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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Deputy mayor Mark Heyck gave the tie-breaking vote to defer second reading of a bylaw proposing to change the future development of the city's downtown Monday.

Heyck, who was filling in for Mayor Gord Van Tighem, sided with city councillors Shelagh Montgomery and David Wind, who felt administration should reanalyze the bylaw in light of suggestions from Yellowknife resident Barry Ward.

Montgomery said because Ward took the time to write a thoughtful letter, complete with suggestions and concerns, the city owes it to him to give his concerns consideration.

"I think it's only fair they get some response back from the city," she said of residents who take the time to take part in the public hearing process.

Couns. Bob Brooks and Cory Vanthuyne were opposed.

The bylaw in question, if passed, will restrict, among other things, what buildings look like and what is done with the ground floor.

In Ward's letter he applauds much of what is in the bylaw, but also notes that "we shouldn't expect development regulations to solve economic problems, and should be cautious about adding more design constraints that could deter investment."

Administration will consider Ward's concerns and present committee with a revised recommendation.

'Dangerous practice' not supported by council

City staff will have to follow the same rules of the road as everyone else, after Monday's council meeting where three out of four councillors present voted against a bylaw allowing city staff to ride in the

box of a pick-up truck.

Couns. David Wind, Bob Brooks and Cory Vanthuyne opposed the bylaw, which was meant to make watering downtown trees and plants more efficient.

"Riding in the back of a pick-up truck, or any truck for that matter, is an inherently dangerous practise," said Wind, who suggested that the city instead invest in poles for city staff so they won't need to be in the back of the truck at all.

Coun. Shelagh Montgomery was the lone councillor to vote in favour of the bylaw.

When councillors discussed the bylaw in committee, she noted that there are other vehicles that allow workers to ride on the back, like garbage trucks, and suggested the proposed safety features - a harness, a handrail and non-slip flooring - were appropriate measures.

Couns. Lydia Bardak, Paul Falvo and Amanda Mallon were absent from the meeting. Coun. Mark Heyck was acting as deputy mayor.

Council supports beautifying pellet boilers

City council gave unanimous support to third reading of a bylaw that will regulate the appearance and placement of wood pellet boilers Monday night.

The rationale for the bylaw is to make pellet boilers in residential neighbourhoods look more aesthetically pleasing.

To do this, there are now siding requirements for silos and buildings housing boilers. The structure must be sided in a material and colour that is similar to surrounding buildings. This means silos with corrugated metal siding are prohibited.

The city also specifies that where safety barriers are needed around a silo in a parking lot, they must also be aesthetically pleasing. Examples of appropriate barriers are vegetative hedges in planters or decorative metal barriers.

Already set-up boilers will be excluded from these new regulations.

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