Lease policy review triggered by Whitehorse city council

Whitehorse city council unanimously voted to review its lease policy at April 14’s city council meeting. Whitehorse city council unanimously voted to review its lease policy at April 14’s city council meeting. City staff suggested at April 7’s standing committee meeting that the city’s lease, encroachment and land use policy could use a review as to how leases are calculated for non-profit societies. The suggestion was triggered when two $10-a-year leases were presented to the council: one for the Whitehorse Rifle and Pistol Club, the other for the Humane Society of the Yukon. Councillors were unanimous in their support for the review, which could begin this fall and would take around six months to a year to complete. Coun. Morris — who was one of the councillors who initially raised concerns about the $10-a-year leases — stated that she felt the leases do not comply with the current policy. She said that the two groups in question — the Whitehorse Rifle and Pistol Club, and the Humane Society — were being given nominal fees. Under the current policy, only Group C societies qualify for nominal fees. She said both the Humane Society and Whitehorse Rifle and Pistol Club are Group A societies. “So my view is that they’re not actually entitled to nominal rate leases, these $10-a-year leases, but I look forward to seeing this policy reviewed properly by administration,” she said. The policy categorizes societies based on their annual revenues: Group A societies have revenues of $150,000 or more, assets of $300,000 or more, or receive grants or donations totalling $50,000 or more. Group B societies have revenues of $20,000 or more but less than $150,000, have assets of $100,000 or more but less than $300,000, or receive grants and donations totalling above $5,000 but below $50,000. Group C societies are simply classified as societies that do not meet the criteria of Group A or B. City manager Jeff O’Farrell said there are around 50 leases that the city has with non-profits, and 17 are in overholding status, awaiting renewal. Contact Talar Stockton at talar.stockton@yukon-news.com