SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - City councillor Paul Falvo was the only one to vote Monday against council's travel budget after arguing there are too many councillors heading to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual general meeting this year.

Student Mackenzie Lowen participates in the Stem Cell Challenge at St. Patrick School on May 19, 2010. The Yellowknife fire department was honoured at city hall Monday for its drive last year to find bone marrow donors for leukemia patients. - NNSL file photo

He wanted the number of councillors heading to the June 3 to 6 conference in Halifax to drop to one from four.

Council's total travel budget this year is $43,880.85, with $19,151.60 budgeted for the Canadian municipalities conference at $4,787.90 per councillor.

"We could just send one person to the FCM," said Falvo.

"They could bring back materials and make a presentation to us."

The annual general meeting is a conference designed for municipal politicians, and consists of professional development workshops and seminars.

Coun. Bob Brooks said the conference is of such an educational benefit to councillors that rather than lower it he'd like to see all councillors attend it.

"I would encourage as many councillors to go to this conference as possible ... because of the learning experience that is offered at this venue," said Brooks.

He said the conference is so huge it needs multiple council members in attendance to properly cover it.

Last year only three of the allowable four councillors attended the conference. Mayor Gord Van Tighem attends the conference on the federation's dime as he is on the national board of directors.

Fire department wins award

The Yellowknife fire department's efforts last year to identify potential bone marrow donors were honoured in city council chambers on Monday.

Deputy fire chief Gerda Groothuizen accepted the Most Swabs Achieved award from Mayor Gord Van Tighem, which was given on behalf of Shari's Mission, a national non-profit group that tries to match bone marrow donors with leukemia patients.

The fire department brought in more than 900 completed swab kits during its cheek-swabbing drive in May last year.

"Even though the fire department initiated it, it wouldn't have gotten anywhere without the city of Yellowknife," said Groothuizen. "If people didn't feel deeply about this people wouldn't have come out and registered with the stem cell registry."

Shari's Mission organized its first National EMS (emergency medical services) Stem Cell challenge last May in honour of Ontario resident Shari Silverman, who was diagnosed with leukemia but survived due to a bone marrow transplant.

Slippery sidewalks

Ecology North representatives made a presentation to city council Monday night asking for more action to combat slippery sidewalks.

A slideshow was presented by Ecology North's Transportation Issues Committee showing how splash-back from puddles and snow pushed onto the sidewalks by city snow removers, in addition to a warming climate, are creating a dangerous environment for pedestrians.

"In the last few years Yellowknife has experienced more freezing rain in the winter months, especially October and November," said Lorraine Hewlett, who spoke during the presentation.

The committee gave a list of recommendations, including requests that the city's snow removal policy be adapted to new weather patterns; that a bylaw be put in place so there were consequences for homeowners and businesses who don't clear the sidewalks in front of their properties.

City councillors Cory Vanthuyne said David Wind said they'd rather see an amped-up public education campaign rather than putting a bylaw in place which would cost the city more money to enforce.

Coun. Paul Falvo said he was hesitant at the thought of trying to establish a bylaw because he had brought one forward last year dealing with sidewalk clearing, and it did not pass. Coun. Bob Brooks said he wants to hash out the idea of altering the snow removal plan to a changing climate.

"I wouldn't mind seeing this information brought forward to committee so we can discuss it," said Brooks.

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