News Releases

The deadline for applications to operate a Seasonal Commercial Enterprise (SCE) in a Saskatoon park is Tuesday, March 31, 2015, for the 2015 operating season that runs from July 1 to October 12.

 City Council approved the new Seasonal Commercial Enterprise in Parks Policy (Policy) earlier this year.  The Policy provides the opportunity for anyone wishing to operate a SCE that will support a variety of recreational, sporting, or cultural activities or events in Saskatoon’s parks.

 An Adjudication Committee with representatives from the City of Saskatoon (City), Meewasin Valley Authority, Tourism Saskatoon, Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, Broadway Business Improvement District, Riversdale Business Improvement District, and the Partnership, will review and recommend approval of SCE applications.  Approval will be based on the applicant’s ability to meet the specific criteria outlined in the Policy.

 Once the application has been approved and all required documentation is received by the City, a permit and business license will be issued by the City’s Planning and Development Division.  Permit costs range from $600 (not-for-profit) to $1,800 (for profit) annually; the fee for a new business license is $125.

 Enforcement of the Policy will be administered through the City’s Community Services Department.  It does not include food and beverage opportunities, which are currently available in downtown riverbank parks.  The Policy itself is available on www.saskatoon.ca.

 Application packages are available by emailing kara.lackie@saskatoon.ca or calling 306-975-3485. 

 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.

Beginning in March 2015, Saskatoon Water will be constructing a new building next to the Spadina Lift Station, south of the Circle Drive north bridge on the west bank of the river.

The building will house two large pumps and a backup generator to act as a bypass station which will help deal with peak wastewater flows which occur during rainstorms. Once built, the existing portable pumps will be removed.

Spadina Crescent, between Windsor Street and Prince of Wales Avenue, will remain open to traffic throughout construction, but drivers and pedestrians are urged to use caution as large trucks and equipment will be entering and exiting the site. During construction it may be necessary to temporarily close the Meewasin Valley Trail adjacent to the site. In this case, a detour trail will be put in place and signs posted.

Construction is expected to last approximately one year, barring any unforeseen circumstances. Once the project is complete, the area will be re-planted with trees and grass.

The Spadina Lift Station is a critical part of Saskatoon’s wastewater system, handling about 60 per cent of the flow going to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

On March 9, Administration will recommend the City’s Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services approve a contract with Elster Solutions Canada Inc. to supply the necessary equipment for the implementation of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system for the City’s electricity and water utilities.

“In addition to the success we’ve had so far, Elster communication modules are also compatible with the 54,000 meters already replaced by Saskatoon Water,” says Kevin Hudson, Metering & Sustainable Electricity Manager. “It makes sense financially to standardize the type of meters and modules for the balance of the electricity and water meter deployment.”

An AMI system is used to transmit electricity and water consumption data from the individual meters to the utilities. If the contract is approved, the purchase will include the following items:

• The balance of required electricity meters (27,000)
• Communication models for the water meters (69,000)
• The AMI data collection system
• An annual maintenance and support contract

Saskatoon Light & Power has been working with Elster since 2008 and has successfully replaced about 55 percent of aging meters since that time.

“The AMI system will allow for more precise and reliable metering,” says Hudson. “'Further benefits include reduced greenhouse gas emissions and labour costs tied to manual meter reading.”

The AMI system is expected to be operational in 2016. Once AMI is fully implemented, customers will receive monthly bills based on actual, not estimated, usage.

The balance of electricity customers will be converted to the AMI system by the end of 2017. All water communication modules are planned to be installed by the end of 2019.

Elster Solutions Canada has been engineering and manufacturing meters for 125 years and has deployed over 8 million smart meters and 110 AMI/smart grid systems worldwide. Elster meters are designed, manufactured, and guaranteed to operate in accordance with Measurement Canada regulations and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards.

More information on smart meters is available by visiting saskatoon.ca and entering “smart meters” in the search field.

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.

As the City continues to roll out the FlexParking program in stages, an additional 25 pay stations will be activated on Wednesday, March 4, on the following streets:

• 1st Avenue between 20th and 23rd Street
• 20th, 22nd and 23rd Street between 1st and 4th Avenue

When the new, flexible pay stations are turned on, the old coin meters will be covered with a white and yellow hood that directs drivers to use the pay stations. Until drivers encounter this hooding at the space they wish to park, they should continue to plug the old coin meters.

The first FlexParking pay stations were activated along 2nd Avenue and 21st Street on February 19. More stations will continue to be activated in stages, in the weeks to come.

Important tips and reminders:

1. Have your licence plate number handy; you’ll need it at every transaction.
2. Don’t forget to note the maximum allowable time where you’re parking; you can only park as long as the sign indicates, regardless of how much time you buy.
3. You don’t need to display a dashboard ticket; your plate provides proof of payment.
4. Balances on your parking purchase can be carried forward to any space that’s been switched over to the new system; balances cannot be applied to coin metered spaces.
5. Additional parking time may be purchased after your last purchase expires, provided you have not exceeded the maximum allowable time posted at your parking space.

The City’s Disability and Veteran parking permit programs remain unchanged and drivers are still required to display their placards.

For more information, including a map of where the new FlexParking pay stations are installed, and frequently asked questions, visit saskatoon.ca/flexparking or call 306-975-2980.

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

The City of Saskatoon invites residents to attend one of three important open public engagement events to learn more and provide input on the proposed Growth Plan to Half a Million (Growth Plan), which includes long-term plans for a new transit system with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT); a new river crossing at 33^rd Street combined with BRT lanes on the University Bridge; and redevelopment along major corridors like 8^th Street, 22^nd Street, and Preston Avenue.

The public will also have an opportunity to provide feedback on the recommended implementation priorities for putting specific features of the Growth Plan in motion over the short-, medium-, and long-term.

 Mark your calendars!  This is your opportunity to have your say in Saskatoon’s future.

Main Events – Growth Plan Focused Discussions
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
TCU Place, 35 22^nd Street East
Daytime Session:  12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Evening Session:  6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Growth Plan Campus Consultation
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Louis’ Loft, 93 Campus Drive
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Detailed project information and an online survey will be available at www.growingfwd.ca until Wednesday, March 18, 2015.

This will be the third round of public engagement since the Growth Plan launched in February 2014.  The input gathered during this round of engagement will help to develop the long-term plans for corridor redevelopment, transit, and core area bridges, as well as set the direction for an implementation plan.  We will be back in fall to share what we heard and confirm the final Growth Plan with the public.

Once complete, the Growth Plan will help to guide future infrastructure investments 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.