Yellowknife (Apr 01/05) - City council voted 3-2 Tuesday night to increase adult bus fares from $2 to $2.50.

It's been a contentious topic ever since a council committee recommended a fare hike during budget discussion last December.

The new fare goes into effect May 1. Monthly bus passes will also go up from $55 to $62, and punch passes will rise $5 to $25.

Coun. Kevin O'Reilly, who along with Coun. Wendy Bisaro voted against the increase, said the new fare will keep people from riding the bus.

"When you increase bus fares, your ridership decreases," said O'Reilly.

"I describe this as punitive and unfair."

Coun. Alan Woytuik said ridership numbers appeared to have levelled off since changing bus operators in 1998.

"The ridership increased but so did the cost," said Woytuik.

Coun. Blake Lyons said he's not particularly impressed with the bus service anyway.

"We should be encouraging people to walk, not ride the bus spewing diesel fumes," said Lyons.

Water rates also going up

Council also voted to increase rates for trucked-water service.

The new contract with long-time water deliverers Bromley and Son Ltd., calls for a 2.5 per cent increase this year, and an increase that matches the Consumer Price Index for 2006.

Most of Old Town, Latham Island, and parts of Kam Lake rely on trucked water during the winter months. The contract also includes Con/Rycon Trailer Court in its delivery service, which switched to trucked water last fall.

The trouble with garbage

A unanimous vote among city councillors doesn't necessarily mean a vote cast in silence.

A committee recommendation on a user-pay garbage system had plenty of tongues wagging at city council Tuesday.

The recommendation calls on council to direct administration to seek public feedback on proposed measures for implementing a user-pay system.

They include: a proposal to limit the number of garbage pails households can leave at the curbside to three per week by Jan. 1, 2006 and two the year after that; making multi-family units and commercial businesses responsible for their own garbage removal at $65 per tonne; and charging a $5 minimum to all vehicles entering the dump.

Coun. Kevin O'Reilly said the city should at least offer some alternative options.

"I don't think it's terribly helpful," said O'Reilly.

Coun. Blake Lyons said the city should request the territorial government apply a levy onto all residents living outside of Yellowknife but who use the dump.

"The unincorporated communities are growing," said Lyons, referring to homes on the Ingraham Trail.

Coun. Alan Woytuik, meanwhile, criticized city efforts to recycle and reduce waste because no cost-benefit analysis has been done.

"We still have no plan in place for what we're recycling," said Woytuik.