News Releases

From the November 28, 2016 Meeting

8.1.5 Municipal Heritage Property Designation – Third Avenue United Church

Decision

*The City Solicitor has been instructed to bring forward a bylaw to designate 304 3^rd Avenue North as a Municipal Heritage Property under the provisions of the The Heritage Property Act with such designation to include the exterior of the building, as well as two interior elements, being the hammer-beam rafters and Casavant organ.
*$2,500 will be allocated from the Heritage Reserve for supply and installation of a recognition plaque for the property.

Additional Information

*Ms. Peggy Sarjeant, President, Saskatoon Heritage Society had addressed the SPC on Planning, Development and Community Services regarding the heritage designation of the Third Avenue United Church to include exterior elements and interior elements such as the hammer-beam rafters and Casavant organ.

8.1.6 Renaming Request – ‘Gordie Howe Park’ to ‘Gordie Howe Sports Complex’ and Naming Advisory Committee Quarterly Report

Decision

*The report was received as information and Gordie Howe Park will be renamed Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

Additional Information

*This is in a response to a report from the SPC on Planning, Development and Community Services. The committee was advised that the Naming Advisory Committee also reviewed and supported the renaming.

8.1.7 Age Friendly Saskatoon Initiative: Implementation and Evaluation Report

Decision

*City Council received the report as information.
*The City will apply for membership in the world Health Organization Age-Friendly Global Network.
*The City will continue its collaboration with the Saskatoon council on Aging.

Additional Information

*Age-Friendly Saskatoon has focused on getting key community stakeholders working together to support efforts that advance the dignity, health, and independence of older adults. Age-Friendly Saskatoon is consistent with the City aspiration for a desirable quality of life for all residents and will help in promoting an inclusive community; in particular, the inclusion of all older adults in community life.

8.1.8 Innovative Housing Incentives – Quint Development Corporation – 204 to 216 Avenue O South

Decision

*City Council approved funding of 10% of the total capital cost of the construction of 26 affordable rental units at 204 to 216 Avenue O South by Quint Development Corporation, estimated at $556,717, subject to the availability of funds in the Affordable Housing Reserve and the approval of this project under the Provincial Rental Development Program
*City Council recommends a five-year abatement of the incremental property taxes for the 26 affordable rental units be applied, commencing the next taxation year, following the completion of construction.

Additional Information

*In November 2015, City Council set the 2016 target for the 2013 – 2022 Housing Business Plan at 400 units across the attainable housing continuum, of which 32 units are targeted to be affordable rental units. To date, City Council has committed funding of $384,548 in support of 32 affordable rental units. Innovative Housing Incentives – Quint Development Corporation – 204 to 216 Avenue O South. At its June 27, 2016 meeting, City Council approved the rezoning of 204, 208, 212, 214, and 216 Avenue O South from RM1 to RM2 by agreement to facilitate a townhouse development on this site.

8.3.1 2017 Neighbourhood Traffic Management Reviews

Decision

*City Council decided the eleven neighbourhoods selected for 2017 traffic reviews, as part of the Neighbourhood Traffic Management Program, will include Queen Elizabeth, Exhibition, Buena Vista, Erindale, Arbor Creek, Pleasant Hill, Dundonald, North Park, Richmond Heights, Silverwood Heights, and Wildwood.

Additional Information

*The process includes a strategy to review concerns on a neighbourhood-wide basis by engaging the community and stakeholders in first identifying specific traffic issues, and secondly, developing joint recommendations that address the issues.
*Neighbourhoods selected for reviews are based on Councillor input, collision history, number of concerns received, and number of existing temporary traffic calming devices.

8.3.3 Building Better Sidewalks – Sidewalk Programs Overview

Decision

*Administration has been directed to eliminate the practice of using asphalt overlays on concrete sidewalks and funding for this service level change be from reallocation of existing funding within the roadway and sidewalk preservation program.

Additional Information

*An explanation on how the City selects sidewalks for repair, the criteria considered when determining the type of sidewalk repair required for a particular section, as well as various other FAQs and phone numbers for residents to report faulty sidewalks, is available at Saskatoon.ca/sidewalks. The webpage also contains a printable PDF about sidewalk repair/replacement criteria, and indicates when the City is assessing and marking sidewalks to address locations for future preservation work.

8.4.1 Aquatic Invasive Species: Response to PARCS

Decision

*City Council received the report as information.
*Administration will provide a report with more detail in terms of specific local impacts and resources required.
*The report will be referred to the Saskatoon Environmental Advisory Committee to review and report back to the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities, and Corporate Services with input.

Additional Information

*The City receives drinking water from the South Saskatchewan River. Lake Diefenbaker, upstream of the city along the river, is at risk for aquatic mussel infestation.
*The City does not currently have programming targeted at educating residents about aquatic invasive mussels as it is a member of the South Saskatchewan River Watershed Stewards (SSRWSI), which receives funding from the province to carry out an awareness campaign about aquatic invasive mussels within our watershed.
The province has installed a sign outside of city limits on Highway 11 to Prince Albert and has offered additional free highway signs to the City to help raise awareness of aquatic invasive mussels.

9.6.1 Proposed Sale of Former Police Service Headquarters

Decision

*City Council approved the proposed sale of the former Saskatoon Police Service Headquarters property at 130 and 140 - 4th Avenue North to Duchuck Holdings Ltd. at a purchase price of $10.7M based on the terms and conditions outlined.
*There will  be a five-year tax abatement of the full taxes for 130 - 4th Avenue North (building site), subject to the completion of a renovation or redevelopment of the property sufficient to constitute a change of predominant use to housing, office, structured parking, or a combination thereof.
*The five-year tax abatement will take effect in the next taxation year following completion of the renovation or redevelopment

Additional Information

*The former property at 130 and 140 - 4^th Avenue North had been listed for sale since September 2013 by two real estate brokerage firms, first with Colliers International, and more recently, ICR Commercial Real Estate.  The initial list price was $15.6M which was based on market sales and a very active real estate market at that time.

Following extensive review of the 2017 Preliminary Corporate Business Plan and Budget, November 30 and December 1, 2016, His Worship Mayor Charlie Clark and City Council have finalized investment decisions for 2017. The property tax increase is finalized at 3.89%.

“The final investment decisions made are disciplined and responsible,” says Kerry Tarasoff, Chief Financial Officer and General Manager, Asset and Financial Management. “While funding could not be allocated to every budgetary ask, City Council’s budget decisions accomplish a strong balance between the investments that the City needs to be modern and progressive, and the service level expectations they heard through public consultation this year - without placing a heavy financial burden on citizens in 2017.”

To fulfill and maintain the City’s investment plans, service level commitments and dedicated programs, the 2017 property tax increase will be distributed as follows: 1.93% Roadway Levy, 0.55% Snow & Ice Levy, and 1.41% to  remaining civic programs and services.

What This Means To Residential Property Owners

The 3.89% property tax increase for 2017 will generate an additional $7.9 million for the City’s Operating Budget, to be invested into the rehabilitation and maintenance of roadways, the snow and ice management program, and for the expenditure increases associated with all other civic programs and services. Here is the breakdown:

2017 Operating and Capital Budget Highlights

Total Operating Budget: $812.0 million (Civic - $482.0 million, Utilities - $330.0 million)

• Over $61.7 million invested in Building Better Roads including Road Maintenance, Snow & Ice Management and Street Cleaning and Sweeping
• Over $13.6 million for the continued maintenance and design of the City’s growing park infrastructure
• $5.0 million invested in Access Transit, including additional operators which will provide an additional 4,800 rides to customers on an annual basis
• $41.2 million invested in the delivery of Transit services to deliver 1,688 bus stops across 35 bus routes and 276 km of city streets
• $97.5 million invested in the Saskatoon Police Service including 6 new Constables

Total Capital Budget: $260.7 million

• $28.7 million in Transit related infrastructure and planning as part of the Federal Public Transit Infrastructure Fund
• $21.6 million in 2017 for the repair, replacement and renewal of existing water and wastewater infrastructure under the Federal Clean Water and Wastewater Fund
• $7.0 million for Phase I of Recovery Park to improve Landfill sustainability
• $32.1 million dedicated to paved roadway and sidewalk preservation
• $5.3 million for the replacement of Fire Station No. 3 to improve community safety

Total 2017 Operating & Capital Budget Combined: $1,072.7 million
The Corporate Business Plan and Budget frames the detailed investment decisions the City will follow in 2017. Not just about revenues and expenditures, the finalized Business Plan and Budget provide a reflection of what City Council, residents, businesses and the community as a whole value. More importantly, key public feedback gathered throughout 2016 was fully considered by City Council in the shaping and building of the 2017 Business Plan and Budget.

The City’s Strategic Goal of Asset and Financial Sustainability commits to budget planning that is open and transparent, and that the City invests in what matters. To address the needs of citizens today and tomorrow, the City is focused on the long-term goal of managing the City in a smart, sustainable way.

Visit saskatoon.ca/financialfuture for more budget and financial information.

From the November 21, 2016 meeting

7.1.1 Financing Growth – Hemson Study Update

Decision

*Administration will provide a report on proactive and strategic engagement options on the four areas identified in the report.

Additional Information

*In April of 2015, the former Executive Committee received and discussed a report presented by Hemson Consulting Ltd. on Financing Growth. This study was initiated by City Council primarily to provide information to help the City understand the current and future costs of infrastructure and civic services required to support future population growth, determine the financial impact of growth, and provide a general commentary on the costs and benefits associated with different types of development.
*The report identified key issues categorized under four major topics:
-appropriate scope and levels of development levies;
-encouragement of infill and redevelopment;
-exploration of alternate financing tools and increase non-tax revenues; and
-growth of non-residential property assessment.
*The Administration has been reviewing these issues and plans to address these through future reports and discussion papers as part of the Growth Plan to Half a Million.

7.1.3 Update on ATU Job Action

Decision

*The committee received the report as information.

Additional Information

*Bargaining has been underway between the City and ATU since October 2013 and has occurred with varying degrees of frequency and intensity.
*On November 8, 2016, the parties returned to the bargaining table and ATU presented a proposal that they would be prepared to accept the City’s Agreement in Principle (AIP) on the basis of the outcome of the outstanding pension arbitration.
*On November 10, 2016, the City provided a counter, which remains as the Current Offer. ATU refused this offer and provided notice that they would be taking job action effective midnight on November 11, 2016, in the form of refusing overtime and work to rule.

The City is partnering with Bridge City Bicycle Co-op to divert approximately 2,000 bicycles from the Landfill each year. Many of the bicycles brought to the Landfill are in poor condition and not recoverable; however, some of the bicycles are recoverable for either their parts or for complete refurbishment.

“The Co-op takes the bikes, they’re fixed and then gives them to people who need one,” says Russ Munro, Director of Water and Waste Stream.  “It’s a great re-use of the material instead of it being scrapped.”

This initiative will be evaluated after one-year with the goal of transitioning to the City’s largest waste diversion project, Recovery Park, scheduled to be implemented at the Landfill by 2018. Currently recycling and/or diversion programs at the Landfill include scrap metal, appliances, used oil and antifreeze, batteries and propane tanks.

Residents are invited to recycle their used bicycles at the Landfill for re-use in the community beginning January 1, 2017.

Learn more about waste diversion at saskatoon.ca.

Flags have been lowered at all City of Saskatoon facilities to honour Saskatoon Meewasin MLA Roger Parent who passed away on Tuesday, November 29, 2016.

“This is a real loss to our community,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “I was personally privileged to serve with Mr. Parent on a number of boards and committees related to economic development, affordable housing and the Meewasin Valley Authority over the last decade. Our city will feel his absence in these key areas.”

Prior to being elected as an MLA in 2011, Parent was involved with a number of local committees and organizations including, among other initiatives, indigenous economic development and homelessness.

The City of Saskatoon extends condolences to Parent’s wife Sheila and their family.

Following an aggressive response to a perceived public safety threat, emergency responders are confident there is no community danger; the substances in question were identified as common baking soda and talcum powder.  The matter is now the subject of a police investigation.

Fire Chief Morgan Hackl says emergency workers can’t take any chances.

“We have to approach it with diligence, we have to go through all the proper steps,” Hackl says.  “Whether it’s a malicious call or not, we can’t take that into account – we have to take the due course and take it seriously.”

Saskatoon Emergency Measures Organization, Saskatoon Fire Department, Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment as well as Saskatchewan Emergency Management and Fire Safety were involved in a response to five dangerous goods calls.

Starting around 12:30 p.m. and for a period of about two hours, emergency crews went to three addresses along Fourth Avenue and two more near Cynthia Street and Avenue C North.

For the remainder of the afternoon and into the early evening, the job of hazardous materials specialists was to identify the suspicious substance, neutralize it, and remove it from the affected area.  This process was successfully completed at all five locations.

Preliminary testing of the substance points strongly in the direction of a non-harmful powder: talcum powder was detected in one location, sodium bicarbonate, more commonly known as baking soda was identified in four locations.

“Sodium bicarbonate is just a standard everyday product that people can find in their homes, there’s no danger to it,” Chief Hackl says.

The samples collected will then be sent to the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg for final testing.

City officials activated the Emergency Operations Centre with a command post set up in the mobile unit and later in a public office building. 

Over 60 emergency personnel responded to the calls Tuesday afternoon.  

City Council yesterday awarded a contract to build two much-needed road interchanges at McOrmond Drive/Highway 5 and at Boychuk Drive/Highway 16.  The tender closed at $29 million less than the estimated cost.

“Keeping people and goods safely moving around in Saskatoon is a key priority,” says Jeff Jorgenson, General Manager of Transportation and Utilities.  “We are proud that the City and city developers have a funding strategy in place to help move these projects forward, and we are also thankful to the federal and provincial governments for their contributions towards the Boychuk/Highway 16 interchange.”

Council approved a tendered award of $56.7 million at its meeting yesterday afternoon. PCL Construction Management Inc. is the successful builder following an independently monitored competition between three companies.

The Saskatoon Interchange Project has bundled these two interchanges together as a way of reducing overall costs of construction.

The McOrmond Drive/College Drive interchange is fully funded by land developers. Saskatoon is unique in the province, in that it self-funds a significant portion of interchange costs through development levies rather than taxation.

The Boychuk Drive/Highway 16 interchange is funded by both federal and provincial governments, development levies and developer contributions.

“This award has no positive or negative impact on the 2017 civic operating budget,” Jorgenson says.  “The capital cost of these projects is funded through development levies, developer contributions, and other orders of government.”

Construction will start in early 2017 with substantial completion currently targeted for October 31, 2018 for McOrmond/College Drive and July 31, 2019 for Highway 16/Boychuk Drive.

A Sale Agreement has been reached with Duchuck Holdings Ltd. for the former Saskatoon Police Service Headquarters (SPSHQ) property, situated at 130 and 140 - 4^th Avenue North.

Today, City Council approved the sale of the former property based on the Terms and Conditions included in the Sale Agreement.

Noteworthy details of the Sales Agreement are as follows:

• Purchase price of $10.7M.
• Provision of a five-year tax abatement of the full taxes on 130 - 4^th Avenue North (building site) subject to completion of a renovation or redevelopment of the property sufficient to constitute a change of predominant use to housing, office, structured parking, or a combination thereof;
• Provision of a $395,000 credit to the purchase price for the Purchaser to remove hazardous materials that currently exist within the building.  The Purchaser thereby accepts full responsibility for the hazardous materials located within the building and indemnifies the City from any and all future claims;
• The City agrees to retain responsibility for environmentally contaminated soil found to be located on the vacant site (140 – 4^th Avenue North), or which is proven to have migrated on to any surrounding property; and
• Possession Date and Closing Date will be Tuesday, February 14, 2017 or such other date that may be agreed to by the parties.

In a report to City Council, Administration considered the offer to be fair and reasonable given current market conditions in Saskatoon.

Proceeds from the sale of 130 and 140 - 4^th Avenue North will be applied to the City’s cash holdings to replenish the funds used to purchase 202 - 4^th Avenue North (Civic Square East) and related parking lots at 209 and 221 - 5^th Avenue North.

The objective of the recommended tax abatement is consistent with the intent of the Vacant Lot and Adaptive Re-use Incentive (VLAR) Program. The value of the five-year tax abatement is estimated to be $200,000 per year, based on a property being a fully renovated, multi-tenant office building. The full tax abatement will result in foregone revenue for five years, to begin the year following completion of the renovation or redevelopment.

The Rush, Go Green with eBill! Contest is ending soon, switch and get in to win!

Choose to say goodbye to your traditional paper utility bill, and make the choice to rush and go green by signing up for eBill paperless utility billing,  it’s better for the environment, and more convenient for you!

All new customers who sign-up for eBill before November 30, 2016 will be entered into the eBill Contest. We’ll draw December 1, 2016 for a pair of 2017 Season Tickets to the Saskatchewan Rush Lacrosse Club. All valued utility bill customers currently on eBill are also automatically entered into the eBill Contest.

“Our eBill service has always been a customer focused initiative, and it also supports our environmental initiatives for the City as we are committed to savings, service and sustainability,” says Shelley Sutherland, Director of Corporate Revenue.

Choosing eBill instead of traditional paper billing, reduces paper clutter and a need to file. eBill is easy to use, secure and gives customers 24/7 access to their utility account history and current consumption charges

“If the City gained ten per cent more customers on eBill, we could save approximately 513 kilograms of paper per year,” says Sutherland. “Any time we can use less paper and importantly, leave less of a carbon footprint, savings add up.”

eBill customers receive an email notification when their bill is ready for online viewing at My Utility Account on the City’s website, saskatoon.ca.

It’s easy to sign up for your ebill!  Rush – get in to win and go green today!

Visit saskatoon.ca/ebillrush to sign-up or switch over, and for eBill Contest rules. Or, call 306-975-3200 for more information.

Saskatoon Transit has been forced to make major adjustments to afternoon and evening service on November 24, 2016. The Transit union continues to direct its members to take job action, this factor is compounded with an increased amount of sick time today has increased the pressure on the system.

“We will do our best to keep as much service on the road as we possibly can but with the refusal of over time by the union and an increased number of operators calling in sick, we have no other choice but to start pulling service,” says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit.      

Today, Saskatoon Transit had 12 operators call in sick. This, added to the refusal of overtime has caused the cancellation of runs or “loops” on 11 school routes, 21 regular routes and will cause over-crowding on 13 regular routes during afternoon and evening service.  

“This is the first day that Transit union job action has caused us to make major cancellations to regularly scheduled routes,” says McDonald. “We expect this to continue over the next few days so we encourage riders to regularly check the apps and our website for service alerts.”

Saskatoon Transit will continue to keep customers informed by issuing service alerts when made aware of any disruptions or delays. Service alerts can be viewed at saskatoontransit.ca, saskatoon.ca, on Twitter at @stoontransit or @YXEserviceAlert, through Transit App and in Google Transit.

Transit administration may not be aware of all immediate job action but will make efforts to inform the public of delays or disruptions as the information is made available. During such times Saskatoon Transit will make every attempt to maintain an appropriate level of service based on the resources available, but may be forced to further minimize service if required.  Citizens are encouraged to plain their commute in advance and allow extra time to get to their final destination.

Individuals who do not have access to the internet can call the Transit Customer Service line at 306-975-3100 but are reminded that wait times may be longer than normal due to job action or higher than normal call volumes.

Access Transit is an essential service, and will continue operating as normal.

The City thanks our citizens, transit customers and our transit employees for their patience and understanding as we have attempted to reach a contract settlement with ATU.