WATSON LAKE - The Association of Yukon Communities (AYC ) will call on the territorial government to take action on issues around garbage, the Motor Vehicles Act, staffing, funding and its policing agreement with the federal government.

The organization held its annual conference and general meeting over the weekend in Watson Lake. It passed six resolution that will take the group into the next year, working mainly with the territory.

Whitehorse Mayor Bev Buckway was vocal in her disappointment that Premier Dennis Fentie didn't show up throughout the three-day session in his home riding.

However, Buckway, the AYC's president, said the conference has led to what appears to be better communications between municipalities and the territory's Department of Community Services.

"We've really reached an understanding that we need to do things differently and there seems to be agreement with Community Services," Buckway said as the conference wrapped up early Sunday afternoon.

"You know, Minister (Archie) Lang has committed to putting the 'service' back into Community Services, and we're delighted to hear that."

Lang and department officials were on hand throughout much of the weekend, with the minister and his staff taking part in the annual minister's roundtable on Friday. They were joned by others from the governing Yukon Party, the Opposition Liberals and Mt. Lorne MLA Steve Cardiff of the NDP, before he had to return to Whitehorse on Saturday.

Buckway said delegates heard B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell makes a point of getting to the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference each year to get an idea of concerns from local governments.

Fentie, on the other, hand, seems to be leaving it entirely up to his minister rather than showing up for any of the conference and meetings.

"It's very much a disappointment to our membership," Buckway said. "We know he was in town here this weekend and we're just very disappointed in that."

The invitation to attend the conference went out to the premier following last year's session, Buckway pointed out, giving Fentie a year to make plans to attend.

This morning, Fentie did not return requests from the Star to comment on his absence.

As the association moves forward in working with Community Services, it will be bringing forward its resolutions passed Sunday morning.

The first resolution was brought forward by the council in Faro. It asks the government to amend funding programs so application processes are standardized, approval times expedited, and paper work and staff time reduced so municipalities can better plan their spending around funding that may be available.

It also asks that the municipalities' requirement to provide a percentage of cash under funding formulas be waived, to ensure that all communities have "reasonable and equitable opportunity to access these funds."

The association also voted to support requests to the Yukon government for more RCMP personnel.

It was noted municipalities are experiencing the impacts of the new national policy requiring at least two police officers to respond to certain calls.

Many communities have only two or three RCMP officers at the detachment, making it difficult to do policing under the new requirements, the resolution brought forward from Carmacks' council stated.

While the issue impacts Yukon communities, a number of municipal leaders were quick to suggest it could actually be an issue throughout smaller communities across the country. It was proposed that a separate motion be brought forward for the annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) conference set for June.

"It's probably a concern for all municipalities," said Watson Lake Mayor Nancy Moore.

Members approved the resolution for the FCM, with Buckway set to deliver it to the northern forum at a meeting set for June.

"I would think that there would be support for it, but you know, I can't speak for the rest of the people," she said. The issue comes down to a financial matter, she added, though it is a "very real issue" in communities where the number of officers is limited.

"It's an example of a real community issue because it's looking at the welfare of the residents," Buckway said.

In her role as mayor, she was pleased Whitehorse received the support of other municipal governments in the resolution it brought forward calling on the territory to change the Motor Vehicles Act allowing municipalities to enforce parking regulations on private property.

The resolution came out of complaints the capital is getting about able-bodied drivers parking in designated spots for disabled motorists in private parking lots. Bylaw officers aren't able to enforce regulations on private property, so weren't able to do anything.

"I think it is a sad state of affairs we have to do something like this," Carmacks Mayor Elaine Wyatt commented. She made the remark after Whitehorse councillors told their counterparts of the situation, noting the aim was to enforce the bylaw in places like parking lots on a complaint-driven basis.

"Although we do have a letter from the minister stating here he has intent to move toward tabling of the amendment - that's come through - it's certainly a big boost to us to have the rest of the municipalities support," Buckway said, pointing to the April 20 letter from Lang.

A united voice on an issue from the AYC represents 90 per cent of the territory's residents, she said.

"It's good to have that back-up," she said.

The territory's municipalities are also united in moving forward with talks with the government to develop plans to deal with "all landfill issues" and come up with timelines to implement the plans and, "where required," increase funding to the operators.

A number of speakers and municipal leaders voiced their concerns over the ongoing practice of burning waste at community landfills.

While it was noted in discussions that individual communities may be working with the government on plans for their landfill, this adds a "sense of urgency" to the issue, Moore said before members adopted the resolution.

Communities are forming their plans for how to best spend gasoline tax revenue and Building Canada funds from the federal government. They will also be joining together in urging the territory to hire additional professional staff to deal with project management and engineering needs in communities.

Carmacks council had originally proposed a resolution that the AYC ask for funding to hire a professional to help municipalities on the projects.

That was changed after a lengthy discussion, where members pointed to the territory's plans to hire engineers to work with municipal governments. It was also noted the association would have nowhere for the engineer to work should one be hired.

Several delegates noted the communities have a hard time finding professionals to work on projects.

"Certainly, there is a need in the small communities," said Faro Mayor Mitchell Vainio.

While Carmacks also proposed another resolution that the association request discussions with Community Services for a review of property assessment and taxation legislation, but it was defeated.

The resolution came forward after the municipality was required to print ads in Yukon publications stating who hadn't paid their property taxes.

The tax bill for the two undeveloped properties was set at $200, with Carmacks having to shell out $350 for the ads. Both property owners live Outside. It meant that even if the tax bills were paid after the ad ran, the municipality was still taking a loss of $150.

"We were paying for nothing," said Cory Bellmore, Carmacks' chief administrative officer.

Other delegates argued waiving the ad requirement could erase incentive for property owners to pay their taxes on time. It also acts as a way of informing people who may have forgotten to pay for one reason or another, Buckway said.

Others noted the municipality can pursue control of the property if the taxes go unpaid for a certain period, then sell it off.

The AYC will also be working on a DVD aimed at informing prospective candidates in this fall's municipal elections about what is involved in being on a council, Buckway said.