News Releases

The Spring Street Sweeping Blitz programs and the Pothole Blitz program will begin on Monday April 13.  These programs are designed to address the high-traffic (priority) streets over a three week period. The Priority 1 streets will be swept at night to enhance public and crew safety and reduce the impact for drivers.  The Priority 2 streets will be swept during the daytime hours.

“With warmer weather finally here, we want to get out there and clean things up as quickly as possible,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works. “Less sand and debris on the priority streets as a result of the improved winter de-icing and snow removal programs will contribute to the success of the spring clean-up programs.”

The Spring Sweeping Blitz is designed to collect the bulk of the debris left behind over winter and benefits the Accelerated City Wide Neighbourhood Sweeping program by making it more efficient and cost effective. The Blitz will also remove sand and debris from medians where snow was stored. There will be no parking enforcement applied during the Blitz programs.  Sweepers will go around parked vehicles.

2015 Improvements:

• When weather permitted, crews were out as early as March 30, pre-sweeping many high-traffic streets in advance of the Blitz.
• A new coordinated approach to first sweeping medians and boulevards on high-priority streets will be more efficient and reduce traffic impact.

Once the Blitz sweep programs are complete, the Accelerated City-Wide Neighbourhood Sweeping begins and will continue for approximately six weeks, weather dependant.  Should the Blitz sweep programs progress as scheduled the City Wide program is expected to start on May 4.  During the City-Wide program parking enforcement will be applied in order to allow for a full curb-to-curb sweep.  Further information will be provided closer to the program start date.

The Spring Pothole Blitz will be focused along many of the same high-traffic streets as the Spring Street Sweeping Blitz programs. Pothole repairs for all remaining streets will also continue throughout the Accelerated City Wide Neighbourhood Sweeping program. Hot-mix asphalt is now available and is being used to repair potholes. Residents are encouraged to report locations with the online Report-a-Pothole map or call Public Works Customer Service at 306-975-2476.

The Spring Sweeping Blitz Schedule is available at saskatoon.ca/betterroads. Stay tuned for the Accelerated City-Wide Neighbourhood Sweeping Schedules to be posted soon.

The City of Saskatoon’s Wildwood Golf Course and Holiday Park and Silverwood Driving Ranges are now open for the season.  Holiday Park and Silverwood Courses are being targeted to open late next week, and updates on the scheduled opening dates will be posted at www.saskatoon.ca/golf.

Holiday Park (Phone:  306-975-3325; 1630 Avenue U South)

Silverwood (Phone:  306-975-3314; 3503 Kinnear Avenue)

Wildwood (Phone:  306-975-3320; 4050 8th Street East)

Online tee time reservations are available during the season at www.saskatoon.ca/golf.  Golfers are able to book 9 or 18 holes of play for groups of one to four players up to ten days in advance at any of the three municipal golf courses.  Online tee time reservations are not available for same day bookings.  Same day bookings can be completed by phone or in person.  A valid email address is required to make tee time reservations.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

For the second year in a row, the City’s Housing Business Plan has exceeded the targets set by City Council.  The plan supported the creation of 542 new attainable units in 2014.

“Adequate housing is an important part of the City’s Strategic Plan adding to the quality of life for all residents,” says Director of Planning and Development, Alan Wallace.  “It enables young people and newcomers to put down roots and contribute to the growth of our city.”

 The recently released Annual Report on the 2013 – 2022 Housing Business Plan shows the City has slightly exceeded the target for each of the five housing types identified in the plan, with the exception of affordable ownership housing; that target is expected to be met and surpassed this year: 

            Targets and Results Achieved in 2014

 While the plan has helped make improvements throughout 2014, the cost and supply of attainable housing in Saskatoon continued to be a challenge for some low- and moderate-income earners.  The average price of a Saskatoon home was $356,476, and the monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment averaged $1,093.

 “A priority of the City’s Housing Business Plan is to create attainable housing in all areas of the city,” Wallace says.  “In 2014, 82% of the newly created attainable units were located on the east side, including the first purpose-built rental units in the new Evergreen neighbourhood.  These new units are providing attainable housing options in some of Saskatoon’s more expensive neighbourhoods.”

 Approved by City Council in June 2013, the Housing Business Plan contains a variety of incentives and initiatives, which support the creation of attainable housing units across the housing continuum:  from emergency shelters to home ownership units for first-time buyers.

 For more information on the Housing Business Plan and the work the City is doing in this area, visit www.saskatoon.ca/housing or call 306-975-3340.

 For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

Beginning Monday, April 13, 2015, the Landfill will be operating on summer hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week.  Summer hours are in effect until mid-October.

The Landfill is located off of Valley Road, south of 11th Street and accessible by residents and commercial customers.  Our entrance fee remains at $10 per vehicle per visit this year; however, some changes to other disposal fees are available on our website.

Advise the scale attendant if you are bringing in recyclables, as some materials can be recycled for free.  Please follow all signs and/or instructions from Landfill staff.

For more information about the Landfill, including service alerts, and the City’s Waste and Recycling programs, visit saskatoon.ca/garbage.  

New this year, weekly collection of residential Black Carts begins May 4, one month later than previous years. 

Black Carts will continue to be collected every two weeks through April, as shown in the Waste and Recycling Calendar available at saskatoon.ca/collectioncalendar and the print calendar that was mailed to each household in January. 

Reduce your household garbage by recycling all your paper and packaging in your Blue Cart and consider subscribing for a Green Cart for un-bagged leaves, grass clippings and garden waste.  Residents can also take yard waste to the City’s compost depots free of charge, beginning April 13.

Sign up online for e-mail or phone reminders to never miss a Blue and Black Cart collection date at saskatoon.ca/collectioncalendar.