Many Whitehorse residents have pledged their support to Mount Sima, committing to buy 650 season passes.

Despite that, Mayor Dan Curtis said Tuesday he doesn't expect the city will be putting any more cash into the beleaguered ski hill.

In an interview after Tuesday evening's council meeting, Curtis emphasized the city just doesn't have the resources to contribute more money to reopen the facility.

As it stands, the city isn't expecting to recover the nearly $200,000 it provided to pay off the debt on the hill's quad chairlift and have the title transferred to the city.

Initially, it had been anticipated the territory, which originally offered to pay off the chairlift should the hill reopen this winter, would reimburse the city.

Last night, however, an agreement came forward to council which would see the territory transfer another nearly $200,000 to the city that would instead go to paying off debts the hill has to local vendors.

As Curtis explained, the money would go to the city because the city owns the land which is leased to the Great Northern Ski Society (GNSS). That group has operated the hill since it opened in 1993 (though it missed one year of operation).

Coun. Mike Gladish stressed it's important to acknowledge with the agreement to be voted on next week, two levels of government are helping to "bail out” the ski hill from its debts.

They are doing so with nearly $400,000 in total – with almost $200,000 being approved from each the city and territory to pay off debts.

The numbers on the season pass commitments was not released until this morning in a statement from a group of volunteers who have been working to have the hill reopened for the winter season.

Mount Sima closed in July (during the second year of summer operations for an adventure park) amid financial woes that became evident during the spring.

Initially, city officials said they wouldn't provide financial assistance requested by the GNSS. Council subsequently voted to pay off the chairlift debt.

While a new group of volunteers has come forward with a goal of reopening for the winter season, the current GNSS board is focused on paying off the debts.

Board secretary Lee Vincent said Tuesday efforts are continuing.

Along with getting the chairlift and local debts paid off, there are also negotiations happening with WildPlay on the 10-year lease which had been signed for the summer adventure park.

This morning, Rod Taylor, a volunteer with the new group, described the response to the season pass commitment as "tremendous.”

The 650 season pass commitments (which offer a reduced rate on passes) compares to a total of 210 sold last season.

Volunteers began seeking the commitments in early August, setting a Sept. 1 deadline for residents to make their pledge (with money to be collected only if the hill reopens), in an effort to gauge community support for the hill.

"Not only have people come forward to purchase passes, many have also committed to make a donation to help with expenses this winter,” said Tyler Nichol, another volunteer.

More than $40,000 has been committed so far in the form of both passes and donations.

While the initial Sept. 1 deadline has passed for the campaign, Taylor said volunteers have decided to continue the pledge effort until the end of the month in the hopes of having commitments made to purchase 800 season passes.

Another $55,000 has been committed in the form of corporate sponsorships from local businesses.

"Several new sponsors have come on board, and we hope to encourage current sponsors to continue their support,” Taylor said.

Despite financial commitments totalling $95,000, volunteers say they will need more government support to reopen.

"We encourage both levels of government – the city and the Yukon government – to get on board in supporting operations in 2013,” Nichol said.

It's expected a business plan will come forward to both the city and territory in the "coming days.”

"Opening Mount Sima requires a partnership between the public, businesses and the government,” said Taylor, who is hoping for an initial closed-door meeting with council members to brief them on the situation.

"Sima is a vital part of the winter recreation scene in Yukon. We really only have days left to make a decision to open. We need a last big push, and then bring on the snow.”

As council members noted last night though, both levels of government have already chipped in $200,000 each for the hill.

Along with working on raising the cash for the facilituy to reopen and continue operations, the current GNSS board and the new volunteer group focused on reopening have reached an agreement-in-principle that would make the hill available to operate this winter, and discussions for that are continuing.

"We have made significant progress on two key pieces to the reopening of the hill,” Taylor said.

"We cannot say today though that the hill will be open this season. We need the continued support of the public and also the support of the government – the city and the Yukon government.”