Santa Claus is coming to town.

This time around, though, he won't be in a garbage truck, but a garbage truck look-a-like.

At Monday night's city council meeting, members voted in favour of having local volunteers decorate a city vehicle to appear as the garbage truck Santa has traditionally used to deliver goodies and cheer around town, "honouring the tradition of the Whitehorse Santa Waste Management Truck.”

After the vehicle has received the certification, lighting and routes approved by the territory's motor vehicles branch and the city's safety committee, a city elf will be tasked with the duty of driving around a Canadian Cancer Society volunteer Santa to represent the city at a number of functions between Dec. 18 and 20.

The vote to go ahead with that option was unanimous. However, it only came after a 5-2 vote which defeated a motion proposed by Coun. Kirk Cameron that would have continued with the tradition of a lit garbage truck driven around town by Santa through the Christmas season.

Cameron and Coun. Betty Irwin were the only council members to vote in favour of continuing the tradition as is.

"Santa brings a really positive, goodwill feel to this town,” Cameron said in introducing his motion.

For more than 20 years, one of the city's former garbage trucks was adorned with lights and decorations, with Santa in the driver's seat making his way around town.

While St. Nick originally kept up on garbage collection while he spread Christmas cheer, simply delivering candy canes and smiles to Whitehorse residents became a full-time gig for a few days leading into the Christmas season.

Last year, Santa wasn't available due to medical reasons.

An announcement by the city earlier this year that in the interest of safety, changes would be made to the tradition sparked a Facebook group – now boasting 675 "likes” as of this morning – calling for the garbage truck tradition to be kept in place.

No one signed up as a delegate to speak on the issue directly to council at a meeting, though.

As Cameron explained when his proposal was brought forward, he wanted to keep the spirit of the festivities alive.

"It is so unique,” Irwin agreed. There have not been any accidents as a result of the Christmas truck driving around town, she noted.

"I think we're overplaying the safety issue,” Irwin said. The city's Santa should be able to continue doing his work for as long as he wants to, she argued.

Coun. Dave Stockdale said that while he agrees with the sentiment, it shouldn't be tied to a garbage truck. He also noted he doesn't like the idea of Santa driving the truck while also spreading Christmas cheer.

Other members noted too the city is changing.

Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu said she totally understands the appeal of the winter tradition, especially when there have been so many changes to the growing community.

As Whitehorse and its population continues to quickly grow though, so do the risks with things like the lit-up, Santa-driven garbage packer, Curteanu said.

She added she didn't believe Cameron's motion addressed what the city is hoping to achieve with the changes.

"We need to do what's best for the community,” Curteanu said.

The biggest safety concern, Coun. John Streicker said, will be addressed by having an elf driving the truck rather than having Santa in the driver's seat.

He then suggested council defeat Cameron's motion in favour of administration's proposal.

Mayor Dan Curtis voted against Cameron's motion. However, he thanked the councillor for bringing it forward, and Irwin and members of the public for making their opinions known on the changes.

Without those voices, said the mayor, he's unsure how successful the Santa truck would be this year with what was originally proposed.

"In my opinion, it's a wonderful compromise,” he said.

Coun. Mike Gladish too noted that while things do change, administration's solution is a good one that will be much more appealing to Whitehorse residents than what was initially suggested.

Gladish joined other council members in thanking city staff for their work on a solution.

It was also noted by more than one council member that they would not want to wait for an accident to happen before making changes to the Santa truck.

As Cameron pointed out to reporters after the meeting, there have been "very unfortunate accidents” in recent years where very qualified people have been in the driver's seat.

Council also praised the proposal by staff to have food bank donations collected by the truck and employing one of the cancer society's volunteers to be dressed as Santa (Cameron noted there's only one real Santa, but he has helpers), it's a chance for the city to give to some worthy causes.

After being defeated on his motion, Cameron commented that while the "best” motion had been voted down, he saw merit in the proposal coming from administration and voted in favour.

Irwin too noted the "best” motion had been voted down, but said she felt encouraged with the city's effort to keep the tradition going.

Stockdale joked about adding an amendment to the piece that would see Streicker become Santa's elf-chauffeur. Once Streicker noted he likely doesn't have the licence needed to drive the truck, Stockdale laughingly "withdrew” the amendment.

Council members may get an opportunity to volunteer on the truck with it set to be decorated by community volunteers.

After the meeting, Cameron commented: "We've got a working compromise here.”

City officials had envisioned having the truck's lights turned only after it reached a destination.

Whether it will sport Christmas lights as it drives through town will depend on what emerges from the motor vehicles branch and the city's safety committee, Cameron said. He hopes residents will be able to see the lights as it drives through the city.

The major safety concern will be addressed with the addition of the elf chauffeuring Santa around, he noted.