News Releases

Starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2014, Saskatoon’s Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) will systematically test the notifynow system. The purpose of the test is to give residents the opportunity to better understand the notifynow system, to let people hear what a message will sound like, and to encourage people to sign-up.

“The test will give the EMO a vital opportunity to evaluate the features and functions of the notifynow system in a non-emergency situation,” says Director of Emergency Planning, Ray Unrau.

The test notification will start at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 4th and will send notifications throughout the city one quadrant at a time. Everyone with contact information linked to an address within that quadrant will receive the test notification message. After a short pause, the process will be repeated until the notifications have been sent to the three remaining quadrants. We expect the testing period to last about 2 hours.

“It is also important to give an opportunity for residents to familiarize themselves with what a notification will sound like,” Unrau says. “By taking part in the test, residents will have some familiarity with the process and be ready to respond appropriately in a real emergency situation.”

The test will use information currently entered into the notifynow database. That includes publically available information from the 2013/14 SaskTel phone book as well as contact information provided by residents who have signed up.

“Once the test is complete we ask that residents take note of how they received the notification message and whether the message was delivered the most effective way,” Unrau says. “For example, if they got a voice message on their home land line but would prefer to receive a text message on their cell phone they would need to sign-up or sign-in to notifynow and update their account.”

We also expect that some residents will notice that they did not receive the test notification. In those instances, we will ask them to create an account by following the prompts on saskatoon.ca and provide their preferred contact information so we can reach them in the future.

Saskatoon’s Emergency Measures Organization is excited to move this project forward. On-going testing is an important part of the City’s Emergency Preparedness process and will provide us with important technical information while demonstrating to individual residents what a targeted mass notification would sound like and how they can expect to be contacted.

NEW
23RD ST E & 5TH AVE N NB, SB & EB LANES CLOSED
(Sewer manhole dig)
23rd Street E WB traffic will be maintained at intersection
Start: December 2, 9:00 a.m. End: December 2, 6:00 p.m.

ONGOING
ATTRIDGE DR NB & SB FROM FORESTRY FARM PARK DR TO FORESTRY FARM PARK RD
(Enchanted Forest Light Tour)
Start: November 21, 3:00 p.m. End: January 11, 11:30 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 on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

-30-

NEW SUNDAY

8TH ST E EB LANES CLOSED FROM CLARENCE AVE S TO MCKINNON AVE S
(Water Connection Repair)
Start: November 30, 7:00 a.m. End: November 30, 6:00 p.m.

ATTRIDGE DR WB CURB (OUTISDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING CENTRAL AVE
(Pole maintenance)
Start: November 30, 7:30 a.m. End: November 30, 8:30 a.m.

CIRCLE DR NB OFF-RAMP TO PRESTON AVE WB CLOSED
(Pole maintenance)
Start: November 30, 7:30 a.m. End: November 30, 8:30 a.m.

CIRCLE DR SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN 14TH ST & 8TH ST
(Pole maintenance)
Start: November 30, 7:30 a.m. End: November 30, 9:00 a.m.

IDYLWYLD DR NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED NORTH OF 42ND ST
(Pole maintenance)
Start: November 30, 9:00 a.m. End: November 30, 10:30 a.m.

CIRCLE DR SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED SOUTH OF 8TH ST
(Pole maintenance)
Start: November 30, 9:00 a.m. End: November 30, 10:30 a.m.

CIRCLE DR EB OFF-RAMP TO PRESTON AVE SB CLOSED
(Pole maintenance)
Start: November 30, 9:00 a.m. End: November 30, 12:00 p.m.

COLLEGE DR WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING CENTRAL AVE
(Pole maintenance)
Start: November 30, 10:30 a.m. End: November 30, 12:00 p.m.

ONGOING
ATTRIDGE DR NB & SB FROM FORESTRY FARM PARK DR TO FORESTRY FARM PARK RD
(Enchanted Forest Light Tour)
Start: November 21, 3:00 p.m. End: January 11, 11:30 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 on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

An early release of a proposed budget provides for an opportunity for public feedback.  As a result of feedback and discussion this week, the City Administration has prepared some options that, should Council approve of all the options, the revised property tax increase could be 5.49%.

“This is part of the regular budgeting process,” says City Manager Murray Totland.  “We have already realized a savings of $200 thousand from the assessment growth figures which were finalized this week.”

With a finalized property tax roll, the proposed property tax increase reduces by 0.11% to 7.21%.  The Administration has also prepared some options that Council may consider such as the adjustment to funding plans, phase-in taxation plans and service levels as well as consideration of new information. 

“On top of the assessment figures, we have identified a number of other funding opportunities that amount to a further $2.98 million reduction, or an additional mill rate reduction of 1.72%,” says Chief Financial Officer Kerry Tarasoff.

“This includes a phase-in change to the road and sound wall levy; however it does not change the total investment originally proposed for each year for roads, or actual timing of the work in the case of the sound walls,” Tarasoff says.  “We’re proposing to stretch the remaining two years of the 2.92% road levy over three or more years. This would then become a 1.94% road levy.”

The difference needed to fund the road investments would come from one-time capital funding available from sources such as land development profits.

Other proposed adjustments suggest deferral of some civic facility and organizational funding items.

Tarasoff points out that moving to a three-year phase-in could reduce the proposed property tax increase by nearly a full percentage point. This adjustment would also have a beneficial impact to the 2016 budget as a similar reduction could be incorporated.

In all, with the assessment figures and adjustments there is a potential reduction of $3.18M or 1.83%.  The property tax increase, if all of these adjustments were included, would then be 5.49%

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.

The Saskatoon Fire Department reminds everyone that even though ponds and lakes are covered with snow, the ice is still too thin to be used for recreational activities. The snow covering we have received lately can insulate the ice and prevent it from thickening as quickly as one would expect. Please use caution around these bodies of water and stay off.

River safety is also a concern at this time of year. The current can create unstable ice at any point during the winter meaning it is never safe to be on ice that has formed on the river. Also, frost and ice make the riverbank slippery, increasing the risk of falling into the water. Please do not let children play near the river and/or riverbank.

Remember, in an emergency, call 9-1-1.