Tony Gaw, who heads up the Yukon Outdoor Sports Complex Association, is describing the group as “happy and excited” after Monday’s council meeting.

During the proceedings, Coun. Samson Hartland informed council he would bring forward a notice of motion on Dec. 14 to reconsider zoning for the proposed facility.

Last April, a 3-3 vote by the previous council defeated a zoning amendment for the proposed facility, which would include artificial turf soccer pitches and a rubberized running track in Whistle Bend. (Any tie vote of council means a motion is defeated.)

It’s also been noted that future phases could include facilities for other outdoor sports.

While the Yukon government has committed $8 million to building the facility, the association would handle operational costs, which would be paid for through user fees.

During discussions around the zoning by the previous council, members expressed fears of the city eventually getting hit with the operations if the user fees don’t cover the expenses.

Questions also emerged around the need for such a facility in the city and whether the general public wants land in Whistle Bend to be used for it.

Proponents argue a dedicated outdoor soccer and track site is needed for athlete development and because of the poor condition of the current outdoor fields (which can be used by anyone) in the city.

Gopher holes, dog feces and things like broken sprinkler heads have all been found around fields in town.

It was also pointed out by a number of supporters that such a facility could attract major sporting events like the Western Canada Games.

“We think it’s a very positive development for Whitehorse and the Yukon,” Gaw again stressed in an interview this morning.

He said the group is looking forward to once again bringing the project to council – which includes three members from the previous council – prior to discussion on Dec. 14.

The project’s design has changed since it was presented to council last April. It’s now estimated to cost about $5.5 million to build, with two soccer pitches and the eight-lane track.

The most recent design was unveiled at an open house earlier this fall.

Gaw said the group will present the design to the new council, though most council members attended the open house.

He said he’s “cautiously optimistic” the zoning will proceed under the new council.

After last night’s council meeting, Hartland pointed out he had said he would bring the matter back for council discussion during his election campaign.

As he pointed out, when it came forward in the spring, there were a number of other issues around it that council brought up outside of the zoning application.

Hartland said he respects the views of all other council members. However, he would like to see the matter discussed again with the focus on zoning, which is what council is being asked to consider.

Questioned about the issue of future operations, Hartland emphasized the need to be “very cognizant” of any potential expenses the city may face. He also pointed out the city could seek a written agreement that it would not be on the hook for any operational costs.

It could take some convincing, though, to get other council members onside.

Mayor Dan Curtis, who voted against second reading of the rezoning last April, told reporters last night he has not seen any changes to the proposal that have convinced him the facility is needed in the city.

“There are some concerns,” he said, arguing the need for greater general public input on the facility.

“What is the necessity of this?” the mayor asked.

A number of recreational facilities in communities around the territory need repairs that could be funded instead of building a new facility that will have significant ongoing operational costs, he pointed out.

The city provides grants to a number of existing facilities to assist with operations along with running the Canada Games Centre, he said.

There’s a need to have an “iron clad” agreement in place that the city wouldn’t be on the hook for operational costs for a new facility that’s only open a few months each year.

“Ultimately, we could really get hung out to dry,” Curtis said.

The issue will come back to council Dec. 14 for discussion. If council votes to reconsider the rezoning, members would then vote on second reading.

Only if that passes would third reading and adoption of the change be voted on.

Yukon government officials said this morning there was nothing new to add on the matter. It will look at whether the city wants additional information as the process moves along.