The Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club believes it may be time to acknowledge mining as an important part of the city's history, while also recognizing the importance of current uses on developed land.

At Monday night's city council meeting, Jim Gilpin, the club's vice-president, told members the group wants to secure a long-term tenure over its trails.

While it's expected the city's revision of the Official Community Plan and the zoning bylaw will continue to recognize the use of the land for ski trails, mineral staking and exploration could also occur under territorial legislation, Gilpin pointed out.

"We believe that the city is doing everything within its direct power to ensure that trails are protected," he said.

"Unfortunately, we also believe that the city does not have sufficient power to effectively protect the trails which are, for the most part, located on Crown land that is open to mineral staking."

At a council and senior management meeting last month, it was pointed out that the city has jurisdiction over planning and development within municipal boundaries under the territory's Municipal Act, while the territory has jurisdiction over the Quartz Mining Act.

That means claims can be staked on the land, but development on the land that's been staked would have to go through the city process.

Gilpin said the city has the support of the cross country ski club in its request to the territory to withdraw staking from all developed areas of town, suggesting that developed land should include all residential areas; industrial zones with the potential exception of quarries and heavy industrial sites; and all public and institutional zones.

"The rationale for including public/institutional zoned land as developed land is clear," he said, stressing it's inappropriate to stake and explore for minerals on prime recreational land as well as environmentally sensitive areas like McIntyre Creek.

Undeveloped rural lands could continue to be open for staking, he said.

"If the Yukon government were to respect the city's request for withdraw of staking on developed lands as defined above, a significant advance would be made in land use planning within the city," he said.

Some 1,200 skiers make use of the trails in the winter, with the trails open to all through the summer months, he noted.

The trails, he also pointed out, have been key in the city being awarded events like next year's Haywood Ski Nationals and the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

Whitehorse is now known for having some of the best ski trails and producing some of the best cross country skiers in the country, noting the sport also promotes healthy living, he said.

"Simply designating such areas as green space or as parks and recreation zones will not ensure their protection," Gilpin said, pointing to the need for the territory to move toward protection.

"We urge mayor and council to send a clear and sound message to the Yukon government that it is necessary to consider mineral exploration and mining development within the broader concept of land use planning," he said.

"Consequently, it is necessary to withdraw subsurface land dispositions within developed areas of the city."

Questioned by Coun. Dave Stockdale, Gilpin told council the club has had some discussions with both the past and current minister of Energy Mines and Resources as discussions on the issue also continue between the city and territory.

"My understanding is there hasn't really been a meeting of the minds," he said of the two orders of government.

"There's quite a different perspective, depending on who you talk to about what is considered acceptable or what could be considered in conflict."

While some argue mining is compatible with the ski trails, for example, that is not the case for the ski club.

Coun. Jan Stick was absent from Monday's meeting.