Decisions in Brief

 

From the September 25, 2017 Regular Meeting of City Council
 

8.1.2 Infill Roundtable
Decision

*City Council decided;

1. That the information be received; and
2. That the Administration report back to the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services regarding how incentives and changes could apply to development getting underway downtown before any changes are made.

Background

*A key direction of the Growth Plan, approved in principle by City Council in April 2016, was to balance growth between infill and greenfield locations. Between 2005 and 2015, approximately 17.4% of all dwelling units built in Saskatoon were infill units. The Growth Plan recommends that 35% of new growth be dedicated to strategic and neighbourhood infill sites, and an additional 15% be targeted to corridor growth, as the city grows to a population of 500,000 people. Downtown development has been identified as a City Council priority area.

8.1.3 Downtown Development Incentives

Decision

*City Council decided;

1. That the proposed amendments to Vacant Lot and Adaptive Reuse Incentive Program Policy No. C09-035, as noted in the September 5, 2017 report of the General Manager, Community Services Department, be approved, to be applied to the City Centre area; and
2. That Administration report back on the possibility of providing the entire five-year tax abatement amount available as a developer cash grant, including information on how this could be funded from the future property tax revenues generated by new developments.

Background

*At its August 18, 2010 meeting, City Council approved, in principle, Vacant Lot and Adaptive Reuse Incentive Program Policy No. C09-035. The original intent of the program was to provide incentives to spur development on chronically vacant sites in the established areas of Saskatoon. Originally, the program included a 12-month vacancy requirement. However, this time period appeared to result in a number of property demolitions in order to be eligible for incentives the following year. In 2012, the vacancy requirement was increased to 48 months. The last amendments to the Incentive Program were completed in 2014, as a result of the City Centre Plan. The amendments added incentives for Downtown office buildings and structured parking, in accordance with the goals of the City Centre Plan.

8.3.2 Absence Management and Disability Assistance Services Update

Decision

*City Council decided;

1. That the one-year pilot program with Bridges Health be extended for an additional one-year to enable a more complete assessment of the benefits of using a third-party vendor to provide disability and/or absence management support; and
2. That at the completion of the one-year pilot the Administration report back on evaluation activities and results as they pertain to employee experience of contracted services.

Background

*The City of Saskatoon entered into a one-year pilot program with Bridges Health in accordance with the program policies and procedures documented in the Disability Assistance Program (DAP) manual and the Collective Agreement between the City and The Amalgamated Transit Union, Local No 615 (ATU) and between the City of Saskatoon and SCMMA. This pilot program involves Saskatoon Transit employees who are members of the ESA, SCMMA and ATU. The employee group consists of employees with illnesses/absences of 10 days or greater within a 12-month period, which is the current criteria of the City’s DAP.

The original duration of the pilot involved a 12-month period that commenced March 31, 2016.

8.5.1 Endorsement of the Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth Regional Plan

 

Decision

*City Council decided;

1. That the Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth Regional Plan, Regional Servicing Strategy, and Regional Governance and Implementation Strategy be endorsed, in principle; and
2. That the estimated funds of $133,000 remaining in Regional Plan Capital Project No. 2460 as of September 30, 2017, be transferred to the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority; and
3. That the 2018 Capital Budget request, as outlined in the report of the General Manager, Community Services Department dated August 21, 2017 be considered for approval at the time of 2018 Business Plan and Budget Review.

Background

*The P4G was established in 2014 between the Cities of Saskatoon, Martensville, and Warman, the Town of Osler, and the Rural Municipality (RM) of Corman Park. The goal of the P4G is to ensure each of the five partnering municipalities can benefit from growth opportunities, increase efficiencies, and reduce costs by working together. The partners engaged O2 Planning+Design to create a long-term regional plan for land use and servicing. The P4G consists of two committees. The Regional Oversight Committee, which provides advice to the partner Councils, consists of elected officials and is independently chaired. The Planning and Administration Committee, which provides advice to the Regional Oversight Committee, consists of planning and administration staff from the partners.

8.5.3 Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Saskatchewan

Decision

*City Council decided;

1. That the City of Saskatoon enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Saskatchewan with the terms and intent as outlined in the report of the City Manager dated September 18, 2017; and
2. That the City Solicitor be instructed to draft a Memorandum of Understanding based on the contents of the report, and to do so in collaboration with the appropriate persons at the University of Saskatchewan.

Background

*The President and Vice-President of Finance and Resources of the U of S have been meeting for years with the Mayor and City Manager of the City to discuss issues of mutual concern. At a recent meeting, the idea of establishing an MOU was discussed as a way to be more intentional and strategic about collaborations. Following this, teams from the U of S and the City have been meeting to discuss this initiative in more detail and to work on such an MOU. Both the U of S and the City conducted environmental scans to identify and understand some of the current collaborations that exist, whether it be student internships, research projects, land management, transit agreements, or environmental initiatives. This allowed the two parties to see that strong collaborations already exist, and it also allowed for an understanding of where increased collaboration could occur and would be beneficial.

9.3.1 Waste Handling Levels of Service

Decision

*City Council decided;

1. That the City discontinue printing and mailing of the collection calendar for 2019 and continue to offer digital options; and
2. That the City discontinue the extra post-Christmas garbage collection starting in 2018; and
3. That the waste handling funding gap decision be deferred to the 2018 decision on waste utility options; and
4. That all other service level changes be considered during development and implementation of waste utility options.

Background

*On May 15, 2017, the 2018 Budget Indicative Rate report was brought forward to the Governance and Priorities Committee. In that report Administration reported that leading up to the 2018 Business Plan and Budget deliberations, a series of service level reports would be provided with options to increase or decrease service levels. Due to the desire to reduce the potential property tax increase in 2018, only cost saving changes to levels of service are included in this level of service report. In January of 2017, Administration reported that the waste management in Saskatoon, including the Waste Handling service line was not environmentally, socially, or financially sustainable. The options presented in this report focus on opportunities that will improve financial and environmental sustainability in 2018.

9.9.1 Waste Handling Levels of Service – Supplemental Information

Decision

*City Council decided that the report of the A/General Manager, Corporate Performance Department dated September 25, 2017, be received as information.

Background

*At its meeting held on September 11, 2017, the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services considered the Waste Handling Level of Service report which recommended the discontinuation of the print and mailing of the collection calendars for 2019, but to continue to offer digital options, and resolved, in part; that the Administration report on suggested non-digital communications methods of the collection calendar, not for wide distribution, but made accessible to those that do not have internet access and that it be appended to further discussion on this matter.

From the Monday, September 25, 2017 Public Hearing Meeting of City Council

5.1.4 Proposed Amendments to the Holmwood Sector Plan

Decision

*City Council accepted the recommendation that the proposed amendments to the Holmwood Sector Plan be approved.

Background

*Sector plans serve as a development framework for future growth and are based on the policies contained in Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 8769. In 2016, development of the commercial area in the southeast corner of the Rosewood neighbourhood resulted in the opening of a large retailer, with the expectation of further commercial development to follow. This has resulted in a need for improved connectivity between the Holmwood Sector and the Rosewood neighbourhood.

6. Proclamations and Flag Raisings

6.1 Mark Mahl - Prostate Cancer Canada - September 2017 - 'Prostate Cancer Awareness Month'

6.2 Sarah Fang - AIDS Saskatoon - November 27 to December 1, 2017 - 'AIDS Awareness Week'

6.3 A/Fire Chief Kotelmach - Saskatoon Fire Department - October 1 to 7, 2017 - 'Fire Prevention Week'

Decision

6.1 Proclamation previously given, information only.

6.2 Flag Raising Request

6.3 Proclamation Request

All three carried unanimously by City Council. Read more.