Members of YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 City Council voted unanimously to take ownership of the first of three unoccupied parcels of CommissionerSA国际影视传媒檚 lands within municipal boundaries, Sept. 13.

The agreement with the GNWT would help the City cut down on red tape when it comes to projects like road maintenance.

SA国际影视传媒淲ithout ownership, we see challenges,SA国际影视传媒� city manager Sheila Bassi-Kellett explained. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 like owning versus renting.

SA国际影视传媒淚t adds time, it adds effort, it adds complexity SA国际影视传媒� when weSA国际影视传媒檙e working on lands that arenSA国际影视传媒檛 ours in title,SA国际影视传媒� she told the special, virtual meeting of Council.

Bassi-Kellett said the first of three items in the lands transfer agreement targets some SA国际影视传媒渘o brainersSA国际影视传媒� like taking ownership of 10 kilometres of roads within Yellowknife that include School Draw Avenue, Gitzel Street, Rycon Drive and Con Road.

The City is still responsible for maintaining a majority of the municipalitySA国际影视传媒檚 roads even though it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 own them.

Though taking over ownership will only cost the City the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 standard one-dollar land-purchase price, itSA国际影视传媒檚 projecting benefits like faster turn-around on development approvals and reduced administrative spending.

Currently, the City of Yellowknife owns less than 11 per cent of lands within the municipal boundary.

The territorial government is the current majority landowner with 75 per cent of the city of Yellowknife still designated as CommissionerSA国际影视传媒檚 lands.

Related: Yellowknife councillors upbeat on bid to transfer GNWT lands to City