News Releases

A City Committee is asking City Council to green-light a plan seeking a tenant to develop and manage a six-day-a-week public and farmers’ market in the Farmers’ Market Building at River Landing.   As the current lease is set to expire in the spring with the current tenant, a report considered by the Planning, Development & Community Services Committee would like City Council to endorse issuing a Request for Proposal this fall.

“It’s been ten years since the Farmers’ Market Building was converted from an electrical utility building,” says Brenda Wallace, Director, Environmental and Corporate Initiatives. “Saskatoon, its food scene, and the River Landing precinct, has undergone vast changes in that time.

“The original concept plan for River Landing outlined ambitious dreams for this space and the City wants to determine if we can move closer to realizing them with increased market days and activity in the building”

The City has undertaken lease renewal negotiations with the current tenant of the building, the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market Co-operative Ltd. (SFMCL), which had submitted a business plan. Its plan anticipates providing an eventual increased number of days each week in which some market and program activities would occur, however, full animation of the site as originally envisioned would not be achieved.

“Through an RFP, we’re hoping to make it very clear what the expectations and hopes are for the building and to identify an entity best-positioned to bring a vibrant market to our residents and visitors,” Wallace says.

If approved at City Council, Administration will issue a Request for Proposals in fall of this year. The current Lease and Operating Agreement for the Farmers’ Market Building expires in May 2019.

River Landing, through the Farmers’ Market, supports the Strategic Goal of Quality of Life by ensuring facilities are accessible and meeting community needs. As a cultural, recreational, and market centre, River Landing invites citizens and visitors alike to enjoy the natural beauty and benefits of parks, trails, and other amenities that bring people together. 

The Saskatoon Fire Department will be hosting three open houses of fire stations around the city, as well as one public grand opening of the newly relocated Fire Station No. 3. These events will be running from September 17^th to 20^th and all are welcome to attend. The details of each are as follows:

Monday, September 17, 2018

Fire Station No. 2 Open House – 3111 Diefenbaker Drive

6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Fire Station No. 8 Open House – 207 Slimmon Road

6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Fire Station No. 1 Open House – 125 Idylwyld Drive South

6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

LIVE BURN DEMONSTRATION!

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Fire Station No. 3 Public Grand Opening – 2613 Clarence Avenue South

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

FREE CHILI AND A BUN!

Each event will include tours of the station, and the opportunity to meet members of the Saskatoon Fire Department and ask any questions that you may have.

We are excited to host community members at a number of our fire stations. We hope to see you there!

After months of study, City Administration recommends bi-weekly collection of both garbage and organics – with no changes to recycling. It further recommends the new services be funded as a utility instead of from property taxes.

“We made a great deal of progress over the summer – conducting further research and examining all of City Council’s options to help inform these reports,” says Russ Munro, Director of Water & Waste Stream. “It was important for us to phase these decisions and take the time to consider all possible scenarios to ensure we were presenting solutions that not only make economic and environmental sense, but that also keep the best interests of our residents in mind.”

A series of reports will be presented Monday to the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities & Corporate Services. Together they address the environmental and financial sustainability of waste management in Saskatoon and help achieve the City’s goal of 70% waste diversion by 2023. The three reports are a follow-up to the June 25 Recommended Changes to Waste Management in Saskatoon report where City Council directed Administration to proceed with the development of a new Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) waste utility and mandatory city-wide organics program for curbside single-family homes.

As mentioned, the Waste Management Levels of Service – Curbside Organics and Pay-As-You-Throw Waste Utility report, recommends that the new service level for all curbside households be year-round bi-weekly collection of garbage and organics, with no changes to recycling. It is also recommended that these new services be funded as a utility rather than through property taxes.

The Ability-to-Pay Considerations for an Expanded Curbside Waste Utility report, includes considerations to ensure the program is affordable to residents of Saskatoon and address concerns around changing program funding from mill rate (subsidized by the commercial sector) to a utility. The new programs are expected to stay well within affordability thresholds for a range of income levels.

An additional report, Unified Waste Utility - Utility Rate Setting Philosophy, will present City Council with options for long-term financial rate setting, should they approve the recommendation to implement the new programs as a utility.

While the Administration recommends the most cost-effective level of service with a rate structure that incentivises waste diversion, City Council may select a different or any combination of service levels or rate structures. Either scenario will require the Administration to report back to City Council for final approval on service levels and rates.

”We are hopeful that these reports provide City Council with the details needed to make an informed decision,” says Munro. “These recommendations support Council goals and values with the long term objectives of Economic, Environmental and Social Sustainability for Saskatoon.”

For more information about the City’s waste diversion plan, visit saskatoon.ca/wastediversion. Review the full agenda for the September 10, 2018 Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services, including report attachments.

The City is reminding drivers that school zones are back in effect beginning next week. School zones are marked around all public and private schools (elementary and secondary), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., from September to June. Drivers are required to reduce their speeds to a maximum of 30 kilometres per hour (km/h).

“There is a very direct relationship between vehicle speed and severity of injury,” says David LeBoutillier, Acting Engineering Manager with the City’s Transportation Division. “The 30 kilometre per hour limit we’ve set is not arbitrary and it’s definitely not excessive. We have a lot of data that shows us speed is the determinant factor when it comes to a vehicle-child collision.”

According to the World Health Organization’s speed management manual, the following are a child’s chances of surviving a collision when a driver is travelling at:

• 60 km/h: there is a 0% chance of a child surviving the collision.
• 50 km/h: there is a 20% chance of a child surviving the collision.
• 40 km/h: there is a 60% chance of a child surviving the collision.
• 30 km/h: there is a 90% chance of a child surviving the collision.

School zone compliance is enforced by the Saskatoon Police Service. Members of the SPS rotate through school zones around the city on a daily basis as well as respond to reports of non-compliance.

“Every September, at the start of the school year, we ask motorists to re-adjust their driving habits around schools,” says Staff Sergeant Patrick Barbar of the SPS Traffic Unit. “This means being very deliberate about looking for and obeying school zone signage.”

The SPS will be focusing extra attention on school zones beginning next week. Tickets for speeding in a school zone are double the base amount plus double the amount per kilometer over the limit. School zone fines are generally in the range of $400-500 and they can go as high as $1,000. A driver travelling through a school zone at 60 km/h or more will also have their vehicle impounded.

The City also wants to remind Saskatoon drivers that u-turns are restricted in school zones. If a driver is performing a u-turn, children who are walking, running and playing in the area may not anticipate the change in direction. Similarly, the blind spots change for drivers performing the u-turn and they may not be able to see what is happening behind their vehicle.

This fall, there is only one new school zone in effect: St. Frances Cree Bilingual School on Bateman Crescent in Greystone Heights. More information about school zones in Saskatoon is available at saskatoon.ca/SchoolZones.

The Saskatoon Fire Department would like to remind everyone to follow safe practices when purchasing, enjoying, and disposing of fireworks. Bylaw No. 7990 prohibits the discharge of fireworks except on Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day and New Year’s Eve. This Labour Day, Monday, September 3^rd, low-hazard fireworks can only be discharged on private property between the hours of dusk and 11:00 p.m.

Residents and visitors need to familiarize themselves with the risks and obligations associated with fireworks:

• Carefully read and follow the manufacturer instructions,
• Exercise increased caution when handling and discharging any type of firework,
• Choose your location wisely, noting that fireworks can only be discharged on private property,
• Ensure your location is free of overhead obstructions, is clear side-to-side, and is a safe distance from combustible materials,
• Familiarize yourself with the space requirements for each type of firework being discharged,
• Be sure to properly stabilize the firework according to manufacturer directions, and
• Keep in mind that you are solely responsible for any debris that may land on your spectators or adjacent property.

After dusk, when you are ready to discharge the fireworks, ensure that weather conditions are favourable, and always light the fuse of the firework at its tip. Never light or hold a lit firework in your hand. Remember to be extremely careful when discharging fireworks; the debris or smoldering embers could cause injuries, property damage, and/or fires. Always keep a water supply close by.

Wait at least 30 minutes before beginning the clean-up process. Used fireworks and debris should be disposed of in a pail of water. Never try to relight or fix the fuse on fireworks that didn’t go off.

If choosing to enjoy the fireworks display from the South Saskatchewan River, be sure to exercise proper river etiquette by:

• Ensuring your craft is equipped with appropriate markers and lighting after dark,
• Operating your human- or motor-powered craft in a safe manner,
• Maintaining a respectful distance from other river users,
• Not operating any type of craft while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and
• Caring for the environment by properly launching, fueling, starting, and loading your craft.

It is important to remember that you may not be the only craft on the waterway, and to always be aware of your surroundings; this includes monitoring the actions of other river users.

Currently, there is no fire ban in effect for Saskatoon. It is always recommended that residents and visitors celebrate safely at public firework displays that are hosted by a trusted organization. If you choose to observe the fireworks from the South Saskatchewan River, the Saskatoon Fire Department emphasizes the importance of always exercising proper river etiquette. If you choose to celebrate Labour Day by sending off your own fireworks, be sure to follow all safe practices, and only send them off between dusk and 11:00 p.m.

The Saskatoon Fire Department wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable Labour Day.

 In an emergency, call 911 immediately.