News Releases

2016 Budget Review Begins Monday, November 30, 2015

November 27, 2015 - 8:20am

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City Council and Administration will deliberate the 2016 Preliminary Corporate Business Plan & Budget: Shaping our Financial Future on November 30, December 1, and December 3 from 1:00 pm – 11:00 pm in City Council Chambers. The proposed 2016 Budget aims to meet various challenges facing the City by improving services, expanding infrastructure investment, enhancing quality of life and addressing public safety. A number of budget related reports and initiatives are included in the Preliminary Budget Agenda.

“Our budget investments are aligned with the City’s 2013 - 2023 Strategic Plan, and support the City in meeting the goals and priorities identified in the Plan,” says Clae Hack, Director of Finance “Citizen feedback gathered through various public engagement activities held this year, reconfirmed snow and ice, road maintenance, and public safety as priority items for 2016.”

The Preliminary 2016 Budget proposes a 3.95% municipal property tax increase which is expected to generate an additional $7.47 million. If approved as is, based on the average household assessment of $325,000, the impact will be a total of $64.83 per year or $5.40 per month. Of this proposed total, more than half will go toward the Building Better Roads Campaign and traffic noise attenuation projects.

The 2016 Business Plan and Budget renews an ongoing commitment to Continuous Improvement, as the City proposes to implement approximately $1.35 million in operational efficiencies to reduce the costs associated with delivering programs and services.

The City’s budgetary planning is inspired by the idea that we invest in what matters. The financial and physical resources under our care are used to address the needs of citizens today and tomorrow – focused on our long-term goal to manage the City in a smart, sustainable way.

Full details of the entire 2016 Preliminary Corporate Business Plan & Budget can be viewed on saskatoon.ca.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

Daily Road Report, November 19

November 18, 2015 - 9:08am

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*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only. For updates on road restrictions on other streets including residential, check our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map or Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts.

ONGOING

NIGHT WORK: UNIVERSITY DR WB CLOSED FROM 13TH ST E TO 12TH ST E
(Sanitary lining)
Start: November 18, 9:00 p.m. End: November 19, 6:00 a.m.

NIGHT WORK: IDYLWYLD DR NB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT 33RD ST W
(Manhole repair)
Start: November 18, 8:00 p.m. End: November 19, 7:00 a.m.

NIGHT WORK: IDYLWYLD DR NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING 1ST AVE
(Bridge maintenance)
Start: October 13, 7:00 p.m. End: November 23, 7:00 a.m.

IDYLWYLD DR SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN 19TH ST & SID BUCKWOLD BRIDGE
(Bridge maintenance)
1st Ave SB curb lane closed between 19th St & Sid Buckwold Bridge
Start: September 14, 7:00 a.m. End: November 23, 6:00 p.m.

HWY 11 NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM VICTOR RD TO CIRCLE DR
(Road construction)
Hwy 11 SB onramp to Circle DR EB closed
Start: November 9, 10:00 a.m. End: November 24, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR S SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT 19TH ST E
(Expansion joint repairs)
Start: November 16, 8:00 a.m. End: November 26, 5:00 p.m.

HWY 16 WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT ZIMMERMAN RD
(Road reconstruction)
Start: September 16, 7:00 a.m. End: December 4, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert.

Parkway & Traffic Bridge - Procurement Complete

November 18, 2015 - 8:38am

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The City of Saskatoon is pleased to announce it has finalized a Project Agreement with Graham Commuter Partners (GCP) for the North Commuter Parkway and Traffic Bridge project. This is the City’s second Public-Private-Partnership (P3) project.

The Project Agreement covers a period of 33 years (3 years for construction and 30 years for operation and maintenance). Over that timeframe, GCP will design, build, finance, operate and maintain the North Commuter Parkway, which includes the new river crossing and extensions of Central Avenue and McOrmond Drive; and will design, build, finance and maintain the Traffic Bridge.

“The City will retain ownership of all assets throughout the entire contract period,” says Jeff Jorgenson, General Manager, Transportation & Utilities.

The capital costs, including the fixed cost price from GCP, came in at $238.8 million. Once the costs of operation, maintenance and rehabilitation are added in, the total estimated costs for the 33 year period are $497.7 million (including inflation). These figures are in line with the project funding plan. Upon substantial completion of the project, the City will pay GCP $108.7 million. Following that, the City will make monthly payments to GCP for a period of 30 years.

GCP is a consortium comprised of Gracorp Capital LP, Graham Infrastructure, Buckland & Taylor, Tetra Tech, Clifton, ASL Paving, BBGI, and National Bank Financial.

Construction is expected to start on the new Traffic Bridge in the coming weeks. Work on the North Commuter Parkway will get underway early in the new year. Substantial completion of both bridges is scheduled for October 2018.

For more information, visit saskatoon.ca/bridging.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

City Council to Consider Citizen Budget Feedback

November 18, 2015 - 5:43am

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City Council will begin deliberations on the proposed 2016 Business Plan and Budget at the end of November. It will consider the feedback of more than 500 Saskatoon residents who accessed and participated in the City’s new online Citizen Budget tool.

“The online results indicate road maintenance and snow and ice management as areas where investing slightly more may be acceptable,” says Director of Communications Carla Blumers. “For the large majority of other nine service areas, most respondents suggested no change or investing slightly less.”

Between October 19 and November 13, 2015, all Saskatoon residents, not only homeowners, were encouraged to share their comments on what matters the most to them and indicate where they would like the City to prioritize spending for the 2016 Budget.

Blumers is pleased with the results and thanks residents for participating in Citizen Budget and offering their valuable input.

“There were 3,782 overall page views, with 2,447 unique visits and a total of 503 residents submitted feedback.”

While the interactive portion of Citizen Budget is now closed, Saskatoon residents are encouraged to continue exploring the educational budget tool and related information on the City’s website at saskatoon.ca/financialfuture.

Information gathered through Citizen Budget has been validated by a third party software provider who has several mechanisms in place to eliminate duplicate responses. As mentioned, final validated results are now available on the City’s website at saskatoon.ca/financialfuture. Comments made by participants will also be posted on the site, once they are summarized.

“Citizen Budget was built around other public engagement activities held in June, and followed the launch of the City’s new budget video series geared toward helping residents easily understand the budget process and how property taxes work,” Blumers says.

Council and Administration will consider priorities and preferences gathered through Citizen Budget and the June engagement activities during budget deliberations, set for November 30, December 1 and 3, 2015.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

Daily Road Report, November 18

November 17, 2015 - 8:41am

TU15-435

1ST AVE S SB CLOSED FROM 21ST ST E TO 20TH ST E
(Crane lift)
Start: November 18, 6:00 a.m. End: November 18, 7:30 a.m.