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Climate Action Progress Report measures City’s progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions

March 31, 2021 - 4:00pm

UE21-2025

A report headed to the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services will outline the advances the City has made toward greater sustainability and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Climate Action Plan: Progress Report 2020 (2020 Progress Report) will be presented to the committee on April 6, 2021. It is a culmination of progress that has been made on the Climate Action Plan, which includes The Low Emissions Community Plan and the Corporate Climate Adaptation Strategy. 

“This report summarizes Saskatoon’s GHG emissions from 2019 and tracks the progress of the LEC and Adaptation actions that started in 2020,” says Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability. “While it’s too early to see significant greenhouse gas reductions, it’s important to stress that these first steps, including strategies, feasibility studies, and pilots, lay the groundwork to increase future emissions savings.” 

According to the report, emissions belonging to the City have increased, while Saskatoon’s overall community emissions have decreased. The LEC Plan is a 30-year roadmap with 40 actions and was received by Council in late 2019. The 2020 Progress Report finds that some actions have progressed as scheduled, while others are not yet meeting the pace set in the plan.   

Angela Gardiner, General Manager of Utilities & Environment, says it will take a bit of time before more benefits are noticeable. “While we have a number of initiatives under way or in early development, the results won't be seen until they are fully implemented.  For example, Saskatoon Light & Power is replacing streetlight fixtures with LED technology. To date the project has realized savings of 179 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions with estimated savings of 5,500 tonnes annually once all 17,000 fixtures have been replaced.” 

A few more initiatives that are underway, but haven’t yet shown their impact include: 

  • The Home Energy Loan Program will enable Saskatoon residents to invest in energy improvements for their homes, while saving money, reducing GHGs, and stimulating our economy.
  • The Bus Rapid Transit initiative, once built, will make it easier for Saskatoon residents to get around using Transit and reduce transportation-related emissions.  
  • A feasibility study is underway for a utility-scale solar facility and, if the results of the study indicate it will be effective, is expected to be constructed within the next year. This will generate renewable energy and offset community electricity use. 
  • An electric vehicle pilot project is underway to test the effectiveness of electric vehicles for the City’s fleet.    

The report also provides an update on progress made towards the actions identified in the Corporate Climate Adaptation Strategy, that relate directly to initiatives the City of Saskatoon should implement to improve its resiliency to the impacts of a changing climate. 

For more information, or to view the 2020 Progress Report, please visit: saskatoon.ca/climatechange.

Council lifts mask requirement for City facilities, maintains masks for Transit

March 28, 2022 - 10:58am

FI22-2967

City Council continues to guide the City of Saskatoon’s response to COVID-19 in the community to protect the health and safety of residents and customers, following the provincial government's previous decision to lift provincial Public Health Orders.

At its meeting today, City Council considered a monthly COVID-19 update on masking in City facilities and Saskatoon Transit. Council approved a transition from a mandatory to discretionary approach for masking in City facilities. As noted in the February 8, 2022 City Council resolution, the City extended the masking requirement in City facilities beyond the expiration of the Public Health Order as a temporary measure to help transition the community to a new COVID-19 environment.

As of Monday, April 4, people accessing City facilities, including City Hall, Leisure Centres, indoor arenas, golf course buildings, indoor spaces at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo and the downtown Saskatoon Transit Customer Service Centre are no longer required to wear a face mask. Masks are welcome and will be available upon request.

Masks will continue to be required when travelling on Saskatoon Transit vehicles. Mask education will continue with riders through signage and interior and exterior audible announcements on each bus. Masks will continue to be made available to Transit customers.

The Saskatoon Emergency Management Organization continues to monitor the COVID-19 impacts on City staff and services in accordance with the COVID-19 Response Levels. A monthly update will be presented at the next meeting of City Council in April.

For the latest updates, visit saskatoon.ca/covid-19. 

Downtown Event & Entertainment District Advisory Group named

March 28, 2022 - 11:30am

CK22-2962

As the City moves toward the development of a Downtown Event and Entertainment District, anchored by a new arena and a new or renovated convention centre, the Downtown Event and Entertainment District Advisory Group has been established to foster connections between business, community partners, the provincial government and the City to support the successful implementation of the project. 

Planning for the development of a Downtown Event and Entertainment District is in the preliminary stages, with the current phase focused on the selection of a future site location for a new arena. While the City will retain overall ownership of these new facilities and infrastructure once constructed, numerous community partners, key project partners, and sponsors will be integral in driving the successful development and delivery of the project. 

“Having key community agencies represented on the Advisory Group will be tremendously important for the successful development and funding of this project,” says Dan Willems, Director of Technical Services. "In addition, having representation from the Province of Saskatchewan provides a reasonable balance of designated agency representation.” 

The open call for public applications to the Advisory Group resulted in an overwhelming response, and the Governance and Priorities Committee sincerely thanks all valued applicants for their interest. In considering the applications, the Governance and Priorities Committee recommended expanding the number of public representatives from five to six to capture a slightly broader cross-section of the community, while agreeing that the Advisory Group’s overall size and composition need limits to allow for the work of the group to be conducted efficiently and effectively.  

At its meeting Thursday, March 24, the Governance and Priorities Committee of City Council recommended appointment of the following individuals to serve as public representatives on the Advisory Group: 

  • Ali Abukar – CEO, Open Door Society 

  • Bertrand Bartake – Architect, Kindrachuk Agrey Architecture 

  • Alisha Esmail – CEO/Owner, Road Coffee Inc. 

  • Geri Fernet – Retired Business Proprietor 

  • Shawna Nelson – Hotel Marketing/Management, James Hotel 

  • Stephen Yee – Product Manager, Andgo Systems 

The Committee also accepted the Province of Saskatchewan's recommendation for Ken Cheveldayoff, MLA for Saskatoon Willowgrove, to serve as the Province of Saskatchewan's representative, joining the Advisory Group’s previously appointed agency representation: 

  • Saskatoon Tribal Council – Tribal Chief Mark Arcand  

  • Métis Nation-Saskatchewan Western Region 2A – Kathie Pruden-Nansel  

  • Downtown Business Improvement District – Brent Penner  

  • Riversdale Business Improvement District – Randy Pshebylo  

  • Tourism Saskatoon – Stephanie Clovechok  

  • North Saskatoon Business Association – Keith Moen  

  • The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce – Jason Aebig 

Council representatives on the Advisory Group are Mayor Charlie Clark, Councillor Troy Davies and Councillor Cynthia Block. Councillor Block and Councillor Davies will be the co-chairs of the Advisory Group.  

The recommended appointments will be formally approved by City Council at its meeting on Monday, March 28.  

More information about the Downtown Event & Entertainment District project can be found at saskatoon.ca/entertainmentdistrict. 

Public safety concerns forcing modified operations for Meadowgreen Recycling Depot

March 23, 2021 - 3:00pm

UE21-2010

The City of Saskatoon will be introducing new measures at the Meadowgreen Recycling Depot (22nd Street & Whitney Avenue) in hopes of mitigating the ongoing public safety concerns and illegal dumping. Beginning Friday, March 26 the depot will be operating under reduced hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with gates locked after hours to prevent entry. The depot will also be under security surveillance at all times.

“It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this, but ongoing issues have left us with no choice but to take these measures,” says Angela Gardiner, General Manager Utilities & Environment. “While we recognize that many residents make use of this depot with the good intention of diverting their waste, the ongoing behaviour by some residents has resulted in unfavourable site conditions. We take the health and safety of residents and our crews very seriously and will continue to monitor the depot to assess whether additional long-term measures are necessary.”

The City reminds residents that Waste Operations crews visit the recycling depots several times per week to conduct collections and site clean-up.

Residents are encouraged to also make use of other 24/7 recycling depots throughout the city, including:

Administration will deliver a formal report to City Council in April to discuss this matter.

Future updates on the Meadowgreen Recycling Depot will be made available at saskatoon.ca/recyclingdepots.

Prairieland Park separate business, neither City nor Council controlled: Solicitor

March 22, 2021 - 7:54am

SO21-2004

The City Solicitor today outlined Prairieland Park is not operated by the City nor does City Council direct or control the business decisions of Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation (Prairieland). At the regular business meeting of Council Monday afternoon, Cindy Yelland further explained Prairieland is a non-profit and external third-party corporation not created by the City of Saskatoon.

Yelland was responding to an inquiry from Coun. Bev Dubois during the question period portion of the agenda.

“Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation is an external corporation and is not created by the City of Saskatoon, and as such, the City has no say with respect to the operation of the facility at Prairieland Park including Marquis Downs. What the City does have is a lease for the land at Prairieland Park and there is a wide range of uses that are available to Prairieland Park under that lease and everything we’ve seen to date, Prairieland Park is in compliance with the in terms of their lease,” Yelland said.

Ever since Prairieland announced horse racing would end at Marquis Downs in favour of pursuing a professional soccer team in the Canadian Premier League, Coun. Dubois said many in the community had questions about the operation of Prairieland Park Corporation.

Other key points:

  • The City has a long-term lease with Prairieland Park for land, and until the lease expires the City cannot unilaterally make changes to the lease terms.
     
  • The 50-year lease is $100 per year until April 30, 2045, but Prairieland Park has the option to renew the lease until April 30, 2065.
     
  • The City purchased the current site of Prairieland Park in 1908 and while the name has changed over the years, Prairieland Park has continuously occupied the site since that time.
     
  • The lease allows for a wide range of uses and the City believes that Prairieland Park is in compliance with the terms of the lease.
     
  • The lease requires Prairieland Park to obtain the written approval of Council prior to the construction of additional development on the land. This provision does not give the City the ability to make business decisions at Prairieland Park.
     
  • Council only approves the construction of additional development on the land.
     
  • Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation is exempt from taxation.
     
  • Any tax exemption granted to Prairieland Park is the result of a specific exemption in provincial law –The Cities Act. The City of Saskatoon is required to follow the provisions of the provincial legislation.
     
  • Under Bylaw No. 7978, the Amusement Tax Bylaw, Prairieland collects amusement tax as part of the admission to the annual exhibition at Prairieland. In 2019 this amount was $71,000.00.  The City then pays that back to Prairieland to allow the corporation to make capital improvements to the property that Prairieland owns.
     
  • Currently, the bylaws of Prairieland allow for the City of Saskatoon to appoint one person to the Board. Historically, Council has appointed a member of Council to sit on the Board. 
     
  • Appointments by Council are a matter of public record. At all times material to this discussion the members of Council on the Prairieland board were appointed as representatives of Council.  
     
  • The Cities Act contains conflict of interest provisions. The Act specifically states that a member of Council does not have a financial interest so as to create a conflict of interest in the following situations:
    • By reason of being appointed as the representative of the Council on another body; or 
    • That the member may have by being a director of a non-profit organization. 
       
  • The City has not identified any Zoning Bylaw contraventions at Prairieland Park and does not intend to take further action under The Zoning Bylaw.