City council is being asked to formally adopt the list of strategic priorities it identified during a number of meetings over the last three months.

The administrative report prepared for council’s meeting last Monday notes council members began discussing their priorities shortly after being elected last October.

Discussing and identifying the priorities continued in January, February and March with a series of facilitated meetings, the report points out.

The result was a 13-page report. Council is scheduled to vote this evening to approve the list.

The priorities identified are:

•Housing and development;

•Engagement and collaboration;

•Inclusivity, accessibility and diversity;

•Community Safety;

•Climate change and adaptation; and

•Service excellence.

The report notes the population forecast for Whitehorse in 2040 is contained in the Looking to the Future Report developed last year.

Under a low-growth scenario, the population is predicted to increase from 30,000 today to 35,000 in 2040, representing an annual average increase of 722 residents.

Under a medium or “preferred” growth scenario, the city’s population would hit 40,700 by 2040, representing an annual average increase of 1,039 residents.

Under a high-growth scenario, the population in 2040 would hit 45,500, representing an annual average increase of 2,400 residents.

The report on strategic priorities notes the 2016 census showed the 30- to 34-year-old age demographic was the largest in the city, followed by the 55- to 59-year-old age group, though several age groups were very close.

The 90-to-94 and 95-to-99 age groups were the smallest.

The 0-to-four and five-to-nine categories each show a count of between 1,500 and 2,000.

The report says the city’s financial position in 2020 was equivalent to $512.3 million: financial assets equalled $89.9 million with $33.2 million owed; non- financial assets – buildings and vehicles and such – are $455.6 million.

The 2020 report said city had approximately 325 permanent employees and another 100 or so casual staff.

The strategic priority report sets out a number of tasks and goals for each of the six general priorities.

Under housing and developments, for instance, the priorities include a call for planning the next subdivision and creating the ability for businesses to add staff housing on commercial and industrial lands.

The housing priorities also include a call for the establishment of a housing committee and the evaluation of opportunities for the redevelopment of the Municipal Services Building site.

The Fourth Avenue building is empty and is scheduled for demolition. All staff have been relocated.

Under community safety, for example, the priorities include a call for support programming to assist with crime prevention, reviewing the Vehicle for Hire bylaw and reviewing crime prevention strategies.

Under climate change, the priorities include creating and implementing a strategy to effectively respond to and adapt to climate change, improving active transportation infrastructure and investing in and advancing the transit system.

Under service excellence, the top tasks include ensuring Whitehorse continues to be fiscally responsible, reviewing the city’s role in tourism advocacy, evaluating traffic congestion along key transportation routes and improving snow and ice management.

Under engagement and collaboration, the priorities include ensuring reconciliation and collaboration with both the Kwanlin Dun First Nation and the Ta’an Kwach’an Council, as well as increasing knowledge and recognition of Indigenous culture.

Under inclusivity, accessibility and diversity, the priorities include improving services to support aging in place, reviewing accessibility standards and increasing accessibility for all.