News Releases

Fellow Citizens,

I want to add a bit more perspective and clarity on information circulating in the community on the City’s use of external consultants. Many of the comparisons that you may have seen, heard or read are incomplete. In the interest of ensuring you have the ability to compare apples to apples, we want to set the record straight.

While a surface-level review suggests that we have a different approach to hiring external consultants than other cities, the reality is that we have a different approach to reporting. Our administrative report includes all spending on consultants and contracts, which goes beyond the spending reported in many other communities.

I will expand on this below, but consultants and contracts allow us to obtain specialized skills we don’t keep in-house and to meet the demand of surge periods while holding the line on creating permanent full-time city jobs.

Recognizing the depth of our reporting is necessary to fully understand our spending. 

The Background

In response to a question in the January City Council meeting, we prepared a thorough, open and transparent report on costs related to the City’s use of outside advice and services. Given the interest in this subject, we felt a full report to City Council and the public was appropriate.

The facts are:

*All external consultant costs were approved in the 2015 Business Plan and Budget. We have not taken on additional or unexpected costs that were not approved in the budget process.
*The City invested $16 million or 4% of our total City budget on advice and services in support of capital projects – addressing an unprecedented need for construction projects made necessary by an unprecedented period of growth in our community.
*The City invested $2.6 million or 0.4% of our total City budget on advice or services to the City for operations. For example this includes $213,000 for internal audit services that are more cost effective to outsource.

Finding Accurate Comparisons

To be clear, the report to be discussed at the Finance committee next week includes all costs where an external consultant or service provider participated in our work. This ranges from preliminary planning and concept studies to using outside help to design and manage a project.

In other words, we cast a wider net than what it appears other municipalities may have reported to their citizens. We believe this level of openness is the most responsible way to report to citizens.

For example, if we were to compare referenced information from the City of Regina on consultants hired for planning studies or strategic policy advice with what Saskatoon spent on the same, our expenditures would be in the neighbourhood of $1.8 million (including $1.6 million on capital projects).  This is in line with the $1.75 million spent by the City of Regina in 2015.

Listening to our Community

The City of Saskatoon has experienced significant growth over the past decade and we have acted to address the priorities identified by our citizens – more notably traffic congestion, roads, bridges and infrastructure.

The money spent on capital contracts and consulting is due in large part to our rate of growth and infrastructure development.  Saskatoon outpaced most Canadian cities over the past number of years with an infrastructure investment of $500 million. It’s like we have been “building” another Humboldt or Melfort for the past several years.

As part of this, the City also develops land that, in turn, delivers a dividend to its citizens and helps pay for that growth and infrastructure.

We have turned to consultants as a responsible and prudent approach, allowing us to meet the demands of a growing city while controlling the growth of full-time city staff positions. The City performs its due diligence on quality assurance to further enhance accountability and to confirm the services we provide are in line with best practices.

Taking all these factors into consideration, a proper comparison requires an examination of a city’s economic growth and a common standard of reporting.

We always have your economic interests at heart and will continue to recommend work to City Council when we believe it is time and cost effective to do so.

Kind regards,
Kerry Tarasoff
Chief Financial Officer
 

This unseasonably warm winter with less snowfall has been a welcome for many people in Saskatoon. Less snow typically results in less shoveling on sidewalks for residents. Unfortunately, with the daytime melting followed by overnight freezing temperatures, residents are faced with icing conditions on their sidewalks.

Given Saskatoon’s reputation for strong community spirit, it comes as no surprise that again this year, the City of Saskatoon is recognizing the Snow Angels who go above and beyond to help fellow neighbours keep sidewalks clear, despite the added challenge of ice this season.

His Worship, Mayor Donald Atchison today thanked and presented a gift to Elmer and Agnes Regier, this month’s winners of the Snow Angel program’s prize draw. The Regiers were nominated as a Snow Angel by their neighbour, Janet Gordon.

“Elmer is an all-year angel”, says Gordon. “In summer he gives total care to the grass and grounds in my yard, and in winter he clears the snow and ice from my walks and large driveway. I was so lucky when the Regiers became my neighbours for many reasons. Elmer says it keeps him in shape, and l am so grateful for their help.”

“Clearing sidewalks quickly after a snowfall makes it easier and safer for people to move around, especially during an icy winter like the one we’ve had” says Acting General Manager of Community Services, Alan Wallace. “A thoughtful act from a neighbour like this epitomizes the spirit of many citizens in Saskatoon and is worthy of recognition.”

If residents receive help with their snow clearing, they can nominate them as a Snow Angel online at saskatoon.ca/snow. They’ll be sent a thank you card from His Worship, Mayor Donald Atchison as well as entered into a monthly prize draw.

The Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee (MHAC) recognized the “Spirit of Alliance - War of 1812” monument in the category of Education. The Heritage Awards were presented by His Worship Mayor Donald Atchison at the February 29 meeting of City Council.

“This is an achievement to be proud of,” says Kevin Kitchen, Community Development Manager.  “Commemorations contribute to Saskatoon’s urban landscape.  Whether as statues, monuments, or cairns, they describe our connections to the past, express community and individual values, contribute to telling our story, and help to create a sense of place.”

The education awards recognize the achievements of an individual, group or organization to educate the citizens of Saskatoon about its heritage in the areas of archaeology, history, museums, historic buildings and sites, genealogy, natural history, and folklore.

The City of Saskatoon received the donation of the Spirit of Alliance monument from the Whitecap Dakota First Nation to commemorate the alliance between the British Crown, the Dakota and others; and how the Dakota came to reside in the area. 

The City of Saskatoon’s Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee (MHAC) today announced the recipients of the 2015-2016 Heritage Awards. The Committee presents Heritage Awards every second year to recognize contributions to heritage preservation within the City of Saskatoon in the areas of archaeology, history, museums, historic buildings and sites, genealogy, natural history, and folklore.

“The Heritage Awards represent an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the work of preservation, restoration and stewardship of buildings of heritage value and education in our community,” stated Carla Duval-Tyler, Committee Chair. “These awards recognize what is often an immense amount of vision, time, and a financial commitment for something that benefits the entire city.”

“We thank all applicants as they demonstrate a vision on the part of Saskatoon residents and business in preserving, conserving and restoring our local heritage, and maintaining a sense of history as we build for the future of our city,” added Ms. Duval-Tyler.

Organizations were recognized in the following categories:

BUILDING SITES AND GROUNDS

Sensitive Addition (2 Awards)

Academic Health Sciences D Wing Addition

Presented to:

o   University of Saskatchewan (Property Owner)

o   Henry Downing Architects (Architect)

o   Graham Construction and Engineering Ltd.(General contractor)

o   Flad Architects (Lab Design Specialists)

St Thomas Moore College 2013 Addition     

Presented to:

o   Edwards Edwards McEwen Architects (Architects)

o   St Thomas More College (Property Owner)

o   Quorex Constructions Services Ltd. (Project Manager)

o   Robb-Kullman Engineering LLP (Prime Consultant, Structural Engineer)

Adaptive Re-Use (3 Awards)

210/212 20^th Street West (Grazing Goat / Green Ark)       

Presented to:

o   Strata Development Corporation (Property Owner and General Contractor)

433 - 20^th Street West (MGM Communications)      

Presented to:

o   Lionel Wong (Property Owner)

o   Strata Development Corporation (General Contractor)

o   MGM Communications (Tenant)

616-10^th Street East (Brainsport)        

Presented to:

o   Group2 Architecture (Architect and Designer)

o   Brainsport (Property Owner)

o   S2 Construction (General Contractor)

Heritage Space (1 Award)

616-10^th Street East (Brainsport)        

Presented to:

o   Group2 Architecture (Architect and Designer)

o   Brainsport (Property Owner)

o   S2 Construction (General Contractor)

VOLUNTEER PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

Della Greer

o   Commitment to making Saskatoon a place that recognizes and celebrates arts, culture and heritage through her work with the Marr Residence and other agencies.

EDUCATION AWARDS (3 Awards)

Nutana and Broadway Heritage QR Code Tour

Presented to:    

o   Broadway Business Improvement District

o   Nutana Community Association

Spirit of Alliance Monument     

Presented to

o   J. S. Gauthier, Adrian Stimson,  Happy (Ian) Grove (Artists/ Sculptors)

o   Chief Darcy Bear (Funder, Visionary)

Joe Wickenhauser

o   Commitment to preserving and sharing the history of sexual and gender diversity in Saskatoon through lectures, walking tours, film events, displays and print publications and contributions to social media.

The awards will be presented in City Council Chambers (City Hall) by Mayor Atchison on Monday, February 29, 2016 at 5:00 PM. Reception to follow at The Bassment – 202 4^th Avenue North.

Detailed information on the Heritage Awards Program can be found at saskatoon.ca/HeritageAwards. 

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo has launched an exciting new video showcasing a general medical exam on the popular red panda, Phoenix.

“The opportunity to create this unique video highlights the longstanding partnership in animal health between the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo,” says Lynne Lacroix, Director of Recreation and Community Development.

Phoenix is a permanent “citizen” of Saskatoon who has lived in Phase II of the PotashCorp Ark exhibit since he moved from the Assiniboine Zoo in Winnipeg in 2014.  Red pandas, known for their resemblance to raccoons, have been classified as vulnerable due to habitat loss and poaching.  Slightly larger than a domestic cat, red pandas are recognizable with their reddish-brown fur and shaggy tail. 

Showcasing the educational aspects of the animal health program benefits many – from teaching skills to veterinary students for their future careers, to showing school students how in-depth an annual physical examination for a wild animal is.

“The video demonstrates the commitment of both our skilled staff and the City in ensuring a quality health program for the animals in our care,” says John Moran, Manager of the Forestry Farm Park & Zoo. “Showcasing this exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ footage brings to light the facility does more than just feed and clean the animals in our care; that our animal care and welfare initiatives are of the utmost importance in the work we do every day.”

The video is showcased on the City’s YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook pages.  It is also highlighted on saskatoon.ca/zoo and will be played in the Children’s Zoo and Discovery Centre as part of a public education initiative.