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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - City councillor Paul Falvo suggested giving Yellowknife tourists free bus passes during Monday's municipal services meeting.

Falvo said it's unlikely most visitors will be in town long enough for the passes to put a significant dent in transit revenues and the passes would promote green transit in the city.

Visitors also won't be in town "long enough to figure it out that route two is the closes thing to a roller coaster we have," Falvo joked.

The suggestion was made during council's briefing of the Downtown Enhancement Committee's meeting, during which one member mentioned Whitehorse gives a free parking pass for one week to tourists. Yellowknife runs a similar program.

2010 budget talks begin

City councillors have already started thinking about what 2010 spending could look like.

"Council passed the budget five months ago and it's time to start thinking about the next one," said city administrator Max Hall, before Carl Bird, director of corporate services, gave an overview of the 2010 budget outlook.

Bird said the city prepares its budget based on directives given in 2009 budget discussions and on the principle of maintaining service levels, among many factors.

Main cost drivers for 2010 include salary increases, higher demand for services and several big projects, like paving the streets in Ndilo, and potential debt for development costs at Niven Lake and the Engle Business District, he added.

The city is considering a 6.02 per cent tax increase in 2010, which is subject to change as council and administration hash out the budget in the winter.

The public can submit their input on the 2010 budget up to June 1; council will meet June 15 to provide direction to administration to prepare the 2011-2012 budget.

RCMP boosts downtown presence for summer

City councillors commended the RCMP's boosted presence downtown during Monday's municipal services committee meeting.

"I compliment RCMP for increasing (its) foot patrol presence downtown and (its) zero tolerance for liquor offences," said Coun. David Wind.

He added the next task should be to tackle public drunkenness.

Coun. David McCann also said he was pleased with the upped street level presence, saying it was good for RCMP to see people face-to-face.

Staff Sgt. Mike Brandford, who was on hand to give the monthly RCMP briefing, told council the RCMP would have increased presence downtown throughout the summer months.