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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
There was a little too much collectivization for city councillor Niels Konge's liking in council's collective decision Monday not to immediately sell two city-owned buildings on 50 Street.

Councillors instead decided to wait and develop a "revitalization strategy" after the buildings are demolished.

Council voted to have the former Cornermart Plus and InstaLoans buildings bulldozed this summer, which Konge approved. But one of the resolutions council approved was to have the Smart Growth Implementation Committee work with administration to draft recommendations for how the cleared lots will be used after demolition.

"I don't even know where to start. I think this is a little bit of socialism, communism mixed in with a little bit of capitalism," said Konge. "The socialist and communist part says (the city) wants somebody to do this in a certain way and you take all the risk - and that is the capitalist part."

Konge had originally wanted the buildings put on the market immediately in order to have a private developer decide what to do with the lots. Tasking the Smart Growth Implementation Committee with handling the process is the wrong approach, he said, because it will restrict the options the city has to find a potential buyer.

Committee chair Bob Brooks said during the meeting, however, his group has only volunteered to do the research, consult with various groups and work with administration to come up with recommendations for council who will make the final decision.

"There is going to be a lot of work involved and a lot of consultation and a lot of options we need to look at but ultimately nothing is going to be written in stone," said Brooks.

"If council decides they want to go in a different direction, that is totally up to them and within their purview. We are just saying we are willing to help and put our names forward."

Draft bylaw to ban running dogs beside vehicles

City councillors received their first glimpse of the city's new draft dog bylaw during Monday's municipal services committee.

It does not contain a restriction on the number of dogs a resident can own, as requested by a Ballantyne Court resident who complained about the amount of feces in her neighbour's yard and constant barking. Allowing residents to run dogs run alongside their vehicles, however, would be banned. City administration may send residents a mail-out form with their utility bills next month to alert them of the possible changes, possibly setting up an open house session for discussion in the coming weeks.

Council has directed administration to seek further public input on the bylaw before bringing it to council for a vote. Dennis Marchiori, director of public safety, presented the draft bylaw following months of administrative work. Last year, Ballantyne Court resident Cecile Beemer made a presentation to council complaining that her neighbours had too many dogs - numbering two to seven - that were running around in the backyard unattended, leaving feces everywhere. She made another presentation Monday, again calling for a cap on the number of dogs and argued that the city's reaction is too slow when it comes to enforcing action on excessively barking dogs.

City councillors had a number questions as to whether or not a limit on the number of dogs would be enforceable or whether the bylaw should be "complaint driven." Further questions included whether the bylaw should be centred solely around dogs or expand it to include other animals such as cats, goats and chickens.

Snowmobile group responds on Frame Lake ice path

Bruce Hewlko, president of the Great Slave Snowmobile Association, argued before city council Monday night against a plowed walking trail on Frame Lake. The snowmobile association is currently contracted by the city to groom three trails on the lake, said Hewlko. The packed down trails run from city hall to the Yellowknife Co-op store, from Northland Trailer Park to McNiven Beach, and from the first trail to the Matonabee street area. Hewlko said he has talked to a number of users about the current trails, including members of the ski club, who are content with how the trails are now.

Ecology North members previously argued that the groomed trail isn't suitable for cyclists because the packed snow is difficult to ride on. They would prefer that it be cleared down to the ice, which the snowmobile association argues would create a hazard for snowmobilers because there would be raised edges on the trails.

He said an Ecology North member's suggestion that the Dettah ice road on Yellowknife Bay is safe for snowmobilers is wrongheaded. He said the berms along the ice road remain a hazard for snowmobilers and other users.

"The ice road is there (on Yellowknife Bay) for a purpose which is to provide a short road connection to Dettah," said Hewlko. "Is it a hurdle for cross-country skiers? Yes it is. Is it a hazard to snowmobilers. Yes."

Any notion that the groomed trail on Frame Lake isn't safe or usable is also unfounded, he argued.

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