SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - At a special council meeting on Monday five members of the public, representing various organizations and interests, made submissions to councillors regarding the draft 2010 budget.

An array of concerns and requests were outlined over the two -hour meeting in advance of a two day, line-by-line budget read through, scheduled for Dec. 8 to 9.

"This is the last kick of the cat before the budget comes to council," Mayor Gord Van Tighem told the public gallery of about 15 people. The $64.7 million draft budget calls for a 5.9 per cent property tax increase.

The following is what people had to say:

Kevin Hodgins said the Yellowknife Ski Club is a key recreational facility in the city.

Ski Club wants municipal recognition

Kevin Hodgins, president of the Yellowknife Ski Club, said the trails and facilities maintained by the ski club, much of which needs upgrading, are valuable additions to Yellowknife, and the city should consider investing more money into them.

"While we appreciate the annual core funding of $25,000 from the City of Yellowknife, there's a need for additional contributions," said Hodgins.

He said trails, trail lighting, mobile equipment, warehousing and indoor facilities all need to be upgraded.

"What we're really looking for is for the city to recognize it (the Ski Club) as one of the key recreational facilities in the city and to support it as such," he said.

Robert Warburton said an indoor climbing wall will promote a cheap, safe and healthy sport.

Climbing into good books

The Yellowknife Climbing Club (YKCC), unofficially active since January 2009, spent last summer putting in several outdoor climbing routes around Yellowknife, but now that the temperature has dropped the group wants an indoor climbing wall.

Robert Warburton, funding coordinator for the club, said they are looking for a contribution of 20 per cent of the total cost of purchasing and installing the wall from the city.

"Currently, for a basic indoor wall, for materials, design, construction, commissioning, a good wall will start at about $100,000," he said.

City councillor Lydia Bardak said she was aware of a desire for a climbing wall in youth circles.

Gord Olson said private businesses usually provide a cheaper service.

Can we do things cheaper?

Outsourcing selected city responsibilities to local contractors will result in cheaper, more efficient services, according to Gord Olson, with the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce.

"We're looking to contract out some public services. Not that (the city is) doing a bad job, but are they doing a proficient job?"

"Typically, private people can do it cheaper than government, that's no secret."

Olson asked if the city had instituted what he called a "value for you money" audit.

"Has the city done a value for you money audit for departments and programs?" he asked.

Kevin O'Reilly said Giant Mine clean up needs independent oversight.

Invest in mine oversight

Kevin O'Reilly, currently an intervenor on the Giant Mine environmental assessment, wants the city to put up $40,000 to help fund a study on the viability of independent oversight bodies with the hope of establishing them to oversee the Giant Mine remediation process.

"If the city is able to make a contribution it would be a small investment toward the city's future," he said.

"We need to make sure remediation is done properly at the site."

O'Reilly said funding was initially sought from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) - the main party heading up the remediation process - but the proposal was turned down on the basis that INAC said it was already conducting the oversight process.

"I'm not convinced that they will bring the same perspective and set of interests to the issue that the city or residents or Yellowknives Dene First Nation would bring," he said.

Tasha Stephenson said facilities like the community gardens and the Yk Ski Club are cost-effective recreation options.

Recreation on the cheap

Tasha Stephenson wants the city to invest in the upkeep and development of lower cost recreational facilities rather than larger high-cost projects.

"Recreational facilities like the Ski Club, and as you all know, the community gardens, are really good value for money for the city," she said.

"We have relatively low overhead costs and don't require hundreds of thousands of dollars of operating costs annually, or new staff members."

She pointed to Jiewa Park, Rotary Park and Tin Can Hill as areas that need more investment.

"I don't see a lot of funding for parks development," she said.

She also expressed concern about idling city vehicles.

"I'm still noticing lots of city vehicles idling unnecessarily, and that could bring in further decrease into your fuel vehicle costs if you tackle the idling problem," she said.