The city will first look at snowmachine use on trails within municipal boundaries in considering new bylaws for snowmobiles, ATVs and other off-road vehicles.

At a meeting of council and senior management held at noon Tuesday, Mayor Bev Buckway and other council members agreed the use of snowmachines and other off-road vehicles like bikes and ATVs should be kept under two separate bylaws, with the snowmobile bylaw being the first to get updated.

The move comes as the Yukon government is in the midst of consultations over provisions for off-road vehicles that would fall under the Motor Vehicles Act.

The issue was spurred by a call for legislation on ATV use earlier this year by the newly formed Trails Only Yukon Association (TOYA).

Another group – the Yukon Off-Road Riders Association – has challenged TOYA's proposal, with the government opting to move ahead with consultation.

At Tuesday's meeting, bylaw enforcement manager Dave Pruden explained an internal group of city employees has been exploring the issue. They now want to move on to involving interest groups – like the Klondike Snowmobile Association, vendors and others – in the

process by forming a task force.

While the city had looked at combining both the snowmachine and ATV bylaws into one that would govern all such motorized vehicles, Pruden suggested the bylaws should be kept separate to make the regulations more clear.

Working on the snowmachine bylaw first will also provide the city with a good sense on how to proceed with the ATV bylaw down the road.

Coun. Dave Austin said keeping the two bylaws separate is a "no-brainer”.

Councillors agreed with both proposals, giving Pruden the go-ahead to begin work on the task force for snowmachine use.

"I think we have a better chance of getting it right the first time,” Austin said of taking the matter to other organizations.

As Pruden explained in an interview later Tuesday afternoon, with the winter season approaching, this marks the right time of year to begin work on the snowmachine bylaw.

It certainly won't mean having new rules in place by the time riders take to the city trails on the machines. Rather, organizations and vendors will in the midst of the seasonal activity and, therefore, potentially more ready to work with the city on a new bylaw.

While the territory is working on its own regulations for both ATV and snowmachines, Pruden noted the city's bylaws also need more clarity.

"The city still has areas of concern,” he said, noting parts of the bylaws aren't clear to the general public.

Many, for example, don't seem to know that trails are considered highways under the regulations.

"That kind of stuff isn't clear,” he said, adding he's hopeful any update to territorial legislation will assist the city in enforcing its bylaws on motorized trail use in the city.

"There's lots of little issues.”

While Pruden hopes the city will have a new snowmobile bylaw in place by the end of the season, the first step in that process will be finding representatives to serve on the new committee.

He said the internal committee of city staff – from bylaw, parks and recreation, and planning – is set to meet again next week.

They will then begin looking at potential organizations and representatives who could serve on the newer external committee.

Before that group is formed, council will be formally asked to approve the members to the new committee.

In the meantime, councillors are also hoping to meet with the Yukon government's select committee looking at territorial ATV legislation early next month.

With the committee seeking input on the matter, city council asked to meet with members. City manager Dennis Shewfelt told council Tuesday of some dates proposed for early October, with councillors proposing Oct. 12 as a meeting date.

Shewfelt has yet to confirm the date with the committee.