City Council Decisions in Brief

December 14, 2015 Meeting of City Council

9.5.1  Saskatoon Public Schools - By-Election - Ward Nine Establishment of Date, Hours of Voting, Polling Areas and Places, Advances/Special and Mobile Polls Wednesday, February 24, 2016 

*City Council passed a recommendation that establishes hours of voting, polling areas and places, Special Poll and Advance Poll hours and locations, and a Mobile Poll, for the Saskatoon Public Schools, Ward Nine by-election to be held on February 24, 2016.

Additional Information:

*There is a vacancy on the Saskatoon Public School Board for Ward Nine. In accordance with Section 7(1) of The Local Government Election Act, City Council is to name a day specified by the board as election day.
*At the November 24, 2015, regular meeting of the Saskatoon Public School Board, February 24, 2016 was set as the by-election date.

9.6.1 2016 Taxi License Fee Increase

*City Council passed Bylaw No. 9342, The Taxi Amendment Bylaw, 2015 (No. 3).

Additional Information:

*During the November 23, 2015 City Council meeting, Administration recommended the annual taxi license fee for 2016 increase from $375 to $525.

9.6.2 2016 Transit Fare Adjustment

*Council passed Bylaw No. 9340, The Transit Fares Amendment Bylaw, 2015.

Additional Information:

*During meetings on November 30 and December 1, 2015, Administration recommended Transit fares for 2016 be adjusted by increasing the costs of tickets, monthly passes, annual passes, senior passes and low income passes, and by decreasing the cash fares for post-secondary students, adults and seniors.

9.6.3 Fee Increase for Woodlawn Cemetery

City Council passed Bylaw No. 9341, The Cemeteries Amendment Bylaw, 2015.

Additional Information:

*During meetings on November 30 and December 1, 2015, Administration recommended an increase to cemetery fees for 2016 by an overall average of 5%.

9.6.4 2016 Fee Increase for Multi-Unit Residential Recycling

City Council passed Bylaw No. 9339, The Waste Amendment Bylaw, 2015.

Additional Information:

*The Waste Amendment Bylaw implements City Council’s decision to increase the Multi-Unit Residential Recycling Program fees effective January 1, 2016.

9.6.5 Regulation of Electronic Cigarettes/Vaping and Ceremonial Tobacco Use

City Council passed Bylaw No. 9338, The Smoking Control Amendment Bylaw, 2015.

Additional Information:

*On November 23, 2015, City Council received a report recommending possible exemptions to existing smoking prohibitions to include the use of electronic cigarettes within an electronic cigarettes retailer and the use of tobacco in traditional Aboriginal spiritual or cultural practices or ceremonies being carried out in City-owned public places. City Council resolved that such exemptions be implemented and that the City Solicitor prepare the necessary bylaw amendment.

9.6.6 Municipal Governance Structure

City Council passed Bylaw No. 9331, The Procedures and Committees Amendment Bylaw, 2015 (No. 3).

Additional Information:

At its meeting held on November 23, 2015, City Council passed a resolution that:
-Executive Committee be renamed the Governance and Priorities Committee and remain a Committee of all members of Council; the Governance and Priorities Committee’s mandate includes: governance, strategic priorities, annual business plan and budget process, legal matters, human resource and collective bargaining issues and government relations; and, the Governance and Priorities Committee continues to meet on the third Monday of every month.
-City Council have the ability to extend a Regular Business Meeting past 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. upon a majority vote of the members present.
-For Public Hearings, members be prohibited from voting when absent for an entire Hearing; members vote when they have missed part of a Hearing but have reviewed a summary or a recording of what was missed; and, procedural provisions be included which aid in preventing members from missing small parts of Hearings.”