News Releases

For October 26, 2015 City Council Meeting

6.1 Prohibition of Smoking in City-Operated Public Places

City Council will be asked to:

*consider Bylaw No. 9312, the Smoking Control Amendment Bylaw, 2004 to expand current smoking prohibitions to include outdoor public places owned or operated by the City.

Additional Information:

*In August, City Council resolved the expanded prohibitions be enforced through bylaw and the City Solicitor prepare the necessary bylaw amendment.
*The proposed bylaw will come into force on January 1, 2016.
*Another report before the end of the year will be brought to City Council which further amends the Bylaw to prohibit the use of electronic cigarettes in all places where smoking is currently prohibited. The prohibitions, as with smoking, will not allow for an exemption in vaping shops.
 

8.1.1 Application for Municipal Heritage Property Designation – Mann House

City Council will be asked to:

*request the City Solicitor bring forward a bylaw to designate the property, at 1040 University Drive, as a Municipal Heritage Property (with designation limited to the exterior of the building).
*request that all required notices be prepared for advertising and that $2,500 be allocated from the Heritage Reserve Fund to supply and install a recognition plaque.

Additional Information:

*The Mann House is located on a corner lot in the Varsity View neighbourhood and is a one- and three-quarter storey dwelling built in 1912.

*The heritage value of the Mann House resides in its long association with Owen Mann, a long-time member of City Council. Other notable individuals who lived at this location include: Thomas Watson, physician and head of the Saskatoon Cancer Clinic; and W.E. Walter, a Special Representative for the Canadian National Railway (CNR) Colonization Department.

*A formal evaluation was conducted and Administration is recommending the designation.

8.1.2 Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women Monument

Council will be asked to:

*approve the front plaza of Saskatoon Police Headquarters as the location of the Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women Monument.

Additional Information:

*The SPS and Saskatoon Tribal Council partnered to commission a commemorative artwork to remember missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

*SPS and STC selected Saskatchewan Artist Lionel Peyachew to design the monument.

8.1.7 Meewasin Valley Authority Northeast Swale Master Plan

City Council will be asked to:

*approve in principle the Meewasin Northeast Swale Master Plan.

Additional Information:

*Meewasin has prepared a Plan for the Northeast Swale within city limits to support its objectives of conservation, education, and passive recreation.
*The Plan includes a significant number of proposed amenities: the Greenway (trail and transition area adjacent to urban development), trails, boardwalks, parking, facilities (benches, picnic areas, waste receptacles, etc.), signage, access control, and lighting.
*Development of the Plan has been a collaborative effort between Meewasin, the City, key stakeholders, and the public.
*Meewasin has estimated the total capital cost to implement the Plan at $14 million, split between the swale area proper ($6.1 million) and the Greenway ($8.0 million). An implementation plan and funding strategy will be developed that will also consider annual operating impact (estimated at $186,000 for the City and $192,500 for Meewasin).

8.3.1 2016 Neighbourhood Traffic Management Reviews

City Council will be asked:

*that the eight neighbourhoods selected for 2016 traffic reviews, as part of the Neighbourhood Traffic management Program, include Stonebridge, Willowgrove, Hampton Village, Silverspring, Grosvenor Park, Lakeridge, Sutherland, and Parkridge.

Additional Information:

*The neighbourhoods selected are based on Councillor input, collision history, number of concerns received and number of existing temporary traffic calming devices.
*The traffic reviews are intended to address local traffic concerns such as speeding, shortcutting, pedestrian accommodation, and parking.
 

9.1.1 Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 Interchange Funding Application

City Council will be asked:

*To support the application for a Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component grant for Highways and Major Road infrastructure, for the Boychuk and Highway 16 Interchange, from the New Building Canada Fund, and City Council agrees to meet legislated standards, to meet the terms and conditions of the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component program, to conduct an open tendering process, to manage the construction of the project, to fund the municipal share of the construction cost, to fund ongoing operation and maintenance costs, and to follow any mitigation measures as required by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and The Environmental Assessment Act (Saskatchewan).

Additional Information:

*A specific resolution from City Council is required for the application.
*Once approved by the senior levels of government, the City will receive a letter confirming formal approval or approval-in-principle. The City can then proceed to award the project.
*The interchange is estimated to cost $45.15M of which $29.73M has been applied for under the PTIC program. The remaining funding will come from the Interchange Levy and the reallocation of the special levy collected for the Rosewood flyover project that has been cancelled.

NEW

NIGHT WORK: BROADWAY AVE NB/SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM 8TH ST E TO MAIN ST & 11TH ST E TO 12TH ST E
(Sanitary sewer lining)
Start: October 22, 7:00 p.m. End: October 23, 6:00 a.m.

ONGOING

AIRPORT DR NB/SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED AT CLAYPOOL DR
(Road construction)
Claypool Dr WB closed from Airport Dr to McClocklin Rd
Start: September 15, 7:00 a.m. End: October 27, 6:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N NB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 39TH ST W TO CIRCLE DR E
(Sewer cleaning)
Start: September 29, 9:00 a.m. End: October 29, 3:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N/HIGHWAY 16 NB & SB LANE RESTRICTIONS FROM 51ST ST E TO MARQUIS DR W
(Hwy 16 flyover repair)
Hwy 11/12 SB median lane closed at overpass
Start: July 13, 9:00 a.m. End: October 31, 5:00 p.m.

HWY 16 WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT ZIMMERMAN RD
(Road reconstruction)
Start: September 16, 7:00 a.m. End: November 15, 5:00 p.m.v

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.

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 and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The City is pleased to confirm that Financial Close has been achieved with Graham Commuter Partners for the North Commuter Parkway and Traffic Bridge project.

“This was a very competitive procurement process and we thank each of the three proponents for their submissions,” says Dan Willems, Special Projects Manager with Major Projects. “Graham Commuter Partners will build the bridges and roadways based on approved technical requirements and project design parameters, as well as finance and maintain the new infrastructure for a period of 30 years. The City retains ownership of all infrastructure.”

The North Commuter Parkway Project includes a six-lane bridge and 8.3 kilometres of new arterial roadways to link the Marquis Industrial area with the University Heights area. It achieves this by extending Marquis Drive across the South Saskatchewan River and connecting to McOrmond Drive at Fedoruk Drive, and extending Central Avenue from Fedoruk Drive north to the new extension of McOrmond Drive.

The Traffic Bridge will accommodate all modes of transportation while retaining a similar architecture to the previous structure as well as the riverscape of the past century. The new Traffic Bridge will include two driving lanes at 3.7 metres wide, and two 3 metre-wide multi-use pathways on each side of the bridge to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists.

“The Parkway Bridge will connect the growing neighbourhoods in the northeast with the employment rich areas of Marquis Industrial,” says Mayor Donald Atchison. “The new Traffic Bridge will improve travel efficiency in our growing downtown. Both projects will create jobs for local workers and strengthen our economy.”

Through the P3 Canada Fund, the federal government is providing an investment of up to $66 million to the project, while the Province of Saskatchewan will contribute $50 million.

A report outlining the financial details of the proposal will be provided to City Council at its meeting on November 23, 2015.

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.

PSA

For Immediate Release:  October 21, 2015

CY15-200

REMINDER:  GROWTH PLAN PUBLIC EVENTS ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 AND THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

The City invites residents to participate in the closing round of public engagement for the Growth Plan to Half a Million (Growth Plan).

Join the conversation, either in person or online, to provide feedback on the proposed long-term plans and implementation priorities for a new transit system with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT); redevelopment along major corridors like 8^th Street, 22^nd Street, Preston Avenue, and College Drive; and a new river crossing connecting 33^rd Street to Preston Avenue, combined with dedicated BRT lanes on the University Bridge.

Two public open houses are being held for residents to learn more and provide feedback on the Growth Plan.

Detailed project information and an online survey will also be available at www.growingfwd.ca until Sunday, November 8, 2015.

Growth Plan Come-and-Go Public Events

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Mayfair United Church, 902 33^rd Street West

4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Saskatoon Field House, 2020 College Drive

4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Growth Plan Online Survey

October 14 to November 8, 2015

Review the final draft plan and provide feedback online at www.growingfwd.ca

This will be the fourth and final round of public engagement for the Growth Plan.  Once complete, the Growth Plan will help guide future infrastructure investments and land-use decisions so residents will have more choices for how they live and move around the city as Saskatoon grows to half a million people over the next 30 to 40 years.

For more information on the Growth Plan, or to sign up for project update notifications, visit www.growingfwd.ca.

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.

Spend more, spend less or spend about the same? The City of Saskatoon wants public input on Shaping Our Financial Future and is providing more information about how the budget is built to encourage residents to get involved.

“We’ve made strides to ensure our planning for the 2016 Corporate Business Plan & Budget is even more transparent and accountable this year,” says Clae Hack, Director of Finance. “Through public education and more participation opportunities, citizens are contributing and helping shape Saskatoon’s financial future.”

The City is inviting citizens to take a few minutes to participate and have their say by using a new and easy-to-use interactive and educational online tool. Citizen Budget is available at saskatoon.ca/citizenbudget

Citizen Budget shows residents how building the City’s annual budget requires balancing affordability for taxpayers with the delivery of City services and service levels residents expect.

“There are many challenges that come with a growing city. Within the annual budget, funding choices must be made between what the community wants and needs and what the City can afford,” says Hack.

Citizen Budget is available online but will also be showcased at the Saskatoon Fall Home Show October 23 – 25 with the goal of encouraging show attendees to participate. A budget display in the lobby of City Hall also provides an opportunity to provide written comments.

City Administration and City Council will consider citizen priorities and preferences gathered through Citizen Budget prior to Council deliberations, scheduled for November 30, December 1 and 3, 2015.

Citizen Budget builds on public engagement activities earlier this year. The City introduced a new budget video series to help residents better understand the budget process and how their property taxes work. This past summer, citizens also had the opportunity to provide input into the preliminary budget through public engagement opportunities .

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.