Nov 24, 2025 Council Meetings

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

[00:00:03]

AND I'LL CALL OUR COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH, 2025 TO ORDER AND I WILL ASK COUNCILOR ARDEN-SMITH TO PLEASE READ THE OPENING STATEMENT. THANK YOU. THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE ARE LOCATED ON CHIEF DRYGEESE TERRITORY.

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

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

THANK YOU COUNCILOR ARDEN-SMITH. NEXT WE HAVE AWARD CEREMONIES AND PRESENTATIONS.

THERE WERE NONE FOR THE AGENDA. ADOPTION OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS.

[Items 3 & 4]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CAN I GET A SECONDER? COUNCILOR COCHRANE. ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

NEXT, WE HAVE DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF. DOES ANY MEMBER HAVE A CONFLICT TONIGHT? SEEING NONE.

NEXT WE HAVE CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS. THERE WERE NONE FOR THE AGENDA.

STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARINGS. THERE WERE NONE FOR THE AGENDA.

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

[8. Public Presentations regarding the draft budget 2026. 1. NWT Art Centre Initiative regarding their budget proposal; and 2. Yellowknife Tennis Club regarding the draft budget 2026 and tennis court resurfacing. ]

SO WE HAVE FIRST, THE NWT ARTS CENTER INITIATIVE REGARDING THEIR BUDGET PROPOSAL, MR. BELL. TAKE IT AWAY WHEN YOU'RE READY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

MY NAME IS ADRIAN BELL. I'M THE PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR THE NWT ARTS CENTER INITIATIVE, AND I'M JOINED TONIGHT BY MARY BUCKLAND, OUR PROJECTS, POLICY PROGRAM AND GRANT DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST.

BRAND NEW PODIUM. FIRST TIME WITH THE CLICKER.

I WAS GOING TO TRY OUT ALL THE SETTINGS, BUT I THINK I'LL LEAVE THAT. SO I'M JUST GOING TO READ THROUGH THIS QUICKLY BECAUSE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPOSAL THAT WE SUBMITTED. SO AN ALLOCATION FOR AN ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM TO BE DELIVERED BY A LOCAL, NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION. THAT WAS THE IDEA.

AND OF COURSE, IT WOULD MEET COMMITMENTS OF COUNCIL'S STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN, WHICH INCLUDED ESTABLISHING AND RUNNING AN ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.

NOW, I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE DETAILS OF THAT APPLICATION TOO MUCH, BUT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS KIND OF THE 30,000 FOOT OR 10,000-METER VIEW. IF YOU GO IN FOR THE METRIC STUFF IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE PROJECT IN CONTEXT. NOW, JUST TO TAKE YOU BACK TO SOME CHRONOLOGY OF KIND OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE ARTS SECTOR, BOTH WITH THE CITY AND THE GNWT AND NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

IN 2021, THE GNWT ADOPTED ITS ART STRATEGY FOR THE TEN YEARS 21-31.

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022, THE LAST COUNCIL ENTHUSIASTICALLY ADOPTED ITS ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN, WHICH HAD BEEN STARTED EARLIER IN THE YEAR, IN EARLY 2022.

IN OCTOBER 2022, AT MAKERSPACE, AT AN EVENT I ATTENDED WITH ALL OF THE CANDIDATES THERE, I THINK EVERY COUNCILOR HERE AND EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM SANG THE PRAISES OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN.

I WOULD NOTE THAT THE ONLY TWO WHO WERE A LITTLE CAUTIOUS IN THEIR PRAISE WERE THE TWO INCUMBENTS IN THE ROOM, WHO PERHAPS WERE A LITTLE MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE REALITIES OF BUDGET REALITIES FACING THE CITY.

BUT IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF SUPPORT.

NOW, IN DECEMBER OF 2022, WHEN FACED WITH THE FIRST BUDGET, ASKS RELATED TO THE ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN, COUNCIL REJECTED A REQUEST TO CREATE AN ARTS AND CULTURE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER POSITION.

NOW, AS IT HAPPENS, I AGREED WITH THAT DECISION BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK GOING ON IN THE NOT FOR PROFIT SECTOR THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THE ABILITY TO TAKE ON A LOT OF THAT WORK AND TO FILL THAT ROLE THAT MAYBE HADN'T BEEN THERE A YEAR EARLIER WHEN THE PLAN WAS BEING CREATED.

AND SO I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE SOME DUPLICATION. IT WAS NOT NECESSARILY THE CITY WAS NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST AGENCY TO TO DRIVE ALL OF THE IMPLEMENTATION ITEMS. BUT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT WAS UNEXPECTED. SO WITHOUT A STAFF PERSON TO DRIVE THE MASTER PLAN, COUNCIL DIDN'T. THERE WAS NOT AN OPPORTUNITY, I GUESS, TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PLAN THROUGH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. RATHER, COUNCIL ADOPTED TO PUT THE MASTER PLAN ON THE SHELF OR AS THE SHELF IS NOW CALLED THE GARDEN PLOT.

SO, THIS IS NOT, MY POINT HERE IS NOT TO TRY TO GUILT EVERYBODY INTO ACTION, BUT IT'S TO EXPLAIN FROM THE 30,000-FOOT LEVEL

[00:05:08]

SO IN 2022, THE YEAR OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN, OUR PHILANTHROPIC FUNDERS WERE CONDUCTING A FEASIBILITY STUDY, AND ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THEY WERE LOOKING AT WAS THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT FROM THE TERRITORY AND FROM THE MUNICIPALITY.

SO THE ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN WAS A KEY CONSIDERATION IN THAT, AS WAS THE TERRITORIAL VERSION.

AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THEY HIRED AN AMAZING, INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED, RENOWNED CONSULTANT.

AND THE RESPONSE CAME BACK THAT, YES, THIS IS FEASIBLE THERE.

THERE'S A WEALTH OF TALENT THERE'S A LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE SUPPORT AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

SO THE ANSWER THAT CAME BACK WAS YES, IT'S FEASIBLE.

PLEASE MOVE FORWARD. WE MOVED FORWARD. AND NOW AS THINGS START TO CHANGE AND OTHER PRIORITIES RISE, YOU KNOW, COME TO THE FORE AND THE ARTS AND CULTURE PLAN, ONLY A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER BEING CREATED GETS PUT ON THE SHELF.

IT CREATES A CHALLENGING SITUATION FOR US BECAUSE WE'RE NOW SAYING TO OUR FUNDERS, WE ASSURE YOU EVERYBODY ON COUNCIL STILL VALUES THE PRINCIPLES AND THE FINDINGS OF THAT MASTER PLAN.

SURELY THERE'S GOING TO BE A WAY TO BRING THIS BACK IN FRONT OF COUNCIL TO REWORK THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE CASE THAT JUST BECAUSE THIS WAS SHELVED, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT COUNCIL DOES NOT SUPPORT THE ARTS SECTOR.

SO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OF COURSE ARE WATCHING THIS AND OUR FOUNDATION, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAPTURE.

SORRY, MR. BELL AND I SHOULD HAVE GONE OVER THE FIVE MINUTES. I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT.

WELL, IT'S ALREADY FIVE MINUTES. I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT, BUT YOU WERE COMING UP, ADRIAN. I KNOW YOU KNOW THE RULES WELL, SO I DIDN'T EVEN THINK TO GO OVER THEM. MOTION, YES. SECONDED BY COUNCILOR FEQUET.

ORIGINALLY MOVED BY COUNCILOR ARDEN-SMITH. ANOTHER TWO MINUTES FOR YOU. GO AHEAD. OKAY, THEN. I GUESS I'LL MOVE ON TO MY NEXT POINT. NOW, THE CITY CANNOT APPRECIATE THE EXTENSION. THE CITY CANNOT BE A LEADER IN ALL THINGS.

THAT'S UNDERSTOOD. TIMES ARE TOUGH, NOR CAN THE GNWT BE A LEADER IN ALL THINGS.

BUT THERE IS AN EXPECTATION FROM THOSE OF US IN THE NOT FOR PROFIT SECTOR THAT WHEN SOMEONE STEPS UP AND FINDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO TOWN, THAT IF NOT IN A LEAD ROLE, THE CITY AND THE GNWT WILL THEN ASSUME A SUPPORTING ROLE.

AND SO WE START TO LOOK FOR EVIDENCE OF THAT SUPPORT.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE END UP WITH A BUDGET REQUEST LIKE THIS.

AND JUST TO FLIP TO MY LAST SLIDE HERE, WHAT I THINK THE MAIN POINT I WANT TO MAKE HERE AT THE END, AND I THINK THIS IS A TOOL THAT THE CITY COULD USE IN ALL OF ITS BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.

THERE IS NOT ENDLESS MONEY. THAT'S CLEAR. COUNCIL NEEDS A WAY TO EVALUATE PROJECTS BASED NOT JUST ON WHETHER THERE'S AN OPINION OF NEED OR AN OPINION OF WANT OF A THING. BUT TAKE A LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY ASSETS.

YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THE ORGANIZATIONS, THE PHYSICAL ASSETS THAT ARE ALREADY WORKING REALLY WELL, THAT DON'T NEED SUPPORT? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT HAVE A TON OF POTENTIAL, AND MAYBE NEED A LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT TO JUST GET OVER THE HILL, TO REALLY START TO ROLL ON THEIR OWN? THAT IS THE BASIC CONCEPT OF ASSET BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, AND I THINK YOU KNOW THIS AS FROM ALL OF YOUR STUDIES AND OTHER STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE, THE ARTS SECTOR IS FULL OF TALENTED, MOTIVATED PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE READY AND WILLING TO RUN WITH THE BALL.

IF GROUPS LIKE COUNCIL CAN SIMPLY MAKE SMALL INVESTMENTS AND SEE HOW IT GOES.

HENCE $25,000. ASK FOR THIS PROJECT THIS YEAR, WHICH WE WOULD LEVERAGE AND MULTIPLY SEVERAL TIMES.

IT'S A BIGGER AMOUNT THAN WOULD FIT UNDER COMMUNITY GRANTS.

THAT'S WHY IT WORKS WELL FOR THE ARTS SECTOR.

AND WE'RE NOT SUGGESTING THAT IT NEED BE OUR PROJECT.

WE'RE JUST ASKING THAT YOU GO OUT TO COMPETITION TO TRY TO FIND SOMEONE TO DO IT.

PERFECT TIMING. RIGHT ON TIME. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MY COLLEAGUES? COUNCILOR FEQUET? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION, ADRIAN. YEAH.

THAT SUCKED. WE DIDN'T GET TO MOVE THE MASTER PLAN FORWARD.

I GUESS TWO QUESTIONS. ONE IS, WHAT IS THAT OTHER GROUP CALLED? YELLOWKNIFE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. HAS THE, I DON'T WANT TO, THE ARTIST COMMUNITY, THE MUSIC COMMUNITY. ALL THE DIFFERENT KIND OF ARTS FOLKS.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT KIND OF LEVERAGING ALL OF THE ENERGY AND PEOPLE THAT ARE KIND OF INTERESTED IN DIFFERENT THINGS,

[00:10:01]

I UNDERSTAND WHO IS, YOU KNOW, ASKING THE CITY FOR DIFFERENT THINGS AND MAYBE SOME OF THE SAME THINGS.

AND I GUESS I JUST WANT TO KNOW, LIKE, HOW IS EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION. IF YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE PERFORMING ARTS SECTOR, THERE HAVE BEEN MEETINGS WITH THAT ORGANIZATION RIGHT FROM THE START AND FOLLOWING SOME CONCERNS THAT VOICED BY FOLKS IN THAT COMMUNITY.

ADDITIONAL MEETINGS WERE HELD. AND REALLY, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ALL GROUPS ARE NECESSARILY READY AT THIS STAGE TO MOVE FORWARD ON A PROJECT.

NOW WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY ON OTHER POTENTIAL CO-LOCATION OPPORTUNITIES.

SOMETIMES FITTING TOO MUCH OF ONE THING UNDER ONE ROOF MEANS YOU'RE SPLITTING UP THE PIE.

WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING FOR CO-LOCATION OPPORTUNITIES THAT BRING IN OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING OR DO OTHER THINGS LIKE INCREASE VISITATION.

THE BIG ONE THAT YOU'LL BE FAMILIAR WITH IS WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS BUILDING, WHICH IS PROBABLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 50 TO $60 MILLION, WILL NOT ONLY HOUSE A NONCOMMERCIAL ART GALLERY AND ART CENTER, IT WILL ALSO HOUSE A TERRITORIAL VISITOR'S CENTER, AND IT WILL HOUSE, THIRD CO-LOCATION OPPORTUNITY IS A TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION RESOURCE CENTER.

SO THOSE ARE THE THREE MAIN PARTS OF THIS PROJECT, AND THEY WILL WORK REALLY WELL TOGETHER TO BRING MORE PEOPLE THROUGH THE DOOR.

ALSO ACHIEVE THE MANDATE OF ALLOWING FOR MORE INTERACTION BETWEEN VISITORS AND NORTHERN ART AND SHARING SOME COSTS ACROSS DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS. COUNCILOR FEQUET.

PART. YEAH. YOU CAN ASK HIM ANY QUESTION. YEAH, I WAS GOING TO SAVE THIS ONE FOR BUDGET, BUT IT SEEMS RELEVANT NOW. YEAH.

JUST CURIOUS IF ADMIN COULD SPEAK TO AND MAYBE THIS IS MY MEMORY, BUT I RECALL WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE VISITOR CENTER BEING LAUNCHED ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE SAW IS MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD BE MANAGED OR OVERSEEN OR STAFFED BY ONE OF THE NOT FOR PROFIT GROUPS WHO ARE IN THE ART SPACE. GIVEN THE OBVIOUS GALLERY THAT'S IN THERE YOU KNOW, JUST AND I JUST WANT TO GET A REFRESHER FROM ADMIN ON IS THAT STILL SOMETHING THAT IS ON THE TABLE IN THE CARDS? YES OR NO? AND WHY NOT? MR. [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

DIRECTOR THISTLE IS PREPARED TO ANSWER. YES. IF COUNCIL MIGHT REMEMBER IN MAY 2025, SO PRETTY RECENTLY PASSED A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO SETTING UP THE DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION.

AND PART OF THAT ALSO DIRECTED ADMINISTRATION TO MAINTAIN OPERATION OF THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER FOR THE DURATION OF THE CONTRACT WITH NORTHWEST TERRITORIES TOURISM, AND REALLY THE PURPOSE OF THAT AT THE TIME WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS AT THE GPC MEETING, WAS BECAUSE IT WAS A THREE-YEAR TERM.

AND THEN POSSIBLY IN THE END OF THAT, WE WOULD ISSUE AN RFP FOR VISITOR SERVICES AND THE DMO.

AND SO THE DISCUSSION WILL HAPPEN IN THAT WAS 25, SO IN 2027, TO BE PREPARED FOR 2028 WE'LL BE HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

SO IT IS POSSIBLE WE'RE STILL HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

I'VE ACTUALLY MET WITH MR. BELL A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR.

SO YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY TOP OF MIND. COUNCILOR FEQUET.

THANKS. YEAH. I JUST THAT WAS MY RECOLLECTION.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T LET THAT PASS US ON UNINTENTIONALLY, SO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR MCLENNAN. NOT A QUESTION. JUST A COMMENT.

THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL THE WORK BEHIND TRYING TO PUT A CENTER TOGETHER.

JUST WANTED TO SHOUT OUT THAT COUNCIL DID SUPPORT AND CONTINUES TO FUND THE NONCOMMERCIAL GALLERY SPACE IN THE VISITOR'S CENTER.

SO WHEN TALKING TO FUNDERS, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT DEMONSTRATION OF THE CITY'S COMMITMENT.

UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGE AND ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE FUNDING. BUT THAT'S A CONCRETE STEP THAT COUNCIL DID TAKE OUT OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN.

THANKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL. MCLENNAN.

I GUESS MY ONE QUESTION IS ACTUALLY FOR ADMIN TOO.

SO CAN ADMIN SPEAK TO, BECAUSE THIS REQUEST IS $25,000 AND IT WOULD BE OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR GRANT SYSTEM AS PROPOSED.

WE WOULD HAVE TO DO AN RFP FOR THAT. CORRECT.

LIKE IF WE ENDED UP SAY WE ENDED UP HYPOTHETICALLY PUTTING THIS INTO BUDGET AS REQUESTED, WOULD THAT HAVE TO GO OUT TO RFP THEN, BECAUSE IT'S ABOVE THE $20,000 SOLE SOURCE LIMIT? CORRECT, THAT IS THE SOLE SOURCE LIMIT. SO RFP IS THE RIGHT OPTION.

BUT I WILL CHECK TO SEE IF MY TEAM HAS ANY OTHER COMMENTS.

NOPE. WE'RE GOOD. YES. THANK YOU. SO, COUNCILOR FEQUET, I'LL LET YOU ASK YOUR QUESTION.

GO FOR IT. YEAH. JUST COULD YOU REFRESH MY MEMORY?

[00:15:02]

I KNOW THERE'S SOME BIG MULTI-YEAR GRANTS. IS THERE A LIMIT TO THE ONE-TIME GRANTS, WHAT'S THAT CAP? MR. [INAUDIBLE]? THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

LET ME CONSULT WITH DIRECTOR WHITE. YEAH, SORRY.

I DON'T KEEP THOSE AMOUNTS ON TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I CERTAINLY KNOW WHERE TO LOOK FOR IT, AND I CAN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION AS SOON AS I CAN GRAB IT. THANKS. THANKS VERY MUCH. I WANT TO SAY, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, IT'S AROUND $10,000 ISH.

OH, COUNCIL MCLENNAN. WHO'S DONE THIS? ENOUGH TIMES? GO FOR IT. GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE. $20,000 OR 30% OF THE BUDGET.

PERFECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO HAVE THESE THINGS IN EVERYBODY'S HEADS AS WE THINK ABOUT THIS BEFORE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.

MR. BELL, ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR MR. BELL? NO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND NEXT WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE ILLINOIS TENNIS CLUB.

AND I'M GOING TO DO BETTER THIS TIME THAN JUST ASSUMING THE RULES ARE KNOWN, BECAUSE I SAW ADRIAN WALKING UP AND JUST ASSUMED THAT HE WOULD KNOW THE RULES. AND HE DID.

SO FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, FIVE MINUTES. IF YOU HIT YOUR FIVE MINUTE MARK, I'LL LET YOU KNOW.

AND THEN WE CAN GIVE YOU ANOTHER TWO MINUTES IF COUNCIL'S FOR IT.

TAKE IT AWAY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT HERE WITH COUNCIL TODAY.

MY NAME IS JIM MARTIN. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE YELLOWKNIFE TENNIS CLUB.

I'M JOINED HERE TODAY WITH BY RANDY RIVERS. HE'S A LONG SERVING MEMBER ON OUR BOARD.

AND ALSO MY WIFE, MARISSA MARTIN JOINED HERE TODAY, AND SHE'S ONE OF OUR STAR PLAYERS.

SO, IT'S GREAT. GREAT TO HAVE THEM HERE WITH ME TODAY.

SO THANK YOU. SO WE'RE HERE TO SPEAK TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR RESURFACING THE TENNIS COURTS HERE WITHIN THE CITY.

THERE'S A PROPOSED $200,000 ALLOCATION FOR 2026, AND THEN A FURTHER 100,000 PROPOSED ALLOCATION INTO 2027.

A BIT OF BACKGROUND ON REGARDING THE YELLOWKNIFE TENNIS CLUB.

WE ARE A NONPROFIT SOCIETY. WE'VE BEEN OPERATING WELL OVER 20 YEARS HERE IN THE CITY.

AND SLIDE. YEAH, YEAH. SORRY. WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING, WE PROVIDE RECREATIONAL TENNIS PROGRAMING FOR ALL AGES. OUR, AND WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO REPORT THAT TENNIS IS DEFINITELY THRIVING HERE IN THE CITY.

OUR CLUB MEMBERSHIP HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE EACH YEAR.

WE ARE NOW AT OVER 300 MEMBERS. AND JUST THIS PAST YEAR, WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO REPORT THAT OUR YOUTH MEMBERSHIPS HERE IN THE CITY, BETWEEN AGES THREE AND 16, HAVE INCREASED BY OVER 30%.

SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT GROWTH IN THIS SPORT HERE IN THE CITY.

THE FOCUS OBVIOUSLY IS ON THE TENNIS COURT RESURFACING PROJECT.

HERE WITHIN THE CITY WE HAVE EIGHT TENNIS COURTS, SOMBA K'E PARK WE HAVE THREE COURTS, AT MCNIVEN WE HAVE THREE COURTS.

AND AT THE PUMPHOUSE WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL TWO COURTS.

SO, EACH OF THESE COURTS HAVE A PROTECTIVE RUBBER SURFACE ON THEM.

AND JUST THROUGH NATURAL WEAR AND TEAR THESE SURFACES DO DEGRADE OVER TIME.

THE AVERAGE LIFE OF THESE SURFACES IS BETWEEN 4 TO 8 YEARS.

THE LAST TIME THAT THESE COURTS WERE RESURFACED WAS IN 2017.

SO WE ARE CERTAINLY AT THE POINT NOW WHERE WE'RE RESURFACING NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED.

AND THE RESURFACING OF ALL THREE COURTS WAS BROUGHT FORWARD DURING THE 2025 CAPITAL PLANNING PROCESS.

HOWEVER, AT THAT TIME IT WAS DEFERRED. WHY RESURFACE THE YELLOWKNIFE TENNIS COURTS? WELL, THERE'S A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT REASONS WHY WE WOULD WANT TO DO THIS.

MAKE THIS INVESTMENT. POOR SURFACE QUALITY CAUSES A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES FOR OUR PROGRAMING.

THE TOP OF THE LIST IS SAFETY HAZARDS. IF WE'RE OPERATING ON COURTS THAT HAVE CRACKS OR UNEVEN SURFACES, THERE IS A HIGH RISK FOR OUR PLAYERS TO TRIP AND HURT THEMSELVES.

SO WE CERTAINLY WANT TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR PROGRAMING.

IT IMPEDES THE QUALITY AND INTEGRITY OF THE TENNIS GAME.

SO WE DO OBVIOUSLY WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT QUALITY PROGRAMING AND ALSO AN INABILITY TO FULLY UTILIZE THE COURTS.

WITH THE INCREASING INTEREST IN TENNIS HERE IN THE CITY, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION IN OUR TOURNAMENTS AND OTHER HIGH USE PROGRAMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT WE RUN, AND WE OFTEN HAD TO TURN PLAYERS AWAY AND SAID, NO, YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT TILL LATER IN THE DAY OR THE NEXT DAY TO BE ABLE TO GET ON THE COURT.

SO, SO IT DOES CREATE A CHALLENGE, A CHALLENGE FOR PROGRAM DELIVERY.

RESURFACING IS CERTAINLY VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S AN IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY.

IT DOES EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE COURTS IF WE DO NOT RESURFACE ON A PERIODIC BASIS AS REQUIRED FOR THE LIFE CYCLE.

[00:20:04]

ALSO ANOTHER CONSIDERATION IS YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT AND CONTINUE TO ATTRACT NEW MEMBERS TO THIS SPACE.

IT'S A GREAT ACTIVE LIVING OPPORTUNITY PROMOTES CERTAINLY HEALTH AND WELLNESS HERE IN THE CITY.

AND WE WANT TO ENSURE WE HAVE CERTAINLY GOOD TOOLS YOU KNOW, GOOD COURTS TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER OUR PROGRAMING.

AS I MENTIONED, ALL COURTS HAVE NOW REACHED THE END OF THEIR SERVICE LIFE WHICH IS EIGHT YEARS.

THE SOMBA K'E COURTS ARE NOW AT A POINT OF UNPLAYABILITY.

AS PER THE PICTURE THERE, YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT THERE'S SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WHICH WOULD IMPEDE THE PLAYABILITY.

MCNIVEN COURTS HAVE EXPERIENCED ADDED WEAR AND TEAR OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS DUE TO EXCESSIVE DUST FROM CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES.

OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS, THERE'S BEEN UPGRADES TO WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS CLOSE BY AND ON FRANKLIN, AS WELL AS, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT NICE NEW AQUATIC CENTER THAT WE HAVE.

SO, THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTIVITY THERE THAT CREATED MORE WEAR AND TEAR.

THE PUMPHOUSE COURTS ARE ALSO THROUGH RECENT INSPECTIONS SHOWING SIGNS OF DETERIORATION.

AND JUST APOLOGIES. SEE, THAT'S MY ALARM GOING OFF.

YOU'VE REACHED THE FIVE MINUTES. CAN I GET A MOTION? COUNCILOR ARDEN-SMITH, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR FOOTE. OBJECTIONS? ANOTHER TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU SIR. SO WE'RE ACTUALLY AT THE CONCLUSION OF OUR PRESENTATION, AND OUR CONCLUSION IS SIMPLY THIS WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT IN APPROVING THE REQUIRED CAPITAL INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT THE RESURFACING OF THE TENNIS COURTS. AND AS I MENTIONED ALLUDED TO EARLIER, WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS HERE IN THE CITY, AND WE HAVE A LONG STANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTER? COUNCIL MCLENNAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.

IN THE BUDGET THERE'S MONEY FOR RESURFACING OF MCNIVEN AND SOMBA K'E TENNIS COURTS.

BASED ON THE PRESENTATION, MY GUESS WOULD BE THAT THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT YOU WOULD SAY WOULD NEED THE MOST ATTENTION.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? OR JUST IN TERMS OF WHICH ONE, WHICH ONES NEED THE MOST ATTENTION? GO AHEAD. YEAH. THANK YOU. YEAH, THAT ASSESSMENT IS CORRECT.

THOSE TWO COURTS DO HAVE THE GREATEST NEED FOR RESURFACING AT THIS TIME.

HOWEVER, WE DO WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING ALL THREE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THANK YOU. AND COUNCILOR FEQUET. SORRY, I WAS JUST PIVOTING THERE.

COUNCILOR MCLENNAN KIND OF ASKED MY QUESTION.

THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. I THINK THERE WAS A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILORS HAD BEEN SENDING TO STAFF IN PREPARATION FOR BUDGET ANYWAY, SO YOU'RE HELPING US KNOCK THEM OFF THE LIST.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS, I GUESS, ABOUT THE USAGE OF THE THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND YOU KNOW, LIKE BALLPARK GUESSTIMATE. ARE YOU USING ALL OF THEM? YOU KNOW, MORE THAN 50%, LESS THAN 50%? JUST TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK.

WHERE SHOULD WE PUT OUR MONEY? IF THERE IS MONEY THAT WILL BE APPROVED, THIS THIS BUDGET, YOU KNOW, IS IT WORTH IT TO USE THE MAIN ONE? BECAUSE YOU GUYS USE THAT ALL THE TIME AT A, YOU KNOW, MUCH DIFFERENT KIND OF LEVEL OF REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE AND KIND OF LEAVE THE OTHER ONES, LIKE, SO JUST LOOKING FOR SOME KIND OF USAGE FEEDBACK FROM YOU GUYS? SURE. WELL, CERTAINLY. YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE RESULTS OF OUR PROGRAMING THE CLUB DOES DELIVER ONGOING TOURNAMENTS THROUGH THE YEAR, THROUGH THE SEASON AND ALSO SUPPORT SUMMER CAMPS FOR, FOR THE KIDS THROUGH THE SUMMER.

SO WE CAN SAY WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT THERE'S A VERY HIGH UTILIZATION OF ALL COURTS THROUGH THROUGH THE SUMMER, THROUGH THE SEASON. AND YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY DURING TOURNAMENTS AND OTHER HIGH USE ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE ALL COURTS ARE FULLY UTILIZED. JEFF. YEAH. SO JUST GOING TO ADD THERE A LISTING HERE.

MY NAME IS RANDY RIVERS AND I'M PART OF THE BOARD TOO, AS FAR AS USAGE.

JIM DID MENTION BUT AT THE SOMBA K'E COURTS THERE'S ALSO PICKLEBALL BEING PLAYED THERE.

AND PRESENTLY RIGHT NOW THERE ARE FOUR PICKLEBALL COURTS AND EVERYBODY'S HEARD OF PICKLEBALL AND THE CRAZE.

AND IT'S A VERY POPULAR SPORT IN YELLOWKNIFE NOW AS WELL.

IT'S PLAYED AT THE MULTIPLEX IN THE GYM, BUT IN THE SUMMER IT'S PLAYED THERE TOO, SO THAT THE SOMBA K'E COURTS, THERE'S PICKLEBALL DEMAND AND ALSO THERE'S A TENNIS DEMAND.

AND AS FAR AS A FIRST GLANCE AT THE USAGE OF THE COURTS, I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO I CALL THEM MY OWN COURTS.

BUT THE PUMPHOUSE COURTS, MY HOUSE BACKS ON TO THE PUMPHOUSE COURTS.

[00:25:04]

THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRAMING HAPPENING IN THE EVENINGS, MONDAY TO THURSDAYS FOR JUNIORS AND MEN'S NIGHT AND INSTRUCTION.

AND BECAUSE THOSE ARE USED IN THE EVENINGS, THE PUMPHOUSE COURTS AND THE SOMBA K'E COURTS ARE WELL USED IN THE SUMMER.

OF COURSE, WE GOT LIGHT TILL 11:00, 11 OR 12:00 AT NIGHT.

AND THE NICE THING ABOUT IT IS YOU KNOW, I LOVE TENNIS, OF COURSE.

AND IT'S A GREAT WHAT THEY CALL CARRY ON SPORT.

AND IT'S A FAMILY SPORT. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN SPORT MOST OF MY LIFE.

I WAS A TEACHER AT SAINT PATRICK HIGH SCHOOL FOR 33 YEARS AND BACKGROUND IN KINESIOLOGY GUIDANCE COUNSELOR.

SO I SEE THE THE NEED FOR FOR RESURFACING THESE COURTS, AND IT'LL BENEFIT A LOT OF PEOPLE.

COUNCILOR FEQUET. THANK YOU. MAYBE. AND MAYBE JUST TO ASK AGAIN SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCIL MCLENNAN ALREADY ASKED IF THERE WAS MONEY THAT WAS APPROVED IN THIS BUDGET, IS THIS THE WAY THAT THE TENNIS COMMUNITY WOULD SEE IT SPENT? GO AHEAD. I THINK IDEALLY WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL COURTS COMPLETED AT THE SAME TIME FOR ECONOMIES OF SCALE.

BUT WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT FUNDS ARE LIMITED, AND THE PROPOSED $200,000 TO ADDRESS AT LEAST TWO OTHER COURTS IN THIS NEXT CYCLE. WOULD CERTAINLY BE CRITICAL AT THIS JUNCTURE.

COUNCILOR FEQUET. JUST GOING TO ADD A WORD REGARDING THE SURFACING OF THE COURTS.

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT COST, BUT IF YOU RIGHT NOW, IF THE $200,000 IS ALLOCATED FOR THE SIX COURTS, THE ONES AT SOMBA K'E AND MCNIVEN, AND IF YOU DO THE COST ANALYSIS, IF IT'S, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 200,000, THAT'S ROUGHLY $33,000 PER COURT TO RESURFACE.

AND IF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU BRING IF THE GROUP UP AND RESURFACE THE ONES THAT PUMPHOUSE THE FOLLOWING YEAR, I'M SURE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE 33,000. YOU GOT TO BRING UP THOSE TRUCKS AND THOSE PAVING HOTELS AND ALL, AND IT COULD BE 50. I DON'T KNOW. IT COULD BE $50,000 PER COURT TO DO IT THEN.

SO IN AN IDEAL WORLD, YOU'D WANT TO, YOU HAVE THE GROUP HERE.

THEY'RE COMING UP, OF COURSE, FROM THE SOUTH.

WE HEARD THAT TERM MANY TIMES BEFORE. AND WHEN YOU HAVE THE GROUP HERE, YOU'RE ALREADY DOING SIX COURTS.

LET'S DO THE EIGHT IS I THINK THE COST PER COURT I THINK WILL BE A LOT LESS.

COUNCILOR FEQUET. THANKS. YEAH. ONE MORE QUESTION FOR THE PRESENTERS, BUT MAYBE I'LL, I'LL ASK ADMIN ONE FIRST.

JUST CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE DIVISION OF THE 200 AND THEN THE 100 THAT'S IN THE PROPOSED OR THE DRAFT BUDGET? IS IT KIND OF A FUNCTION OF THE WORK AND CAPACITY OR SOMETHING ELSE? JUST. YEAH. MR. [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I'LL PASS IT TO DIRECTOR WHITE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO FOR THE 2026 BUDGET, WE ARE IT'S ALL BEEN MENTIONED HERE, IS $200,000 FOR BOTH SOMBA K'E AND MCNIVEN.

AND THEN WE'VE TENTATIVELY SET ASIDE AN EXTRA 100 OR ANOTHER $100,000 FOR 2027 TO DO THE PUMP HOUSE ONCE.

AGAIN. WE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS AN ECONOMY OF SCALE WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING PRIORITIES.

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AT LEAST TO GET SOME DONE, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU FOLKS HAVE SEEN THESE, THIS PROJECT IN FRONT OF YOU. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD SAFE COURTS.

AND OF COURSE, THIS IS A STRONG ASSET MANAGEMENT PROJECT AS WELL.

THANKS. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FEQUET. THANKS, MR. CHAIR. AND I GUESS LAST QUESTION JUST ABOUT THE SURFACE.

IS IT STRAIGHT UP ASPHALT, IS IT A SPECIAL MATERIAL? AND HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN CONSULTED ON WHAT THAT SHOULD BE? WHAT? YEAH, IT'S ACRYLIC MATERIAL, SO IT'S STANDARD MATERIAL FOR THE COURTS.

AND I UNDERSTAND FROM DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY ADMINISTRATION HERE THAT THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS, THERE MAY BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS.

BUT CERTAINLY RIGHT NOW THAT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILOR FOOTE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF ACTIVE LIVING. QUESTION IS, I'VE BEEN ON SOME SPORTS BOARDS IN THE PAST, AND WE'VE KIND OF HAD TO RESORT TO CORPORATE SUPPORT AND CROWDFUNDING.

IS THAT A POSSIBILITY TO MAKE UP A BIT OF SHORTFALL IF YOU NEEDED IT? QUESTION OVER TO YOU. SURE. WELL, WE'RE A SMALL ORGANIZATION AND YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE YOU KNOW,

[00:30:03]

AND IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER, WE WOULD CERTAINLY CONSIDER THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILOR FOOTE. ALL RIGHT. THANKS FOR THAT. JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. COUNCILOR PAYNE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. DOES THE CITY RENT THE SPACE TO THE TO THE TENNIS CLUB? MR. [INAUDIBLE] DIRECTOR WHITE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THERE IS A UN AGREEMENT IN PLACE WHERE THE TENNIS CLUB LOOKS AFTER THE FACILITIES.

THEY ALL THREE FACILITIES IN TERMS OF LOCKING IT UP AT THE END OF THE NIGHT AND OPENING IT UP IN THE DAY FROM THE 11:00 TO 07:00 CURFEW HOURS OR BYLAW HOURS. AND THEN FOR THAT THE CITY PAYS THE CLUB A CERTAIN STIPEND FOR THAT TO OCCUR. THANKS. COUNCILOR PAYNE. THANK YOU.

WHAT'S THE MEMBERSHIP FEE TO BE A PART OF TENNIS CLUB.

GO AHEAD. THE MEMBERSHIP FEE YOU KNOW, IT RANGES ACROSS THE MEMBERSHIPS.

LIKE, I HAVE A BREAKDOWN HERE, ACTUALLY, THAT I CAN REFER TO.

SO THE MEMBERSHIP FEES, THEY RANGE FROM $25, WHICH IS A SENIOR, UP TO $175 FOR FAMILY FULL MEMBERSHIP. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR PAYNE.

OKAY. SO THERE'S DEFINITELY ROOM TO MOVE UP ON THESE.

YEAH. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SAYING. AND I KNOW HAVING THESE COURTS RESURFACED IS PRETTY IMPORTANT FOR YOU AS A CLUB.

YOU DID SAY THAT THE CLUB IS GROWING. YOU'RE 300 MEMBERS RIGHT NOW, AND HOPEFULLY IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A COLLABORATION WITH WITH SOME FUNDRAISING AND THE CITY, BUT THAT'S A CONVERSATION FOR A LATER TIME.

BUT I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING IN. THANK YOU.

OPPORTUNITIES, OPPORTUNITIES. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR COCHRANE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. THIS IS GREAT.

A QUESTION TO THE ADMINISTRATION. WHAT IS SPECIFICALLY THE STIPEND THAT WE DO PAY THE CLUB EVERY YEAR FOR THE CARETAKING OF OUR FACILITIES? MR. [INAUDIBLE]. DIRECTOR WHITE. THANK YOU. I WAS JUST MADLY LOOKING THAT UP, AND.

SORRY, I CAN'T FIND IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

AND OF COURSE, THE FASTER I LOOK, THE MORE I CAN'T FIND IT, SO. BUT I CAN CERTAINLY GET THAT BACK TO YOU, THANKS. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A ANSWER FOR BEFORE WE GET TO BUDGET DELIBERATIONS. BACK TO YOU COUNCILOR COCHRANE.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION. JUST CURIOUS, BEING THAT A SIPHON IS PROVIDED AND MEMBERSHIP FEES ARE TAKEN, WHAT IS THE O&M FROM THE CLUB UTILIZED ON THEN? DO YOU DO THAT TO BUY NEW EQUIPMENT FOR USE? LIKE WHAT ARE YOU GUYS USING FOR THE MEMBERSHIP FEES? GO AHEAD. YEAH, WELL, OUR MEMBERSHIP FEES PRIMARILY COVER OUR COACHING FEES FOR TRAINING.

AND IT ALSO COVERS JUST REGULAR YOU KNOW, LIKE, WE WE WE REPAIR THE CLUBHOUSE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE REPAIRS AND THERE'S JUST SMALL AMOUNTS.

BUT OUR PRIMARY EXPENDITURE WOULD BE RELATED TO COACHING FEES.

WE HIRE STUDENTS OVER THE SUMMER, AND WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF TRAINED INSTRUCTORS THAT GIVE STUDENTS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AT THE SAME TIME.

SO YEAH. SO THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE UTILIZE THE MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDS FOR.

COUNCILOR COCHRANE. THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. CHAIR.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, JIM. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED TO KNOW.

THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE. THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. OKAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND NEXT WE HAVE MEMBER STATEMENTS.

THERE WERE NO MEMBER STATEMENTS FOR THE AGENDA. AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY FROM THE FLOOR? SEEING NONE. NEXT WE HAVE INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[Items 11 - 15]

THE COUNCIL DIRECTED ADMINISTRATION TO BRING FORWARD 1, A BYLAW TO AMEND TAX ADMINISTRATION BYLAW NO.

4207, AS AMENDED, TO CREATE A DEFINITION, A NEW TAX CLASS FOR VACANT LAND, AND 2, A BYLAW TO REGULATE VACANT AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CAN I GET A SECONDER? COUNCILOR FEQUET. AND I KNOW THERE IS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THIS MOTION, SO I'M GOING TO PASS IT TO THE DEPUTY MAYOR WARBURTON.

THANK YOU. YEAH, JUST AMENDMENT IS TO CHANGE IT, WHICH I CIRCULATED.

[00:35:08]

4207, AS AMENDED, TO CREATE A DEFINITION, NEW TAX CLASS FOR VACANT LAND, INCLUDING CONSIDERATION FOR CONTAMINATED SITES AND LOW-DENSITY PARKING AND SURFACE PARKING LOTS. THAT'S THE CHANGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CAN I GET A SECONDER? IF THERE IS ONE COUNCILOR, I'LL GO TO COUNCIL COCHRANE THIS TIME.

AND YOU, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR AMENDMENT, DEPUTY MAYOR WARBURTON.

GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. YEAH. IT'S JUST TO MAKE SURE.

I KNOW PREVIOUSLY AT GPC, WE'VE HAD THINGS COME AND COME BACK, AND SO JUST FOR CRYSTAL CLEAR CLARITY, I KNOW WE DISCUSSED IT. IT WAS IN THE IN THE MEETING, BUT JUST SO IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR, KIND OF WHAT OUR INTENT IS.

THIS IS MY WHAT I THINK OUR INTENT WAS, WAS TO ADDRESS THESE THINGS. WE DISCUSSED THEM AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT THIS WILL TAKE INTO 2026 FOR DRAFTING AND THEN THE TAX STUFF WON'T UNTIL 2027. SO IT'LL BE NEXT COUNCIL THAT WILL HAVE TO IMPLEMENT THIS SO THAT KNOWLEDGE MAY NOT BE THERE.

SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S AMENDMENT JUST TO LAY OUT KIND OF WHAT WE DISCUSSED IN VERY CRYSTAL CLEAR LANGUAGE.

NO, I APPRECIATE THAT GREATLY. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO THE AMENDMENT SEEING? NONE THEN ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT.

AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS. SO THEN BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION WITH THE AMENDMENT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THAT NOW? SEEING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDED MOTION. AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

PAINLESS. THERE YOU GO. NEXT WE HAVE ANOTHER MOTION.

COUNCILOR ARDEN-SMITH. THANK YOU. I MOVE THAT COUNCIL, APPOINT EDWIN SHU, AN ACCOUNTANT, PURSUANT TO AUDIT COMMITTEE BYLAW NO. 4127, TO SERVE ON THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE AUDIT COMMITTEE FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM COMMENCING NOVEMBER 25TH, 2025 AND ENDING NOVEMBER 24TH, 2028. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CAN I GET A SECONDER? COUNCILOR FOOTE. AND ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

NEXT WE HAVE NEW BUSINESS. THERE WAS NO NEW BUSINESS FOR THE AGENDA. IS THERE ANY FROM THE FLOOR? SEEING NONE.

ENACTMENT OF BYLAWS. THERE WERE NO BYLAWS FOR THE AGENDA.

DEFERRED BUSINESS AND TABLED ITEMS. THERE WERE NO TABLED ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA.

ANY FROM THE FLOOR? NONE. OLD BUSINESS. NO OLD BUSINESS FOR THE AGENDA.

ANY FROM THE FLOOR? SEEING NONE. NOTICES OF MOTION.

THERE WERE NONE FOR THE AGENDA. COUNCILOR ARDEN-SMITH, OVER TO YOU.

THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO BRING NOTICE THAT I WILL BE BRINGING A MOTION AT THE DECEMBER 8TH COUNCIL MEETING.

THAT COUNCIL DIRECTED ADMINISTRATION TO BRING FORWARD A BYLAW TO GRANT TEMPORARY EXEMPTION FOR EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES FOR BUSINESS LICENSE FEES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOTICE GIVEN. SO WE'LL YOU CAN TAKE THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AND POLISH OFF THE MOTION DRAFT MOTION WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.

AND WE'LL SEE THAT ON DECEMBER 8TH. SO NEXT WE HAVE DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

THERE WERE NONE ADMIN INQUIRIES. THERE WERE NONE FOR THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY FROM THE FLOOR? AND NEXT WE'LL GO TO ADJOURNMENT IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

COUNCILOR COCHRANE, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR ARDEN-SMITH. EVERYBODY, HAVE A LOVELY EVENING. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.