News Releases

From the January 30, 2017 Meeting

6.1.1 Ken Cheveldayoff, Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport – Meewasin Valley Authority Funding

Decision

*The Committee received the letter as information.

Background

*The letter is a response to James K. Wood, President of the SOS Elms Coalition.
*In the letter, Minister Cheveldayoff says the Government of Saskatchewan recognizes that urban parks contribute to a high quality of life and that since 2008, Meewasin has received $8,210,362 in funding.
*The letter states a review of Meewasin Valley Authority is being conducted and will help inform future decisions.

7.2.3 Overview of the 2017 Assessment Roll

Decision

*The Committee received the report as information and will be forwarding it to City Council as information.  A Power Point presentation was provided to the Committee and the Administration will be providing the Power Point to City Council as well. 
*The Committee also asked the Administration to report back on:  a) The ability to coordinate distribution of Property Tax Notices with the distribution of Assessment Notices, for the sake of clarity; and b) A communication plan for the next assessment period, to address the concerns raised by citizens and Councillors this year.

Background

*A property reassessment recalculates property assessment values to a more current valuation date.
*The Province of Saskatchewan made a change to the residential and multi-unit residential percentage of value to be applied to assessed values. This change does not result in individual properties paying more, nor does the City of Saskatoon receive any additional tax revenue.
*Generally speaking, the 2017 assessed values have not increased in value as much as they did in 2013 with the last reassessment.

7.2.6 S&P Global’s Canadian Ratings – City of Saskatoon

Decision

*The committee received the report and is forwarding it to City Council for information.

Background

*The report informs City Council and the general public of the 2015 long-term issuer credit rating report recently prepared and released by S&P Global (formerly Standard & Poor’s Rating Services) reaffirming the City’s “AAA”/Stable outlook credit rating, as well as some of the key rating factors.
*S&P Global has reaffirmed the City’s “AAA”/Stable outlook credit rating based on the 2015 Consolidated Financial Statements and current economic outlook.
*The City compares favourably to the key factors used by S&P to evaluate the City’s credit rating.

From the February 13, 2017 Meeting

8.1.1 Saskatoon Municipal Review Commission Remuneration Committee Recommendation – Request to Amend The Cities Act

Decision

*The committee received the information.

Additional Information

*In June 2016, City Councuil made the following resolution: “That City Council request the Government of Saskatchewan to change The Cities Act in order to permit municipalities to adopt fully taxable remuneration for Mayors and Councillors.”
*In accordance with City Council’s instructions, the City Solicitor wrote to the Minister of Government Relations requesting the relevant legislative change. Also, the City Solicitor sent the particulars of the legislative change proposals to the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association’s legal counsel and to the City Solicitors of Regina, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert.
*The Minister responded to the City Solicitor indicating that while the practice of making one-third of a City Councillor’s remuneration tax-free has been a common practice throughout Canada, it has become a growing trend for many Canadian cities to eliminate this practice. The Minister confirmed that this provision shall be considered by the Province the next time The Cities Act is opened for amendment and that the Province will consult with SUMA and other cities at that time to determine the best course of action.
*The City is awaiting feedback from SUMA and the other cities and will report further.

8.2.3 The Code of Ethics for Members of City Council Bylaw, 2017

Decision

*The Committee recommended to City Council that Bylaw No. 9424, The Code of Ethics for Members of City Council Bylaw, 2017 be enacted.

Additional Information

*A new section of The Cities Act requires that City Council adopt a Code of Ethics by bylaw. The Cities Act Regulations provides a model Code of Ethics which is deemed to have been adopted by City Council if Council does not adopt a Code of Ethics by bylaw. The model Code of Ethics is deemed in effect after February 23, 2017.
*This report brings forward a bylaw which contains the model Code of Ethics modified to include specific references to Saskatoon for City Council’s consideration and adoption by bylaw.

The City’s Snow Angel Program is making sidewalk clearing a little easier for Saskatoon residents. Diane Woodley is one of the people who received help from her neighbours this winter and wanted to make sure they were recognized for their efforts.

His Worship, Mayor Charlie Clark, today thanked and presented a gift to this month’s winners of the Snow Angel Program prize draw.

“The Snow Angel Program is a great reminder that we are all in this together,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “It’s about kind acts by people like the Hutchence family, taking the time to help their neighbours. And it’s one way we can come together to build a safe winter city where everyone can get outside and enjoy it.”

Diane Woodley nominated Snow Angels Tom, Katrina, Henry (3) and Andrew (6) Hutchence. Woodley is extremely grateful for the help, having undergone a knee and hip replacement.

“Every time it snows, Tom, Katrina and their sons clear my sidewalk and driveway,” says Woodley. “But, I don’t think Henry has quite figured out how it works yet. While his parents and older brother push snow off my driveway, he moves little piles of snow back on to it.”

When helping others clear their snow and ice there are some important points to remember:

• Always shovel snow on private property and not on the street.
• Chip at ice during the warm daylight hours when it is soft, and easier to break.
• Spread sand on icy patches to increase traction and make it easier to remove ice later.
• Use commercially available de-icing materials before and after ice forms.
• Watch for ice humps that are formed when water drips off of buildings and then freezes on pathways.
• To report an uncleared or dangerous sidewalk, please contact the City Bylaw Inspector at 306-975-3193.
• Residents are reminded to be safe and always exercise caution when working outside and clearing snow and ice for themselves and others.  

To nominate a Snow Angel please visit saskatoon.ca/snow and fill out the form or submit your nomination by mail to 222 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon SK, S7K 0J5 or in person at City Hall. Those nominated will receive a thank you and be entered into a prize draw. 

The City of Saskatoon is inviting local non-profit organizations who have a project that would improve quality of life in the winter season to apply for a WinterCityYXE Grant.

Grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 will be awarded to eligible organizations for projects that can be executed next winter and further the goals and objectives of the Winter City Strategy:

• Winter Life: Getting out, celebrating, and enjoying the fun quality of life we have here, even in the coldest months of the year.
• Winter Design: Improving community comfort and accessibility for everyone, even in the ice and snow. 
• Winter Culture: Building enthusiasm for winter, taking advantage of winter opportunities, and telling the story of our winter city.
• Winter Economy: Addressing challenges associated with winter to create a more vibrant economy in the winter.

Figures released today from the 2016 Census reveal Saskatoon added more people than any other community in the province.

“This reinforces the message that Saskatchewan is increasingly urban – 90 per cent of the population growth in the province between 2011 and 2016 happened in Saskatoon, Regina, and their surrounding communities,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. 

“For Saskatoon, we’ve added the equivalent of about five new cities; in the region, we’ve added more than six and a half. This is remarkable growth.”

The data collected by Statistics Canada show the annual average population growth rate in Saskatoon was 2.2% between 2011 and 2016.  Saskatoon grew by 24 thousand people; this accounts for nearly a quarter of the entire provincial population for the same period:

In comparison, the province grew by 6.3% over between 2011 and 2016, or 1.26 % per year.

When the Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) is considered, over half of the provincial population growth occurred in the Saskatoon region:

“Cities are where the people are going and where the jobs are going,” Mayor Clark says.  Cities are playing an increasingly important role in the future of the province.”

The Census also counts 98,565 dwellings in the city of Saskatoon in 2016 which is an increase of 7,629 occupied dwellings or 7.7% over 2011.

The Saskatoon CMA is made up of the city of Saskatoon and 24 surrounding municipalities and Indian Reserves.

Saskatchewan was the third fastest growing Province or Territory behind Nunavut and Alberta and the second fastest growing province.