Lauren McKeon
Northern News Services
Published Friday, September 26, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - It's not just retail stores that start thinking months ahead about Christmas shopping.

During Tuesday's meeting, city councillors expressed unanimous support for free transit during the expected present-buying craze - still more than two months away.

"It's important to encourage business downtown," said city councillor David Wind.

The city already offers free parking to cars during the busy shopping month to encourage festive buyers to go local but has not, in the past, extended it to free transit.

In principle, said Coun. Paul Falvo, if the city offers free parking it should pair it with free transit.

"The two just go together," he said.

Coun. Kevin Kennedy added council should think about taking their support one step further.

"Any kind of discount we do for parking, we should give consideration to the same thing for transit," he said.

If council really wants to go one step further, Wind said, it should consider restoring the tradition of placing a Christmas tree at the corner of 50 Avenue and 50 Street.

This suggestion received hollers of support, although the mayor suggested more information would be needed on the details of reinstating the tradition before anything could proceed in that direction.

If implemented, the seven to 10-day period would cost the city about $1,250 in lost transit revenue in addition to the lost revenue from parking metres.

No to more paperwork

City council quashed a motion put forward by Coun. David Wind to have administration provide council with quarterly progress reports concerning the council's key goals and objectives, which are established at the beginning of the term.

"It's useful ... to see where progress is made on goals and objectives overall," said Wind.

"At the end of the term council will be called to explain why it did or did not meet those objectives," added Wind, explaining he believes better reporting is needed for council to do so effectively.

"I'm somewhat uncomfortable with the way the motion reads, or was written," said Coun. Bob Brooks.

"It seems to infer that administration doesn't keep council appraised of progress."

Brooks, who ended up being one of the members in the minority who supported the motion, added he agreed with the intent of the motion and would like to see reporting on the goals phased into the regular reports council members receive.

Coun. Paul Falvo did not support the motion.

"This would be a lot of work for administration and more reading for council," he said.

If the motion were passed, he added, administration would have to give "more time to the never-ending bottomless job jar."

Part of the sticking point, voiced councillors, was the regularity of which Wind called for supporting. Coun. Lydia Bardak said she'd support annual check-ups, while Coun. Shelagh Montgomery suggested semi-annual reports.

"I fear putting a lot of extra reporting on administration that might not give us a clearer picture," said Bardak. The motion was ultimately defeated.

New B&B may be on the way

Council members expressed unanimous support on Tuesday for allowing a new bed and breakfast on Negus Point.

The area of the destined four-room B&B would be located in an area zoned for growth management, which means home based businesses, such as a bed and breakfast, are conditional to council's approval.

"The neighbours, of which there are only two, expressed great support for the B&B," said Coun. Brooks.

Coun. Bardak agreed, adding the business would have "little impact" on the area - but questioned whether the area would have to be rezoned.

A public notice will be placed on the property if the B&B is ultimately approved to allow nearby properties to appeal the decision if they feel it will cause adverse effects.