The city still needs to address outstanding concerns that it unfairly competes with local fitness centres, a couple of city councillors agree.

Among the list of several fee increases city council is contemplating was a new fee schedule for the services of a fitness instructor at the Canada Games Centre.

Coun. Doug Graham said at the Sept. 28 regular council meeting he could not support the bylaw as long it contained the fitness fees.

"I am still very concerned we are in direct competition with the two clubs,” Graham told his council colleagues. They then agreed to remove the provision for instructor fees before giving first and second readings to the bylaw.

The city, the councillor continued, has been facing the criticisms of unfair competition for some time now but has yet to resolve the matter in any clear fashion.

"It is a very important issue.”

City manager Dennis Shewfelt told council city staff members are looking closely at the competition concerns and will be preparing a report in the coming months.

Graham said in a subsequent interview he doesn't have a problem with the city providing fitness equipment for users of the Canada Games Centre.

But providing paid instructors at a publicly-owned facility subsidized by taxpayers to the tune of 60 per cent of its operating cost is purely competition with Better Bodies and Peak Fitness, he said.

"Whereas in the private business, you have to pay for that,” he said of the operating expenses for the two clubs.

Graham said the city should not be threatening the bottom line for those two businesses in any way.

Owners of the private fitness clubs have recently expressed concern about the city expanding its fitness services at their expense.

Currently, adults can pay $6.90 a day to use the Canada Games Centre and all it it has to offer; exercise equipment, running track, pool, ice rinks and the all-purpose flexi-hall.

The bylaw was proposing a new $13 drop-in fee for those who wanted time with a fitness instructor, a $110 punch card for 10 visits, with a $40 fee to add another 10 lessons.

Council agreed to remove the fitness fees prior to voting on other provisions of the fee bylaw.

Under the bylaw, which still requires third reading:

• recreational fees would rise 1.5 per cent, in keeping with the regular annual increase to keep pace with the cost of living;

• there would be a new $5 fee for booking recreational facilities;

• the annual licence for un-neutered pets would rise 30 per cent from $38.50 to $50;

• the cost of a demolition permit would jump from $25 to $200, representing an 800-per-cent increase;

• there would be a new fee of $55 for special inspections by the building department; bulk waste hauled to the Whitehorse landfill from outside the city, primarily by the Yukon government hauling garbage from rural transfer stations, would go up 43 per cent, from $70 per tonne to $100; and

• there would be a new fee of $35 for stoves, fridges and other white-metal appliances dropped off at the landfill.

Third reading of the bylaw is scheduled to go before council next Tuesday evening, the last regular council meeting prior to the Oct. 15 municipal election.