SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - An undisclosed planning matter on the city council committee agenda Monday morning had city councillor David Wind questioning council's transparency.

"I object to actually deciding things, discussing it and tweaking it behind closed doors," he said. "I think there's a danger taking these things behind closed doors."

Wind said there is already a lack of interest among the public will only get worse if council doesn't discuss things openly.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said the matter is in the preliminary stages, so it's not a pressing matter for the public.

New committee members appointed

City council appointed five people to serve on the Yellowknife Area Policing Advisory Committee on Tuesday.

Justin Harvey was appointed to represent Sir John Franklin High School and Mallory Beland was appointed as a representative of St. Patrick High School.

Kathy Paul-Drover, Shane Riley and Eric Kieken were appointed as members-at-large.

All five appointees will serve two-year terms.

The purpose of the committee is to assist the RCMP in an advisory capacity by considering and making recommendations to the RCMP on enforcement issues within the City of Yellowknife.

The 13 members of the committee meet at city hall on the second Wednesday of each month.

Brock Drive dispute continues

The proposed sale of a portion of Brock Drive, which has been causing a neighbourly dispute, was moved to a second reading by city council Tuesday.

At the Sept. 27 council meeting, councillors voted in favour of Hendrik Falck's proposal to purchase the land.

Mike Byrne was in council Tuesday to oppose the sale, which will go to third reading to receive approval.

"The proposed rezoning will contribute to an unbalanced solution to resolve the current access situation," said Byrne.

"The full width and length of the Brock Drive right-of-way needs to be maintained to provide for both legal and public access."

Falck spoke in favour of the sale saying it will "leave a lane-way width of 6.8 metres that will allow for continued public access to the waterfront area."

He said at a city council meeting last month it's unfortunate his neighbours are opposed to the proposal, but he's pleased a solution that is acceptable to the city is in the process of becoming permanent.

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