAN PROCESS, OR IS THAT SOMETHING WE ANTICIPATE WILL COME EARLIER OR MUCH LATER? DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF WHERE IT FITS ON THAT SCALE?
>> I'LL LET MS. WHITE ANSWER THAT.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, I FEAR IT WILL BE BEHIND THE COMMUNITY JUST BY THE TIME WE GET THE LAND, BY THE TIME WE SORT OUT AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE BEHIND, BUT I HOPE TO PROVE MYSELF WRONG BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
HOWEVER, I THINK IT'LL BE AFTERWARDS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. HONESTY, VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.
YEAH, JUST WAS TRYING TO GET A GENERAL SENSE, SO THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF OUR EXPECTATIONS TOO BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME GOOD BANG FOR OUR BUCK IN THAT SPACE.
NOW, A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT SPACE.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE DOWNSTREAM FROM THE CON MINE AND SOME TAILINGS WITH THAT FRAME LAKE PARCEL.
I KNOW THIS WAS A QUESTION THAT I BELIEVE ADMINISTRATION ACTUALLY PROVIDED AN ANSWER AT AN EARLIER TO GPC A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK IT AGAIN JUST TO BE SURE.
THERE ARE THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACT, GENERAL SANITATION GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS, AND IT TALKS ABOUT HOW NO BUILDING USE FOR HUMAN HABITATION SHALL BE NEAR THAN 450 METERS TO A WASTE DISPOSAL GROUND.
IF ANYBODY WHO WAS LOOKING AT GOOGLE EARTH, IT SEEMS THAT PARCEL IS WITHIN THAT.
I'M JUST CURIOUS IF WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK INTO THAT LEGISLATION, WHETHER IT'S RELEVANT OR NOT IN THIS CASE.
>> THAT'S A SITE SPECIFIC QUESTION.
I'LL ASK MY SITE SPECIFIC EXPERT TO RESPOND AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. YES, WE UNDERSTAND THE WORK AND THE UNDERTAKINGS THAT HAVE BEEN OCCURRING WITH THIS RECLAMATION PROJECT, WORKING WITH THE GNWT, AS WELL AS THE WATERBOARD.
PART OF THESE LAND SWAPS IS TO ADDRESS NOT THE WASTE SITE, BUT SOME OF THE OTHER WORKINGS THAT ARE ON THERE.
WHAT I CAN SAY IS AT THIS TIME, THERE'S NO OUTSTANDING CONCERNS, BUT WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THAT LEASE IS TERMINATED AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AT THAT TIME.
I WOULD CAUTION PEOPLE USING GOOGLE EARTH BECAUSE THINGS THAT HAVE ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN AND ON AND UNDER THE GROUND MAY OR MAY NOT BE VISIBLE WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THINGS ON GOOGLE EARTH.
THE REAL PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON ON THE SITE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE RECLAMATION.
THAT'S WHO WE'RE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH.
[01:00:03]
ALL INFORMATION WHEN IT DOES COME FORWARD, WHETHER IT'S PART OF A COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATE OR OTHER PLANNING APPLICATIONS, ALL OF THAT WILL BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE ANALYSIS BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS CONTRARY TO RULES AND REGULATIONS. THANK YOU.>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. YEAH, DON'T TRUST GOOGLE EARTH.
FOLLOWING ANY OF THESE ACQUISITIONS OF ANY OF THESE FOUR PARCELS OR ANY FUTURE ONES THAT WE LOOK TO, IF AFTER THE TRANSFER, THERE'S ANY ASSOCIATED ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES THAT ARE FOUND, IS THAT ON US AS THE CITY? IS THAT ON THE GMT OR ANOTHER PARTY WHO MIGHT ALREADY PREVIOUSLY OWN THAT LIABILITY?
>> MS. WHITE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT LAND ACQUISITION AND LIABILITIES?
>> I WOULD NOT. AS I AM NOT A LAWYER, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WE WOULD HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND WITH THE GNWT SHOULD THERE BE ANY CONCERNS THAT ARE RAISED. THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH, I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THESE ACQUISITIONS AS WELL.
JUST THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAYOR HENDRIKSEN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH. NO ISSUES WITH PROCEEDING WITH THE LAND.
I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE SOMETHING DEPUTY MAYOR WORKMAN SAID AT THE START.
COLLEAGUES KNOW THIS, BUT JUST FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, AGAIN, THAT ACQUIRING THIS LAND DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING RELATED TO DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT WE DO WITH THE LAND GOING FORWARD, BUT IT ALSO FITS WITHIN ALL THE WORK THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING AND ADVOCATING FOR MANY YEARS NOW AROUND ACCESSING THE LAND AND ACQUIRING THE LAND.
THAT IS WITHIN THE CITY'S OWN BOUNDARIES.
JUST MAKING THAT CLEAR FROM A PUBLIC INFORMATION PERSPECTIVE.
ALSO JUST FOLLOWING SOMETHING RELATED TO COUNCILOR MCLENNAN HAD ASKED ABOUT WHAT OUR HOPE IS [LAUGHTER] FOR SPEED OF ACTION FROM THE GNWT, WHICH I THINK IS A VERY GOOD AND FAIR QUESTION, COUNCILOR MCLENNAN.
WHILE MY COLLEAGUES KNOW THIS BIT FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD AS WELL.
YOU'LL KNOW THAT I RECENTLY SUBMITTED COUNCIL'S BUDGET ASKS TO THE GNWT FOR THE NEXT GNWT BUDGET.
THAT WENT THROUGH A LETTER FROM THE MINISTER OF FINANCE, AND BASICALLY HIGHLIGHTING LAND AS THE KEY BUDGET ASK, IF YOU WILL.
THINGS AROUND, ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE, WHETHER IT'S STAFFING, REGULATORY CHANGE, LEGISLATIVE CHANGE, POLICY CHANGE, WORKING WITHIN THAT MEMORANDUM OF COLLABORATION, ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT PIECES, IN ORDER TO PRIORITIZE LAND MOVEMENT TO COMMUNITIES, AND NOT JUST YELLOW KNIFE.
OBVIOUSLY, AS MAYOR YELLOWKNIFE AND COUNCIL OF YELLOWKNIFE, THAT'S WHAT WE CARE ABOUT.
BUT JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITIES PASSED A MOTION EARLIER THIS YEAR ON THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE ABOUT MOVING LAND FASTER FROM THE GNWT TO ALL COMMUNITIES.
WHILE WE TALK ABOUT IT FROM A YELLOWKNIFE PERSPECTIVE, AND THAT'S WHAT OFTEN GETS REPORTED ON IN CBC, CABIN RADIO, NORTHERN NEWS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS AFFECTING ALL COMMUNITIES.
REALLY FOCUSING IN ON AND RECOGNIZING THAT REALITY IS AN IMPORTANT FACT TOO.
IT'S NOT TO PUT BLAME OR POINT FINGERS OR ANYTHING, BUT JUST THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE ALL PUSHING FOR.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL POLITICAL LENS ON COUNCIL MCLENNAN'S QUESTION IN ADDITION TO THE INFO THAT ADMIN PROVIDED.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS IN SUPPORT OF THESE ACQUISITIONS, BUT JUST THOSE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY.
FOR MYSELF, SIMILAR TO WHAT THE MAYOR JUST SAID, WE CAN'T DIRECT OR CONTROL WHAT WE DON'T OWN.
THERE'S SOME FEEDBACK WE'VE RECEIVED ABOUT SOME OF THESE LAND ACQUISITIONS, WHICH IS GREAT AND FAIR.
HOWEVER, WE DON'T GET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT UNLESS WE OWN THE LAND.
I SUPPORT ACQUIRING THAT LAND AND THEN WE'LL HAVE MUCH FURTHER DISCUSSIONS, I AM SURE ABOUT WHAT WE DO WITH THAT, IF ANYTHING.
BUT, THAT'S FULL SUPPORT OF THAT MEMO.
SEEING GENERAL SUPPORT TO BRING THAT TO COUNCIL, WE'LL BRING THAT FORWARD TO COUNCIL AT A FUTURE DATE.
NEXT, MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO APPLY TO THE CRTC FOR
[6. A memorandum regarding whether to apply to the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for approval to implement 311 service for the City of Yellowknife, and to proceed with implementation upon receiving approval from CRTC.]
APPROVAL TO IMPLEMENT 31 SERVICE FOR THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE AND TO PROCEED WITH IMPLEMENTATION UPON RECEIVING APPROVAL FROM THE CRTC.>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AS MR. PANDOO'S PRESENTATION LAID OUT, THERE'S A NUMBER OF MODERNIZATION INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON.
THIS IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN MORE RECENTLY ADDED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE GOT ON THE GO.
MAINLY, ONE OF THE TRIGGER POINTS FOR US WAS THE UPDATE OF THE WEBSITE THAT LED US DOWN A PATH TOWARDS BEING MORE RESPONSIVE TO RESIDENTS DEMANDS AND BEING MORE EFFICIENT ON HOW WE'RE OPERATING OUR CALLS.
WE HAVE A PLETHORA OF NUMBERS TO CALL INTO THE CITY HALL,
[01:05:02]
INCLUDING EACH OF YOURS.IN EMAILS, AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS STREAMLINE THAT ACTIVITY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S MUCH MORE CONSUMER OR CUSTOMER FOCUSED.
THIS INITIATIVE IS A VERY FIRST STEP TOWARDS THAT.
I'LL JUST INVITE MR. GREENCORN TO WALK US THROUGH THE PHASES OF THIS EFFORT AND WHERE WE EXPECT TO LAND ON THE OTHER SIDE.
>> YEAH. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ELABORATE.
IN COLLABORATION AND CONSULTATION WITH SOME COLLEAGUES AT BOTH THE CITY OF CALGARY AND THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, WE'VE DETERMINED THIS IS THE BEST PATH FOR ESTABLISHING THE 311 NUMBER, IT TAKES A NUMBER OF MONTHS TO GET THROUGH THE REGULATORY PROCESS TO JUST RECEIVE THE NUMBER.
THEN OBVIOUSLY, AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF PLANNING STEPS ASSOCIATED WITH FUNNELING CURRENT NUMBER FORWARDING, THINGS ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF THINGS, AND ESTABLISHING OUR SERVICE REGISTRY AND TASK DELIVERY AND KNOWLEDGE DATABASE THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE 311 SYSTEM.
THEY'RE ALL OUTLINED IN THE ATTACHED GRAPHIC.
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE, BUT WE WANTED TO GET A BROAD CROSS SECTION CALGARY 311 IS WELL ESTABLISHED NOW.
THEY'VE GOT A 92% APPROVAL RATING IN A CITY OF A MILLION PEOPLE, SO THEY'RE THE CADILLAC, IF YOU WERE OF 311 SYSTEMS. THEN GRAND PRAIRIE IS ALSO SIMILAR, THEY'RE QUITE A BIT BIGGER THAN US IN 70,000 COMPARED TO 20,000, BUT THEY'RE RELATIVELY NEW AND EARLY ON IN THEIR 311 JOURNEY.
WE ALSO WANTED TO GET A BROAD VIEW OF BOTH RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND CALGARY, I BELIEVE IS AT LEAST TEN YEARS RUNNING NOW, MAYBE CLOSER TO 15.
THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP IS ACQUIRING THE PHONE NUMBER.
WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY LARGE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, OR IF ANY AT ALL, IT'S JUST THE APPLICATION, AND WE NEED A MOTION FROM COUNCIL TO DO SO.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING TODAY AND THEY'LL BE MORE TO COME ON THE OVERALL 311 POLICY AND PATH MOVING FORWARD. THANKS.
THANK YOU. QUESTIONS. WE'VE GOT COUNCILOR FEQUET.
>> THANKS, MR. CHAIR. GREAT INITIATIVE. THANKS FOR THE MEMO.
DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF THE FIRST STEP OF ACQUIRING THE NUMBER FROM THE CRTC GIVEN, WHAT SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE CITY HAVE GONE THROUGH? DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF THE TIMELINE WE'RE LOOKING AT?
>> WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS APPLICATION PROCESS IS A LITTLE MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD THAN SOME OF THE OTHER REGULATORY APPLICATIONS THAT GO ON THE CRTC.
WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT BY THE FALL, WE SHOULD HAVE SOME CLEAR INDICATION, BUT WE'LL REPORT BACK.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MCLENNAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THERE ANY NEW STAFF POSITIONS WE ANTICIPATE? I UNDERSTAND EARLIER WE HEARD THAT WE'RE WAITING ON ORGANIZATIONAL REVIEW, BUT JUST WANTED TO CHECK IN ON THAT ONE AS A PART OF THE 311 SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO.
NO NEW STAFF BEING REQUESTED WITH THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE.
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS IDENTIFY THE VARIOUS TOUCH POINTS AND STAFF UNITS IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT CURRENTLY ARE INVOLVED IN THIS KIND OF RESPONSE AND WORKING THROUGH THAT TO DETERMINE HOW TO ALLOCATE THOSE RESOURCES MORE EFFICIENTLY.
>> I LOVE STREAMLINING THINGS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR MY COLLEAGUES? MR. FOOTE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST MORE OF A COMMENT THAN A QUESTION.
BACK TO OUR PREVIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT YOUR IT AUDIT AND HOW YOU'RE HOPING TO UNIFY SOME SYSTEMS. I SEE HERE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO AWARD A CRM CONTRACT AND BEGIN AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
ARE YOU HOPING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CRM MODULE INTERACTS WITH ALL THE OTHER SOFTWARE THAT WE'RE HAVING AT THAT TIME? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THE SHORT ANSWER IS, YES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ONE OF THE EARLIER PRECURSORS TO MODERNIZATION WAS RECOGNIZING THAT SOME OF THE SYSTEMS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE LEGACY SYSTEMS WERE NEVER DESIGNED WITH THE ABILITY TO TALK TO ONE ANOTHER AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MAINTAINING THOSE KINDS OF SYSTEMS. GOING FORWARD, WE ARE VERY MUCH MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE ALL INTEGRATED.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILOR COCHRANE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST TO COMMENT.
I'D LIKE TO ECHO WHAT COUNSELOR MCGURK SAID, I AM ALSO IN FULLY SUPPORT OF ANY FORM OF STREAMLINE WE CAN GET WITHIN THIS AREA.
I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR EVENTUAL 97 OR 92% APPROVAL RATE AS WELL.
[01:10:05]
>> THANK YOU. IT'S LIKE, CLICK AND FIX ON STEROIDS. I LIKE IT.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, SEEING SUPPORT FOR THAT.
LOOK TO SEE THAT IN THE FUTURE.
THE NEXT PRESENTATION IS A MATTER OF STILL CONSIDERATION CAMERA.
[9. A matter still under consideration.]
WE HAVE A MOTION GOING CAMERA.COUNCILOR COCHRANE SECONDED BY COUNCILOR FEQUET, SO WE'LL GOING ON CAMERA.
BACK WHEN WE'RE DONE. THANK YOU. THERE'S NOTHING COMING OUT OF IN CAMERA.
DID WE MISS ANYTHING? NO. MOTION TO ADJOURN.
COUNCILOR MCLENNAN, SECOND BY COUNCIL MCGURK.
HAVE A GOOD DAY. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. GOOD BYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.