News Releases

A site located at 210 Pacific Avenue has been identified as a potential site for a temporary 30 to 40 bed enhanced emergency residential shelter. The site was formerly operated by the Saskatchewan Transportation Company and is now owned by the City. With some renovation, it will be suitable for a shelter and meet most of the City Council-approved criteria:

• Room for approximately 30 beds each
• Beds in an open shelter-type hall (with movable wall systems or partitions)
• Some private rooms (accessed internally)
• An area suitable for office space for site staff
• Showers, bathrooms, kitchen
• Internal and external gathering spaces (amenity spaces) available on site be considered
• Proximity to other services should be considered
• Zoned appropriately if possible, or applicable for designation under the City’s Emergency Residential Shelter zoning provision
• On February 28, 2024 City Council also directed that any site be at least 250 metres from an elementary school in the Saskatoon Public School or Greater Saskatoon Catholic School system.

If the site receives the necessary approvals by City Council, it is anticipated to open as a temporary 30 to 40 bed enhanced emergency shelter in Winter 2024. Before the site may be used as a temporary "Emergency Residential Shelter", as per the City of Saskatoon Zoning Bylaw, City Council must approve the duration of the shelter for a temporary operation up to 18 months. This building will be leased to the Government of Saskatchewan. City Council is also required to approve the lease, and the request for a below market value lease rate.

The City has led the site-selection process and the Government of Saskatchewan is investing up to $250,000 for renovations. The Province will also provide operational funding for shelter services. Further details will be included in a report to be presented to City Council at its meeting Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

Neighbourhood Information Sessions will be held on September 16, 2024 with representatives from the City and the Province’s service provider, The Mustard Seed. Area residents and business will be invited to attend to learn about shelter operations as well as plans for safety and security around the facility.

The search continues for a longer-term solution for an enhanced emergency shelter site. Since October 2023, City Administration has been actively working with the Government of Saskatchewan to identify locations for temporary and permanent emergency shelters. The City Administration continues to work with the Government of Saskatchewan to identify a longer-term site, or sites, for enhanced emergency shelter spaces. Site options for a permanent location are undergoing the final stages of diligence processes.

Background

In October 2023, the Government of Saskatchewan announced a Provincial Approach to Homelessness that included funding for 60 new enhanced emergency shelter spaces in Saskatoon.

Enhanced emergency shelters provide clients with full access to shelter (24 hours per day, seven days per week). Clients are also provided three meals per day, case planning and access to wrap-around supports to address wellness and cultural needs, with assistance in connecting to services and help to transition to appropriate housing. 

The City agreed to lead the site-selection process after receiving City Council direction. Since then, City officials have continued to work with the Government of Saskatchewan to find suitable locations to meet those needs.

The City of Saskatoon Parks Department has confirmed new positive cases of Dutch elm disease (DED) in three elm trees in the Varsity View neighbourhood, one case in North Park and two in Westmount.  

“We cannot be clearer than this: do not store elm wood on your property,” says Thai Hoang, Director of Parks. “Keeping elm wood – whether it is to burn in your fire pit or for other uses – threatens our historic tree canopy which we all love so much. About a quarter of our urban forest is elm.” 

Hoang says Parks has conducted 91 tests and so far, received results from 54 trees. 

“From those, there have been six trees that have tested positive for Dutch Elm Disease. As part of our response we will be removing a total of eight trees.” 

While Hoang points out City Council increased the Parks budget to prevent the spread of DED, he reminds Saskatoon residents they need to check their properties for Elm. City staff have already seized 2000 kg of elm wood in sweeps of the Varsity View neighbourhood following a previous DED tree removal.  

Hoang says typically the leaves on American elm trees with DED will start to wilt and turn yellow, then curl and turn brown. He says if anyone suspects an unhealthy elm tree or are unsure of what type of firewood they have, they can take a photo and complete the online form or call Urban Forestry at 306-975-2890. 

Hoang reminds residents they can help prevent Dutch elm disease by:  

• Never storing elm wood or branches. Don’t buy or take elm wood from anyone and don’t burn it. 
• Not pruning elms during the provincial pruning ban (April 1 to August 31). 
• Disposing of elm wood at the Saskatoon Landfill. 
• Do not take elm to the compost depot or put it in your green bin. Dispose of it immediately, disposal of residential elm wood at the Landfill is free.  

This is a visual representation of what Woodlawn Cemetery would look like if all its memorial and historic elms were lost to DED.

“We’re getting a better idea of how the Saskatoon landscape would change if DED were to keep progressing, but it can be curtailed, get rid of elm wood and if you’re not sure what you have send us a picture.” 

The City has already initiated its DED Response Plan, which includes:  

• Immediate removal of the positive tree(s) and disposal at the City landfill  
• Increased surveillance of the surrounding area to search for stored elm wood  
• Sampling of symptomatic trees within one kilometre of the infected tree  
• Continuing regular elm surveillance and cyclical pruning of trees in parks and on boulevards  

What will happen in impacted areas? 

Parks staff will be conducting surveillance around impacted areas. Surveillance of these areas includes checking every property for elm firewood or brush and removing it when it is found. If residents are not home, staff will remove the elm wood and leave an Elm Infraction Notice with a note indicating that the wood was removed. 

As part of the Forest Resource Management Act, the Provincial Dutch Elm Disease Regulations, 2005 allow inspectors to enter private property to inspect for elm wood, remove elm wood and sample private elm trees. In accordance with the regulations, property owners will be asked to remove and dispose of infected elm trees. 

What is DED? 

DED is a serious disease caused by a fungus that clogs the elm tree’s water and nutrient conducting system, which eventually causes the tree to die. DED was introduced in North America in the 1930s and has since wiped out millions of elms across Canada and the United States. In Saskatoon, elms make up 25% of our urban forest. 

How is DED spread? 

In Saskatchewan, the disease is spread by several species of elm bark beetles. These beetles can fly farther than two kilometres in search of elm trees. The DED fungus has tiny spores that stick to the body of the beetle. Elm bark beetles can carry these spores and infect other elm trees. The fungus can also be spread by infected pruning tools. 

For more information on DED, visit saskatoon.ca/dutchelmdisease. 

At its September 11 meeting, the Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC) of City Council is set to discuss the roadmap for planning Saskatoon’s Downtown and surrounding area. The City Centre and District Plan (Plan) lays out a guide for the land uses, public realm and transportation required to revitalize Downtown. The Plan identifies actionable items, that in partnership with private investment and community, will help make Downtown a more vibrant, safe and livable area.

“The ultimate outcome for Downtown is to be a place that reflects all of Saskatoon – now and into the future,” says Lesley Anderson, Director of Planning and Development.  “A safe and vibrant Downtown is a welcoming and inclusive place for all people to come together in a cooperative spirit. This Plan supports a strong economy, strengthens our diverse community, and is intended to attract people to live, work, play and learn in the Downtown.”

Anderson says the Plan outlines strategic directions for the City of Saskatoon, civic partners, rightsholders, stakeholders, and the public to take the vision of the Plan from abstract to action. It establishes the Downtown Event and Entertainment District (District) within Saskatoon’s broader City Centre and also updates the City Centre Plan. City staff, in consultation with technical consultants and incorporating input from the community, incorporated the decisions that have been made since approval of the existing City Centre Plan in 2013.

“While the event centre-arena and expanded convention centre are anchors for the District, the City Centre and District Plan is the much broader geographic and thematic plan to revitalize the entire Downtown through land uses, connections, green spaces and other approaches,” Anderson says. “It will be important with or without the anchor facilities as a platform for creating the conditions needed to create a vibrant Downtown Saskatoon.”

Outlined in the Plan is guidance and direction for designing streets, creating new plazas and park spaces and shaping land-use policy for the District and the broader City Centre. It includes strategies to improve connectivity and mobility as well as a framework to promote safety, heritage and culture to foster an inclusive, accessible City Centre and District.

Developing and re-envisioning Downtown Saskatoon has been identified as a priority area in the City’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan.

The full report can be found on the GPC agenda at saskatoon.ca.

In the fall of 2024, Saskatoon will take part in a coordinated effort to measure homelessness across Canada.

The City of Saskatoon, in partnership with the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), the Reaching Home Community Entity in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and the Community-University Institute for Social Research (CUISR) from the University of Saskatchewan, community organizations and volunteers will participate in the fourth nationally coordinated Point-in-Time (PiT) Homeless Count in Canada.

From October 1^st to November 30^th, 2024, individuals experiencing homelessness will be counted in 58 communities across the country. The coordinated effort will help to create a picture of homelessness in communities across Canada.

A Point-in-Time Count, or PiT Count as it is commonly described, is a measure of the number of people experiencing homelessness in a community, counted on a specific day and during a specified period of time. It is meant to be a “snapshot,” painting a picture of what homelessness looks like in that particular time and place. It will indicate the minimum number of people experiencing homelessness in our community.

During a specified period of time over the course of one day, trained volunteers will enumerate and survey individuals staying in shelters, short-term or transitional housing, public systems (detox), those sleeping rough (in unsheltered spaces) and survey hidden homelessness (living temporarily with others or accessing temporary accommodations).

Our PiT Count will improve our understanding of the needs and circumstances of the people affected by homelessness in our community. The survey will provide key data on gender, age, ethnicity and more, to help continue the conversation about homelessness in our community.

The PiT Count will inform crucial interventions and highlight the need for increased investment and coordination between all orders of government, including non-profit and private sectors.

Results from the 2024 PiT Count will be made publicly available and will be used to improve our response to homelessness. In the future, successive counts will assist in measuring progress towards our ultimate goal: ending homelessness in Saskatoon.

The Saskatoon PiT Count is receiving support from the Government of Canada through Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.

For more information, visit:

• Everyone Counts – The Nationally Coordinated Point-in-Time Counts of Homelessness in Canada
• Homelessness Learning Hub: Point-in-Time Counts
• CUISR 2022 Saskatoon Point-in-Time Homelessness Count

Further details will be made available in the near future.

Quotes

“The federal government recognizes the importance of reducing and preventing homelessness across the country. To address these issues, we must first understand their scope, which is why the PiT count is so vital. We’re working with partners to enhance resources and help address the issues facing people experiencing homelessness.” – The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation’ (Henry David Thoreau). The number of people on the street is growing and they all have their stories of how and why they are homeless, and every story is legitimate. Homelessness is fast becoming a societal crisis, that has enormous cost in services and human suffering. We need to find creative solutions, looking up from their vantage point to provide in many cases, families, friends, and neighbors opportunities to change their circumstance and we need to embed prevention into the work that we do.” – J Robert LaFontaine, Executive Director Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership

"The dynamics of homelessness have been rapidly changing in our community, with more and more people surviving in desperate conditions on our streets each month. The PiT count is a very important exercise in understanding the human stories behind the headlines, and to understand the factors that are driving this crisis. I'm very grateful to all of the organizers, partners, and volunteers for making sure Saskatoon is part of this national count once again this year." – Charlie Clark, Mayor of Saskatoon

The City of Saskatoon has released its 2023 Annual Report to the public having received the opinion of the external auditor. Per The Cities Act, the 2023 Audited Financial Statements and Financial Reports were presented to City Council for information on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. The Annual Report contains the year-end consolidated financial statements and is the legally required public report on the City's finances.

“The 2023 Annual Report highlights the City’s progress on major projects and initiatives across our 13 Business Lines, our achievements and ongoing priorities as set out in the Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget, and the City's financial position at the end of 2023,” says Clae Hack, Chief Financial Officer. 

Financial highlights from 2023 show the City had:

• consolidated operating revenues of $1.13 billion and operating expenses of $988.6 million resulting in a net surplus of $146.1 million.
• a strengthened accumulated surplus from $5.0 billion to $5.2 billion, an increase of 2.9% over 2022’s figures.
• an 8.2% increase in overall Reserves from $278.2 million to $301.1 million.
• a year-end surplus for tax-based operations before the transfer to the Fiscal Stabilization Reserve of $4.2 million, the same operating surplus that was reported to City Council at its meeting on March 27, 2024.

Award-winning financial reporting and top tier credit status

For the 16^th consecutive year, the City of Saskatoon received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Canadian Award for Financial Reporting for its 2022 Annual Report. The 2023 Annual Report will again be submitted to the GFOA for consideration for this year's award.

In 2024, S&P Global Ratings (S&P) reaffirmed the City of Saskatoon’s credit rating with the highest rating possible, a ‘AAA’ credit rating with a “Stable” outlook. The City has maintained the ‘AAA’/Stable credit rating for 22 years since S&P first began affirming the City’s credit rating in 2002.

The City of Saskatoon is committed to delivering strong financial performance, keeping our debt load manageable, full transparency, and accountability in delivering core civic services and amenities for all residents who call Saskatoon home.

The 2023 Annual Report reflects the City’s ongoing dedication to continuous improvement, accountability to the public we serve, transparency and clarity in financial reporting.  

Visit saskatoon.ca/finance to view the 2023 Annual Report.

Saskatoon City Council today approved a report outlining a funding strategy to continue to advance the Downtown Event and Entertainment District. The funding strategy does not require an increase to the property tax rate, rather it relies on a mix of funding sources, including public and private contributions, grants, user fees and other funding tools. 

“This is not about deciding to proceed with construction, but to get the project ‘shelf ready.’ It is direction by Council to pursue financial opportunities to support the potential Downtown Event and Entertainment District,” says Dan Willems, Director of Technical Services, Transportation and Construction. “It’s also noteworthy while this is approval of the overall strategy, the project still requires ongoing discussions with affected stakeholders and the other orders of government.” 

Willems says the Administration will now begin working through the details of the funding strategy and continuing to work with key stakeholders to create a fiscally responsible opportunity, with no impact on property taxes. Provincial and federal funding contributions will be necessary to bring this project to life and is a fundamental component of the funding strategy.  

He stresses the intended outcome is to have a shelf-ready project so when federal and provincial funding programs are available, Saskatoon will be ready to go.   

“There is no question, this project will have a broad provincial benefit, far greater than just the Saskatoon area,” Willems says. “Having a modern event and entertainment district in the heart of Saskatchewan’s largest city will be essential in maintaining, and enhancing, both Saskatoon and Saskatchewan’s competitive advantage. Today marks another important milestone in the journey to the District but there is still much more work to be done.”  

As work on the funding strategy goes forward Administration will bring progress reports back to Council. 

For more information on the Downtown Event and Entertainment District, including detailed information on the funding strategy, please visit saskatoon.ca/eventdistrict. 

Each year, the City of Saskatoon’s Administration provides mid-year, third-quarter and year-end reports to the Standing Policy Committee on Finance (SPC Finance) on the fiscal performance of the City’s Business Plan and Budgets. The goal of this reporting is to keep City Council and residents informed on the expenditure and revenue variances from the business plan and budget estimates as the fiscal year progresses.

The 2024 Mid-Year Financial Performance Administrative Report will be presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Finance on September 4, 2024.

“It’s anticipated that the Snow and Ice Management Program will deliver a $5.3 million deficit due to the costs associated with the March 2024 snow event where the City activated the Roadways Emergency Response Plan and performed city-wide residential clearing,” says Kari Smith, Director of Finance” “The City currently has $6.9 million in its Snow and Ice Management Contingency Reserve and we would use this to offset any deficit through a transfer at year-end.”

The remaining Civic operating budget is forecast to be balanced at 2024 year-end with little change from the overall budget. However, it is important to note that the Administration faces several challenges that could impact achieving this result. Examples include:

• To find $3.75 million in budgeted/targeted savings as included in the 2024 approved budget, the City must commit to finding new efficiencies, revenue sources and possible expenditure deferrals to balance the budget;
• Parking revenue and Parking violations continue to trend behind budgeted targets and forecast a $548,800 and $415,200 shortfall, respectively;
• Franchise Fees are expected to have a shortfall of approximately $525,000 due to a larger impact than expected because of the October 1, 2023, SaskEnergy rate adjustments; and
• The Grant-in-Lieu from Saskatoon Light and Power is expected to be $1.1 million less than budget due to a budgeted utility rate increase that did not occur. 

“Administration will tightly monitor discretionary spending and work hard to offset these challenges. We plan to gain $3.5 million in savings by not filling staff vacancies and will defer expenses related to training, materials and supplies,” says Smith. “We also forecast $1.7 million in fuel savings, and a $779,000 positive variance for our Transit revenues due to increased ridership.”

“Administration based the preparation of the City’s mid-year forecast on the most current information we know, our June 2024 actual revenues and expenditures and our professional judgement,” adds Smith. “We note that future unforeseen events or challenges could impact several areas and the delivery of a balanced operating budget at the end of this year.”

Examples of unforeseen events could include items such as higher fuel prices than anticipated and/or weather fluctuations which could impact several areas such as the Snow and Ice Program, Utility usage, the City’s Franchise Fees and Grants-in-Lieu revenue sources. By legislation, municipalities must balance their budgets and cannot operate with a deficit.

The 2024 Mid-Year Financial Forecast Report’s Appendix 1 provides 2024 year-end projections for each of the City’s Business Lines.

The City’s Utilities forecast an overall net $157,100 (0.0% variance) projected deficit. Any utility variance realized at the end of 2024 for the City’s utilities will be offset through transfers to or from the Utility Stabilization Reserves. 

City Administration will provide financial performance reporting for its third-quarter projections in late fall. As the City Administration closely monitors the 2024 budgetary forecasts, it will, as much as possible, continue to seek and expand on additional cost-saving measures to mitigate any potential year-end deficit.

Visit saskatoon.ca/budget

Starting on September 1, Saskatoon Transit will launch a new program offering free fares for children in Grade 8 and under. This program allows elementary school-age children to ride all Saskatoon Transit and Access Transit services for free without needing to scan a fare pass or show any documentation (such as an ID) simply by boarding the bus based on their grade level.

On June 26, City Council approved the elimination of child fares to provide families with a low-cost transportation option and encourage the use of public transit in the community. Saskatoon joins other Canadian cities, including the City of Regina, in offering free transit fares for children.

“The goal of the program is to make public transit more accessible and affordable for Saskatoon families,” said Michael Moellenbeck, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “By removing the cost barrier, we’re able to provide all children the opportunity to get around the community safely and easily, whether it’s to school, extracurricular activities, or family outings.”

The free child fare initiative was developed after extensive community engagement in Spring 2024, during which Saskatoon Transit engaged with schools, community organizations, Transit staff, members of the public, and other transit agencies across the country. Based on the feedback received, City Council adopted a simple and seamless program.

To monitor the program’s impact, Saskatoon Transit will collaborate with local school boards and organizations to assess any operational savings and efficiency improvements. A report on the outcomes will be presented to City Council in Summer 2025.

For more information about the free child fare program, and how to plan your trip, visit SaskatoonTransit.ca.

A reminder for all property owners in Saskatoon, the City’s Reassessment Phase-in Options Survey will close Friday, August 30, 2024. The survey has been open for property owners' feedback since Thursday, August 1.

With the next legislated reassessment year of all property types in 2025, the City is asking property owners for their preference on:  

• the property tax phase-in options the City could apply: no phase-in, 2-year, or 4-year
  phase-in for the next property reassessment cycle beginning 2025. 
• benefits, concerns and/or preferences for the phase-in process and how it will be conducted. 
• property owners’ preferred communication methods to receive reassessment information from the City of Saskatoon in 2025 and going forward. 

Property owners, we look forward to your participation via the 5-7 minute Survey. For additional background information on this engagement survey please visit saskatoon.ca/engage/property-tax-phase

Background Information

The next legislated reassessment of all property types in Saskatchewan will take place in 2025. Reassessment is undertaken every four years to determine an updated market value for your property. Your property’s 2025 reassessed value will be used, along with the City’s budgeting requirements and tax policy, to calculate your property tax for the next four years, 2025–2028.

The Cities Act does not allow the City to change the current 4-year reassessment cycle however, the City can determine its own tax policies for all property classes (residential, commercial, multi-residential, etc.) in Saskatoon. The City has the authority to make the decision on what are called phase-in options.

When there is a change to a property owner’s property tax because of their property’s new reassessed value, the dollar amount change in property tax owed can be phased-in over two or four years before the next legislated reassessment year. There is also an option for no phase-in use.

Helpful Information/Resources

• A Guide to Property Assessment & Tax Policy: Roles and Responsibilities
• Comparative Use of Phase-in Over the Last Three Legislated Assessment Cycles
• How Phase-in Options Work if You Have a Property Tax Increase or Decrease
• Phase-in by the Numbers: Examples of No Phase-in, 2-year Phase-in, 4-year Phase-in 

Property owners, if you would like to request a hard copy of the survey to fill out, please call 306-975-3227 and we will mail one to you.

Questions? Email assessmentsubmit @saskatoon.ca or call 307-975-3227. We’re here to help.

Another important milestone in the journey to the Downtown Event and Entertainment District will be discussed at the August 28^th meeting of Saskatoon City Council. A report will be presented that outlines a funding strategy that encompasses a mix of funding sources, including public and private contributions, grants and other funding tools that do not require an increase in the property tax rate to support the project and advance the Downtown Event and Entertainment District.

“Administration was tasked with developing a funding strategy that achieves the goal of constructing the Downtown Event and Entertainment District with no contribution from property taxes,” says Dan Willems, Director of Technical Services, Transportation and Construction. “We’re confident that the tools within the funding strategy have been formulated to achieve this important goal.” 

These funding tools include:

1. Accommodation Funding Contributions;
2. An Amusement Tax;
3. Parkade Revenues;
4. Tax Incremental Financing;
5. Property Realized Reserve Contribution;
6. SaskTel Centre Reserve Contributions; and
7. Private Partner Contribution.

“It is important to keep in mind this is not about deciding to proceed with construction, rather it is about taking the next step to pursue the financial opportunities to support the potential Downtown Event and Entertainment District,” says Willems.

Provincial and federal funding contributions will be necessary to bring this project to life and a fundamental component of the funding strategy. The intended outcome is to have a shelf-ready project so when federal and provincial funding programs are available, Saskatoon will be ready to go.

“As with previous major City projects that have benefitted from federal and provincial funding programs, we’ll work towards securing financial commitments from other orders of government,” says Willems.

This report builds upon the Private Partner Agreement framework which was discussed at this month’s earlier Governance and Priorities Committee meeting and has been forwarded to Council for approval.

If the reports are approved by City Council, the Administration will continue to work towards achieving the funding strategy. This includes seeking out the necessary agreements and further financial commitments with the provincial government, federal government and private partners.

For more information on the Downtown Event and Entertainment District please visit saskatoon.ca/eventdistrict.