News Releases

The City of Saskatoon’s (City) Recreation & Sport Division reminds residents that the last day to take advantage of the special Family Fun Pack promotion is Sunday, March 16, 2014. 

Family Fun Packs were launched on Family Day as a limited time promotion especially for families.  The packs provide unbeatable savings on admissions to the City’s most popular family attractions, including:

  •  three family passes to any indoor Leisure Centre;
  •  two family passes to a public skating session; 
  •   one family pass to the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo; and
  •  three family passes to any outdoor pool.

Family Fun Packs will be available for sale for six more days at any of the six indoor Leisure Centres for the discounted price of $100 plus GST ($137 value). 

Families can also take advantage of Recreation & Sport’s great year-round admission options and save money by purchasing Family Bulk Tickets, Family LeisureCards, or the new 2-Week Family Trial Passes. 

For more information on Family Fun Packs and more, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/leisure.

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.

With warmer weather, crews are monitoring the snow melt and addressing streets where drainage issues are starting to occur.  Because of the extra snow removal efforts throughout the winter, high-traffic streets are melting and draining well. Two graders are assigned to this during the day.
Scheduled snow grading continues on streets that are narrow and at risk for developing ruts.  This has been ongoing for several weeks and is evident with very few rutted streets. Graders will be in Varsity View neighbourhood – on Streets only, today, March 10 and will be in Mayfair neighbourhood – on Avenues only - on Tuesday. No Parking signs are posted, indicating when and where the snow grading will occur. Find Snow Grading for Rut Removal schedule and information on our website.  Snow Grading will reduce the snow pack and ruts, pushing the snow into windrows along the curb. This snow will not be removed. If you would like to report a severely rutted street, visit Report a Rut – Online Form. 
Snow removal continues in the evening along priority streets; along with sanding as required when the temperature drops in the evening. Maintenance of utility cuts are being performed throughout the days as required.  
Work Occurring Today - Daytime
General
6  COS graders – Snow Grading for rut removal in Varsity View – on Streets only,
2 graders – Monitoring utility cuts, and addressing rut and drainage issues,
4 sanders – 1 in each quadrant of the city
Sidewalks/Pathways
4 trackless snow plows – clearing their routes, clearing bridge walkways
Work Scheduled for this Evening
Snow Removal
1 snow blower, 4 graders, 9 semi-trucks, 2 COS arrow board trucks:
- Galloway Road
- Stonebridge Common
- Victor Road
Sanding
4 sanders - 2 on each side of the city
Work Scheduled for Tomorrow
General
6  COS graders – Snow Grading for rut removal in Mayfair – on Streets only
Snow Removal
1 snow blower, 4 graders, 9 semi-trucks, 2 COS arrow board trucks:
- Berini Drive from Attridge Drive to Gray Avenue,
- Gray Avenue from Central Avenue to Berini Drive
Activities Completed Yesterday
Snow Removal
1 snow blower, 4 graders, 9 tri-axle trucks, 2 COS arrow board trucks:
- Cornish Road from Stonebridge Boulevard to MacInnes Street  – 100% complete,
- MacInnes Street from Gordon Road to Cornish Road  - 100% complete,
- Galloway Road – 80% complete,
- Stonebridge Common – 80% complete 
Sanding
4 sanders – 2 on each side of the city 
Thank you to everyone for your patience and remember to please watch for crews and equipment on the road. Slow down and keep 15 metres behind maintenance equipment; be prepared to stop; and, if required, use extreme caution when passing.  This is for your safety, as well as the safety of the operators and other drivers.
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.

Brighton* is a proposed residential neighbourhood and the first to be developed in the Holmwood Suburban Development Area. Its boundaries include the Canadian Pacific Railway line and College Park East on the west, College Drive (Highway 5) and Arbor Creek on the north, 8th Street East on the south, and agricultural lands on the east.

The neighbourhood has been designed to be walkable with amenities, transit, and recreational spaces close to homes. It will include a variety of housing, such as one-unit and semi-detached dwellings, townhouses, multiple-unit dwellings such as condominiums and apartments, and mixed-use development combining residential with retail and office space.  Elements will include constructed wetlands, a linear park system, and a complete streets design concept for McOrmond Drive and 8th Street East. Upon completion, Brighton* will be home to approximately 15,259 residents.

The public is invited to attend a “come-and-go” open house to view the proposed Brighton* Neighbourhood Concept Plan and to ask questions of the City of Saskatoon staff and development partners. Details are as follows:

Proposed Brighton* Neighbourhood Concept Plan Open House
Thursday, March 13, 2014
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
McClure United Church (Multi-Purpose Room)
4025 Taylor Street East

Can’t make the open house?
Visit www.shapingsaskatoon.ca/discussions from March 13 to 27 to view details of the concept plan and to share your thoughts. 

*Neighbourhood Name Subject to City Council Approval

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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Warm weather is finally here and snow is beginning to melt. As we committed with the new dedicated road levy, winter operations were designed to reduce the risk of severe rutting on the roads that we saw in 2013. Many streets are melting quickly and while the snow is going to be really soft, it’s not deep enough to cause dangerous ruts. 

Our proactive snow grading and removal on Saskatoon streets this winter benefits us in more ways than one. With less snow on our streets to melt as the weather warms up there is a reduced chance for flooding. The snow piled into windrows will allow that snow to melt slowly, reducing the flooding around catch basins. In addition, the snow removal takes away a lot of sand that would otherwise collect on the priority streets and be difficult to sweep in the spring. We may also see fewer potholes on priority streets with less moisture. 

Even with our proactive snow grading and removal measures, we have dedicated graders addressing areas where water may begin to pool. Grading also continues on narrow streets where rutting is still a risk. Saskatoon can expect to see a number of plans and activities taking place during the Spring:

 Snow Melt Planning 

- Snow Melt Management plans for each neighbourhood are prepared. The 12,000 catch basins across the city are prioritized based on how deep the water can be, and how close it can get to homes and property.

- Important intersections (especially along highways) that may experience flooding during a fast melt are surveyed and monitored regularly. Extra snow is removed in advance and local catch basins are cleared ahead of time if necessary.

- Equipment, staffing and emergency flood resources, such as emergency pumps and sandbags are coordinated.

Snow Melt Activities

- Boilers (steam trucks) will clear ice and snow from catch basins so the melt water can drain directly into the storm sewers. Our storm sewer system can easily carry all of the flow resulting from any snowmelt. Most ponding and flooding around catch basins is a result of snow and ice blocking the drain.

- Snow windrows have been removed along priority roadways.

- Parks crews will remove snow from residential fence lines where necessary and will pump water from play areas or low areas. Extra staff will be made available if they are needed.

- Culverts at rural roads and within the city will be cleared as necessary to allow drainage.

- We will monitor critical intersections, ditches, ponds, culverts, and other locations that may flood during a fast melt. Emergency equipment will remain on standby.

- Staff will be available 24/7 by telephone to manage calls and dispatch equipment for any homeowner concerns that are received.

- Please call the Public Works Customer Service Call Centre at 306-975-2476 to report any issues or emergencies.

Although the snow melt can be unpredictable, past experience has shown that having a plan with extra resources available allows good flexibility to respond to the situation as it develops.

 Reduce your risk of a snowmelt flood:

Some of the following tips involve snow shovelling which is heavy work. Consider doing a bit at a time and please use care and caution. If you have health concerns, ask for assistance in shovelling. 

- Remove snow from around your foundation. Pay particular attention to the areas around window wells.

- Most lots drain along the outside edges. Remove snow from these areas.

- Keep the snow in your yard. Shovelling onto streets or lanes could block drains.

- Help keep catch basins clear. Where possible, safely clear snow, ice and debris from the catch basins in your area.

- Clear snow and ice from around the bottom of your downspouts and extend the downspouts at least two metres so that water drains away from your foundation.

- Check your roof and eavestroughs for excess snow. Consider hiring a professional to clear snow from your roof. A roof rake may help to clear the snow and debris from the edge of your roof.

- Consider using sandbags to block water from entering low-lying areas beside your foundation.

- If water is getting close to your foundation, use an appropriate pump to drain it to the gutter or back lane. Please use all equipment properly and follow safety guidelines.

For more information and tips, including a video about snowmelt, visit saskatoon.ca.  As the snow melts, you may encounter potholes. Watch for our new “Report a Pothole” online tool coming on March 17, 2014. Visit saskatoon.ca and look under “Check This Out”.  

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.

Your 2014 Property Tax Notice will look different this spring.  The City of Saskatoon has revealed a new look and simpler format that is easier to read.

To arrive at the new format, the City considered previous feedback from citizens and from our front-line customer services staff, incorporated the goals of City Council, and also included elements of best practises from other municipalities. In preparing the new format, the City also considered the use of clear language, important to all property owners, both new and existing.

The 2014 Property Tax Notice Project is now on our shapingsaskatoon.ca website. Look under “Discussions.” You can view a sample of the new format, detailed information on what you will find on the 2014 Property Tax Notice, along with Frequently Asked Questions.

The Shaping Saskatoon discussion on the new Property Tax Notice format also gives a great opportunity for you to tell us about other tax-related information you wish to see on our website. Are you able to find answers to tax questions under “P” for Property Tax?  As we undertake the ongoing development of our new website, your comments will help us give better service.

Shaping Saskatoon is the City’s new online community engagement tool. It is easy to use and a great place to share your comments, and learn more about new projects that interest you. Citizen feedback on the new Property Tax Notice format is important to us, and will be considered for the finalized version this spring.

The City of Saskatoon strives to be the best managed city in Canada through an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement. With a goal of consistently providing high quality service to citizens, the City continues to respond to the needs of the changing community by looking at things differently – and then making them better.

For other detailed information on property taxes, assessment, and how the City distributes taxes, you can also visit our website, saskatoon.ca and click on the Property Assessment & Tax Tool, located under Online Services. Please note: our website will be updated with 2014 values in May after the Mill Rates have been approved and the tax calculations have been finalized.

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.