Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 24/04) - The whine of mosquitoes won't be the only short-lived summer phenomenon coming back to Yellowknife this year.

After a lengthy debate Monday night, city council voted to rescind a 1990 bylaw prohibiting food carts from the downtown core.

The bylaw went largely unenforced until a Yellowknife food vendor tried to obtain a permit last summer and was told he couldn't operate his canteen downtown.

Most councillors were in favour of allowing food carts to return immediately, but two -- Coun. Alan Woytuik and Doug Witty -- felt, in the absence of a clear policy from administration on where and how many canteens would be allowed downtown, that more discussion was needed.

"We're going from being too restrictive to throwing the doors wide open," said Woytuik.

They were particularly irked by a last-minute motion made by Coun. Wendy Bisaro to amend several sections of the bylaw referring to food vendors, which she said was too specific.

Both councillors voted against the amendment, but Witty later voted for the bylaw as a whole.

Several councillors said, considering the short operating season, it would be better to move ahead with the new bylaw than wait.

"I want to make sure our vendors get a maximum benefit from the short season," said Coun. Dave McCann.

Outside city council chambers, vendors Gulen Gelale and Dave Lantz said they were pleased council is allowing them to return downtown, but were confused by council's hairsplitting in recent weeks.

They plan to hit the streets after the Victoria Day long weekend.

"I don't know why they made such a big deal with it," said Gelale.

"I don't understand this now. Are we supposed to park on the sidewalk or not?" Gelale asked.