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OUR FINAL GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE YEAR ON MONDAY,[Governance & Priorities Committee on December 8, 2025.]
DECEMBER 8, 2025 TO ORDER.THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE ARE LOCATED IN [INAUDIBLE] TERRITORY.
FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATION.
WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES, AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS METIS AND INUIT, WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
NEXT, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
I BELIEVE, MR. VAN DINE, WE'RE MOVING ITEM 6 UP TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA, THE CANADA GAMES ITEM?
>> PERFECT. I DIDN'T WANT TO CURVE BALL BUT I HAD TO ASK.
NEXT, WE HAVE DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.
IS THERE ANY CONFLICT BEFORE COUNCIL TODAY? SEEING NONE.
NEXT, WE HAVE A MEMORANDUM REGARDING CONSIDERATION OF AN EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE REGARDING THE 2035 CANADA WINTER GAMES, MR. VAN DINE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. 2035 IS AROUND THE CORNER.
WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS TALK TO COUNCIL ABOUT AN INTEREST IN ESTABLISHING A COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THE VIABILITY AND POTENTIAL POSSIBILITY OF YELLOWKNIFE BEING ONE OF THE HOST COMMUNITIES FOR THE CANADA WINTER GAMES IN 2035.
THE GOVERNOR OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES ANNOUNCED EARLIER LAST WEEK THAT THAT WAS AN ITEM THAT WAS UNDER CONSIDERATION, AND SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TODAY IS A VERY EARLY TOUCH JUST TO GET COUNCIL'S BLESSING TO GO AND CONSIDER WHAT THAT COMMITTEE COULD LOOK LIKE AND COME BACK WITH THE TERMS OF REFERENCE AND STRUCTURE AND PROPOSED WORK PLAN.
TODAY, THE MEMO LAYS OUT ESSENTIALLY THE PURPOSE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SEEK WITH COUNCIL'S EARLY ENDORSEMENT TO EXPLORE THE CONCEPT, AND THEN WE WOULD BE COMING BACK FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
WE ARE NOT MAKING ANY COMMITMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE AT THIS JUNCTURE, BUT WE ARE COMMITTING TO DO DUE DILIGENCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. VAN DINE.
I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE A SECOND BECAUSE THE CITY CLERK JUST TOLD ME THERE'S NO AUDIO FOR THE WEBCAST AT THE MOMENT, WHICH MEANS WE'RE NOT RECORDING.
AS WE ALL KNOW FROM READING OUR PROCEDURES BY LAW RECENTLY, THAT'S A REQUIREMENT OF OUR BY LAW AT THE MOMENT.
CITY CLERKS ON IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE HEARD MR. VAN DINE'S INTRODUCTION.
WE ALSO HAVE MR. GARY BRENNAN, DEPUTY MINISTER OF MUNICIPAL AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FROM NWT HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF THEY COME UP.
WITH THAT, I WILL PASS IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? COUNCILLOR COCHRANE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. CHAIR. IT IS CERTAINLY AN IMPORTANT THING TO CONSIDER AS IT WOULD BE A HUGE EVENT AND WHITEHORSE HAS DONE BOTH PRIOR, AND I'M VERY MUCH OPEN TO THE IDEA OF IF WHITEHORSE CAN DO IT, CERTAINLY, WE CAN DO AS WELL.
BUT THE ONE THING THAT I HAVE UNDER CONSIDERATION IS WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF YELLOWKNIFE WAS AN INCREDIBLY LARGE EVENT, AND OUR CENTENNIAL WILL BE HAPPENING IN 2034.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE EVENTS THROUGHOUT THAT ENTIRE TIME.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LEVEL OF PLANNING UNHEARD OF SINCE THAT PRIOR TIME, AND THAT WILL BE LEADING DIRECTLY INTO THE ARCTIC WINTER GAMES.
IS THE ADMINISTRATION CONFIDENT THAT THEY'LL HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY DO BOTH THE CENTENNIAL FOLLOWED BY THE CANADIAN WINTER GAMES?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SHORT ANSWER'S YES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO IS TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PROPER PLANNING AND CONSIDERATION.
I THINK THE EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE WILL ALLOW US TO TEST THE WORKLOAD, THE AMBITION, AND THE SCALE, AND THEN SEEK AND ORGANIZE AROUND ACCORDINGLY AS WELL AS ACQUIRING THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER ON A PROJECT OF THAT SCOPE AND SCALE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THAT ANSWER.
TO THE DEPUTY MINISTER, ISN'T A COMPARISON TO WHAT WAS RAN OPERATIONALLY BY WHITEHORSE AND THE YUKON GOVERNMENT,
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HOW MUCH OF THAT, DURING THEIR CANADIAN WINTER GAMES, DO YOU KNOW THAT WAS OVERSEEN AND IMPLEMENTED BY THE YUKON GOVERNMENT VERSUS THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT?>> MR. BRENNAN, ALTHOUGH WE WILL GO WITH THE FACT, REMEMBER, THIS IS VERY, VERY EARLY STAGES SO FAIR PLAY TO THE DEPUTY MINISTER IF HE DOESN'T HAVE THE ANSWER, BUT MR. BRENNAN, IF YOU CAN GIVE IT YOUR BEST GO.
>> YEAH, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER IS, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
BUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR IF 2035 WERE TO GO AND WE SEE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS IS NORMALLY THERE'S A WHOLE SOCIETY THAT GETS SET UP, SUPPORTED BY THE MUNICIPALITY AND BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE HOST PROVINCE OR TERRITORY IN THIS CASE HERE, AND THE HOST SOCIETY WILL BE DOING THE MOST OF THE LAKE WORK.
I THINK THAT IN PEI IN 2023, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A BUDGET OF 33 MILLION, $16 MILLION OF THAT WENT TO STAFF TIME TO SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF THE CASE.
DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION. THAT'S GOOD AS I CAN DO. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS COUNCILLOR COCHRANE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU TO THE DEPUTY MINISTER.
FOR PI, 16 MILLION, THAT IS A HUGE INVESTMENT EVEN ON OUR COMPARISON.
I ASSUME THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS FULL CONSIDERATION FOR THAT LEVEL OF INVESTMENT NECESSARY ON THE SAME CALIBER.
I THINK I SAID THAT A 60% OF 33 MILLION WAS THE NUMBER.
I THINK ANSWER TO PART OF YOUR QUESTION IS THAT THE EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE THAT THE CITY IS LOOKING AT FORMING, THE GMT IS ALSO DOING SIMILAR WORK AND MAYBE IF THERE IS AN EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE FORMED, WE WILL JOIN FORCES AND COME UP WITH RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET, WE DON'T HAVE AN ON END BUDGET, WE DON'T HAVE A CAPITAL BUDGET, THAT'S WHAT THIS WORK NEEDS TO DO SO THAT OUR POLITICAL LEADERS CAN MAKE A DECISION BASICALLY. THANKS.
>> FURTHER HIGHLIGHTING THE EARLY, EARLY STAGES. COUNCILLOR COCHRANE.
>>THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. NO FURTHER QUESTION.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY THOUGH IS THE REALITY IS THAT, YES, IN THE ARCTIC WINTER GAMES AS WELL, HOST SOCIETIES ARE FORMULATED, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES THAT THE GOVERNMENTS HAVE HAD TO STEP IN AND TAKE OVER AN ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY OF THIS BECAUSE OF THE FACT HOST SOCIETIES, BEING THAT WHAT THEY ARE, DO NOT HAVE THE LEVEL OF ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS THAT WE NEEDED TO ACTUALLY USUALLY FINISH THIS OFF.
IT HAS BECOME ALMOST PRECEDENT AT THIS.
I LIKE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT A HOST SOCIETY CAN DO VERSUS WHAT WE CAN DO, AND I HOPE THIS COMMITTEE, IF IT IS SO SUCCESSFULLY BE FORMULATED, TAKES THAT INTO HIGH CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILLOR COCHRANE.
NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILLOR FEQUET.
>> THANKS, MR. CHAIR. THIS IS AN EXCITING THING TO THINK ABOUT.
CERTAINLY, MY ENTIRE LIFE HERE IN THE NWT I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO BE PART OF MANY ARCTIC WINTER GAMES AND CANADA GAMES AND NET GAMES ACROSS DIFFERENT SPORTS, AND I UNDERSTAND FULLY THE BENEFITS.
I THINK THERE'S A FEW BIG QUESTIONS FOR ME THOUGH.
FIRST ONE, JUST FOR PRACTICALITY, CITY STAFF HAVE INDICATED THEY NEED MORE TIME TO CONSIDER MACCA'S REQUEST FROM MARCH 31 TO GET BACK TO MACCA ABOUT THIS AND SO THE MEMO THAT WE RECEIVED DIDN'T INDICATE MACCA HAD NECESSARILY AGREED TO THAT EXTENSION OF TIME.
CAN YOU JUST COMMENT IF THAT'S POSSIBLE OR IF WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING THAT TIME TO DELIBERATE AND LET THIS COMMITTEE DO ITS WORK.
>> I WILL FLIP THAT TO MR. VAN DINE FIRST AND THEN I'LL LET HIM PASS IT OVER TO MR. BRENNAN IF HE WANTS.
>> I'M NOT SURE WHETHER WE HAVE THAT CONFIRMATION YET, BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE THAT CONFIRMATION SOON.
I DON'T KNOW IF MR. BRENNAN WOULD LIKE TO ADD.
>> THANKS. I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THE PRESIDENT OF CANADA GAMES COUNCIL LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AGO AND FLOATED THE IDEA BY HER.
WE DIDN'T OFFICIALLY ASK BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT TOO EARLY FOR US TO ASK THAT QUESTION PARTIALLY BECAUSE CERTAIN THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT LITTLE BIT THAT WILL GUIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE PROCEED OR NOT, AND IF WE ARE NOT PROCEEDING, THAT QUESTION WILL BECOME A MUTE POINT, BASICALLY. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILLOR FEQUET.
>> WE DON'T HAVE CONFIRMATION IF THE COMMITTEE WOULD HAVE TILL JUNE 30 IS WHAT I HEARD, BUT JUST RECOGNIZING THAT PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMITTEE IS TO ACTUALLY GAUGE PUBLIC INTEREST IN WANTING TO HOST THIS GAME THE GAME.
WHEN WOULD YOU EXPECT CONFIRMATION THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL HAVE AN EXTRA THREE MONTHS BECAUSE IT'S BASICALLY OVER CHRISTMAS RIGHT NOW.
WHEN WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO EXPECT THAT CONFIRMATION?
>> I KEEP MISSTEPPING. IN MY DISCUSSION, THE PRESIDENT SAID THEY CAN BE FLEXIBLE.
BUT AGAIN, JUNE 30 AND MARCH 31, I DIDN'T ASK THAT DATE.
I CAN FOLLOW UP AND GET CITY AN ANSWER IF THAT'S WHAT'S REQUIRED. THANKS.
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>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILLOR FEQUET.
>> YEAH, JUST TRYING TO GAUGE THE REALISTIC NATURE OF GIVEN STAFFS WORKLOAD [LAUGHTER].
IF THEY HAVE THREE MONTHS OR SIX MONTHS TO DO THIS WORK, THAT'S A PRETTY BIG DIFFERENCE, SO THAT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.
MY NEXT QUESTION, IS THERE A CRITERIA FOR HOSTING PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ON THE CANADIAN GAMES WEBSITE? I KNOW AND SO MUCH OF THE MEMO RECEIVED, IT TALKS ABOUT THERE'S A PRETTY STRICT LIST OF CRITERIA AND I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT THAT HAS BEEN SET AND IS KNOWN, BECAUSE AGAIN, GIVEN THE POTENTIALLY SHORT TIMELINE, THREE OR SIX MONTHS FOR THIS COMMITTEE TO DO ITS WORK, I KNOW SOMETIMES THOSE GET UPDATED OR ARE INTENDED TO BE UPDATED AND WANTED TO KNOW IF THAT'S AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.
THE CRITERIA FOR THE HOST THAT THE HOST COMMITTEE AND EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW.
>> I'LL KICK THAT TO MR. VAN DINE FIRST.
>> I WOULD OFFER JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS JUST IN THE LAST SET OF QUESTIONS.
OUR INTEREST IN COMING TO COUNCIL AT THIS EARLY STAGE IN PART WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE A RED HOT NO, THAT WE WOULD GET IT RIGHT AWAY, AND THEN THE CANADA WINNER GAMES COMMITTEE CAN THEN GO ON THEIR MERRY WAY AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO CALL US BACK OR NOT CALL US BACK.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AT THIS JUNCTURE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING OF JUST GETTING A SIGNAL FROM COUNCIL ON THE RELATIVE INTEREST FOR 2035, THEN WITH THAT, AND I THINK MR. BRENNAN HAS ALLUDED TO THAT IF ALL EYES ARE WATCHING, CANADA WINTER GAMES COUNCIL KNOWS WE'RE MEETING TODAY, THEY KNOW THAT WE'RE, FLOATING THE BALLOON AND THEY'LL WAIT UNTIL THEY HEAR BACK FROM US, AND WE WILL DEFINITELY COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH OUR PROPOSED TERMS OF REFERENCE AND HOW WE STRUCTURE THE COMMITTEE.
I'LL INVITE MR. BRENNAN TO ADD MORE DETAIL WITH RESPECT TO WHAT'S AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE AND WHEN.
JUST BEFORE YOU GO, MR. BRENNAN, JUST TO REMIND YOUR COLLEAGUES, THE RECOMMENDATION FROM COUNCIL IN THE MEMO THAT WE DIRECT THEM TO DEVELOP A TERMS OF REFERENCE.
WE'RE NOT COMMITTING TO ANYTHING YET.
ARE WE DEEMED TO SEE THE POSITIVE ASPECTS, POTENTIALLY DO A TERMS OF REFERENCE UP, COME BACK TO COUNCIL AND FURTHER HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
MR. BRENNAN, THEN BACK TO COUNCILLOR FEQUET'S QUESTION.
>> YEAH, THANKS. JUST ADD A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT MR. VAN DINE HAS SAID IS THAT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF THEY'RE PUBLIC OR NOT.
IN 2022, GNWT EXPRESSED INTEREST IN HOSTING THE GAMES, GOT PROVED IN ROTATION FOR 2035.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO NOW IS CONFIRM IF WE CAN DO IT OR NOT.
IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT AGAIN OF THE CGC, CANADA GAMES COUNCIL, IS THEY WANT TO COME NORTH.
THEY WANT TO DO THE GAMES IN THE TERRITORIES.
WHAT WAS CONFIRMED WITH ME WAS THAT THERE'S NO MINIMUM NUMBER OF SPORTS THAT HAS TO PARTICIPATE.
TODAY, THERE'S TWO MEMBERS OF THE CANADA GAMES COUNCIL FLYING IN YELLOWKNIFE.
THEY'RE GOING TO START TOMORROW, AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO A BIT OF A ROAD SHOW YELLOWKNIFE, WHAT YOU CALL HAYS RIVER, TO LOOK AT THE FACILITIES AND UPDATE THE ASSESSMENT.
SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THERE WAS A TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT ON TEN YEARS AGO, WE HAVE THAT, WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE UPDATING IT.
I DON'T THINK A LOT HAS CHANGED MYSELF BUT MAYBE A LITTLE BIT, BUT VERY INSIGNIFICANT CHANGES I WOULD SUSPECT.
WHILE THERE IS NO MINIMUM NUMBER OF SPORTS, WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST WITH ANOTHER JURISDICTION, IF NEED BE, SO YUKON, THEY'RE OPEN TO HAVING A CONVERSATION.
CAN THE GAMES COUNCIL PROPOSED NUNAVUT BECAUSE NUNAVUT WOULD PROBABLY NEVER GET A CHANCE TO HOST IF WE DON'T JOIN THEM.
THEY COULD DO TABLE TENNIS, BADMINTON, THOSE TYPES OF SPORTS.
MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE, I DON'T KNOW. WE'RE HAVING THAT DISCUSSIONS.
THAT'S A BIG SPORT FOR A LOT OF JURISDICTIONS, BUT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN OUR TERRITORY.
ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF THAT INFORMATION IS PUBLIC, BUT I KNOW THAT CANADA GAMES COUNCIL ARE VERY INTERESTED IN COMING NORTH.
THEY SEE IT AS SOMETHING THAT THEY NEED TO DO AND ARE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WHAT THEY'VE SAID TO ME IS THAT THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE GAMES PER SE, THEY JUST WANT TO HAVE THE GAMES UP HERE, SO THEY'RE WILLING TO GO TO WHATEVER WE CAN DO.
THEIR VIEW OF OUR ASSESSMENT SO FAR JUST FROM TEN YEARS AGO IS THAT OUR FACILITIES ARE FURTHER AHEAD THAN THEY THOUGHT WE HAD ACTUALLY, WHETHER THAT'S GOOD NEWS OR NOT, I'M NOT SURE. THANKS.
>> AS SOMEBODY BORN AND RAISED IN THE SOUTH IT NEVER SURPRISES ME WHEN SOUTHERNERS DON'T HAVE A FULL GRASP OF WHAT GOES ON IN THE NORTH. COUNCILLOR FEQUET.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. JUST RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH THE CHAIR THAT WE ARE COMMITTING SOMETHING TODAY, WHICH IS TIME.
MUTE POINT, I THINK WE WOULD ALL LOVE IF THE GAMES CAME NORTH.
I'M JUST TRYING TO, FOR MYSELF, REFLECT BACK ON THE CONVERSATION WE HAD MOST RECENTLY DURING THIS TERM WITH ARCTIC WINTER GAMES.
I THINK MY BIGGEST QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS IS,
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WHAT IS THE FUNDING MODEL THAT'S GOING TO BE PROPOSED AND WHAT PROPORTION ARE YOU GOING TO BE LOOKING TO THE MUNICIPALITY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR? BECAUSE I THINK THAT HAS BEEN THE KICKER IN THESE PAST DISCUSSIONS ABOUT AS MUCH AS WE MIGHT ALL LOVE AND WANT TO HOST THE GAMES IF IT'S A CLEAR NO BECAUSE OF THE MONEY QUESTION, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO JUST KNOW THAT UP FRONT, TOO.THAT'S WHERE THESE QUESTIONS ARE JUST TRYING TO GET SOME INFORMATION TO COVER THAT.
ANYTHING YOU CAN SHARE WITH RESPECT TO THE PAST PROPORTIONS THAT MUNICIPALITIES HAVE COVERED OR WHAT THE EXPECTATION IS OR WOULD BE THIS TIME AROUND FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND WHETHER THE GWBT IS WILLING TO BACKSTOP THAT TO ANY DEGREE WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.
>> YEAH, AND DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, AND I'M NOT AUTHORIZED TO SPEAK TO THAT THERE.
HOWEVER, I WILL TELL YOU THAT I THINK WHEN STEVEN AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS A FEW MONTHS AGO, THAT WAS THE FIRST QUESTION THAT CAME UP AND THERE WAS NO EXPECTATION THAT THE CITY COULD OR WOULD AFFORD TO DO THIS.
I'M A TAXPAYER AS WELL, SO FAIRLY CHEAP ONE AT THAT.
IF THERE IS ONE EXAMPLE OF JURISDICTION, I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF IT'S QUEBEC OR IF IT'S NEW BRUNSWICK, 2029, WHERE THE GOVERNMENT HAS SAY THEY'RE GOING TO BACKSTOP THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OR LIABILITY.
WHAT WE ARE DOING AS A GOVERNMENT IS WE'VE ALREADY STARTED OUR HOMEWORK REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER HAPPENS TODAY OR WHATEVER ELSE WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED WITH OUR HOMEWORK AND DEVELOP A BUDGET.
WE'RE TALKING TO A CONTRACTOR NOW TO GET BOTH AN OPERATIONAL BUDGET, A CAPITAL BUDGET, AND AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS SO THAT WE CAN GO BACK TO OUR LEADERS AND ASK WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO DO FINANCIALLY.
CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE GOVERNMENT THAT ONE THERE.
BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PRICE TAG FOR WHOEVER DECIDES.
IF WE DECIDE TO PROCEED, PPI WAS 33 MILLION, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THAT, SO THANKS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. BRENNAN, COUNCILMAN FEQUET.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THAT ANSWER.
I KNOW WE DIDN'T MAYBE DIRECTLY RESPOND TO THE QUESTION, BUT YOU GAVE ME THE COMFORT THAT I NEEDED THAT THE GENIE PT IS DOING THIS WORK ANYWAYS.
WHETHER THE CITY IS ON BOARD OR NOT, FOR THAT REASON, I'D BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS COMMITTEE TO FIND OUT IF WE CAN BE AND HOW WE CAN BE.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT EXAMPLE TOO OF THE OTHER MUNICIPALITY OR PROVINCE WHO BACKSTOPPED THE GAMES BECAUSE I THINK IN TODAY'S ECONOMIC CLIMATE, WE'D BE HOPING FOR SOME SIMILAR GUARANTEE IN THE NVT, SO THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COLLEAGUES ON THIS? IF YOU SAY NOTHING, THEN I'LL ASSUME YOU'RE ON BOARD WITH IT MOVING FORWARD, BUT COUNCIL MCLENNAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST A QUESTION FOR ADMIN.
WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER THE TERMS OF REFERENCE, SLOW DOWN OR DELAY, SUCH WORK AS THE COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATE, ASSET MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION.
YEAH, I GUESS THOSE ARE TWO THAT JUMP TO MY HEAD.
>> ALL THE BIG STUFF WE'VE BEEN PRIORITIZING FOR A WHILE, TOTALLY FAIR QUESTION, MR. VAN DINE?
>> YEAH, WE HAVEN'T LOST SIGHT OF THAT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WALKING INTO THIS WITH EYES WIDE OPEN.
I THINK WHAT HAS BEEN POINTED TO IN THE MEMO AND IN SOME OF THE COMMENTS SO FAR, THERE HAS BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE ALREADY FOR ARCTIC WINTER GAMES, AND AT THIS STAGE OF THE PROCESS, THE TECHNICAL WORK THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO UPDATE, WE BELIEVE SHOULD BE RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
I BELIEVE THE MEMO ALSO SPEAKS TO OUR NEED TO CHECK IN WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, CHECK IN WITH DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO DECIDE THEIR LEVEL OF INTEREST AND AMBITION IN THIS.
THAT WE DON'T ENVISION BEING NECESSARILY A LENGTHY PROCESS.
IN TERMS OF THE WORKLOAD IMPACT ON THE REST OF OUR WORK PLANNING, IT SHOULD BE MANAGEABLE.
IN OUR WORK PLAN DISCUSSION EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR OR IN THE FIRST QUARTER, WE'LL LOOK AT ASSESSING WHERE WE ARE ON THE PROJECTS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED WITH RESPECT TO ASSET MANAGEMENT AND SOME OF THE OTHER IMPORTANT PIECES OF WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE WITH RESPECT TO THE COMMUNITY PLAN, TRANSPORTATION PLAN, SOME OF THE PIECES WITH RESPECT TO ASSET MANAGEMENT AND CITY FACILITIES.
BUT WE'LL HAVE A MORE DEEPER COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSATION IN FIRST QUARTER AS TO WHERE WE SIT.
>> THANKS. YEAH, IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
I GUESS I WOULD SAY, THEORETICALLY, SUPPORT, THE WORK ON THE TERMS OF REFERENCE.
BUT IF STAFF ARE TAKING ANY OF THEIR TIME OR FEEL LIKE THEY'RE TAKING PEDAL OFF THE GAS WITH INFILL, WITH ADVOCACY TO G&P TO ACQUIRE LAND, TO ANY OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO BRING FORWARD THE EMERGING ISSUES POLICY,
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ALL OF THIS IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE COMMITTED TO, THEN I'M NOT COMFORTABLE SPENDING STAFF TIME DOING SOMETHING FOR A DECADE FROM NOW THAT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE FINANCIAL BASIS WILL BE.IN THEORY SUPPORTIVE, BUT WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO STAFF THAT IF YOU'RE SPENDING TIME DOING THAT, INSTEAD OF THOSE OTHER THINGS, THEN FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD AND LET'S STOP BY DOING THE EXTRA WORK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MCLENNAN.
ANYTHING ELSE, COLLEAGUES? YEAH. GO AHEAD, COUNCIL COCHRANE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CHAIR. THE ONLY THING I WAS LOOKING AT HERE FOR WHO WOULD BE ON THE EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE MENTIONING FROM BUSINESS, EDUCATION DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHIEFS, BUT I DON'T SEE IT ANY PLACE FOR SPORTS NORTH OR THE INDIGENOUS SPORTS CIRCLE.
IS THERE CONSIDERATION FOR BRINGING THEM AS WELL INTO THE EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE.
>> START OFF WITH MR. VAN DINE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE'LL TAKE THAT AND THAT'S A GREAT SUGGESTION.
>> COUNCIL COCHRANE. ANYTHING FURTHER. COUNCIL FEQUET?
>> YEAH, THANKS FOR THOSE QUESTIONS.
JUST THE FUNDING AND MAY BE TOO EARLY, OKAY, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF NEW FUNDING POTS REGARDING YOUTH AND MENTAL HEALTH, AND I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THE G&P IS GOING TO BE EXPLORING SOME OF THOSE FEDERAL POTS TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE, GIVEN THAT KIDS ALWAYS WANT SOMETHING TO DO THAT'S HEALTHY AND HAPPY, SEEMS LIKE A GOOD FIT.
I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
>> QUESTION OR COMMENT. I'M GOOD WITH EITHER.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I ASK MR. BRENNAN TO COME UP TO ANSWER IF YOU WANT.
>> TAKE IT OUT OF WHATEVER SHARE YOU'RE GOING TO PUT ON THE CITY.
>> FAIR ENOUGH. MR. BRENNAN, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD, GO FOR IT.
>> YEAH. NO, THANKS. THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT, GOOD QUESTION.
RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THERE'S A FEDERAL FUNDING FRAMEWORK FOR CANA GAMES.
I THINK THE NUMBER IS ABOUT 17 MILLION BUCKS TODAY IF WE WERE TO HOST THE GAMES, BUT THEY ARE REVIEWING THAT FRAMEWORK. DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'LL GO.
IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, WE'RE ALREADY DOING THAT.
WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR YOUTH IN THE NORTH TERRITORIES.
WE ALL KNOW THAT KEEPING YOUTH IN SPORT REC SYSTEM IS BENEFICIAL.
THAT'S HOW YOU BUILD STRONG COMMUNITIES AND KEEPS THEM OUT OF OTHER SYSTEMS THAT THEY COULD GO DOWN WRONG PATH IF NOT INVOLVED.
SO WE'RE CONTINUALLY DOING THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR YOUTH TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE PER SE, BUT WE'RE DOING IT WITH ARCTIC WINTER GAMES.
WE'RE DOING IT WITH NAG NORTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS GAMES AS WELL.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY I WOULDN'T KEEP DOING IT HERE.
OUR SUCCESS RATE SO FAR HAS BEEN FAIRLY LOW, BUT OPTIMISM IS HIGH, I GUESS.
ACTUALLY HAVING MINISTER OF SPORTS RIGHT NOW, OUR SECRETARY OF STATE AT VANCOUVER AND IS ACTUALLY VERY HELPFUL.
HE BRINGS A NEW LENGTH ON ALL OF THESE ISSUES SO THANKS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. BRENNAN.
ANYTHING FURTHER? SEEING NONE, FOR MYSELF, ALL OF THE CONCERNS COLLEAGUES BROUGHT UP I DEFINITELY HAVE THEM, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP MYSELF ON RIGHT NOW.
IT'S AT TERMS OF REFERENCE STAGE.
COUNCIL MCLENNAN, YOU RIGHTLY POINT OUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT BALANCING ACTS.
I THINK THE BIG THING FOR ME THAT'S DIFFERENT BETWEEN MY PRETTY HARD NO BACK AT THE WINTER GAMES CONVERSATION WE HAD YEARS AGO AND NOW IS THAT WAS A CANCELLATION IN RUSSIA BECAUSE OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE LOOKING THE YELLOWKNIFE TO ANSWER WITH 2.5 YEARS ON THE DOCKET.
THIS IS A 10 YEAR LOOK FORWARD.
SO I'M HAPPY FOR MIN TO GO FORTH AND DO THIS WORK.
SO SEEING NOTHING ELSE, WE MOVE ON, MR. BRENNAN, YOU'RE ABLE TO BOLT NOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
I'M GOING TO TAKE A MINUTE SO THE CITY CLERK CAN TRY TO RESET OUR WHOLE SYSTEM AND GET US RECORDING. WE'LL GIVE IT TWO MINUTES.
CONTINUE OUR MEETING. NEXT, WE HAVE A MEMO REGARDING WHETHER TO REPEAL AND REPLACE COUNCIL PROCEDURES BYLAW NUMBER 4975 AND REPEAL THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATION ROUND TABLE POLICY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS PACKAGE WAS GENERATED IN RESPONSE TO SOME IDEAS AND THOUGHTS FROM MAYOR HENDRICKSON AND FROM OBSERVATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE COURSE OF THE TERM OF THIS COUNCIL.
ADMINISTRATION HAS LOOKED AT THE IDEAS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD.
WE PREPARED THIS PACKAGE TO GIVE COUNCIL AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK TO UPDATE AND RESET.
THERE ARE SOME NOVEL PROPOSALS IN HERE TO SHIFT SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEETING CALENDARS TO THE LEFT TO THE CALENDAR A LITTLE BIT FROM MONDAYS TO WEDNESDAYS, WITH A VIEW TO ALLOW COUNCIL MORE TIME FOR DELIBERATION AND CONTEMPLATION OF SOME OF THE COMPLEX MATTERS THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD TO COUNCIL ON A FAIRLY REGULAR BASIS.
THE ADDED FEATURE OF THAT IS ALSO THE PREPARATION TIME.
HOPEFULLY, COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE DOCUMENTS A LITTLE BIT
[00:25:03]
MORE IN ADVANCE TO BE ABLE TO CONSIDER THAT.THERE WOULD BE SOME CORRESPONDING CHANGES THAT WE WOULD BE TAKING ON FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE POINT OF VIEW TO SUPPORT THAT MEETING CYCLE.
OUR INTERNAL MEETINGS WITH RESPECT TO SUPPORTING THE PRODUCTION AND APPROVAL OF MATERIALS FOR COUNCIL WOULD ALSO BE IMPACTED BY THIS SHIFT.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS ON A PROCEDURAL NATURE THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD AS RECOMMENDED BY IN THIS PACKAGE.
WE'RE HOPEFUL TODAY THAT COUNCIL WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THIS, HAVE A DISCUSSION AROUND SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT WE CONTAIN IN HERE.
GOOD GOVERNANCE AND PROCEDURAL PRACTICES ARE NOT THAT EXCITING AND SCINTILLATING, BUT THEY ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE CONDUCT OF PROPER CONDUCT AND SUPPORTING THE MACHINE OF COUNCIL.
ONE OF THE PROPOSALS THAT WE HAVE IN HERE WOULD IF ADOPTED BY COUNCIL, WE WOULD BE LOOKING TO SET IN MOTION THIS NEW ARRANGEMENT AS EARLY AS FEBRUARY TO ALLOW CALENDARS TO BE UPDATED, BUSINESS PROCESSES TO BE ADJUSTED.
YOUR JANUARY WOULD PROBABLY NOT LOOK TOO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT WOULD TYPICALLY BE, BUT WE WOULD BE LOOKING TO MAKE THE SHIFT IN FEBRUARY.
THAT WOULD THEN ALLOW PROPER NOTIFICATION TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS ALLOWING STAFF TO UPDATE OUR INTERNAL PROCEDURES.
WITH THAT, MR. CHAIR, I'D JUST INVITE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE ITEMS PERTAINED HEREIN.
THERE IS A FEW LITTLE THINGS IN HERE, AND WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DISCUSS THE PROS AND CONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. VAN DINE. YEAH, JUST BEFORE WE GET INTO IT, COLLEAGUES, I WORKED WITH ADMIN ON THESE POTENTIAL REVISIONS IF YOU'RE GAME.
IF YOU'RE NOT GAME, YOU CAN ALWAYS KEEP IT AS IT IS.
SINCE JOINING COUNCIL, MOST OF US, THOUGH GRANTED, NOT ALL OF US HAVE BROUGHT UP SOME CONCERNS AROUND CHALLENGES COUNCIL HAVE HAD AROUND THE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REVIEW MATERIALS, AS MR. VAN DINE SAID.
WE HEAR REGULARLY FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AROUND THEIR TIME PERIOD TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHEN SOMETHING'S COMING TO COUNCIL AND RESPOND.
WE HEAR FROM ADMINISTRATION SINCE THE START OF OUR TERM ABOUT CHALLENGES BETWEEN MATERIALS GETTING TO US ON A FRIDAY, US THEN REVIEWING THEM OVER THE WEEKEND, SENDING QUESTIONS BACK, WORK LIFE BALANCE, ALL OF THOSE PIECES.
THE CHANGES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED IN HERE, AS MR. VAN DINE SAID, ONE IS TO PROPOSE CHANGING, MOVING OUR MEETINGS FROM MONDAYS TO WEDNESDAYS.
I REALLY DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WILDLY UNIQUE.
THIS IS DONE IN SOME OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE NWT, AND MEETING DATES ARE ACROSS THE BOARD ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
PICKING WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK IS UP TO US, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S MANDATORY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ADMIN HE'S ALREADY GAMED OUT OR NOT.
THEY HAVE GAMED OUT HOW THEIR PROCESSES WOULD ALTER AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS NOTED TO ME AROUND THAT.
ANOTHER ONE WOULD BE REDUCING THE MANDATORY NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEETINGS IN OUR BYLAW OR 2-1 FROM 2.
ONE OF SOMETHING THAT WE'VE OFTEN HAD TO DO IS WE'RE CANCELING MEETINGS IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SUBSTANTIVE ON THE AGENDA, AND THEN WE'RE BRINGING IN SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETINGS TO JUST DEAL WITH THINGS LIKE APPOINTMENTS.
RATHER THAN HAVING TO CANCEL MEETINGS, WE CAN ADD MEETINGS AS NECESSARY.
ANOTHER PROPOSAL IN HERE, WHICH IS FROM ADMINISTRATION IS TO POTENTIALLY CHANGE THE TIMING OF OUR MEETINGS FROM 7:00 P.M. TO 12:05 ON THE WEEKS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE GPC.
I'M STILL STRUGGLING WITH THIS ONE MYSELF BECAUSE I THINK YOU BATTLE WITH PUBLIC'S AVAILABILITY FOR MEETINGS, ETC.
I'D BE INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT YOU GUYS TODAY THINK.
ONE OF THE REASONS I STRUGGLE WITH IT IS ONE OF THE IDEAS BEHIND THESE AMENDMENTS IS IT ALSO GIVES US SIX MONTHS OR SO IS THIS COUNCIL TO RUN THROUGH THESE POTENTIAL CHANGES, AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S NOT WORKING, WE CAN SWITCH IT BACK BEFORE THE NEXT GROUP.
IT'S SIX MONTHS OF US WHO ARE WELL SEASONED BEING ABLE TO TRY SOME THINGS OUT TO POTENTIALLY MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR PROCESSES, BUT THEN NOT BE FLINGING THEM ON THE NEXT GROUP OF COUNCILORS IF WE NOTICE THAT SOMETHING'S NOT WORKING.
THERE'S A PART OF ME THAT'S ALSO GAME TO TRY THAT JUST TO TRY IT AND SEE IF IT CAN WORK.
SOME OTHER THINGS IS AROUND DIRECTOR ATTENDANCE AT OUR MEETING.
OUR CURRENT BYLAW TALKS ABOUT DIRECTORS HAVING TO BE THERE UNLESS EXCUSED BY THE CITY MANAGER.
SPEAKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER, ONE OF THE PROPOSALS WE'VE INCLUDED IN THE BYLAW IS TO REVERSE THAT US IS THAT DIRECTORS AREN'T AUTOMATICALLY REQUIRED TO BE AT A MEETING UNLESS REQUIRED BY THE CITY MANAGER.
AGAIN, RESPECT FOR PEOPLE'S TIME.
I'M GOING TO PICK ON JUST BECAUSE YOU HAD IT IN MY NOTES, SAY THERE'S NOTHING ON PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE AGENDA.
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WHY DOES THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY NEED TO BE HERE? NO, OF COURSE, A QUESTION COULD COME UP, THAT PERTAINS TO PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT THEN ADMINISTRATION CAN TAKE THAT QUESTION ON BOARD.ULTIMATELY, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY COULD AT ANY MEETING BE ON HOLIDAYS TOO AND STILL NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER OUR QUESTION.
IN THAT SENSE AGAIN, INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT YOURSELVES THINK ON THAT.
LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER PIECES.
ANOTHER PIECE THAT WE LOOKED AT IS SECTION 30 HAS INCREASED AUTHORITY TO DENY A PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL OR ITS COMMITTEES IF A PRESENTATION IS MISSING MATERIALS.
THIS IS ONE WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT, MAKING SURE THAT THE MATERIALS ARE WITH US IN ADVANCE OF A MEETING.
THIS WOULD BE BOTH ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY WITHIN THE DRAFT BYLAW TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THOSE ITEMS ARE.
BUT THEN IT ALLOWS THE CITY CLERK TO BE ABLE TO SAY TO EXTERNAL PARTIES VERY CLEARLY, THIS IS WHAT COUNCIL REQUIRES BEFOREHAND.
IF IT'S NOT THERE, IT'S NOT GOING ON THE AGENDA.
IT WOULD BE A CHANGE OF PRACTICE, BUT AT LEAST THERE'S MORE CLARITY ABOUT WHAT THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE.
>> LIST LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
I THINK THE OTHER THING TO PUT HERE TOO, THERE'S NO RIGHT OR WRONG FOR THESE TYPES OF THINGS.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT WORKS BEST FOR US AS A COUNCIL AND FOR ADMINISTRATION IN TERMS OF DOING THE WORK OF THE CITY.
WITH THAT, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I'LL START WITH COUNSELOR PAYNE AND THEN I'LL MOVE RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I MEAN, IT MAKES SENSE.
THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN COMING DOWN HERE FOR A RECORD BREAKING FIVE MINUTE MEETING FOR A COUNCIL MEETING.
YEAH, I LIKE EVERYTHING THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.
THE NEXT THING IS WE DO HAVE SOME TIME THAT IF IT REALLY DOESN'T WORK OUT, WE CAN CHANGE IT BACK.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF GIVING THIS A SHOT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT SOMETIMES WE DO TAKE A LOT OF THE DIRECTOR'S TIME.
IF THEY'RE NOT NEEDED, THEY SHOULDN'T BE HERE, SO I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNSELOR PAYNE. NEXT, WE HAVE COUNCIL FEQUET.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH, I MEAN, OVERALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYONE WHO TOUCHED THIS AND THOUGHT ABOUT THIS, I AM IN GENERAL SUPPORT OF TRYING SOMETHING NEW.
I THINK FOR ME, THE THING THAT HAS STAYED WITH ME SINCE OUR FIRST YEAR IN TERM WAS THAT THERE WAS A VARIETY OF CONCERNS THAT RESULTED IN SOME IDEAS AND EVEN A PRESENTATION BY DIRECTOR KEL DURING OUR FIRST YEAR WHERE A LOT OF COUNSELORS WISHED THAT THEY HAD MORE TIME BETWEEN FRIDAY AND MONDAY TO RELY AND REACH OUT TO THEIR RESPECTIVE NETWORKS, AND IT'S A SMALL TOWN EVERYBODY KNOWS PEOPLE, AND OFTEN WE CAN LEARN VALUABLE INFORMATION TO HELP INFORM CONVERSATIONS.
SECOND, THAT TIME FRAME IS PRETTY TIGHT FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ENGAGED AND TO FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT'S ON OUR AGENDA AND TO CHANGE THEIR DAY OR THEIR SCHEDULE TO PARTICIPATE, TO LISTEN, TO BE THERE.
SIMILAR TO WHAT MAYOR HENDRICKSON JUST REITERATED, I THINK NONE OF US AT COUNSEL EXPRESSED ANY SUPPORT FOR HAVING STAFF HAVE TO WORK EVERY WEEKEND TO DO THEIR PRESENTATIONS OR TO RESPOND TO COUNSEL QUESTIONS.
THAT'S NOT A VERY GOOD WORK LIFE BALANCE AND DOES NOT CONVEY THE TYPE OF MESSAGING THAT WE WANT OUR STAFF TO HEAR FROM COUNSEL.
I'M HAPPY TO TRY SOMETHING NEW, I APPRECIATE ALL THE THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO THIS.
I DO HAVE A LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT I DID SUBMIT TO THE MAYOR IN ADVANCE BECAUSE HALF OF THEM WERE EDITORIAL AND I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE UP TODAY'S TIME, BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT, I GUESS, I PROBABLY SHOULD GO THROUGH, IF NOW IS THE TIME.
>> FOR CLARITY FOR ANYBODY, THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL FORCES THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS, THEY WERE SORT OF NON SUBSTANTIVE.
I THINK THEY'RE EASY THINGS TO GRAPPLE WITH BETWEEN NOW AND THE FINAL AGENDA OR THE FINAL VERSION THAT COMES TO COUNCIL.
SIMILARLY, WE CAN ALWAYS LEAVE IT AS IS AND THEN HE CAN PROPOSE AMENDMENTS AT THE COUNCIL MEETING.
BUT FOR NOW, THAT IT WOULD BE MORE OF A THING.
I'LL TRY TO GRAPPLE WITH THEM BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY'RE SUBSTANTIVE TO WHAT WE WERE DISCUSSING, BUT IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD WITH YOUR MORE SUBSTANTIVE QUESTIONS, GO FOR IT?
>> I'M SURE. RECOGNIZING THE NATURE OF THIS DOCUMENT, IT'S A BY LAW.
IT'S NOT A POLICY, SO IT DOES REQUIRE THREE READINGS TO CHANGE IT, WHICH IS A HIGHER BAR.
FOR THAT REASON, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THAT LENS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT STUFF AND SO FOR EXAMPLE, HAVING STRUCTURE BUT NOT PROCESS IN HERE.
MY FIRST SUGGESTION IS JUST ABOUT EIGHT, SIX, SECTION 8, SUBSECTION 6, AND THIS APPLIES TO VARIOUS SECTIONS THROUGHOUT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SUGGEST THAT WE DON'T SPECIFY THE WEBSITE, AND RATHER WE SPECIFY MAKING SOMETHING PUBLICLY AVAILABLE BECAUSE WE HAVE ADVANCED SINCE.
[00:35:01]
WE USE FACEBOOK AND ALL CHANNELS AND THAT'S A POLICY OR PRACTICE LEVEL. WE DON'T NEED TO EMBED THAT.THE TRUTH IS, WE KNOW THE WEBSITE IS GETTING MODERNIZED, BUT RIGHT NOW WE SHOULDN'T BE ONLY DOING IT ON THE WEBSITE BECAUSE I THINK MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T USE OUR WEBSITE, THE WAY WE HOPE THEY WOULD, AND WE KNOW THAT, SO THAT WAS A GENERAL ONE.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THINGS ACTUALLY NEED TO BE PRINTED.
I NOTICED THERE'S A REFERENCE IN HERE THROUGHOUT TO THINGS BEING PRINTED, AND I RECOGNIZE IN THIS DAY OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AND DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT.
I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM IF THAT WAS SOMETHING WE CAN CONSIDER REMOVING.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND, OBVIOUSLY THE BACK END OF MAYBE THE CITY CLERK'S OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE CTV ACT, BUT I AM FAMILIAR WITH OTHER LEGAL OPINIONS ON OTHER LEGISLATION THAT EVEN THOUGH A PAPER REGISTRY IS REQUIRED, THAT THAT WAS SET AT A TIME BEFORE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS WERE THE NORM.
IN THAT CASE, THAT LEGAL OPINION SUGGESTED THAT IT REFLECTED THE SPIRIT AND INTENT OF THE LEGISLATION.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, OUR POSITION ON THAT.
>> ASK MR. VAN DINE, BUT OTHERWISE, WE CAN ALWAYS TAKE IT UNDER ADVISEMENT, DO THE CHECK BETWEEN NOW AND THIS COMING TO COUNCIL.
BUT IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH OR YOU WANT MR. VAN DINE, I'LL PASS TO YOU?
>> WE DID USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME OF THAT ANALYSIS THAT THE COUNCILOR HAS BEEN SUGGESTING IN TERMS OF TRYING TO MODERNIZE AND STAY WITHIN THE LINES OF WHAT'S IN THE CTV ACT.
WE CAN'T MODERNIZE PASS THE CTV ACT, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITHIN THE BROAD PARAMETERS.
THINGS LIKE NOTIFICATION IN NEWSPAPERS.
WE HAD LOTS OF THINGS THAT WE HAD NOTIFY.
BUT WITH THAT INTERVENTION, WE'LL ENDEAVOR TO LOOK A LITTLE MORE TIGHTLY INTO THE POSSIBILITIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADVERTISE THAT OUR WEBSITE IS CURRENTLY GETTING WORKED ON, AND WE HOPE THAT IN THE SPRING, IT'LL BE NEW AND IMPROVED AND PEOPLE WILL WANT TO JUMP TO THE WEBSITE ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
>> GOOD LITTLE ADVERTISEMENT, COUNCIL FEQUET.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. APPRECIATE THAT, I JUST WANTED TO VOICE MY PREEMPTIVE SUPPORT FOR MODERNIZING THE CTV ACT BECAUSE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO MAIL OUT.
NOTICES AND SPEND 30 K STILL IS FRUSTRATING.
ANYWHERE WE CAN BE BETTER. LET'S DO THAT.
SECTION 17, ADJUSTING THE TIME.
OBVIOUSLY, IF WE'RE ADJUSTING THE TIME DOWN TO 12 OH FIVE, WE NEED TO ADJUST THE END TIME TO 11:00 P.M. OR STEVE PAYNE WILL FALL ASLEEP.
I'LL BE PAST ALL OF OUR BEDTIMES.
JUST SCROLLING DOWN, SKIP ALL THE ONES.
MAYBE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE COMMITTEE SECTION THEN, 115, 116, 117, I JUST HAD A BUNCH OF COMMENTS THAT I THINK I CAN SHARE IN MY LAST POINT HERE, WHICH IS JUST THAT HAPPY TO SEE THIS IN HERE.
I GUESS, PSA WOULD BE THAT GPC, OR GOVERNMENT PRIS COMMITTEE IS ONE STANDING COMMITTEE, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TWO OTHERS THAT SHOULD BE ADDED TO THIS LIST.
THE CURRENT AUDIT COMMITTEE, AND EVEN THOUGH WE'VE SEEN VARIOUS ITERATIONS OF THAT TERMS OF REFERENCE FROM BOTH THE PREVIOUS MAYOR, THE CURRENT MAYOR, THE DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SERVICES, THE COMMITTEE ITSELF.
I THINK IT'S KNOWN THAT THE NAME NEEDS TO CHANGE OF THAT COMMITTEE, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MOVED TO FINANCE, BECAUSE AUDIT SUGGESTS TWO DIFFERENT MEANINGS.
ONE IS THE PHYSICAL AUDIT THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR, OR WHICH IS MORE COMMON TO CORPORATIONS AND AUDIT RISK COMMITTEE, WHICH IS LOOKING AT INTERNAL COMPLIANCE WITH VARIOUS THINGS.
FOR BOTH AND FOR THE REASON THAT THE DESIRE IS NOT TO HAVE THE COMMITTEE ONLY FOCUS ON THE AUDIT PROCESS AND PLAN.
IT'S ALSO TO SUPPORT, THE FINANCIAL STAFF AND INITIATIVES WHEREVER THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS WAS LIKE REVIEWING QUARTERLY FINANCES.
OR THAT REASON, I THINK WE RECOGNIZE THAT FINANCE AND THE HUMAN RESOURCE AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE IN MY MIND, THOSE ARE PERMANENT COMMITTEES.
A STANDING COMMITTEE DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN'T EVER BE REMOVED.
COUNCIL CAN ALWAYS CHANGE THESE THINGS, BUT MY WORRY IS ACTUALLY THE OPPOSITE THAT I WANT THESE COMMITTEES EMBEDDED AS STANDING COMMITTEES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
THE NATURE OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES IS THAT THEY ARE TEMPORARY AND FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE WITH A SPECIFIC TIMELINE OF WHICH NEITHER OF THESE ARE.
I WOULD FEEL MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE AND KNOWING THAT WE'RE SETTING THE FUTURE COUNCIL UP FOR SUCCESS, HAVING ALL THREE OF THESE COMMITTEES EMBEDDED AS STANDING COMMITTEES.
>> ANYTHING FURTHER? ONLY OTHERWISE, I MIGHT GET MR. VAN DINE TO COMMENT ON THE STANDING COMMITTEE 1, EVEN THOUGH I PERSONALLY AM IN AGREEMENT WITH YOUR PROPOSAL.
IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE NERDING OUT ON GOVERNANCE ISSUES. IT'S NOT JUST ME.
MR. VAN DINE, ANY COMMENT ON THE STANDING COMMITTEE QUESTION, CAUSE WELL, COUNSEL FOR KEL PROPOSES IT, AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THE HIM.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON SOLID FOOTING.
>> WE CAN UNDERTAKE A LITTLE MORE ANALYSIS ON THAT FRONT.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE HAS ITS OWN BY LAW,
[00:40:02]
THAT IN ITSELF IS MAYBE A TECHNICAL POINT WITH WHICH WHY IT WASN'T DROPPED INTO THIS PIECE.THERE ARE SOME OTHER COMMITTEES THAT ARE OPERATING THAT ARE NOT REFERENCED EXPLICITLY IN THE HRCC COMMITTEES ON SUCH COMMITTEE.
WE CAN LOOK AT THAT, MR. CHAIR AND SEE WHAT THE RELATIVE BENEFITS ARE, BUT THE INTENT OF MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT OUR GOVERNANCE LOCKED AND TRANSPARENT IN THIS UPDATE, I THINK WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT THING TO TRY AND ACHIEVE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYTHING FURTHER, COUNSELOR FOR K?
>> YEAH, THAT IN ADDITION TO THAT, I MEAN, I MAKE THAT SUGGESTION ABOUT THE COMMITTEES, GIVEN THE FACT THAT I RECOGNIZE THE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR ALL THE COMMITTEES ARE BEING LOOKED AT IN THE NEW YEAR.
THAT'LL BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE NOT HAVE AN AUDIT COMMITTEE BYLAW, BUT HAVE AN AUDIT COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE WITH ALL THE OTHER TERMS OF REFERENCE.
I'M DOING THAT AT THIS POINT BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE IT MAY INFORM ALL THE DIFFERENT PIECES THAT ARE IN THE AIR.
THAT WAS THE UNDERSTANDING THAT I HAD, SO THANK YOU FOR COMMITTING TO THAT.
>> DULY NOTED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT, WE HAVE DEPUTY MAYOR WARBURTON.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. A QUESTION A QUESTION AROUND THE SIGNS AMENDMENT.
WHY? WHY DID WE DECIDE OR SUGGEST THAT WE SHOULD PROHIBIT SIGNING COUNCIL MEETINGS?
>> SURE, SO I MEAN, ONE THING IS WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS THIS YEAR WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT SIGNS IN THE CHAMBERS, AND I'VE HEARD FROM SOME COLLEAGUES AS A RESULT THAT IT WAS A DISTRACTING EXPERIENCE AND THEN DOING SOME RESEARCH.
IT'S PRETTY COMMON AROUND THE COUNTRY TO JUST BAN SIGNAGE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS OR IN DELIBERATIVE CHAMBERS ANYWAY.
BUT THAT'S WHERE AS I NOTED OR I GUESS I DIDN'T NOTE IN MY REMARKS.
THAT WAS ONE THAT ACTUALLY SKIPPED OVER, SO IT'S GOOD YOU'RE ASKING THE QUESTION FOR PUBLIC RECORD.
I WANTED TO BALANCE THAT WITH WHAT'S THE DRAFT WORDING IN THERE THAT DOESN'T PROHIBIT PEOPLE FROM WEARING THINGS LIKE PINS, T SHIRTS, ETC, BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF YOUR CLOTHING, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S MAYBE STANDING UP AS YOU'RE SITTING IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS WITH A SIGN IN FRONT OF THE PERSON BEHIND YOU HEAD.
THEY CAN'T SEE THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE. THAT'S THE DISTINCTION.
IT'S NOT TO STOP PEOPLE FROM EXPRESSING THEIR VIEWPOINTS, WHETHER AT THE PODIUM OR BY BEING THERE PHYSICALLY, BUT TO ALSO NOT DISTRACT FROM THE PHYSICAL DELIBERATIVE ASPECT OF THE CHAMBER.
AGAIN, IT'S A VERY COMMON THING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
>> OKAY, THANKS. HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENFORCE IT? BECAUSE THERE WAS A COUPLE OF TIMES THIS YEAR, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE A LOT OF SIGNS. IS THAT THE CHAIR? HOW DOES THAT GOING TO WORK PRACTICALLY? HOW ARE WE GOING TO COMMUNICATE THAT CHANGED PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT WAS A PRETTY POPULAR THING ON A COUPLE OF ITEMS THIS YEAR.
I IMAGINE THIS NEXT YEAR, WE'LL HAVE A FEW POPULAR ITEMS, WHICH WILL HAVE A BIG TURNOUT.
>> I MEAN, A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE IS, YOU KNOW, FAIRNESS TO PEOPLE.
THEY'VE BEEN ALLOWED TO BRING THAT SIGNAGE TO COUNSEL.
THERE'S BEEN NO NEED TO TRY TO ENFORCE SOMETHING IN THE PAST.
PART OF IT WILL BE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AROUND THIS.
I THINK THIS CONVERSATION WILL LIKELY NOW GET REPORTED ON PUBLICLY. PEOPLE WILL KNOW ABOUT IT.
BUT TWO, I MEAN, IF PEOPLE ARE COMING, THAT'S UP TO COUNSELORS, CITY CLERK, ETC TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE, PROBABLY OUR FIRST MEETINGS WHERE WE'RE HAVING A MORE FIERY ISSUE.
THAT'LL BE MY JOB AS CHAIRPERSON TO REMIND PEOPLE AS THEY'RE WALKING IN.
COUNCIL PROCEDURES BY LAWS CHANGED, NO SIGNAGE IS ALLOWED.
THEY CAN LEAVE IT OUTSIDE AND COME BACK INTO THE CHAMBERS.
YEAH, IT'S A BIT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION CHANGE THAT'LL BE NEEDED, BUT THAT'S ULTIMATELY MY JOB AS CHAIR ON THAT.
I THINK YELLOW MOISSA ARE OVERALL PRETTY RESPECTFUL AROUND THESE THINGS, SO ONCE THEY'RE AWARE, THAT'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
>> THEN MORE OF A COMMENT, I GUESS ON MOVING THE COUNCIL MEETING TO 12:05 VERSUS 7:00 P.M. MY INITIAL REACTION WAS THAT WOULD DECREASE THE ABILITY OF PUB TO PARTICIPATE.
HOWEVER, THE 7:00 P.M. ALSO DOES INCENTIVIZE NINE TO FIVE OFFICE EMPLOYEES.
A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS DO NOT WORK NORMAL OFFICE HOURS.
IN THE END I GUESS I LIKE TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS.
I DON'T IMAGINE IT'S GOING TO CHANGE.
PEOPLE WANT TO COME, WE'RE GOING TO COME BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN THESE MEETINGS GENERALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO ATTEND PUBLIC MEETINGS. I THINK REGARDLESS OF TIME.
WE'LL WANT TO TRY IT OUT, BUT IF THERE'S A NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN ATTENDANCE IN FOLKS.
THEN THERE'S SOME ASSURANCES IN THAT LANGUAGE THAT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IN THE DOCUMENT OR IN YOUR E MAILS AROUND, PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THINGS WOULD STILL BE HELD IN MORE AFTER OUR TIME.
>> YEAH, NO, YOUR CONCERN IS THE SAME ONE I HAVE AND I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH IMBALANCING, BUT THE WAY YOU NOTED IS I THINK YEAH, THAT'S WHERE MY HEADS OUT TO IS.
I THINK IT'S WORTH GIVING IT A SHOT.
I THINK PART OF WHAT THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO MANAGE.
WE HAVE SOME MEDIA ISSUES COMING FORWARD THAT I THINK WILL GIVE US A CHANCE TO MANAGE THAT AND FIGURE THAT OUT IS BALANCING THE NORMAL MEETINGS WHERE 12:05 IS PROBABLY APPROPRIATE VERSUS THINGS LIKE THE COMMUNITY PLAN AMENDMENT WHERE WE'LL HAVE A STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARING, POTENTIALLY, AND THAT'S GOING TO, WE'LL PROBABLY WANT TO HAVE A SEPARATE MEETING IN THE EVENING ON THAT.
[00:45:03]
I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT COMES TO US MANAGING THAT.I THINK THAT SIX MONTH PERIOD WILL GIVE US ALL THAT ABILITY TO GUT CHECK AND SEE HOW DOES THAT ACTUALLY WORK.
I MEAN, IN FAIRNESS, THE PUBLIC WILL NOW BETWEEN THIS CONVERSATION AND THIS COMING BACK TO COUNCIL IN THE NEW YEAR FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
IF THE PUBLIC WANTS TO FLAG FOR US, THAT THEY THINK THAT'S AN EGREGIOUS CONSIDERATION FOR US.
WE CAN HEAR THAT BETWEEN NOW AND JANUARY WHEN THIS COMES BACK TO US, AND WE CAN ALWAYS MAKE THAT AMENDMENT WHEN IT COMES BACK TO US.
I THINK THIS IS WHERE IT'S TRYING TO BALANCE THE WORK OF THE CITY, PUBLIC EXPECTATION, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, MAKING SURE IT'S AS MEANINGFUL AS POSSIBLE.
YEAH, IT'S LIKE YOU SAID WE THINK OFF THE BAT 7:00 P.M. MAKES MORE SENSE, BUT DOES IT FOR EVERYBODY.
I THINK IT'S A, AGAIN, NOTHING'S PERFECT, BUT YOUR POINTS ARE VERY WELL MADE. ANYTHING FURTHER, DIFFIE MAYOR?
>> YEAH, I'D LIKE TO ALSO NOTE IT'S NOT JUST A PUBLIC.
WE SHOULD ALSO BE VERY CONSCIOUS OF HOW OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ARE IMPACTED BECAUSE SOME OF US CANNOT GET AWAY FOR THREE OR 4 HOURS ON AN AFTERNOON.
AS COUNSEL VERY FORTUNATE, IT SEEMS THAT MOST FOLKS HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY, BUT IN THE FUTURE, FOLKS MAY NOT.
>> GOOD. THANKS. TOTALLY VALID POINT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS FOR THE WORK ON THIS AND FOR STAFF AS WELL.
DEFINITELY IN SUPPORT OF MOVING MEETINGS TO WEDNESDAYS, MORE TIME TO PREPARE AND GET FEEDBACK MAKES A TON OF SENSE TO ME.
STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF HAVING THE MATERIALS FOR PRESENTATIONS AND TO RELEVANT AGENDA ITEMS. IT'S QUITE CHALLENGING AND FRUSTRATING TO TRY AND ABSORB A PRESENTATION ON THE FLY AND FORMULATE QUESTIONS.
>> REDUCING THE NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEETINGS MAKES SENSE TO ME.
I'D BE IN FAVOR OF KEEPING IT IN THE EVENING.
THAT'S JUST WHERE I'M COMING FROM, WORKING A NON 9:00-5:00 JOB.
I'M MORE LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND A MEETING IN THE EVENING THAN DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, EVEN WITH THAT NON 9:00-5:00 JOB, BUT THAT'S JUST WHERE I'M COMING FROM.
I UNDERSTAND, MAYBE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY IT.
BUT I'D STILL BE IN FAVOR OF LEAVING.
WITH ONE FEWER GBC PER MONTH, HOW WOULD WE MITIGATE OR DEAL WITH THE RISK OF QUITE LONG MEETINGS? LIKE RECENTLY, WE'VE BEEN HAVING RELATIVELY LONG MEETINGS.
TWO HOURS HASN'T BEEN UNCOMMON RECENTLY, AND SOME MEMBERS MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO STAY FOR THAT AMOUNT OF TIME CONSISTENTLY.
>> YES. I THINK THAT COMES DOWN TO AGENDA MANAGEMENT FOR ONE.
BUT I'D SAY WHILE WE'VE HAD SOME LONG ONES, WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME INCREDIBLY SHORT ONES OVER THE LAST YEAR AS WELL.
I THINK, THAT'S SOMETHING MORE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY ON SPECIFICS.
IT'S THE AGENDA MANAGEMENT PIECE.
IF WE NEED TO ADD IN A MEETING SOMEWHERE, WE'LL HAVE TO DO THAT.
BUT I THINK ALSO PART OF THE CHALLENGE TOO IS AROUND THE PRESENTATION ASPECT THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, A LOT OF TIMES WE END UP HAVING QUITE LENGTHY CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE WE'RE CHEWING ON STUFF AND ASKING QUESTIONS IN THE MOMENT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE TO DIGEST IT IN ADVANCE.
THAT ALSO GETS TO THE LENGTH OF TIME WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR OUR MEETINGS AS WELL NOW.
THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS WE'RE ADDING TWO EXTRA DAYS TO PREPARATION TIME, WHEREAS RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WEEKEND IN ADMIN STILL GETTING BACK TO US SOMETIMES, ALL OF THOSE.
MY HOPE AND FINGERS CROSS, BUT THIS IS AGAIN WHERE WE HAVE TO LIVE AND LEARN AND TRY SOMETHING IS THAT MY HOPE IS THAT BY HAVING THAT EXTRA PREPARATION TIME, THAT IT ACTUALLY HELPS US HAVE MORE EFFECTIVE MEETINGS WHEN WE ARE MEETING.
>> FOR SURE. POINT WELL TAKEN.
YES, I GUESS, THAT MAKES SENSE. JUST A COMMENT.
I THINK THE PARTICULAR AREA OF THE YEAR THAT I WOULD BE LOOKING AT WOULD BE BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER.
IT FEELS LIKE STUFF WELL, THERE ISN'T NECESSARILY NEED TO HAVE MORE MEETINGS IN THE SUMMER.
STUFF DOES BUILD UP, AND THEN SEPTEMBER, THERE'S SOME CATCHING UP AND THEN SUDDENLY IT'S OCTOBER, NOVEMBER LEADING INTO BUDGET, AND THE MEETINGS GET LONGER.
JUST A COMMENT THERE, BUT DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND HAVING MORE TIME MIGHT HELP THE FLOW OF MEETINGS.
THEN JUST A COMMENT OR A QUESTION, THE REDUCTION IN MEETINGS AND THE CHANGES TO ATTENDANCE AND DIRECTORS, I GUESS, COMMENT ON THE DIRECTORS ATTENDANCE, LIKE IN FAVOR OF THAT.
GENERALLY, THOUGH IT IS QUITE HELPFUL TO HAVE INFORMAL CONTACT WITH DIRECTORS AS A COUNSELOR.
I THINK WE'VE HAD CHALLENGES IN THE CONNECTION AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN COUNSEL AND DIRECTORS, AND RECENTLY, AT LEAST FOR ME, IT'S FELT LIKE THERE'S BEEN MORE UNDERSTANDING AND THAT HAS LED TO CLEAR AND MORE COHESIVE DECISION MAKING.
AT LEAST THAT'S THE WAY I'VE FELT.
DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND NOT HAVING DIRECTORS AT MEETINGS THAT AREN'T RELEVANT, BUT WANTING TO FIND WAYS TO MAINTAIN THAT CONNECTION.
[00:50:01]
THEN JUST BACK TO THE QUESTION OR COMMENT IS THE REDUCTION IN MEETINGS AND THE FACT THAT THE MAYOR IS DAY TO DAY IN CITY HALL, HAS INFORMAL CONTRACT WITH DIRECTORS, SEES AGENDAS, CRAFTS, WHAT COMES BEFORE COUNCIL.IF WE'RE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF MEETINGS, BOTH GPC AND COUNSEL THAT COUNCILORS ARE PRESENT FOR AND HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE JUST MOVING MORE OF THE BALANCE OF POWER TOWARDS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FROM COUNCIL, AND JUST LOOKING FOR A COMMENT ON THAT AND HAS THAT BEEN CONSIDERED IN THESE CHANGES?
>> YES. NOT CONSIDERED IN TERMS OF TRYING TO DO THAT.
MACHIAVELLIAN. BUT IN TERMS OF I WOULD JUST ON THE CRAFTING THINGS THAT COME BEFORE COUNCIL OUTSIDE OF THESE GOVERNANCE ITEMS, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
I'M INVOLVED IN WHAT ITEMS ARE COMING TO COUNSEL, LIKE AT GPC AND WORKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER IN TERMS OF AGENDA MANAGEMENT, DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT PREPARATION AS COUNSEL, ETC.
IN TERMS OF MEMO DRAFTING, THAT'S NOT ME. THAT'S ALL ADMIN.
IN TERMS OF YOUR POINT AROUND STRATEGIC CONNECTION TO DIRECTORS.
I THINK THAT'S A VALID ONE. I WOULD ARGUE THOUGH, DIRECTORS SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE LISTENING TO US.
WE'RE NOT ENGAGING WITH THEM EFFECTIVELY, BUT MAYBE THERE'S OTHER SPACES.
MAYBE I'LL ASK MR. VAN DINE, YOU CAN COMMENT ON THIS ONE, TOO.
BUT THERE'S OTHER SPACES POTENTIALLY, AND WE DID THIS MORE AT THE START OF OUR TERM, TO BUILD WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE DIRECTORS AND THOSE SPACES, BECAUSE I DO AGREE WITH YOU.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ASPECT TO OUR WORK.
BUT MR. VAN DINE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT ON THAT.
>> SURE. I'LL BEGIN BY SAYING THAT I BELIEVE COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN TALKED ABOUT HOW IN RECENT TIMES, THINGS HAVE BECOME MORE COHESIVE AND RESPONSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE, AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT AND WE'LL BUILD ON THAT, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
THERE HAS BEEN EFFORT BEING PUT INTO THAT.
A COUPLE OF THINGS FROM COUNCIL'S JOURNEY THROUGH THIS TERM.
THERE WERE DIFFERENT EXPERIMENTS TRIED WITH RESPECT TO HOW TO COMMUNICATE FLOWS, I GUESS, BETWEEN ADMIN AND COUNSEL.
SINCE MY ARRIVAL, I WANTED TO MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THE BUCK STOPS WITH ME.
I'M YOUR ONLY EMPLOYEE, AND IF YOU'RE REALLY DISSATISFIED WITH SOME ASPECT OF CITY OPERATIONS, THEN COME TO ME AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THAT GETS DEALT WITH AND ON THE FLIP SIDE, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE QUITE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT AND VERY HAPPY ABOUT, PLEASE COME TO ME TOO, AND LET ME KNOW THAT, AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE DO MORE OF THAT OR SOMETHING OF THE LAKE.
WHAT I'VE ALSO BEEN DOING THAT COUNCIL MAY BE AWARE OF IS THAT WHEN THERE HAS BEEN ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES COMING, I HAVE BEEN MAKING SURE THAT THE DIRECTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT AREA IS INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT RESPONSES THAT WE'RE PREPARING BACK FOR WHETHER IT'S THE PUBLIC OR FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THOSE ARE LITTLE THINGS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHEN OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF, TECHNICAL BRIEFINGS, INFORMATION SESSIONS.
THOSE THINGS ARE OFFERED ON AS REQUESTED BASIS DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE QUESTION.
SOMETIMES IT'S A VERY GENERAL QUESTION, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET A LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING FROM A TECHNICAL POINT OF VIEW.
THESE ARE NOT TO BE CLEAR, ABOUT DECISION, JUST ABOUT RAISING AWARENESS AND INFORMATION SHARING.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO SOME OF THAT.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A COHESIVE AND RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADMINISTRATION AND COUNSEL.
WE ALL SERVE YELLOW IPERS AND WE ALL HAVE OUR DIFFERENT HATS THAT WE WEAR IN THE SERVICE OF YELLOW IPERS, AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S DONE AS PRODUCTIVELY AS POSSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. VAN DINE. COUNCIL MCLEN.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THE RESPONSE.
I THINK, ALWAYS A BALANCING ACT, AND WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT, BUT I THINK THERE'S A BUNCH THAT WILL MAKE THE JOB OF COUNSEL MORE ACCESSIBLE, AND HOPEFULLY FLOW SMOOTHER, SO THANKS FOR THE WORK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MCLENNAN. NEXT, WE HAVE COUNCIL COCHRANE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO HAVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO YOU AND TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR GETTING THIS DONE.
I'VE BEEN CLAIMING GOOD HOUSEKEEPING WITHIN OUR GOVERNANCE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF MY TERM, AND I SEE THIS LESS AS AN INNOVATION, RATHER, WE'RE TAKING THE BEST PRACTICES OF MOST JURISDICTIONS.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE THIS BECAUSE IT MAY NOT BE SEXY, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT.
NOW, I DO WANT TO NERD OUT A LITTLE BIT WITH YOU HERE.
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE FOR YOU.
I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WITHIN THE TIME FRAME THAT WE HAVE LEFT HERE.
BUT HOW DOES THE MAYOR ENVISION THE SPECIAL GPC FOR BUDGETS WORKING? I'M ASSUMING YOU THINK IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO START UP WITH A MONDAY IN THE EVENINGS AND CARRY ON FOR THE WEEK AND NOT START ON A WEDNESDAY.
[00:55:03]
>> ULTIMATELY THAT WOULD FOLLOW OUTSIDE THESE PROCEDURES BYLAWS ANYWAY BECAUSE IT'S A SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING, SO THE MAYOR CAN CALL THOSE.
THAT'S WHERE IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THESE SCHEDULED ONES THAT ARE FACTORED INTO THE BYLAW.
THAT'S WHERE WHEN YOU GET TO, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT SECTION.
IT IS. IT'S IN THE 170 SOMETHING.
BUT ULTIMATELY, THOSE ARE AT THE MAYORS, BUT I ALSO SEE THE CITY CLERK POINTING SOMETHING OUT TO ME HERE RIGHT NOW.
SHE'S EVEN GOT THE CALENDAR ALREADY GAMED OUT ALREADY, THE CITY CLERK, AND SHE'S ALREADY HAS THOSE ALREADY LOCATED IN THE CALENDAR. THERE YOU GO.
>> THANK YOU. NO, I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS PUBLICLY KNOWN BECAUSE OF THE CERTAIN UNIQUE ASPECTS WITHIN BUDGET.
I'M FULLY CONFIDENT WITHIN THE RESERVE POWERS.
THE CHAIR, WHICH HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP A FEW TIMES HERE ABOUT YOUR ABILITY TO CALL THEM WHENEVER OR WHOEVER IS SITTING AT THE CHAIR AT THE TIME, JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT PUBLIC.
NOW, THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE OBLIGATED OUT OF THAT ONE ARE THE CLERK AND THE CITY MANAGER TO PARTICIPATE, BUT COMMON PRACTICE WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES IS ALSO TO HAVE THE CITY SOLICITOR ON HAND.
I DON'T KNOW. I FEEL MORE CONFIDENT OF ALWAYS IN A LEGISLATIVE SITUATION, TO HAVE A LAWYER TO BE ABLE TO CLARIFY.
I WOULD JUST ADVISE ADDING THE CITY SOLICITOR AS ONE OF THE GUARANTEED PARTICIPANTS.
>> SORRY, BEFORE I KEEP GOING, ANYONE BALKING AT THAT ONE? MAKES SENSE TO ME. NOBODY BALKING. GIDDY UP. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THEN JUST ONE FINAL ONE TO THE REMOVAL OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
I JUST WANT TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR MINDSET BECAUSE I ASSUME, AND THIS IS SECTION 109, YOU DECIDED TO GET RID OF THIS SECTION BECAUSE OF GPC BASICALLY FORMULATING, ALREADY, THAT'S FUNCTION.
BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STANDING COMMITTES LEADING TO OTHER STANDING COMMITTEES, IT GETS INTO A LITTLE MORE COMPLEXITY.
I JUST WANT TO HEAR WHAT MADE YOU THINK OR WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO GET RID OF THIS FOR?
>> SURE. YES, TO YOUR FIRST POINT.
GPC BASICALLY DOES ALL OF THIS ANYWAY.
BUT WITHIN THE STRIKE NOW WE'RE GETTING REALLY INTO THE NERDINESS HERE, WITHIN THE STRUCTURES OF COUNCIL AS A GOVERNANCE BODY, WE CAN DO THIS UNDER OUR AUTHORITIES OF THE CTV ACT, AND THERE WAS NOTHING BEING ADDED PER SE IN TERMS OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS SECTION.
IT'S NOT THAT IT NECESSARILY KILLS THE ABILITY TO MOVE TO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ASPECT WHEN YOU'RE IN COUNSEL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE GPC EFFECTIVELY IS OUR COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, SO YES.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. PERFECT. THAT'S ALL I REALLY NEEDED TO KNOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH. COUNCIL FOOTE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST A COMMENT, REALLY.
AS A NEW MEMBER, I'M STILL LEARNING GOVERNANCE SIDE OF OUR WORK, SO I WON'T SPEAK TOO MUCH TO THE CHANGES THERE, BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS FINDING THE TIME TO DIGEST A MATERIAL OVER THE WEEKEND HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE SO FAR.
I GENERALLY CAN'T GET TO IT UNTIL SUNDAY EVENING OR MONDAY RIGHT BEFORE GPC.
THEN SOMETIMES IT'S TOUGH TO GET GOOD QUESTIONS TOGETHER AND TIME TO GIVE THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS TEAM A CHANCE TO RESPOND FRUITFULLY.
I APPRECIATE THE PROPOSED CHANGES THAT GIVE US MORE TIME TO REVIEW AND PREPARE.
I THINK IT WILL HELP US ENGAGE MORE MEANINGFULLY, MAKE BETTER INFORMED DECISIONS AND ENABLE US TO BETTER ENGAGE WITH RESIDENTS AND ALLOW THE STAFF TO COME UP WITH BETTER RESPONSES TO THE OFTEN COMPLEX QUESTIONS WE POSE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILLOR FOOTE, AND TO SECOND ROUND, I KNOW COUNCIL FOOTE, SECOND ROUND. OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I THINK THERE WAS JUST ONE PRETTY SUBSTANTIVE THING THAT I WANTED TO SUGGEST TO MY COLLEAGUES.
IF WE'RE GOING TO TRY ALL OF THESE CHANGES, WHICH AGAIN, I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE AND SOUNDS LIKE, I THINK EVERYONE'S OPEN TO COURSE CORRECTING BEFORE WE PIECE OUT NEXT OCTOBER IN CASE WE NEED TO.
I WANTED TO SHARE THAT MAYBE IF WE LOOK AT NUMBER 47 IS MAYBE THE MOST APPROPRIATE PLACE.
DELEGATIONS. THE CURRENT OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS IS TO REACH OUT TO COUNSEL OR COME TO A MEETING OF COUNCIL.
I THINK THAT WHILE THE DECISION HASN'T BEEN FORMALLY MADE UNTIL A COUNCIL MEETING, I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE AND MANY OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE INFORMED, RECOGNIZE THAT THE WAY SOMETHING MOVES FROM A GPC MEETING TO A MEETING OF COUNCILS WHEN THERE'S A MAJORITY OF COUNSEL SUPPORTING A PARTICULAR PATH FORWARD.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE EMAILING US AND SHOWING UP AT THOSE COUNCIL MEETINGS, FEELING LIKE THEY'RE JUST HIT AND BRICK WALL AND THAT WE'RE NOT LISTENING, WHEN, IN FACT, OF COURSE, WE READ THOSE EMAILS.
BUT I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE AND THIS WAS ALSO REITERATED BY A RECENT EMAIL THAT WE RECEIVED FROM A RESIDENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS BETTER REFLECT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO INFORM WITH THEIR LIVED, EXPERIENCE, WISDOM, AND EXPERTISE, OUR INITIAL DISCUSSIONS, JUST LIKE TODAY, WE INVITE THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF MACA TO COME INFORM OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT STRIKING THAT COMMITTEE,
[01:00:03]
I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER AND SUGGEST THAT WE CREATE THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY BEFORE WE MAKE OUR FINAL DECISION.WE'RE IN THAT MOMENT WHERE WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THINKING ALREADY.
I THINK THIS WILL ALSO ACTUALLY RESULT IN A LOT LESS E MAILS BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE WILL COME TO OUR GPC SENDING US EMAILS ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK AND THEY'LL COME TALK. I'M JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW OBVIOUSLY WHICH WAY THAT'LL STICK, BUT MY SUGGESTION IS HONESTLY THAT I THINK IT'S 47 DELEGATIONS, THAT WE ALLOW PEOPLE NOT JUST TO COME TO COUNCIL, THAT WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME TO GPC AS WELL.
THEY HAVE TO DO ALL THE THINGS, THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW ALL THOSE OBLIGATIONS, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE TYPE AND LEVEL OF INTERACTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM MY DECISION, AND IT ALSO IS MORE REFLECTIVE OF THE CURRENT CASE LAW AROUND CONSULTATION AND ENGAGEMENT WHERE YOU HAVE TO ASK PEOPLE OR OFFER PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHIME IN EARLIER IN THE PROCESS BEFORE PRIOR DOWN THE ROAD.
FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS, I'D LIKE TO ALSO JUST SEE WHAT MY COLLEAGUES THOUGHTS ARE ON EXPANDING THE DELEGATIONS TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC SHOULD THEY WISH.
WE MAY NOT GET ANY, BUT JUST TO BE ABLE TO COME TO GPC TO INFORM THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
>> THANKS. I DID THINK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE BROUGHT THAT UP IN THE PAST.
FOR MYSELF, I DIDN'T END UP DRAFTING IT THAT WAY BECAUSE THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE AND THIS GETS INTO THE TERMS OF REFERENCE QUESTIONS WILL COME IN THE NEW YEAR, WHICH HASN'T ALWAYS HAD A LOT OF CLARITY, BUT IN THE TITLE OF GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES, IT'S OUR TIME AS COUNSEL IN OUR COMMITTEE FORMAT TO HAVE A FIRST LOOK AT THINGS AND IT DOESN'T MATTER ENOUGH TO COUNSEL TO MOVE FORWARD AS OPPOSED TO.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A FIRST UNDERSTANDING AND A FIRST GUT INSTINCT.
I THINK THE QUESTION OF, IS COUNSEL ALREADY MADE A DECISION BY THE TIME WE'RE DONE GPC.
THAT'S UP TO INDIVIDUAL COUNSELORS.
I KNOW, I'VE HAD PLENTY OF TIMES WHERE SOMETHING HAS MOVED PAST GPC, AND I'VE BEEN THINKING ONE WAY AND MY MINDS CHANGED BY THE TIME IT GOT TO COUNSEL.
>> FOR MYSELF, I DIDN'T DRAFT IT THAT WAY BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THERE'S A TIME IN A SPACE AND WHEN WE GET BACK TO LENGTH OF MEETINGS AS WELL, WHERE IF WE ALLOW AND I DON'T MEAN THIS DISMISSIVELY, BUT IF WE ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO COME AT OUR GPC MEETINGS, PLUS AT OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS, THERE ARE MANY ISSUES WHERE WE COULD GET BOGGED DOWN IN THOSE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS WHERE WE CAN'T TAKE THE STEP BACK AND JUST LOOK AT THE NUTS AND BOLTS, TECHNOCRATIC PIECES, WHICH IS WHAT GPC OFTEN GETS MORE INTO.
THAT'S WHERE MY MIND'S AT AS I THINK THAT COUNCIL IS THE PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC TO COME AND SPEAK TO US AND TO ENGAGE.
AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, LIKE, THERE ARE OTHER TOOLS IN OUR TOOL BELT IN TERMS OF COUNCIL DECISION MAKING THAT IF WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AND WE DECIDE WHAT, WE WANT TO TABLE A MOTION OR TABLE A BYLAW OR READING OR WHATEVER, THAT WE CAN DO THAT, THAT THERE'S OTHER WAYS TO SLOW DOWN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS TO RECEIVE THAT PUBLIC FEEDBACK BOTH OUTSIDE OF MEETINGS, BUT AT MEETINGS.
I WOULDN'T BE IN SUPPORT OF THAT, BUT THAT'S MYSELF.
ANY OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE ANYTHING COUNCIL COCHRANE?
THOUGH I HEAR WHERE COUNCIL FORGET IS COMING FROM, I AM LIKE THE MAYOR HERE, FULLY IN AGREEMENT THAT I DON'T REALLY SEE THAT AS THE FORMAT, NOT TO MENTION.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW STRUCTURALLY THAT WOULD WORK.
WOULD WE HAVE A STANDING ITEM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING FOR ANYBODY TO BE ABLE TO COMMENT OR DO WE WAIT FOR A STANDING ITEM AT THE LAST BIT OF THE MEETING FOR ANYBODY TO COMMENT? OR DO WE ALLOW THEM TO PARTICIPATE WITHIN EACH OF THE ITEMS TO BE ABLE TO COME UP THERE? AND WHEN WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION, AGAIN, STRUCTURALLY, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
>> GO AHEAD, COUNSEL [INAUDIBLE]
>> YEAH, JUST THINK THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I MEAN, TO CLARIFY, TWO THINGS.
ONE IS I ENVISION ALLOWING THIS JUST PROVIDES COUNSEL MORE FLEXIBILITY.
NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN, PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO WANT TO TALK ABOUT MOST THINGS ON OUR AGENDA, BUT IT'S THE BIG ONES.
IT'S THE BIG ONES THAT WE HEAR ABOUT, AND SO I ENVISION THIS WOULD BE A RARE OCCURRENCE, BUT TO YOUR POINT, IT ISN'T OPEN.
LIKE COUNSEL IS, IT WOULD BE ABOUT ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION.
THAT WOULD BE THE ONE TWEAK BECAUSE IF PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO CONTRIBUTE SPECIFICALLY TO A REALLY HOT TOPIC, A SPICY TOPIC THAT'S ON OUR GPC.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO GET X AMOUNT OF ENGAGEMENT FROM PEOPLE, AND NOW THAT ALL FOUR MEETINGS IN THE PROPOSED COUNCIL BYLAWS ARE THE SAME, RIGHT ONCE A WEEK AT LUNCH, RIGHT, FOUR TIMES, WHAT WE'RE MAYBE EVEN ALSO DOING IS SPREADING OUT THAT ENGAGEMENT FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO MAKE IT.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE OR BOGGED DOWN.
IT JUST MEANS IT'S ACTUALLY ALL THE MEETINGS ARE TECHNICALLY THE SAME AS FAR AS LENGTH AND DATE AND TIME AND ACCESSIBILITY FROM A PUBLIC PERSPECTIVE.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I WAS NOT SUGGESTING IT BE OPEN TO RANDOMLY JUST SHOWING UP AT A GPC AND TALKING ABOUT WHATEVER YOU WANT.
I WAS DEFINITELY SUGGESTING WHEN PEOPLE
[01:05:01]
ARE VERY PASSIONATE AND WE HAVE A REALLY SPICY TOPIC.THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO US TO HEAR THAT EARLIER ON BECAUSE IT MAY INFLUENCE THE PATH WE TAKE WITH ADMIN OR THE QUESTIONS WE GET ANSWERED BEFORE WE GET TO A COUNCIL MEETING AND HAVE TO GO BACK TO ADMINISTRATION. THAT'S WHERE I WAS THINKING.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, COUNSEL FORGET.
IT CAN STILL. I DON'T SEE HOW THAT WOULD WORK.
WE WOULD GO INTO A DISCUSSION POINT ON THESE MAJOR EVENTS, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE A PUBLIC BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH US DIRECTLY AFTER THAT ITEM BEFORE WE GO INTO THE NEXT ITEM.
WE OPEN OURSELVES UP TO AN INCREDIBLY UNSTRUCTURED FUNCTION OF A COMMITTEE AT THAT POINT.
I THINK A COUNCIL, LIKE THE MAYOR PUT IS A BETTER SET.
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT CAN BE DONE.
I KNOW WE COULD CREATE A SEPARATE ENGAGEMENT COUNCIL OF COMMITTEE OF COUNSEL THAT COULD MEET AFTER THAT SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE A DIRECT WAY TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THAT.
BUT I JUST DO AT THIS TIME FEEL THAT THE COUNCIL STRUCTURE AS IS IS A BETTER PLACE FOR THAT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, ESPECIALLY WITH STUFF LIKE STATUTORY, WHICH IS GOING TO HAPPEN, NO MATTER WHAT.
SORRY, MY BRAINS JUST RUNNING.
NO, I'M LIKE THE MAYOR ON THIS. I DO SUPPORT HOW ITS CURRENT FRUITION IS GOING.
>> WITH THAT SAID, COUNSEL, FORGET, IF THERE'S SOME WORDING YOU'RE CONSIDERING, YOU COULD ALWAYS BRING IT FORWARD AS AN AMENDMENT WHEN THIS ACTUALLY COMES TO COUNSEL IF YOU'VE GOT SOME WORDING THAT YOU WANT US TO CHEW ON.
THAT COULD BE AN OPTION AS WELL.
>> YEAH, THANKS FOR THAT. YEAH, IF ANYBODY HAS ANY OTHER INITIAL THOUGHTS, OR IF THEY'RE JUST PERCOLATING, THAT'S FINE, TOO, BUT JUST COUNCIL MCLENNAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH, DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE INTENT TO GET ENGAGEMENT EARLIER INSTEAD OF YEAH.
ONCE A DECISION IS MOSTLY COOKED.
I'VE DEFINITELY CHANGED MY MIND LIKE IN A COUNSEL MEETING AS WELL.
BUT YEAH, BUT THE DECISION IS MOSTLY THERE.
BUT IRONICALLY, YEAH, WOULD NEED MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT.
MAYBE, FORWARDING SOME WORDING TO SPEND SOME TIME THINKING, BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILLOR SMITH.
>> THANK YOU. I AM VERY MUCH ON SIDE WITH MR. MAYOR ON THIS ONE.
I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT, BUT USUALLY WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT COMES TO GPC, WE'RE THE ONES WHO ARE RECEIVING THIS INFORMATION FIRST, AND SO OUR BRAINS ARE GOING.
THIS IS WHERE WE HASH IT OUT BEFORE.
GOES OUT TO THE PUBLIC, AND IT USUALLY GETS OUT TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THE MEDIA BRINGS IT TO THE PUBLIC.
THIS IS WHAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN DISCUSSING, AND IT STILL BECOMES A DISCUSSIONAL POINT ANYWAY, BUT IT'S OUR FIRST LINE OF INFORMATION.
I THINK TO HAVE THE PUBLIC'S INPUT WHEN WE'RE JUST SETTLING ON THE FIRST WAVE MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT.
I DO BELIEVE NO MATTER WHAT WE TRY TO DO, WHETHER IT'S SOCIAL MEDIA, WHETHER IT'S EMAILS, WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO GET THE APPROPRIATE LINE OF RESPONSE FROM THE PUBLIC.
RANT AND AVES IS A NUMBER 1 EXAMPLE HERE, RATHER THAN REACH OUT TO COUNSEL.
COME TO COUNSEL PHONE, COUNSEL.
I BELIEVE OUR PHONE NUMBERS ARE READILY AVAILABLE TO A LOT OF THE PUBLIC.
THEY GO ON RANT AND AVES INSTEAD OF DISCUSSING WITH US.
THERE'S MANY AVENUES, AND WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO MISS PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY.
BUT I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE THAT PORTION AS IS, AND I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THAT RECOMMENDATION OR MOTION GOING FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS ISSUE SPECIFICALLY? SEE, COUNSEL FORCETT DO YOU WANT ANY FINAL WORD ON THIS ISSUE? THEN I WOULD JUST SAY IF YOU WANT, THEN THAT WOULD BE MAYBE THE BEST OPTION IS TO BRING SOME WORDING FORWARD ON THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE THEN, COUNSEL FORCETT, THERE YOU GO.
>> JUST A QUESTION CLARIFICATION, PROCESS FOR TIMING.
IS IT THE INTENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS REVISED VERSION AT THE SAME TIME AS WE'LL SEE THE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR ALL THE COMMITTEES, JUST TO ALIGN ALL OF THAT? IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE THINKING OR GIVE SOME SHED SOME LIGHT ON THAT.
>> FINGERS CROSSED, BUT I'LL PASS THE TERMS OF REFERENCE QUESTION OVER TO MR. VAN DINE.
BUT THE IDEA WOULD BE THAT THIS COMES BACK TO COUNSEL ANYWAY FOR 12 JANUARY SO THAT WE CAN START IMPLEMENTING IT AS OF FEBRUARY 1.
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE TERMS OF REFERENCE ARE EXACTLY, SO MR. ANY.
>> IT'S NOT TRACKING FOR THAT RIGHT NOW, MR. CHAIR. WE WANT TO TRY AND GET THIS UP AND RUNNING IN FEBRUARY WITH THE NEW SCHEDULE AND TO BE ABLE THE PROPER NOTIFICATION OF BUSINESS PROCESSES, ET CETERA.
WE COULD SHIFT IT, BUT I WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO SHIFT IT LATER IN THE CALENDAR JUST BECAUSE WE'D RUN OUT A CALENDAR TO START TRYING THE NEW SYSTEM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNSELOR [INAUDIBLE]
>> NO, THAT'S GREAT. YEAH. DON'T DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS.
[01:10:01]
I WAS JUST HOPING THERE MIGHT BE ALIGNMENT ON THE OTHER STUFF, AND IF NOT, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THAT WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THE POTENTIAL CHANGES. THAT'S ALL SO.>> PERFECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THEN, SEEING GENERAL SUPPORT, WE'LL TAKE ON SOME OF THOSE NON-SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES, AND I AND THE CITY CLERK AND THE GOVERNANCE DEPARTMENT CAN LOOK AT THOSE.
THEN THIS WILL COME FORWARD HOPEFULLY ON JANUARY 12 TO OUR COUNCIL MEETING.
WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE TO OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS A MEMO REGARDING MINUTES OF THE HRCC MEETING OF NOVEMBER 7TH, 2025, NOVEMBER 28, 2025.
IT'S FOR INFORMATION. ANY QUESTIONS? ANYBODY? SEEING NONE.
THEN WE HAVE A MEMO REGARDING WHETHER TO AMEND FEES AND CHARGES BY LAW NUMBER 4436 AS AMENDED TO REFLECT CHANGES APPROVED IN BUDGET 2026, MR. [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WE STANDARD PART OF OUR PACKAGE FOR BUDGET APPROVAL IS TO UPDATE FEES AND CHARGES.
WE'VE TAKEN ON BOARD A NUMBER OF THE SUGGESTIONS AND INDICATIONS FROM COUNCIL DURING THE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS PROCESS.
WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO PACKAGE THEM IN HERE AND LAY THEM OUT ACCORDINGLY.
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER FEES AND CHARGES UPDATE A LITTLE LATER IN THE CALENDAR IN THE SPRING. WITH THAT, MR. CHAIR, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE COUNCIL TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR POSE ANY COMMENTS THAT THEY MAY HAVE WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPOSED PACKAGE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I BELIEVE COUNSEL ARN SMITH IS OUT OF THE GATE. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE BURIAL PLOT FEES.
DO I NEED ANYTHING ELSE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS GPC, SO THAT'S NOT A FORMAL MOTION THIS TIME. YOU CAN SEE GOING.
>> RECOGNIZING THAT, WE ARE REALLY WORKING TOWARDS COST RECOVERIES.
I BELIEVE WHEN WE'RE DISCUSSING BURIALS INTERMENTS.
I THINK INCREASING THE FEE BY 167% IS IT'S LUDICROUS, IN MY OPINION.
I'M JUST GOING TO READ THE STATEMENT THAT I'VE PREPARED RATHER THAN RAMBLE ON.
THE PROPOSED 167% INCREASE TO BURIAL INTERNMENT FEES PLACES A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL BURDEN ON RESIDENTS.
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT A POINT WHEN THEY ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING GRIEF AND HARDSHIP.
COUNCIL HAS AND I'VE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS.
FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT SUCH A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IS DISPROPORTIONATE WHEN COMPARED TO INFLATION, OPERATIONAL COST PRESSURES, AND THE RATES CHARGED IN NEIGHBORING MUNICIPALITIES.
MUNICIPAL SERVICE FEES MUST REMAIN TRANSPARENT, EQUITABLE, AND ALIGNED WITH BOTH THE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR RESIDENTS AND THEIR ABILITY TO PAY.
WHILE COST RECOVERY IS AN IMPORTANT LONG-TERM GOAL FOR THE CITY, IT MUST BE APPROACHED THOUGHTFULLY AND RESPONSIBLY.
MOVING FORWARD, FULL COST RECOVERY SHOULD BE A GRADUAL PROCESS TAKEN IN REASONABLE MANAGE STEPS RATHER THAN THROUGH A SUDDEN OVERWHELMING INCREASE.
MY SUGGESTION FOR THIS WOULD BE TO INCREASE IT ONLY BY 50%.
THEN MAYBE WITH THE GUIDANCE OF ADMINISTRATION OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WE INCREASE IT SO THAT WE ARE FINALLY GETTING TO COST RECOVERY.
BUT WITH THE COSTS THAT WE AS NORTHERNERS FACE ON A DAILY BASIS, WE ARE SLOWLY GOING BROKE.
I WENT GROCERY SHOPPING YESTERDAY AND FOR A WEEK'S WORTH OF GROCERIES, WHICH WAS VERY LITTLE. IT WAS $233.
I AM A FINANCIAL HOUSEHOLD OF ONE, AND SO THAT'S MIND-BOGGLING TO BE ABLE TO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR A PLOT IF SAY, A LOVED ONE FOR MYSELF PASSES AWAY.
THEN YOU'RE ALREADY HAVING TO DEAL WITH GOING GETTING CASKET OR GOING TO HAVE TO GO GET AND EARN, ANY OF THE OTHER COSTS THAT GO WITH IT.
IT'S ALMOST $10,000 JUST TO DO ALL OF THIS, PLUS HAVING TO PAY $700 TO BE ABLE TO FIND A PLACE FOR YOUR LOVED ONE OVER AT THE CEMETERY.
I WOULD LIKE THIS TO ACTUALLY GO BACK TO ABOUT 50% MARK RATHER THAN 167% INCREASE, AND THEN WE JUST GRADUALLY INCREASE IT THROUGH SAY FIVE, TEN YEARS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNSEL ARON SMITH.
NEXT, WE HAVE COUNCIL MCLENNAN.
YOU'RE SPEAKING TO. I MEAN, YOU CAN SPEAK TO FEES AND CHARGE GENERALLY OR TO COUNSEL AND SMITH'S PROPOSAL.
>> OKAY. FIRST, YEAH, COMMENT ON THAT.
YEAH, DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES AT A DIFFICULT TIME FOR PEOPLE.
HOWEVER, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE FEES AS
[01:15:03]
PROPOSED AND WOULDN'T BE IN SUPPORT OF AN AMENDMENT.JUST GIVEN, YEAH, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT JUMP, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE FALLEN SO FAR BEHIND ON THE COST.
YEAH, I THINK THAT IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE BYPRODUCT OF DOING THAT.
I THINK EVEN THE FEES AS PROPOSED AREN'T CRAZY RELATIVE TO OTHER COMMUNITIES NEARBY COMMUNITIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, HAY RIVER, A SINGLE ADULT PLOT COST $640, AND THEN TO ACTUALLY IN TURN SOMEONE IN THAT PLOT IN THE SUMMER COSTS AN ADDITIONAL $375 AND THE WINTER COST $670.
WE WOULD OUR FEES WOULD STILL ADD UP TO LESS THAN HAY RIVER.
YEAH I WOULDN'T BE IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT.
I WILL GET TO MY QUESTIONS REGARDING DEVELOPMENT FEES.
TO ADMIT, JUST LOOKING FOR A COMMENT ON INCREASING THE BUILDING FEES FOR ADDITIONS, FOUNDATIONS, AND BUILDING ENVELOPE, AS WELL AS SMALL INCREASES TO DEVELOPMENT FEES AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO INCENTIVIZE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION.
WHILE WE'RE REDUCING COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL FEES.
JUST A COMMENT ON THAT AND CAN WE USE HALF THE MONEY TO PAUSE THE FEE INCREASES?
>> THERE WERE MULTIPLE QUESTIONS IN THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR WHITE TO RESPOND TO THE SPECIFIC UPDATES, BUT I WOULD JUST BEGIN BY SAYING THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO TAKE A BALANCED APPROACH ACROSS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MECHANISMS TO OFFSET COSTS AND INCENT DEVELOPMENT.
BUT WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR WHITE WITH RESPECT TO THE SPECIFIC CHANGES TO FEES AND CHARGES.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO START AT THE END AND WORK MY WAY BACKWARDS.
THE ANSWER IS, WE ALREADY ARE USING HALF BASICALLY UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $10,000 FOR BUILDING PERMITS FOR RESIDENTIAL, BE ABLE TO INCENT PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
THE CHANGE TO THIS WILL NOT DIRECTLY IMPACT THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING TO USE OUR INCENTIVES FOR THAT PURPOSE.
THE ANSWER IS YES, WE'RE ALREADY DOING THAT.
WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS WE'VE TAKEN A LOOK ACROSS CANADA IN COMMUNITIES OF THE SAME SIZE.
WE LOOKED AT SASKATOON, WE LOOKED AT GRAND PRAIRIE, WE LOOKED AT WHITEHORSE, WE LOOKED AT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT HAVE SIMILAR NORTHERN COSTS ASSOCIATED.
WE'RE REALLY ALIGNING OURSELVES THERE.
IT'S NOT IF YOU ACTUALLY WORK OUT SOME OF THE PRICES BECAUSE WE GO TO THE GFA ON THAT 150 FOR RESIDENTIAL, IT'S ACTUALLY NOT INCREASING IT AS MUCH AS YOU ARE ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE OF IT.
WHEN YOU ACTUALLY WORK THOSE NUMBERS OUT, AND I DO HAVE SOME EXAMPLES HERE.
JUST HAPPENED TO WORK A BIT OF IT OUT.
A BUILDING PERMIT UNDER THE NEW RATES IN THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE JUST TOOK SOME AVERAGES ON A PERMIT VALUED AT $120,000, LOOKING AT ABOUT $7,000 HERE, WHICH IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO SASKATOON.
>> IT IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO GRAND PRAIRIE.
GRAND PRAIRIE IS ABOUT $400 LESS.
WE'RE TRYING TO TRACK ALONG WITH WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING FOR THOSE BUILDING PERMITS.
BUT COMMERCIAL IS STILL GOING TO COST A LITTLE BIT MORE, NOT SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN RESIDENTIAL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH FOR DOING THE MATH.
JUST LOOKING TO SEE WHAT WOULD THE FINANCIAL IMPACT BE OF PAUSING INCREASES, SPECIFIC TO ADDITIONS, FOUNDATIONS, BUILDING AND THE DEVELOPMENT FEES FOR SINGLE DETACHED SECONDARY SUITE AND DUPLEXES.
WHAT WOULD THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF NOT HAVING THESE, ALBEIT SMALL, INCREASES?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE DONE THE NUMBERS ON PROJECTED REVENUES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
THIS IS A FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT SO IT'S PROJECTED LOSS IN REVENUE, BUT AS YOU KNOW, IT'S DEMAND-DEPENDENT AND VOLUME-DEPENDENT.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE'VE GOT A PROXY FOR THAT, MR. PANDYA OR DIRECTOR WHITE.
I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK WHAT OUR TOTAL PERMITS WERE FOR THIS YEAR.
TO PAUSE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 50-75, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE SOMEWHAT MINIMAL, ONLY BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY OFFSETTING IT, AND WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE RESIDENTIAL.
>> SPECIFICALLY, I CAN SEND A MOTION AROUND PRIOR TO TONIGHT,
[01:20:04]
BUT IT WOULDN'T SPECIFICALLY BE ABOUT CHANGING THE $50-$75 BASE CHARGE.IT'S ABOUT THE PER SQUARE FOOT CHARGE BECAUSE THAT'S INCREASING IN SOME INSTANCES BY $1 PER SQUARE FOOT OR $0.90 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR ADDITIONS.
THAT WOULD BE THE PART THAT I'M LOOKING TO SEE IF WE CAN PAUSE.
>> MR. VAN DINE, ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
>> WE'LL UNDERTAKE TO DO SOME MATH FOR THIS EVENING. THANK YOU.
>> MATH WILL BE HAPPENING FOR THIS EVENING.
I CAN SEND AROUND POTENTIAL WORDING AND THEN I LOOKED THROUGH THE BUDGET AND THE LANDS AND BUILDING SERVICES USER CHARGES ARE BUDGETED TO INCREASE BY $13,000 THIS YEAR.
PERHAPS THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THESE FEES CHANGES.
CURIOUS TO HEAR THE MATH, AND I'LL SEND AROUND SOME WORDING.
THEN THE OTHER QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A REVIEW OF ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION FEE OF $280 AN HOUR?
>> I HAVE A VERY ENTHUSIASTIC DIRECTOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, WILLING TO RESPOND TO THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF INSTANCES THIS YEAR WHERE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR OUR REVIEW, AND WE'VE HAD TO CONTRACT THAT OUT, AND THE CHARGE THAT WE ARE PAYING IS $280 AN HOUR.
WE'RE DIRECTLY PUTTING THAT BACK ON PEOPLE WHO ARE ASKING FOR ALTERNATIVES TO BOTH OUR BUILDING BY LAW AS WELL AS UNDER THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE. THANK YOU.
>> FORGIVE ME HERE, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, WHAT WOULD BE THE TRIGGER FOR THAT? IT'S LIKE SOMEONE IS ASKING FOR A VARIANCE TO OUR BYLAW OR TO THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE, JUST LOOKING FOR WHAT TRIGGERS THAT?
>> DIRECTOR WHITE, CAN YOU RESPOND TO THAT?
>> THANK YOU. UNDER THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE, ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS ARE ALLOWED IN CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE CODE, AND SO WHERE SOMEONE HAS THEIR OWN ENGINEER COME FORWARD WITH AN ALTERNATIVE OPTION THAT MAYBE WE HAVEN'T USED HERE IN THE NORTH, WE WILL GO AND HAVE A CONSULTANT TO REVIEW THAT AGAINST OTHERS AND AGAINST THE CODE.
>> YEAH. UNDERSTOOD THAT IT'S AN ADDITIONAL FEE FOR THE CITY, BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING THAT SEEMS TO DISINCENTIVIZE FIRST MOVERS IN TRYING SOMETHING NEW.
I'LL THINK ABOUT THAT ONE AND POTENTIALLY FORWARD WORDING THERE AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYBODY? SORRY. NEXT IS, COUNCIL FEQUET AND THEN DEPUTY MAYOR WARBURTON.
>> THANK YOU. COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR ADMIN.
I GUESS, JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THE BURIAL PLOTS.
WHEN WERE THE FEES LAST UPDATED FOR THE BURIAL PLOTS? MR. VAN DINE?
>> I'LL INVITE THE DIRECTOR FROM COMMUNITY SERVICES TO RESPOND TO THAT.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE. BUT THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. VAN DINE.
THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN INCREASED LAST YEAR BY THE 3%. THANKS.
>> ARE THE BURIAL PLOTS ELIGIBLE FOR OUR ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM?
>> I WOULDN'T BELIEVE SO, BUT MR. VAN DINE.
>> I DON'T RECALL THAT BEING IT.
IS IT AN ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM?
NO. THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THAT PROGRAM. THANKS.
>> WHAT I WOULD SAY TO THAT, THOUGH, IS UNDER THE FEES AND CHARGES BY LAW, THERE IS ALWAYS THE OPTION TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO WAIVE A FEE.
THAT IS ALWAYS AN OPTION WITH OUR FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW. COUNCIL FEQUET?
>> NO, JUST TRYING TO PICK UP THE THEME HERE FROM COUNCIL ARDEN SMITH'S COMMENT AND REQUEST.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S OBVIOUSLY THE WORST TIME IN PEOPLE'S LIFE TO HAVE TO BE DEALING WITH THIS.
OFTEN, THERE ARE CERTAIN AND ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY EITHER LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, OR THIS IS A BIG HIT TO THE WALLET.
THAT'S WHY I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE EXPANDED.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES SENSE, BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO THINK ABOUT THIS.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROPOSED FEE CHANGES ARE THE PERCENT INCREASE IS GREAT, BUT IT'S ONLY GOING UP TO 50% COST RECOVERY, AND IT'S STILL LESS THAN SIMILAR COMMUNITIES IN THE NBT.
GENERALLY, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT'S HERE, BUT I WOULD LIKE US TO FIND A WAY IF IT'S REASONABLE AND POSSIBLE, TO EXERCISE SOME COMPASSION IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE OBVIOUSLY THAT IS APPROPRIATE AND WHETHER THAT'S AN EXEMPTION OR WHETHER IT COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR EXCESS FOR ALL, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD I JUST PUT OUT THERE.
I HAVE A QUESTION. WAS THERE A RESPONSE? DID YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL RESPONSE? GO AHEAD, MR. VAN DINE.
[01:25:01]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MCLENNAN AND I THINK I LEFT MY MIC ON LONGER THAN I EXPECTED TO. I APOLOGIZE.
WE DID THERE HAD BEEN, AND I THINK MAYBE COUNCIL SMITH MAY MIGHT RECALL THIS.
THERE WAS A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND UPDATE TO THE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH BURIAL PLOTS GOING BACK A NUMBER OF YEARS.
A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IT WAS A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.
AT THAT TIME, THAT CHANGE WAS BROUGHT IN OVER A STAGGERED PERIOD OF TIME.
WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT FROM OUR LOOKING TO THE ARCHIVES IS THAT BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THE LAST YEAR THAT WE HAD IMPOSED THE UPDATE THAT WE WERE ACTUALLY BEHIND AGAIN BY A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT COMPARED TO IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORICAL REFERENCE.
WITH RESPECT TO ACCESS FOR ALL AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WITH RESPECT TO HOW TO IMPLEMENT SUCH A CHANGE, THERE ARE TWO THINGS TO CONSIDER.
ONE, THE ANALYSIS THAT WE'VE DONE TO DATE WITH RESPECT TO THE CURRENT CHANGES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED AS PRESENTED IN THE FEES AND CHARGES BY LAW ARE SUCH THAT IF COUNSEL DOES TAKE A CHANGE WITH RESPECT TO SCHEDULE FOUR OF THE FEES AND CHARGES, THAT DOES INCLUDE THIS ITEM, THAT THE MATERIAL IMPACT ON THE BUDGET FOR 2026 IS ACTUALLY NEGLIGIBLE JUST BASED ON THE WAY THAT THINGS ARE DONE.
THERE ISN'T A MATERIAL IMPACT ON BUDGET AND THE BUDGET DECISION THIS EVENING, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT COUNSEL WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
WITH RESPECT TO DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD, SHOULD COUNCIL DECIDE TO PROCEED, COUNCIL WOULD HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY IN THE SPRING WHEN IT'S DOING ITS FEES AND CHARGES, UPDATE AGAIN FOR US TO DO FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS.
THOSE ARE SOME AVENUES AVAILABLE FOR COUNSEL.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL HAS FULL OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THIS MATTER PRIOR TO MAKING A FINAL DECISION TONIGHT WITH RESPECT TO COST RECOVERY.
THERE WAS DISCUSSION DURING THE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS LAST WEEK, WITH RESPECT TO POTENTIALLY PUTTING INTO THE GARDEN PLOT OR INTO THE WORK PLAN, DISCUSSION, A MORE COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FEES AND SERVICES AND COST RECOVERY IDEAS THAT COUNSEL MAY WANT TO TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO, VERSUS, SELECTIVELY CHOOSING THIS PARTICULAR ITEM TO START LOOKING AT COST RECOVERY.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK MIGHT BENEFIT FROM A WIDER APERTURE IN LOOKING AT HOW WE LOOK AT BALANCING COST RECOVERY FOR THE CITY.
>> IN THAT LATTER EXERCISE THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED, IS ADMIN PLANNING ON UNDERTAKING AND COMPLETING THAT PRIOR TO THE SPRING FEES AND CHARGES COMING FORWARD?
>> AT THIS TIME, IT DEPENDS ON THE WIDE EXAMINATION OF COST RECOVERY? NO. THE WIDER EXAMINATION OF COST RECOVERY ACROSS THE CITY WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE TALKING TO COUNSEL ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE WORK PLAN UPDATE, JUST TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THAT WAS A SIZABLE.
I THINK IT'S A VALUABLE PIECE OF WORK.
I THINK IT WOULD REQUIRE FOCUS AND ATTENTION AND MAYBE A SMALL LEVEL OF RESOURCING JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING IT APPROPRIATELY.
BUT WHAT COULD BE READY FOR THE FEES AND CHARGES UPDATE IS WITH THIS SPECIFIC ITEM, IF THERE WAS A PARTICULAR ADDITIONAL THINKING THAT COUNSEL WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER WITH RESPECT TO HOW TO ROLL IT OUT OR ADJUST.
THAT'S WHAT I'D BE REFERRING TO AS POSSIBLY SOMETHING WE COULD DO WITH THE SPRING UPDATE TO THE FEES AND CHARGES BY LAW PERTAINING TO CEMETERY PLOTS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES.
THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT.
JUST MOVE ON TO PARKING METERS.
CAN YOU JUST CONFIRM IF HAVE PARKING METER FEES BEEN SUBJECT TO THAT 303% INFLATIONARY INCREASE IN PAST YEARS?
>> THE 3% HAS BEEN GENERALLY APPLIED TO MOST OF OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES TYPE PROGRAMMING, NOT AUTOMATICALLY TO PENALTIES OR TO FEES ASSOCIATED WITH PARKING METERS, BUT LET ME JUST CHECK WITH DIRECTOR MCLENNAN.
>> COULD YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF INSIGHT AS FAR AS THE CITY'S VIEW ON THE PURPOSE OF THE TWO-HOUR VERSUS THE NINE-HOUR METERS AND MAYBE A COMMENT ON THEIR USAGE? ARE THEY GENERALLY FULL OR ARE THEY GENERALLY? MR. VAN DINE
>> I'LL ASK MR. MCLENNAN TO RESPOND TO THAT IF HE CAN.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. MY UNDERSTANDING IS
[01:30:03]
THE CONFIGURATION OF PARKING METERS WAS ONE AND TWO HOUR WERE PRIMARILY SET UP TO INCENTIVIZE BUSINESS BANKING, COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY IN THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS CORP, WHERE NINE-HOUR METERS WERE SET UP IN THE PERIPHERY TO ALLOW PEOPLE WHO HAD NO ALTERNATE ON STREET OR PARKING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM TO AT A NOMINAL RATE, ACCESS PARKING THAT ALLOWS THEM TO DO BUSINESS IN THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAN THE ONE OR TWO HOUR DID. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S HELPFUL.
JUST CONFIRMING TOO, THAT THE PROPOSED INCREASE THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE TODAY IS ONLY TO OFFSET THE DECISION THAT COUNSEL MADE LAST WEEK.
JUST ABOUT THE CHANGING THE ALLOCATION OF UP FROM 25%-50% OF PARKING METER REVENUES TO THE DOWNTOWN RESERVE.
>> YEAH, I GUESS MY ONLY THOUGHT WHEN WE WERE THINK ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK IS THE MOVE FROM $9 A DAY TO $12 A DAY SEEMS STILL PRETTY LOW IF WE'RE TRYING TO INCENTIVIZE PUBLIC TRANSIT AND LESS DRIVING.
I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND COUNCILOR WARBURTON WILL PROBABLY ADD TO THIS, HAVE MENTIONED IS LIKE PEOPLE ARE NOT TURNING OVER IN THOSE SPOTS, AND ONE WAY TO INCENTIVIZE THAT IS INCREASING THE FEES SO THAT PEOPLE AREN'T THERE ALL DAY BECAUSE 12 BUCKS A DAY IS STILL WAY CHEAPER THAN 180 BUCKS A MONTH FOR AN ENERGIZED STALL AT ANY OF THESE PARKING LOTS AROUND TOWN.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S CREATING A DIFFERENT PROBLEM FOR MAYBE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THIS LACK OF TURNOVER.
GIVEN THAT THAT'S ONLY THE DIFFERENCE IN THE REVENUE ALLOCATION, I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO SEE THOSE FEES GO UP A BIT MORE FOR THE NINE-HOUR METERS.
>> SOMETHING FOR CONSIDER FOR AN AMENDMENT TO PROPOSE THIS EVENING.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, THOUGH? NO. NEXT, WE HAVE COUNCIL WARBURTON.
>> THANK YOU. MORE OF A COMMENT ON THE BUILDING FEES THAT COUNCIL CLINTON BROUGHT UP.
IT MAY NOT BE MUCH, BUT OF NOTE HALF MAY NOT BE FOREVER.
IF THAT GOES AWAY, THEN PEOPLE ARE PAYING THESE FEES.
ALSO, BUILDING IS A DEATH BY 1,000 CUTS.
ALL THOSE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY. THERE'S 1,000 WAYS.
A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY GETS TAKEN FROM YOUR POCKET AND THEN WE'RE SHOCKED WHEN THE TREPON THE BUILT.
IT'S CUMULATIVE, IT'S NOT ONE THING.
MY QUESTION ACTUALLY IT JUST REALLY TWEAKED ME IS A CANOE STORAGE AT THE GOVERNMENT DOCK.
DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE ANYONE PAYING FOR CANOE STORAGE AT THE GOVERNMENT DOC $277?
>> MR. VAN DINE, THE FUNNY THINGS THAT WE FOCUS ON, AND I RESPECT THAT GREATLY.
MR. VAN DINE. BY THE WAY, WHY MR. VAN DINE IS LOOKING FOR A RESPONSE? I'LL JUST KNOW WE HAVE PASSED OUR 90-MINUTE MARK, BUT WE'RE NEARING THE END OF THIS ITEM, SO LET'S GET THROUGH IT, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE IN CAMERA AND TAKE OUR 10-MINUTE BREAK.
>> I'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO WHETHER OR NOT, AND MAYBE WE NEED TO LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION.
>> QUESTIONS FOR THIS EVENING.
>> THAT SOUNDS FINE. THERE'S HUNDREDS OF CANOES DOWN THERE, AND I'M JUST VERY CURIOUS.
WHO'S PAYING FOR ALL THAT PUBLIC LAND USE? THEN I THINK THAT WAS IT. THANK YOU.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL ARDEN SMITH, I KNOW YOU COUNCILLOR COCHRANE.
YEAH, JUST FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT IS ULTIMATELY IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S NECESSARILY SUPPORT TO CHANGE WHAT'S IN THE FEES AND CHARGE AT THE MOMENT, BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS BRING YOUR MOTION FORWARD THIS EVENING TO IF YOU WANT A FORMAL VOTE ON IT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. ACTUALLY, JUST MORE OF A COMMENT TOWARDS THAT.
THOUGH I DO HEAR WHERE COUNCIL ARDEN SMITH IS COMING FROM.
BUT ONE OF THE BIG REASONS FOR THAT IS THAT THERE IS AN IMMENSE LEVEL OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OFFERED THROUGH ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK, FOR EXAMPLE, THROUGH FIRST NATIONS AND INUIT HEALTH BRANCH, OFFERS UP FOR 8,000 IN BURIAL AND FUNERAL ASSISTANCE.
IF YOU'RE A VETERAN, THERE'S AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE THERE.
CANADA PENSION PLAN HAS A DEATH BENEFIT, BUT INTERESTING ENOUGH THROUGH THE G&T, THERE IS A MINISTERIAL DIRECTIVE IMPLEMENTED IN 2014 WITH NO ACTUAL COST ASSOCIATED.
SO YOU CAN GET ALMOST FULL THING COVERED BY APPLYING THROUGH NWT HSSA.
I'M VERY CONFIDENT OF ANYBODY WHO IS IN THAT VULNERABLE SECTOR, AND I KNOW HAVING GONE THROUGH IT, IT'S HARD TO THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS, BUT THERE IS A LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE THAT WOULD BE VERY MUCH HELPFUL IN ANY SITUATION THAT WON'T AFFECT THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH OUR NEW PRICING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR COCHRANE.
AGAIN, COUNCIL SMITH, IF YOU'D LIKE YOU CAN ALWAYS BRING THAT AMENDMENT FORWARD FORMALLY THIS EVENING.
WITH THAT, WE WILL BRING THE FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW FORWARD THIS EVENING FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING
[01:35:01]
AND HOPEFULLY THIRD IF COUNCIL MCGURK IS HERE THIS EVENING.CAN I GET A MOTION TO MOVE IN CAMERA? COUNCILLOR COCHRANE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL FOOTE, WE'LL GO IN CAMERA.
WE'LL TAKE OUR 10-MINUTE BREAK, SO WE WILL REJOIN IN CAMERA AT 1:53.
THERE IS NO BUSINESS ARISING FROM OUR IN CAMERA MEETING.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOVE BY COUNCIL MCLENNAN, SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR COCHRANE.
HAVE A LOVELY ONE. WE'LL SEE YOU TONIGHT..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.