Members of the city's Transit Improvement Committee have been left wondering whether they'll even be included in a new transit task force.

At Tuesday evening's city council meeting, members voted in favour of developing terms of reference for a transit task force. They also voted that the criteria for volunteers on the task force be submitted with the terms of reference.

Council members also voted that a schedule for the group to make recommendations be brought forward for the 2005 city budget.

But Jennifer Ellis, a member of the Transit Improvement Committee, said the city needs a long-term vision for where it wants to see transit go.

'It's still not clear,' she told reporters outside council chambers after the vote was taken.

There will be no citizen input for the terms of reference, she argued. As well, organizing a volunteer task force comes at a time during the summer when many people who might want to be involved or provide the task force with some input are out of town.

The recommendation for the city to set up a task force came last week from transit manager Dave Muir. He said at a number of public meetings recently, many spoke in favour of a transit advisory group. He noted the proposed task force would be focused on making short-term recommendations for 2005.

His administrative report noted the need for a long-term advisory committee hadn't been established but could be looked at in the future after the transit strategy is developed and council identifies the need.

Ellis said essentially what the city has done is taken 'one small step', but nothing beyond that.

The task force won't be working or meeting beyond a few months, she said.

'The Transit Improvement Committee argues that there has been a clear need established for a long-term advisory body,' she told council in a presentation at the beginning of the meeting.

'It was a theme that came out of the public meetings. A task force was never mentioned, to our knowledge.'

The time frame seems to be the main difference between an advisory committee and a task force, she said. An advisory committee would have a more long-term goal.

'Setting up an advisory body is more consistent with the reality that fixing transit is not a short-term issue, but a long-term one,' she said. 'It requires a team effort that looks at a range of solutions in the big picture, not in a one-year-at-a-time budget cycle.'

The Transit Improvement Committee recommended:

• council set up an advisory committee that would be guaranteed a longer life and have a broader focus than a task force;

• the advisory committee advise the city on the transit strategy development, including making recommendations on the 2005 and 2006 city budgets, at a minimum;

• the advisory committee be in place for one year, renewable on review; and

• the nominations for the committee should come from a diversity of organizations that have an active interest in transit.

Coun. Dave Stockdale suggested the city might want to defer a decision on the matter, in light of the two presentations made that evening on the issue. However, Mayor Ernie Bourassa argued the city shouldn't delay the matter.

'We need to get this done quickly,' he said.

Coun. Yvonne Harris said the city should be involving groups in the matter. She would prefer to see the task force consulted on the terms of reference, but suggested the city could develop the terms, then have those selected for the group approve them.

'We need to get this going,' she said.

After the meeting, Ellis suggested to reporters the city should choose representatives for the task force from groups like the Transit Improvement Committee and the Main Street Yukon Society. That would allow for many segments of the city to be represented rather than individuals, she said.

'We'll be putting out a call for expressions of interest,' Muir said in an interview this morning of how the city will attract members.

Any groups or individuals wanting to be involved can write to the city, detailing their interest and experience.

Muir stressed the importance of getting a group of people for the task force who reflect a broad range of interests in the community.

Porter Creek resident Carole Bookless also spoke in favour of including groups in a transit advisory body.

The city has had representatives take part in other organizations, she pointed out in a presentation at the start of the meeting.

Muir said that after last night's meeting, he will begin working on the terms of reference, criteria for volunteers and establishing a schedule for the task force.

He noted the terms of reference will likely be ready for council by June 21, if not earlier. He's also hoping to have the members of the committee appointed by late June or early July.

As he works on creating a task force, Muir will also decide just how many people will make up the group.

In the meantime, bus users can save some money next Wednesday when the transit system is free.

Last night, council voted to waive transit fees for Clean Air Day on June 2.

The day was proclaimed by the federal government to increase environmental awareness and action on clean air and climate change.

The day also coincides with the Commuter Challenge Week, a competition among Canadian cities to cut air pollution.

Last year, there were 1,828 passengers riding the bus on Clean Air Day compared to the 1,361 who rode the bus for free on Clean Air Day in 2002.

Dennis Shewfelt, the city's operations director, also noted the city will be using a low-floor bus in town during the commuter week. The bus is designed to accommodate passengers with mobility problems.

The bus could be scheduled to run routes that include passengers more likely to require such a service.

'Transit will work with the Golden Age Society and the Yukon Council on Disability to identify the appropriate routes,' reads the administrative report.