Planning, Development & Community Services Decisions in Brief
From the August 15, 2016 Meeting
7.1.3 2015 Annual Report – Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP)
Decision
*The Committee received the report as information.
Background
*SHIP was created in 1999, and strives to bring the necessary expertise, experience, and assistance to housing providers in order to help build the capacity to develop new affordable housing projects in Saskatoon.
*When SHIP was established, the City, as well as non-profit housing providers, agreed there was a gap in services and capacity that limited the development of affordable housing. SHIP’s role was to fill that gap by providing community-based services to help affordable housing providers develop business plans for affordable housing projects.
*SHIP’s 2015 Annual Report provides details of their activities in 2015, which should result in 114 new affordable rental units in Saskatoon.
7.1.4 2015 Annual Report – Regional Planning Section
Decision
*The Committee received the report as information.
Background
*The Regional Planning Section was established in 2014 to provide dedicated resources to the development and implementation of a new Regional Plan. The primary role is to form and maintain working partnerships with other jurisdictions and agencies within the Saskatoon region to create a framework for increasing sustainable growth on a regional scale.
*A summary of the noted 2015 Highlights includes a number of major initiatives undertaken by the Section.
*The Section has identified a number of key initiatives to pursue in 2016 to enhance regional partnerships and support planning on a regional scale.
7.2.1 Building Better Parks: An Asset Management Plan for Parks
Decision
*The Committee received the report as information and supported a recommendation for Administration to provide a report for the 2017 Business Plan and Budget deliberations on options to address the funding gap.
Background
*The report provides information on assets primarily belonging to the Parks and Facilities Divisions, such as pathway, irrigation, and play structure inventory.
*The average age of both asphalt pathways and irrigation systems within City parks is 18 years and based on age of the asset, 57% of these assets are in poor to very poor condition.
*The average age of play structures is 13 years and based on age of the asset, 44% of the play structures are in poor to very poor condition.
*A potential plan to increase annual funding to these park assets is outlined in the report.
7.2.2 Kinsmen Play Village Play Structure
Decision
*The Committee is reporting to City Council on August 18 to recommend:
1. Administration start on the design and purchase of accessible playground equipment for Caswell Hill with installation to be completed no later than June 2017 – to be funded from the Reserve for Capital Expenditures to a maximum of $253,000 and to include the remedial work at Kinsmen Play Village.
2. Reopen the gates to Kinsmen Play Village following appropriate safety checks.
3. Amend the Kinsmen Park Master Plan to retain certain elements of the Kinsmen Play Village, such as the play structure.
Background
*The report provides background relating to the consultations involved in the development of the Kinsmen Park Master Plan and the subsequent decision to remove all amenities within the Kinsmen Play Village at Kinsmen Park. This report also provides information on the Kinsmen Park Master Plan and financial implications of retaining the play equipment within the Kinsmen Play Village at Kinsmen Park.