News Releases

From the January 9, 2017 Meeting

7.1.1 Naming Requests – ‘Mohyla’ and ‘Figley’ and Naming Advisory Committee Quarterly Report

Decision

*The Committee approved the addition of the names ‘Mohyla’ and ‘Figley’ to the Names Master List and is forwarding the report to City Council for information.

Background

*All names proposed for the Names Master List are screened by the Naming Advisory Committee and meet City Council guidelines for name selection.  
*The St. Pedro Mohyla Institute celebrated its 100^th Anniversary in Saskatoon in 2016.
*Lorne Figley has recently been awarded the Guinness World Record as the oldest active plumber. He has owned and operated Broadway Heating Ltd. In Saskatoon since 1951.

7.2.2 Jan Coleman – Entrance Sign to Honour Joni Mitchell

Decision

*The Committee referred the matter to the Naming Advisory Committee for review and report.

Background

*An e-mail requesting “Home of Joni Mitchell” signs be established at Saskatoon entrances from Jan Coleman was received.

7.3.1 Home Ice Campaign Committee and U of S Proposal

Decision

*The Committee requested that the Administration undertake communication with the University of Saskatchewan and report back at the January 30, 2017 meeting of the SPC on PDCS with options to provide up to $3 million further financial support for the Home Ice proposal.

Background

*The Home Ice Campaign Committee and the University of Saskatchewan submitted a proposal requesting the City consider significantly increase financial support for the twin ice surface, multi-sport facility.

Current weekend weather forecasts for the area in and around Saskatoon are unstable and predict light snow mixed with ice pellets early Saturday morning. Roadways & Operations is monitoring the changing weather system and are ready to deploy all available winter maintenance equipment to keep drivers moving.

“Our crews are ready to apply salt and pre-wet salt mixture to high-traffic roads and Priority streets,” says Brandon Harris, Director of Roadways and Operations. “With the expected temperatures being warm enough, the salt and pre-wet salt mixture should really help prevent ice formation and provide traction.”

If ice pellets or freezing rain are followed by a heavy snowfall, plowing will occur to remove accumulations and slippery sections will be treated with sand and magnesium chloride. In addition, the solid layer of residual magnesium chloride currently on Priority street surfaces will help reduce ice formation.    

Circle Drive will be proactively salted in advance of the forecasted ice pellets and light snow.

What you can expect:

• City crews will apply sand and salt to high-traffic roads and Priority streets, starting with Circle Drive and freeways as required.
• Periodic sections of slippery roadways and slow-moving traffic.
• Even with the use of salt and sand, extra moisture from snow may cause slippery conditions during peak driving times, especially on bridges where ice particles may be in the air above the river. 
• Extra staff will be called in if required.
• Priority one streets and bridge decks are inspected and treated as necessary.

What you can do:

• Please slow down and use extra caution.
• Watch for blue and amber flashing lights on snow maintenance equipment. If you encounter equipment on the road, slow down, remain at least 15 metres (2.5 car lengths) behind, and be ready to stop.
• When safe to do so, drivers can report icy locations to the 24-hour Customer Service Centre at 306-975-2476 or email snow@saskatoon.ca.
• Sidewalk users are also encouraged to use extra caution.

“City crews will be out there day and night,” says Harris. “Please watch for flashing lights that signal winter maintenance equipment is working ahead. Slow down and be ready to stop for your safety, and the safety of everyone around you.”

The first of 58 girders for the North Commuter Parkway (NCP) Bridge arrived in Saskatoon today.

“We’re excited to see this phase of the project begin,” says Dan Willems, Director of Major Projects. “People have been waiting for this for many years and it’s finally taking shape.”

As the Bridging to Tomorrow project has entered its second year; two of three piers on the North Commuter Parkway are now complete and work on the first bridge span (Span 2) will be underway as girders continue to arrive in the following weeks.

Each span is constructed of 58.5 girders and each girder measures 3 metres tall by 1 metre wide and 33.5 metres long; they weigh 52,182 Kg. With the arrival, the construction of Span 2 will begin this afternoon. 

The Bridging to Tomorrow project also includes the construction of the new Traffic Bridge downtown. Willems says significant progress has been made on both bridges over the past year. At the Traffic Bridge site, the final components of the original bridge were demolished and the final two piers (Pier 1 and Pier 2) were completed in December.

“With completion of the final two piers at the Traffic Bridge our contractor, Graham Commuter Partners, can start building the new spans,” Willems says. “The in-river berm has been modified to create an island in the middle of the river, with a temporary steel bridge connecting to the north bank, to allow construction of the two centre spans.”

Construction of the new south span (Span 4) at the Traffic Bridge was completed last fall. Construction of the two centre spans (Span 2 and Span 3) will start next week, and scheduled to be complete by mid-April. The final span will be constructed this spring. Construction of the bridge deck will follow.

“When it’s finished, the new Traffic Bridge will support the growing city centre by allowing drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to cross the South Saskatchewan River,” Willems says. “It’ll resemble the original bridge, but will be wider to accommodate larger vehicles like fire trucks and buses.”

The North Commuter Parkway will support the transportation needs of citizens who live in Saskatoon’s northeast but work in the Marquis and North Industrial Areas. Construction of new roads to connect Marquis Drive to Central Avenue and McOrmond Drive will continue next spring.

Bridging to Tomorrow project updates, including detailed monthly summaries, links to live cameras at each bridge site, and quarterly video updates, are available at saskatoon.ca/bridging.

In person, anyone can watch Traffic Bridge progress at the River Landing viewing area.

North Commuter Parkway construction can be viewed from the Meewasin Trail just east of the cul-de-sac at the north end of Kinnear Avenue (north of Silverwood Golf Course).

International bond rating agency Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings (S&P) has again reaffirmed the City of Saskatoon’s ‘AAA’/Stable credit rating.

“The stable outlook reflects S&P’s expectations that Saskatoon is well positioned to benefit from a very strong economy,” says His Worship Mayor Charlie Clark. “Along with our ability to pay for programs and services, S&P says City Council has maintained a strong budgetary performance, and kept debt low.”

Every year, S&P reviews the City’s finances and delivers a rating in a report based on that study.

The bond rater says even though “a significant decline in commodity prices has dampened Saskatoon’s economic performance,” the City’s solid economic accomplishment has lessened the impact.

 “This is very encouraging news,” says Chief Financial Officer Kerry Tarasoff. “As it has for many, many years, the S&P rating underlines our managerial performance with prudent financial policies, robust budget documents and borrowing plans.”

The S&P report also notes the City’s historically stable budgetary performance and it outlines a healthy financial picture for the immediate future.

“We expect the City will continue to generate robust operating surpluses relative to those of its peers,” the report says.

The agency again points to the City’s culture of transparency and disclosure backed with “good” audited annual financial statements as other key reasons to maintain the rating.

The City has received the ‘AAA’/Stable credit rating every year for more than a decade allowing the City to borrow money at lower interest rates.

View the full January 2017 Report from S&P Global on saskatoon.ca.

From the January 10, 2017 Meeting