News Releases

This week's notifynow TEST message sent by the City of Saskatoon's Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) on Tuesday, May 9 was once again a success, based on feedback from residents and program delivery results.

“Residents that called in after the TEST message wanted to learn more about how to sign-up to customize their notifynow profile,” says Eron McCormick, Emergency Measures Coordinator. “In a city-wide or community emergency, you might prefer a text message - and an email in addition to receiving a voice message to your land line. Or maybe you want to make sure your children receive a text message. That’s what’s great about notifynow emergency notifications in Saskatoon. You can customize your profile, and tell us how to best to reach you - and your family members.”

To date, 21,213 residents have signed up to customize their preferred communication method. With the twice-yearly testing of the notifynow system, and by creating ongoing awareness for the program, the City and Emergency Measures Organization hope to continue to grow this number. The next TEST message will be sent in December of this year.

“Testing the system helps familiarize residents with what a notifynow message will sound like, and how it will be displayed on their phones or on the other preferred methods of communication they’ve let us know about by signing up,” says McCormick. “Test messages help residents realize that in the event of an emergency, they can trust receiving a timely and targeted notifynow message that tells them what to do, what to expect, or where to go.”

The EMO continues to encourage everyone to sign-up for notifynow. Make notifynow messages an important part of your personal emergency preparedness plan, and also for those you care about.

To sign-up for notifynow and to tell us how to best to reach you with timely, targeted and trusted notifynow messages in an emergency situation, visit saskatoon.ca/notifynow or call 306-975-3210 for more information.

Pothole work in Saskatoon neighbourhoods will be coordinated to start right after street sweeping work is complete.

“Pothole patching and utility cut repairs are year round activities for us,” says Brandon Harris, Director of Roadways and Operations.  “Now that neighbourhoods are being swept we are ramping up our road repair resources to follow the sweepers and repair roads when the streets are the cleanest.

With priority road pothole work wrapping up, crews are moving into neighbourhoods to complete pothole repairs that have been reported by city crews and on the City’s Report-A-Pothole interactive map.  Already 628 potholes have been reported using the interactive map.  Since the application was launched in 2014, over 10,000 people have logged on to use this application.

“It seems the community is really getting the hang of online reporting,” says Harris.  “The information we’re getting from everyone is very valuable, especially as we head into neighbourhoods.  We are able to make sure that larger repairs are planned for because residents are being so diligent about reporting potholes in their communities.  Planning work in advance improves our efficiency so we can get more repairs completed.”

The Neighbourhood Pothole Blitz starts with three days of filling the larger potholes that have the most impact on drivers and cyclists. After this work is done, crews coordinate with the neighbourhood sweeping schedule to focus on smaller potholes and utility cuts.

If you identify a gravel utility cut that has sunk and needs fill, or is rough to drive over, please inform our Customer Service Centre at 306-975-2476.  You can check the status of repairs online through our Utility Cuts and Repair Schedules map.
 

Neighbourhood street sweeping is scheduled to start this Monday, May 8, and one of the City’s target goals is to issue fewer parking tickets.

“Citizens want streets swept as soon as the snow is gone,” says Brandon Harris, Director of Roadways and Operations.  “We’ve been working on ways to speed up our process and that means working toward fewer parked vehicles on the road during street sweeping.”

Earlier this year, select priority roads received an early curb-to-curb sweep in April. With these streets now clean, residents can use them for on-street parking while residential areas are being swept.     

“We want to be in-and-out of your neighbourhood faster, more economically, with fewer tickets and vehicle relocations,” Harris says.  “We’ve freed up different roadways for parking, so when residents see those ‘No Parking’ signs, we encourage them to look to the clean priority streets for available parking spaces.” 

School zones are also part of the City’s improved approach to sweeping.  In the past, school zones were swept at night and were often not completed until much later in the year. By using a combination of city and private contractors, daytime school zone sweeping is now completed in a safe and controlled manner, at the same time as the residential sweeping.

With this approach, school zones are finished earlier in the year and with significant cost-savings.  Sweepers will avoid drop-off and pick-up times to minimize interaction with students and limit disruption to traffic.

City Council is investing more than $61 million this year to build better roads and sidewalks.  Efficient and effective street sweeping supports the City’s long-term goal for moving around, ensuring roads and streets are kept in good repair.  Cleaning our residential neighbourhoods not only looks better, it reduces dust, improves the safety of our roads and improves and reduces localized water pooling which can damage roads.

With the city’s Street Sweeping Spring Blitz well underway, workers will be shifting to neighbourhood street sweeping starting May 8.  Residents have a few different ways to find out when sweeping will take place in their neighbourhoods.

The familiar yellow No Parking signs will be posted on streets up to three days before sweeping starts. For more advance notice, the full Residential Street Sweeping schedule is on the city website at Saskatoon.ca/sweeping and on the interactive Street Sweeping Map.

Youth in Saskatoon are taking action to improve our environment. Approximately 300 grade 5-8 students, and 50 grade 11 students, from across the city have spent the last four months working on sustainability-focused projects in the areas of waste, water, food, transportation, biodiversity and energy.

“I am very proud of this partnership between the City, Schools Divisions, Environmental Society and the University,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “Building the next generation of students who are informed and engaged on issues of sustainability is so important for the future. I have been very impressed at the quality of the student work in previous showcases and their passion in sharing them. I can’t think of a better way to build knowledge and citizenship than challenging these teams of students to take on real local problems with the support of community experts.”

School board trustees, superintendents, government representatives, family members, community organizations, and other stakeholders were invited to view over 40 projects at the Student Action for a Sustainable Future year-end student showcase, held at the Western Development Museum today.

“Congratulations to the participants of the Student Action for a Sustainable Future program on another successful year,” says Amber Weckworth, Manager of Education and Environmental Performance. “The year-end showcase provided an opportunity for students to tell their environmental success stories and demonstrate what’s possible in terms of taking action in our schools, homes, and community to improve our environment.”

In 2017, the program received international recognition as a feature case study by the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP), a global partnership committed to advancing environmental literacy to create a more just and sustainable future through the power of education.  The program has also been locally recognized through three awards: a Regional Centre for Expertise Award for Education for Sustainable Development; the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council’s 2013 Waste Minimization Award for Youth/Schools; and St. Anne School (SASF 2015/16) received the Rob Dumont Youth Award. 

First developed in 2013, the Student Action for a Sustainable Future program is a partnership between the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon Public School Division, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, the Sustainability Education Research Institute, and a number of educational consultants and community organizations. Over the last four years the program has involved 50 Saskatoon teachers, 36 schools, and approximately 1250 students. Awareness initiatives have reached over 17,000 students via school displays, assemblies, and newsletters.

The City of Saskatoon’s commitment to community environmental programs supports City’s Strategic Goal of “Environmental Leadership”, where Saskatoon strives to thrive in harmony with our natural environment, conserve resources, reduce our impacts, and promote environmental stewardship.

For more information, visit Saskatoon.ca/StudentAction.

April 24, 2017 Meeting

8.1.5 Partnership Agreement – Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo and Foothills Research Institute – Grizzly Bear Program

Decision

*City Council approved the recommendations.

Additional Information

*The report recommends:
*Approval of a partnership.
*The intent of this new partnership is to provide an opportunity for the SFFP&Z to be directly linked to, and engaged in, conservation research on grizzly bears and other native species at the zoo.
*The new partnership will provide the SFFP&Z and the fRIGBP with a unique opportunity for scientific research findings to be communicated directly with zoo visitors, and for the grizzly bears currently housed at the SFFP&Z to actively contribute to conservation and research onsite.
*The partnership agreement between the SFFP&Z and the fRIGBP would be for a five-year term, with an option for an additional five-year renewal.

8.3.4 Victoria Avenue Corridor Transportation Improvements

Decision

*City Council approved the proposed plan for Victoria Avenue between 8th Street and 11th Street; approved the amount of $295,000 for Capital Project #2270 – Paved Roads and Sidewalk Preservation from the Transportation Infrastructure Expansion Reserve; and; approved the amount of $30,000 for Capital Project #2270 – Paved Roads and Sidewalk Preservation from the Active Transportation Reserve.

Additional Information

*The Victoria Avenue Corridor Review resulted in a plan to address the combination of motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists anticipated after the Traffic Bridge is reopened.
*The proposed plan will reduce the number of lanes in the southbound direction from two to one and introduces a cycle track adjacent to the sidewalk on both sides.
*The proposed modifications will proceed in conjunction with water main replacement and road rehabilitation of Victoria Avenue in 2017.

8.3.6 2017 Annual Street Sweeping Work Plan

Decision

*City Council approved the recommendation to direct Administration to implement the pilot program in the seven neighbourhoods outlined in the report; and 2. That following the pilot, the Administration report back on the overall effectiveness of the pilot including, but not limited to, citizen feedback and operational impacts.

Additional Information

*Street sweeping is a core function of the City. Each component of the program is executed to enable mobility, preserve air and water quality, maintain surface drainage, and improve aesthetics of City streets and adjacent infrastructure.
*The annual sweeping program is divided into four main program groupings: 1) pre-sweeping winter debris pickup, 2) spring sweeping, 3) summer sweeping, and 4) fall leaf and debris removal.
*The City is piloting a new spring sweeping approach to improve efficiency, reduce costs and alleviate parking concerns in seven neighbourhoods.
*Factors such as a growing street network; balancing program efficiency with safety and parking convenience for citizens; and an intensive sign/ticket/tow approach continue to put pressure on the sweeping schedule and operating budget.

8.4.5 Service Saskatoon Progress Report

Decision

*City Council received the report as information.

Additional Information

*Significant work is underway to prepare for a centralized one-stop shop for citizens to access our services.
*A process is underway to transition into a primary call centre.
*Service Saskatoon has been engaging and talking with citizens receiving in person service at City Hall. The information has helped in the planning for some citizen service improvements in 2017. 
*In 2017, there will be moderate changes introduced to the City Hall front entrance service/foyer area involving new informational signage for services and re-design of the Information Desk.
*A list of functional requirements for an enterprise Customer Relationship Management system is currently being finalized. An RFP is expected to be issued in 2017.
*Service Saskatoon is conducting community engagement to receive input for developing plans for moving the corporate open data initiative forward.

9.1.1 Revised On-Street Mobile food Truck Policy

Decision

*City Council approved the following recommendations:
-That proposed amendments to the parking meter hooding fees for on-street mobile food trucks.
-That mobile food trucks be allowed to operate adjacent to neighbourhood parks for the 2017 season.
-That the Administration provide a report to the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services following the 2017 pilot with respect to allowing mobile food trucks to operate adjacent to neighbourhood parks, for review prior to the 2018 budget deliberations.

Additional Information

*Review of On-Street Mobile Food Truck Policy following four years of program operation has identified updates that will enhance the On-Street Mobile Food Truck Program, facilitate vendors, and address safety-related concerns.
*Amendments to allow a food truck to operate from a single location for up to six hours, instead of the current five, will accommodate the set-up and cool-down time requirements for food trucks.
*Amendments to reduce the minimum length of time that parking permits may be purchased will increase flexibility for vendors.
*Amendments to allow for parking of a support vehicle in conjunction with an overlength food truck may reduce vendors’ parking costs.
*Amendments to require proof of annual provincial gas inspection as a condition of licensing will ensure public health and safety.
*Changes to the parking meter hooding fee schedule for on-street food trucks will reduce parking expenses for vendors and align more closely with actual on-street parking fees.

From the April 10, 2017 Meeting

5.1 City Council Strategic Priorities for 2016-2020

Decision

*The committee recommended to City Council: that the 10 year priority areas be set; that each priority area have a Council Member Lead; that Council Member Leads be empowered to take leadership role in citizen and stakeholder engagement in the 10 priority areas; that Administration be directed to prepare a draft policy that sets the parameters for Council Member Leads that includes the following: role and limits of authority for the Council Member Lead, requirements to report back to City Council, and the possibility of special working groups including make-up and mandate.

Additional Information

*The goal is to be the best run city in Canada – a city that punches above its weight class – a place that people are proud of and want to move to.
*Full report available here.

8.2.1 Inquiry – Councillor R.Donauer (July 21, 2016) – Whistleblower Policy

Decision

*The committee recommends to City Council that the City solicitor be directed to draft a Whistleblower Policy.

Additional Information

*Currently, there is limited whistleblower protection for municipal employees.
*The Province has identified options for offering whistleblower protection in Saskatchewan for municipal employees.
*Other Canadian jurisdictions have developed whistleblower bylaws and policies to offer protection to municipal employees.
*The City of Saskatoon can have a Whistleblower Policy that offers protection similar to other jurisdictions.

From the April 4, 2017 Meeting

7.2.4 Victoria Avenue Corridor Transportation Improvements

Decision

*The Committee recommended to City Council that the proposed plan for Victoria Avenue between 8^th Street and 11^th Street be approved; That the amount of $295,000 be approved for Capital Project #2270 – Paved Roads and Sidewalk Preservation from the Transportation Infrastructure Expansion Reserve; and; That the amount of $30,000 be approved for Capital Project #2270 – Paved Roads and Sidewalk Preservation from the Active Transportation Reserve.

Background

*The Victoria Avenue Corridor Review resulted in a plan to address the combination of motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists anticipated after the Traffic Bridge is reopened.
*The proposed plan will reduce the number of lanes in the southbound direction from two to one and introduces a cycle track adjacent to the sidewalk on both sides.
*The proposed modifications will proceed in conjunction with water main replacement and road rehabilitation of Victoria Avenue in 2017.

7.2.6 2017 Annual Street Sweeping Work Plan

Decision

*The Committee recommended to City Council that the Administration be directed to implement the pilot program in the seven neighbourhoods outlined in the report; and 2. That following the pilot, the Administration report back on the overall effectiveness of the pilot including, but not limited to, citizen feedback and operational impacts.

Background

*Street sweeping is a core function of the City. Each component of the program is executed to enable mobility, preserve air and water quality, maintain surface drainage, and improve aesthetics of City streets and adjacent infrastructure.
*The annual sweeping program is divided into four main program groupings: 1) pre-sweeping winter debris pickup, 2) spring sweeping, 3) summer sweeping, and 4) fall leaf and debris removal.
*The City is piloting a new spring sweeping approach to improve efficiency, reduce costs and alleviate parking concerns in seven neighbourhoods.
*Factors such as a growing street network; balancing program efficiency with safety and parking convenience for citizens; and an intensive sign/ticket/tow approach continue to put pressure on the sweeping schedule and operating budget.

From the March 27, 2017 Regular Meeting of City Council

8.1.2 Policy Review for Special Street Naming Requests

Decision

*City Council approved amendments to Naming of Civic Property and Development Areas.

Additional Information

*Special street naming involves assigning a name to an existing roadway that is symbolic and does not replace the legal street name.
*A review of the practice of special or temporary street naming in other Canadian municipalities was undertaken.
*Special street naming differs from standard street renaming in that the legal requirements and costs of a formal renaming are eliminated.
*Special street naming requests can be integrated into existing Naming of Civic Property and Development Areas Policy No. C09-008 (Naming Policy).

8.1.3 Saskatoon North Partnership Growth 2016 Annual Report

Decision

*City Council received the report as information.

Additional Information

*The report indicates the latest projections show the Saskatoon region nearing a population of 500,000 in the next 20 years. Given the economic climate, the group anticipates the region could reach a population of one million in the next 60 years.

8.1.10 Innovative Housing Incentives – Mortgage Flexibilities Support Program – Financing Update – Applications for Three New Projects

Decision

*City Council approved the recommendation.

Additional Information

*The recommendation was:

*That 59 additional affordable housing units at 720 Baltzan Boulevard, 250 Akhtar Bend, and 620 Cornish Road be designated under the Mortgage Flexibilities Support Program contingent upon them being fully approved for mortgage loan insurance flexibilities by Genworth Canada and/or the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
*That 42 affordable housing units to be built on Parcel KK at the corner of Baltzan Boulevard and Akhtar Bend under the Mortgage Flexibilities Support Program contingent upon this housing project being fully approved for mortgage loan insurance flexibilities by Genworth Canada and/or the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
*That 14 affordable housing units to be built at 250 Palliser Court be designated under the Mortgage Flexibilities Support Program contingent upon this housing project being fully approved for mortgage loan insurance flexibilities by Genworth Canada and/or the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

8.1.13 Process For Privately Sponsored Refugees Qualifying for the Leisure Access Program and Discounted Bus Pass Program

Decision

*City Council received the report as information.

Additional Information

*In response to the Syrian refugee crisis, the City of Saskatoon (City) implemented a process to include privately sponsored refugees in the Leisure Access Program and the Discounted Bus Pass Program.
*During the Syrian refugee crisis of 2015, it became evident that not all refugees qualified for the Leisure Access and Discounted Bus Pass Programs. While Government-Assisted Refugees were provided with documentation that verified level of income and a stipend to purchase a bus pass, other categories of refugees were provided neither.

8.1.14 City and Saskatoon CensusMetro Area Population Projection 2015-2035

Decision

*City Council received the report as information.

Additional Information

*Saskatoon is projected to reach a population of 312,772 by 2025, and 380,650 by 2035, assuming a Medium Growth Scenario annual growth rate of 2.0%. This growth rate is similar to what Saskatoon experienced over the 2006 to 2015 period.
*The projected population growth in the Medium Growth Scenario will require the equivalent of six neighbourhoods and 24,000 dwelling units by 2025. An additional six neighbourhoods and 26,000 dwelling units may be required by 2035.
*The Saskatoon CMA could reach a population of 366,155 by 2025, and 448,985 by the year 2035, assuming Saskatoon grows at the Medium Growth Scenario annual rate of 2.0% and surrounding municipalities grow at an annual rate of 3.0%.
*In the Medium Growth Scenario, the population of the surrounding municipalities will grow from 41,703 in 2015, to 53,383 in 2025, and 68,335 in 2035, assuming an annual growth rate of 3.0%. This is equivalent to adding approximately three communities the size of Warman or Martensville by 2035.

9.11.2 Yellow Quill Urban reserve Designation

Decision

*City Council approved the Municipal Services and Compatibility Agreement.

Additional Information

*Yellow Quill First Nation owns the office building located at 224 Fourth Avenue South in Saskatoon, as well as the parking lot which is immediately adjacent to the south. Yellow Quill First Nation requested the building be designated as an Urban Reserve. The parking lot was designated as Urban Reserve in 2014.

From the March 6, 2017 Meeting

7.1.2 Transfer of Unpaid Utilities to Property Tax

Decision

*The Committee received the information.

Background

*The Cities Act allows Saskatchewan cities to transfer a tenant’s unpaid utilities (excluding electricity) to the property owner’s tax roll.
*Other cities, governed under the same legislation, have already implemented this ability or are contemplating doing so.
*The City of Saskatoon offers a Landlord/Tenant Agreement that helps mitigate the cost of service disruptions. 
*As requested by landlords, information is provided to landlords as early in the process as possible.

7.2.1 Corporate Risk Annual Report 2016

Decision

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

Background

*The Administration has successfully reduced the risk severity of 11 (48%) of its key strategic risks from high to medium, although continued effort will be required to achieve targets.
*The Risk Based Management program sets a positive and proactive risk management culture for the corporation through the adoption of a systematic, practical and ongoing process for understanding and managing risk.

From the March 20, 2017 Meeting

7.2 Multi-year Business Plan and Budget Framework

Decision

*The committee received the information.

Additional Information

*The purpose of the report was to outline the various components of a Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget (MYB) Framework that need to be developed and receive approval of the Framework in principle.
*A Framework will form the basic structure and guiding principles for multi-year planning and budgeting.
*A policy sets the groundwork for an MYB process by establishing guidelines, responsibilities and direction.
*A defined process will increase the transparency of the process as well as ensure a seamless delivery of the MYB.
*A new document will be developed for the delivery and presentation of multiyear plans and budgets with increased emphasis on targets, outcomes and service levels.
*The implementation plan has a significant focus on change management within the corporation and includes the formation of an internal project team to ensure the successful implementation of this initiative.