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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The city's record $84-million budget for 2013 is so far going up, not down, after the first night of line by line readings by city council.

Administration had proposed phasing out the number of building inspectors to two from three in the draft budget but council insisted the position be reinstated Monday night, citing increased development in the city that will require more inspections.

Councillors also supported a motion by Coun. Dan Wong to contribute a one-time $50,000 payment to the downtown day shelter for 2013, starting April 1. This is double the money the day shelter received in 2012, but only on the condition that the territorial government continues funding the day shelter as well.

"I feel that if we miss this opportunity and miss the vote, we really lose a chance to go to the GNWT and say, 'Hey, you need to step up to the plate and say that really is your jurisdiction,'" Wong said, adding other funding partners need to help as soon as possible.

"My position is not the city stepping into the field of social services and taking on that responsibility because that is not our responsibility."

Coun. Linda Bussey reluctantly agreed and admitted she is concerned about the uncertainty of whether other contributors would step forward like the GNWT or BHP Billiton, which donated $150,000 in 2009. The GNWT had originally offered $375,000 over three years and another $125,000 to keep the shelter running for 2012/13 but has yet to commit any additional money beyond that.

"I think it is big risk to invest $50,000 toward something we don't know is going to happen," said Bussey.

Only Couns. Cory Vanthuyne and Niels Konge opposed the motion.

Council was unanimous about retaining a third building inspector, however.

"Quite frankly I was really surprised to see that there was a reduction in the building inspections area because from everything that I have heard, we were sorely understaffed in building inspections and that we needed four or five or six of them, not less," said Coun. Bob Brooks.

Brooks said he had heard about the issue going door to door during the municipal election and found people were complaining that the building inspections department was understaffed.

The role of building inspector is of great importance, yet has not had a high retention rate, according to Jeff Humble, director of planning and development. City staff indicated that keeping the inspector would another $95,000 a year to the budget. According to the city's building bylaw, the role of inspectors is to ensure all buildings and materials used follow the city's building code. They also review the process of construction.

Clem Hand, acting director of corporate services, said he didn't know how much more taxes would increase with the two additional expenses. Administration is currently calling on council to approve a 0.86 per cent tax increase for 2013 - the lowest in years.

Up until this week, the budget was calling for no additional increases to its workforce number of approximately 202 employees.

Konge, who owns a construction firm, said from his experience, the issue for proper staffing of building inspectors is dire.

"From my day job, this department, specifically the building inspections division, is completely understaffed," he said.

"If we want to see development in this city, we need to have proper planners, development officers, and inspectors or else it doesn't work. As soon as we can, ASAP, yesterday, last week. We need to hire another inspector and get this properly staffed."

Even city staff conceded that the workload for two inspectors, especially in the summer, is very heavy and difficult to manage over the long term.

"It is not a sustainable work practice," admitted acting senior administrative officer Dennis Kefalas.

The only bone of contention among councillors is how building inspections will be carried out in the future. While council agreed to hire a third inspector, it left further discussion on the matter until January.

Vanthuyne proposed that building inspections could be improved by hiring the inspectors out through a third party, rather than in-house.

"I don't want us to hire someone by contract, I am wanting to privatize this so that contractors or developers would pay for an inspection service by a third party independent inspector," he said.

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