News Releases

Yesterday, City Council approved a new bylaw to enhance the protection of trees on City property. 

Bylaw No. 9957, The Tree Protection Bylaw, 2024 (Bylaw) is designed to prevent harm to trees on City property by addressing various activities such as the attachment of objects to trees, the use of harmful substances like herbicides or other chemicals, and demolition or construction near a City tree. 

“The new Bylaw will help to safeguard the City’s urban forest by providing an effective mechanism to protect and preserve trees on City property,” says Director of Parks Darren Crilly. “This proactive step aligns with the City's commitment to sustainable urban development, acknowledging the vital role trees play in maintaining environmental health, aesthetic appeal and the overall well-being of the community.” 

One of the main requirements of the Bylaw is the approval for any work conducted within six metres of a City tree. This includes activities like construction, demolition or the placement of heavy equipment, vehicles or building materials near a City tree.  

To formalize the Bylaw’s approval requirement and ensure activities near City trees adhere to specific tree protection measures, a new permitting process will be introduced in September 2024.   

“While the Bylaw will help address compliance issues, the City’s enforcement approach will prioritize education and collaboration as the primary course of action,” Crilly says. “The Parks Department will continue to work with industry and civic departments to support the rollout of the new permitting process.”  

In the meantime, residents and developers are encouraged to follow the existing tree protection process by completing a Tree Protection Plan application form found on the City’s website at saskatoon.ca/treeprotection prior to the start of your project.   

The Bylaw does not apply to trees in back lanes, trees on private property, minor landscaping and the placement of lights or extension cords on a City tree during the winter months.  

In addition to the Bylaw, City Council approved updates to the existing City Council Policy, Trees on City Property, which provides Administration with direction on the care, maintenance and protection of City trees.  

For more information on the Bylaw, visit saskatoon.ca/treeprotection. 

At its January 31 Regular Meeting, City Council approved a procurement approach for seeking a private partner for operations management of one or both of the Downtown Event and Entertainment District anchor facilities (event/centre arena and convention centre). This approach lays out how Requests for Proposal (RFP) for potential private partners will be evaluated to ensure anyone chosen meets the vision of the District and is committed to both financial success and Community Benefit outcomes.

“This approval allows us to now take the important step of issuing a request for proposal for a private partner, with a weighted approach that simultaneously help us attract a partner that will not only fund and run a successful operation, but also values and understands the importance of social responsibility and leadership in our community,” says Dan Willems, Director of Technical Services, Transportation & Construction Division.

Following closure of the RFP process, negotiations will be undertaken with the preferred proponent to further refine details surrounding the various elements of their proposal and to determine financial implications of various options including programming and operations management of the public plaza, overall responsibility for future stages of project development and community benefit commitments. 

“The City has been working for several years on the vision of a safe and vibrant Downtown that supports a strong economy,” says Willems. “The potential and possibilities inherent in creating a vibrant District are becoming clearer as planning proceeds. We are taking a ‘shelf-ready’ approach so that if and when the funding model is approved, we are prepared to start working on the project in short order, providing benefits to Downtown in the near- not distant- future.”

More reporting and information on the District project is anticipated in February 2024, including:

• A conceptual design information report
• Convention Centre options decision report
• District Plan update

Project timelines and past decisions are available at www.saskatoon.ca/eventdistrict.

The City of Saskatoon reminds residential and commercial property owners that the City’s 30-Day Assessment Review & Appeal period closes Monday, February 5, 2024. 

If you are interested in filing a formal appeal with the City’s Board of Revision regarding the valuation, classification or content of your property’s assessment, your Notice of Appeal and accompanying fee must be received before Monday, February 5, 2024.

The City’s 2024 Assessment Roll, a listing of all property assessments in Saskatoon, has been open for public inspection since January 2, 2024, and this also closes on Monday, February 5, 2024. Inspection of the roll can be in person at the Assessment and Valuation Office located at 325 3^rd Ave N, one block north of City Hall, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays, or online at saskatoon.ca/taxtool.

Most assessment-related questions can be resolved by speaking with an assessor before deciding to file a formal appeal for your property.  Call the Assessment Office at 306-975-3227, or the Board of Revision at 306-975-3240 for more information on the assessment appeal process.

Detailed assessment and tax information about your property can also be viewed by entering your property’s address into the Property Assessment & Tax Tool.

• Property owners have the option to apply for and pay online for property assessment appeals. Information on this is available at saskatoon.ca/assessmentappeals. To download an appeal form, visit saskatoon.ca/assessmentappeals.

Visit saskatoon.ca/assessment for more assessment information including how to make a change to school tax support, or check this helpful 2024 Assessment Notice guide.

The first of two new 30-bed emergency shelter facility sites has been selected.

The first site will be the former Fire Station #5 Located at 421 Central Avenue, which is anticipated to open as a temporary 30-bed emergency shelter in Spring 2024. Once further investments have been made into the facility by the Government of Saskatchewan, it is expected that the site will be in operation as an emergency shelter for the medium to long term.

The site meets the criteria outlined in an October 11, 2023 report to the Governance and Priorities Committee of City Council and is similar in size to other successful facilities in Saskatoon. Further details will be included in a report to be presented to City Council at its February 28, 2024 meeting. 

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

The Mustard Seed was selected by the Government of Saskatchewan to operate the shelters and the City has been asked to identify suitable locations for the two Emergency Residential Shelters.

The City agreed to lead the site selection process after receiving City Council direction at the October 11, 2023 Governance and Priorities Committee. Since then, City officials have worked with the Government of Saskatchewan to find suitable locations to meet those needs.

“There is a crisis of homelessness, both with increasing numbers of people who are without homes as well as the risks that come with colder winter temperatures,” says Fire Chief Morgan Hackl. “The City has repeatedly asked the Government of Saskatchewan for further supports in Saskatoon; they have committed to just that, and the City is supporting the Province and this sense of urgency by agreeing to find emergency shelter locations for those experiencing homelessness.”

The City will retain ownership of the building and proposes to lease it to the Government of Saskatchewan. The Saskatoon Fire Department staff will continue to have a presence in the neighbourhood.  

Next steps involve neighbourhood information meetings with representatives from the City, Government of Saskatchewan and its service provider, The Mustard Seed, that residents and business owners located near the former station will be invited to attend. The facilitated panel discussion portion of the meeting will be recorded and available on saskatoon.ca/shelterspaces for residents to view at their convenience. Information on the meetings will be provided to residents and businesses within a 300 metre radius of the former fire station.  

According to proper City Council procedure, the proposed location will require a number of City Council approvals, including:
 

•        removal of a Municipal Reserve (MR) Designation,
•        below market value lease to the Government of Saskatchewan,
•        duration of a Temporary Emergency Shelter for up to 18 months.

Additional steps for medium to long term use of the former fire station as a shelter will take place later this year. The City has led the site selection process but all costs related to facility operation and facility upgrades will be borne by the Government of Saskatchewan.

Finally, safety and security around the shelter is critical.

“As part of the Provincial Approach to Homelessness, the Government of Saskatchewan has made a commitment to develop additional outreach supports to enhance safety and security around shelter facilities,” says Chief Hackl. “These supports will further improve safety around emergency shelters and other areas impacted by homelessness, mental health and addictions issues.”

S&P Global Ratings (S&P) has today 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 twenty-two years since S&P first began affirming the City’s credit rating in 2002.

“We take great pride in S&P endorsing the City’s 22^nd ‘AAA’/Stable credit rating - it reconfirms Saskatoon City Council and its Administration's ongoing commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency," says Clae Hack, Chief Financial Officer.

S&P rates the City of Saskatoon’s institutional framework as “…extremely predictable and supportive…” and bases credit context on having “…effective financial management practices consistently support strong operating balances...”

“It’s an honour to receive the ‘AAA’/Stable credit rating endorsement” says Hack. “It validates that Saskatoon manages municipal finances responsibly, plans for the future appropriately and that we can sustainably deliver high-quality civic services and programs residents expect and rely on today and well into the future.”

S&P’s rationale and outlook contributing to the confirmation of the City’s strong credit rating within the January 15, 2024, S&P Global Ratings Direct® Report states:

• The City “will continue to benefit from a strong and diverse economy that supports budgetary performance, keeping debt issuance manageable and maintaining an exceptional level of liquidity.”
   
• “We expect Saskatoon's strong and stable economy, coupled with a growing population and upcoming tax adjustments, will result in healthy operating balances throughout the outlook horizon.”

• “Saskatoon's strong and prudent financial management is a key credit strength, in our view. The City's management team is experienced and qualified to effectively enact fiscal policies and navigate external risks. Good political consensus is demonstrated by a long track record of passing budgets before the start of the fiscal year with minimal variations from projected revenues and expenses.”

• “We view both management accountability and transparency to be strong, as reflected in ongoing disclosures and grounded assumptions, as well as prudent financial policies.”

• “The City consistently produces robust annual budget documents. It also prepares multi-year operating and capital budgets for upcoming years, alongside comprehensive long-term capital and borrowing plans. This underpins fiscal transparency and discipline, in our assessment.”

S&P Global does note the significance of Saskatoon’s upcoming capital plan in 2024-2026 including key projects such as the City’s Bus Rapid Transit, expansion to the City’s Water Treatment Plant and investment in Land Development that could impact the City’s after-capital balances, one of many metrics used to evaluate a municipalities credit score.

“The City’s capital plan for 2024-2026 includes significant projects that will support the needs of a growing city” adds Hack. “We are confident our financial plans to deliver these projects are robust and utilize the City’s reserves, debt and government funding in a fiscally responsible manner.”

Credit ratings are one of several tools that investors and lenders use when making decisions regarding an organization’s future financial strengths and weaknesses. For the City of Saskatoon, the ‘AAA’/Stable rating serves as an indication of the City’s credit risk and ability to meet its financial obligations in full, and on time.

View reports on the City of Saskatoon’s financial performance and credit rating history at saskatoon.ca.