The Community Engagement Process adopted by the City of Saskatoon provides a consistent approach to be used by Civic Administration and City Council when engaging the public in civic matters.

What is a Community Engagement Process?
This process is applied when the Administration or City Council want to gather comments or input or inform the public on specific initiatives, projects, new bylaws, bylaw amendments or other civic responsibilities during early design stages and/or prior to final recommendations, approval or endorsement. This process begins with deciding when to engage the public, and then moves through the steps of planning and implementing the engagement, and reporting the results back to the community.

When the Community Engagement Process is Used:
The City of Saskatoon uses the Community Engagement Process to inform, consult, or involve people about matters that affect their community. Examples include: 

• Land use issues such as amendments to the Development Plan or Zoning Bylaw, discretionary use  proposals or park design;
• Social issues such as affordable housing priorities and social policies; 
• Safety issues such as traffic, crime; 
• Recreation issues such as parks programming; 
• Local Area Plan (LAP) creation and implementation; 
• Traffic Circulation issues such as road closures, bridge plans, pedestrian linkages, and bicycle facility networks;
• Utility services such as transit service plans, expansion of water treatment plant and garbage pick up.

Your Role in the Community Engagement Process:
Be proactive! Take an active role in your community by seeking out information and becoming informed. 

• read the City Page every Saturday in the Star Phoenix; 
• visit the City’s web site at www.saskatoon.ca for information on civic programs/services;
• sign-up for electronic civic news releases and public service announcements; 
• read the “Guide to City Planning and Development in Saskatoon”; 
• keep abreast of civic issues in the news media; 
• read your Community Association newsletter; 
• participate in civic training workshops     when they are offered; 
• consider the needs within your community both today and in the future.

When you are representing others: 

• consult the people you represent; 
• clearly state who you represent; 
• present the views of the group.

Ways You Can Get Involved:
There are many activities you can participate in to have your voice heard. Some examples include: 

• Open houses/Public meetings: These are held throughout the year on various topics and give you the opportunity to learn about a civic project/service and give your comments. 
• Surveys: The City conducts its annual civic services survey in the fall to gauge how you rate the importance of services and our delivery of them. Other surveys may ask your opinion on different topics as well. 
• Focus groups: You and other citizens may be asked to sit in on a focus group to explore in-depth your opinion on a civic program/service.

You can also take a more active role in your neighbourhood by sitting on your local Community Association, joining a standing committee of City Council, or even running for City Council yourself.