SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The city won't forgive $101,008.51 owed to it by the Yellowknife Gymnastics Club.
The request failed when only Mayor Mark Heyck voted in favour of the debt forgiveness at a Monday council meeting. The mayor handed off his position as chairperson to give a speech and vote.
Heyck said granting the request would have a negligible effect on city finances and council had not focused on the merits of the request in debate so far. Councillors had used the request to take a broader look at subsidies provided to various sports clubs.
The club had used funding from the city when building its facility that's part of the Multiplex. The project came in about $260,000 over the original estimate of $679,000. It still owes the city $52,452.51 in construction costs, $9,356 in storage and bleacher costs, and $39,200 in leasing costs since 2013. Club vice-president Mike Lalonde said the club had stopped making annual payments of $5,600 around 2007. The club made the forgiveness request to remain competitive with other clubs in the city and improve its facilities.
Lalonde told councillors the payments wouldn't be a burden for the club to resume.
Councillors said they couldn't support the request for forgiveness.
"We have heard that making those payments wasn't really a problem for the club," Coun. Steve Payne said. "If at any point it does become a financial hardship, we welcome you back."
After the council meeting, Lalonde said he was disappointed, but the club will discuss resuming the payments.
"Obviously we were hoping to have it forgiven," he said.
Council wants input on Franklin bike lanes
Councillors want to take a closer look at plans to build bike lanes before construction begins along a stretch of Franklin Avenue between Old Airport Road and Forrest Drive.
Coun. Adrian Bell raised the issue during a municipal services committee meeting Dec. 5, saying he's had concerns about previous bike lanes. The lanes on 52 Avenue have been criticized for how they are designed to force cyclists into the roadway, then up on sidewalks, then back on roadways.
His request came as the city wrapped up a series of consultation events in November on its plans for the new bike lanes.
Dennis Kefalas, acting senior administrative officer, said the plan is to either build a three-metre sidewalk on both sides of Franklin or a two-metre-wide multi-use asphalt path on the fire hall side with a three-metre-wide path on the curling club side.
The work would occur during construction work along the stretch this summer that's also expected to add bus stops where buses can pull out of the traffic lane to stop.
Councillors pointed out the city now has various types of bike paths - the configuration on 52 Avenue, painted lines on some roads and multi-use paths.
Bell said the city needs a comprehensive strategy for bike lanes instead of addressing individual projects as they arise.
Coun. Rebecca Alty asked for council to have a chance to review plans before a contract is awarded.
Payment plans for industrial lots considered
City staff recommended council consider allowing buyers of lots along Enterprise Drive to enter flexible payment plans after receiving a request from a potential buyer.
The city placed 31 lots along the Enterprise Drive extension in Kam Lake that connects to Grace Lake Boulevard. By February 2014, 12 lots zoned industrial/light commercial had sold. Five more have sold since then, with 14 remaining.
Acting senior administrative officer Dennis Kefalas said sales of the lots have become somewhat stagnate, so the plan could help sell off the remaining inventory.
In October, a staff report indicated the city was asked by an unnamed potential lot buyer to allow a more flexible plan, citing "challenges with bank financing to meet the expected payments and deadlines on top of construction costs."
As is, the city requires a 15 per cent deposit of the initial sale price with six months from the time of purchase to pay the remainder.
The city recommended allowing purchasers to adjust the frequency of payments, such as quarterly or annually and a term of up to five years to pay.
The proposal met with some resistance from councillors.
Coun. Adrian Bell said if the city is creating a mix of offers for various parcels of land.
"I think at the end of the day, we're creating a mishmash, a rats nest, of those who get discounts and those who don't," Bell said.
Coun. Julian Morse echoed that, saying council needs a policy to guide such decisions.
Coun. Niels Konge said he won't support the plan as he believes if land isn't selling, the land should be reappraised.
The issue will move ahead for decision by council in the new year.
