News Releases

In addition to the City’s Major Preservation Program for sidewalks, City crews undertake minor repairs to numerous sidewalks to improve safety and mobility for pedestrians.   

The Sidewalk Safety Repair Program has undergone major enhancements over the last three years. This has led to the completion of nearly 18 km of sidewalk safety repairs in 2021 and 2022, representing a substantial increase to an average of 2.6 km typically completed in the years leading up to 2021. The program remains on track for continued progress in 2023, with 2.8 km of sidewalk repairs already completed this season. 

“The City of Saskatoon remains committed to keeping sidewalks well-maintained, accessible and safe for all pedestrians,” says Goran Saric, Director of Roadways, Fleet and Support.  

Recognizing the importance of well-maintained sidewalks, the City's new process for inspecting, prioritizing, and then repairing damaged sidewalk panels that create safety concerns has yielded substantial increase in accomplishments. More than 1,600 sidewalk concerns were resolved in 2021 and 2022. 

The advancements in the program included several process and resource improvements: 

• Criteria such as safety and pedestrian use has been adopted to more effectively prioritize sidewalk repair work.  

• Improved tool and method for capturing relevant inspection information enables better decision making.  

• A new work planning system empowers crews to prioritize and execute work orders more efficiently.  

• A new process for tracking and reporting Key Performance Indicators has improved transparency, accountability, and program management. 

• The creation of a central information database enables prompt and comprehensive responses to residents' inquiries. 

• Improved cross-departmental collaboration has resulted in better coordination of repair work with other programs such as sidewalk replacement program. 

• Improved resourcing has resulted in timelier and better-quality inspections, including improved capacity to deliver more work.     

“The success of the Sidewalk Repair Program exemplifies City’s dedication to continuous improvement and serves as a testament to the positive impact of collaboration, innovation and effort,” says Saric.  

Saskatoon boasts a network of 2,386 km of sidewalks, spanning a distance of about half the width of the United States. This essential infrastructure is crucial to the mobility and safety of residents across the city. 

To report a sidewalk safety concern, please call our Customer Care Center, available 24/7 at 306-975-2476. 

More information on sidewalk repairs is available at saskatoon.ca/sidewalks.

Devastating floods are less of a concern for dozens of property owners in the Adelaide/Churchill Park neighbourhood, thanks to a new project in the north end of Churchill Park. A dry storm pond, which serves as park and recreational space when dry, officially opened today.

The new dry storm pond is the second of nine flood mitigation projects to be completed under the Flood Control Strategy (FCS) by 2027. The FCS was approved by Saskatoon City Council in 2018. The first project, also a dry storm pond, opened in W.W. Ashley District Park in 2022 and construction is now underway on a dry storm pond in Weaver Park. The Government of Canada has contributed $21.6 million towards Saskatoon’s FCS through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

“Due to climate change, extreme weather events are occurring more frequently all over the world,” said the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “This is why we are proud to celebrate the opening of the Churchill Dry Storm Pond in Saskatoon. This important infrastructure will protect neighbourhoods and businesses from future flooding events. We will continue investing in projects that enable communities to withstand natural disasters and thrive for generations to come.”

“Dry storm ponds provide tremendous value in preventing flooding in neighbourhoods that historically have been prone to floods,” said Saskatoon Mayor, Charlie Clark. “These ponds help to mitigate the damage from weather events and can provide peace of mind to residents. The Churchill Dry Storm Pond will provide this same reassurance to residents in the surrounding area. Thanks to continued funding partnerships, we’re able to build infrastructure that protects against more frequent extreme weather events.”

“We have a plan in place to ensure all of our flood mitigation projects are built and functioning before the end of 2027,” said Mitch McMann, Storm Water Utility Manager. “With more severe and less predictable rain events, these projects are important to our residents. During a heavy rain event on June 3 of this year, storm water that would have previously flooded nearby intersections and properties, drained into this dry storm pond instead. The new project functioned very well and as it was intended to.”

Dry storm ponds hold water that would otherwise cause nearby flooding during intense rainfalls. The water flows into storm drains, then through underground pipes into the dry storm pond, where it then flows toward and empties into the South Saskatchewan River.

The Churchill Park dry storm pond will help prevent flooding at more than 50 properties around Ruth Street and Cairns Avenue, Bute Street and Munroe Avenue, Ruth Street and York Avenue, and Bute Street and Albert Avenue. The project also included the establishment of new trees, a new pathway, multi-purpose sports fields, and spectator seating built into the slopes.

Once all FCS projects are completed, the City anticipates seeing a substantial decrease in the amount of neighbourhood flooding in the top 10 highest risk areas of Saskatoon.

For more information about the FCS, visit saskatoon.ca/floodplan.

A pair of civic surveys conducted for the City of Saskatoon earlier this year show most residents remain satisfied with life in their community and the municipal services they receive. The surveys also reveal trends in where respondents would like to see the City focus future efforts.

The 2023 Civic Satisfaction & Performance Survey and Civic Services Survey on Performance, Priorities and Preferences were conducted by Forum Research Inc. through their online panel in May and June 2023, respectively. Due to the random sampling for these online surveys, the sample is reflective of Saskatoon’s population and therefore the data is reliable and representative of the community.

“These two surveys are a very important measure of how residents feel about their city and the services their municipal government provides,” says Celene Anger, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer. “Results of both surveys will be used to inform decisions related to strategic priorities, budgeting and service delivery, as well as to highlight opportunities for continues improvement.”

Survey Highlights

When asked as part of the Civic Satisfaction and Performance Survey, a large majority of respondents (86%) say they are satisfied with living in Saskatoon – this is consistent with the 2021 survey results. When asked about quality of services provided by the City, eight in ten people (81%) indicate satisfaction; and the large majority of respondents (83%) rate the value of services they receive from the City as very good or good value.  This is also consistent with 2021 survey results.

When asked what the single most important issue is facing the City, nearly one in five (19%) of respondents say it is homelessness, followed by crime/public safety/policing (15%) and roads and sidewalk maintenance (8%).

Similar issues are highlighted in responses to the Performance, Priorities and Preferences Survey as the top three service areas where they would like to see the City provide more service: affordable housing (60%), road maintenance (58%) and snow & ice management (55%).

To a much smaller degree, the top three areas where respondents indicate they would like to see the City provide less service were community grants (19%), planning and growth (17%) and recreation and culture programs (16%).

Meanwhile, overall satisfaction remains the same or higher for many of the 29 civic services asked about in the Performance, Priorities and Preferences Survey.

Ranking with the highest satisfaction among the services that survey respondents were asked about:

• Reliability of electrical services (8.7 out of 10)
• Quality of drinking water (8.3 out of 10)
• Fire protection (8.1 out of 10)
• Garbage collection (8.0 out of 10)
• Recycling collection (8.0 out of 10)
• Indoor leisure centres (7.9 out of 10)
• Outdoor sports fields (7.9 out of 10)
• Indoor ice rinks (7.9 out of 10)
• Recreation programs and services (7.9 out of 10)
• Maintenance of city parks (7.7 out of 10)
• Speed of water main break repairs (7.6 out of 10)
• Police services (7.6 out of 10)
• Landfill services (7.6 out of 10)

Both surveys and their respective results will be part of an information report at City Council’s Governance and Priorities Committee meeting on Wednesday, September 13.

Full summaries and the detailed results of both surveys are also available on the City website by visiting saskatoon.ca/civic-services-surveys.

Thanks to a generous donation from Golf Saskatchewan, Holiday Park Golf Course now has a SoloRider golf cart available for mobility-impaired players.

SoloRider golf carts are single-passenger carts that allow golfers to play from tee to green without leaving the cart.  The golf cart is equipped with a swiveling, elevated seat and ergonomic controls. 

“The cart can go almost anywhere on the course including the bunkers and greens and there is no fear of it damaging the grass”, says Brian Lee Executive Director / CEO of Golf Saskatchewan. 

“These unique features have helped both the City and Golf Saskatchewan strive to provide recreation for all who want to participate by increasing accessibility and encouraging opportunity within the sport,” says Roxane Melnyk, Recreation Services Manager for the City of Saskatoon. 

This is the second SoloRider golf cart that Golf Saskatchewan has made available in Saskatoon and it is free of charge to use.  The City of Saskatoon’s Silverwood golf course has been home to a SoloRider since 2014. The SoloRider carts can be booked by calling the pro shops at Holiday Park or Silverwood golf courses when making a tee time reservation.

Following another Special Budget Meeting today, City Council’s Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC) has further reduced the projected funding gap in the 2024/2025 Multi-Year Budget, with additional opportunities to shrink the gap still to come.

Through today’s decisions, the projected funding gap has been further reduced by a total of $3.15 million in 2024 and $554,000 in 2025. If left unmitigated, which is unlikely, the current funding gap would equate to a property tax increase of 7.47% in 2024 and 5.93% in 2025.

GPC completed its discussion on administration-recommended options within several business line reports at today’s meeting and recommended the following budget options be integrated into the 2024/2025 Preliminary 2024/2025 Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget: 

• Closure of the East Compost Depot
• Reduce operating hours by one (1) hour at the end of the day at the Landfill and Material Recovery Centre
• Eliminate skunk inspection, trapping and relocation services for private residential properties
• Modify the Mosquito Control Treatment Area buffer zone to be one to two kilometres outside of city limits instead of five to ten kilometres outside of city limits
• Defer the Remai Modern Civic Buildings & Comprehensive Maintenance Reserve phase-in contribution for 2024
• Phase out of the $100,000 Interest Stabilization Support over two years 
• A $5 fee increase for Manual Tax Certificate/Tax Searches and a $10 fee increase for Online Tax Certificate/Tax Searches
• A 0.5% increase in the City’s Current and Arrears monthly Property Tax Penalty Rate in 2024
• An increase in the reduced penalty rate for parking offences from $30 to $35
• An increase in the late payment penalty rate for parking offences from $50 to $60
• An increase to the City’s Land Lease Revenue Budget to account for signed but potentially temporary lease revenue
• A 20% reduction in the program, research and design budget for Recreation and Culture
• No new FTE’s for playground & youth centre staff training
• No new FTE’s for an Outdoor Special Events Organizer
• Redirect a portion of savings ($250,000) experienced from the temporary closure of the Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre in 2024 and 2025
• Reduction to the Corridor Planning Program’s Special Services operating budget
• Reduce the payroll cost (CPP, EI, Benefits, WCB, etc.) estimate by $200,000 in 2024
• Reduce the operating phase-in of the City’s SAP program by $250,000 in 2024 and 2025
• Exemption of City properties from the City storm charge for 2024 and 2025
• Reduction of  50% of the inflationary pressures to the Information Technology Reserve
• Reduce snowpile removal from parking lots at civic facilities

An additional Special Budget Meeting has been scheduled for September 20, at which time additional options that were not recommended by Administration are expected to be discussed, as well as the Utilities Business Line report. Council is also awaiting draft budget submissions from the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners and the Saskatoon Library Board.

Administration will continue to refine and adjust numbers for the budget book which will be presented at the 2024/2025 Business Plan and Budget meeting in late November.

For more facts and reliable information on the 2024/2025 Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget, please visit Saskatoon.ca/budget. 

An information report to be presented to City Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Transportation on September 5 details how the City successfully navigated an extraordinary emergency snow event in December 2022 with an equally extraordinary response. 

The City’s Roadways Emergency Response Plan for Extreme or Unusual Snow Events was activated for the very first time on December 28, 2022, after back-to-back snow events between December 25 and 28. The snowfall resulted in over 30 centimetres of snow accumulation and severely impacted mobility on streets and sidewalks. This was in addition to four previous snow events earlier in the winter season.  

Once the response plan was activated, snow grading along all streets in Saskatoon was completed within eight days of the end of snowfall, faster than the targeted timeline of 10 days, while snow removal along Priority 2 and 3 streets was completed within 5 weeks– the fastest this work has ever been completed. All snow removal work was completed within approximately 9 weeks. 

“Our response to the late 2022 snowfall showcased our commitment to the safety and the well-being of our residents,” says Goran Saric, Director of Roadways, Fleet and Support. “The City of Saskatoon remains steadfast in its dedication to providing efficient services while adapting and improving to better serve its citizens.” 

Highlights from 2022/23 ERP activation include: 

• 102,000 truckloads of snow removed from Saskatoon streets.. 

• 1.4 million cubic metres of snow stored at the three snow management facilities at the Civic Operations Centre, along Wanuskewin Drive and Central Avenue. This is approximately four times the amount of snow stored at the snow management facilities in years leading up to 2020. 

• 500 crew days of effort to remove snow piles on local streets. 

• A typical day during snow removal included 150 haul trucks, 32 graders, 18 loaders, 4 snow blowers, 12 skid steers, 10 pilot trucks, seven dozers, 11 tow trucks and much more light equipment.  

• 27 contracting companies provided additional resources including haul trucks, loaders, snow blowers, dozers and graders. Nearly all contractors that submitted interest and pricing for local street snow removal were hired.    

“The successful handling of the significant snow events stands as a testament to the City’s commitment to meeting challenges head-on, learning from experiences and continuously improving its emergency response capabilities,” says Saric. 

The total cost of the 2022/23 emergency snow response was $18 million dollars, more than the annual operating budget for Snow and Ice Management. Nearly 90% of the cost was for the city-wide snow removal phase.  

For more information on the Roadways Emergency Response Plan for Extreme or Unusual Snow Events, visit saskatoon.ca/emergency-response-plan. 

The City of Saskatoon is on track to deliver a balanced budget for 2023. The City’s 2023 Mid-Year Financial Performance Administrative Report will be presented to SPC Finance on September 6, 2023.

“In analyzing the mid-year forecast, we estimate that at the end of this fiscal year, the Administration will deliver a balanced budget for 2023,” says Kari Smith, Director of Finance. “Our mid-year forecast is based on the most current information known to the Administration at the time of preparing this report.”

Each year, the City of Saskatoon’s Administration provides the 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 financial reporting is to keep City Council and residents informed on the City’s financial performance as the year progresses.

Importantly, City Administration forecasts that $4.9 million will be saved through ongoing spending restrictions. These forecast savings, combined with projected underspending of $3.5 million in Snow and Ice and additional revenues of $2.5 million in Transit/Access Transit’s operating budget, are anticipated to help offset the 2023 Budget’s known financial pressures and any other forecasted shortfalls.

Details of the 2023 Budget variances are included in Appendix 1 - 2023 Year-End Projections by Business Line. Note, that the year-end figures are based on projections and estimates, and some have a high degree of volatility.

 “While these mid-year financial figures are preliminary and based on data available at this time, Administration will continue to follow existing spending restrictions to minimize the potential for a year-end deficit,” adds Smith. “We continue to tightly monitor all discretionary spending and keep to our hiring restrictions which have been in place since 2020. We will, of course, balance these measures with the need to continue providing good value in the delivery of all civic services to the residents and businesses we serve.”

Additional key information/ results from the mid-year financial reporting:

• Utilities are projecting a $5.3 million net surplus at mid-year. Any utility variance will be offset through transfers to or from the applicable stabilization reserves, if this surplus is realized, contributions will be made to the respective reserves.
• The City continues to experience inflationary impacts in 2023 including increased costs on contracts. The City can stay within budget by decreasing the amount of work to be completed.

City Administration will provide the next 2023 financial performance report through its third-quarter projections in November 2023.

Visit saskatoon.ca/budget for more information on the City's multi-year budget planning process.

The City Administration will next week present a plan designed to give households more choice on what they pay for garbage collection. On Tuesday, September 5, Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services (EU&CS) will hear details on cart size options, timelines and proposed rates for the garbage utility in 2024.

As previously directed by Council, the funding source for black cart garbage services will shift from property taxes to a utility model in 2024. Three different black cart sizes will be available to eligible households with curbside collection.

“Our aim is to offer residents a range of cart sizes that align with the waste requirements of their households,” says Brendan Lemke, Director of Water and Waste Operations. “With the success of the Green Cart Program, there is less waste in the black carts. The variable utility model means that households will have more control over their costs and only pay for the waste they actually produce.”

The cart sizes include the current large (360L) as well as a medium (240L) and a small (120L – 135L) black cart. Requests to change cart size will be accepted beginning in January 2024 with smaller black cart deliveries expected in the spring. There will be no fee for a household’s initial cart swap to allow residents sufficient time to right-size their carts.

A fixed utility rate of approximately $9.92 per month will be in place for all residents with curbside garbage collection until cart swaps are completed. The variable utility fees will not be implemented until mid-year following cart swaps. The proposed monthly utility rates for black cart services are approximately as follows: small (120 L – 135L) cart - $3.73, medium (240 L) - $7.05 and large (360 L) - $10.58 and can be seen here. A process for property managers and condo boards to manage bulk requests is being developed.

If Administration's recommendations are endorsed by Committee, they will be formally approved by City Council at its meeting on September 27.

The variable cart options will increase residents’ control over their costs and encourages reduction of waste by providing financial incentives for waste diversion. Communities that use similar approaches have seen their waste di­­version rates increase by 5-17%, as residents improve their use of diversion programs and find new ways to reduce their general waste generation.

Program details for the $100 per year low-income Waste Utility Subsidy will also be included in a separate report presented at EU&CS.

Garbage collection will remain bi-weekly year-round. To view your collection calendar, visit saskatoon.ca/collectioncalendar or download the Saskatoon Waste Wizard app.  

The City of Saskatoon celebrated the addition of two new dog parks dedicated for small dogs with a ceremonial opening event at the new Charlottetown Dog Park.

Charlottetown Dog Park is a near one acre space located behind Cosmo Civic Centre and features naturalized elements including mature shade trees, dual-gate entry to help avoid accidental escapes and concrete entryway pads to prevent soil erosion.

In addition to the development of Charlottetown Dog Park, Hyde Dog Park in Saskatoon’s southeast now features two separate off-leash areas, one new space dedicated for small dogs in addition to the original Dog Park which is open to dogs of all sizes.

“Animal Services has received numerous requests over the years for dedicated areas for small dogs to enjoy off-leash activities,” says Brad Babyak, Recreation Services Manager, Open Space Programming & Development. “Implementation of these dedicated spaces will help prevent potential unnecessary conflict between small and large dogs and improve safety for owners and their pets.”

“It is great to see small dogs bring out their owners to explore and enjoy the newly developed spaces at Charlottetown and Hyde Dog Parks,” says Babyak.

Dogs must be under both the height and weight restrictions to be permitted in the new Dog Parks dedicated for small dogs. Pups that are taller than 40 cm at the shoulder and over 9 kg are free to enjoy any of the other 11 Dog Parks throughout the city that are available for dogs of all sizes.

For more information visit saskatoon.ca/dogparks.

City Council’s Governance & Priorities Committee (GPC) will continue working to reduce the projected funding gap within the 2024/2025 Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget at its next Special Budget Meeting set for Thursday, August 31, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.

Via GPC’s previous Special Budget Meetings on June 14, July 25 and August 15 - meaningful progress has been made to reduce the City’s projected funding gap by a total of $25.8 million in 2024 and $2.3 million in 2025. If left unmitigated, which is highly unlikely, the gaps currently equate to property tax increases of 8.54% in 2024 and 6.04% in 2025.

“City Council and Administration will continue to probe all business lines and review everything on the table in a public and transparent way to further address the funding pressures the City is facing over the next two years,” says Kari Smith, Director of Finance. “Of course, City Council’s 2024/2025 finalized budget decisions will not be approved until its deliberations this November.”

Administration’s business line reports relating to Environmental Health, Taxation and General Revenue, Land Development, Arts, Culture and Events Venues, Recreation and Culture, and Urban Planning and Development -- previously deferred due to time constraints -- are set for discussion on August 31, along with Corporate Governance and Finance, Corporate Asset Management, and Utilities.

Council also awaits draft budget submissions from the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners and the Saskatoon Library Board so those may be incorporated into future budget discussions.

The full AGENDA for the August 31, 2023, Special Budget Meeting is available for review. As with all, this meeting will be LIVE streamed, access LIVE VIDEO here.

Should any member of the public wish to submit a letter or request to appear in person at the August 31 Special Budget Meeting, the deadline to arrange for this is Monday, August 28, at 5:00 p.m.

For more information on the 2024/2025 Multi-Year Budget & Business Plan, including answers to frequently asked questions and factual reference charts and graphs, check the 2024/2025 Multi-Year Budget Information Guide or visit Saskatoon.ca/budget.