SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - When the question of when to hold committee meetings and whether they should include free lunch made it to city council Monday night, Coun. Paul Falvo challenged Coun. Bob Brooks to show him proof a noon-hour meeting is more convenient for the general public.

"That's a fair question, and Coun. Falvo, being this is his second term, may or may not have heard it," responded Brooks, who has been pushing for noon-hour meetings with free lunches. "Myself, being this is my sixth term, I can tell you without question that I've had numerous discussions with people and e-mails that this is a preferable time."

Couns. Lydia Bardak, David Wind, Cory Vanthuyne and Amanda Mallon supported Brooks' recommended time, saying it is better for public participation.

Couns. Falvo and Montgomery were opposed to the time, suggesting the meetings be held at 1:15 p.m. so council could save $10,000 by not supplying lunch to councillors and administration. Bardak said she would be willing to have the cost of lunch deducted from her paycheque.

Clear goals for Yk

Council gave positive reviews to a document defining the city's future vision and the necessary steps for getting there Monday.

The Community Based Strategic Plan 2010 outlines the city's plans, programs and services and provides guidance as to how council should allocate resources. Included in the plan are four goals: "affordability, building social capital (social engagement) and continuous improvement."

"As far as I'm concerned, these are goals that I see as things whereby our objectives can certainly be attainable," said city Coun. Cory Vanthuyne.

Coun. Bob Brooks agreed, saying the goals are clear, concise and achievable. The plan was created with community input and consultation to provide continuity between terms of council.

Councillor down

Coun. David Wind will be working from home for the next few weeks while he recovers from hip surgery.

He said depending on his mobility, he hopes to be back to council by the middle of December. Council members wished him a quick recovery at Monday night's meeting, to which he joked he'd be back to harass his fellow councillors as soon as possible.

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