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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
City councillors are acknowledging that consultation could have gone better leading up to the decision Monday to approve the installation of a public dock at the south end of Latham Island.

The dock was the last of five priority tasks recommended by the harbour planning committee, a group chaired by city councillor Shelagh Montgomery. Council approved the dock in a 5-2 vote in a special council meeting Monday.

Couns. Paul Falvo and David Wind voted against it. Coun. Bob Brooks declared a conflict because he works for the Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment and so did not vote. His department had given the city a $50,000 grant that paid for the dock, which is composed of three separate units.

The city is currently looking at three possible options of where to place the 12-metre long dock. Two of them appear to merge with privately-built docks that jut out onto public property at the end of Lessard Drive.

Council also decided to set moorage fees at $500 per season for floatplanes and $250 for boats in addition to overnight and short-term options for visiting craft. It's not entirely clear how many planes and boats can be accommodated.

The city says the proposed docks will be used primarily for floatplanes belonging to tourists, who have long complained about the need in Yellowknife to have better parking facilities. The parking needs of local residents will add a secondary purpose.

Montgomery added an amendment prior to approval, directing city administration to hold further discussions with the NWT Float Plane Association and neighbours on Latham Island "regarding design and operations," which will come back to council for a final vote.

Although how the dock units will be deployed is still up for discussion, city councillors say the whole process could have been more clear.

"I do believe there is a need for a floatplane marina and that it belongs in the Old Town and on Back Bay and I have no doubt about that," said Coun. Amanda Mallon, an Old Town resident herself.

"I do believe that one of the things that really needs to happen - and I'm not sure that it did happen - is consultation with the residents and they have made that loud and clear."

Wind said the entire process was rushed. Council was presented with the five priorities, which include the city taking jurisdiction over Yellowknife Bay, just last week.

"I wasn't understanding why there wasn't time for the consultation to take place," he said.

"Just because we had a special meeting scheduled, there was still lots of ice in the bay and you can't put the docks in for a couple of months anyway."

Falvo agreed that moving forward with the docks was "hasty," and wanted to proceed with caution on having the public dock at the south end of the island.

"We decided on more consultation but with the view of moving forward," he said. "It wasn't entirely clear to me, either, what was going to happen because it wasn't 'Let's go out and decide whether to do this,' it was 'Let's go out and decide how to do this.' That is why I didn't vote for it. I am just not convinced that it is the right way to go about this. The floatplanes don't have to be all in one place."

Coun. Mark Heyck supported Montgomery's amendment to proceed with the dock - but with efforts to consult - saying it addresses many people who had concerns with the public dock and gives council the final authority to decide on how the dock will be designed.

"I get the feeling from many presentations and e-mails we have received that there wasn't an authentic public consultation taking place in relation to this particular project and I think Coun. Montgomery's amendment assures that public consultation does take place," he said at the meeting.

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