Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by Vince Fedoroff

CONTRIBUTING IDEAS – Dave Loeks (left) and Bill Klassen, of FireSmart Whitehorse, address city council Monday evening. Inset Keith Lay, left, Heather Ashthorn

Bear conflicts, fires raised at budget hearing

Conflicts between humans and wildlife, the dangers of wildfires, planning for evacuations and city trails were all part of the discussion around the city’s proposed 2019 capital budget Monday night.

By Stephanie Waddell on November 27, 2018

Conflicts between humans and wildlife, the dangers of wildfires, planning for evacuations and city trails were all part of the discussion around the city’s proposed 2019 capital budget Monday night.

City council hosted a public input session on the spending plan.

The city is planning to spend $8.9 million on capital projects, with that funding coming from its own reserves.

It’s outlined a further $14.9 million in potential funding for projects that would only go ahead if they are approved for federal and territorial government funding.

Council approved first reading of the spending plan earlier this month. That prompted last night’s input session, with second and third readings now set to come forward next month.

Heather Ashthorn, the executive director at WildWise Yukon, was the first to address council about the spending plan last night.

WildWise works to reduce human-wildlife conflict in the territory.

Much of that work is focused on educating residents on how to prevent bears from getting into attractants in residents’ yards or garbage.

After highlighting the work of WildWise and the need for bylaws and enforcement as well as a management plan to deal with wildlife, Ashthorn argued the city should be adding bear-resistant compost carts to new areas.

She pointed out the city is expanding the compost collection program to businesses.

As residential development continues in Whistle Bend, and more collection carts have to be ordered for the new homes, Ashthorn added, it’s a good opportunity to move to bear-resistant carts.

“That is a perfect neighbourhood to roll out a program,” she said, adding: “We don’t have to do the entire city at once.”

Ashthorn highlighted bear maulings in other regions that have occurred, largely related to attractants for bears in residential areas.

If the city doesn’t cover the costs of new carts in the capital budget, she noted, then they should be covered in the operating budget, which is expected to come forward next month.

Meanwhile, Bill Klassen, of FireSmart Whitehorse, described the city’s proposal to spend $200,000 on fuel abatement in 2019 (as well as outlining the same amount provisionally for 2021) as a “good start.”

Klassen added a request that the city move forward to 2019 any unspent funds budgeted for fuel abatement in 2018.

FireSmart Whitehorse focuses on reducing the wildfire risk.

Dave Loeks, another member of the organization, was on hand last night. He had also addressed council Nov. 19 on the work of a strategy to deal with wildfires.

At last night’s council meeting, Loeks said a strategy that looks at the potential for a cost-neutral option for fire-smarting will likely be out in about two or three weeks.

Another delegate was quick to note there is no provision in the plan for the city’s evacuation in the case of an emergency, say a wildfire.

“I think we are in danger,” she said.

The city came very close to being evacuated in June 1991, when a major fire swept the Haeckel Hill area.

A change in wind direction, coupled with firefighters’ efforts, helped avert a crisis.

Finally, Keith Lay of the Active Trails Whitehorse Association, brought forward a long list of questions about funding for trails in the city to Monday evening’s meeting.

He pointed out the city does not have a new trail plan in place (the 2007 Trail Plan was set to be a 10-year plan).

Lay wondered about the process and spending for a plan as well as the use of gasoline tax funding for trail work.

He also took issue with the purchase of a gas-powered snow machine for the city’s parks and bylaw departments. The city should be moving to an electric, Canadian-built machine. Lay told council.

A report on the public input session will come forward next week, with second and third readings expected Dec. 10.

Comments (14)

Up 1 Down 6

Jim on Nov 30, 2018 at 12:45 pm

How is the city suppose to buy an electric snowmobile? Taiga is not out for sale yet. Hopefully available in 2019 and hopefully with a projected price of $15,000 USD. And if it’s like Tesla that may even be optomistic. It’s one sled for pete’s sake. They will be great once they are in full swing and bugs worked out. Do we all sit on hold because of this?

Up 4 Down 4

Max Mack on Nov 29, 2018 at 6:09 pm

You could clear-cut the forest for 1000m around Whitehorse and an extreme fire will still roll through town. Whitehorse has plenty of resources (fire fighters, pumper trucks, bombers, bulldozers, etc) to deal with anything less than an extreme fire. Extreme fires are very rare events, and firesmarting will do nothing to stop one.

Firesmarting will only mitigate the effects of typical fires - which can be easily handled with existing resources. I encourage CoW to spend its money on more important projects. Or, not spend for a change. There's an idea.

And, electric snowmobiles? 100km range? I call complete BS on that. Maybe 20km tops at -30 with a 200 lb rider and another 100 lbs of gear and a pull-behind. A conventional utility snowmobile will get you 200km and has the added advantage that you can bring spare fuel with you - try that with an electric!

Up 6 Down 6

Steward of the environment on Nov 29, 2018 at 4:56 pm

To be a true steward of the environment, move out of the Yukon. You'll reduce your C02 emissions in the area to zero. Each time you speak you spew more and more.

Up 4 Down 1

Why is a trail machine so expensive on Nov 29, 2018 at 4:55 pm

I'm guessing that the price is outfitted.
I.e. racks, helmet, aux fuel, second seat, some sort of bylaw lighting system. etc

Up 3 Down 2

bears on Nov 29, 2018 at 4:53 pm

The joy of burning garbage was less bears. Instead we seem to want to attract them to the city.

Up 13 Down 0

ProScience Greenie on Nov 29, 2018 at 12:53 pm

Actually, it's kind of cool that we're seeing manufacturers coming up with electric sleds and ATVs. They might work out good for local use for bylaw or hauling wood from a wood lot near home etc. But it's a lot of money and our weather is variable and harsh and our trails can be tough as noted below.

Before dropping that kind of money the city should have the company ship one up to see if they're tough enough for the job. If not, there are lots of good solid gas powered snow machines on the market to select from, that get excellent fuel economy, have low emissions and are proven workhorses.

We are talking tax dollars here and those dollars need to be spent responsibly at all times. Lots of various NGOs and well-heeled green activists out there that could/should be testing these things out on their own dime before we drop tax dollars on unproven technology.

Up 16 Down 7

You want an electric snow machine? on Nov 29, 2018 at 9:54 am

And what do you plan on charging it with? I'm guessing diesel? Or is this a unicorn fart kind of thing?
Maybe you can purchase one first and tell us the operating costs? How does it work during -20? Or if it falls into a lake?

Up 13 Down 7

Charlie's Aunt on Nov 28, 2018 at 6:36 pm

So COW buying one gas powered snow machine is an issue? Sure buy electric and burn up the already over taxed grid to charge it - marbles rattling somewhere. Next Lay will be wanting all snow machines to be electric. Guess Bylaw using snow machine answers the other question about snow clearing, now we know.

Up 7 Down 9

Keith Lay on Nov 28, 2018 at 5:14 pm

Dear BnR,
Unfortunately, the newspaper article did not report what I actually said before City Council on any of the budget issues. This despite the fact that I gave each member of the media a copy of my presentation. Here is what I said:

Under Building and Fleet Management (320c00619) there is an item for an additional snow machine ($20,000) for the use of Parks & Trails and Bylaw Services personnel. This seems to be a rather expensive snow machine given that research suggests that the most expensive gas powered snow machine available in Canada costs around $15,000.

A Canadian Company, (https://taigamotors.ca/snowmobiles/) sells an electric snowmobile (built from the ground up as an electric snowmobile) that requires much less maintenance than a gas-powered snowmobile. It also has a range of 100 km and will fast charge in 20 minutes. It can reach 100 kph in 3 seconds. At present it costs around $20,000, but its purchase could result in long-term savings to the City as well as helping the City improve its reputation in the area of environmental stewardship.

In light of what I have just said I have two questions:
a) Could Mayor and Council ask administration what makes this “additional snow machine” so expensive (at $20,000)?
b) Could Mayor and Council ask administration (if the latter has not has not already done so) to look into the feasibility of purchasing a Canadian built (Taiga Motors) electric snow machine?

I would suggest that if anyone wants to really know what is said before Council, that they watch the meeting on television. You could record the session and then fast forward to your item of interest. (Community Cable 9 Whitehorse Ch 9/269.)
In addition, a video of the November 26 meeting is available on the City's website. (http://video.isilive.ca/whitehorse/2018-11-26.mp4.html)

Up 9 Down 0

Rural Resident on Nov 28, 2018 at 4:16 pm

Thanks curious George, I was also thinking water must have been available from a nearby natural source.

Up 11 Down 1

Rural Resident on Nov 28, 2018 at 4:13 pm

How much do electric snow machines cost? Think I would see a lot more wildlife if I had one.

Up 17 Down 1

Curious George on Nov 28, 2018 at 4:00 am

Why does the city have surpluses of 9 mil that it can use as capital project funding. Is this the result of gouging happening on property taxes. The emergency surplus fund should have a name change to Bill's Capital Project Alternate Fund as that's what it's used for. It wasn't there when the dump fire was projected to cost 2 mil so the truckers could have an early Xmas instead of running a wild fire hose up from Porter Creek proper and attaching a pump like placer miners do all the time. Things are not what they seem with the City's finances and intentions.

Up 20 Down 7

BnR on Nov 27, 2018 at 8:21 pm

"He also took issue with the purchase of a gas-powered snow machine for the city’s parks and bylaw departments. The city should be moving to an electric, Canadian-built machine. Lay told council"
What, the CofW can't use a 4 stroke? Did Lay drive down in his Tesla?
Good grief Keith, get a hobby or something.

Up 23 Down 1

Groucho d'North on Nov 27, 2018 at 4:42 pm

To encourage citizens to do better with their garbage, I suggest some changes to the tipping fee schedule at the Son of War Eagle landfill. The present up to eight bags for $5 fee be augmented by a new $1 per bag fee, rather than paying $5 for a single bag as is the policy now. I wonder how many bags get stored on the back porch attracting bears while waiting for greater value of having three or four bags per trip to the dump? Keep it simple!

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