STANDING POLICY COMMITTEE DECISIONS IN BRIEF
October 5, 2015 Committee Meetings
SPC on Planning, Development and Community Services
7.2.1 Application for Municipal Heritage Property Designation
*There is an application from the property owner at 1040 University Drive (the Mann House – built in 1912) to designate the property as a Heritage Property.
*The heritage value of the Mann House resides in its long association with Owen Mann, a long-time member of City Council. Other notable individuals who lived at this location include: Thomas Watson, physician and head of the Saskatoon Cancer Clinic; and W.E. Walter, a Special Representative for the Canadian National Railway (CNR) Colonization Department.
*A motion to support the recommendations, with the designation limited to the exterior of the building, was supported unanimously.
7.2.3 Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women Monument
*The committee recommends that Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Monument be located on the front plaza of Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) Headquarters.
*The SPS and Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) partnered to commission a commemorative artwork to remember missing and murdered Aboriginal women.
*SPS and STC selected Saskatchewan Artist Lionel Peyachew to design the monument.
*A motion to support the recommendation to Council for approval of the location of the monument on the front of the plaza at SPS Headquarters was supported unanimously.
7.2.4 Growth Plan to Half a Million Long-term Directions and Fall 2015 Public Engagement
*The report updates the draft Growth Plan and recommends implementation priorities for Corridor Growth, Transit, and Core Area Bridges that will be presented during the final round of public engagement this month.
*The fifth and final round of public engagement will take place from October 14 to November 8, 2015 with the intent being to communicate the final plan and implementation and phasing strategy to the community.
7.2.7 Meewasin Valley Authority Northeast Swale Master Plan
*The report presents the Meewasin Valley Authority Northeast Swale Master Plan for approval, in principle, by City Council. Following approval, City Administration will work with Meewasin on agreements, implementation plans, and funding strategies.
*The Plan (a collaborative effort between Meewasin, the City, key stakeholders, and the public) outlines ways to support Meewasin’s objectives of conservation, education, and passive recreation including trails, boardwalks, parking, facilities, and lighting.
*Meewasin estimates the total capital cost to implement the Plan at $14 million, split between the swale area proper ($6.1 million) and the Greenway ($8.0 million). An implementation plan and funding strategy will be developed that will also consider annual operating impact (estimated at $186,000 for the City and $192,500 for Meewasin).
*A motion to support all three resolutions (as well as an amendment to resolution 2) to include in the report back from the Administration consideration of potential regulations) was supported unanimously.
7.2.9 City Response to Syrian Refugee Crisis
*The City and refugee-serving organizations presently have a number of initiatives underway that assist in welcoming, settling, and integrating refugees and immigrants to the community.
*In recognition of the current Syrian refugee crisis, the Administration has gathered input from key stakeholders in the community and identified several possible initiatives to improve and enhance already existing services, as well as offering new ideas of what the City could do regarding refugee settlement and integration.
*There are a couple of options to consider related to Saskatoon Transit providing either discounted or no-cost bus passes for the first year of refugee settlement in Saskatoon.
*The following motions were supported unanimously:
• to receive the report as information;
• to support all initiatives identified on page 3 of the report (page 230 of the agenda) with no cost implications (a, c, d, f, g and h);
• for further reporting from the Administration on the remaining items b and e;
• for the Administration to consult with provincial and federal government on what they are doing in the areas identified, including the issue of transit services and issues around the identified options, as well as checking further with organizations in the community, including faith based organizations and those sponsoring refugees, on any updated information for further reporting to the Committee.
*A further reported was requested for the November 2, 2015 meeting of the SPC on PDCS meeting.
7.2.10 After Hours Barking Dog Complaints
*The report shows from January 1, 2012, to August 31, 2015, the Saskatoon Police Service received a total of 47 calls regarding barking dog complaints between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. This volume represents, on average, less than two calls per month.
*Increasing the service level to respond to after hour barking dog complaints would require the Saskatoon Animal Control Agency to schedule two additional animal control officers (for safety reasons) at a cost of $3,200 per month. Animal Services does not have the funds within its 2015 operating budget to cover this additional expense and increase service.
*A motion to support forwarding the report to City Council for information was supported unanimously.