Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (July 23/99) - Due to the mounting pressure from Yellowknife citizens, city councillors have called an unscheduled meeting to discuss five contentious issues.

The special meeting will cover the recently approved tax hike, the approval of the construction of a $90,000 depot at the dump, summer surface water lines in the Kam Lake Area, temporary storage sheds, and the public transit system.

Councillors will gather this Monday, July 26, at noon for a special Priorities, Planning and Budget meeting. Councillor Peggy Near called the meeting because city councillors weren't scheduled to come together as a group again until Aug. 3.

"We have to debate if there is the will of council to look at alternatives to the tax hike," Near said.

"We heard from the citizens of Yellowknife on this and I think it has to be debated openly and honestly outside of the emotional setting of the last council meeting."

Councillor Dave Ramsay will attend the meeting but said there's little that can be done, at this point, before they sit down to prepare the next budget.

"I think we should meet but we won't be solving the city's problems over lunch," Ramsay said.

"It is a step in the right direction but unless (councillors) are willing to take a good solid look into capital expenditures now and for next year's budget, then very little change can occur."

He said step one to alleviating concern is to get spending under control. Suggestions of Ramsay's to do that include scaling back the water and sewer replacement program, which is said to be six years ahead of schedule and costs between $2.5 and $3 million a year. Scaling back paving projects could also save taxpayers a bundle.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to solve some of these problems in the upcoming budget process. Finding a way to roll back the six per cent tax increase should be our top priority," Ramsay said.

Yellowknife Property Owners Association vice-president Mike Byrne said the move to call a meeting shows that council is receptive to ratepayer concerns.

"The suggestions coming forward from council for meetings to address the issue are positive," Byrne said.

"However it's critical that at this point in time, citizens and ratepayers keep the pressure on by providing constructive, realistic solutions to the issue."