The city is committing itself to providing $10,000 in services for a project that will look at more efficient ways of doing FireSmart.

At Monday evening's city council meeting, members voted in favour of signing on to a comprehensive funding agreement with the federal and territorial governments to provide up to $10,000 in the form of in-kind services such as financial management and assistance in writing and submitting final reports.

The city's portion comes in addition to $245,000 coming from the Federal Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development funding and another $50,000 coming from the Yukon government's FireSmart funding, Whitehorse fire chief Clive Sparks told council at an earlier council meeting.

"The purpose of the work proposed under the comprehensive funding agreement is to determine the most efficient and economically viable methods to perform the FireSmart work," reads the report that came to council Monday night.

"Pilot projects will be carried out to determine the best time of year to do the work in order to promote early regeneration of the forest with aspen type trees."

As Sparks pointed out in his presentation, one of the major challenges right now is the current methods of FireSmart work and the season when it is done.

"Currently, work is normally done using hand tools and is high in labour content and is usually carried out in the winter months," reads the report. "While the objectives of the specific projects are met, the efficiency of the work methods is usually less than optimal."

Two sites being considered for the pilot projects include between the McRae subdivision and the Yukon River, and near the western end of the McLean Lake Road.

"The McLean Lake Road treatment is recommended in the Whitehorse West Landscape-level Fuel Management Plan," notes an earlier report to council on the agreement.

"Any residents that could be directly affected by the pilot projects will be contacted to ensure that they are aware of the work being done and the the reasons for the project."

TransNorthern Management Consulting's David Loeks will serve as the lead consultant on the project with the involvement of the territorial government's Yukon FireSmart program.

"There will also be some additional consultants and experts in specific fields hired to complete specific parts of the project," the report notes.

"Where possible local contractors and workers will get first opportunity to participate in the project including the field work required for the pilot project."

Sparks, meanwhile, will serve as the project manager for the city.

In his presentation to council earlier, Sparks pointed out the work will allow future FireSmart initiatives to happen in the most efficient way possible along with helping other communities that do similar work.

Mayor Bev Buckway, who is vacationing, and Coun. Jan Stick were absent from Monday's meeting, with Coun. Dave Austin serving as acting mayor.