News Releases

 

For Release: October 18, 2014

The City is surprised and disappointed with the Board’s decision and the central issue still remains – ATU and the City needs a contract.

The Board is requiring the City to re-issue a lockout notice. Therefore, in compliance with the Order, the City served notice of lockout to the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) on Friday, October 17, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. This means ATU will be locked out on Sunday, October 19, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. Transit customers should be prepared to continue to make alternate transportation arrangements.

“The City will be carefully reviewing the Board’s reasons for their decision when we receive them”, says City Solicitor, Particia Warwick.

Jeff Jorgenson, General Manager of Transportation & Utilities, says achieving a contract that is fair for everyone is not without challenges and will take much work.

“The City’s objectives remain the same. We want a contract with ATU before winter, and we want pension plan changes that ensure the long-term sustainability of the plan,” says Jorgenson.

ATU and the City remain far apart in contract discussions. The City offered a 10% wage increase over four years as well as other specific increases. ”ATU’s demands far exceed what we are prepared to ask Saskatoon citizens and Transit customers to pay,” says Jorgenson. “The ATU Executive has demanded raises up to as much as 35% for some employees, averaging 19% overall.”

Eight of the nine unions/associations in the General Pension Plan have accepted a 10% deal over four years as well as increased contributions and amendments to the General Pension Plan.  This is the same offer presented to the ATU.

On September 20, 2014 the Transit union proposed a 22.25 % increase over five years; on Friday October 10, 2014 they modified their offer to be an average of 19% over four years, which is a higher per-year increase than their 5-year proposal. ATU maintains a 97% strike mandate.

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For Release: October 18, 2014

At a special meeting of Executive Committee this afternoon, City Council voted to withdraw the notice for the Transit lockout. Service will resume Monday morning.

“The Labour Relations Board ruling has created a large degree of uncertainty,” says Mayor Donald Atchison.

“It is because of our concern for our employees, transit riders and the citizens of Saskatoon that we have decided to end the lockout. We do not want to put them in the middle of a long drawn-out legal dispute,” says Mayor Atchison. “We also promised riders and citizens we would not leave people out in the cold with no end in sight to the labour dispute.”

As a result, full Transit services will begin running again on Monday, October 20, 2014.

It makes sense to offer free Transit for the rest of October and ensure it is convenient for customers to get moving again as quickly as possible. The community has been through enough and we want to re-establish our transit service.

Transit customers may ride the bus for free until Friday, October 31 to provide appropriate time to repurchase a monthly pass or activate an extension for those who did not receive a refund for their September 2014 transit pass.

On Sunday, October 19, there will be a number of ways available for residents to find information on bus routes:

• Transit Click & Go - Visit www.saskatoon.ca and search for route options using Transit Click & Go. 
• Customer Service Representative – Call 306-975-3100 to speak with a Customer Service Representative or visit our Saskatoon Transit Customer Centre, located at the Downtown Terminal on 23^rd Street. Visit www.saskatoon.ca for hours of operation.

Phone & Go will be operating by Tuesday, October 21, 2014. Phone & Go, a trip planning service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. By following phone prompts, you will be able to plan your Transit trip using the most up-to-date information, or find the next buses servicing a stop.

TRANSIT CUSTOMERS

·     Saskatoon Transit will offer free transit service for the rest of October to provide enough time to repurchase a monthly pass or activate your one month pass extension for those who had a valid September 2014 transit pass and did not receive a refund.

·     For those customers with longer term transit passes, you will either receive a one month extension or a refund depending on the type of pass you hold. Please contact a Customer Service Representative for more information.

·     UPass and EcoPass holders should contact the Administrators of their programs to learn about extensions or reimbursements.

·     The City will adjust its invoice for University students so there are no fees for September or October

We welcome back Transit riders and look forward to getting Saskatoon on the move again.

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The Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board (LRB) found the City was not in a legal position to lock out workers of the Amalgamated Transit Union, 615 (ATU) September 20.  As a result the panel has ordered the City to lift the lockout and pay the Transit Union damages.

“We are surprised and disappointed at the Labour Board’s ruling,” says City Solicitor Patricia Warwick.  “This decision flies in the face of 70 years of law in Saskatchewan.  Unfortunately today’s ruling is also another distraction.  It gets us no closer to solving any of the contract issues and in fact, the ruling has serious long-term implications.”

The City believes the lockout was legal because the workplace complaint was not pending because the complaint had not yet been heard at a formally constituted meeting of the LRB and therefore, not “pending before the board.”

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.

 

On October 29, 2014, a by-election will be held for a Separate School Board Trustee to fill a vacancy on the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Board of Education.

If you are an eligible voter but are unable to vote on October 29, you may instead vote at one of the three Advance Polls, the first one is this Sunday:

Advance Poll #1 - Churches: Sunday, October 19, 2014 from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

Cathedral of the Holy Family      123 Nelson Road

St. Paul’s Co-Cathedral          720 Spadina Crescent East

St. Patrick Parish Centre         3339 Centennial Drive

Holy Spirit Parish              114 Kingsmere Place

St. Anne Parish               217 Lenore Drive

Advance Poll #2 at City Hall: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Advance Poll #3 at City Hall: Saturday, October 25, 2014 from Noon – 4:00 pm

The City Hall Advance Poll will be in Committee Room E, 222 3^rd Avenue North: (Enter City Hall through Door No. 1, off 4^th Avenue.  On-street parking is available on 4^th Avenue.  If you are voting after 5:00 p.m. or on Saturday, you may park in the staff parking lot off of 4^th Avenue. This entrance is wheelchair accessible.

Reminder: to be eligible to vote, citizens are required to provide proof of identity and residence, and, on by-election day citizens must:

• be a Canadian citizen
• be at least 18 years of age;
• have resided in the Catholic school division or on land that is now in the school division, for at least three months immediately preceding the by-election;
• have resided in Saskatchewan for at least six months immediately preceding the by-election; and
• be of the religious faith of the minority that established the separate school division, which means you must be of the Roman Catholic faith.

Citizens are not eligible to vote in this by-election if they do not live in the City of Saskatoon.  Eligible citizens may only vote once, regardless of how many properties they own.

For more detailed information about the by-election and the Mobile Polling Station (for those unable to leave their home to vote due to physical disability), please check the Voters’ Guide, located on the homepage of the City’s website, saskatoon.ca. Voters’ Guides are also available at City Hall main lobby, public libraries and at all leisure centres.

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.

The City of Saskatoon’s (City) three municipal golf courses (Holiday Park, Silverwood, and Wildwood) are in the process of closing for the season to ensure that maintenance requirements can be completed before winter and the courses are in good condition for 2015.  The City would like to thank all patrons for their support during 2014.
The final days of operation at each course are as follows:
Holiday Park Golf Course
• Executive Nine will close Monday, October 20, 2014
• Regular course back nine will close Thursday, October 23, 2014
• Regular course front nine will close Monday, October 27, 2014
Silverwood Golf Course
• River Nine (formerly known as the back nine) will close Tuesday, October 14, 2014
• Lake Nine (formerly known as the front nine) will close Monday, October 20, 2014

Wildwood Golf Course
• Course will close on Wednesday, October 29, 2014
The dates above are tentative and dependent on weather conditions and course maintenance requirements.  Golfers are advised to call the golf course to check playing conditions.
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.

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NEW SATURDAY
22ND ST EB & WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED BETWEEN AVENUE I AND AVENUE K
(Sanitary sewer lining)
Ave J median (inside) lanes closed between 21st and 22nd Street
Start: October 18, 7:00 a.m. End: October 18, 6:00 p.m.

NEW SUNDAY

CIRCLE DR SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED UNDER 108TH ST OVERPASS
(Culvert cleaning)
Start: October 19, 7:00 a.m. End: October 19, 1:00 p.m.
ATTRIDGE DR EB & WB TURN LANES TO TO CIRCLE DR E CLOSED
(Culvert cleaning)
Attridge Dr ramp to Circle Dr SB closed
Start: October 19, 7:00 a.m. End: October 19, 1:00 p.m.
2ND AVE N NB & SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM 24TH ST E TO 25TH ST E
(Sanitary Lining)
25th St EB curb lane closed approaching 2nd Ave
Start: October 19, 6:30 a.m. End: October 19, 5:30 p.m.
ONGOING
PRESTON AVE NB & CORNISH RD/HUNTER RD INTERSECTION RESTRICTIONS
(Intersection reconstruction)
Access to Stonebridge via Preston Ave will be maintained:
Preston Ave SB to Cornish Rd WB will be maintained. NB traffic will be detoured via the new Willis Cres which now joins Preston Ave.
Hunter Rd WB to Preston Ave NB will remain open for morning rush hour, the restriction will be in place from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day.
Start: October 14, 9:00 a.m. End: October 18, 8:00 p.m.

AIRPORT DR NB LANES CLOSED FROM GATEWAY BLVD TO THE AIRPORT
(Roadway improvements)
Two-way traffic accommodated in SB lanes. 45th St W closed from Airport Dr to Koyl Ave
Start: August 20, 1:00 p.m. End: October 29, 6:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

NEW
SASKATCHEWAN CRES WB CLOSED FROM MCPHERSON AVE TO IDYLWYLD CRES
(Royary Park Construction)
Start: October 20, 10:30 a.m. End: November 3, 3:00 p.m.
ONGOING
AIRPORT DR NB LANES CLOSED FROM GATEWAY BLVD TO THE AIRPORT
(Roadway improvements)
Two-way traffic accommodated in SB lanes. 45th St W closed from Airport Dr to Koyl Ave
Start: August 20, 1:00 p.m. End: October 29, 6:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

When visiting the Woodlawn Cemetery, the City of Saskatoon (City) reminds visitors of the guidelines for gravesite memorials, which are intended to maintain a pleasant environment and respect the final resting place of loved ones.

Only approved monuments or memorials are considered permanent items and are permitted to remain in the cemetery year round.  All other items placed on a gravesite, flowerbed, monument, or concrete foundation are considered temporary and need to be removed weekly.  Flowers and other items are permitted on the gravesite the day of the burial and will be left for a period of seven calendar days.  After this time period, items will be removed by the City.  Please note, the City does not take responsibility for any removed, damaged, or missing items placed in the cemetery by the public.

From May 1 to October 15:

Families may establish a flowerbed at the gravesite (with the exception of Military burials in the “Field of Honour” and flat marker areas) upon approval from the Cemetery Office.  Annual flowers are allowed, provided they do not hang over the edge of the flowerbed or impede maintenance of adjacent gravesites.

Items not allowed within flowerbeds include shrubs, perennials, decorative fencing, rocks, stones, concrete, and breakable or fragile items.

The City assumes no responsibility for the appearance, maintenance, and fall cleanup of approved flowerbeds planted by the public.  If flowerbeds are neglected, they will be removed.

The Cemetery Office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding statutory holidays.  All inquiries should be directed to the Cemetery Office at 306-975-3308.

The City would also like to remind visitors of Woodlawn Cemetery’s participation in iCemetery, a free third-party app for mobile devices that can be used for locating loved ones buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.  Visitors can search by first and last name, view the burial plot detail, and be guided to the actual location of the plot within the cemetery using GPS data from your mobile phone.

iCemetery is free for download at the Apple App Store (https://itunes.apple.com/app) for iPhone, iPad, and iTouch devices and at Google Play (http://play.google.com/store/apps) for Android mobile devices.

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. 

NEW
33RD ST WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING CIRCLE DR OVERPASS
(Guardrail repairs)
Start: October 17, 7:30 a.m. End: October 17, 9:30 a.m.
20TH ST EB & WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM AVE J TO AVE L
(Sanitary Lining)
Ave K S NB & SB median (inside) lanes closed from 19th St to 20th St
Start: October 17, 9:00 a.m. End: October 17, 6:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING HWY 16 OVERPASS
(Guardrail repairs)
Start: October 17, 9:30 a.m. End: October 17, 12:00 p.m.
ONGOING
PRESTON AVE NB & CORNISH RD/HUNTER RD INTERSECTION RESTRICTIONS
(Intersection reconstruction)
Access to Stonebridge via Preston Ave will be maintained:
Preston Ave SB to Cornish Rd WB will be maintained. NB traffic will be detoured via the new Willis Cres which now joins Preston Ave.
Hunter Rd WB to Preston Ave NB will remain open for morning rush hour, the restriction will be in place from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day.
Start: October 14, 9:00 a.m. End: October 18, 8:00 p.m.

AIRPORT DR NB LANES CLOSED FROM GATEWAY BLVD TO THE AIRPORT
(Roadway improvements)
Two-way traffic accommodated in SB lanes. 45th St W closed from Airport Dr to Koyl Ave
Start: August 20, 1:00 p.m. End: October 29, 6:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

Despite the warmer weather this week the City of Saskatoon is busy preparing for winter and this includes the start of the Fall Street Sweeping program on October 20 after a successful pilot program in 2013.

“While nobody is hoping fall will end and we aren’t wishing for snow anytime soon, we are ready to go should it happen,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works. “Sweeping leaves in core neighbourhoods that have dense tree canopies before it snows will improve drainage in the spring and make sweeping the streets easier.”

The neighbourhoods selected for fall sweeping this year include City Park, North Park, Holiday Park, King George, Riversdale, Caswell Hill, Nutana, Varsity View, Buena Vista and Westmount. This is a weather dependant, 13-day program. Please watch for the high-visibility no parking signs in these neighbourhoods minimum of 36 hours in advance. Find the schedule at saskatoon.ca and click on Building Better Roads.

Residents are reminded not to push leaves from your boulevard or yard onto the street. Not only is it against the City Bylaw, doing this makes sweeping difficult and sweepers may have to skip a street if excessive leaves begin to delay the schedule.  Please use your City of Saskatoon Green Cart or take your leaves to our free compost depot.

School zones will not be included in the fall sweep this year due to the potential dangers with large equipment around children. The leaves left behind in these areas will not amount to enough to restrict drainage in the spring.

“Increased funding this year has also allowed us to make improvements to our snow and ice programs,” says Hyde. “We will be introducing some new features which will ultimately help with our goal of making it easy and safe for people to move around Saskatoon this winter.”

Examples of improvements include the 18-vehicle snow train, introduced earlier this year, which will be used to remove collected snow along the barriers of bridges and overpasses along Circle Drive to enhance motorist safety.  Graded snow piles will be also be removed from school zones more frequently to improve children’s safety, and additional private contractors will be utilized to help city crews with snow grading operations.

This year, the City will also use a technique called pre-wetting which involves spraying the salt and sand with a liquid before spreading it on the roadway to improve traction on Circle Drive and high-traffic streets. Wet salt and sand sticks to the road better, even in extreme cold conditions, when it would otherwise be swept off by traffic.

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.