News Releases

Warmer weather is finally on its way! With above freezing temperatures forecast for at least the next week, melting on many residential streets will significantly reduce the packed snow, and asphalt may see the light again.

“Melting snow will drain into the storm water sewer at catch basins located strategically on every street, even the ones covered by snow,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works.  “In fact, although some catch basins may freeze, the snow cover helps to insulate the drain and keep it from freezing when overnight temperatures are still below freezing.”

Known trouble locations are monitored and if ponding happens around those catch basins, City staff will clear and defrost them as required.

Priority Streets

The proactive grading and snow removal on priority streets has additional benefits for road conditions in warmer weather, such as reducing standing water which causes potholes, and less sand to clean up in springtime.  Removal along priority streets continues; so far this winter 10,200 tandem truckloads of snow have already been removed.

Residential Streets

City-wide neighbourhood grading on residential streets is not scheduled at this time.  While it improves driving conditions, grading creates windrows of heavy ice and snow that are stored in the parking lane in front of residential homes, and results in loss of on-street parking and narrower streets.  Grading is necessary to prevent deep ruts of iced snow that can occur once the packed snow depth is city-wide 6 inches (15 cm).   Currently the average snowpack depth on residential streets is 4 inches (10 cm), based on 30 locations measured throughout the city this week.

“Packed snow on roads tends to melt slowly and evenly at above zero temperatures, so many residential streets will be left to melt on their own,” Hyde says.  “However, some streets have deeper ruts measuring close to 6” (15 cm) affecting driving conditions. We will be leveraging on this warm weather to allow our crews to address those streets.”

City Snow Melt Activities

• Grading of streets that are experiencing heavy ruts and where there is little option for motorists to avoid.  These are typically in core neighbourhoods where roads are narrow.
• Grading residential streets approaching 6 inches (15 cm) snowpack to prevent severe rutting.
• Regular monitoring and sanding of bridge decks, overpasses and high-risk intersections as required during the thaw/freeze cycle.
• Removing snow windrows on remaining priority streets
• Monitoring catch basins at risk for flooding and keeping them clear for melting snow.
• Monitoring critical intersections, ditches, ponds and culverts that may flood during fast melt. Crews and equipment will be ready for emergency situations.

Please call Public Works Customer Service at 306-975-2476 to report severe rutting, hazardous potholes, blocked catch basins or emergencies. For more information on the City’s snow management programs visit saskatoon.ca/snow.

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

We are taking our  proposed performance measures and targets to the street, asking citizens to review and affirm the targets before they are used to guide decisions and measure the City’s performance going forward.

“It is important that citizens have an opportunity to provide their input on the level and focus of these performance targets,” says Catherine Gryba, General Manager of Corporate Performance. “City Council will consider citizen input when finalizing the targets. Once approved, these targets will influence decisions around policy and programs and serve as the yardstick against which we measure our City’s progress.”

We have provided two survey options on saskatoon.ca. Citizens can get involved and influence decisions by simply selecting the survey option most convenient for them based on their available time, preference and interest. The short survey can be completed in as little as five to 15 minutes. The detailed survey offers an opportunity to provide your input on more specific recommended targets which may take you 15 to 30 minutes.

“The short online survey offers an opportunity to identify how important each one of our 26 performance measures are to you,” Gryba says.  “All 26 performance measures are aimed at advancing the goals outlined in the City of Saskatoon’s 10-year Strategic Plan.”

The goals were identified through a community consultation process launched in 2010 called Saskatoon Speaks. Citizens shared their ideas and ambitions for the city through surveys, summits and community-level conversations.

The detailed online survey offers the opportunity for citizens to comment on the proposed 19 targets after reading more background information on:

• each performance measure
• the 19 proposed City targets
• how we are currently doing in the area
• how other cities are doing
• what we need to do to achieve the target
• the benefits and risk associated with the targets

Everyone is welcome to complete one or both surveys which will be open until Sunday, March 22, 2015.

A summary of survey responses, and other feedback, will be posted to saskatoon.ca after the results have been tabulated. Check out the Announcements on the homepage of saskatoon.ca for more details.

For more information visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with us on Twitter and Facebook

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The deadline for applications to operate a Seasonal Commercial Enterprise (SCE) in a Saskatoon park is Tuesday, March 31, 2015, for the 2015 operating season that runs from July 1 to October 12.

 City Council approved the new Seasonal Commercial Enterprise in Parks Policy (Policy) earlier this year.  The Policy provides the opportunity for anyone wishing to operate a SCE that will support a variety of recreational, sporting, or cultural activities or events in Saskatoon’s parks.

 An Adjudication Committee with representatives from the City of Saskatoon (City), Meewasin Valley Authority, Tourism Saskatoon, Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, Broadway Business Improvement District, Riversdale Business Improvement District, and the Partnership, will review and recommend approval of SCE applications.  Approval will be based on the applicant’s ability to meet the specific criteria outlined in the Policy.

 Once the application has been approved and all required documentation is received by the City, a permit and business license will be issued by the City’s Planning and Development Division.  Permit costs range from $600 (not-for-profit) to $1,800 (for profit) annually; the fee for a new business license is $125.

 Enforcement of the Policy will be administered through the City’s Community Services Department.  It does not include food and beverage opportunities, which are currently available in downtown riverbank parks.  The Policy itself is available on www.saskatoon.ca.

 Application packages are available by emailing kara.lackie@saskatoon.ca or calling 306-975-3485. 

 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 in March 2015, Saskatoon Water will be constructing a new building next to the Spadina Lift Station, south of the Circle Drive north bridge on the west bank of the river.

The building will house two large pumps and a backup generator to act as a bypass station which will help deal with peak wastewater flows which occur during rainstorms. Once built, the existing portable pumps will be removed.

Spadina Crescent, between Windsor Street and Prince of Wales Avenue, will remain open to traffic throughout construction, but drivers and pedestrians are urged to use caution as large trucks and equipment will be entering and exiting the site. During construction it may be necessary to temporarily close the Meewasin Valley Trail adjacent to the site. In this case, a detour trail will be put in place and signs posted.

Construction is expected to last approximately one year, barring any unforeseen circumstances. Once the project is complete, the area will be re-planted with trees and grass.

The Spadina Lift Station is a critical part of Saskatoon’s wastewater system, handling about 60 per cent of the flow going to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

On March 9, Administration will recommend the City’s Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services approve a contract with Elster Solutions Canada Inc. to supply the necessary equipment for the implementation of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system for the City’s electricity and water utilities.

“In addition to the success we’ve had so far, Elster communication modules are also compatible with the 54,000 meters already replaced by Saskatoon Water,” says Kevin Hudson, Metering & Sustainable Electricity Manager. “It makes sense financially to standardize the type of meters and modules for the balance of the electricity and water meter deployment.”

An AMI system is used to transmit electricity and water consumption data from the individual meters to the utilities. If the contract is approved, the purchase will include the following items:

• The balance of required electricity meters (27,000)
• Communication models for the water meters (69,000)
• The AMI data collection system
• An annual maintenance and support contract

Saskatoon Light & Power has been working with Elster since 2008 and has successfully replaced about 55 percent of aging meters since that time.

“The AMI system will allow for more precise and reliable metering,” says Hudson. “'Further benefits include reduced greenhouse gas emissions and labour costs tied to manual meter reading.”

The AMI system is expected to be operational in 2016. Once AMI is fully implemented, customers will receive monthly bills based on actual, not estimated, usage.

The balance of electricity customers will be converted to the AMI system by the end of 2017. All water communication modules are planned to be installed by the end of 2019.

Elster Solutions Canada has been engineering and manufacturing meters for 125 years and has deployed over 8 million smart meters and 110 AMI/smart grid systems worldwide. Elster meters are designed, manufactured, and guaranteed to operate in accordance with Measurement Canada regulations and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards.

More information on smart meters is available by visiting saskatoon.ca and entering “smart meters” in the search field.

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