Mayor Dan Curtis says he has faith in city staff and the process to assess and recommend contract awards to council.

"I have nothing but confidence (in our staff),” he said in an interview following Tuesday evening's council meeting.

During the session, Ian Robertson of Inukshuk Planning and Development took issue with the process on a long-range planning project looking at the city boundaries.

In the assessment of the proposals, Inukshuk came in just 1.1 points behind Urban Systems, which was recommended to be awarded the $238,587 contract.

In a presentation before the council discussion, Robertson made it clear that while he was not implying the intention of any wrongdoing on the city's part, the interview process followed in the review was not kept neutral, as it should have been.

He was on hand at the meeting to ask council members if they had any questions regarding the letter he had sent earlier in the day about his concerns.

With Inukshuk and Urban Systems proposals so close in scoring on the assessment for their proposals, the city moved to an interview process with each firm to look into it further.

While he wouldn't elaborate on the questions asked nor how they were worded, Robertson said a question about Inukshuk's past performance on a project wasn't worded in a neutral way, as it's supposed to be.

In the end, looking at project team, approach and methodology, past relevant experience, schedule, local preference and, finally, fees, Inukshuk came out with 87 points compared to Urban Systems' 88.10.

Thus, Urban Systems has been recommended for the contract.

He also pointed out that while Urban Systems had 0.1 points over Inukshuk in past relevant experience, Inukshuk has more experience for this type of project, so should have been awarded more points.

Speaking to reporters following his presentation, Robertson said that while he was on hand at the public meeting to see if there were any questions from council, it's something that can be dealt with internally.

"This isn't really a public matter,” he said.

Robertson has suggested the city use an impartial third party to review how the contract was awarded.

He pointed to the new fairness monitor review at the Yukon government which looks at ensuring contracts are awarded fairly, and noted he'd like to see something similar in this case.

Council made no movement on the matter last night.

As Coun. John Streicker pointed out, and Curtis concurred, having only received Robertson's letter earlier in the day, more time will be needed to look at the concerns.

Council, he also said, can call for a council and senior management meeting at any point so that could be done if needed.

Council could also vote to defer its decision next week or defeat the recommendation.

Coun. Dave Stockdale said he will want more information on the matter before he votes to award the contract, but left it at that.

Curtis emphasized after the meeting he has faith in his staff and the process to recommend contract awards.

The mayor added he doesn't believe a council and senior management meeting is needed to deal with this issue.

If a council and senior management meeting were held over every contract award dispute, Curtis added, the city would likely have to have such a gathering about every contract.

He noted, though, he will look at the concerns. Should the rest of council request a council and senior management meeting about it, he would be part of it.

Urban Systems and Inukshuk are two of four companies to submit proposals on the project.

Morrison Hershfield scored third in the ranking with 82.75 points while Planning Alliance came out with just 58.35, which didn't meet the technical threshold to look at the fees.

The project will look at long-range planning for two expansion areas outlined in the city's Official Community Plan.

It will include a biophysical assessment, engineering assessment on infrastructure, assessment of recreational values for each area and consultation with other levels of government and stakeholders.