SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Committee read a bylaw to set property taxes at 3.99 per cent Monday, leaving one councillor questioning why - rates were already set in the budget.

"It seems to me it's almost a housekeeping matter, really, because the rates were set, predetermined, during the budget process," said city councillor Paul Falvo. "I'm wondering, am I wrong on this?"

Bob Long, city administrator, said it is just a regular process that is a part of adopting the budget.

He said the reason the bylaw isn't passed at the same time as the budget is because the city's property assessments have to be verified, vetted and challenged before a rate can be set.

"The budget establishes the total dollar amount; it doesn't sort of dictate how we collect it," he said, adding that once everything has been verified, challenged and vetted, a rate can be set.

Long said he has never heard of a municipality voting against a rate bylaw, but noted that it is an option that would result in a different budget in order to meet the new rate set by council.

Falvo, David Wind and Cory Vanthuyne voted against the 2011 budget.

"I was one of the councillors that didn't support the budget, but now that it's here I'd be inclined to support this going forward," said Falvo, noting that he is not excited to have his taxes increase.

Ballot draws, auction-style

The city has changed its ballot draw process for the remaining 37 lots in Niven Lake Phase VII to allow the bidders to include what price they would pay.

Having taken part in ballot draws in the past, Councillor Cory Vanthuyne questioned the new process, which allows participants to include a bid price that is equal to or higher than the base cost laid out by the city.

"I'm not understanding the description here," he said, noting that the old process just had bidders put their names in a hat and when they're drawn, they would choose a lot.

Lot prices range from about $116,800 to $193,500. Prices vary depending on square footage.

"This allows us to be closer to the market value," said Humble of the new process. "The way to determine fair market is to determine what folks are willing to pay.

"So the idea being that you have a system whereby they make submissions for the lot they're interested in and the price they're willing to pay."

If more than one bid is submitted for a lot the city would pick the bidder willing to pay the higher price. If more than one bid with the highest price is submitted, they would then go to random draw.

Vanthuyne said the explanation makes sense, but it seems like the prices are already expensive.

"With this price scale, nobody would show up," he said.

Bob Long, city administrator, said if that's the case, the city would reevaluate the base cost of the lots – but he said he doesn't think that will happen.

There's not date yet set for the next draw, as council has yet to approve the sale of those lots.

Street sweeping weather-dependent

Councillor Paul Falvo asked administration what the schedule for street sweeping is now that the snow is disappearing, at a council meeting on April 26.

Bob Long, city administrator, said in case of another snowfall, the city has to be careful not to take all of the sand from the road too early.

"We're doing a good job trying to predict the weather," he said.

There are about 80 kilometres worth of paved streets and alleys in the city.

Dennis Kefalas, director of public works for the city, said when the weather improves it should take about four or five days to clean all of the city's streets, with city staff working three shifts a day.

Since so many residents ask about street sweeping, Coun. Amanda Mallon joked that the sweepers should have cameras on them, so residents could check the city's website to see where they are.

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