News Releases

City Council’s Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC) endorsed at its meeting today recommendations to reinstate public pay parking and other parking enforcement measures starting Monday, May 25, 2020. A special meeting of City Council will be called for later this week to formally approve these recommendations.

While the City is doing its part to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases in Saskatoon, it also wants to do what it can to boost the economy and support business in our community. With the return of retail commercial activity as part of the Government of Saskatchewan’s Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan, a report to GPC recommended that pay parking requirements and enforcement including parking time limits be reinstated to help ensure parking turnover for customers and businesses in high-demand pay parking zones.

The report also recommended other parking enforcement measures be reinstated, such as the on-street parking time limit of 72 hours in residential areas, to help manage parking turnover, maintain traffic flow and allow for emergency access.

GPC approved an additional recommendation to reinstate parking restrictions and enforcement in Residential Parking Program (RPP) zones effective May 25, 2020. The City will honour expired RPP Permits until a process is put in place for renewals.

The City will continue to honour expired hologram stickers used in conjunction with SaskAbilities parking permits to allow those with a valid SaskAbilities permit to park in pay parking zones without further payment.

Following extensive consultations with veterinarians and our animal care team, the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) had the sad responsibility of euthanizing one of the grey wolves named Zeppelin on Thursday.

“It is always difficult to make a decision like this when it comes to the animals that we care for,” says Zoo Manager Jeff Mitchell. “Zeppelin had an amazing life here at the Zoo and will be remembered for his spunkiness and adventurous nature”.

Over the past few years, Zeppelin had been facing some serious arthritis issues that were being managed under veterinarian care. In recent months, his condition continued to deteriorate and his ability to cope with the arthritis under medication was no longer effective at keeping him pain-free.

The average life expectancy of a grey wolf is six to eight years in the wild and up to 15 years in zoological facilities. Buddy, Zeppelin’s long-time companion, is the same age and showing similar age related issues.

“We know that this will be an especially tough time for Buddy,” says Mitchell. “We are going to do everything we can to help him adjust to being a lone wolf. Our animal care team has developed a plan to give Buddy as much attention and enrichment as he needs”.

Zeppelin and Buddy first met after joining the Zoo family in 2007. Although the pair were not litter mates, Buddy and Zeppelin quickly bonded and became life-long companions.  

City Council will consider a new proposed Official Community Plan (OCP) for Saskatoon at its Public Hearing on Monday, May 25, 2020, at 6:00 p.m.

The OCP is the collective long-term vision for Saskatoon, guiding the physical, environmental, economic, social and cultural development of the community. It provides both inspiration and direction through a comprehensive policy framework to ensure the community’s vision for Saskatoon is integrated into all aspects of planning, decision-making and priority-setting for the City. It brings focus and purpose to more detailed plans, including growth plans, financial plans and strategic action plans.

The development of the proposed OCP was guided by the priorities of City Council, as established in the City’s Strategic Plan 2018-2021. The proposed OCP, Bylaw No. 9700 updates the current OCP, Bylaw No. 8769 to reflect direction provided in guiding documents that City Council has approved over the last several years. These guiding documents include, but are not limited to, the Growth Plan to Half a Million, Saskatoon Speaks – Community Vision, City Centre Plan, Culture Plan, Active Transportation Plan, Green Infrastructure Strategy, Recreation and Parks Master Plan and the Heritage Plan.

A copy of the proposed OCP can be viewed online at saskatoon.ca/ocp.

To submit a letter or request to speak to City Council regarding the proposed OCP, please visit saskatoon.ca/writetocouncil for more information. All submissions received by the City Clerk by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 25, 2020, will be forwarded to City Council for consideration.

Members of the public are able to view the Public Hearing broadcast live on SHAW TV – Channel 10, Shaw BlueSky – Channel 105 and video-streamed on the City’s website at saskatoon.ca/meetings starting at 6:00 p.m. on the scheduled day.

For more information and to subscribe to updates, visit saskatoon.ca/ocp.

The City has received provincial funding for a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) on 25^th Street near Pacific Avenue. The RRFB is being installed today.

“This is an existing crossing on a busy street that did not have flashing lights to alert drivers that a pedestrian is crossing or ready to cross,” says Jay Magus, Director of Transportation. “The beacons are mounted on posts at the side of a street and a ground-mounted push button activates the lights.”

RRFBs are installed under a solar panel at the top of the post that provides power. They have proven to be effective in getting the attention of Saskatoon drivers.

The 25^th Street beacon is similar to the one at Spadina Crescent and 33^rd Street. The City plans to install more at several other locations.

Provincial Traffic Safety Fund grants are awarded twice annually. The City plans to continue submitting funding applications to improve safety at other intersections and school zones throughout Saskatoon.

The City is proceeding with several key construction projects this summer while making the health and safety of employees, contractors and residents its top priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. City Council has endorsed a revised 2020 Capital Construction Program, so that Saskatoon continues to have a safe and reliable network of roads and utility infrastructure.

“After re-evaluating all planned projects for this year and by making adjustments to typical safety procedures, we have determined that we can move forward with the majority of those projects," says Terry Schmidt, General Manager of Transportation and Construction. “We will be evaluating all projects as they proceed while continuing to follow provincial public health orders and recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Canada.”

Approximately 4,611 metres of new water main will be installed in areas where the current infrastructure is in immediate need of replacement. On 8th Street, water mains will be replaced under the east bound lanes between Sommerfeld Avenue and Arlington Avenue. Water main replacements are also planned on sections of Clarence Avenue between College Drive and 8th Street. Under Garvie Road, a new primary water main will be installed that will service the neighbourhoods of Evergreen and Aspen Ridge.

In addition to annual street maintenance programs such as pothole repair, line painting and street sweeping, the City is planning 185 lane kilometers of road construction. Work includes reconstruction following all water main replacements, but also resurfacing and micro surfacing throughout the city. Locations include:

• College Drive/Highway 5 westbound from Highway 41 to the CP Rail overpass (resurfacing)
• Taylor Street from Heritage Crescent to McKercher Drive (resurfacing)
• Boychuk Drive north bound from Briarwood Road to 8th Street (resurfacing)
• Central Avenue from College Drive to 107th Street (resurfacing)
• Circle Drive from College Drive overpass to 14th Street (resurfacing)   
• Circle Drive west bound from Avenue C to Laurier Drive (micro surfacing)

The second and final phase of the Sid Buckwold Bridge rehabilitation resumed in March and will be complete this fall. Improvements include a wider walkway with taller barriers, a new drainage system and new asphalt.

“Roads really matter to the people of Saskatoon. Construction projects result in sound infrastructure and they help boost the economy by providing jobs,” Schmidt says. “In this unprecedented time, we are adjusting and will re-adjust our practices as necessary to get this important work done. We are working with our employees and our contractors to ensure they are implementing and following protocols at construction sites to protect everyone’s safety.”

City Council is investing more than $61 million for road rehabilitation and maintenance to make Saskatoon’s streets, bridges and sidewalks, smoother, safer and longer-lasting.

The City of Saskatoon appreciates everyone’s patience during construction. We know it can be a real “pain in the asphalt.”

More information about 2020 construction projects is available at Saskatoon.ca/betterroads.