Residents want concrete decisions from their council – literally.

At Monday evening's council meeting, a public input session on the proposed $12.9-million 2014 capital budget was held.

Residents called on the city to provide some funding for a concrete skateboarding park and to use concrete rather than asphalt on its trails.

Simon Gormley of the Skate For Life organization reminded council of his group's proposal for a new $500,000 concrete skate park for skateboarders and BMXers on the same site as the current skate park at the Robert Campbell Bridge.

As he explained to council, the equipment now at the park would be moved to a site in the Copper Ridge area for use there.

Meanwhile, the proposal for Riverdale would see the site contain a full concrete area for skateboards and bikes that would suit the needs of all skill levels, Gormley said.

He pointed out that the current park doesn't suit the demands of a growing number of people taking up the sports. Many end up skateboarding or riding in unsanctioned areas like next to the Elijah Smith Building downtown.

Gormley didn't offer a set amount Skate For Life is looking for from the city. He asked that even a small amount of funding be allocated in the budget which could help the group leverage more money from other sources.

While the overall number of people involved in team sports is declining, Gormley noted, individual action sports like skateboarding and BMX riding are rising in popularity.

They provide a healthy outlet for many and help keep people active, he stressed.

Though the park has an estimated $500,000 capital cost to build, he pointed out there is little in terms of maintenance.

Linda Rapp, the city's director of community and recreation services, later noted, under questions from Coun. Dave Stockdale, that the city currently provides minimal maintenance at the park.

That includes some snow-clearing in the spring and garbage collection.

When the park was developed in the 1990s, the city worked with the group of youth and parents involved in its construction to provide some administration and co-ordinating with the Department of Education to use the land.

The Whitehorse Lions Club was also part of the development supporting the fund-raising efforts and helping to facilitate landscaping.

Stockdale also recalled the heavy involvement of both youth and their parents in establishing the current park, and wondered what kind of parental support there is for the proposal.

Gormley replied that he's a parent himself who grew up skateboarding at the current park, and he's seen support coming from throughout the community.

The group's Facebook page has 200 members, he said, and it's hoped a design meeting set for 7 p.m. on Nov. 28 at the Canada Games Centre will draw even more interest.

Gormley issued an invitation for all of council to come out to the meeting as well.

After Gormley's presentation, Keith Lay suggested taking a second look at the trail work planned for 2014.

He pointed out that while federal gasoline tax funding will provide the initial capital cost for paving the trails, it won't cover ongoing costs that will follow.

"Perhaps there's an alternative to using asphalt,” Lay said, pointing out that while more expensive, concrete lasts twice as long as asphalt does.

He went on to state there should be more consultation on where trails should go.

Lay also questioned the proposal to set aside $65,000 to create new trails.

Surely, he said, with the extensive trail network Whitehorse already has, work should be done instead on consolidating paths, closing illegal trails and fixing greenbelts so the city's greenspace is protected.

Lay also asked that the city get a framework in place to create more parks.

Philip Fitzgerald, who chairs the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce, also spoke during the input session.

He reiterated the chamber's request to present both the capital and operating budgets together.

The city brings the capital budget forward earlier in order to inform contractors about projects they may want to bid on.

The operating budget – which outlines any tax increases – is scheduled to come forward in the new year.

Bringing the two documents forward at separate times, Fitzgerald argued, makes it impossible to determine later if the budget targets have been achieved.

He also pointed out that there was no mention of the proposed new Municipal Services Building nor what has been spent on it to date.

The city is planning to consolidate a number of its buildings into one.

However, as interim city manager Brian Crist explained to media earlier, what funding sources could be available aren't known, so the work didn't make it on the 2014 budget. It remains a priority for the city, he added.

Over the next year, the city will be looking at potential funding options, Crist said.

Fitzgerald argued that more details on that should be part of the budget.

He also reminded council that local business wants to be full participants in the city's bid process and suggested there should be considerations made for local business.

Mayor Dan Curtis pointed out there is a portion of certain bid processes that factors in local content.

A report on the public input will go to council prior to second and third readings coming forward on Dec. 9.