News Releases

The Senator Sid L. Buckwold Bridge will undergo a major rehabilitation beginning on Monday April 15, 2019. To minimize the impact on traffic and eliminate the need for a full bridge closure, the work will happen in two phases.

“The first phase will begin on the lanes leaving downtown and work will continue throughout the summer of 2019,” says Todd Grabowski, Manager of Asset Preservation for Bridges. “In the spring of 2020, the second phase of work will begin on the lanes heading into downtown and continue through the 2020 construction season.” 

Over the next two years, the Senator Sid Buckwold Rehabilitation project will include:

• Deck repairs and asphalt replacement
• Resurfacing of the Idylwyld Drive ramps over 19^th Street 
• Strengthening of piers
• Barrier replacement
• Walkway widening with taller barriers for improved pedestrian protection
• New drainage system to help better traction by reducing puddles and splashing

The City’s preservation plan, with the results of the Deck Testing Program, identified the need to rehabilitate the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge to ensure it remains safe, serviceable and structurally sound for years to come.

“Allowing deficiencies to worsen over time would accelerate the need for a more extensive rehab or even full replacement, which is far more expensive, time consuming and disruptive,” Grabowski says.

Two-way traffic will be maintained during both phases of the project however there will be lane restrictions and as a result, traffic delays are expected.

This summer, the lanes leaving downtown will be closed and that traffic will be diverted to the other side. The walkway will stay open. During the 2020 construction season, the lanes heading into downtown will be closed, traffic will flip to the other side and the bridge walkway will be closed.  The Meewasin Trails on either side will stay open throughout the project with the possibility of temporary disruptions on the Rotary Park side during some phases to allow for repairs.

Necessary adjustments will be made to traffic signal timing, construction signage will be in place and restrictions will be advertised. The latest project information will be posted at Saskatoon.ca/sidbuckwold and restrictions will be listed in the Daily Road Report.

*For further clarification, two sentences have been added highlighted in italics below.

City Council, at its regular business meeting held on March 25, 2019 voted to pursue a moderate phase-in option as presented by the Administration regarding the implementation of the curbside organics program and funding for existing waste services.  

Option 2: Moderate Phase-In was presented as follows: 

• 2020 - 1.0% Property Tax Increase - No change to current waste services.
• 2021 - 1.0% Property Tax Increase - No change to current waste services.
• 2022 - 1.0% Property Tax Increase - No change to current waste services.
• 2023 - 0.93% Property Tax Increase - First year of curbside organics program. New waste service level (bi-weekly collection in summer).

This option attempts to balance financial investment with a view towards achieving the City’s waste diversion target. The first 1.53% (approximately $3M) of the 2020 and 2021 Property Tax impact is solely dedicated to addressing the funding deficit in the Waste Program while the remaining estimated 2.4% will go towards a new curbside organics program. The City will continue to seek alternative funding sources on an annual basis to reduce this impact. Precise timing for the deployment of the curbside organics program in 2023 would be determined by the terms of the successful proposal from the organics RFP process. 

“We will now focus on developing the implementation plan for the curbside organics program,” says Dan Willems, Acting Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer. “We look forward to providing this new service to residents in 2023 and making strides towards our waste diversion target.” 

The detailed report and all of its attachments can be found here. 

The City’s Neighbourhood Traffic Review (NTR) program has been selected as the 2019 recipient of the Exceptional Engineering/Geoscience Project Award by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS). The award recognizes accomplishments in engineering and/or geoscience.

The NTR program, established in 2014, addresses transportation related concerns like speeding and pedestrian safety on a neighbourhood-wide basis. The City works collaboratively with neighbourhood residents to develop recommendations for improvement.

“Prior to the program, we addressed traffic concerns on a case by case basis, which was not sustainable and issues were not always addressed in a timely fashion,” says Jay Magus, Acting Director of Transportation. “This award recognizes the engineering accomplishments of the team that deliver the NTR program are a significant achievement.”  

Neighbourhood meetings, data collection, traffic reviews and recommendations are typically completed within a year. Recommended traffic calming measures are installed on a temporary basis to determine their effectiveness.

Since 2014, the NTR program has:

• Completed 50 neighbourhood traffic reviews (11 neighbourhoods are scheduled for 2019)
• Held 90 community meetings to develop transportation plans
• Made nearly 1,100 recommendations for transportation related improvements
• Spent $4,062,000 on traffic calming measures, pedestrian safety devices and program delivery

The City would like to thank residents, the Saskatoon Police Service, Community Associations, School Boards and Great Works Consulting for their partnerships.

The Transportation Engineering team will accept the award at the APEGS Awards Banquet in May.

The City welcomes a decision of the provincial government to place further restrictions on social gatherings.

“Based on discussions with our Director of Emergency Management, City Council and Senior Administration I gave notice for a Special City Council meeting at 3:30 this afternoon,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.  “This was done in anticipation of needing to take further steps in addressing the growing concern that as we try to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19, gathering in restaurants and bars was an ongoing risk in our community.

“Based on the announcement today by the provincial government that additional restrictions for bars and restaurants will be included in the Provincial State of Emergency restrictions, the Special City Council meeting is cancelled."

“We thank the Province for providing leadership with this difficult decision,” Mayor Clark says. “We know it has significant impacts on many local businesses”

Mayor Clark adds this decision will meet the local advice he is hearing from the City’s Emergency Management team about what is needed to keep our community as safe as possible at this time. 

Director of Emergency Management Organization Pamela Goulden-McLeod echoes Mayor Clark’s sentiment.

“The Saskatoon Emergency Management Organization would like to thank the Province of Saskatchewan for their leadership and direction in enacting the extended measures to support our provinces safety during this unprecedented event,” Goulden-McLeod says.

“The provincial government’s bravery in taking these extraordinary measures will make a significant difference within our communities. We value the hard work of our provincial partners and we continue to look forward working together in this ongoing rapidly changing situation.” 

While the City of Saskatoon acknowledges the severity of the COVID-19 virus and the impact it is having on the community, the City and its construction partners will proceed as planned with the construction on the east half of the Sid Buckwold Bridge and the Idylwyld Drive ramps over 19^th Street.

This project is an essential service to residents and core City infrastructure. With a very limited window for construction projects of this magnitude, it is important that such work is completed safely and in the most ideal seasonal conditions. Construction is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 30. 

“Safety for our crews and for residents is our number one priority during this project,” says Rob Frank, Engineering Manager of Asset Preservation. “Strict worksite restrictions, social distancing, and other precautionary medical measures will be in place to protect both construction crews and residents and to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

Major rehabilitation began on the 54-year-old structure last year to ensure it remains safe and structurally sound for years to come. Two-way traffic will be maintained throughout construction, however lane restrictions and traffic delays are expected.

From March 30 until mid-October, the northbound lanes heading into downtown will be closed and two-way traffic will be accommodated in the southbound lanes. The bridge walkway and stairs will also be closed for construction. The Meewasin trails will remain open, however there may be a closure directly under the south side of the bridge for a portion of the construction season.

The Sid Buckwold Bridge rehabilitation project includes:

• Resurfacing of the Idylwyld Drive ramps over 19^th Street 
• Walkway widening with taller barriers for improved pedestrian protection
• New drainage system to help better traction by reducing puddles and splashing
• Concrete deck repairs and asphalt replacement
• Strengthening of piers
• Barrier replacement

The City’s preservation plan, with the results of the Deck Testing Program, identified the need to rehabilitate the bridge. The project was phased over two years to allow two-way traffic over the bridge to be maintained throughout construction.

Necessary adjustments will be made to traffic signal timing and construction signage will be in place. The left turn onto 20^th Street from Idylwyld Drive northbound will not be permitted, however a U-turn will be implemented at Auditorium Avenue. Updated project information is posted at Saskatoon.ca/sidbuckwold and restrictions will be listed in the Daily Road Report.

The City of Saskatoon is utilizing $15 million of its federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) allocations towards the Sid Buckwold Bridge rehabilitation project. The GTF in Saskatchewan is administered by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations.

The City thanks drivers and pedestrians for their patience while this necessary work is carried out. 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. 

We are constantly reassessing pandemic developments to ensure the safety and well-being of staff and citizens.  We have also continued to reassess the way we deliver public services to keep staff and residents safe when we are out in the community.

Transit fare suspension and rear door boarding effective Friday, March 20

To reduce the risk to Transit Operators during the COVID-19 pandemic, starting Friday, Saskatoon Transit will ask riders to get on and off buses by using the rear doors. Transit also reminds riders to keep a safe distance — at least one metre — from bus operators and fellow riders.

As a result, the City will also be suspending fares indefinitely.  The City will be determining how to compensate those affected by this and those details will be provided soon.

Anyone who requires personal mobility devices will be exempt from entering the rear doors and will be permitted to enter and exit through the front doors as usual.

Please note: all riders will be required to stay behind the front wheel wells and to keep the seats behind the operator free at all times. This measure will meet the new recommendation for social distancing released by the Province of Saskatchewan on Wednesday March 18.  Transit will also monitor where and when extra buses may need to be added onto routes to help people maintain appropriate social distance.

Saskatoon Transit is also reassuring customers of Transit’s daily cleaning protocols, which include regular hard surface wipe-downs with hospital-grade disinfectant and disinfectant misting treatments.

Parking Restrictions for Residential Parking Program Zones Suspended

Effective immediately parking restrictions for the Residential Parking Program zones are suspended until further notice.  In addition, overtime parking on all residential streets will no longer be enforced, to encourage residents to stay home and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Public safety-related parking restrictions remain in effect to maintain emergency access and traffic flow including:

• "No Stopping" signs
• "No Parking" signs
• "Accessible Parking" signs
• Fire Hydrants (maintain 1 metre from the centre of a fire hydrant)
• No parking within 10 metres of an intersection
• No parking in alleys unless active loading/unloading is taking place.

Further details on these parking restrictions are provided on the City of Saskatoon website: saskatoon.ca/moving-around/parking/understanding-parking-saskatoon

Building Standards

The decision to close City Hall to the public has a direct effect on the way we do business, including providing building inspections and permits:

• All building and plumbing inspections are suspended while the City explores options to provide inspections in a safe manner.
• Residential applications are limited to online.
• Property Information Disclosure (PID) applications accepted via building.standards@saskatoon.ca
• Plumbing permit applications accepted via plumbing.permits@saskatoon.ca
• Payments will be accepted via telephone at 306.975.2645.
• New commercial permit applications will not be accepted. The City is exploring opportunities to provide online access to this program.

As the situation is evolving, we will update the Building Standards webpages regularly if there are service limitations.

Questions? Reach out to our permit file support team by calling (306) 975-2645 Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What is the City doing to provide financial relief for citizens?

To offer assistance and best service to citizens experiencing the effects of the economic impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City is committed to providing increased flexibility and immediate short-term relief for your utility payments through the following changes:

Utility Services

We will continue to bill for utility services as normal.  However, to best serve the City’s customers in these extraordinary times, the City has made the following changes to current utility collections activities:

• Utility disconnections due to arrears will be suspended until September 30, 2020;
• Late payment charges will be suspended on all utility accounts until September 30, 2020; and
• We will continue to generate utility bill reminders and other related notices for customers who are in arrears to keep them informed of their current situation.

These measures are aimed at providing financial relief for customers who may not be able to afford to pay their bills on time.  By suspending late payment charges, utility customers will have the option to delay bill payments without putting themselves in additional financial hardship.  However, our staff will continue to work with the City’s utility customers regarding payment arrangements so as to not leave them in a difficult financial situation in the future.

Delaying disconnections will help ensure that all homes have access to water, allowing for proper handwashing and personal hygiene.

Have utility-related questions? Please call our Revenue Customer Service Representatives at 306-975-2400. We understand and will work with you.

2020 Property Taxes

Your 2020 Property Tax notice will be delivered by the end of May 2020.

To offer assistance and best service to citizens experiencing the effects of the economic impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City is committed to providing increased flexibility and immediate short-term relief for your 2020 Property Tax payment. On your notice, your 2020 Property Tax due date will still show as June 30, 2020. However:

• The City is extending to you, a three-month grace period, allowing you additional time to pay your 2020 Property Tax amount due.
• You will not incur any penalties on your 2020 taxes if your property tax payment is made in full before September 30, 2020.

Have property tax-related questions? Please call our Revenue Customer Service Representatives at 306-975-2400. We understand and will work with you.

Updates will continue to be provided at saskatoon.ca/covid-19 and at saskatoonpolice.ca

The City of Saskatoon is closing to the public all its facilities including City Hall; this follows the provincial government declaration of a public emergency for COVID-19 (coronavirus).

“While we are closed to the public, our business operations will continue to provide essential services for our residents as much as possible,” says City Manager Jeff Jorgenson.

Jorgenson says this move is an important preventative measure. It will help slow the rate of COVID-19 infection in Saskatoon and protect City staff, as well as vulnerable populations, which include seniors and people with compromised immune systems.

The City reminds the public that we offer many online services which are listed at: www.saskatoon.ca/onlineservices

“We continue to work with internal and external partners, including the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Ministry of Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada on a proactive approach to deal with COVID-19,” Jorgenson says. 

The City continues to thank its staff and citizens for their patience and support. Jorgenson says as City leaders continue to respond to a rapidly evolving situation meanwhile promising to provide information as it becomes available.
The provincial health ministry encourages everyone to be mindful of good hand hygiene, cough etiquette and social distancing. For those who have risk factors such as old age, or underlying health issues, medical experts encourage those people to stay away from crowded areas.

The City of Saskatoon continues to encourage the community to reach out to those most vulnerable to COVID-19 and to those organizations that assist with our vulnerable homeless population.  

We are constantly reassessing the situation to ensure the safety and well-being of staff and residents.  We will also continue to reassess the way we deliver services to the public in order to keep staff and residents safe when we are out in the community.

Updates will continue to be provided at saskatoon.ca/covid-19 and at saskatoonpolice.ca

The 2018 public engagement results are in and residents’ perceptions about the quality of life in Saskatoon remain strong: overall satisfaction with the quality of services and value provided by the City remain high. 

 “While there is important room to improve, the results of these surveys are very encouraging and show a strong quality of life in our community,” said Mayor Charlie Clark. “This is a testament not only to the work of City of Saskatoon employees, but also of the broader community who help to improve our community and add to the richness of Saskatoon.”

This year the City developed a more comprehensive process to gather input into the 2020-2021 Multi-Year Budget. Instead of one survey, the City developed the Civic Satisfaction & Performance Survey and the Civic Services: Performance, Priorities and Preferences Survey. Input was gathered from approximately 4,000 participants through the two surveys and community outreach activities. Findings from these engagement activities will provide Council and Administration with public input to be used to inform the 2020-2021 Multi-Year Budget.

 “More than we ever have before, the City has been emphasizing the importance of engaging and working with the community as we sort through some of the complex and important issues in a changing city and a changing world,” said Mayor Clark. “As we prepare for our first multi-year budget, this work and these surveys will be even more important as we seek to build on our strengths and meet the needs and expectations of our citizens that will serve us now and in the years to come.”

The following highlight key findings for Telephone (T) and Online Panel (OP) respondents:

2018 Civic Satisfaction & Performance Survey

The Civic Satisfaction & Performance Survey was completed June 29 to July 29, 2018, through randomly selected Telephone (n=505) and Online Panel (n=801) residents.  The margin of error for telephone is +/- 4.36% and online is +/-3.46%, 19 times out of 20.  The survey was also made available for the general public to participate (n=688).

• Overall, residents say they are satisfied living in the city (T: 88%, OP: 85%)
• Overall, residents feel the quality of life is good or very good (T: 85%, OP: 83%).
• For telephone respondents, the most important issues facing the City include road construction (11%), taxes (6%) and traffic infrastructure, and public transit (5%). Although road construction is still most frequently mentioned, it has steadily decreased in importance for these respondents each year (2016: 32%, 2017: 20%). For online respondents, the most important issue facing the City is public safety/crime/policing (17%), taxes (13%) and infrastructure (8%). These results remain similar to 2017.
• The majority are satisfied with the quality of services provided by the City (T: 86%, OP: 77%).  Telephone results are consistent with 2017, with online results decreasing by 8%.
• Overall, residents rate the value of services they receive from the City as good/very good (T: 89%, OP: 74%). This is mostly consistent with 2017, with a 5% increase among telephone respondents.
• The Strategic Goal indicators that received the highest ratings include: the City is effectively providing a good mix of recreation, sport and cultural facilities year round     (T: 92%, OP: 91%), the City is effectively providing online services (T: 91%, O: 88%) and Saskatoon is an inclusive and welcoming city to all (T: 86%, OP: 73%).
• Consistent with previous years, 35% of respondents prefer a combination of both property tax and user fee increases to balance the budget.

2018 Civic Services Survey: Performance, Priorities and Preferences  

The Civic Services Survey: Performance, Priorities and Preferences was completed November 16 to December 16, 2018, through randomly selected Telephone (n=504) and Online Panel (n=800) residents. The survey was also made available for the general public to participate (n=590). The margin of error for telephone is +/- 4.37% and online is +/-3.46%, 19 times out of 20.  The survey was also made available for the general public to participate (n=688).

• Overall satisfaction with performance remains the same or higher for almost all 29 civic services.
• The top three services where participants reported the highest satisfaction are: reliability of electrical services (T: 8.7, OP: 8.9), quality of drinking water (T: 8.4, OP: 8.6) and Fire Protection (T: 8.4, OP: 8.4)
• Overall, the key strengths have remained the same since 2017: reliability of electrical services, quality of drinking water, fire protection, police service, garbage collection, speed of water main break repairs and recycling.
• The top three services where residents indicate they would like the City to provide more service include: road maintenance (T: 59%, OP: 61%), affordable housing programs (T: 54%, OP: 55%), and snow & ice management (T: 46%, OP: 52%).
• The vast majority of residents believe that the City of Saskatoon is very/somewhat good at providing meaningful opportunities to participate in engagement activities (T: 87%, OP: 79%).  A majority also believe the City is doing very/somewhat well at using public input to help make decisions (T: 68%, OP: 55%).  

The City also conducted a variety of community outreach activities in 2018. Approximately 130 individuals participated over three events to validate the results of a selected number of questions from the survey, and to provide additional rationale for their ratings. 

Citizen input has always been an important part of the City’s business planning and budget process. Explore saskatoon.ca/engage, or view additional financial information at saskatoon.ca/budget.

There is still a lot of snow on the ground, which can lead to street and property flooding if temperatures rise quickly and the snow melts quickly.

Residents can reduce their risk of property flooding by moving snow away from their foundation and ensuring there is a drainage path to the nearest catch basin on the road. If safe, you are encouraged to clear ice and debris clogging the catch basin on your street for proper water flow away from your home and neighbourhood.

City crews are removing snow from catch basins at high-risk locations and defrosting those that aren’t draining properly. As roads dry up, we are re-grading utility cuts and filling potholes with cold-mix asphalt.

Helpful flood reduction tips for homeowners:

• Remove melting snow from your foundation and window wells.
• Make sure sump pumps are working properly and are draining away from your foundation.
• Clean and extend downspouts at least two metres from your home.

There are still some properties with frozen water pipes from the extended cold weather over the past few weeks, which are being addressed. This issue is not expected to continue with warm temperatures in the forecast.

Please remember to keep snow on your property, it is illegal to push snow on to the road. Call our Customer Care Centre at 306-975-2476 if you have flooding in your home or neighbourhood; visit saskatoon.ca/snowmelt to learn more.

Year-end financials for the 2018 fiscal year yield a budget deficit of $ 3.02 million – a 0.62% variance of the overall $490.63 million City budget.

“The deficit was largely due to greater costs overall for items such as fuel and solid waste handling, as City revenues were slightly under what we targeted,” says Clae Hack, Director of Finance.

A report to the Standing Policy Committee on Finance details a 0.01% or $475,000 negative variance for revenue, while expenditures were overspent by 0.52% or $2.54 million.  A summary of some of the significant variances include:

• Waste Handling Services had a $1.4 million deficit with $328,000 related to shortfalls in revenues and approximately $1.0 million related to over expenditures, which is consistent with base budget challenges that have been previously presented.
• Parking ticket revenue experienced a $1.37 million deficit largely related to the effectiveness of the new parking system and online application.
• Despite an improvement in transit ridership and revenue, Saskatoon Transit ended 2018 with an approximate $1.2 million deficit. Almost half of the over expenditures of nearly $500,000 were largely related to higher fuel and diesel prices than originally estimated.
• Facilities Management had a $1.4 million deficit mostly related to expenditures for the first full year of operation of the Remai Modern, implementation of a new call-out program, snow removal, corporate security and graffiti management.
• Leisure Centre admission revenues experienced a $503,000 deficit due to lower admissions then originally budgeted.

These negative variances were offset largely by an additional $2.0 million in provincial revenue as a result of the reinstatement of the SaskEnergy grant-in-lieu, and a $750,000 surplus in Traffic Violation revenue from higher than anticipated volumes.

Civic utilities had the following surpluses and deficits:

• Saskatoon Light & Power $799,000 surplus
• Storm Water Management Utility $286,400 surplus
• Waste Water Utility $ 17,300 surplus
• Water Utility $1.41 million deficit
• Waste Services Utility $0

These surpluses and deficits have been transferred to or funded by, the applicable stabilization reserve as stipulated in Council Policy No. C03-003, Reserve for Future Expenditures.

The City’s Boards and the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) all posted surpluses in 2018. SPS posted a surplus of $158,800 which is incorporated within the civic year-end results. SaskTel Centre has a preliminary surplus of $2.40 million, while TCU Place and Remai Modern reported a $1.07 million and $1,000 surplus respectively.

Visit saskatoon.ca/budget for related financial information.

Interested in how many electric vehicles are on Saskatoon streets; the amount of solar power production in the community; and the population density increase? Details on all of these performance indicators and more are now available as the City has just completed a major expansion of the Environmental Dashboard—adding nearly a dozen new indicators including:

• waste production;
• community solar power production;
• the number of on-street electric vehicles; and
• fuel use by City vehicles. 

“The Environmental Dashboard provides important information to citizens and City staff and officials as we all work together to make our community more sustainable. Two of the City’s seven strategic goals are environmental leadership and sustainable growth,” says Amber Weckworth, Manager of Education and Environmental Programs in the City’s Sustainability Division.

“City Council has set targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, waste diversion, active transport, and other measures of sustainability. The newly expanded Environmental Dashboard can help us gauge our progress toward those goals and targets.”

The Environmental Dashboard contains information, data, and graphs on key indicators of environmental health and sustainability. Each indicator page includes information about what the City is doing to increase sustainability–programs and initiatives to decrease GHG emissions, conserve water, divert waste, and increase production of renewable energy. 

Residents are encouraged to frequent the Dashboard, as current indicators are continuously updated and additional indicators will be added over the coming months. 

To learn more about Saskatoon’s air, water, land, energy, and waste performance indicators, visit the newly expanded Environmental Dashboard: saskatoon.ca/envirodashboard.

The City of Saskatoon has been selected as one of ‘Canada’s Best Diversity Employers’ for 2019 by Mediacorp Canada Inc.

“We are honoured to receive this award for the eighth consecutive year as we place a high priority on creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees are valued and respected for their individual identities and contributions,” says Sarah Cameron, Chief Human Resources Officer.

The City of Saskatoon was selected based on exceptional workplace diversity and inclusiveness programs offered.  Highlights include:

• introducing mandatory Aboriginal Awareness training for employees, including a Truth and Reconciliation Resource Kit to enable ongoing learning
• facilitating employee understanding through a variety of training workshops such as Fundamentals of Cultural Competency, Understanding Invisible Disabilities and Inclusive Practices for LGBTQ2S Identities
• collaborating with Saskatoon Skills and Trades Centre to design and deliver pre-employment training to Indigenous candidates interested in custodian and labourer positions.

Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2019 are outlined in the March 1, 2019 edition of The Globe and Mail, as well as on Canada's Best Diversity Employers website.

The City has a long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion, and as Saskatoon’s population continues to grow and diversify it is imperative that we recruit and retain a workforce that represents and understands our citizens.        

Through the Smart Cities Challenge, the Government of Canada has tasked communities of all sizes to come forward with their best ideas to improve the lives of their residents through innovation, data and connected technology.  A smart city enables its citizens to use technology to make smart decisions.

In April 2018, Saskatoon submitted an initial proposal and was selected as one of the finalists for a chance to win $10 million (category: communities with populations under 500,000), to be used for implementing all aspects of a proposed plan.

Saskatoon’s final proposal, ConnectYXE, brings together innovative technology and partnerships to break the cycle of Indigenous youth incarceration by creating a new cycle focused on building purpose, belonging, security and identity.

“For the last eight months we have been working closely with the project’s Indigenous Youth Advisory Group, community-based organizations (CBOs), institutional partner organizations, and the technology community,” says Lynne Lacroix, Acting General Manager of Community Services. “We learned from those who have the most experience and the most at stake, what can make a difference in their lives.  We built our proposal around that.”

ConnectYXE is based on three pillars:

Empowerment of Indigenous youth and their families: providing real-time information and options for how to access services throughout the city, every day, all day.

Collaboration among partners: creating a repository of data of all relevant programs and services available throughout Saskatoon.

Harnessing innovative technology: connecting systems, sharing data and leveraging artificial intelligence.  The collective data in ConnectYXE will provide a city-wide picture of what is available and the demands on those supports at any time.  This enables CBOs, institutional partners, and decision-makers to regularly analyze and to identify gaps, trends, and better ways to respond.

“A whole-of-community approach, with youth at the centre, is needed to address the complex challenges that urban Indigenous youth face,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.  “These challenges are rooted in historical injustices, intergenerational trauma, and racism.”

The final proposal was submitted yesterday.  The Government of Canada will announce the winning communities in late Spring 2019.

To learn more:

• Smart Cities Challenge:  Government of Canada's Challenge website 
• Saskatoon’s proposal: saskatoon.ca/smartcities
• ConnectYXE video:  youtube.com/saskatooncitynews 
• Join the conversation on social media using hashtag #smartcitiesCanada

The City wishes to thank the Indigenous Youth Advisory Group, community allies and institutional partners for their commitment and support of this project. Institutional partners include:  Central Urban Métis Federation, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, Saskatoon Health Authority, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatoon Public School Division, Saskatoon Tribal Council, United Way of Saskatoon and area, and the University of Saskatchewan.

Following a formal Request For Proposals for the lease to operate the Farmers’ Market Building in River Landing issued in October, 2018, the City will not be awarding a lease and the RFP is now cancelled.

During the RFP process, it became apparent that ongoing water issues with the roof on the building will require significant repairs, and as such, the building will need to close for approximately three months to accommodate those repairs. During the RFP process, the City received two applications and it thanks the parties that submitted a proposal. However, awarding the lease to a tenant, only to close the building for a lengthy period, would be unfair.

The City has offered to extend the lease of the current tenant through the 2019 growing season, and the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market Cooperative (SFMCL) has agreed to stay on, in which case the building will remain open until December 31, 2019, when the lease with the SFMCL will end. Closure of the building and subsequent repairs to the roof would take place in early 2020.

Requests For Proposals will now be required for the work to design solutions and then repair the building’s roof. Future operations of the building will be explored in the coming months.

For the eighth consecutive year, the City of Saskatoon has been selected as one of Saskatchewan’s 2019 Top Employers. The competition recognizes Saskatchewan employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work.

“The success of everything we do at the City of Saskatoon depends on the expertise, skills and commitment of our employees. That’s why we will continue to focus on employee engagement and creating a welcoming workplace where all people are encouraged to realize their potential,” says Chief Human Resources Officer Sarah Cameron.

“As Saskatoon continues to grow and become more culturally diverse so does our need to interact effectively with people of different cultures. Last year we introduced mandatory Indigenous awareness training for all employees and leadership training to build intercultural competency so that we can better serve all citizens of Saskatoon,” Cameron says.

The City of Saskatoon was evaluated on eight criteria, the same used for the Canada Top 100 Employer’s competition: (1) Physical Workplace; (2) Work Atmosphere & Social; (3) Health, Financial & Family Benefits; (4) Vacation & Time Off; (5) Employee Communications; (6) Performance Management; (7) Training & Skills Development; and (8) Community Involvement.

Employers are compared with other organizations in their field to determine which ones offer the most progressive and forward-thinking programs.

The Saskatchewan’s 2019 Top Employers are highlighted in today’s Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post. 

Approximately 90 percent of glass is broken by the time it is sorted for recycling.

In a step to improve the amount of glass that can be recycled, a pilot program in partnership with SARCAN will enable residents to take their glass items to SARCAN depots.

“We scanned blue bin programs across Canada, and noticed that single stream collection programs may not be the most effective in recycling glass products since so much of the glass gets broken.  While less people might use a depot, the overall percentage of glass that gets recycled can actually improve”, said Amber Weckworth, Manager of Education and Environmental Performance. 

While the current Blue Bin program will still accept household glass material, residents are encouraged to ‘take it, don’t break it’ and avoid broken glass during collections by taking clean glass jars and bottles to their nearest SARCAN recycling depot.

SARCAN Locations

• East Depot – 350B-103 Street East
• North Depot – 2327 Faithfull Avenue
• South Depot – Avalon Plaza 20A - 2605 Broadway Avenue
• West Depot – 7 - 2305 22nd Street W

 What you can recycle

• Food container jars – jam, pickles, peanuts, sauces, etc.
• Beverage glass bottles
• Food glass bottles – olive oil, etc. 

The following items are not accepted in the SARCAN pilot program: excessively dirty glass; broken containers; Pyrex; ceramics; dishes; drinking glasses; carboys and jugs from homemade wine kits; mirrors; light bulbs; and glass home décor.

 What you need to know

• Glass that has no deposit paid at the time of purchase, results in no refund given at SARCAN.
• Clean glass jars and bottles before taking items to SARCAN.
• Visit sarcan.ca for more information.

For more information on recyclables, collection calendar, and waste wizard, visit: saskatoon.ca/household-glass-pilot-program.

The City Archives is pleased to be the recipient of several locally-themed collections including extensive photographic material and news clippings from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.

“This is a significant community asset and gift,” says City Archivist Jeff O’Brien.  “We are grateful to both the Provincial Archives and the StarPhoenix to have the opportunity to keep and make available at the City Archives, this vital historical resource.”

The StarPhoenix collection consists of approximately 400,000 images taken by StarPhoenix photographers.  The collection also includes clippings of the corresponding published images dating from 1948 to 1965 and from 1970 to 1986.  The material documents local news and personalities predominantly in Saskatoon, but also from surrounding communities.

In November, 2018, the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan (PAS) announced the consolidation of its holdings, resulting in the closure of the Saskatoon office, and merging of their offices and services into a single Regina location.

Following discussions with the Provincial Archives, 22 other collections important to Saskatoon will also be kept at the City Archives. The PAS transferred 1500 digital images scanned from the collection over the years. Importantly, PAS also transferred indexes for the entire collection, including 25,000 descriptions of individual photographs that the City will incorporate into its in-house archives database.

The newly acquired material arrived Monday, February 4, 2019; it includes papers of the Temperance Colonization Society, Saskatoon Prairieland Exhibition Association, Trounce Family, Billy Silverwood, R.W. Caswell, Saskatoon Board of Trade and the Mendel Art Gallery.

The City Archive works to preserve and provide access to the historical records of the City of Saskatoon, as well as to those of historically significant individuals and organizations in Saskatoon. The Archives is open to the public during business hours. Staff will also provide research assistance by post, by email or by calling 306-975-7811.

The City Archives is pleased to be the recipient of several locally-themed collections including extensive photographic material and news clippings from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.

“This is a significant community asset and gift,” says City Archivist Jeff O’Brien.  “We are grateful to both the Provincial Archives and the StarPhoenix to have the opportunity to keep and make available at the City Archives, this vital historical resource.”

The StarPhoenix collection consists of approximately 400,000 images taken by StarPhoenix photographers.  The collection also includes clippings of the corresponding published images dating from 1948 to 1965 and from 1970 to 1986.  The material documents local news and personalities predominantly in Saskatoon, but also from surrounding communities.

In November 2018, the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan (PAS) announced the consolidation of its holdings, resulting in the closure of the Saskatoon office, and merging of their offices and services into a single Regina location.

Following discussions with the Provincial Archives, 22 other collections important to Saskatoon will also be kept at the City Archives. The PAS transferred 1500 digital images scanned from the collection over the years. Importantly, PAS also transferred indexes for the entire collection, including 25,000 descriptions of individual photographs that the City will incorporate into its in-house archives database.

The newly acquired material arrived Monday, February 4, 2019; it includes papers of the Temperance Colonization Society, Saskatoon Prairieland Exhibition Association, Trounce Family, Billy Silverwood, R.W. Caswell, Saskatoon Board of Trade and the Mendel Art Gallery.

The City Archive works to preserve and provide access to the historical records of the City of Saskatoon, as well as to those of historically significant individuals and organizations in Saskatoon. The Archives is open to the public during business hours. Staff will also provide research assistance by post, by email or by calling 306-975-7811.

Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for Saskatoon. Snow started overnight and is expected to continue through to Sunday, with an estimated total accumulation of 10-15 centimetres, and winds of 20 to 40 km/h. Daytime temperatures are expected to remain in the low minus 20s. There will be a risk of frostbite; with the wind it will feel more like temperatures around minus 33.

Winter driving conditions will exist and blowing snow will cause slippery conditions on roadways. People are asked to use caution on high traffic roads and on sidewalks where ice may form. City crews have up to 10 high-speed plows, 31 graders, 20 sanders and 10 sidewalk plows ready to clear priority streets and to treat slippery sections with sand that is pre-wet with magnesium chloride to help it stick.      

During the storm, all city resources will be mobilized to preserve mobility on high-traffic, high-speed roadways such as Circle Drive and Idylwyld Drive. Snow plowing and heavy wind can cause whiteouts and reduced visibility on freeways during a heavy snowfall.  Drivers are reminded to hang back, out of the snow cloud and watch for blue lights that indicate winter road maintenance is underway.

 What you can expect from us

1. Snow and ice may cause bridges, ramps, overpasses and high-traffic intersections to be icy.
2. City crews will be focussing efforts on clearing high traffic, high volume roadways such as Circle Drive, followed by key arterials, and then local and collector priority streets.  All priority streets are to be graded within 72 hours of the end of the storm.
3. If more snow falls during the clean-up, crews will go back to keeping high traffic, high volume roads clear until it stops.
4. Under heavy snowfall, plows on Circle Drive may be travelling at reduced speeds.
5. Transit routes may be impacted with late buses. Transit service alerts, real-time bus locations, and arrivals are available on third party apps like Transit and Google Transit. Access Transit may also be affected by heavy snow on residential streets.

 How you can help us

1. Slow down and use extra caution.
2. Watch for blue and amber flashing lights on winter road maintenance equipment. If you encounter equipment on the road, slow down, remain at least 15 metres (2.5 car lengths) behind, and be ready to stop.  Passing is not recommended and may not be possible.
3. When safe to do so, drivers can report icy or snowed-in locations to the 24-hour Customer Service Centre at 306-975-2476 or email snow@saskatoon.ca.
4. Be in the Know About Snow! Learn more about what happens when it snows at saskatoon.ca/snow.

Find real time alerts about snow event priority street grading progress when it snows at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts or follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert.

Both lanes of southbound traffic on Highway 11 at the derailment site have been opened to public access. Speed and traffic restrictions have been lifted for this direction.

One lane of northbound traffic on Highway 11 at the derailment site has now been opened to public access. Some speed and traffic restrictions are still in effect for this direction.

Watch for posted signage and obey all restrictions and safety information.

Work crews have cleared all the damaged cars from Tuesday’s derailment at the crossing at Highway #11 and Wanuskewin Road.

Repairs to the track continue this morning; when those are complete the highway will need to be inspected before it opens to vehicular traffic. Northbound traffic remains closed.

Transportation Safety Board (TSB)  investigators arrived last night to gather information and that work continues today. 

One lane of southbound traffic on Highway #11 is open; speed and traffic restrictions are in place.

Until the roadways are inspected and safe to open,  Highway 11 northbound to Warman is closed just past 71st Street; traffic is being detoured to Highway 12 through Martensville and Highway 305 back to Highway 11 for locations north of Warman. Wanuskewin Road northbound is closed just past Penner Road to allow access to Cathedral Bluffs.

Please watch for message boards and obey speed restrictions and safety information. 

Reconciliation Saskatoon has launched ConnectR - an online tool designed to help residents choose their own path towards reconciliation.

“Reconciliation is different for everyone and often people don’t know where to begin. ConnectR is a great resource that provides people of all ages a starting point for their journey,” Elder and Indian residential school survivor Gilbert Kewistep explains. “As a survivor, I’m excited about the future of reconciliation and seeing people, particularly our youth, respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s (TRC) calls to action.”

Visitors to the site are offered different paths to start their journey of reconciliation. Similar to Pinterest, the ConnectR website is highly visual and engaging with each path leading to a selection of relevant calls to action. Activities include: reading a particular book, learning about Indigenous protocols, visiting an Indigenous cultural site or going to a local workshop.

“The ConnectR initiative shows us what is possible when we work with care and humility on the journey of reconciliation,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “Our city will only be successful if all people are able to be a part of its success, and ConnectR helps us to chart a path forward, pushes us to be a welcoming and resilient community, and inspires us to find strength in the differences of our neighbours and all of the people who call this place home. This project represents the best in our community, and I hope that many people in our community engage with this great resource.”

A unique aspect of the project is the involvement of seven ConnectR Youth Ambassadors who come from Indigenous, non-Indigenous and newcomer backgrounds. They each plan to document their reconciliation learning journey and share their diverse experiences with the community through social media. To follow their stories, visit facebook.com/BeAConnectR

“As Youth Champions, we want to tackle difficult conversations about reconciliation so that more people feel willing to engage in calls to action,” says ConnectR Youth Champion Sienna Waskewitch.

The ConnectR website was designed by Creative Fire that put together a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous designers to incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing into the site design. Elders and Indian residential school survivors were also consulted during the entire process.

Funding for the project came from Saskatoon Community Foundation and the Government of Saskatchewan, as well as in-kind support from the Office of the Treaty Commissioner and the City of Saskatoon. The City of Saskatoon also provides website hosting services for the ConnectR website.

Reconciliation Saskatoon is an initiative of 98 member community organizations, non-profit organizations, businesses and partners who have come together to initiate a citywide conversation about reconciliation and provide opportunities for everyone to engage in the TRC’s Calls to Action.

The City of Saskatoon’s commitment to the TRC’s Calls to Action supports the City’s strategic goal of Quality of Life by identifying actions for enhancing Indigenous peoples’ well-being and participation in our community.

As part of the development of the WinterCityYXE Strategy, the City and community stakeholders again invite residents to celebrate what makes Saskatoon unique as a four-season community that is welcoming, vibrant and prosperous, even during the winter months.

“We are excited to develop a Strategy that celebrates our winter season. Saskatoon has a distinct outdoor experience and the winter season shouldn't limit us. As we continue to evolve and improve our winter culture, we hope to make winter more inviting and popular, even though it’s the coldest time of the year,” said Chris Schulz, Project Spokesperson, Planning & Development.  

The City invites residents and visitors to two events in January to share their ideas on creating a four-season community, located at:

Winter City Café – Prairieland Park, Hall A

• Friday, January 25 (9:00 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.)
• Saturday, January 26 (9:00 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.)

Wintershines – Saskatoon Farmers’ Market, inside the igloo

• Saturday, January 26 (1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

The Winter City Café is part of the Winter Cities Shake-Up Conference (Shake-Up) at Prairieland Park. Shake-Up is a conference that will bring together delegates to share their collective knowledge, experiences, opportunities and challenges of winter communities. Shake-Up runs from January 23-26. For more information about Shake-Up, visit wintercitiesconference.com.

In addition, starting January 16, ice sculptures will be placed around Saskatoon. These local pieces were designed in collaboration with students from Aden Bowman Collegiate.

To view a full list of winter events, facilities, activities or more information on the WintercityYXE Strategy, visit: saskatoon.ca/wintercityyxe.

The City of Saskatoon has again received a favourable endorsement from S&P Global Rating Services,  which reconfirmed the City’s ‘AAA’ credit rating with a “stable” outlook.

“We’re pleased and excited with this rating,” says Kerry Tarasoff, Chief Financial Officer. “The City is expected to benefit from a diverse economy, keep debt manageable and be able to deliver a responsible budget.”

Calling Saskatoon the “economic engine of Saskatchewan,” S&P Global Rating Services today re-affirmed ‘AAA’ long-term issuer credit and senior unsecured debt ratings on the City.

Key points within the S&P report are:

• Saskatoon has a “diverse economy and prudent management”
• The City’s record of “robust fiscal performance” is expected to continue
• The strong financial performance will allow the City to “…proceed with its capital agenda while maintaining healthy liquidity and minimal debt.” 

“The 'AAA' rating is important because it allows City Council to be able to plan for the steady population growth that we’ve experienced for the past decade or so and the growth that continues at a rate around two per cent a year,” Tarasoff says. “At our population right now that’s like adding another City of Humboldt or City of Melfort to our community over the next year.”

For more information, the report entitled “City of Saskatoon Ratings Affirmed At ‘AAA’; Outlook Remains Stable” is available on the City’s website saskatoon.ca.

Annual ridership has increased and is expected to top 1 million rides per month in 2019.  

“Any increase in ridership is encouraging to see, but 8% is incredible,” says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “It shows people are recognizing transit as a viable alternative. However, in order to keep increasing our ridership numbers, we must continue to focus on the customer first.”

In 2017, Saskatoon Transit implemented the first high frequency transit corridors (8^th Street and 22^nd Street) decreasing the amount of time riders have to wait for the next bus. In 2018, Saskatoon Transit continued to add high frequency routes and saw more riders adopting real-time transit apps to plan their trips. As we get closer to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) implementation we will continue to make improvements – 2019 will focus on a bus stop audit to ensure bus stops are located appropriately around the city.

“The key to our success is overall improved service, a better customer experience and technology that supports both.”

After a slight ridership decline in 2016, Saskatoon Transit experienced an increase around two per cent in 2017 and in the first 11 months of 2018 ridership increased 8.4 per cent over the same period a year before. McDonald says this increase is even more remarkable as ridership has fallen in many of the top 50 transit markets in the United States and Canadian markets witnessed only incremental increases.

"Changes already made will support a successful BRT system in Saskatoon,” he says. “The new system, which features a plan for crisscrossing, high-frequency routes, will connect different parts of the city.”

“We’re working hard to deliver the kind of service residents expect from an urban, forward-thinking city,” says McDonald. “We look forward to seeing you on the bus!”

As passenger demand grows, Saskatoon Transit will continue to provide safe, efficient and economical transportation to citizens and visitors to Saskatoon.

Environment Canada forecasts a good chance of light snow and wind gusts to 50 km/h this afternoon with the current above-freezing temperatures falling to around -3 degrees. There is a possibility of flurries continuing overnight, and temperatures are expected to cool off near -14 degrees by Saturday night.

 What you can expect from us

1. Monitoring and salting high-traffic roads and priority streets, including Circle Drive and freeways.
2. Salting intersections in residential areas, on bridge decks and overpasses.
3. Even with the use of salt and sand, extra moisture from snow and freezing drizzle may cause slippery conditions during peak driving times.

 How you can help us

1. Slow down and use extra caution this afternoon and during the commute this evening.
2. Watch for blue and amber flashing lights on snow maintenance equipment. If you encounter equipment on the road, slow down, remain at least 15 metres (two-and-a-half car lengths) behind, and be ready to stop.
3. When safe to do so, drivers can report icy locations to the 24-hour Customer Service Centre at 306-975-2476 or email snow@saskatoon.ca.
4. Be in the Know About Snow! Learn more about what happens when it snows at saskatoon.ca/snow.

As road maintenance crews continue to address priority streets and high-risk intersections, the Saskatoon Fire Department warns pedestrians to proceed with caution on ice-covered sidewalks. Firefighters also remind homeowners to spread salt and sand on sidewalks around their property to prevent falls and ensure everyone has a safe holiday season.

For the past 30 years, SGI and Saskatoon Transit have partnered to offer free late night transit service on New Year’s Eve, ensuring everyone has a safe ride home. This year the service is back! SGI is once again sponsoring free rides in the evening and Saskatoon Transit has extended the free service to all day.

“Having free Transit service on New Year’s Eve removes a barrier when making decisions on how to get home after a night out,” says Jim McDonald, Director, Saskatoon Transit. “We encourage everyone to plan their route before heading out using the app called Transit.”   

Saskatoon Transit and the local taxi companies will be working together to get everyone home safe, in the most efficient way possible. Citizens are encouraged to think about using a variety of transportation modes on busy nights like New Year’s Eve. Take the bus out of the downtown or busy areas and arrange for a cab to take you the short distance home. “Riide, Comfort and United are all proud to be a part of this collaboration, connecting public and private modes of transportation to help complete first/last mile multimodal trips,” Says Carlo Triolo, General Manager, Riide.

“This collaboration helps residents celebrate the New Year responsibly by taking advantage of free transit in Saskatoon,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “We all owe it to each other—to our family, friends, and drivers on the road—to plan a safe ride home. This service helps to make this planning easier so that we can start the New Year in a positive way.”

“Police officers will be out in full force taking advantage of new enhanced impaired driving laws to detect impaired drivers.  Making safe choices involves making a solid plan,” says Saskatoon Police Service Staff Sergeant Patrick Barbar. “Saskatoon transit is an excellent part of a plan to get home safely.”

Free bus service will be available on Monday, December 31 until 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 1. (Times may vary slightly by route).

 “There is no reason for impaired driving, especially on New Year’s Eve,” says McDonald, “We are thankful to have SGI as a partner in providing free transit service to citizens on New Year’s Eve and for the partnership with Riide, Comfort and United to provide the first/last mile parts of the journey.”

“SGI is a proud sponsor of Wing in the New Year,” said Minister responsible for SGI Joe Hargrave. “There is always a better option than driving impaired. With Wing in the New Year, the people of Saskatoon have yet another great – and free – way to get home safely on New Year’s Eve.”

This holiday season the City of Saskatoon is encouraging residents to ‘Create Memories, Not Garbage’. Residents are reminded to keep waste reduction and recycling options in mind throughout their holiday celebrations. By remembering a few of these tips during the holidays, residents can help extend the life of the Landfill and help the community move towards 70% waste diversion by 2023. 

Consider recycling holiday items by selling or giving away excess products, using reusable gift bags or recyclable boxes, purchasing gifts with less packaging, sharing and giving experiences, and planning meals to reduce kitchen waste. When sorting your holiday garbage, remember a lot of seasonal items are recyclable.

Here are some recycling tips to help keep the holiday season green:

What you can recycle

• Wrapping paper – Consider using recyclable paper or reusing old newspapers to wrap your gifts. Remember, if you can rip it, you can recycle it!  No need to remove staples or tape. If you can’t rip the paper, it goes in the garbage.
• Tin foil, foil containers and metal cookie containers – Be sure to clean all types of these containers before recycling.
• Flattened cardboard boxes and packaging – Before tossing into your blue cart or bin, remember to flatten these items to increase space for other recyclables.
• Cleaned milk and eggnog containers – A quick rinse, flatten them and they’ll be ready to be recycled. You can take them to SARCAN or put them in your blue cart or bin at home.
• Recyclable plastic containers – Have a look on the bottom of your plastic containers, if there’s a number between 1 and 7, rinse and recycle it.
• Unwanted electronics – These items can be dropped off without charge at any SARCAN depot. Visit sarcan.ca for information.

The following holiday items are not accepted in blue recycle bins: Styrofoam, ribbon and bows, plasticized gift bags, toys, Christmas trees (natural or artificial), Christmas lights, ornaments or decorations. Artificial trees can be sold or donated for re-use, or taken to the Landfill for disposal. Check saskatoon.ca/christmastree for drop-off locations for natural Christmas trees.

How can you manage space in your bins?

• Excess recycling can be dropped off at one of the City’s Recycling Depots (Lawson Heights, Lakewood, University Heights, or Meadowgreen), at the Loraas Recycle Recycling Depot or Cosmopolitan Industries Recycling Depot. To keep depot bins from filling up too quickly, please make sure boxes are flattened.
• Consider storing clean, dry recyclables until your next scheduled collection.
• Please make sure your cart lid is fully closed and your cart is out by 7am on collection day.

For more holiday waste, recyclables, collection calendar, waste wizard and disposal information, visit: www.saskatoon.ca/holiday-recycling.

In supporting the City of Saskatoon’s strategic goal of Environmental Leadership, a grant totaling $30,000 is now available to local, non-profit organizations implementing and supporting sustainable initiatives. The deadline to apply for this grant is February 15, 2019.

$10,000 of this total will be allocated specifically to projects that relate to water conservation, and NEW for 2019, $10,000 will be allocated for waste diversion.

To be eligible for this grant, organizational activities must relate to one of the following categories:

• Environmental stewardship;
• Climate change mitigation and/or adaptation;
• Water conservation;
• Waste reduction and/or diversion; and
• Environmental education and/or awareness.

For more information on the City’s Environmental Grant, visit: saskatoon.ca/envirogrant.

At its meeting yesterday, City Council carried a motion to rescind a decision made November 19, 2018 regarding the implementation of a black cart variable rate waste utility for curbside pick-up at single-family homes.   

City Council has directed the Administration to report back on other funding options for the curbside waste program.

Information on possible funding options previously considered for curbside waste can be found here.

For more information about the City’s waste diversion plan, visit saskatoon.ca/wastediversion. 

At its meeting today, City Council approved a new bylaw that will regulate the operation of Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) in Saskatoon.  

Highlights of Bylaw No. 9548, The Transportation Network Company Bylaw, 2018 (Rideshare Bylaw), include:

• The minimum fare for TNCs is $3.75, which is the same as the minimum fare for taxis.
• Safety features include:
  • a TNC must disclose to a passenger, at the time of the request for service, the first name and photo of the driver and the make, model, colour, and provincial licence plate of the vehicle; and
  • a TNC must allow a passenger to track the location and route of the vehicle while carrying the passenger.
• TNC drivers cannot offer, solicit, or accept offers to provide transportation to passengers except through the transportation network, such as an app. Street hailing (flagging down a vehicle on the street) is not permitted.
• TNC vehicles must comply with provincial regulations, which require that a decal identifying the TNC be displayed on two sides of the vehicle.
• TNCs must ensure that all affiliated drivers obtain an annual vulnerable sector check; this is in addition to the annual criminal record check that TNCs must ensure for all affiliated drivers under the provincial regulations.
• Affiliated drivers have the same behavioural expectations as taxi drivers and are similarly required to provide service when appropriately dispatched.
• TNCs must pay an annual licence fee based on the number of affiliated vehicles, as well as make monthly payments of per trip fees.  An accessibility surcharge must also be remitted monthly to support the provision of wheelchair accessible taxi service.

City Council also approved a second bylaw, Bylaw No. 9549, The Taxi Amendment Bylaw, 2018 (No. 2) (Amendment Bylaw), in part to align taxi regulations with the Rideshare Bylaw and The Vehicles for Hire Act & Regulations introduced by the Government of Saskatchewan on December 14, 2018 (please visit sgi.sk.ca/rideshare for more information). 

The Amendment Bylaw further includes the extension of 16 temporary wheelchair accessible taxi licences and the establishment of a taxi cleaning fee and its reporting requirements and appeal process.

For more information on the City’s Rideshare and Amendment Bylaws, please visit saskatoon.ca/vehiclesforhire. 

The City of Saskatoon’s Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) report that today’s  notifynow test message sent to Saskatoon residents at 10:00 a.m. was executed successfully.

“Saskatoon’s population is now over 270,000 and growing. So far, we’ve had just over 24,000 residents customize their notifynow profile,” says Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Director of Emergency Planning. “We are pleased that this number continues to grow, but we would really like to see more residents customize their profile. It’s important to remember that notifynow can’t reach you and your family if you have incomplete or out-of-date contact information in the notifynow system.”

Goulden-McLeod points out, if a major and extended power outage had impacted Saskatoon, notifynow messages would have been sent directly to residents throughout the day to update them and share information.   

Did you receive your notifynow test message? Have you taken steps to be prepared, connected and informed in the event of a citywide emergency or one affecting only your neighbourhood?

“If you have a phone number that is publicly available, you may be in the notifynow system,” adds Goulden-McLeod. “However, we encourage residents to visit the City’s website to indicate how they want to receive their notifynow emergency notification messages. Many residents now prefer cell phone, text or email, or maybe all of these options and can register for up to five addresses.”

It’s easy to customize your notifynow profile and your communication preferences. Help notifynow reach you - and more Saskatoon residents with timely, trusted and targeted emergency notification messages.

“Notifynow messages should play an important part of your family’s emergency preparedness plan,” adds Goulden-McLeod. “These emergency safety messages can tell you what to do, what to expect, or even where to go in an emergency situation, and this greatly helps to reduce stress for you and those you care about.”

Visit saskatoon.ca/notifynow today to customize your preferences or call 306-975-3210 for more information.

Saskatoon Transit is encouraging shoppers to take the Jingle Bell Express during the holiday shopping season. The Jingle Bell Express, which began as a pilot last year, provides customers with easy access to Saskatoon malls without having to worry about holiday traffic or full parking lots.

“The Jingle Bell Express removes the hassle of driving and parking, but also provides users with access to malls they may not otherwise have the opportunity to visit,” says Jim MacDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “Regular fares apply and the service is available from Saturday, December 8th until Sunday, December 23rd and it will be free on Boxing Day.”

The Jingle Bell Express is a special route put into place as we lead up to the holidays. It’s called Route 1225 and runs between:

• Midtown Plaza
• Confederation Mall
• Lawson Heights
• Centre Mall
• Market Mall

Route schedule.

Weekday service will be available from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. and weekend service will run from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. On Boxing Day, the Jingle Bell Express will be free and will operate between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Use the Transit App or Google Transit to plan your trip or consult the Transit website.

Jingle Bell Express riders will be asked to complete a survey for a chance to win one of five $100 gift cards provided by each participating mall.

The power outages that are currently affecting large portions of the province are not having an impact on service within Saskatoon.

A brief power outage occurred at approximately 9 a.m. for some Saskatoon Light & Power customers in the south portion of Saskatoon, but power was restored in less than 30 minutes.

No further service interruptions are anticipated in the SL&P service area, however, there is always the chance of an unexpected outage due to loss of supply, adverse weather, foreign interference with power lines, or equipment failure.

In the event of an outage, SL&P customers are advised to check the City’s website or follow @YXEServiceAlert on Twitter for updates. SaskPower customers can access updates at saskpower.com/outages.

Following two days of questions, adjustments and debate on the 2019 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget, His Worship Mayor Charlie Clark and City Council have finalized their investment decisions for 2019, arriving at a property tax increase of 4.40%.

“The finalized budget reflects investments Council has made for the future and for their strategic priority areas,” says Kerry Tarasoff, CFO and General Manager, Asset and Financial Management.  “City Council has supported initiatives that are important to our community, and maintained or increased service levels in core services citizens have told us they want.”

What the 4.40% property tax increase means to residential property owners
The 2019 property tax increase of 4.40% is a result of a 3.16% increase required to maintain civic services, and a 1.24% increase as the result of the Business Plan initiatives approved by Council during their deliberations on November 26 and 27, 2018.

The 4.40% property tax increase will generate an additional $10.2 million to maintain the service level delivery of civic services and to cover costs related to inflation and growth in Saskatoon.

For a homeowner with a property assessment value of $371,000, the municipal portion of the 4.40% increase equates to $6.63 per month or $79.52 for the year.

“City Council considered $2.6 million in business plan priority spending options with a goal to minimize the property tax increase without compromising the delivery of civic services,” adds Tarasoff. “Council focused on controlling expenditures and maintaining the assets we need, and I believe they made strategic and well-intentioned decisions for 2019.”  

2019 Operating and Capital Budget Totals

• $1.13 billion: Total 2019 Capital and Operating Budget (including Utilities, Operating & Capital)
  • $511.01 million: Total Operating Budget (excluding Utilities)
  • $362.06 million: Total Utility Operating Budget
  • ​$259.83 million: Total Capital Budget (including Utilities)

2019 Business Plan Options: Investment Highlights

• Additional $350,000 for Building Better Parks Asset Management Phase-in
• Additional $200,000 for the Recreation and Parks Facilities Game Plan
• Additional $200,000 invested in Snow and Ice Service Level enhancements
• $150,000 (including 1.0 FTE) to allow work on developing a low emissions community implementation plan aimed at lowering carbon emissions
• $100,000 allocated to fund Meewasin Valley Authority
• Building Better Bridges: $300,000 invested to maintain condition of bridges and overpasses
• Building Better Transit: $200,000 invested for Transit fleet replacements
• Urban Forestry and Pest Management Reserve: $150,000
• Sidewalk Maintenance Service Level enhancement: $100,000
• Winter City Grant Program: $25,000 to maintain dedicated programming
• Total additional investment in Active Transportation Plan Phase-In and Master Plan:  $125,000
• IT Project Management Continuous Improvement Initiatives: $125,000
• Invested $120,000 in two dedicated Performance Improvement Coordinator positions tasked with creating process improvements and finding further efficiencies through the City’s corporate transformation planned for 2019.

City Council requested Administration to provide detailed return on investment reporting in 2019 and for 2020, and operational cost savings through continuous improvement initiatives resulting from the investment in these positions.

2019 Budget Highlights by the Numbers

• 0%: Approved increase in Saskatoon Light & Power rates
• 6.45%: Property tax increase for Saskatoon Public Library (compared to 0% last year)
• 9.25%: Increase in water rates
• $5.00: Increase for a single adult monthly recreation pass
• $94.6 million: Approved for Saskatoon Police Service (up $4.1 million from 2018)
• $5.9 million: Approved budget for Remai Modern Art Gallery (up $456,000 from 2018)
  • ​$128,000: Approved for Remai Modern Art Gallery staffing positions
• $43.3 million: Approved Saskatoon Transit budget (up $2.1 million from 2018)
• $71 million: Approved amount to invest in land development
• 62: Approximate number of new full-time positions (including Saskatoon Public Library)
• 20.6%: Share of City’s 2019 Budget allocated to Saskatoon Police Service
• 6.6%: Share of 2019 Operating Budget dedicated to servicing debt

Administration will drive the development of the City’s first Multi-Year Budget for 2020 and 2021 with a rollout planned at the end of the first quarter in 2019. City Council’s Strategic Priorities and the Strategic Plan will continue to guide the budget process, and citizens will be encouraged to provide their input into the new multi-year budget process through a variety of public engagement opportunities held throughout the new year.

Visit saskatoon.ca/budget for more information.

In 1998, the Saskatoon Fire Department, in partnership with Public Health Services Saskatoon, launched a needle pick-up program. Over the past 20 years hundreds of thousands of discarded needles have been collected through the program, contributing to the safety and cleanliness of Saskatoon’s public spaces; close to 7,500 of which have been picked-up by Firefighters in 2018 alone.

Each year, Firefighters with the Saskatoon Fire Department are dispatched to various locations around the city to address reports of improperly discarded needles. “The pick-up of improperly discarded needles is most often completed on a per-call basis; that is, for the Saskatoon Fire Department to dispatch a crew to collect the needle, we must first be made aware of its location.” says Joshua Grella with the Saskatoon Fire Department. Crews ranging from two to five Firefighters may be dispatched to reports of improperly discarded needles, depending on the operating district of the call.

If you are accidentally poked by a needle’s point:

• Encourage bleeding and place your hand under running water to flush out the wound,
• Do not suck on the wound, even if a water supply is unavailable,
• Take note of the characteristics of both the needle and injury,
• Do not attempt to recap the needle,
• Visit a hospital emergency department as soon as possible, and
• If possible, safely package the needle in a hard-surfaced contained and take it with you to the emergency department.

Be sure to educate children and vulnerable adults about needle safety, instructing them to never touch a discarded needle and to notify a responsible adult immediately if one is encountered.

Never leave your discarded needles poking around; needles that are not safely disposed of can cause harm to others in the community, including workers, children, and pets.

In an emergency, call 911 immediately.

In addition to a new city-wide organics program, single-family households with curbside collection service will now have a choice in the size and cost of their waste carts. City Council voted in favour of implementing a variable rate waste utility. The previously approved city-wide organics program will be funded from property tax. Both programs are expected to launch in 2020.

“This is an important step forward for our City on our journey toward trying to achieve 70 per cent waste diversion, so we are pleased with Council’s decision,” says Dan Willems, Acting General Manager of Corporate Performance. “This is a very complex matter with many variables, so the decision to implement variable cart sizes for waste in addition to a city-wide organics program demonstrates City Council’s commitment to its strategic goal of Environmental Leadership.”

The variable rate waste utility will give residents the option of three cart sizes and is expected to incentivize residents to reduce the amount of garbage they generate by wasting less and diverting more through composting and recycling. The variable rate and three cart sizes will provide curbside residents more control over their waste costs.   

“These improvements to waste management will help us move closer to our waste diversion goals, and significantly delay the need for us to plan for a new landfill, estimated at $120M,” Willems says.

More details on the implementation plan and program costs will be presented in 2019.

The complete agenda from the November 19 City Council meeting can be found here.

For more information about the City’s waste diversion plan, visit saskatoon.ca/wastediversion.

Last week, members from Saskatoon’s host committee attended the 2018 Creative City Network of Canada’s Creative City Summit (Summit) in Mississauga, Ontario, to promote Saskatoon as next year’s Summit location to their colleagues across Canada.  This three-day conference for municipal cultural workers provided an opportunity for Saskatoon to share knowledge and highlight its dynamic arts and culture scene.

“The Creative City Network of Canada, and Saskatoon’s active participation in it, is a reflection of the growing role that creativity and the arts play in community building,” says Kevin Kitchen, Community Development Manager.  “Judging from the early responses, municipal workers from across Canada are eagerly looking forward to attending the 2019 Summit in Saskatoon as our community has much to offer the rest of the country in terms of cultural practices.”

As part of their promotional pitch, the team launched a short animated film by Saskatoon filmmaker, Andrei Feheregyhazi, entitled Saskatoon:  Where the Art Is, sponsored by the City of Saskatoon and Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport.

“I feel honoured to be a part of this project,” says filmmaker, Andrei Feheregyhazi.  “It was exciting to work on something that not only would be shown at a national conference, but also to work on something that allowed me to explore creatively the way this project did.”

The unique animated video takes viewers on a cardboard and watercolour tour of Saskatoon’s arts and culture scene and features Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, Remai Modern, and some pieces in the City’s public art collection.  The composition for the video was created by local musician, Dean Summach.

For more information on the Summit and to view Saskatoon:  Where the Art Is, visit saskatoon.ca/artsandculture.

The City of Saskatoon continues undertaking improvements to its Transit shelters, bus stops, sidewalks and other related infrastructure.

Funded by the City and the Government of Canada, which invested $5.3 million through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund toward these projects, this work will ultimately help better connect people to this important local transportation network. In Saskatchewan, the federal PTIF program is administered by the provincial government.  

“Getting people where they need to go safely, quickly, and comfortably is essential to creating liveable communities,” says the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. “Our government is proud to support these vital upgrades to Saskatoon’s transit infrastructure. A safer, more inclusive transit system will increase ridership, reduce congestion and improve air quality.”

“Saskatoon can contribute to improving its citizens’ quality of life with projects like these, thanks to the federal Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, which the Government of Saskatchewan administers in the province. Saskatchewan’s eligible municipal partners having access to this federally-funded program helps those communities address their local priorities,” says the Honourable Warren Kaeding Saskatchewan’s Minister of Government Relations.

“Undertaking improvements such as sidewalks, landing pads, ramps and shelters to Transit stops such as the one at Attridge Drive and Rever Road can mean the difference between choosing to use Transit or not,” says Mike Moellenbeck, Saskatoon’s Acting Director of Transit. “As we work towards a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, Transit connectivity becomes even more important. We are looking to the future in terms of the locations that make sense and responding to the needs of the people we serve today.”

Through its recent Bus Stop Blues campaign, Saskatoon Transit received more than 45 submissions on areas that would benefit from improvements. Submissions were categorized into one of three categories: 1) sidewalk/accessibility, 2) new shelter/ repair, or 3) general maintenance. Three quarters of the submissions received were asking for improvements to the Attridge Drive and Rever Road location. A full listing of the planned improvements can be found at SaskatoonTransit.ca/about-us/projects.

As part of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plans, Attridge and Rever has also been selected for one of the BRT stations which will act as a major transfer point for the area. BRT stations are planned to be built at a height of approximately 10 inches, about 4 inches higher than existing curbs throughout the city. As a pilot, the bus stops at Attridge Drive and Rever Road were built to a height of 10 inches. The raised curbs will improve accessibility by offering near level boarding to accommodate wheelchair access without having to deploy the bus ramp allowing for faster passenger loading times. This is in addition to Saskatoon Transit’s objectives to attain a 100 per cent accessible fleet by the end of 2018.  

“When we’re upgrading stops, we look at the connecting sidewalks people use to get to those locations as well,” says David LeBoutillier, Saskatoon’s Acting Engineering Manager for Transportation. “Depending on the pre-existing conditions, we repaired, or replaced, and in some cases added new sidewalk at identified locations.”

On top of this, the City improved 20 per cent more sidewalk panels than originally projected for 2018. Sidewalk ramps – connecting sidewalks to roadways – were also installed at locations around the city. The locations for both panel and ramp repair/installation were identified based on connectivity to Transit. Additional considerations included public input, Neighbourhood Traffic Review recommendations, and prioritization for those locations where there are no sidewalks on either side of the road.

The total investment in these various improvements, including both the Government of Canada’s and City of Saskatoon’s contributions, is more than $10.6 million. 

November is fall prevention month and the Saskatoon Fire Department wants to ensure that citizens most at risk for a fall, adults over the age of 65, are aware of the options available through the Remembering When program. Remembering When offers helpful information around fire and fall prevention aimed at reducing fires and/or falls.

Remembering When is a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) designed program promoting eight fire safety and eight fall prevention messages through group presentations and home visits. The program focuses on the primary goal of helping older adults eliminate fire and fall hazards in their environment, allowing them to stay in their homes as long as desired. It also instructs older adults on what to do in the event of a fire and how to get up off of the floor if they have fallen and are not hurt.

The eight fire prevention and safety tips include:

1. If you smoke, do so outside,
2. Give space heaters space,
3. Stay in the kitchen when cooking,
4. Stop, drop, and roll,
5. Smoke alarms save lives,
6. Plan and practice your escape from fire and smoke,
7. Know your local emergency number, and
8. Plan your escape around your abilities.

The eight fall prevention and safety tips include:

1. Exercise regularly,
2. Take your time,
3. Keep stairs and walking areas clear,
4. Improve lighting,
5. Use non-slip mats,
6. Be aware of uneven surfaces,
7. Stairways should be well lit, and
8. Wear sturdy, well-fitting, low-heeled shoes with non-slip soles.

The Saskatoon Fire Department, in partnership with the Saskatoon Council on Aging (SCOA), conducts group presentations and home visits through the Remembering When program. This level of personalized fire and fall prevention ensures that each individual is receiving information that is relevant to their specific living situation and lifestyle. To book a group presentation or home visit, please contact Dori Krahn at the Saskatoon Fire Department 306-975-7715, or dori.krahn@saskatoon.ca.

Helpful videos with step-by-step instructions have been developed to show people how to get up from a fall, or assist somebody who has fallen and is not hurt. Click here for the video on how to get up if you have fallen and aren’t hurt and here for the video on how to assist someone up.

In an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Saskatoon is in full winter mode. Almost 3 centimetres of snow fell Sunday and Monday, temperatures have dropped, and people are re-learning how to navigate winter driving conditions. Almost as instantly, City road maintenance operations switched from street sweeping and pothole patching to plowing and sanding.

“City crews work seven days a week, prepared for whatever weather heads our way,” says Brandon Harris, Director of Roadways & Operations. “When it snows, we have up to 29 sanders, 16 graders and 14 plows focussed on keeping high-traffic roads in good winter driving condition.”

Additional resources and P3 contractors are also all ready to keep the new infrastructure clear this winter. With two bridges, including the extension of Central Avenue and McOrmond Drive and two interchanges, more than 21 kilometres of new roadway was opened up this summer to traffic.

Once the snow stops falling, graders clear the driving lanes on priority 1, 2 and 3 streets and in school zones, windrows of snow are removed in Business Improvement Districts, and specialized equipment is used to clear dedicated bike lanes and high-traffic walkways. Snow windrows are removed periodically through winter to prevent visibility issues for drivers and sidewalk users.

“Each year, we push ourselves to find a better way or test a product that makes managing snow and fighting ice smoother and faster,” says Harris. “This year we’re following Switzerland’s lead and testing wood chips to improve traction on ice. We’ve also improved our technique for keeping bridge decks and overpasses clear of any snow build-up.”

As City operations work to prevent icing, improve traction and clear snow, drivers have to play a leading role in their own safety by adjusting driving habits in winter. Important safety habits include clearing snow from all windows, leaving extra distance between you and the car in front, and reducing your speed. Find more winter driving and safety tips at saskatoon.ca/winterdriving.  

“The people operating the road equipment are important. They are colleagues, family and friends to someone – maybe someone you know,” says Harris. “Please slow down when you see their flashing blue lights and let them do their job.”

Snow What to Do this winter by visiting saskatoon.ca/snow. During a snow event (5 centimetres or more snow fall), find timely updates at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts and follow @YXEServiceAlert on Twitter.

With the colder temperatures setting in, grizzly bears Mistaya (miss‑TIE’‑yuh) and Koda (KOH’-dah) are well on their way to beginning their third hibernation at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo).

Preparation for the bears’ hibernation has been underway for several weeks.  The Zoo has worked closely with fRI Research and wildlife nutritionists to carefully monitor the bears leading into hibernation.

“We are very excited to see that Mistaya and Koda are continuing to follow a normal weight gain and loss cycle as they prepare to enter their third hibernation,” said Tim Sinclair-Smith, Zoo Manager.  “As their bodies continue to adjust to an annual hibernation schedule, we are closely monitoring and comparing Mistaya and Koda’s weight each year to that of their wild counterparts.”

At their current weight, the Zoo is predicting the bears will lose about 150 kilograms each year during hibernation.  Mistaya and Koda are currently weighing in at approximately 355 and 340 kilograms, respectively.

Cameras will once again be live in the hibernation dens so that the Zoo can closely monitor behavior, activity levels, and breathing patterns.  A live camera feed found at saskatoon.ca/zoo will also be available for Saskatoon residents to check on Mistaya and Koda throughout their hibernation.

For more information on the Zoo, please visit saskatoon.ca/zoo.

Any upcoming work to plan for the future of Downtown Saskatoon should consider an arena in the Central Business District. A report to be considered Tuesday by the Governance and Priorities Committee outlines the suggested course.

“As we’ve been asked to do, we carefully reviewed the analysis of whether to renovate or to build new event and convention facilities,” says Director of Planning and Development, Lesley Anderson.

“Considering all factors, the Administration concludes that any future Downtown planning should be developed with the option of a future Arena construction in mind.”

The report points to potential combined benefits between an arena-convention centre and with other Downtown amenities such as restaurants, hotels, and a vibrant shopping district.

“There will need to be a further analysis of Downtown infrastructure,” Anderson says.

“Next we have to explore the effects of any new facilities on roads, parking, water, sewer and how to mitigate potential impacts.”

Additionally, the report outlines future City Councils will have to weigh the benefits of a downtown location, and its role as a catalyst for development against other community goals.

Another report outlines high-level information about what funding may or may not be possible.

“This analysis is not intended to provide funding strategy for such a project,” says Chief Financial Officer, Kerry Tarasoff. “We want the Committee to have some information and to highlight what some of those financing options could look like.”

A number of convention centres have been built in Canada since 2010, and on average, about 25 per cent of the funding came from the municipality.

Since 2005, in cities without NHL teams, on average about 60 per cent of the funding for arenas or stadiums has been funded by the municipality – as is the case with Mosaic Stadium in Regina (62.2%).

Funding of large arena, stadium or convention centre projects include various sources of funds; borrowing remains the largest component and several repayment possibilities are also explained.

City Council approved the adoption of a new purchasing policy at its October 22, 2018 meeting, the measure recommended by the Standing Policy Committee on Finance.

The new policy, which takes effect December 1, 2018, now reflects best practices for public procurement, and brings the City’s policy into compliance with trade treaty obligations. It draws on criteria from federal and provincial procurement rules and will use ‘best value’ rather than lowest price in the procurement of civic goods and services for the City.

A highlight of the new policy is that purchases made in accordance with an approved budget and within the authority of the policy provisions, will now be delegated to the Administration for the awarding of contracts and purchase orders rather than City Council.

With an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and transparency, a procurement review was conducted over the past year, presenting the City with opportunities to:

• identify any gaps in the procurement process;
• document all current purchasing processes;
• provide greater transparency for vendors;
• give clear direction for City employees on common standards to be used consistently for the majority of purchases made by the City; and
• provide consistency across the organization by developing new templates and contracts.

As part of the procurement review, engagement opportunities were provided to external and internal stakeholders through the City’s website and in-person meetings asking for their feedback and recommendations on the draft purchasing policy, new procurement manual, templates and standard contracts. An engagement workshop was also conducted to gather feedback on the expansion of the new policy for the future inclusion of social and Indigenous procurement best practices.

Administration will continue to monitor and make amendments to various protocols as required, including at the request of City Council, adding new engagement opportunities to support the future inclusion of environmental best practices for procurement at the City.

The City’s new procurement policy will ensure equal access to all qualified suppliers.

Visit saskatoon.ca/engage for future engagement opportunities.

Yellow Quill First Nation announced today the successful creation of a new urban reserve in downtown Saskatoon.  Yellow Quill First Nation received notification from the Government of Canada of the successful status change for the property located at 224 4^th Avenue South.  The building is home to the First Nations Bank of Canada and is located adjacent to Yellow Quill First Nation’s original urban reserve in Saskatoon, located at 240 4^th Avenue South.

“Attaining urban reserve status where our office tower is located in downtown Saskatoon is an important milestone for our nation,” says Yellow Quill Chief John Machiskinic.  “The designation of reserve status will support us in securing additional tenants who value an on-reserve location in a major downtown centre.  It also provides another source of revenue to assist us in funding various initiatives for our members living both on and off reserve.  We are proud to celebrate this achievement today.”

“For the past 30 years, the City of Saskatoon has been working with First Nations across the province to create urban reserves,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.  “This is a point of pride for our city, as we work with our First Nations partners to help lead the country in forging a new and positive relationship and to build a stronger Saskatoon.  I would like to thank the leadership and community of Yellow Quill First Nation for investing in Saskatoon with this urban reserve and for their commitment to working together with our community.”

The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, congratulates the community, stating, “I wish the Yellow Quill First Nation great success in the development of their new urban reserve.  This added urban land provides an important opportunity to advance economic growth and development in the community.”

Yellow Quill First Nation is confident that achieving urban reserve status where its existing office tower is located will attract First Nations companies and organizations that wish to do business in a downtown location.  Yellow Quill First Nation also has plans in place to construct an office building on the adjacent 240 4^th Avenue South site, pending securing an anchor tenancy.

Municipal Service Agreements were negotiated between Yellow Quill First Nation and the City a number of years ago when the property was originally purchased.  Following the subsequent purchase of the adjacent property, which currently is a vacant parking lot, the Municipal Service Agreements were updated to reflect both properties.

The Agreements address:

• services the City will provide;
• service fees Yellow Quill First Nation will pay the City in lieu of property taxes; and
• compatible land use and development standards.

Decisions on reserve creation are made by the federal government.  The site becomes the sixth urban reserve in Saskatoon.  When a property transfers to reserve status, it is no longer under City jurisdiction.

For more information on urban reserves, please visit saskatoon.ca/urbanreserves.

About Yellow Quill First Nation
Yellow Quill First Nation is a Saulteaux First Nation located twelve miles northwest of Kelvington, Saskatchewan.  The Yellow Quill First Nation is a signatory of Treaty No. 4, which was signed by Chief Yellow Quill on August 24, 1876.  Approximately 968 members reside on reserve, and 2,005 members live in other communities throughout the province.  Yellow Quill Holdings Inc. oversees the various economic development initiatives on behalf of Yellow Quill First Nation, as well as lands purchased by Yellow Quill Treaty Land Entitlement.

The 2019 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget proposes to keep service levels up while being able to put money into the needed infrastructure and priorities citizens want and need today and for the future. It invests in the actions and projects outlined by City Council’s 2018-2021 Strategic Plan to ensure that Saskatoon remains a great place to live, work, learn and play.

“Over the years, citizens told us they want us to maintain the civic services they rely on every day,” says Kerry Tarasoff, Chief Financial Officer. “A significant portion of the proposed 2019 Budget goes to covering costs for growth and asset preservation. We’re taking care of today’s needs and carefully planning for community requirements in years to come.”

This year, a four-step process was used to build the City’s 2019 Budget:

• Costs to maintain current service levels were determined;
• City Council set a property tax target of 4.0% - 4.5% to maintain current service levels and to allocate dollars to support City Council’s Strategic Priorities;
• Business plans were developed to align with the proposed property tax rate and City Council’s priorities; and
• The business plans were then incorporated into the proposed 2019 Budget.

To address inflation, $10.6 million will be allocated with $3.5 million to the Saskatoon Police Service, and the remaining for other civic services.

To address such growth, $6.9 million is proposed in 2019: $1.1 million is for the Saskatoon Police Service, and $5.8 million for other civic services.

With these considerations, the 2019 Operating Budget proposes total expenditures of $511.3 million.  This is an increase of $20.6 million, or 4.20%, over the 2018 Operating Budget.

“With a projected growth rate around 3%, Saskatoon expects to add population about one and a half times the size of Humboldt,” Tarasoff says. “Because of this, our city remains one of the fastest growing in Canada and we have to plan for that.”

The 2019 Capital Budget – used for hard infrastructure projects preparing the city for continued growth – proposes $259.7 million in investments with a continued focus on roads, transit, water and wastewater distribution systems.

A total of $7.78 million in options aimed at achieving City Council’s 2018-2021 Strategic Priorities was presented to the Governance and Priorities Committee in August. The Preliminary Budget includes $2.6 million to be utilized for the implementation of a portion of these strategic initiatives, to be considered during City Council’s 2019 Business Plan and Budget Review. While other specific initiatives to be implemented for 2019 have yet to be finalized, City Council will be presented with a report and associated recommendations for consideration at their Budget Review.

The 2019 Operating Budget stays within City Council’s tax target by proposing a property tax increase of 4.5%. For a homeowner with an average assessed property value of $371,000, this equates to approximately $80 per year, or $7 a month.

Provincial law says cities must pass a balanced budget each year. A 4.5% property tax increase will generate enough money to balance the 2019 Budget, with a 1% increase in the property tax equal to $2.3 million. Here’s how the required property tax increase for 2019 was determined:

Operating expenses – Operating revenues = Revenue gap (property tax fills the gap)

As mentioned, for the 2019 Budget, the City will need a total of $20.6 million more to operate services at the levels citizens want. The operating revenues, or the money the City brings in, is subtracted, leaving the City with a revenue gap of $10.4 million.

This year, the 2019 Preliminary Business Plan and Budget Review is scheduled for November 26, 27 and 28 in City Council Chambers.

Full details on the investments the City has made in various programs, initiatives and projects through the 2019 Preliminary Budget are on the City’s website at saskatoon.ca/budget.

Saskatoon will have a city-wide curbside organics program for single-family households, which is expected to launch in 2020. City Council voted in favour of the initiative at its regular business meeting on Monday, October 22.

“This is an important step forward for our City, so we are pleased with Council’s decision,” says Dan Willems, Acting General Manager of Corporate Performance. “This is a very complex matter with many variables, so the decision to implement a city-wide organics program demonstrates City Council’s commitment to its strategic goal of Environmental Leadership.”

City Council also approved the recommendation for black and green bins to be collected bi-weekly once the organics program has rolled out, and that compost depots continue to operate at the current level of service. The decision on rates and whether garbage and organics will be funded through property taxes or by a new utility has been deferred until the next City Council meeting.

“These improvements to waste management will help us move closer to our 70% waste diversion goal, which would allow the City to avoid the need to plan for a new landfill, estimated at $120 million” says Willems.

The Administration will report back to City Council with more information on November 19, 2018.

The complete agenda from the October 22 City Council meeting can be found here.

For more information about the City’s waste diversion plan, visit saskatoon.ca/wastediversion.

The City will accept one of two gold Infrastructure awards at this year’s National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Public-Private Partnerships. The award, in recognition of the Bridging to Tomorrow project, will be presented by the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP) at the organization’s annual conference in Toronto on November 5, 2018.

“We are incredibly honoured to be receiving this award,” says Acting General Manager or Corporate Performance, Dan Willems. “Our entire team, including City employees, our Technical Advisory Team, and Graham Commuter Partners worked together to ensure that this project took into consideration the highest levels of safety, environmental preservation, and value to Saskatoon and area citizens.”

The project, which involved the construction of Chief Mistawasis Bridge and Traffic Bridge, was selected for breaking new ground in how P3 projects are built, financed or delivered, as well as the impact they have on boosting the economy, saving costs and creating more vibrant, inclusive communities.

Willems says not only did the Bridging to Tomorrow project deliver two new bridges and connecting roadways to improve traffic flow in some of the busiest areas of Saskatoon, but it also took into account the City’s cherished history and Indigenous roots.

“The Chief Mistawasis Bridge naming process signified an important step toward Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and the important role they played and continue to play in our community’s development,” Willems says.  “Additionally, the design of the Traffic Bridge was kept true to the original steel-truss structure, honouring the City’s history while providing a safe commuting route to motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.”

The City is grateful for its funding partnership with the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan to allow for the delivery of the Bridging to Tomorrow project which will benefit Saskatoon and area citizens for generations to come.

The Bridging to Tomorrow project is the largest infrastructure project ever delivered in the City and the first bundled transportation P3 in Canada. The new bridges and roadways opened to the public on October 2, 2018.