Mike Bryant
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jun 20/01) - The rejuvenated city market is one step closer to getting a new lease on life.
The Yellowknife Women's Centre will likely get the rights to run the Yellowknife City Market on city-owned land for the summer at a cost of just $1.
The arrangement was made possible because the organization is a non-profit society.
Under city licensing regulations, an organization cannot qualify for reduced rates unless they can prove they operate as a non-profit entity.
Even so, the city could have asked for approximately $600 from the market for its use of the Bartam Trailer Park.
A profit-oriented business operating on the same site would have had to fork over 10 per cent of the land's assessed value -- just over $5,000.
Any profits made by the market would go to support programs operated by the Women's Centre.
The lease was endorsed by council's priorities, planning and budget committee Monday, but still has to go to council for approval.
Coun. Alan Woytiuk successfully lobbied the committee to "attach some strings" to the reduced rate for the market, with a condition that it would supply the city with statistics at the end of the season to determine the market's tourism value.
Despite the committee's vote, some councillors want to make sure the market doesn't become a fixture at the Bartam Park site.
"Bartam is a prime piece of real estate that can be used for other things," said Coun. Dave Ramsay said.
He said he hoped the market will be able to find a different home next year, so the site would be available for future development.
Matthew Grogono, who helped get the market started this year, said he was pleased with the decision.
"I understand that it's only a one-season lease, but maybe that will be enough to kick-start a more working alliance among the arts and tourism community," Grogono said.
Staff at the Yellowknife's Women's Centre could not be reached for comment by press time.
