For walkers, the city is a major agent of change

February 5, 2016. Start of updating this page

September 27, 2015. Changes to the city website have broken many of the links on this page. I'll get to this soon.

Peter

From the 2010 Official Community Plan: "A vast amount of land within City Limits is undevelopable due to steep slopes, rocky outcrops, lakes, and water courses. Whitehorse is located in a valley between two mountain ranges, with the Yukon River flowing through the valley bottom. The numerous watercourses have also created several steep and potentially unstable escarpments within the City."

The City of Whitehorse tagline is 'the wilderness city.' Some say we're a city surrounded by wilderness, and some that we're a city with wilderness running through it. Either way we have some of the characteristics of a wilderness city such as encounters with wild animals, or possibilities of getting lost in the woods.

To be able to plan effectively, we need to understand how the city functions, and city structure, including committees. So, this page examines the city's organization as it pertains to trails and greenspaces, as well as various mission statements, principles, visions, priorities, goals and objectives, plans, by-laws, committees, policies — things like the Trail Plan, Parks and Recreation Master Plan, snowmobile and ATV by-laws.

Some publications that offer insights on walking:...

.......... below not recently updated yet

There's a Whitehorse Trails Committee made up of varying government departments — First Nation, Yukon Government and City of Whitehorse — which is meeting monthly. Trail Plan also refers to Whitehorse Trail Technical Committee made up of government land use managers.

They currently have two neighbourhood trail task forces in process, both more area or district in nature, with neighbourhoods being about 1/3 of each task force. Each task force has a running group, a mountain bike group and three motorized vehicle groups. One task forces is only designating motorized mult-use trails and in the other, they're also designating non-motorized trails.

Additionally, the department is setting up a new Trail and Greenways committee which has a requirement to balance motorized and non-motorized groups. Website with minutes.

(Klondike Snowmobile Club call themselves advocates for environmental stewardship and stewards of the multi-use trail system. Parks and trails meet regularly with them and have given them automatic seats on Trail and Greenways Committee and each neighbourhood trail task force.)

For walkers, most of us choose to walk without sharing a trail with recreational vehicles. In reality, they can be fast, loud and smelly so we'd choose to walk where there were no motor vehicles. It's the Yukon after all, and a wilderness city. Rather than have vehicles allowed in every area, sharing could mean having non-motorized areas.

Trails Maintenance Policy

To add to the story of who does what, this 2008 policy specifically excludes the following:
(1) Trails not identified in the 2008 "Guide to Popular Trails of Whitehorse";
(2) Sidewalks and public rights-of-way;
(3) Parks and playgrounds;
(4) Greenbelts and/or environmental protection areas; and,
(5) All other trails not specifically designated as Priority Trails under this policy as defined in Appendix A – Priority Trails List.

What happens with the greenbelt trails, public rights-of-way, environmental protection areas? The Parks and trails department also must look at Parks as set out in the 2010 OCP as well as Parks identified in the 2007 Trail Plan Inventory.

Active transportation

Always to be aware of is America's cities are still too afraid to make driving unappealing The City of Whitehorse, has an ongoing program to develop a city wide Active Transportation Network which encourages the use of non-motorized forms of transportation. In 2007 developed the City of Whitehorse Trail Plan. This plan provided guidance on trail planning, development and programming and includes the following guiding principles for the development of trails:

Diversity – recognizing the need and accommodating a variety of trail users and activities.
Accessibility – ensuring access to the trail system for users of all abilities.
Sustainability – the importance of a sustainable trail system is that it is both functional and affordable, and is also integrated into the environment, while still providing an alternative transportation route.
Inclusivity – recognizing the importance of a system that caters to both residents and visitors alike.

Parks and Recreation Master Plan says: Incorporate walkability principles into City Transportation Plan and subdivision design to ensure sidewalks, trails, walkway connectors, maintenance standards and bylaw enforcement procedures (e.g. winter sidewalk clearing) are consistent and provide for safe and convenient pedestrian circulation throughout the community.

When Canada Walks (Case Study: City of Whitehorse) held a Master Class here, city staff were asked their hopes and expectations. They said:

We have invested significantly in active transportation infrastructure, now we want to see a shift from recreational walking to walking for Active Transportation.
We are looking for an outside critique on what we have accomplished, what our strengths are and what we need to improve on if we want to attain a vision of a more walkable, sustainable community.
We want to
• Learn how to better utilize our existing paths and trails.
• Engage community groups in promoting active transportation.
• Integrate walking policy into key documents and plans."

Protected Areas Task Force

With the wording in By-law's new call for members being almost identical to the Parks and Trails' committees, it would seem that 'protected areas' will not be about the land, but rather a continuation of looking at where motorized vehicles will be allowed to go.

If it was balanced neighbourhoods urban and rural by population, then 2 trail groups, … Urban Containment Boundary, ...something different. I sat with one task force and convinced them of a couple of things that got dumped as it got back to the city and its inner workings. Too discouraging.

Organization — city functional model.

City Contact List

Organizational review: Has a final report showing major shuffles in administration, including Parks and Recreation, trails, greenspaces, transportation, Management Team Meeting.

Office of the City Manager has ...
- Strategic Communications & Customer Service; Citizens First Work Team (continuously improve the citizen experience (customer service) across all departments)
- Specialist, Communications & Promotion responsible for assisting the Manager in all internal and external communications and promotion/tourism-related efforts

CORPORATE SERVICES: mandate - supportive enabling services contributing to effective, efficient service delivery
- Financial Services: budget preparation
- Information & Business Systems: web site and mapping

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES: mandate - positive, environmentally sustainable growth
- Environmental Sustainability: Active transportation
- Planning: OCP, land use, UCB; designation of right-of-ways, zoning such as PG, PR, ES
- Engineering: roads, crossings, structures such as Black Street stairs, Millenniuum Bridge

PARKS AND RECREATION: mandate - promote and enhance quality of life, citizen engagement, community pride & heritage and appealing neighbourhoods
- By-law Services: education and enforcement; ensure quality of life in the City’s neighbourhoods
- Outreach & Events; Group liaison and community engagement/ outreach activities; Community engagement advisory & coordination support to other departments; Events & festivals; Volunteer coordination; Community Outreach Work Team (City needs to improve its interaction with the community and citizens)
- Parks and Trails: Parks, trails & open space planning; Maintenance of City parklands, trails, playground areas, open space

Mayor and Council

Committees

Special Committees (Mayor and some or all of council)
- Budget Committee
- Emergency Measures Commission
- City Manager's Evaluation Committee
Standing Committees (Councillor chair, vice-chair)
- Tourism and Economic Development Committee
- Administrative Services Committee
- City Planning Committee
- City Operations Committee
- Community Services Committee
- Public Health and Safety Committee
Council and Senior Management Meeting
These meetings are topic specific and last either one hour if a lunch meeting, or two hours if held after regular business hours
Ad Hoc Committees appointments (mayor, councillor, or senior staff)
- Association of Yukon Communities
- Tourism Industry Association of Yukon
- 2012 Arctic Winter Games Host Society
- Yukon Convention Bureau
- Persons With Disabilities Advisory
- Yukon Hospital Corp. Board of Trustees
- Safer Communities
- Yukon Regional Round Table
- Whitehorse Area Policing Advisory
- Great Northern Ski Society
- Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce
- Whitehorse Planning Group on Homelessness
- Whitehorse Housing Authority
Other Committees (citizen appointments?)
- Board Of Variance
- Persons With Disabilities Advisory
- Recreation Grant Task Force
Special Committee Appointments( Mayor and some or all of council)
- Budget Committee
- Emergency Measures Commission
- City Manager's Evaluation
others
- Gas Tax Review Committee
- Development Review Committee
- Whitehorse Trails Committee
- Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee
- Parking Advisory Committee

Major City of Whitehorse planning

2013-2015 City of Whitehorse Strategic Plan
Capital Budget 2013-2016
- Schwatka Lake Planning Study 30,000 - 2013
- Marwell Planning Study 50,000 - 2014
- Park Management Plans,OCP 150,000 - 2014,15,17
- Whistle Bend Final Phases 500,000 - 2015
- Range Road Planning Study 20,000 - 2013
Operations and Maintenance Budget
Annual Reports: 2009, 2010, 2011

Official Community Plan, 2010
- Background process documentation and here
Strategic sustainability plan or this one?
Integrated community sustainability plan, 2007
"Preserve green spaces
- Five minute walking distance to green space from residence
- Plans are done before development
Increase density
- Redevelop existing disturbed/built lands Regional Land Use Plan"
Growth Strategy
Strategic Priorities Report in process
Citizen Survey
Community Economic Development Strategy

Parks and Recreation Master Plan, 2007
Trail Plan, 2007; Inventory of Parks and trails
- Updated concept of plan not yet published
- set up 2 committees: Whitehorse Trails Committee and a Whitehorse Trail and Greenways Committee
- enable Neighbourhood Task Force processes
- designates what land is environmentally sensitive in winter vs. rest of the year.

By-laws

Selected By-laws more relevant to walkers

Zoning By-law 2012-20: includes zoning maps;
- Background process documentation;
- Current amendments and applications
Subdivision Control by-law
ATV By-law 2012-21: also motorized trail map. ATVs can only use motorized trails.
Snowmobile By-law 2012-01: Note snowmobiles are mostly unregulated as to trails and greenspace use, so can be encountered most anywhere.
Protected areas By-law
Maintenance By-law
Emergency Services By-law

Policies adopted by city council

Parks maintenance policy
Trails maintenance policy, 2008
- excludes neighbourhood public right of way and greenbelt trails
- categorizes city trails
- addresses trail stewardship
Use of city parks policy
Tree removal policy
Downtown escarpment land use policy
Land disposal policy
Lease, encroachment and property use policy
Snow and ice control policy
Council's code of conduct policy
Decision-making guidlines

Grants

General

City GIS open data great resource! Open KMLs with Google Earth: very neat are the 1-m contours
Active transportation commuter network improvements, 2015
City mapping on-line
Walkable and Livable Communities Institute came to Whitehorse for the Whitehorse Moves process. Also on-line is the report of the fun Community Transportation Workshop.
City-Wide Transportation Study, 2002, Summary
"The City should develop a Pedestrian Network Plan as outlined in the Study to provide direct, safe and convenient access to and through the downtown area."
"Construct/complete off road multi-use trails along both sides of Hamilton Boulevard from Copper Ridge to Alaska Highway"
Whitehorse Downtown Parking Management Plan, 2011
Yukon River corridor plan, 1999. A very useful look at the waterfront and a good starting point for looking at a creating a Yukon River Trail, identifying and then connecting the existing pieces.
Defining ecologically-based significant wildlife areas for the City of Whitehorse, 2000. Important wildlife habitats within the City of Whitehorse and to provide a rating of ecological sensitivity to each; many maps. Updated in 2004.
Detailed salmon habitat management plan, 2004, City of Whitehorse.
Development of a Fish and Fish Habitat GIS talks about the Marwell area and Spook Creek.
Whitehorse fuel managment plan, 2002, has a neighbourhood-level look at fire risks.
Water lifecycle for domestic water
The Urban archetypes project explores the linkages among urban form, lifestyle patterns of residents and energy consumption. Studied in 2006: Porter Creek; Wolf Creek and Mary Lake; and Granger.