News Releases

For the April 25, 2016 Regular Meeting of City Council

9.2.1 Vacant Lot and Adaptive Reuse Incentive Program - Development Incentives – Parcel YY – Public Plaza – Supplementary Report

*City Council will be asked to approve the general conditions for a tax incentive for the Public Plaza located within the Parcel YY development at River Landing; and that the conditions for the tax incentive for the Plaza be contained within the Direct Control District Development Agreement for Parcel YY.

Additional Information

*The developer (Triovest) of Parcel YY has requested an annual tax incentive equivalent to the property taxes for the area of Parcel YY developed as a Public Plaza. This request was considered by the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services on March 7, 2016. A recommendation to approve the incentive was passed by the Committee.
*During its March 7, 2011 meeting, City Council approved the Vacant Lot and Adaptive and Adaptive Re-use Incentive Program (VLAR). The VLAR Incentive Program includes incentives to encourage more housing within the Downtown. The VLAR program was recently amended to also include new incentives for offices and structured parking, in accordance with the City Centre Plan. At the present time, only the downtown housing incentives are available to development within River Landing.
*Triovest requested the same incentives which are offered within the Downtown. They have further requested an annual grant equivalent to the property taxes for the area of Parcel YY developed as a public plaza. Approved by the Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services.

9.3.1 2016 Corporate Business Plan and Budget – Shaping Our Financial Future

*City Council will be asked to receive the 2016 Corporate Business Plan and Budget – Shaping Our Financial Future.

Additional Information

*The document outlines the initiatives planned for the 2016 Business Planning and Budget cycle.
*In 2011, the City implemented major changes to its planning and budgeting process to create a framework which would allow the City to be more adaptive and responsive to the changing dynamics in our city, province, and country. The 2016 Corporate Business Plan and Budget continues to build on that foundation.

9.5.1 Resignation – Councillor Eric Olauson – Ward 8

*City Council will be asked to receive information on the resignation of Councillor Eric Olauson and that the vacancy in Ward 8 not be filled until the upcoming general election on October 26.

Additional Information

*In accordance with Section 15 of The Local Government Election Act, 2015 if a vacancy occurs on a council or board on or after January 1 in the year in which a general election is to be held, the council or board may proceed to fill the vacancy by a by-election or decide not to fill the vacancy until the next general election.

9.11.2 Enumeration/Voters List/Voter Registry

*City Council will be asked to receive the information and approve a recommendation that voters be registered at the polls on the dates set for voting during the 2016 Municipal and School Board Elections.

Additional Information

*There is no legislative or administrative requirement for a voters list. A voters list has not been prepared in Saskatoon since 1988.
*Conducting an enumeration is labour intensive and costly.
*A council may choose to enter into agreements with respect to sharing or using a voters list, or any other voter data used to create a voters list, with any officer established pursuant to a provincial Act or an Act of the parliament of Canada responsible to conduct an election.
*The use of a national or provincial register of electors in a municipal election may serve as a basis for a voters list.
*There is no provision in the legislation to allow for a process to preserve the voter registration forms from the 2016 Municipal and School Board Elections to formulate a list to be used for the purposes of developing a permanent voters list.

9.11.3 Growth Plan to Half a Million

*City Council will be asked to approve the following recommendations:
1. Recognize and approve, in principle, the long-term benefits of the vision and key directions of the Growth Plan to Half a Million;
2. That the Growth Plan be implemented in a phased, incremental approach, requiring specific recommendations for action in ten-year increments;
3. That the Administration report back with an implementation plan for the period of 2017 to 2026; and
4. That the Administration be instructed to bring forward specific reports on any actions related to overall plan implementation.

Additional Information

*The Growth Plan will guide the City’s growth for transportation, transit (Growth, and land-use planning to accommodate a population of half a million people).
*Without the Growth Plan, economic and community impacts of continuing the current growth patterns are expected to include increased traffic congestion, declining levels of transit service, longer commutes, and higher infrastructure costs, among others.
*The Growth Plan outlines eight key directions to guide transportation, transit, and land-use planning to accommodate a population of half a million.
*A ten-year action plan will be created to guide the implementation of the Growth Plan and will be brought to City Council for approval in early 2017.

From the April 18, 2016 Meeting

7.1.1 2017 Business Plan and Budget Process

Decision

*The committee endorsed a process for the 2017 Business Plan and Budget.  

Background

*In addition to the City’s Strategic Plan, City Council's priorities will provide direction and focus to the Administration in the preparation of the 2017 Business Plan and Budget.
*The 2017 Business Plan and Budget process will attempt to integrate a “policy-oriented” approach so that City Council can provide key direction to the Administration on various existing, and emerging, policy issues.
*The 2017 Business Plan and Budget process will include a public engagement component, so people of Saskatoon have an opportunity to provide input into the development of the 2017 Business Plan and Budget.

7.2.2 Growth Plan to Half a Million

Decision

*The committee will forward the following recommendations to City Council:

1. Recognize and approve, in principle, the long-term benefits of the vision and key directions of the Growth Plan to Half a Million;
2. That the Growth Plan be implemented in a phased, incremental approach, requiring specific recommendations for action in ten-year increments;
3. That the Administration report back with an implementation plan for the period of 2017 to 2026; and
4. That the Administration be instructed to bring forward specific reports on any actions related to overall plan implementation.

Background

*The Growth Plan will guide the City’s growth for transportation, transit (Growth, and land-use planning to accommodate a population of half a million people).
*Without the Growth Plan, economic and community impacts of continuing the current growth patterns are expected to include increased traffic congestion, declining levels of transit service, longer commutes, and higher infrastructure costs, among others.
*The Growth Plan outlines eight key directions to guide transportation, transit, and land-use planning to accommodate a population of half a million.
*A ten-year action plan will be created to guide the implementation of the Growth Plan and will be brought to City Council for approval in early 2017.

7.2.2.1 City of Saskatoon Growth Plan – SaskTel Centre – Current Status and Future Outlook

Decision

*City Council received the information.

Background

*In March, the committee held a Growth Plan Summit. Administration requested a presentation from the SaskTel Centre CEO regarding the current structure and plans for the future.
*SaskTel Centre, which opened in 1988, is rated among the top 100 arena concert venues in the world and has made Saskatoon a destination for major events and tours.
*Key issues noted within the presentation include: No Loading Dock for quickly loading shows in and out; Roof and trusses are too low and inadequate for event rigging; Kitchen and catering space is inadequate; With additions in permanent seating, concourse space and concession service locations outgrew; Limited public restrooms;Lack of permanent artist dressing rooms; Limited dressing rooms for national and international events.

8.2.1 Enumeration/Voters List/Voter Registry

Decision

*The committee recommended City Council receive the information and that voters be registered at the polls on the dates set for voting during the 2016 Municipal and School Board Election.

Background

*There is no legislative or administrative requirement for a voters list. A voters list has not been prepared in Saskatoon since 1988.
*Conducting an enumeration is labour intensive and costly.
*A council may choose to enter into agreements with respect to sharing or using a voters list, or any other voter data used to create a voters list, with any officer established pursuant to a provincial Act or an Act of the parliament of Canada responsible to conduct an election.
*The use of a national or provincial register of electors in a municipal election may serve as a basis for a voters list.
*There is no provision in the legislation to allow for a process to preserve the voter registration forms from the 2016 Municipal and School Board Elections to formulate a list to be used for the purposes of developing a permanent voters list.

8.2.2 2016 Local Government Elections – Mail-In Ballots

Decision

*The committee is forwarding the report to City Council recommending the City Solicitor be instructed to amend The Election Bylaw to remove the provision of “postage-paid” for the return of the mailing envelope to the returning officer for mail-in ballots.

Background

*Section 92 of The Local Government Election Act, 2015 authorizes Council to establish a mail-in ballot voting system for the purpose of receiving ballots in an election. In addition, clause 29(1)(b) of the Act authorizes Council to establish a mail-in ballot voting system for voters receiving care in a hospital, personal care facility or similar institution. Bylaw No. 8191, The Election Bylaw, 2012, provides for a mail-in ballot voting system.

8.2.3 2016 Local Government Elections – Hours of Voting

Decision

*The committee forwarded the report to City Council for information.

Background

*The Local Government Election Act, 2015 stipulates that polls must be open for voting between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on election day, and that the Returning Officer may open polls earlier than 9:00 a.m. on election day.
*In the past, polls have been open between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and the same hours will be established for the 2016 Civic Election. Election officials must be at the poll at least 30 minutes before opening the poll and they are required to stay after the poll closes to complete their legislated duties, which means they are working a long day. It is therefore not being proposed that polls open any earlier than 8:00 a.m.

8.2.4 2016 Local Government Elections – Advance Polls

Decision

*GPC is forwarding the report to City Council for its information.

Background

*Section 85 of the The Local Government Election Act, 2015 authorizes the returning officer to establish one or more advance polls for voters at least three days and not more than 15 days before the day of the election, and set the days and hours for advance voting, excepting those to be established for personal care facilities and similar institutions.

8.2.5 2016 Local Government Elections – Homebound Voting

Decision

*GPC recommending to City Council that homebound voting in accordance with The Local Government Election Act, 2015 and Regulations be established on October 21, 24 and 26, 2016.

Background

*Section 30 of The Local Government Election Act, 2015 authorizes Council to provide for homebound voting any time between the first day of advance polling and the closing of polls on election day to take the vote of a voter that:
(a) has a disability or limited mobility and is unable to attend an established polling place to vote; or (b) is a resident caregiver and because of the care required for the voter who has a disability or limited mobility does not allow them to attend an established polling place to vote.
*Applications to engage the homebound voting service are made to the returning officer. Upon the returning officer’s satisfaction that the application is proper and complies with legislated requirements, the homebound voting service involves election officials going to the home of the voter to capture their vote. Personal Care facilities and similar institutions that are too small to warrant establishing a special poll for the required one hour minimum time frame would also be eligible for this service, provided residents meet the application criteria.
*It is being recommended that homebound voting be established on October 21, 24 and 26, as required.

Over the past 3 weeks, City and contractor crews have removed 4,460 tonnes of sand and debris from 620 lane kilometers of medians and high-traffic streets. That’s the equivalent distance from Saskatoon to Calgary. The city-wide neighbourhood street sweeping is scheduled to begin May 1, with curb-to-curb sweeping on all residential streets. Neighbourhood pothole repairs will be prioritized and follow street sweeping.

“The spring sweeping blitz is focused on collecting the bulk of sand and debris left over from winter on high-traffic streets, to clean up dirt and dust so residents and visitors can enjoy the outdoors this spring,” says Trent Schmidt, Acting Director of Public Works. “We continue to improve our program designs for street sweeping each spring and I think residents will agree our busier streets are looking great.”

Since April 11, when hot mix asphalt was available for permanent pothole patching, 302 tonnes have been used to repair the equivalent of 17,000 average potholes. Crews are also tackling the larger utility cuts on high-traffic streets, which can involve excavating to remove wet dirt and re-packing gravel material prior to patching, at this time of year. Residents are encouraged to report potholes for repair online at saskatoon.ca/betterroads, which are inspected and scheduled.

“While we can’t permanently patch some of these locations until the ground frost is completely out of the ground, we are monitoring temporary road repairs and grading gravel-covered locations as required,” says Schmidt. “In the meantime, we are focussing on the areas with the most impact to drivers and have repaired 30 of the 540 utility cuts including at Circle Drive at Venture Crescent, 2nd Avenue, 22nd Street, 8th Street and 33rd Street.”

The City-Wide Residential Street Sweep begins Sunday, May 1 in Parkridge and Meadowgreen (Streets only).

• Bright yellow “No Parking” signs are posted a minimum of 36 hours in advance of sweeping.
• Neighbourhoods with grid streets will have Streets and Avenues swept on different days to make parking available for vehicles that need to move.
• Vehicles that remain on a street at 7 AM on the posted day will be ticketed $100 and relocated to a nearby street.
• Find relocated vehicles with the “Find my Vehicle” application at saskatoon.ca/street-sweeping or by calling the customer service centre at 306–975-2476.
• Find street sweeping schedules for current neighbourhoods, and upcoming industrial areas (night), school zones (night) and Business Improvement District (night) sweeping at saskatoon.ca/street-sweeping.
• Residents are encouraged to check the online schedule often and pay attention to the day of the week on the “No Parking” signs placed on the street.
• If a neighbourhood is postponed due to weather or unforeseen circumstances, new signs will be posted when rescheduled.
• Sweeping Service Alerts are issued for changes to the schedule or to advise of any issues residents need to know about.

Since the February declaration of construction starting on the Bridging to Tomorrow project, the City and project partners, Graham Commuter Partners (GCP), have completed a substantial amount of work on both the North Commuter Parkway and the new Traffic Bridge.

Once complete in 2018, the North Commuter Parkway will support the transportation needs of citizens who live in Saskatoon’s northeast and work in the Marquis and North Industrial Areas, reducing traffic on the city’s existing bridges. The new Traffic Bridge, also slated for completion in 2018, will support the growing city centre by allowing motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to cross the river between the downtown and residential areas in the south sector of the city. The new bridge will look similar to the old bridge, but will be wider with the ability to accommodate emergency vehicles. 

Traffic Bridge Update – April 2016

Throughout the remainder of April, crews are continuing to work on refurbishing the south in-river pier (concrete column that supports the bridge deck), and are drilling piles to build the south abutment (supporting end of the bridge on the riverbank). The north berm that supported the bridge demolition has been removed, and crews have also finished removing part of the south berm to reduce impacts on river navigation. Later this spring and throughout summer, the southernmost pier will be reconstructed, the new north and south bridge abutments will be built, and the steel structure for the new southernmost span will be constructed.

North Commuter Parkway Update – April 2016

Parkway Bridge

A road has been constructed on the west side of the river to access the construction site. All regulatory permits to begin in-river construction have been received and work on an earthen berm to support construction of the first bridge pier has been built. By August, the first pier should be complete and work on the second pier will begin.

Parkway Roadways

Construction of the Parkway’s new roadways has begun. Clearing, topsoil stripping and ditch excavation are underway for the twinning and extension of Central Avenue to intersect with McOrmond Drive. This road will be extended to connect to the Parkway bridge. Earth has been moved to consolidate the ground under the future roadway in the Northeast Swale, and two clay berms (walls) have been installed through the Northeast Swale to prevent water from draining into the work zone. This work is being monitored by GCP’s environmental consultant and audited by the City’s technical advisor.

Improvements to the intersections of Central Avenue and Attridge Drive, and Marquis Drive and Wanuskewin Road, will begin in May.  

Traffic and Trails

Increased traffic will be evident at Marquis Drive and Wanuskewin Road with trucks hauling materials accessing the bridge construction site. Restrictions at Central Avenue and Attridge Drive, and at Marquis Drive and Wanuskewin Road, will begin in May and citizens will be notified of traffic detours through the City’s Daily Road Report, road signage, and social media.

Rotary Park and River Landing trail detours are in place and will continue through the construction period. Access to Crocus Prairie Trail from Central Avenue is closed until winter 2016. At times, the east sidewalk at Wanuskewin Road and Marquis Drive will be restricted for vehicle crossings.

Ways to Watch Construction Progress

Anyone interested can keep an eye on construction progress at saskatoon.ca/bridging. The webpage has a new quarterly video update, live project webcams, time lapse videos, and photographs. Construction viewing areas are also in place at River Landing and on the Meewasin Trail just north of the GCP construction trailer site at the intersection of Wanuskewin Road and Marquis Drive.

Stay Safe Near Construction Zones

Citizens are reminded to obey all traffic and Meewasin Trail detours in place, and to respect all safety measures in place including site fencing and site markings. The City is also reminding pedestrians to stay clear of work areas near the construction sites.

For more City of Saskatoon news, program information, Service Alerts, Traffic Detours, and links to our social media channels, please visit saskatoon.ca.

Since announcing the “Building Better Roads” road rehabilitation plan in 2013, the City has improved more than 420 kilometers of roadway – about the distance between Saskatoon and Medicine Hat. This summer, another 212 kilometers will be improved, including Broadway Avenue, Circle Drive from the Idylwyld Drive overpass to 33^rd Street, and College Drive between Preston Avenue and Central Avenue.

“We’ve made incredible progress over the past two years,” says General Manager of Transportation & Utilities, Jeff Jorgenson. “We are on pace to exceed our initial three-year projection of 432 kilometres by 44 percent as a result of improvements to various strategic processes.”

The City’s Building Better Roads plan is aimed at repair, but also improving traffic flow in order to reduce congestion. Traffic flow improvements will be made at some key intersections, including Highway 16 at 71st Street, 22nd Street at Diefenbaker Drive, and Warman Road at 51st Street. As for major projects, construction of the interchanges at McOrmond Drive and College Drive and at Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 will begin; the Idylwyld Drive overpass over Ruth Street will be reconstructed; and work continues on the Bridging to Tomorrow project, which includes the North Commuter Parkway Bridge and the new Traffic Bridge.

“Improving current road conditions and traffic flow is a significant portion of this construction season,” says Jorgenson. “Residents will also see further development in newer neighbourhoods, park development in seven neighbourhoods, new sound attenuation walls, new pathways, and sidewalk preservation.”  

Thirty-eight kilometers of sanitary sewer and water main infrastructure will continue, and the City will complete nearly 500 water and sewer connection replacements. The work on Broadway Avenue alone includes 1,380 metres of water main rehabilitation and replacement of 60 lead connections.

In 2016, nearly $59 million will be spent on street sweeping, pothole patching, sidewalk rehabilitation, back lane upgrades, road construction and repair, and snow and ice management in Saskatoon. This is $6 million more than last year, and 57 percent more than in 2013 ($37.3 million).

For more information on roadway construction, street sweeping, and to access the Report a Pothole Map visit saskatoon.ca/betterroads. The full list of road preservation and rehab projects broken down by City wards can be accessed at saskatoon.ca/roadpreservation.