News Releases

With the approval of the Water Security Agency and the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the City of Saskatoon has lifted the Do Not Use water advisory for Bolstad Link/Manor/Turn/Way in the neighbourhood of Aspen Ridge. Bolstad residents were taken off the permanent, underground water system and moved to a temporary above-ground system after potential hydrocarbon contamination was discovered in a few area hydrants in January.

“The City commissioned an investigation that led to a thoroughly documented remediation process coupled with many rounds of confirmatory water quality testing,” says Angela Gardiner, Acting General Manager of Transportation and Utilities. “All testing indicates that the water on Bolstad meets or exceeds all regulatory water quality standards.”

The City contracted Stantec, a global engineering firm, to lead the remediation activities in consultation with a senior toxicologist. Inspections and remediation activities included:

• Camera inspections of hydrant lead pipes and main pipes with a high definition camera to assess conditions before and after remediation.
• High pressure flushing and regular flushing.
• Scrubbing, also known as pigging.  

“The watermains and connecting infrastructure have been confirmed to be acceptable or better than typical operating conditions, as a result of extensive remediation,” says Chris Mathies, Principal & Sector Leader with Environmental Services at Stantec. “We will also continue to monitor the water quality and we’re confident it will continue to meet with water quality standards.”

The City’s investigation into the source of the contaminant is ongoing although it has been determined to be an asphalt-type product, of which there are many varieties widely available.

Properties located on Bolstad Link/Manor/Turn/Way received notification that the advisory had been lifted earlier today. The area will be transitioned off of the temporary system and onto the permanent one over the course of the next few weeks.

Two special events are being planned on Tuesday, October 2 to commemorate the completion of the City of Saskatoon’s largest ever infrastructure project. In just days, the Bridging to Tomorrow project, which includes the Chief Mistawasis Bridge, McOrmond Drive and Central Avenue extensions, and the new Traffic Bridge will be completed on time and on budget.

“The City is grateful for the strong partnerships we have with the Government of Canada, the Government of Saskatchewan, and Graham Commuter Partners on this project,” says Dan Willems, Acting General Manager of Corporate Performance. “All of this new infrastructure will shorten commute times, offer more transportation options for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, and help grow the economy, all of which improve our quality of life.”

Events will focus on the theme of community and bridging together citizens in celebration. At the Chief Mistawasis Bridge, a morning celebration will include a grand entry with local Indigenous leaders, residential school survivors, and City and government officials. Citizens will be invited to walk around and explore the bridge for the entire morning.

Beginning at noon, a more informal event will be held on the deck of the new Traffic Bridge. The event will start with a bridge walk that will include citizens, local community leaders, school children, and walking, cycling and running groups. It will begin on both ends of the bridge and meet in the middle in a celebration of community. Citizens are invited to bring their own lunch to the new Traffic Bridge or purchase their lunch from food truck vendors that will be set up on the deck. The Traffic Bridge Party will include local cultural entertainment and history and information about the Bridging to Tomorrow project will be on display.

Chief Mistawasis Bridge, McOrmond Drive and Central Avenue extensions will open to vehicular traffic later in the day. The Traffic Bridge will open to vehicular traffic on October 3.

For more information on the Bridging to Tomorrow project, visit saskatoon.ca/bridging.

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.