SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Two downtown benches that were removed by the city staff last week are being returned after city council voted their removal worked against their goal of revitalizing the area.

Two city benches, including this one in front of Sutherland's Drugs, were removed last week without council's knowledge. During Monday's council meeting, city leaders voted to have administration return them. - Joseph Tunney/NNSL photo

"I feel like the removal of the bench is not a solution that I think council should be taking" said Coun. Julian Morse, who put forward the motion to debate the issue Monday night.

The discussion raged for more than 30 minutes.

For many councillors, the removal was symbolic of larger problems in the downtown core and how council approaches them.

For others, it was symbolic of communication issues between council and city staff.

"Not all benches are created equal with respect to how much council should be consulted," Coun. Adrian Bell said.

"Now we're hearing the bench at (the 50/50 lot) was vandalized many times in the past. We were under the impression that it was

damaged by a snowplow."

The two benches in question were adjacent to Sutherland's Drugs at the corner of Franklin Avenue and 50 Street.

Morse also brought up two benches that were removed from outside the courthouse, but Dave Hurley, facilities manger for city, said these two benches were not municipal property, thus not removed by staff.

Administration explained the benches were removed because of issues of cleanliness and abuse.

Hurley told council that if one passed by the bench at 7:30 a.m. it would be clean, but at 8:30 a.m. it would be dirty again.

He said staff often had to clean broken bottles and human waste away from the area, and that it wasn't a pleasant job.

"We had verbal abuse of our staff," Hurley said.

"Residents were also complaining about the cleanliness of the area ... they were worried about their safety."

"This is something that should have been brought to our attention - it wasn't, I get that," said Bell.

"Now we have our opportunity and I would like to say that those benches should be immediately returned."

Mayor Mark Heyck, who typically does not participate in debate because as mayor, he chairs council meetings, temporarily allocated his position to deputy mayor Bell. This allowed Heyck to talk and vote.

"I'm, quite frankly, ambivalent about whether to put the bench there or not," Heyck said.

"But I think an operational decision was made that it was significantly impacting our staff's workload and I think we should stand by that decision even if we don't agree with it ... That's the role of community services, of staff, to make that call."

At the end of the debate, council voted 6-2 to direct administration to bring the benches back with just Heyck and Coun. Steve Payne voting against.

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