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Funding Increase Proposed for Saskatoon SPCA
April 8, 2022 - 2:44am
A recommendation to increase funding to the Saskatoon SPCA (SPCA) for pound services in 2022 will be presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development & Community Services at its meeting on Tuesday, April 12.
The City of Saskatoon and the SPCA have had a longstanding relationship to ensure pound services – the capture and hold of stray companion animals for up to 96 hours – are available to the residents of Saskatoon. The SPCA is an organization able to provide pound services and is also suited to provide extra animal services such as pet adoption, animal shelter and education programs.
Through a lease agreement* and Pound Services Agreement, the SPCA provides pound services for the City. In turn, the City permits the SPCA to provide its own extra animal services out of the City-owned facility on Clarence Avenue South. Beyond the 96 hours required under the Pound Services Agreement, the animals then transition to the subsequent shelter services, which have always been fully funded by the SPCA.
A recent review of the current funding structure for pound services delivered by the SPCA was undertaken collaboratively by the City and SPCA Administration and determined that the total amount allocated in the 2022/2023 Operating Budget for pound services is not meeting the current costs to deliver the program. Administration is recommending a 50 per cent increase in total funding to the SPCA for pound services in 2022 to $698,000 to more accurately reflect the cost of the pound services operations.
“We know that the SPCA has the experience and expertise to provide adequate animal care to animals dropped off at the pound, and an increase in funding will allow the City and the SPCA to continue this longstanding relationship to ensure pound services are available to the residents of Saskatoon,” says Lynne Lacroix, General Manager, Community Services.
If approved, Administration will continue working with the SPCA to determine the actual funding required to deliver pound services for 2023 and will also review funding options and service level changes that may be implemented which could reduce the costs associated with pound services. A report on a detailed plan and future level of funding would be presented in advance of the 2023 Budget approval.
For more information on pound services provided in the City of Saskatoon, visit https://www.saskatoon.ca/services-residents/pet-licensing-animal-services/enforcement.
*In 2005, when the SPCA was experiencing financial difficulties and needed help to address the situation, they approached the City about purchasing their land and building to provide some much-needed funding for operations and ensure the ongoing provision of pound services for Saskatoon. The City agreed to the purchase and in addition, invested $100,000 into capital improvements to the facility.
Dedicated funding and financial strategy help offset 2020 deficit
April 7, 2021 - 10:35am
With the help of careful spending and provincial and federal financial support, the City will be able to cover a $701,813 deficit with a transfer from the Fiscal Stabilization Reserve.
Details of the financial strategy’s outcome are in a report for the City’s Standing Policy Committee on Finance April 12 meeting. The report outlines the 2020 fiscal year-end subject to the confirmation of the external audit.
“Without a doubt, 2020 was a challenging year for the City,” says Kari Smith, Director of Finance. “The COVID-19 pandemic, a major blizzard, implementation of our new FUSION Enterprise Resource Planning system and the 2020 civic election all presented significant financial impacts on our operations and organization.”
“Through the assistance of the provincial and federal governments and the results of our discretionary hiring and spending restrictions throughout most of 2020, the Administration made some astute fiscal projections given the information we had on hand at the beginning of the pandemic.”
2020 Preliminary Year-End Financials at a Glance
The deficit remaining for the year ended December 31, 2020, is $701,813, which the Administration recommends being funded from the Fiscal Stabilization Reserve. Included in this deficit is the $15 million reduction in the transfer to the Paved Roadways Infrastructure Reserve by using the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) funding to replace the reduction of the reserve contribution for the Paved Roadways program. This also assumes that the following recommended items will be approved by City Council:
• The transfer from the Snow and Ice Management Contingency Reserve as per Council Policy No. C03-003 in the amount of $3,453,144; and
• Waiving the transfer to the Internal Audit Program Reserve for $316,740.
“We view the 2020 Preliminary Year-End Financials as having a successful overall result, considering the extensive costs incurred due to cleanup of the 2020 blizzard, which resulted in the Snow and Ice Program being more than $10 million overspent, all included as part of the 2020 year-end figures,” Smith says.
The Administration recommends the City’s Fiscal Stabilization Reserve be used to cover the remaining $701,813 deficit leaving just over $4 million in that reserve.
The transfer of funds to the Fiscal Stabilization Reserve is an annual process based on Council Policy. It helps offset any tax-supported operating deficits incurred in a year.
“Several of the challenges presented to the City proved difficult to predict, given we had no previous historical data to rely on. We will continue our prudent fiscal management, accountability, and transparency, which will allow for the strengthening of this important Reserve as we navigate 2021 and the ongoing economic impacts of the pandemic,” adds Smith.
City utilities posted surpluses and the Saskatoon Police Service was under budget by $914,000. All three of the controlled corporations (SaskTel Centre, TCU Place, and Remai Modern) were able to cover their deficits through their own means, having no impact on the City’s year-end results.
View Preliminary Year-End Results Year Ending December 31, 2020
View all surpluses and variances within the Detailed Overview of Preliminary Year-End Financial Results
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City recommends permanent closure of Meadowgreen Recycling Depot
April 7, 2021 - 10:05am
Following continuous public safety concerns from illegal dumping, scavenging, nuisance and criminal behaviour, the City Administration recommends a permanent closure of the Meadowgreen Recycling Depot located at 22nd Street & Whitney Avenue. The proposal is presented in a report going to the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services on Monday, April 12.
The Meadowgreen Local Area Plan (LAP) approved by City Council in June 2017 included 25 recommendations as a result of input from over 90 residents, stakeholders and 50 members of City Administration. One of these recommendations addressed the north back lane of the 2700, 2800 and 2900 blocks of 21st Street West (adjacent to the Meadowgreen Recycling Depot) as an area that experienced nuisance conditions and criminal activity; many of which are related to the depot.
As a temporary measure, the City recently reduced operating hours, installed fencing around the site, and implemented 24/7 security surveillance.
“We regret that it has come to this, but ongoing issues have left us with no choice but to recommend permanent closure,” says Lynne Lacroix, General Manager Community Services. “The actions of some individuals have led to the possibility of removing a public facility that allows well-intentioned residents to responsibly divert their recycling from the City landfill.”
“Unfortunately, we can no longer commit the resources required to maintain the site, keep residents safe, and uphold the appearance of the lanes adjacent to the depot; nor do we wish to enable nuisance or criminal activity in any way,” says Lacroix.
The closure and partial remediation of the site are estimated at $8,000 and could be carried out immediately following a final decision by City Council on Monday, April 26.
“We fully expect that the positive social implications of this closure for the Meadowgreen area and its residents will far outweigh the financial and environmental implications,” says Angela Gardiner, General Manager Utilities & Environment.
Review the Meadowgreen Recycling Depot Closure report and attachments here. Updates will be shared as they become available.
Residents are encouraged to make use of the other 24/7 recycling depots throughout the city in addition to their residential curbside and multi-unit recycling bins. Alternate recycling depots are listed at saskatoon.ca/recyclingdepots.
City of Saskatoon awarded 14th consecutive financial reporting award
April 7, 2022 - 8:42am
For the 14th consecutive year, the City of Saskatoon has won the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting (CAnFR) from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada.
The CAnFR award, presented for the City’s 2020 Annual Report, represents a significant accomplishment for municipal government and its financial management. The award recognizes the City’s commitment to high standards and excellence in financial transparency and accountability.
“We are committed to financial transparency and openly communicating to the citizens of Saskatoon with full disclosure in our annual reporting,” says Kari Smith, Director of Finance. “We are proud to receive this award and proud of our employees who are dedicated to making the City of Saskatoon a leader in producing high-quality financial reports year after year.”
The City’s 2020 Annual Report has been judged by impartial Canadian Review Committee members to meet the high standards of the program, including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” designed to clearly communicate the municipality’s financial story and to motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.
The Canadian Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program (CAnFR) was established to encourage municipal governments across Canada to publish high-quality financial reports and to provide peer recognition and technical guidance for officials preparing these reports.
Visit saskatoon.ca to view additional financial reports from the City of Saskatoon.
New pay parking app planned to launch in June
April 6, 2022 - 4:30pm
The vendor of the City’s current pay parking application (app), WayToPark, will be releasing a new app in June called Parkedin. Beginning July 1, Parkedin will officially replace WayToPark as the City’s app-based parking payment service.
The Parkedin app will be available for public download and use starting June 1. Both WayToPark and Parkedin will be available in tandem during a transition period from June 1 to June 30, 2022.
The new Parkedin app will operate and function similar to the WayToPark app, with some additional features such as the ability to pay for parking by scanning a QR code on the nearest pay station as well as support for debit payments.
“Our Parking Services team is looking forward to the implementation of the new app to provide an improved offering for customers and to ensure that there is no service disruption.” says Matt Grazier, Director of Community Standards.
A report on proposed amendments to the Traffic Bylaw to facilitate usage of the new app will be presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation on Monday, April 11.
For more information on Pay Parking, visit saskatoon.ca/payparking.