SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
There may not be consensus on exactly what to do with a number of floatplane and boat docks in Back Bay off Morrison Drive on Latham Island but one thing is for sure - there is little appetite from residents for what the city is currently proposing.

Claudia Kraft, president of the Latham Island Neighbourhood Association, makes a point during Monday's Municipal Services Committee meeting at city hall. - John McFadden/NNSL photo These docks in Back Bay off Morrison Drive on Latham Island are among several that the city has proposed for licensing, possibly through a ballot draw. Council chambers were packed Monday with people who use the docks, some saying they have leases to the docks. They were all vehemently opposed to a ballot draw that could see complete strangers taking them over. - John McFadden/NNSL photo

It was standing room only in council chambers on Monday afternoon for a Municipal Services Committee meeting where speaker after speaker told council and city administration the city's approach to the docks is misguided.

Recognizing the docks off the shore in front of nine residences on a 200-metre stretch between Lessard Drive and Otto Drive are not properly regulated, the city is proposing two options: a ballot draw where any city resident could put their name in to acquire a dock licence for that area, or dock licensing priority be given to the existing dock owners.

The proposal was laid out at the committee meeting by Jeff Humble, the city's director of planning, who said there have been 20 years of talks about how the area could be regulated and made more accessible to the public without any firm decisions being made.

Humble said the city is trying to bring some order to the area, which has been a hodgepodge of dock ownership for decades. He added the city has leased the shoreline from the territorial government since the late 1970s and the goal of making that area more accessible to the public remains.

The area is home to several longstanding floatplane and boat docks, used by people who may or may not live in that area of Morrison Drive.

We have to back up a step

NWT Floatplane Association president Hal Logsdon pointed out this area of Back Bay is a prime landing and docking location for floatplanes and has been used since Yellowknife was founded. He said that by putting forth proposals, the city has violated a basic rule of consultation.

"I think we have to back up a step, seriously. We have to look at what a real consultation is," Logsdon said.

"You don't go with a fully-blown proposal and say we're going to consult. If you really want to involve the people you are consulting with, you need to get to them up front ... And develop the options with and through the consultation."

Logsdon said the very idea of turning over valuable floatplane dock space to anyone through a ballot draw is absurd.

Claudia Kraft, president of the Latham Island Neighbourhood Association, agreed with Logsdon and said Morrison Drive residents should not be forced to give up their waterfront leases, docks and access to people who do not live there.

Adding to the already complicated issue is the city's proposal to construct a public walkway or trail from Lessard to Otto Drive on the land between the homeowners' property lines and the shoreline. There is already a surveyed laneway between the property lines and the shore, albeit one undeveloped and overgrown with brush.

Latham Island residents are concerned about late night dock parties, Kraft said, and the potential for a fire to be accidentally started in that area, particularly when there are no fire hydrants on Latham Island.

Other speakers talked about the fact they have been looking after these docks, in some cases for decades, and as far as they are concerned the lease to the docks came as part of the deeds to their homes. Some pointed out they pay an extra $200 a year in municipal taxes and understood that was part of their dock lease agreement.

There is no doubt the city wants to open up more of the waterfront in Old Town to the public, something the territorial government endorses as well. But if Monday's meeting is any indication, they may find themselves in contentious opposition with those who live along the waterfront.

Joe Cassaway, who lives at the northern edge of the stretch of waterfront in question and has for decades, said he does not know what all the excitement is about.

There is no question that the land between the property lines and the waterfront is Yellowknives Dene land, he said.

"They are talking about dock licensing and putting a trail through. How they think they can do this without consulting the Yellowknives Dene is beyond me," Cassaway said. "It's our land."

Council is to debate the issue over the coming weeks.

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