When the city reviews the census information it plans to collect during its voter enumeration this year, it won't be connecting the names of residents to the information.

Council was assured of that at its March 23 meeting before it passed first and second readings of the enumeration bylaw. That was followed by adoption at a special council meeting the following evening.

"In terms of the raw data, the names are in the data base. In terms of the results, in terms of looking at age groups and distributions and demographics and data, no, the names will not be attached," said Rob Fendrick, the city's director of administrative services.

Fendrick was responding to questions from Coun. Doug Graham on how the information collected would be used.

Along with enumerating Whitehorse voters in preparation for October's municipal election, the bylaw also allows enumerators to collect census information on residents' ages and number of people living in the household, though individuals can opt not to provide the information.

The move to question residents on their ages and households is being done for city planning with federal information out of date and territorial information using a different set of boundaries than the city would.

"The census piece that will be used for planning purposes and in particular we don't have good numbers on the newer developments in Whitehorse since 2006, and we want to see the kinds of patterns that are emerging so we can get accurate data for planning water, sewer and roads," Fendrick said.

While there would typically be a period of at least a couple of weeks between first and second and then third readings, in an effort to print forms and begin working on the enumeration, council held the special meeting last Tuesday evening to get the bylaw adopted.

"This will provide the maximum amount of time for the printing of the necessary forms and the recruitment and training of enumerators," notes a staff report to council.

It's expected the census information and enumeration information will be collected on separate forms.

The bylaw appoints Norma Felker as returning officer for the Oct. 15 election while Fendrick is named as alternate returning officer.

The city is expecting to spend $50,000 on the election, with 60 enumerators being hired.

They will be paid a $350 flat fee, $12 for attending a training course and 30 cents for each name collected that appears on the preliminary list of electors.