A total of $65,700 is not enough to ensure the success of Mount Sima, or is it?

That was the question city council debated for more than an hour Monday evening before a 4-2 vote defeated a motion to provide the cash to the Friends of Mount Sima and to study supplying a bus to the ski hill through this winter.

The Friends group is working to get the hill reopened since its closure in July in the midst of its second season of summer operations.

While that group works on reopening, the current organization in charge of the hill – the Great Northern Ski Society (GNSS) – is dealing with getting out of debt so it can dissolve.

The Friends of Sima had most recently asked the city for $200,000 to get the hill reopened.

On Monday evening, however, it came forward with a proposal for $72,500 after learning user groups would donate the $20,000 each they're set to receive from the 2012 Arctic Winter Games legacy fund for a total of $60,000.

The group also proposed that potential contingencies – such as mechanical breakdowns and so on – could be handled with the help of the city and Yukon government, pending further

discussions.

City administration had recommended that $65,700 go to the society.

Councillors John Streicker and Kirk Cameron were the only members of council to vote in favour of providing the funding, while Coun. Dave Stockdale was absent from the vote.

Streicker and Cameron made impassioned speeches in favour of financial support for the hill, but they were not enough to convince the rest of council.

As Streicker pointed out, the city will end up paying $65,700 regardless of whether it's given to the Friends Of Sima in their efforts to reopen or if it's mothballed – in which case, the city will be responsible for the site.

Under the lease for the land with the GNSS, the facilities at the hill revert to the city if the lease is broken.

The city also paid off the nearly $200,000 GNSS debt on the lift and took over title of the quad chair, with the Yukon government paying off about the same in GNSS debt to local creditors.

Negotiations are in the works with WildPlay for the adventure park being run at the hill through the summer. WildPlay had just started the second year of its 10-year lease at the hill when it was closed.

If the hill is idled, the city would be responsible for the facility, and could keep it in a state of dormancy – in case it can reopen in the future – at a cost of $65,700.

As Streicker said, that means the decision comes down to paying $65,700 to not have it opened or $65,700 so the Friends of Mount Sima can try to open it.

Either way, the effect would be the same on taxpayers, and he would rather give it to the skiers and snowboarders than to caretakers.

Cameron pointed to the economic, social and health benefits of the hill, noting an "A-Team” of business leaders has been calling for support to the hill.

As the conversation moved to a matter of trust with the new group looking at running Sima, Cameron said: "I'm fully prepared to trust.”

He and Streicker noted the Friends of Sima group has done everything it has been asked by the city, in garnering public support.

Streicker was successful in an initial amendment that, if approved, the cash would be conditional on the Friends of Mount Sima collecting at least half of the 800 pledges made by residents to purchase a season's pass by Oct. 31.

As the debate continued on the main motion, however, it became clear most other council members wouldn't support the funding, though they made a point of stating their desire to see the ski hill operate.

Coun. Mike Gladish works full-time in winter recreation as the manager of the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club.

He argued that $65,000 is not enough to make a difference for the reopening of Sima and that eight weeks are just not long enough to come up with a solid business plan.

"We have to be objective,” Gladish said.

If the hill closes for the year, he added, it would give the Friends of Sima more time to get things in order to reopen for the 2014 season.

He also recalled the last time Sima was shut for a season, in the winter of 2007/2008, noting it did not "make or break” his daughter's love of snowboarding. She returned to the sport the following winter and has continued to enjoy it, he said

He also stressed he needs to see money in the bank to know the community support is there.

Cameron was quick to remind Gladish that from time to time, various recreational groups have struggled, including the cross-country ski club, and the city has assisted.

The haste and pressure of the vote bothered Councillors Jocelyn Curteanu and Betty Irwin.

"Haste makes waste, and I don't want to waste that hill,” Curteanu said.

If the city provides $65,700 now, she added, it may not be enough to keep the hill operating this season.

That could mean the Friends of Sima calling on the city for funding again in order for it to survive the season. And support just might not be there at that point, Curteanu said.

"I want that hill, not just for the season; I want it for the century,” she said after reflecting on how difficult Monday's vote was for her.

Like other members of council, she praised the extensive work the Friends of Sima have done to rally support and have the hill reopened.

Curteanu also said eight weeks aren't enough to dissect what went wrong for the GNSS when it was running the hill and what can be learned for future operations.

Irwin commended the Friends, stating, "I do feel the Friends of Sima have gone a long way.”

However, the city is being pressured into making a swift decision, she added, and there are too many uncertainties around it.

It was only two weeks ago that Friends of Sima member Laurie Henderson told council anything less than $200,000 from the city would mean uncertainty for the hill.

"There is no certainty the hill will be able to reopen,” Irwin said before stating her belief Sima should close for a year.

Sorry skiers and snowboarders, she said, it won't mean the end of the world.

Supporters should be able to hold their convictions for a year to get things operating in 2014 with more planning, she added.

While Mayor Dan Curtis remained quiet throughout the discussion, just before the vote, he commented that his position, which he has stated in the past, hasn't changed.

In previous interviews, he stated his fear that providing $65,700 would not be enough and would essentially set up the Friends of Sima up for failure.

He has also said the city just doesn't have the money supporters are looking for.

Boosters were unsure what direction the Friends of Sima will take following last night's vote.

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