News Releases

The City of Saskatoon would like to extend a sincere thank you and best wishes to Marlys Bilanski, who is retiring this week after 35 years of service.

“To say that Marlys has left an indelible mark on the City would be an understatement.  Hers is a record of solid financial management and prudent fiscal policy,” says City Manager, Murray Totland.  “One of the reasons that Saskatoon has a AAA credit rating is because of the financial stewardship that Marlys has provided the corporation during her more than three decades of work.”

Marlys began her career with the City in 1979 and has worked in a variety of accounting positions, including Budget Manager and City Comptroller.  In 2005, Marlys became the General Manager of Corporate Services, later to become the General Manager of Asset & Financial Management and the City’s Chief Financial Officer.

In this role, Marlys has worked tirelessly behind the scenes ensuring the dollars were in place so all of the City’s biggest projects could move from an idea to a reality.

“Our Corporation’s strong financial health has been established through the hard work and keen insights of Marlys and her team.  Her wealth of knowledge has been a tremendous asset to the Corporation, and her professionalism, work ethic, and friendship will be missed,” says Totland.

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 Multi-Unit Recycling Program run by Cosmo Industries, which was recently adopted by City Council, will continue to move ahead.  There were statements in the news and on social media that the Cosmo program was stopped indefinitely.

“Unfortunately, this information was inaccurate and has led to confusion in the community,” says Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental and Corporate Initiatives. “To be clear, Cosmo Industries will continue to collect recyclables from apartment and condo blue bins.”

The provincial government announced last week that it was “adjusting” the province-wide Multi-Materials Recycling Program (MMRP), which may have funding implications for the City.

“The implications of the recent postponement of the MMRP are not yet known,” Wallace says.  “The Administration will bring options to City Council once a financial impact is confirmed.”

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 City of Saskatoon today introduced an expanded 2015 Waste and Recycling Calendar that features all three black, blue and the optional green cart schedules in one easy-to-follow format.

Every household will receive in the mail the new calendar outlining the garbage, recycling and yard waste cart collection days specific to their home address. It also provides useful information on how to use and place carts for pick-up, how to subscribe to the optional green cart program ($55 in 2015), as well as other waste recycling and disposal options around the city.

 “This year’s calendar makes it easy for everyone to participate in the City’s residential cart programs, including those who subscribe to our green cart service for yard waste,” said Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental & Corporate Initiatives for the City of Saskatoon. “The collection schedule for each cart program is now integrated into a single, 12-month calendar which will help citizens avoid the frustration of missed collection days.”

 A searchable, online version of the calendar is also available to help residents to avoid missed collections. Through SaskatoonRecycles.ca, citizens can search their cart schedules by their home address and also sign up for free collection day reminders by email or phone.

In 2015, garbage and recycling will be collected on the same day of the week as in 2014, except in the City Park and Exhibition neighbourhoods where the recycling collection day is changing to Thursdays starting January 8.

“We want to help everyone put waste in the right place and make the most of the City’s black, blue and the optional green cart programs,” said Wallace. “The more people who participate, the more we can reduce the amount and type of waste that goes into our Landfill, saving both money and our environment.”

The 2015 Waste and Recycling Calendar will arrive in your mailbox around December 24.

The City of Saskatoon is celebrating the spirit of giving at this time of year, and recognizing the Snow Angels who go above and beyond to help fellow neighbours keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice throughout winter.

His Worship, Mayor Donald Atchison today thanked and presented a gift to Glenn Hussey, this month’s winner of the Snow Angel program’s prize draw. Mr. Hussey was nominated as a Snow Angel by his neighbours, Peggy and Bob Woods.

“Twice last month, Glenn appeared with his snow blower and cleared our drive and sidewalk after a heavy snowfall,” says Mr. Woods. “My wife and I were both times sitting after breakfast trying to raise the energy and determination to do the job ourselves; the sound of his snow blower was both music to our ears and a relief.”

A City bylaw requires residential sidewalks be clear of snow and ice within 48 hours after a snowfall.

“Clearing sidewalks quickly after a snowfall makes it easier and safer for people to move around, and a friendly gesture from a neighbour goes a long way in improving accessibility and mobility for everyone,” says Colleen McKee, Marketing and Communications Manager for Transportation & Utilities. “The City is responsible for clearing sidewalks adjacent to civic facilities, the Meewasin Trail and lit pathways in City parks but we rely on our citizens to help keep people moving around in residential neighbourhoods.”

If residents receive help from a neighbour or relative, they can nominate them as a Snow Angel online, or by mailing their name and address to; Public Works, City of Saskatoon, 222 – 3rd Avenue North, S7K 0J5. The City will send them a thank you card signed by His Worship, Mayor Donald Atchison and they’ll be entered into a draw to win a one-month family pass to any City leisure centre.

“Saskatoon is a city full of wonderful people who help each other out; the Snow Angel program embodies the spirit of being good neighbours, which is something we take pride in,” says His Worship, Mayor Donald Atchison. “Glenn is just one of hundreds of incredible citizens nominated as a Snow Angel each winter, lending a hand to make Saskatoon a great place to live.”

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.

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The following fee changes* will take place in the New Year:

Landfill (effective January 1, 2015)
Entrance Fee:             $10.00 per visit (no change)
General Tipping:          $100.00 per tonne ($5.00 increase)

Leisure Centres (effective January 1, 2015)
Adult Admission:          $9.80 (50 cent increase)
Youth/Child Admission:    $5.90 (30 cent increase)
Family Admission:        $19.60 ($1.00 increase)
Preschool:               FREE (no change)

*Visit saskatoon.ca for full list of Leisure Centre and Golf Course fee changes

Residential Recycling Collection (effective January 1, 2015)Roll-out Cart – Single Family Residential: $5.05 per month (16 cent increase)
Saskatoon Light & Power (effective January 1, 2015)
3% average overall increase (matching SaskPower)

Storm Water Utility Fee (effective January 1, 2015)Saskatoon property owners are charged a storm water utility fee based on the amount of hard surface area they have on their property. These are areas that easily collect storm water like sidewalks, driveways and paved walks. The rate structure is based on a standard method used by many municipalities for storm water utility billing. The unit of measure is called an Equivalent Runoff Unit, or ERU, and for Saskatoon, is 265.3 square meters. Visit this page to see the 2015 phase in rate.

Water / Wastewater (effective January 1, 2015)
9.5% increase. A typical monthly residential bill for water, wastewater and infrastructure charges increases by $7.50 to $79.02. In 2013, City Council approved water and wastewater rates to increase the average bill by 9.5% in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Business Licenses (effective February 1, 2015)
New Business License:          $125.00 ($30.00 increase)
Change of Business Location:   $125.00 ($30.00 increase)
Annual Renewal:               $85.00 ($15.00 increase)
*There are no Animal Services, Building Permit, Plumbing Permit or Saskatoon Transit fee increases for 2015. Proposed parking fee increases have not been finalized*