News Releases

For Immediate Release: June 9, 2014

UPDATE: COLLEGE DRIVE & CIRCLE DRIVE, JUNE 10-11

Starting at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, the following restrictions on the College Drive westbound on ramp to Circle Drive will be in place while crews pave the road.

- College Drive eastbound and westbound turn lanes and on ramps to Circle Drive will be closed.
- Circle Drive northbound curb (outside) lane between College Drive and 108th Street will be closed.

The Zipper Merge will be used at this location. As drivers approach the “lane closed ahead” sign and traffic starts to back up, stay in your current lane up to the point of merge. Then take turns in "zipper" fashion with other drivers to safely and smoothly ease into the remaining lane. Drivers in the through lane must take turns merging.

The road is expected to reopen by 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 11.

1ST AVENUE ON RAMP TO IDYLWYLD DRIVE, JUNE 10-11

Beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, the following restrictions will be in place on 1st Avenue and 19th Street while crews work on the road.

- 1st Avenue southbound on ramp to Idylwyld Drive will be closed from 20th Street.
- Access to Midtown Plaza parking lot will be maintained.
- The left turn bays from 19th Street and 20th Street westbound onto 1st Avenue southbound will be closed. 

The work is expected to take 2 days.

33RD STREET, JUNE 10-12

Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, 33rd Street will be closed between Avenue P and Edmonton Avenue while crews work on water and sewer connections. A detour will be in place.

The work is expected to take 3 days.

51ST STREET WESTBOUND AT WENTZ AVENUE, JUNE 10-11

Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, 51st Street curb (outside) and centre lanes will be closed at Wentz Avenue while crews replace a storm sewer manhole and a hydrant. Wentz Avenue will also be closed between 51st Street and 50th Street.

The work is expected to last 2 days.

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! Find traffic detour information on our website at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

A regularly scheduled quarterly status update regarding the 2014 Corporate Business Plan and Budget projects a deficit of $1.947 million to year-end. 

“With the harsh winter we had last year we made some adjustments to our snow and ice budget for this year,” says Director of Finance, Kerry Tarasoff.  “As the season progressed we had to further enhance snow removal and a good portion of the deficit can be traced to those necessary costs.”

Civic departments have identified continuous improvement initiatives and have embarked on process improvements that are expected to be completed in 2014.  These initiatives are expected to improve the efficiency and increase the effectiveness of civic operations resulting in improved customer service and savings of $1.4 million in 2014.

Following a recent policy change, quarterly reports are prepared to make sure City Council and the Administration are aware of challenges or emerging business plan and budget issues so they can react accordingly.

“Whenever we see deficits in our projections the Administration begins looking for ways to save or for lessening the impact of a shortfall,” Tarasoff says.  “That is why the City moved to quarterly reports; it gives us time to work on eliminating a deficit so it doesn’t have to be passed on to taxpayers at budget time.”

The following is a summary of the main items contributing to the projected variance:

Snow Removal: An estimated $1.1 million deficit is being projected as a result intensified snow removal operations.  Significantly more resources were spent on removal than in typical years, due in part to a reassignment of crews following the formation of ice pack on residential streets and removing snow against freeway barriers.  A $489,000 reserve balance would exist at year-end to help cover a portion of the deficit leaving a net impact of $580,000.  The Administration will strive to reduce this impact through deferral of purchases, deferral of discretionary spending and reduced contract costs in late 2014.

Fleet Services: Pricing on unleaded fuel is about $1.20 per litre compared to budget of $1.08, causing an over-expenditure of $215,000.  However, the Fuel Stabilization Reserve has a $1 million balance and will cover this deficit at year-end for a net zero impact.

Waste Handling Service: Increased equipment rentals for the landfill, as well as lower revenues, are contributing to a projected $382,000 deficit. 

Property Levy: Assessment growth was $486,000 higher than the anticipated amount of $5 million due to increased construction activity.

The report also provides highlights of key projects (by March 31, 2014) as they relate to City Council’s Strategic Goals:

Continuous Improvement

Three Civic Service Reviews (CSR) will be completed in 2014; Roadways, Parks and Waste Management.  CSRs for Roadways and Parks started in March and the Waste Management is scheduled to start in the second quarter.

Continuous Improvement (CI) initiatives are underway throughout the corporation.  Process reviews were undertaken in Purchasing, Business Licensing and at the Water Treatment Plant.

The pilot project for Service Saskatoon, Report a Pothole, was launched in March 2014, allowing citizens to make service requests online and also allowing civic staff to report back when the work is complete.

Asset and Financial Sustainability

Twelve civic facilities now have energy and water monitoring systems.  The information gathered by these systems will lead to utility reductions and productivity improvements within building operations.  Results will be reported in December.  Combined Heat and Power units will be installed by early 2015.

A snow storage facility is part of the COC.  This P3 project is in the Request for Proposals phase.  Development of a facility for the South East quadrant of the City continues in conjunction with other future growth initiatives.

Quality of Life

The Age Friendly Saskatoon Phase 2 report was presented to City Council in January.  The report contains a series of recommendations for how to make Saskatoon more age friendly.

The Atoske Alumni group was formed and is working on enhanced training opportunities for Aboriginal youth.

As a benchmarking exercise, Saskatoon was one of seven mid-sized Canadian cities to participate in the measurement of its cultural investments between 2009 and 2012.  Over the four-year study period, Saskatoon ranked first in operating, second in overall investment, fourth in capital investments and sixth in grants.

Environmental Leadership

Through membership in Municipal Collaboration for Sustainable Purchasing, a ten-step action plan has been drafted and includes the identification of pilot purchases that will use environmental criteria for decision making.  The next steps will be to develop tools such as training for staff and templates for purchasing documents.

The Landfill Gas Collection project was commissioned in March 2014 and operation of the Power Generation Facility also began in March.

Sustainable Growth

The Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G) held its kickoff meeting which was attended by elected officials in February 2014.  Staff from the five partnering municipalities have been working on a Draft Terms of Reference, Work Plan, Communications and Engagement Strategy, and Budget for a Regional Plan.

The Intermediate Strategy for infill development will be prepared as part of the Growing Forward! project through the corridor identification and densification opportunities.

Moving Around

A comprehensive approach to transit market research has been incorporated into the Growing Forward! Initiative.  A complete market study and functional design for an updated transit system has been included in this work.  In the interim, route enhancements will be made to make sure the existing service adapts to changing transit patterns and city growth.

Economic Diversity and Prosperity    

Building permit numbers are slightly ahead of permits than in the first quarter of 2013 by 4.9%.  The value of construction associated with those permits in the first quarter of 2014 is slightly behind the numbers achieved at the end of the first quarter in 2013 by 23.9%.

Building permits issued to the end of March 2014 represent the creation of 665 new residential units, compared to 401 for the same time period in 2013.

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.

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan                      Department of Finance

On behalf of Finance Minister Joe Oliver, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Member of Parliament for Battlefords–Lloydminster Gerry Ritz today announced the Government of Canada will help fund the North Commuter Parkway and Traffic Bridge Replacement project in Saskatoon.

Through the P3 Canada Fund the federal government will provide an investment of up to $66 million to the project while the Province of Saskatchewan will contribute $50 million.  The Minister was joined at the event by Brad Wall, Premier of Saskatchewan, and Donald J. Atchison, Mayor of Saskatoon.

The project involves the replacement of the 107-year-old Traffic Bridge in the City’s downtown core, the development of a new bridge crossing in the City’s north end, as well as connecting roadways. Once the Parkway and the two bridges are opened traffic congestion will be reduced and travel times will be shorter for vehicles and public transit, resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved air quality.

Quick Facts

- This will be the fourth P3 Canada Fund project in the Province of Saskatchewan.

- A Request for Qualifications will be issued in the coming weeks by the City of Saskatoon to identify private sector proponent teams interested in bidding on the project.  The contractor, once selected, will design, build, finance, operate and maintain the project over a 30-year period.

- Construction of the Parkway and traffic bridge is anticipated to take three construction seasons, and the P3 model is expected to deliver the project on time and on budget.

- The $1.2 billion P3 Canada Fund is managed by PPP Canada, a Crown corporation responsible for advancing Canadian P3s through the provision of expert advice and support to all levels of government.

Quotes

“Our Government recognizes the advantages P3s can provide to build public infrastructure for better value while creating jobs and growth.  The North Commuter Parkway and Traffic Bridge Replacement project is a great example of how our Government is working with the City of Saskatoon and the private sector to reduce procurement and overhead costs to the benefit of all taxpayers in Saskatchewan.”

Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“Our government is pleased to work with the City of Saskatoon and the Government of Canada on an innovative project that demonstrates the value of P3 partnerships.  Saskatoon is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada and the North Commuter Parkway Bridge will help sustain that growth by connecting residential neighbourhoods to the expanding industrial area in the City’s north end.”

Brad Wall, Premier of Saskatchewan

”Our continuing strong partnership with the federal government and provincial government is once again benefitting the people of Saskatoon.  This bundled bridge project is the first of its kind in Canada. It will shorten commutes, cut fuel costs, grow the economy and improve our quality of life.  It fits perfectly with the City’s strategic goals, and supports our Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon planning initiative.”

Donald J. Atchison, Mayor of Saskatoon

Additional Links:

www.p3canada.ca

The curb and centre lanes on College Drive westbound are closed from Preston Avenue to Campus Drive (southeast entrance to University of Saskatchewan), including the right turning lane from Preston Avenue southbound to College Drive westbound.  Traffic is merging to the median lane at Preston Avenue.

Drivers are encouraged to use an alternate route if possible, as this is a high-traffic route for morning commuters heading into downtown.  Please allow extra time to get to your destination if travelling in this area.

Crews repaired a primary water main on College Drive westbound over the weekend, just west of Preston Avenue.  The repair was successful, but the work zone remains in place for paving to occur on Monday.  The road is expected to reopen by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 9, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

The City thanks everyone for their patience.

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! Find traffic detour information on our website at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

After the successful launch of new.saskatoon.ca, the hub for resident engagement and involvement throughout the development of the new City of Saskatoon website, the City of Saskatoon (City) will host an hour-long twitter chat with representatives from the new website development team on Monday, June 9, 2014 at 3:30 p.m.

This twitter chat will give curious and interested residents the opportunity to ask direct questions and get an answer from those working directly on the website redesign project.  To participate, sign-up or log-in to Twitter and tweet your questions to @cityofsaskatoon or by using the #newsaskatoon hashtag.

Because public involvement is a vital aspect of the website redesign project, this is a great topic for the first-ever twitter chat and the City looks forward to hosting more twitter chats in the future.  This twitter-chat will aim to increase participation in the current engagement exercise, have people sign-up for updates and announcements and a way for the City to answer any questions people may have about the project overall. 

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.