Residents, first nation governments and others are being asked this week what they want the territory's capital to look like over the next half-century.

The city's sustainability charette began at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre this morning.

Attending are representatives from the city, the Ta'an Kwach'an Council, Kwanlin Dun First Nation and the Yukon and federal governments.

They'll be taking part each day until the charette wraps up on Thursday, the city said in a statement.

The meetings will also include local and national experts on sustainability, energy, transportation, health, economy and climate change.

From the charette this morning, Mayor Bev Buckway said there were about 80 people set to take part and make presentations, with the first day focusing on exactly what sustainability is.

While there were still a few people who had to come in from Vancouver, Buckway pointed to the 'amazing collection of people' already there this morning. They include citizens simply interested in learning more about the planning process.

Along with the daily sessions, public meetings are scheduled each evening for residents to make comments on and provide ideas from that day's charette.

Buckway couldn't say how many may come out to the evening sessions, but she hopes to see numerous Whitehorse residents on-hand.

A charette is a lengthier consultation process for a plan involving numerous stakeholders.

'The City of Whitehorse understands the need to engage our citizens in creating a long-term sustainable vision,' Buckway said in a statement.

'Determining what sustainability means for Whitehorse and how we will grow and develop as a community within a balanced approach, respecting our citizen's values for the environment, the economy and our society will be front and centre over the next four days.'

In this case, the process is designed to develop a set of principles that would guide the goals and implementation strategies for Whitehorse's sustainability over the next 50 years.

'These goals and strategies will be developed with the future in mind for the years 2015, 2030 and 2060 to ensure the city is moving towards a future that will be sustainable for the community,' reads the city's press release.

The consultation is part of the planning for the gas tax money the city will receive over the next few years, totalling $47 million from 2005 to 2015.

Governments, including municipalities and first nations, must come up with a long-term sustainability plan to ensure proposed projects are eligible under the agreement signed with the territorial government for the money.

Lesley Cabott, the Integrated Community Sustainability co-ordinator, is spear-heading the public sessions to come up with sustainability plans.

A strategy for the next seven years for the city will also be developed for the short-term in addition to the long -term work.

During the public open house sessions from 7:00 to 9:00 each evening, residents can provide input on the charette.

Comments can also be submitted to the city by visiting its web site at www.whitehorse.ca or through e-mail at ideas@whitehorse.ca.

For the first time, the link to the charette on the city's web site will chart the progress of the meetings each day thanks to a new computer program the city has.