News Releases

Residents are invited to celebrate Canada’s 150^th anniversary of Confederation with an afternoon of outdoor family fun and fireworks at the “YXE-NYE-150” event being hosted at Kiwanis Memorial Park (Spadina Crescent East) on Saturday, December 31, 2016, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Saskatoon will join 18 other cities across Canada, ringing in the New Year in a spectacular way.  Event activities will include:

• Jump on the sleigh rides as they cruise up and down Spadina Crescent;
• Visit the “Inuksuk Park” and build your own inuksuk with ice;
• Create a special maple leaf candle for Canada’s giant snow birthday cake;
• Warm up by the Canada 150 bonfire or at various other warming stations with photo booths;
• Express your wish for Canada’s future on a red ribbon, and tie it to the Wishing Tree;
• Visit storyteller, Joseph Naytowhow, in the giant igloo to learn about First Nations heritage;
• Skate or just hang out at the Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink @PotashCorp Plaza where a disc jockey will lead skating games with fantastic prizes;
• Craft something special at the Remai Modern Art Caravan in the Delta Bessborough Hotel lobby;
• Grab a complimentary cup of hot chocolate or coffee from Tims Coffee Truck;
• Visit the food trucks and downtown businesses for a special treat;
• Meet Olympian, Jillian Gallays, and Paralympian, Erica Gavel, to get autographs and hear about their Olympic experiences;
• Rendezvous at the YXE-NYE-150 main stage to experience indigenous and ethno-cultural entertainment; and
• Listen to Saskatoon band, The Pistolwhips, who will headline the stage. 

To cap off the celebrations, a fireworks show, set to music, will be launched from the Broadway Bridge at 8:17 p.m. (20:17 in the 24-hour time clock).  A local radio station will broadcast the music live; attendees will be able to view the fireworks from up and down the riverbank and listen to the soundtrack on radios or smart phones.

Saskatoon Transit, in partnership with Saskatchewan Government Insurance, will be offering complimentary transit services starting at 5 p.m. 

YXE-NYE-150 was made possible through a $106,000 grant from the Government of Canada’s Canada 150 Fund.  This event will be a great kick-start to the many celebrations taking place throughout 2017 to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of Confederation.  If you’d like to help make it happen, visit www.yxenye150.ca, and click on the “Volunteer” link.  See you there!

From the December 5, 2016 Meeting

7.2.6 Boychuk Interchange Land Acquisition

Decision

*The Committee forwarded the report to City Council in support of the recommendation.

Background

*The recommendation is that Administration be authorized to purchase a portion of Surface Parcel # 120790425 from Larix Holdings Ltd. for the Boychuk Interchange Project.
*The Boychuk Interchange Project was bundled with the McOrmond Interchange Project as a Design-Build Project.
*For the Boychuk Interchange, the City has previously purchased 7.51 acres of property in 2012 from Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam (Ontario) Inc.

7.2.7 Boychuk Interchange Land Exchange Agreement

Decision

*The Committee forwarded the report to City Council in support of the recommendation.

Background

*The recommendation is that Administration be authorized to enter into a tri-party land exchange agreement with 101204822 Saskatchewan Ltd. and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344 for the interchange.

From the December 5, 2016 meeting

7.1.3 Community Standards Division Progress Update

Decision

*The Committee receive the report as information and requested a report from the Fire Department to provide an update with respect to the Property Maintenance and Nuisance Bylaw.

Background

*Established in 2015, the Community Standards (CS) Division operates on a set of founding principles.
*The CS Division is comprised of three core business sections, each accountable for four basic functions.
*Within the operating budget, the CS Division is currently represented by two business lines, operates four service lines, and supports four of the corporate Strategic Goals.
*The development of CS incorporates three high-level priorities of implementation. Specific progress in various areas has been made, and many additional items are identified in the 2017 business plan.

7.1.6 Comparing Infill and Greefield Development – Scope of Work

Decision

*The Committee will be reporting to City Council to recommend that the report be received as information and referred back to the Administration for a further report on the feasibility of creating a round table on infill and greenfield development. The Committee is also reporting to Council to recommend that the matter of establishing a framework for the development of a lane paving policy be also referred to the round table (to be established) for discussion.

Background

*The report provides a “scope of work” for a future study and report comparing infill and greenfield development, including the costs associated with these forms of development. This report also addresses a Committee resolution related to incentives for green buildings and infill development.

7.2.2 Street Activity Steering Committee

Decision

*The Committee will be reporting to City Council to recommend that the City Solicitor’s Office be requested to amend the Panhandling Bylaw with respect to prohibiting panhandling on a street, sidewalk, or other public place within 8 metres of a doorway to a cinema, theatre, or performing arts venue.  However, the recommendation of the Administration with respect to prohibiting panhandling around public parking pay stations was not supported and the Committee is recommending instead that bylaw amendments be prepared to prohibit panhandling within 2 metres around any public parking pay station. In addition, although not intended to impact consideration of the proposed amendments at this time, the Committee is recommending that the Administration review panhandling bylaws from other cities across Canada with respect to buffers around businesses serving and selling alcohol.

Background

*As a result of an increasing trend in aggressive and/or coercive panhandling and panhandling in groups, the Street Activity Steering Committee believes the existing Panhandling Bylaw requires amendments to address current needs within Saskatoon.
*In its present form, the Streets Use Bylaw does not reflect the current needs of Saskatoon and requires a comprehensive review to bring it up to date.

Transit union members today voted to accept the City's offer and the new contract will now go to City Council for final approval.

“We are very happy to have a contract agreement with the Transit union,” says City Manager, Murray Totland. 

The offer includes a 10% wage increase and back pay to 2012 as well as the same pension agreement the other eight unions and associations in the general pension plan have signed.

Totland thanks the public,  transit riders and transit employees,  for "...their patience over the last number of years as we worked toward a new collective agreement.

"The new contract comes at a very appropriate time," he adds. 

"Transit is moving into the future with a new facility, fleet renewal and plans for a shift toward Bus Rapid Transit.  We now have an opportunity to leave differences behind us and work together on drawing the new roadmap for public transit in our community."

Less than two years ago, ground was broken to make way for the new Civic Operations Centre (COC), the new home for Saskatoon Transit and the City’s first permanent Snow Management Facility. Today, City officials marked the end of construction two weeks ahead of schedule and on budget thanks to the expertise and collaboration of a project team comprised of City staff and private development partners.

Saskatoon Transit will move into its new 450,000 square foot facility, a model of innovation and efficiency, in mid-January 2017. The state-of-the-art facility is LEED certified, has 27 maintenance bays, quick service, a full body shop including a paint booth, indoor storage for 224 buses, and administrative offices. It was built with the future in mind and will accommodate the fleet expansion expected over the next 10 to 15 years. In the interim, the unused space will be used for general equipment storage.

The Snow Management Facility will also open in January 2017 and has the capacity to store up to 1 million cubic metres of snow on a 14 acre concrete pad. When the snow naturally melts, the melt water will run through an oil and grit separator and into a melt water/storm water pond. The melt water will then go through a series of specially designed baffle curtains before being discharged in a controlled fashion into the storm water system. The Snow Management Facility will be operated by the City’s Roadways and Operations Division.

To qualify for federal government support, and realize taxpayer savings over the life of the project, the City entered into its first Public-Private Partnership (P3) with Integrated Team Solutions (ITS) through a competitive procurement process.

The P3 approach is expected to deliver value for taxpayer dollars equivalent to $92.3 million over the lifecycle of the facilities – savings that could not have been achieved through a traditional Design-Bid-Build model. PPP Canada’s contribution to the $154 million project is $38.5 million.

With City oversight, ITS led the design, construction, and financing of the COC and will maintain the site and buildings over the next 25 years at which time the City will assume responsibility. At all times, the City will retain full ownership and continue to deliver services.

Quotes

Hon. Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
“This state of the art facility will serve as a model for cities and municipalities across the country. Our government understands that infrastructure is the foundation for building strong and sustainable communities of all sizes and the new Civic Operations Centre is a testament to our commitment to ensure cities have the support they need.”

His Worship, Mayor Charlie Clark, City of Saskatoon

“The Civic Operations Centre is a tremendous step forward for our Transit Operations and for snow and ice management in our city. Our Transit Operations outgrew the old bus barns long ago, and our staff have been making do in cramped facilities for many years. This LEED certified facility, built ahead of schedule and on budget, has perfect timing as we prepare to modernize Transit in Saskatoon.”

Jeff Jorgenson, General Manager of Transportation & Utilities, City of Saskatoon

“From the RFQ stage to where we are today, I couldn’t be more impressed with the execution of the Civic Operations Centre project. It’s a compliment that other Canadian cities and municipalities will be looking at our City’s first P3 project as a model of innovation and collaboration that will result in taxpayer value several years down the road.”

Peter Bullen, Project Co Lead, Integrated Team Solutions

“Integrated Team Solutions is proud to have collaborated with EllisDon and the City of Saskatoon to achieve this major project milestone, ahead of time and on budget. With construction complete, we look forward to partnering with Engie to maintain and operate these state-of-the-art facilities for the City over the next 25 years.”

Michael Kazda, Vice President & Area Manager, EllisDon Construction Services Inc.

"EllisDon is pleased to have partnered with ITS and the City of Saskatoon to bring the design and construction of this project to a successful conclusion. Safely delivering a quality project, ahead of time and on budget, requires a tremendous team effort that everyone associated with the new Civic Operations Centre project should be proud of.”

Backgrounder

Civic Operations Centre At a Glance

• Situated on 180 acres of land within City limits between the CN Railway tracks and Valley Road, just west of Circle Drive.
• Designed like a campus with various buildings and facilities with the capacity to house more civic services.
• An earth berm separates the CN railway line and the Montgomery Place neighbourhood.
• The site has internal circulation roads and a signalized intersection on Valley Road.

Saskatoon Transit Facility

• LEED Certified 450,000 square foot building.
• Fully equipped with state-of-the-art maintenance shop including 27 bays utilizing a combination of built-in hoists and mobile hoists, inspection pits, a transmission shop, machine shop, electronics shop, and tire and battery shops. Also included is a body shop with a paint booth, 2 indoor bus washes with water recycling, fueling stations, bus shelter repair area, and an upholstery shop.
• 250,000 square feet of indoor heated storage space for buses.
• Administrative offices, meeting and training rooms, fare collection room, and dispatch area.

Snow Management Facility

• Capacity to store up to 1 million cubic metres of snow.
• Storm water and meltwater management pond with inlet sand/oil/grit separator.
• Roller compacted concrete surface to facilitate site operation maintenance and cleaning.
• Geotextile material is in place to protect the soil and groundwater from infiltration and contamination, demonstrating commitment to Environmental Leadership.
• Automated Access Control System capability.
• Policies are in place to manage noise created by equipment and tailgate slamming.

Public-Private Partner

• Integrated Team Solutions (ITS) is a consortium comprised of EllisDon Capital Inc., Fengate Capital, EllisDon Corporation, and ENGIE.
• Under contract with the City, ITS will maintain, repair and rehabilitate COC facilities for 25 years.
• Penalty procedures are in place if ITS fails to meet the COC service delivery standards.
• Over the 25-year period, the City retains full ownership of the facilities and will operate civic services as normal.

Timeline

• January 2013 - Federal (PPP Canada) funding approved
• September 2013 - RFQ issued for proponents
• March 2014 - RFP issued for proponents
• December 2014 -  Contract executed with ITS
• January 2015 - Construction began
• December 13, 2016 – Construction complete
• January 2017 - Saskatoon Transit moves in and Snow Management Facility becomes operational
• 2041 - End of contract with ITS

Interesting Project Facts

• 1,250 KM of electrical wire pulled
• 9 KM of fiber optic communication cable installed by SL&P - the largest installation by SL&P to date
• 122 KM of pipe for heated floor in the Transit Facility
• 1,650 light fixtures
• 144,000 concrete blocks in the Transit Facility
• Heat Recovery Units were lifted on to the roof of the Transit Facility by helicopter
• Over 582,000 man hours worked with 0 lost time injuries
• 94.5% of construction waste was recycled
• 31,200 cubic metres of concrete in the Snow Management Pad
• 12,101 cubic metres of concrete in the Transit Facility
• 135,000 cubic metres of dirt moved to level the site (cut/fill)
• 30,000 cubic metres of topsoil utilized for the berm construction