SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Councillors pushed back Monday against city administration's suggestion that it would be too much work to collect downtown socio-economic data such as the number of condo units, rental or corporate vacancy rates and the value of new construction per year.
Council passed a motion last July directing staff to compile a potential list of indicators that would be used to track long-term trends in the city.
A report presented at the Monday municipal services committee meeting stated the 29 indicators would take too much time to collect by the two staff members of the economic development department. The staff report suggested hiring a consultant to collect the data in 2016.
The report prompted a lengthy reply from Coun. Adrian Bell who said his assistant at his real estate office would likely be able to compile the information in three days. He said having the data, as opposed to just anecdotal evidence, on hand is critical.
"We need to know how we're doing," Bell said.
Other councillors agreed.
"I don't know how we're really going to report on enhancing the vibrancy of the downtown without any indicators," said Coun. Rebecca Alty.
Administration was asked to provide a report in two weeks with a pared-down list of what data it can start collecting this year with suggestions of what other data could be collected in coming years.
City votes to purchase refrigeration system
City council gave the green light Monday night for the purchase and installation of new ice plant at the Yellowknife Community Arena from Cimco Refrigeration for $1.9 million.
Coun. Niels Konge was the only councillor to vote against the motion.
"I don't think this rolled out the best way it could have," Konge said.
It was revealed during a council meeting earlier this month after questioning by Konge that administration wrote the request for proposals in consultation with Cimco. It was later the winning bid out of three bids to replace the system.
"I think we need to do better. If we're going to be transparent, we need to be transparent from the get-go," Konge said at the most recent council meeting.
The ice plant needed to be replaced by 2020 as Freon R-22, the substance used by the current ice plant, will no longer be permitted under federal law.
Canada Winter Games committee appointed
All members of the city's 2023 Canada Winter Games feasibility committee have been appointed by council and the date for its first meeting has been set.
The 23 members include the mayor, two councillors, three city staff, the GNWT minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and one representative from each of the following groups: Yellowknife Education District No. 1, Yellowknife Catholic Schools, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the NWT Housing Corporation, Sport North and NWT Tourism.
Business representatives include Cameron Buddo of Bank of Montreal, Shane Clark of HomeLife Sunrise Real Estate Ltd., Renee Comeau from the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, Kathy Gray of Inukshuk Publishing, Kevin Hodgins from Stantec Consulting Ltd. and Leanne Tait of Tait Communications and Consulting Inc.
The first meeting, which won't be open to the public or media, is set for April 16. The workshop with Games officials will focus on the ins and outs of hosting and creating a business case for the sporting event.
The committee must come up with a recommendation by the fall.
