News Releases

From the October 2, 2017 Finance Committee Meeting

7.1.3 Request for Direct Sale to Saskatchewan Housing Corporation – 303 Fast Court in Aspen Ridge

Decision

*The Committee will recommend to City Council that the Director of Saskatoon Land be authorized to offer, by direct sale, Lot 1, Block 701, Plan 102201769 to Saskatchewan Housing Corporation for the purpose of constructing a group home.

Background

*Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) is a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Saskatchewan, dedicated to providing a range of programs and services to help Saskatchewan people in greatest housing need. Three to four individuals normally reside in these group homes which are staffed 24 hours a day with support staff. On August 11, 2016, a letter was received from the Real Estate Officer of Housing Development requesting a direct sale of a designated group home lot in Aspen Ridge. Prior to submitting a direct sale request to the Standing Policy Committee on Finance in 2016, the Administration was informed that the purchase would have to be delayed. On August 22, 2017, SHC indicated they had the approval to proceed with the purchase of the designated site at 303 Fast Court.

7.1.4 City Owned Land Inventory in the Downtown and Plans for Development

Decision

*The Committee agreed that the information be received.

Background

*At its May 1, 2017 meeting, the Standing Policy Committee on Finance resolved, in part: “2. That the Administration report by September 2017 on all Saskatoon Land inventory in the downtown and any approved plans for development.”

From the Monday, October 2 Planning, Development & Community Services Meeting
6.1.5 Naming Advisory Committee Report

Decision

*There was unanimous support to recommend to City Council;

1. That ‘Peacock’ and ‘Prasad’ be added to the Names Master List (Unassigned); and
2. That the report of the General Manager, Community Services Department dated September 14, 2017, be forwarded to City Council for approval of a request to rename a portion of Victoria Park 'Reconciliation Circle.’ 

Background

*According to Naming of Civic Property and Development Areas Policy No. C09-008 (Naming Policy), all names proposed for the Names Master List will be screened by the Naming Advisory Committee and meet City Council’s guidelines for name selection. All requests for naming of roadways from the Names Master List will be selected or endorsed by His Worship the Mayor. Name suffixes are circulated through the Administration for technical review. At the May 18, 2017 meeting of the Naming Advisory Committee, a request was made to rename Victoria Park, or a portion thereof, to Reconciliation Park. At that time, the committee moved that further information be provided to consider a possible naming of a portion of Victoria Park.

6.2.5 Naming Major Projects – Amendments to Naming of Civic Property and Development Areas

Decision

*The Committee will recommend to City Council;

1. That the proposed amendments to Naming of Civic Property and Development Areas be approved; and
2. That Administration provide an attachment to the policy which would lay out the processes for naming major infrastructure and refer to the Naming Advisory Committee for review.

Background

*During its January 25, 2016 meeting, City Council resolved, in part: “1. That City Council amend the naming policy process such that Council applies a name during the planning stages of major projects and that the Administration report back with specific wording.”

7.2.2 Vacant Lot and Adaptive Reuse Incentive Program

Decision

*The Committee will recommend to City Council;

1. That a five-year tax abatement up to 100% of the incremental taxes for the building and structured parking to be developed at 309 22^nd Street East, be approved; and
2. That the five-year tax abatement take effect in the taxation year following completion of the project.

Background

*The Vacant Lot and Adaptive Reuse Incentive Program is designed to encourage infill development on vacant and underutilized sites and buildings within Saskatoon’s established neighbourhoods, including the Downtown. During its June 23, 2014 meeting, City Council approved amendments to the Vacant Lot and Adaptive Reuse Incentive Program to include new incentives for offices and structured parking in accordance with the City Centre Plan.

City Compost & Mulch Available Free for Saskatoon Residents

Saskatoon residents are invited to the west compost depot, to bring a shovel and fill sturdy containers with finished compost and mulch from now until the depot closes on November 12.

“This fall, we are pleased to offer rich, healthy compost and mulch to citizens for free,” says Michelle Jelinski, Senior Project Management Engineer. “The City’s compost depots keep yard and food waste out of the Landfill and produce a high-grade product for the benefit of the entire community.”

Compost and mulch from Saskatoon's Compost Depots are used to keep Saskatoon parks and community gardens healthy and beautiful every year. The City is making this available to Saskatoon residents as a pilot to determine the level of interest in these materials. .

“When you participate in the City’s green cart program or drop off yard waste at the compost depots, you keep organic waste out of the landfill and help create a valuable resource,” Jelinski says.

Finished compost is rich in nutrients and can be used in your garden, on your lawn, and in your containers to make plants healthier. Mulch can be spread around trees, plants and shrubs to hold in moisture, reduce weeds, and for protection over winter.

For bulk loads larger than one cubic yard, please call 306-975-2486 and make an appointment for a time when a loader is available. Bulk material can be purchased at $15 per cubic yard.

Citizens can load their own compost and mulch at the City’s Compost Depot on Highway 7, 1.8 kilometres south of 22nd Street, daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please cover or tarp any open loads to prevent the materials from blowing around. Learn more at saskatoon.ca\compostdepots or call 306-975-2486.

The City is decommissioning the northwest slope of the Landfill, which is at full capacity. This fall, more than 2,000 truckloads of soil will cover the entire 38,000 square metres of surface at least one metre thick before being compacted to minimize any environmental impact.

“This northwest mound was originally opened in 1955 and has served Saskatoon well,” says Michelle Jelinski, Senior Project Management Engineer. “Once it is fully compacted and contained, we will expand the landfill gas collection system to this area and further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Drivers will notice construction from Circle Drive South in an area the size of 8.5 CFL football fields, representing about ten percent of the total Landfill site. The soil cover reduces odour, litter and potential for negative impacts to groundwater.

In 2011, City Council approved the Landfill Optimization Plan to extend the life of the Landfill by 40 more years to 2050. Recommendations include adopting new operational processes, reclaiming inefficiently-filled areas, managing gas emissions, expanding waste cells where possible and a concerted effort toward waste minimization.

“By being proactive and closing out this area of the landfill, we are able to meet regulatory requirements, minimize environmental impacts, and be a good neighbour to the citizens of Saskatoon by improving the esthetics of the Landfill,”  says Jelinski.

Citizens are invited to take the 30-Day Waste Challenge and help Saskatoon move Towards 70% waste diversion by 2023 at saskatoon.ca/wastediversion. That means keeping waste out of the landfill by reusing, reducing, recycling and composting.

Learn more about the Landfill at saskatoon.ca/landfill.

 

From the September 25, 2017 Regular Meeting of City Council
 

8.1.2 Infill Roundtable
Decision

*City Council decided;

1. That the information be received; and
2. That the Administration report back to the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services regarding how incentives and changes could apply to development getting underway downtown before any changes are made.

Background

*A key direction of the Growth Plan, approved in principle by City Council in April 2016, was to balance growth between infill and greenfield locations. Between 2005 and 2015, approximately 17.4% of all dwelling units built in Saskatoon were infill units. The Growth Plan recommends that 35% of new growth be dedicated to strategic and neighbourhood infill sites, and an additional 15% be targeted to corridor growth, as the city grows to a population of 500,000 people. Downtown development has been identified as a City Council priority area.

8.1.3 Downtown Development Incentives

Decision

*City Council decided;

1. That the proposed amendments to Vacant Lot and Adaptive Reuse Incentive Program Policy No. C09-035, as noted in the September 5, 2017 report of the General Manager, Community Services Department, be approved, to be applied to the City Centre area; and
2. That Administration report back on the possibility of providing the entire five-year tax abatement amount available as a developer cash grant, including information on how this could be funded from the future property tax revenues generated by new developments.

Background

*At its August 18, 2010 meeting, City Council approved, in principle, Vacant Lot and Adaptive Reuse Incentive Program Policy No. C09-035. The original intent of the program was to provide incentives to spur development on chronically vacant sites in the established areas of Saskatoon. Originally, the program included a 12-month vacancy requirement. However, this time period appeared to result in a number of property demolitions in order to be eligible for incentives the following year. In 2012, the vacancy requirement was increased to 48 months. The last amendments to the Incentive Program were completed in 2014, as a result of the City Centre Plan. The amendments added incentives for Downtown office buildings and structured parking, in accordance with the goals of the City Centre Plan.

8.3.2 Absence Management and Disability Assistance Services Update

Decision

*City Council decided;

1. That the one-year pilot program with Bridges Health be extended for an additional one-year to enable a more complete assessment of the benefits of using a third-party vendor to provide disability and/or absence management support; and
2. That at the completion of the one-year pilot the Administration report back on evaluation activities and results as they pertain to employee experience of contracted services.

Background

*The City of Saskatoon entered into a one-year pilot program with Bridges Health in accordance with the program policies and procedures documented in the Disability Assistance Program (DAP) manual and the Collective Agreement between the City and The Amalgamated Transit Union, Local No 615 (ATU) and between the City of Saskatoon and SCMMA. This pilot program involves Saskatoon Transit employees who are members of the ESA, SCMMA and ATU. The employee group consists of employees with illnesses/absences of 10 days or greater within a 12-month period, which is the current criteria of the City’s DAP.

The original duration of the pilot involved a 12-month period that commenced March 31, 2016.

8.5.1 Endorsement of the Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth Regional Plan

 

Decision

*City Council decided;

1. That the Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth Regional Plan, Regional Servicing Strategy, and Regional Governance and Implementation Strategy be endorsed, in principle; and
2. That the estimated funds of $133,000 remaining in Regional Plan Capital Project No. 2460 as of September 30, 2017, be transferred to the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority; and
3. That the 2018 Capital Budget request, as outlined in the report of the General Manager, Community Services Department dated August 21, 2017 be considered for approval at the time of 2018 Business Plan and Budget Review.

Background

*The P4G was established in 2014 between the Cities of Saskatoon, Martensville, and Warman, the Town of Osler, and the Rural Municipality (RM) of Corman Park. The goal of the P4G is to ensure each of the five partnering municipalities can benefit from growth opportunities, increase efficiencies, and reduce costs by working together. The partners engaged O2 Planning+Design to create a long-term regional plan for land use and servicing. The P4G consists of two committees. The Regional Oversight Committee, which provides advice to the partner Councils, consists of elected officials and is independently chaired. The Planning and Administration Committee, which provides advice to the Regional Oversight Committee, consists of planning and administration staff from the partners.

8.5.3 Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Saskatchewan

Decision

*City Council decided;

1. That the City of Saskatoon enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Saskatchewan with the terms and intent as outlined in the report of the City Manager dated September 18, 2017; and
2. That the City Solicitor be instructed to draft a Memorandum of Understanding based on the contents of the report, and to do so in collaboration with the appropriate persons at the University of Saskatchewan.

Background

*The President and Vice-President of Finance and Resources of the U of S have been meeting for years with the Mayor and City Manager of the City to discuss issues of mutual concern. At a recent meeting, the idea of establishing an MOU was discussed as a way to be more intentional and strategic about collaborations. Following this, teams from the U of S and the City have been meeting to discuss this initiative in more detail and to work on such an MOU. Both the U of S and the City conducted environmental scans to identify and understand some of the current collaborations that exist, whether it be student internships, research projects, land management, transit agreements, or environmental initiatives. This allowed the two parties to see that strong collaborations already exist, and it also allowed for an understanding of where increased collaboration could occur and would be beneficial.

9.3.1 Waste Handling Levels of Service

Decision

*City Council decided;

1. That the City discontinue printing and mailing of the collection calendar for 2019 and continue to offer digital options; and
2. That the City discontinue the extra post-Christmas garbage collection starting in 2018; and
3. That the waste handling funding gap decision be deferred to the 2018 decision on waste utility options; and
4. That all other service level changes be considered during development and implementation of waste utility options.

Background

*On May 15, 2017, the 2018 Budget Indicative Rate report was brought forward to the Governance and Priorities Committee. In that report Administration reported that leading up to the 2018 Business Plan and Budget deliberations, a series of service level reports would be provided with options to increase or decrease service levels. Due to the desire to reduce the potential property tax increase in 2018, only cost saving changes to levels of service are included in this level of service report. In January of 2017, Administration reported that the waste management in Saskatoon, including the Waste Handling service line was not environmentally, socially, or financially sustainable. The options presented in this report focus on opportunities that will improve financial and environmental sustainability in 2018.

9.9.1 Waste Handling Levels of Service – Supplemental Information

Decision

*City Council decided that the report of the A/General Manager, Corporate Performance Department dated September 25, 2017, be received as information.

Background

*At its meeting held on September 11, 2017, the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services considered the Waste Handling Level of Service report which recommended the discontinuation of the print and mailing of the collection calendars for 2019, but to continue to offer digital options, and resolved, in part; that the Administration report on suggested non-digital communications methods of the collection calendar, not for wide distribution, but made accessible to those that do not have internet access and that it be appended to further discussion on this matter.

From the Monday, September 25, 2017 Public Hearing Meeting of City Council

5.1.4 Proposed Amendments to the Holmwood Sector Plan

Decision

*City Council accepted the recommendation that the proposed amendments to the Holmwood Sector Plan be approved.

Background

*Sector plans serve as a development framework for future growth and are based on the policies contained in Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 8769. In 2016, development of the commercial area in the southeast corner of the Rosewood neighbourhood resulted in the opening of a large retailer, with the expectation of further commercial development to follow. This has resulted in a need for improved connectivity between the Holmwood Sector and the Rosewood neighbourhood.

6. Proclamations and Flag Raisings

6.1 Mark Mahl - Prostate Cancer Canada - September 2017 - 'Prostate Cancer Awareness Month'

6.2 Sarah Fang - AIDS Saskatoon - November 27 to December 1, 2017 - 'AIDS Awareness Week'

6.3 A/Fire Chief Kotelmach - Saskatoon Fire Department - October 1 to 7, 2017 - 'Fire Prevention Week'

Decision

6.1 Proclamation previously given, information only.

6.2 Flag Raising Request

6.3 Proclamation Request

All three carried unanimously by City Council. Read more.