Committee may have reached the end of the trail
The city’s trails and greenways committee has wrapped up what may be its final meeting – and is expected to be formally disbanded in September.
The city’s trails and greenways committee has wrapped up what may be its final meeting – and is expected to be formally disbanded in September.
The group, which brings forward recommendations to city council on trail issues, met July 20.
There, Doug Hnatiuk, the city’s manager of parks and community development, informed members a recommendation would be coming forward to council Sept. 5 that council approve disbanding the committee.
Council would then vote on it at its Sept. 11 meeting and, if approved, the committee would be deemed as disbanded.
With no committee meetings in August (the group takes its summer break that month), it’s likely the July 20 meeting was its last.
As Hnatiuk explained in an interview Thursday, the city’s 2007 trail plan is set to reach its 10-year “sunset”, and a new trail plan is expected to be developed in 2019.
Consequently, the timing was right for the committee to wrap up its work, Hnatiuk said.
The committee had been formed out of the trail plan as the implementation called for groups in each neighbourhood to be formed to work on implementation for their specific area.
The trails and greenway committee, meanwhile, was overseeing the work of the neighbourhood groups, and it brought forward recommendations on the overall implementation.
The Whitehorse North (including areas north of Crestview) and Whitehorse South (areas south of Robert Service Way) neighbourhood trail groups are continuing with some work.
However, Hnatiuk said for the most part, the work of the trail and greenways committee is reaching an end, and it’s time to “press pause.”
As he pointed out, it could be that a group similar to the trails and greenways committee could be formed out of the next trail plan as there have been many achievements made by the committee in its five years.
was evident in the citizens’ survey done this year.
In it, 89 per cent of citizens agreed or strongly agreed that Whitehorse has a “great network of multiuse trails”.
Another nearly five per cent were neutral on the statement. Less than two per cent stated they disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement. A remaining nearly five per cent didn’t state their opinion on it.
Hnatiuk said the positive review of city trails reflects the excellent work of the committee. He said it resulted in the development of a process for trail development, education components on trail etiquette and working with Emergency Medical Services
on how to best respond to backcountry incidents, among many more initiatives.
He also pointed out that many on the trail committee have also been involved with subcommittees that were formed to work on specific issues and are involved with other organizations that continue to work on trail issues and make other contributions in the city. “These folks are so dedicated,” he said.
Hnatiuk stressed that the city is extremely thankful for the work of the committee.
Committee member Sierra Van Der Meer, who represents the Contagious Mountain Bike Club, said that while the committee may be disbanded, the work of the group will continue on.
“I think there’s a legacy coming out of the trails and greenways committee,” she said.
Van Der Meer highlighted the opportunity there was for various users of the trails to work together and reach a consensus on the issues.
“That’s the right approach,” she said.
She also highlighted the citizens’ survey results in showing the overall sentiment of the majority of citizens.
Along with the cycling group were representatives of the Klondike Snowmobile Association, a variety of neighbourhood community associations and city officials, bringing in a variety of perspectives on trail use.
Van Der Meer is looking forward to continuing to see the partnerships started there live on in the form of other initiatives down the road.
While that work of the committee has proved positive for the city, Van Der Meer said, it does seem like the time is right for the group to be disbanded with work on the next trail plan to begin in two years.
Council will ultimately decide on the disbanding next month.
By Stephanie Waddell Star Reporter
Comments (9)
Up 12 Down 3
Confidential Observer on Aug 1, 2017 at 8:24 pm
I attended a few meetings as an observer. You were advised that what was discussed was confidential.
Committee members did not want their names associated with the way they voted and they seemed to be happy with minutes that do not capture discussions.
Council did the right thing by investigating the conduct of the committee members and closing the door on a dysfunctional committee but city administration seems to get a pass for allowing the calling down and bullying and very crude behaviour which is inappropriate for a city committee.
The minutes and paper trail are so poor that it will be difficult to know how much damage was done.
I cannot provide my name due to confidentiality and a concern.
Up 15 Down 6
Brook Hill on Aug 1, 2017 at 8:33 am
Having attended several meeting in the past year as an observer I was appalled by the disrespect by committee members shown to individuals and community representatives that seemed to have different opinions then this committees' agenda. While happy to see this committee discontinued I am concerned that there seems to be no apparent avenue for citizens to express their options or input into future trail development.
Up 11 Down 3
Josey Wales on Jul 31, 2017 at 10:50 pm
Hey "councillor" ya know another thing that is appalling?
The rapid nature in which our community turned into a complete sh**hole.
I doubt very much you are who you claim, or are you as many merely "acting"?
Giving you the benefit....you must then know who I am?
That said the arrogance in your castle is a big part of our local conflicts.
I will call you out every time you give me the opportunity. I find the level of disconnect between those on the streets...everyday folks not "clients" of some ngo, and this administration and the mega top heavy management......Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuge!
Our community is not resting in peace...but dead it is.
Thanks to civic entitlement overdose syndrome for its contributions , and the many many idiots that enable outta touch resume fluffing 'crats.
Up 12 Down 11
Max Mack on Jul 31, 2017 at 6:16 pm
@City Councillor
If bullying existed at all, as you say, I suspect it is from the anti-ATV movement that insists on restricting and outright barring of any motorized use of trails.
Such tired cliches as "protecting our wilderness" and "quiet enjoyment of homes" are proof positive of the group-think that dominates council discussions and committees, leading to a toxic environment that pits those with ATVs against an increasingly larger group with a down-south hive mentality who insist that ATVers are all drunken and dangerous hicks.
The City of Whitehorse was once a wilderness city where ATVs had free access to all trails. Now it has become like every other southern urban landscape. In this weird world, paving over trails with asphalt (ahem: petroleum product) and shooting bears/wolves is considered "good".
As for " 89 per cent of citizens agreed or strongly agreed that Whitehorse has a “great network of multiuse trails” . . . How does this mean that ATVs should be barred from trails?
Up 10 Down 10
north_of_60 on Jul 31, 2017 at 1:55 pm
The trails and greenways committee was dominated by an agenda mostly catering to special interest groups and the businesses that support them. The committee disrespected, denigrated and disregarded input from non-motorized trail users, residents, and community associations.
@City Councilor is correct, and we should respect their decision to take action on the ongoing complaints of bullying and bias.
Thank-you Council for representing the concerns and opinions of residents and property owners regarding our neighborhood trails.
Up 13 Down 13
City Councillor on Jul 29, 2017 at 1:46 pm
Council had to react to the way this committee was functioning.
Enough is enough. It’s appalling to hear ongoing complaints of bullying and bias. We expected diversity but got something else which is very, very disturbing to me. The investigation into this committee will be balanced and fair.
This vision of this committee was clearly not achieved. We want public involvement in trail decision making and need an advisory committee that is respectful to all committee members as well as the public and council.
Whitehorse trails belong to all residents. People value our trail system and the City will promote the many diverse trail uses in balanced manner. Council has heard the perspective of residents and community associations. We share the frustration of residents who feel they have lost green spaces and quiet enjoyment of their homes. We do want to protect the environment and maintain the Wilderness City.
I promise you that we will do better in the future.
Up 16 Down 4
Olaf Wolfe on Jul 29, 2017 at 8:32 am
What this really means is that the City is about to release a trail plan that will be totally unreasonable. It will create friction between motorized and non-motorized users.
The City will say there was a committee that made the recommendations.
And where will this committee and it's members be when that is released. No where to be found. They will say there was public consultation and user input-what they won't say is that they ignored the input. That is the way the City rolls.
Up 8 Down 9
Ray cooper on Jul 28, 2017 at 9:38 pm
It's sad the city makes no attempt to deal with those directly impacted by so call trails.
While these planners decide the routes which obviously are not in their back yards deliberately disrupting others it's a shame they wasted so much time holding public meetings which in the end they ignore private property owners just plowing ahead destructively ruining virgin landscape.
I would think any of these trails intercepting the privacy of any land owner we should have the legal right to terminate and stop the idea of these unwanted trails for others that live no where near by to trespass into our private back yards.
Council should know the real impact these proposed trail developments are causing and before anyone approves there's a clear picture of those directly effected.
Up 21 Down 6
Josey Wales on Jul 28, 2017 at 4:47 pm
Seems our administration would have difficulty planning a picnic.
Regulate us all to death, grant us access to property already accessible my lords. We have a people's freedom association here?
Might I remind ya'll we have freedom to travel and use our own country under our charter and constitution on crown lands...civic by laws do not trump those documents.
Why do so many 'crats feel we cannot live without the chronic micro management of every facet of our life.
We need not your permission to enjoy our trails...few of which CoW had much to do with...
Seems in this town, unless you associate with some elitist association you barely have a place in the hierarchy... of snobbery?
Hence my reminding everyone that the individual has rights, we are not subjects for real...we are just treated as so.
Funnily enough...we seem to not merely tolerate it, but enjoy it all?
Hence the cycle repeats as the sun....as do I.