News Releases

Now available online: the City’s annual Report on Service, Savings and Sustainability highlighting how City teams worked together to maximize value, minimize costs and find innovative ways to deliver better service to citizens in 2019.

“The report highlights our many achievements in 2019 and showcases the innovative projects, initiatives and partnerships City teams undertook last year,” says Celene Anger, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer. “I am proud of our City employees, they continue to move the organization towards becoming the best-managed city in Canada and show their commitment to our Strategic Goal of Continuous Improvement every day.”

Featured stories include numerous service improvements and enhancements focused on delivering quality and reliable front-line civic services, such as the achievement of Saskatoon Transit in converting all buses to fully accessible status through investments from all three levels of government.

Savings stories outline more than $1.1 Million in operational efficiencies through one-time and recurring annual savings. Sustainability accomplishments celebrate ongoing efforts to ensure Saskatoon grows in harmony with nature and plans for a sustainable future. Many initiatives featured helped to reduce the City’s environmental footprint and mitigate the risks posed by climate change. Other projects moved the City forward to create a more equitable and socially responsible community.

The report proudly presents the City’s ongoing commitment to Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation. Notable achievements in 2019 included:

• Establishing the Indigenous Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) to engage in meaningful dialogues on issues that impact Indigenous peoples in Saskatoon
• Creation of a new Indigenous Engagement  Employer Handbook to provide guidance and options for employers seeking to improve their recruitment outcomes
• Highest ever attendance at the 5^th Annual Wîcihitowin Conference
• Kahkewistahaw Signing Ceremony
• Publishing the 2^nd Edition of ayisiyiniwak: A Communications Guide

The 2019 Report on Service, Savings and Sustainability will be presented to the Governance and Priorities Committee on July 20, 2020.

View the full report here.

City Council yesterday approved at its Public Hearing a new Official Community Plan (OCP) for Saskatoon.

“The Official Community Plan is the collective long-term vision for Saskatoon that guides the physical, environmental, economic, social and cultural development of our community,” says Jeff Jorgenson, City Manager. “It provides both inspiration and direction to ensure the community’s vision for Saskatoon is integrated into all aspects of planning, decision-making and priority-setting for the City.”

The direction and goals outlined in the OCP are entrenched in law and recognized under the authority of the Planning and Development Act, 2007. The OCP works in conjunction with the City’s Strategic Plan and Multi-Year Business Plan and Budgeting process to create a strategic framework for how priorities are set and how the City achieves its goals.

The development of the new OCP was guided by the priorities of City Council, as established in the City’s Strategic Plan 2018-2021.

Lesley Anderson, the City’s Director of Planning and Development explains the new OCP consolidates and entrenches the direction provided in over fifty civic plans and policies that City Council has approved over the last several years including: the Growth Plan to Half a Million, Saskatoon Speaks – Community Vision, City Centre Plan, Culture Plan, Active Transportation Plan, Green Infrastructure Strategy, Recreation and Parks Master Plan and the Heritage Plan.

“The Official Community Plan acts as a connection point for the work of all City staff and this latest revision brings it up to date with the current direction of the City, reflecting where we are right now, what our vision is for the future, and how we will achieve that vision,” Anderson says.

As per the requirements laid out in the Planning and Development Act, 2007, the new OCP bylaw will be submitted to the Ministry of Government Relations for their review and approval.

For more information and to view a copy of the new OCP, visit saskatoon.ca/ocp.

The City Administration will be issuing tax credits and /or refunds for an overbilling related to the Library portion of the Property Tax bill for 2020.  City Council has the ability to issue credits to property owners, which for the average assessed home, is roughly two dollars for the year.

“With full transparency, City Administration wants to notify Saskatoon taxpayers of an overbilling of the 2020 property taxes for the Saskatoon Public Library totalling $270,914.25,” says Kerry Tarasoff, Chief Financial Officer.”

Each year, the Saskatoon Public Library (SPL) tax rate used for the City’s annual Property Tax Notice is calculated by multiplying the mill rate by the mill rate factors for each class of property.  The finalized mill rate is then determined by dividing the approved property levy budget by the City’s total taxable assessment.

The 2020 SPL tax rate included the combined budgets for the property levy and supplemental property levy - when only the property levy was to be billed.  Usually, the supplemental property levy amount is realized and collected throughout the year from separate billings as new construction is completed and that is why it is excluded from the regular tax billing process.

“It should be noted that City Administration has taken steps to improve the tax billing process to avoid a reoccurrence,” Tarasoff adds. “Once launched, our new enterprise resource planning initiative, Fusion, will also assist in avoiding this issue by streamlining efficiencies into the many manual processes currently in place at the City.”

The Chief Financial Officer will present City Council with a report at its meeting June 29, 2020.  It will detail options that, if approved, would clear the way for credits and/or refunds to residential and commercial property tax payers as follows:

1. For refunds under $10, customers would be able to choose whether to leave the credit on their property tax account until they receive their 2021 Property Tax Notice, or have the credit transferred to their utility account.

1. In certain cases, where the refund amount is greater than $10, a refund cheque would be issued.

View the full Administration Report here.

The City of Saskatoon invites residents to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) by accepting the ConnectR Reconciliation Challenge. This initiative is replacing this year’s Rock Your Roots Walk for Reconciliation and events at Reconciliation Circle in Victoria Park, which have been cancelled in keeping with COVID-19 provincial health orders.

“We’re hoping individuals and organizations will see this ConnectR challenge as an opportunity to explore, learn, and take up their own Calls to Action” says Warren Isbister-Bear, the City’s Acting Director of Indigenous Initiatives. “There are many people that want to be a part of the Reconciliation journey but they aren’t sure how or where to start – this is the perfect place.”

What is the ConnectR Reconciliation Challenge?

Beginning June 21, visit BeAConnectR.org every week for eight weeks to choose a new commitment under the categories of Spirit, Head, Body, or Heart. Commitments include things such as:

• Attend an Indigenous cultural event
• Authentically engage with an Elder
• Learn more about a First Nations community near you
• Try an Indigenous recipe
• Watch an Indigenous film

Organizations and individuals can also join the ConnectR Challenge Facebook Group to share experiences and receive updates to help guide and support their journey. This group will provide the link to several scheduled video calls with Indigenous Elders, leaders, and youth for discussions to facilitate learning and reflection on Indigenous issues. Those not on Facebook can email beaconnectr@gmail.com to be added to a mailing list.

The ConnectR Reconciliation Challenge is an initiative of Reconciliation Saskatoon – a community of over 115 organizations, non-profits, businesses and partners who have come together towards one mission: to initiate a citywide conversation about Reconciliation and provide opportunities for everyone to engage in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. The City of Saskatoon co-chairs Reconciliation Saskatoon.

City Council at its May meeting deferred consideration of the new proposed Official Community Plan (OCP) Bylaw to its June Public Hearing scheduled for Monday, June 29, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. The deferment was recommended by Administration to allow for additional discussions with stakeholders prior to the opening of the Public Hearing.

The OCP is the collective long-term vision for Saskatoon, guiding the physical, environmental, economic, social and cultural development of the community. It provides both inspiration and direction through a comprehensive policy framework to ensure the community’s vision for Saskatoon is integrated into all aspects of planning, decision-making and priority-setting for the City. It brings focus and purpose to more detailed plans, including growth plans, financial plans and strategic action plans.

“The new proposed OCP provides the framework for the implementation of major priorities that have been endorsed by City Council through initiatives like the Growth Plan, the Strategic Plan, the Green Infrastructure Strategy, the Culture Plan and the Heritage Plan,” says Lesley Anderson, Director of Planning and Development.

“These and more than fifty other civic plans and policies have informed the content of the new proposed OCP. As a result, we’ve often called this project an exercise in consolidation and communication. It’s not intended to introduce new direction, but to entrench the directions that City Council has approved in recent years and ensure this direction is communicated in a way that is clear and engaging.”

City Council will consider all submissions related to the proposed OCP at its Public Hearing on Monday, June 29, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. To submit a letter or request to speak to City Council regarding the proposed OCP, visit saskatoon.ca/writetocouncil for more information.

The Public Hearing will be broadcast live on SHAW TV – Channel 10, Shaw BlueSky – Channel 105 and video-streamed on the City’s website at saskatoon.ca/meetings.

For more information and to view a copy of the new proposed OCP online, visit saskatoon.ca/ocp.

• Riversdale & George Ward Pools – targeting opening for the first week of July, dates and hours will be announced on saskatoon.ca/outdoorpools
• Lathey & Mayfair Pools - TBD

• Lakewood Civic Centre – pending announcement of Phase 4.2
• Shaw Centre – pending announcement of Phase 4.2
• Remaining Leisure Centres - TBD

Starting June 15 and in line with Phase 3 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan, the City of Saskatoon is set to resume some front counter services for the Corporate Revenue Customer Service and Bill Payment Centre located in the lobby of City Hall. The City will offer in-person service in the lobby 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, closed Holidays. City staff will dedicate the first hour of each day from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. for assisting seniors, vulnerable persons and persons with a disability, however no one will be turned away during the first hour. Residents are still encouraged to use the City’s convenient online services to help limit lineups of people physically accessing City Hall.

“Like many other municipalities, we continue to follow the orders and advice of public health officials and continually reassess our services through each phase of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan to ensure we're meeting the expectations of our staff and citizens. With new safety protocols and procedures in place, we appreciate everyone's patience as we carefully open the City Hall lobby for citizens to access our Payment Centre, Customer Service and Collections counters starting next week,” says Mike Voth, Director of Corporate Revenue.

As City Hall operations are guided by the requirements of the current Provincial Health Order, physical distancing, enhanced sanitization protocols and limits of 15 people inside the City Hall lobby will be in place. The use of a non-medical face mask is encouraged if you are visiting City Hall. Please help all of us stay safe, do not enter City Hall if you have COVID-19 related symptoms or have been in contact with an ill individual.

Visitors to the City Hall lobby will notice it has been slightly modified with:

• New in-person safety measures that include a hand-sanitizing station before entry;
• Physical distancing and directional traffic signage reminders; and
• Physical plexiglass barriers installed at service counters to allow for the protection of our City employees and safer interaction with our customers.

In keeping with public health guidelines, member of the public entering the City Hall lobby should avoid touching shared surfaces in the building like handrails, garbage cans and benches, and also refrain from putting personal items onto the Corporate Revenue Customer Service counters.

The only public entrance to services in the lobby will be via City Hall’s main entrance doors located off 3^rd Avenue North. All customers will be greeted by a Customer Service Ambassador or Security staff member who will provide assistance and direction. With the lobby’s current limited capacity, customers may be asked to line-up physically distanced outside of the entrance doors until they can be safely accommodated. 

"We are entering Phase 3 keeping the health, safety and well-being of our employees and citizens our top priority," adds Voth. "City Hall hasn't been the same without the comings and goings of citizens since closing March 19, 2020. While our employees have been working hard providing great customer service online and by phone, especially on property tax-related questions, starting next week we’ll be ready to assist those customers who absolutely need to meet with us face-to-face.”

Some examples of in-person transactions offered at the Payment Centre include property tax and utility bill payments, and bylaw and parking ticket payments. Payment methods include cash, cheque or debit; credit cards are not accepted. The public will be kept updated as additional in-person services become available, visit saskatoon.ca for latest updates.

With the busy property tax payment season ahead, citizens may pay their 2020 Property Tax at their financial institution or use City Hall’s front entrance drop box to deliver a cheque. Whenever possible, the public is encouraged to email revenue@saskatoon.ca or contact a customer service representative at 306-975-2400 with property tax-related or other inquiries. Visit saskatoon.ca/propertytax for information on payment deadlines.

At this time, City Council meetings continue to be held via teleconference and streamed live at saskatoon.ca/live-meeting. A new online meeting platform enables the opportunity for continued public participation. 

Residents can expect information regarding the re-opening of additional City facilities in the days and weeks ahead. 

For the latest updates on City services including a list of convenient online services, please visit saskatoon.ca/covid-19. 

June is Parks and Recreation Month in Saskatchewan – it’s a time to recognize how parks and recreation opportunities make Saskatoon a great place to live, work, learn and play.

“Parks, open spaces and recreational opportunities are key to our quality of life in Saskatoon,” says Andrew Roberts, Director of Recreation and Community Development. “As a community we’ve seen the benefits most recently from being able to get out and spread out in over 200 parks. It’s timely to celebrate Parks and Recreation Month as more recreation spaces re-open throughout Saskatoon.”

Already, the City’s municipal golf courses, tennis and pickleball courts and Gordon Howe Campground are open for everyone to enjoy.

Now, following the guidelines announced by the Government of Saskatchewan on Monday, June 8, City playground structures will open starting Friday, June 12.

Crews are working to remove the existing closed signage and tape at over 250 playgrounds throughout Saskatoon.

While many of the City’s recreational facilities cannot reopen until Phase 4 of the Province’s Re-Open Saskatchewan plan, you can keep up-to-date on re-openings at saskatoon.ca/reopensaskatoon

Residents are reminded that public health orders are still in place, practice good hand hygiene, and to maintain a minimum distance of two metres between others outside your extended household.

The Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA), along with the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA) and other Provincial/Territorial Parks and Recreation Associations across Canada, celebrates the month of June as Parks and Recreation Month.

The month provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of parks and recreation and the role it plays in the quality of life for all Canadians. To find out more, visit spra.sk.ca.