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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - This season's high snowfall raised concerns in city council this week about snowy sidewalks in the city centre.

Even though downtown residents and businesses are required by law to keep sidewalks in front of their properties clear, some councillors pointed out that plowing sidewalks clear is not enough.

Carl Bird, director of corporate services, noted that many businesses and residents use small loaders, or Bobcats, to clear away snow. Dennis Marchiori, director of public safety, said these are not always effective. "Additional sand or salt is needed to put on top of the slippery compacted layer left behind," said Marchiori. According to city regulations however, all snow and ice must be removed down to the surface of the sidewalk, he said.

"If it's still not pavement and it's still in slippery condition, we have to give them (property owners) a warning," he added.

This applies only to property owners in an area the city calls the "central business district," along Franklin Avenue from 57 Street to 44 Street and specific blocks surrounding it.

Winter samaritans

Sidewalk snow-clearing outside the downtown core, which city council considered in January, has not been completely forgotten by one councillor. Paul Falvo has started a volunteer service offering to clear sidewalks in front of residents who need it, called Winter Samaritans.

Falvo came up with the idea after a council proposal to pass a sidewalk snow-clearing bylaw throughout town failed to pass.

"We don't have a bylaw to do it, so we're trying to encourage people to do that," said Falvo, who has recruited at least six volunteers to help offer the service so far.

Avoiding snow-bound sidewalks could pose a problem for many residents, the councillor said.

"If you're pushing a big stroller or if you're in a wheelchair, walking in the street just may not be an option," he said. "It may mean staying at home or having to go a completely different route."

Year-round recreational space expands

City councillors were unanimous in their support for the new fieldhouse recreational facility this week, even though some had misgivings about the project costing $1 million more than the $16 million set last year.

Councillors agreed the project will fill a need for more recreational space in Yellowknife and improve overall quality of life, and applauded its energy-saving features.

"I'm delighted that this is a fully-accessible facility," Coun. Lydia Bardak said at Monday's council meeting, highlighting that families and people of all abilities, including the disabled, would benefit from the fieldhouse.

According to Grant White, director of community services, the facility's two indoor soccer fields will fulfil 30 per cent excess demand for playing fields in Yellowknife.

Charges for use will be slightly less than two times the rates normally charged for high school gymnasiums - $42 an hour for adults at Sir John, which take up most of the demand for indoor playing surfaces in the winter.

Energy savings

Energy saving features added to fieldhouse plans also drew support from council. Certification under a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), which called for $300,000 more to be invested into the building are expected to limit energy costs in the building.

The LEED certification "save us a lot of money in operation and management costs," Coun. Paul Falvo said as he commended the plan.

Also, council passed a plan to harness waste heat from the Multiplex, located next door to the fieldhouse. Part of the plan calls for the system to be connected to the fieldhouse, where it will provide heating and thus reduce heating bills to the complex. Cimco, the manufacturer of the Multiplex, has been commissioned to build the heat-recovery system.