News Releases

NEW

MCKERCHER DR NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT COLLEGE DR
(Graffiti cleaning)
Start: April 30, 7:00 a.m. End: April 30, 8:30 a.m.

COLLEGE DR EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT MCKERCHER DR
(Graffiti cleaning)
Start: April 30, 8:30 a.m. End: April 30, 10:30 a.m.

8TH ST E WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT MELROSE AVE
(Hydrovacing)
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: April 30, 12:00 p.m.

DIEFENBAKER DR EB CLOSED AT VANIER CRES & PEARSON PL
(Storm lead repair)
2-way traffic in WB lanes
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: April 30, 6:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR/HWY 16 EB & WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED APPROACHING OVERPASS
(New bypass construction)
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: May 11, 5:00 p.m.

22ND ST W WB CLOSED FROM AVE J S TO AVE K S
(Water Connection Repair)
2-way traffic in EB between Avenue K & Avenue I
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: April 30, 6:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR NB TO 22ND ST OFF-RAMP MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED
(Crash cushion repair)
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: April 30, 6:00 p.m.

COLLEGE DR WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE APPROACHING CIRCLE DR
(Graffiti cleaning)
Start: April 30, 10:30 a.m. End: April 30, 12:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

NEW

MILLAR AVE SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 45TH ST E TO 43RD ST E
(Connection repairs)
Start: April 29, 8:00 a.m. End: April 29, 5:00 p.m.

22ND ST E WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING AVE P N
(Groundwater testing)
Ave P NB median (inside) lane closed north of 22nd St
Start: April 29, 9:00 a.m. End: April 29, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

CASH GRANTS AWARDED TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

A total of $10,000 is allocated through the City of Saskatoon 2015 Environmental Grant program to recognize local non-profit organizations implementing initiatives that support the City’s strategic goal of Environmental Leadership. To be eligible for the grant, activities must relate to protection of the environment; conservation of natural resources; and/or environmental communications, education and research.

Congratulations to the organizations that will receive funding in 2015:

Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre ($1,600): to increase the educational experience for visitors of the Garden Patch, by providing demonstrations of solar PV energy generation, water catchment techniques and home composting methods.

Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan ($1,400): to connect kids and agriculture through the Summer Garden Program which focuses on plants, gardening, healthy eating, and environmental stewardship.

South SK River Watershed Stewards ($1,400): to initiate awareness and monitoring programs for Aquatic Invasive Mussels in Saskatoon and the South Saskatchewan River watershed, with the ultimate goal of preventing the invasion of AIMs in the watershed.

Saskatoon Cycles ($1,400): to purchase bicycle racks and expand outreach to allow the Bike Valet to continue its commitment to providing an environmentally conscience option for Saskatoon festival attendees.

Saskatoon Farmers’ Market Co-operative ($1,400): to develop and deliver a pilot project to eliminate and/or divert waste for re-use, by working with the Market’s food service vendors to provide organic waste to local farmers as a soil amendment.

Saskatoon Jazz Festival ($1,400): to implement proper recycling, waste and water stations for attendees at the Friendship Park ‘Club Jazz’ venue of the 2015 Saskatoon Jazz Festival; the initiatives will be communicated through various marketing methods.

Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan ($1,400): to fund Wild about Saskatoon’s NatureCity Festival 2015, designed to encourage residents to appreciate and value wildlife and wild places in our urban landscape.

More information on the City of Saskatoon’s environmental initiatives can be found at Saskatoon.ca/ourenvironment.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

-30-

The City of Saskatoon (City) Urban Forestry and Public Works crews continue to inspect and follow up on reports of tree damage, as well as monitor catch basins and ponding water as a result of the heavy, wet snowfall over the weekend.

The Urban Forestry crews are focusing on locations where branches are blocking roadways and sidewalks or have the potential to cause injury or damage.  To report damage to City-owned trees that have fallen and are blocking roadways and sidewalks, residents are asked to call 306-975-2890. Callers should provide the adjacent address and a description of the issue in order for staff to prioritize responses.

Trees on private property are the responsibility of the property owner and brush that is cleared as a result of private trees obstructing public sidewalks or roadways will be left on the adjacent private property for the owner to clean up.  The City has two compost depots for residents to drop off non-elm branches, stumps, and tree trimmings for free:

• West – Highway 7 Compost Depot: Located at the junction of Highway 7 and 11^th Street and open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• East – Highway 5 Compost Depot:  Located off Highway 5 by the junction of Highway 41 and Zimmerman Road and open Thursday to Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 The following materials are NOT accepted at the compost depots:  elm wood, sawdust, lumber (treated and untreated), wood chips, mulch, building materials, or any other waste product.  In accordance with the Dutch Elm Disease Regulations, elm branches, limbs, logs, or stumps must be taken to the landfill for disposal.

 Public Works crews are working proactively to keep the water flowing into the storm sewer system, which can easily carry all of the flow resulting from any snowmelt.  Crews continue to monitor critical intersections, ditches, ponds, and culverts and are ready with equipment for emergency situations.

 Residents are asked to call Public Works Customer Service at 306-975-2476 to report gravel-filled utility cuts that require maintenance, hazardous potholes, or catch basins that are not draining.

 To view a video about spring melting conditions, visit www.saskatoon.ca and search “snow melt.”

 For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

NEW

BROADWAY AVE NB CLOSED FROM MAIN ST TO 10TH ST E
(Irrigation line repair)
Start: April 28, 9:00 a.m. End: April 28, 5:00 p.m.

MILLAR AVE NB CLOSED FROM 43RD ST TO 45TH ST
(Connection repair)
2-way traffic in SB lanes
Start: April 28, 9:00 a.m. End: April 28, 6:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT 36TH ST W
(Ground water testing)
Start: April 28, 9:00 a.m. End: April 28, 6:00 p.m.

ONGOING

11TH ST W CLOSED FROM HIGHWAY 7 TO CHAPPELL DR
(Road Patching)
Rolling closure on 11th Street
Start: April 27, 8:00 a.m. End: April 28, 6:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR/HWY 16 EB & WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED APPROACHING OVERPASS
(New bypass construction)
Start: April 27, 9:00 a.m. End: May 8, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

Beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 3 Saskatoon’s iconic University Bridge will close to the general public for repairs. The necessary four-month rehabilitation project will ensure the 100 year old bridge continues to serve commuters for many years to come.

“We know this project is going to have a significant impact on traffic flow in our City but we have done a lot of planning to try to minimize traffic disruption, for example, adjustments to traffic signals on detour routes, suggested alternate routes and advanced signage,” says Rob Frank, Engineering Manager for Asset Preservation. “The contractor will begin moving equipment into the area this week before starting work on Sunday. As we’ve been saying, we know this is a pain in the asphalt, however, this necessary work will ensure the safety and longevity of this important piece of infrastructure.”

The bridge will be closed to regular vehicle traffic for the entirety of the bridge rehabilitation project.  A single lane of traffic will remain open for emergency vehicles, Saskatoon Transit buses, Saskatoon Health Region authorized vehicles and school buses contracted by the Saskatoon School Boards only. A single walkway will also remain open at all times during construction. Non-authorized vehicles that attempt to use the bridge during the closure may be subject to a $90 fine.

Reroute Your Commute:

The following will be the most efficient routes from each quadrant of the City to cross the river during construction:

Northwest to the University – Use Circle Drive North Bridge > Preston Avenue
Northeast to Downtown – Use Circle Drive North Bridge > Warman Road
Southwest to the University – Use Circle Drive South Bridge > Circle Drive > College Drive
Southeast to Downtown – Use 8th Street or Circle Drive > Sid Buckwold Bridge

Traffic signals will be retimed to allow for a more efficient commute on 8th Street, 12th Street, Broadway Avenue, Idylwyld Freeway, 2nd Avenue, 4th Avenue, 25th Street, College Drive, Warman Road and Preston Avenue which will become busier as a result of the detours.

All Transit Routes and Access Transit Vehicles will operate as normal Monday to Friday. On weekends and holidays a shuttle bus will run every 15 minutes between the University of Saskatchewan, Place Riel Hub and the Downtown Terminal. More information is available at saskatoontransit.ca/bridge.

“There are many ways Saskatoon residents can help to minimize the impact including, taking the bus, carpooling, biking or walking,” says Frank. “It may also be an opportunity for employers to consider alternate work hours where possible, or coming up with options for ridesharing. If we work together we can ultimately reduce the traffic delays and allow for better movement of traffic in our city.”

The bridge is expected to reopen at the end of August. Visit saskatoon.ca/universitybridge for more information and for a look at the full Transportation Plan.

• On Saturday, nine sanders were on the road, applying salt and sand, as required.  Plows and contract graders joined them in the evening to keep the high-traffic streets clear until midnight when the snow appeared over.
• Another ten centimetres of snow fell early Sunday morning, and plows were out on Circle Drive, while contract graders attacked the other priority streets.
• The focus for Sunday is grading roads where melting snow is slower and trouble spots, such as busy intersections and corners, to keep roads in good winter driving condition.
• Street sweeping and pothole patching is currently on hold; watch for updated schedules.

•  2 speed plows on Circle Drive, pushing the slush of the centrelines and shoulders
• 1 belly plow – also sanding
• 4 PW graders on priority streets
• 12 contractor graders on priority streets.

• Saskatoon Light & Power and Parks crews are responding to reports of downed trees in power lines and other power line issues that are causing outages. 
• Power was restored in Queen Elizabeth, Holliston and City Park.
• Power Outage Service Alert Updates are available at saskatoon.ca-service-alert and on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert.
• Once the current issues are resolved, we do not anticipate further outages with the weather forecast.  Residents should call 306-975-2621 to report any downed lines or tree limbs in power lines.

• Reports of outages started this morning at 4:20 a.m. with the following affected: Avalon, Adelaide/Churchill, Nutana, Nutana Park, Holliston, Haultain, Mayfair, Westmount, Caswell Hill, Hudson Bay Park, Mount Royal, City Park and Queen Elizabeth.

• Heavy snow weighing down the power lines and broken trees were causing most of the outages. One line issue can affect parts of multiple neighbourhoods. 
• Crews were out working as quickly as possible to address each location, including tree trimming around lines.  Adelaide/ Churchill and Nutana Park were repaired and restored by 9 a.m.

• At approximately 4:40 p.m., 20 west-side neighbourhoods supplied by seven substations within the Saskatoon Light & Power service area experienced a power outage. 
• The outages affected traffic lights and many City operations and services, including the website and telephone servers, and the Saskatoon Landfill, which closed 15 minutes early at 5:15 p.m.
• Continuous timely updates were provided on the City’s Twitter and Facebook channels, which were shared by our followers in their networks, and used by news reporters for online and offline reporting to the general public.
• Three Saskatoon Light & Power crews worked as quickly as possible patrolling the lines in those areas to determine the cause.
• While the exact cause of the outages are not known, two weather-related incidents were discovered that may have overloaded the system, tripping the feed from the Queen Elizabeth Power Station that supplies the affected substations.  Heavy winds and frozen rain caused overhead lines along Preston Avenue to gallop (wave back & forth) and an insulator iced up at a separate location.
• These locations were isolated and repaired, and the substations were brought online beginning at 6:35, restoring power to the following neighbourhoods within 15 minutes: Central Industrial, City Park, Downtown, Holiday Park, Kelsey Woodlawn, King George, Meadowgreen, Montgomery, North Park, Pleasant Hill, Richmond Heights, Riversdale and Southwest Industrial.
• The Edmonton Avenue substation experienced a technical issue coming online, which delayed restoration until 7:30 p.m. for Airport Industrial, Caswell Hill, Hudson Bay Park, Mayfair, Mount Royal, Westmount and Westview.
• The website was online just after 9 p.m.; network system issues were resolved by 11 p.m. with access to Service Alerts for power and water outages.
• Later Saturday evening, another repair was required due to weather conditions, that required a substation to be restarted, resulting in a brief outage in Riversdale and parts Caswell Hill just before midnight.
• Without the website server, SL&P was unable to issue Power Outage Service Alerts, which are featured on the home page of the website and posted automatically on Twitter. 
• The City uses Service Alerts for timely notifications of unplanned service disruptions to Water, Power, Leisure Centres, Waste Collections, Landfill, Compost Depots, Road Restrictions, Street Sweeping schedules and Snow & Ice road maintenance. 
• The City’s mass notification system, NotifyNow, is currently only used for emergency situations to alert residents by geographical area where threats to life and safety exist.

• Buses are operating on Sunday reduced schedule, with no delays.
• Separately, issues are anticipated with the Online Trip Planner Sunday, April 26 only.  The following Route information may not display correctly for #1, 3-6, 17, 50, 60, 70 and 80. Passengers are asked to call our customer service centre at 306-975-3100 to confirm these routes (today only).

• While some facilities experienced power outages, no major interruptions were experienced.
• Facilities such as the Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater Treatment Plant have back-up systems in place to prevent interruptions.

• While we accumulated 8-12 inches of snow, once it melts it compares to 20-30 mm of rain.  Given the forecast for low temperatures Sunday and Monday, this is expected to melt slowly over the next two or three days.  Our storm sewer system is designed to take in more than this, so we don’t anticipate any flooding beyond some localized ponding at a few intersections.

NEW

11TH ST W CLOSED FROM HIGHWAY 7 TO CHAPPELL DR
(Road Patching)
Rolling closure on 11th Street
Start: April 27, 8:00 a.m. End: April 28, 6:00 p.m.

SPADINA CRES SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED UNDER UNIVERSITY BRIDGE
(Equipment setup)
Traffic maintained in all directions. University Bridge remains open.
Start: April 27, 9:00 a.m. End: April 27, 6:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR/HWY 16 EB & WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED APPROACHING OVERPASS
(New bypass construction)
Start: April 27, 9:00 a.m. End: May 8, 5:00 p.m.

DIEFENBAKER DR EB CLOSED FROM PEARSON PL TO VANIER CRES
(Storm lead repair)
2 way traffic in WB lanes
Start: April 27, 9:00 a.m. End: April 27, 6:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

NEW

SPADINA CRES E SB CLOSED FROM 25TH ST E TO 24TH ST E
(Temporary traffic light installation)
Start: April 25, 7:00 a.m. End: April 25, 10:00 a.m.

IDYLWYLD DR NB CLOSED BETWEEN 22ND ST & 23RD ST
(water valve repair)
Start: April 25, 8:00 a.m. End: April 26, 12:00 p.m.

22ND ST EB CLOSED BETWEEN IDYLWYD DR & 1ST AVE
(water valve repair)
Start: April 25, 8:00 a.m. End: April 26, 12:00 p.m.

NEW SUNDAY

25TH ST E EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM IDYLWYLD DR N TO CLARENCE AVE N
(Police Half Marathon)
Start: April 26, 7:00 a.m. End: April 26, 12:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD R NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN 51ST ST & 60TH ST
(Pole maintenance)
Start: April 26, 7.30 a.m. End: April 26, 9:00 a.m.

IDYLWYLD DR SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM ST GEORGE AVE TO CASCADE ST
(Street light maintenance)
Start: April 26, 8:00 a.m. End: April 26, 4:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN MARQUIS DR & 71ST ST
(Pole maintenance)
Start: April 26, 9.00 a.m. End: April 26, 10:30 a.m.

IDYLWYLD DR SB CURB LANE CLOSED APPROACHING HWY 16 EB ON RAMP
(Pole maintenance)
Start: April 26, 10.30 a.m. End: April 26, 12:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

Spring is a busy time of year for projects in the yard, garden, and around the home.  Contractors and homeowners with a property adjacent to a civic park may wish to use it as an access point for deliveries, equipment, or vehicles related to their projects.

The City of Saskatoon (City) would like to remind contractors and homeowners about the importance of gaining approval before accessing a park to ensure the safety and enjoyment of these spaces for everyone.

Before access may be granted, the contractor/homeowner is responsible for contacting the Parks Division to arrange an onsite meeting and completing a request for access permit.  If permission is granted to access the park, the contractor/homeowner is then responsible for:

• Immediately removing all litter or debris after the project is complete;
• Immediately repairing any damages to civic property at their expense and/or paying any expense incurred by the City to repair damages;
• Following restrictions identified in the approval process, including limitations for vehicle access when the turf is wet;
• Accepting liability for any potential injuries and for damages to public property; and
• Contacting the Parks Division immediately after the work is complete for an inspection and to close the permit.

For more information or to begin the approval process for your project, call 306-975-3300 or visit saskatoon.ca/parks.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

8.1.5 Process of Handling Barking Dog Complaints

City Council will be asked to:

*receive the report as information
*consider proposed amendments to the Animal Control Bylaw
*request Administration to review the number of afterhours animal complaints received by the Saskatoon Police Service and whether there is an opportunity to consider a change in the hours of operation of the Saskatoon Animal Control Agency to be able to be more responsive to handling barking dog complaint calls in the evening.

Additional Information:

*The City’s current process for handling nuisance barking complaints involves completion of both a five-day and seven-day barking log thereby establishing evidence of a nuisance prior to a ticket being issued.
*Warnings are currently utilized in every case, but their use is not mandated by bylaw.
*Citizens have raised concerns that the current process is onerous and lengthy.
*This report offers suggestions of ways to decrease the length of the process while maintaining the integrity of the evidence for prosecutions.

8.3.6 FlexParking Update

City Council will be asked to:

*receive the report as information

Additional Information:

*There has been positive customer feedback and use of the new parking system.
*Single-stall meters are being removed with the posts repurposed to sustain the “hooding” program.
*The new Parking Card is active and available for purchase.
*Development is underway for a parking smart phone application.

8.3.13 Red Light Camera (RLC) Update and Status of Traffic Reserve

City Council will be asked to:

*receive the report as information
*approve $100,000 for Pedestrian Upgrades and Enhanced Pedestrian Safety from the Traffic Safety Reserve

Additional Information:

*The collision history before and after the installation of RLCs has resulted in a reduction of right-angle collisions.
*Funding is being requested from the Traffic Safety Reserve to install four new enhanced pedestrian crossings to increase the level of safety for pedestrians.

9.6.1 Parcel YY, River Landing Phase 1 – Request for Consent of City to Transfer of Interest and Amendments to Memorandum of Sale

City Council will be asked to:

*Victory Majors has requested that the City allow Victory Majors to transfer a portion of its interest in Parcel YY, (River Landing Phase I) to River Landing GP Inc., which is a general partner of River Landing General Partnership.

Additional Information:

*The City is still in charge of regulatory control over development on the site.  The City has the authority under the Direct Control District approval process and architectural guidelines set out in the South Downtown Local Area Design Plan.
*The changes will amend the development from a hotel, residential, office and retail complex to one of a phased, mixed-use development, with the same general uses. That means it could have one or more office spaces with extra commercial spaces, a hotel development phase and then a residential phase. Each phase have underground parking.
*excavation for the first phase must be up to grade within 18 months; the previous agreement required the entire parcel to be excavated. The clock starts ticking when shovels go in the ground.

9.11.1 2016 Business Plan and Budget Process

City Council will be asked to:

*Reaffirm Council’s four-year priorities
*Approve the proposed performance measures
*Endorse the proposed process for the 2016 Business Plan and Budget

Additional Information:

*A public engagement component proposed so the people of Saskatoon have an opportunity to provide input into the 2016 Business Plan and Budget.
*Performance measures will be integrated into the 2016 Business Plan and Budget Process to provide an objective method to measure the City’s performance in achieving measurable results.
*The City of Saskatoon’s 2016 Business Plan and Budget will need to carefully balance the fiscal constraints facing the City and the expanding service demands of a growing city.
*In addition to the City of Saskatoon’s Strategic Plan, Council's priorities will provide direction and focus to the Administration in the preparation of the 2016 Business Plan and Budget.

NEW

MILLAR AVE CLOSED BETWEEN MARQUIS DR E & 68TH ST E
(Connection Repair)
Start: April 24, 9:00 a.m. End: April 24, 6:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon today announced the major road and infrastructure projects that will lead the 2015 construction season. This is the second year of an aggressive ongoing strategy to improve the condition, safety and longevity of Saskatoon’s road network.

“With the increased budget in 2014, significant progress was made but we know more work is required to ensure our public infrastructure meets the needs of residents,” says Mike Gutek, Director of Major Projects. “This year, approximately $26.9 million will be invested in road and sidewalk rehabilitation alone. This is $1.7 million more than last year and we expect residents will again see evidence of that investment.

In 2015, 196 lane kilometres of road will be rehabilitated, ranging from high traffic roads to residential streets. That’s the same distance as from here to Emma Lake, and augments the more than 200 kilometres of roadway rehabilitated last year.

Among the major roadway projects planned this year are the 22nd Street and Circle Drive interchange, Circle Drive eastbound lanes from 33rd Street to Avenue C, parts of Wanuskewin Road, Lorne Avenue, Taylor Street and 3rd Avenue Downtown.

Although road repairs will again be the centrepiece of efforts this year, significant investments will also be made in building and developing infrastructure for Saskatoon’s new neighbourhoods and in rehabilitating almost 14 kilometres of water, storm and sewer mains. Repairs will be made to the University Bridge as well as the Highway 11 & 16 Cloverleaf Bridge and streetscaping work will continue along 20th Street West. 

The City will focus on completing quality work, safely and efficiently, with the least disruption possible this construction season. Weekend and night work will continue to be considered on projects where it makes sense. These efficiencies will allow the work to be completed timely and effectively, while reducing the impact on road users, residents and businesses.

“As we head into another busy season of road work and traffic detours we’re appealing to drivers to slow down, pay attention and respect work zones,” says Gutek. “We care about the safety of our employees, and the travelling public.”

There are a number of tools available for residents to plan ahead and avoid traffic congestion. Visit saskatoon.ca/betterroads and check the Road Restrictions and Construction Projects map to plan your route around road work. You can also find traffic detour information on our website and by following us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE.

A full list of 2015 Road Preservation and Rehabilitation projects is also available at saskatoon.ca/betterroads.

NEW

CIRCLE DR E SB EXIT CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING 8TH ST
(Hydovacing)
Start: April 23, 8:00 a.m. End: April 23, 1:00 p.m.

24TH ST E CLOSED BETWEEN SPADINA CRES & 6TH AVE n
(Water main repair)
Start: April 23, 9:00 a.m. End: April 23, 6:00 p.m.

22ND ST W WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM AVE J N TO AVE K N
(Curb box repair)
Start: April 23, 9:00 a.m. End: April 23, 5:00 p.m.

1ST AVE SB CLOSED BETWEEN 42ND ST & CIRCLE DR CLOSED
(Traffic detector repairs)
Start: April 23, 9:30 a.m. End: April 23, 12:30 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The City is pleased to start its development of the first Active Transportation Plan (ATP) for one of the fastest growing communities in Canada.

“There is a growing need for improved options when it comes to how we move around our city,” says Don Cook, Manager of Long Range Planning.  “The Active Transportation Plan will help to meet this need, making active forms of transportation safe, convenient, and attractive choices for our residents.”

Active transportation includes any form of human-powered transportation for all ages and abilities such as walking, jogging, cycling, skateboarding, and persons using mobility aids.

The ATP is a component of the City’s Growth Plan to Half a Million. It will explore how Saskatoon’s current infrastructure and programs support active transportation.  It also seeks to identify how the accessibility and attractiveness of our city’s active transportation options can be improved. 

“Public input will be important throughout the development of the ATP,” Cook says. “All residents are invited to be a part of creating a ‘made in Saskatoon’ plan that will promote personal health and recreation, help manage congestion, reduce  greenhouse gas emissions and  support our city as it grows to half a million people  over the next 30 to 40 years.”

From now until May 29, 2015, the public is invited to share their vision for active transportation in Saskatoon by completing an interactive online survey at www.growingfwd.ca/activetransportation.

In addition to online engagement, a family-friendly public event will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2015, at the Amphitheatre II, River Landing – rain or shine!  All residents are encouraged to stop by the active transportation tent anytime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to learn more about the project.

Family-friendly Drop-in Discussions
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Amphitheatre II, River Landing (next to the Pump House and South of the Farmer’s Market at the end of Avenue A South)
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The ATP is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2016.

For more information on the ATP or to sign up for project update notifications, please visit www.growingfwd.ca/activetransportation.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours, and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

NEW

SPADINA CRES E SB CLOSED FROM 25TH ST E TO 24TH ST E
(Temporary traffic light base installation)
Start: April 22, 9:00 a.m. End: April 22, 12:00 p.m.

2ND AVE N SB CURB & MEDIAN LANES CLOSED APPROACHING 23RD ST
(Manohole Repair)
Start: April 22, 9:00 a.m. End: April 22, 12:00 p.m.

24TH ST CLOSED BETWEEN SPADINA CRES & 5TH AVE
(Water main repair)
Start: April 22, 9:00 a.m. End: April 22, 6:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The Water Treatment Plant is in the first stages of commissioning the biggest addition to the plant in more than 50 years. 

After two years of construction, city staff and Graham Construction have begun pre-commissioning of the new water reservoir, high lift pumping station, and Ultra-Violet treatment facility which is located at Avenue H and 11th Street.  This involves methodical testing and operation of numerous pipes, pumps, valves, controls, and monitoring sensors, both individually and as a system, which must integrate with existing plant infrastructure.  Extreme care is taken during this process, and the new infrastructure could be fully operational as early as May 30, 2015.

This infrastructure will further enhance the reliability and safety of the City’s drinking water system.  Saskatoon is one of the first cities in Canada to add ultraviolet to its treatment process to provide an additional barrier to the multi-barrier treatment process.

Many precautions and back-up systems are in place to prevent any adverse impacts to residents during commissioning.

A grand opening event with His Worship Mayor Donald Atchison, Councillors, and provincial and federal representatives from Canada-Saskatchewan Building Canada Fund will be held, with the date to be announced.  Public tours will be made available at that time as well.    

As commissioning proceeds, further PSAs will be issued at key milestones.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

NEW SUNDAY

WARMAN RD NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN 7TH AVE N AND CAVERS ST
(Sasktel manhole work)
Start: April 19, 8:00 a.m. End: April 19, 12:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

Pothole repairs are in full swing with crews using 195 tonnes of asphalt to repair the equivalent of approximately 11,000 potholes since hot-mix asphalt became available on April 8, 2015. This measurement is based on an average sized pothole with a 12” diameter and 4” depth.

“With the good weather we’ve been able to get out a week ahead of previous years to begin patching potholes with hot-mix asphalt,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works. “Crews are out 7-days a week inspecting and repairing potholes, but we can’t be everywhere at once. Residents can help us by using the enhanced Report-a-Pothole map to report locations.”

Since the new and improved Report-a-Pothole map was launched on April 2, 2015, 839 locations have been reported. New locations reported on the map are inspected each morning and are rated to determine priority. Pothole repairs are prioritized based on their size, depth, location within the roadway (driving lane, curb lane etc.), and the traffic volume on that street.

“Potholes that cause concern in the driving lanes of high traffic streets and potholes with the potential to cause damage are repaired first,” says Hyde. “This enables us to cover more area on the priority streets faster and we return at a later date to repair the remaining minor potholes.”

The Spring Pothole Blitz is currently focused along many of the same high-traffic streets as the Spring Street Sweeping Blitz programs at which point many of the potholes reported on the map will be addressed. View the schedule at saskatoon.ca/betterroads. Pothole repairs for all remaining streets will follow the Accelerated City Wide Neighbourhood Sweeping program due to begin in early May.

2015 Improvements:

• The standardized use of so called “hot boxes” instead of open-back trucks, to control the temperature of the hot-mix asphalt during patching, will result in better quality, longer lasting repairs.
• Improved work zone set ups including increased signage and protocols will ensure enhanced worker safety and clearer direction for drivers.

If the mild weather continues, we expect the frost to be completely out of the ground in the next few weeks at which point the following programs will begin:

• Inspectors will begin rating back lanes next week to determine the level of repairs required and the Back Lane Maintenance and Reconstruction will begin around June.
• Permanent repairs to Utility Cuts will begin early May. Utility Cuts are excavations required to connect, repair or maintain underground utilities. Cuts have straight edges and can range in size from one foot to more than 10 feet wide and are gravel filled. These are not considered potholes. Residents can view the status of these repairs on the Utility Cuts and Repair Schedule map.

For more information and the visit saskatoon.ca/betterroads.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

City of Saskatoon golf courses are ready to welcome golfers for another season.  Holiday Park and Silverwood Golf Courses will open this week, and follow Wildwood Golf Course, which opened Thursday, April 9, 2015.

Holiday Park (Phone:  306-975-3325; 1630 Avenue U South)
Friday, April 17: 12 p.m. (all holes)
 

Silverwood (Phone:  306-975-3314; 3503 Kinnear Avenue)
Thursday, April 16:  12 p.m.  (Front/Lake 9)
Saturday, April 18:  7 a.m. (Back/River 9)

Wildwood (Phone:  306-975-3320; 4050 8th Street East)
Opened April 9

Online tee time reservations are available for Holiday Park and Silverwood starting at 12 p.m., Thursday, April 16 at www.saskatoon.ca/golf.  Golfers are able to book 9 or 18 holes of play for groups of one to four players up to ten days in advance at any of the three municipal golf courses.  Online tee time reservations are not available for same day bookings.  Same day bookings can be completed by phone or in person.  A valid email address is required to make tee time reservations.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

Household hazardous waste requires proper disposal to reduce risks to humans and animals, and prevent pollution of our land, water and air. These materials should not be placed in your garbage or recycling bins, poured down the drain or toilet, or released into the environment.

To ensure household hazardous materials are safely disposed of or recycled, the City coordinates regular Household Hazardous Waste Days for residents to drop-off these materials. A temporary site will be set up at SaskTel Centre parking lot (101 - 3515 Thatcher Avenue) from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., on the following dates in 2015:

2015 Household Hazardous Waste Days:

• April 18
• May 23
• June 20
• July 4
• August 15
• September 19
• October 17
• November 21

For a complete list of materials accepted at HHW Days, please visit Saskatoon.ca/hazardouswaste. A number of items can also be returned to local retailers for convenient and safe disposal or recycling – for current opportunities in the community, please visit Saskwastereduction.ca.

Leftover paint and empty paint cans are accepted without charge at all SARCAN recycling depots in Saskatoon. Please do not bring paint to Household Hazardous Waste Days unless it is not accepted through the SARCAN program. A complete list of paint/paint products accepted at SARCAN locations can be found at www.sarcan.ca/pages/paint.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

- 30 –

As Saskatoon’s population and economy continues to expand and change, the City wants citizens to share more input and have a better idea about how we could manage the financial demands a growing community places on taxpayers.

“Growth is a natural outcome from a city with a great quality of life,” City Manager Murray Totland says. “To make sure the community continues to prosper and offer that same life quality, we need solid information to help us understand what it costs to run and grow Saskatoon now and for many years to come.”

At its next meeting, the Executive Committee of City Council will receive a series of comprehensive reports that provide key information and strategies on a renewed business plan and budget process.

Totland adds several factors or inputs contribute to the budget of which include a growing population, inflation, capital investments, Council priorities, performance targets, and public input.

Additionally, a portion of the information for Executive Committee is a study by Hemson Consulting which looked at the financial impact of growth, the costs, and benefits of different types of development.

With this knowledge, the City has developed a framework to improve the budget process.

“What we’re proposing is a process for more balanced and accountable budget planning,” CFO Kerry Tarasoff says.  “We want to make strides toward measuring successes, let people have their say about spending priorities and how to make wise investments for our future.”

The planning will be divided into five phases from March until December and will include new elements such as performance measures and greater public engagement.

“Most important is our proposal to open the doors of City Hall and ask our citizens for opinions on City projects and spending plans,” Tarasoff says.  “Planning the budget is more than reconciling a balance sheet; it’s about the process, and although the City’s process has been evolving and improving in the last five years, we’ve found it could be better around transparency, engagement and the technology we use.”

The Hemson study also looked into the issue of rising property taxes and provides some insights into the complexities of the cost of growth and what drives property tax increases: 

• Inflation
• Increased demand for new & replacement infrastructure
• Increased services
• Revenue not keeping pace with growth
• People outpacing property
• Residential property forms a greater share of revenue

“We’ve discovered that growth partially pays for growth, and that we also need to look at ways of adopting less reliance on property taxes as a primary revenue source,” Totland says.  “Right now Development levies do a good job of paying for the development within neighbourhoods and Hemson’s work suggests that there might be an opportunity to consider other ways to fund growth for those larger city wide services without solely relying on the property tax.” 

Budget deliberations are set for November 30 and December 1, 2015.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

-30-

NEW

QUEEN ST CLOSED AT 4TH AVE N
(Construction)
Start: April 16, 7:00 a.m. End: April 16, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN 71ST ST W & MARQUIS DR W
(Sign maintenance)
Start: April 16, 9:00 a.m. End: April 16, 10:30 a.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN 25TH ST E TO 24TH ST E
(Irrigation & sod installation)
Start: April 16, 9:00 a.m. End: April 16, 4:00 p.m.

33RD ST W EB LANES CLOSED AT AVE Y N INTERSECTION
(Water connection repair)
Two-way traffic in WB lanes.
Start: April 16, 9:00 a.m. End: April 16, 4:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

Saskatoon Transit has received an award from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), honoured with a Community Relations Excellence Award for the 2014 Transit Route Changes initiative.

“We’re thrilled to be recognized with this prestigious IABC Gold Quill Award,” says Saskatoon Transit Marketing Manager, Alysha Hille. “In 2014 we really focused on reaching our customers in the right way and making sure we were meeting their communications needs.”

In 2013, Saskatoon Transit heard from transit riders concerned they had not had the opportunity to provide input into the yearly review before transit route changes were implemented. In response, Saskatoon Transit introduced various engagement opportunities where transit riders had their say through face to face interaction, directly impacting the final proposal which was implemented in 2014.

“This process proved to be so successful that it has now become a standard customer consultation process,” says Trevor Bell, Acting Director of Saskatoon Transit. “We have shared this community relations initiative with transit organizations in other cities so that they too can integrate customer feedback into operational decisions.”

The Gold Quill Awards program recognizes business communication excellence globally, and is acknowledged as one of the most prestigious awards programs in the industry. Entries are evaluated against IABC’s standard of excellence, and the feedback from evaluators this year indicated that the standard of work in this year’s awards was some of the best seen in recent years.

ONGOING

WANUSKEWIN RD SB LANES CLOSED BETWEEN 71ST STREET AND MARQUIS DR
(SaskEnergy gasline work)
Detour via 71st St WB and Arthur Rose Ave. 71st St EB closed between Arthur Rose Ave and Wanuskewin Rd
Start: April 13, 9:30 a.m. End: April 17, 6:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

NEW

24TH ST CLOSED BETWEEN SPADINA CRES & AT 5TH AVE
(Water main repair)
Start: April 13, 9:00 a.m. End: April 13, 6:00 p.m.

WANUSKEWIN RD SB LANES CLOSED BETWEEN 71ST STREET AND MARQUIS DR
(SaskEnergy gasline work)
Detour via 71st St WB and Arthur Rose Ave. 71st St EB closed between Arthur Rose Ave and Wanuskewin Rd
Start: April 13, 9:30 a.m. End: April 17, 6:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon’s compost depots open on Monday, April 13 for the 2015 season, with a new east location and new hours of operation. The depots are free for residents of Saskatoon to help reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill by bringing their unbagged grass clippings, leaves, non-elm wood, sod, and yard waste to one of the depots:

• East Compost (Transfer) Depot at Highway 5 and Zimmerman Road; east of the former Sundown Drive-in
  • Open Thursday – Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Closed Tuesday and Wednesday)
• West Compost Depot at Highway 7 and 11th Street West
  • Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The depots accept tree and shrub material; however, due to the threat of Dutch Elm disease, elm wood is not accepted at the Compost Depots (fallen elm leaves are accepted). Elm branches, limbs, logs, or stumps may be disposed of at the Landfill located off Valley Road where regular tipping fees apply.

Important Information for Commercial Haulers
Commercial haulers are required to purchase and display an entry permit when visiting the compost depots. The registration fee for 2015, per business, is $200 for the first vehicle and $50 for each additional vehicle, payable at City Hall or saskatoon.ca/greencarts.  The East Compost Depot is a temporary transfer site that collects and transfers residential material to the west location for composting. For this reason, commercial dump trucks and tip trailers are not permitted. These commercial customers must haul directly to the West Compost Depot at Highway 7.  We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation.

The former east depot site was on McOrmond Drive and was closed after last season to accommodate development in the area. Learn more about the City’s composting programs, including the Green Cart residential collection program, at saskatoon.ca/composting.  For timely updates, watch for Compost Depot Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca and on Twitter with @YXEServiceAlert.

The City of Saskatoon (City) and Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) have together developed the first-ever publication of Saskatoon’s First Nation Community Profiles, now available to view and print at saskatoon.ca/regionalplanning under “Urban Reserves & Treaty Land Entitlement.”

“We hoped to create a document that would not only showcase the demographic story of First peoples in Saskatoon, but the economic story of First Nations and the contributions they are making to our city,” says Gilles Dorval, Director of Aboriginal Relations.

 The Profiles are the most recent joint initiative and include information regarding:

• Community highlights and opportunities;
• Historical information and location of each home reserve;
• Demographics, employment data (where available), and land holdings;
• Current and proposed business developments;
• Education and services; and
• Current governance and contact information.                                                                                                                                                                                    
  
  “In the spirit of innovation and making our community a better place to live, the City has worked with SREDA on a variety of initiatives,” says Director of Planning and Development, Alan Wallace.  “We want to help engage First Nations and the broader business community to promote economic opportunities and partnership.”

 Profiles were created for 11 First Nations who have land holdings and reserves within Saskatoon and region:

• Cowessess First Nation;
• English River First Nation;
• Little Pine First Nation;
• Mistawasis First Nation;
• Moosomin First Nation;
• Muskeg Lake Cree Nation;
• One Arrow First Nation;
• Red Pheasant Cree Nation;
• Saulteaux First Nation;
• Whitecap Dakota First Nation; and
• Yellow Quill First Nation.

 Profiles will be updated on an ongoing basis to reflect new economic, statistical, and governance information and additional Profiles will be created as new First Nation partners become involved in the Saskatoon region.

 For more information call the City’s Planning and Development Division at 306‑657‑8681.

 For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

The waterslide in the leisure swimming pool at Lakewood Civic Centre is now up and running, and ready for the public to enjoy! 

The waterslide had been closed for repairs for several months as a result of ground movement issues in the mechanical crawlspace affecting the pump that supplies water to the slide.  All necessary repairs have now been completed.

The City of Saskatoon sincerely thanks the public for their patience and understanding, and would like to invite everyone to enjoy free access to celebrate the reopening of the waterslide on Saturday, April 11, from 1 to 5 p.m.  During this time, no admission fee will be required to public swim, access the fitness or weight rooms, or take part in drop-in basketball.

For more information, call Lakewood Civic Centre at 306-975-2944 or visit www.saskatoon.ca/lakewood.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

NEW

WANUSKEWIN RD SB LANES CLOSED BETWEEN 71ST STREET AND MARQUIS DR
(SaskEnergy gasline work)
Detour via 71st St WB and Arthur Rose Ave. 71st St EB closed between Arthur Rose Ave and Wanuskewin Rd
Start: April 10, 9:30 a.m. End: April 10, 11:30 a.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The Spring Street Sweeping Blitz programs and the Pothole Blitz program will begin on Monday April 13.  These programs are designed to address the high-traffic (priority) streets over a three week period. The Priority 1 streets will be swept at night to enhance public and crew safety and reduce the impact for drivers.  The Priority 2 streets will be swept during the daytime hours.

“With warmer weather finally here, we want to get out there and clean things up as quickly as possible,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works. “Less sand and debris on the priority streets as a result of the improved winter de-icing and snow removal programs will contribute to the success of the spring clean-up programs.”

The Spring Sweeping Blitz is designed to collect the bulk of the debris left behind over winter and benefits the Accelerated City Wide Neighbourhood Sweeping program by making it more efficient and cost effective. The Blitz will also remove sand and debris from medians where snow was stored. There will be no parking enforcement applied during the Blitz programs.  Sweepers will go around parked vehicles.

2015 Improvements:

• When weather permitted, crews were out as early as March 30, pre-sweeping many high-traffic streets in advance of the Blitz.
• A new coordinated approach to first sweeping medians and boulevards on high-priority streets will be more efficient and reduce traffic impact.

Once the Blitz sweep programs are complete, the Accelerated City-Wide Neighbourhood Sweeping begins and will continue for approximately six weeks, weather dependant.  Should the Blitz sweep programs progress as scheduled the City Wide program is expected to start on May 4.  During the City-Wide program parking enforcement will be applied in order to allow for a full curb-to-curb sweep.  Further information will be provided closer to the program start date.

The Spring Pothole Blitz will be focused along many of the same high-traffic streets as the Spring Street Sweeping Blitz programs. Pothole repairs for all remaining streets will also continue throughout the Accelerated City Wide Neighbourhood Sweeping program. Hot-mix asphalt is now available and is being used to repair potholes. Residents are encouraged to report locations with the online Report-a-Pothole map or call Public Works Customer Service at 306-975-2476.

The Spring Sweeping Blitz Schedule is available at saskatoon.ca/betterroads. Stay tuned for the Accelerated City-Wide Neighbourhood Sweeping Schedules to be posted soon.

The City of Saskatoon’s Wildwood Golf Course and Holiday Park and Silverwood Driving Ranges are now open for the season.  Holiday Park and Silverwood Courses are being targeted to open late next week, and updates on the scheduled opening dates will be posted at www.saskatoon.ca/golf.

Holiday Park (Phone:  306-975-3325; 1630 Avenue U South)

Silverwood (Phone:  306-975-3314; 3503 Kinnear Avenue)

Wildwood (Phone:  306-975-3320; 4050 8th Street East)

Online tee time reservations are available during the season at www.saskatoon.ca/golf.  Golfers are able to book 9 or 18 holes of play for groups of one to four players up to ten days in advance at any of the three municipal golf courses.  Online tee time reservations are not available for same day bookings.  Same day bookings can be completed by phone or in person.  A valid email address is required to make tee time reservations.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

For the second year in a row, the City’s Housing Business Plan has exceeded the targets set by City Council.  The plan supported the creation of 542 new attainable units in 2014.

“Adequate housing is an important part of the City’s Strategic Plan adding to the quality of life for all residents,” says Director of Planning and Development, Alan Wallace.  “It enables young people and newcomers to put down roots and contribute to the growth of our city.”

 The recently released Annual Report on the 2013 – 2022 Housing Business Plan shows the City has slightly exceeded the target for each of the five housing types identified in the plan, with the exception of affordable ownership housing; that target is expected to be met and surpassed this year: 

            Targets and Results Achieved in 2014

 While the plan has helped make improvements throughout 2014, the cost and supply of attainable housing in Saskatoon continued to be a challenge for some low- and moderate-income earners.  The average price of a Saskatoon home was $356,476, and the monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment averaged $1,093.

 “A priority of the City’s Housing Business Plan is to create attainable housing in all areas of the city,” Wallace says.  “In 2014, 82% of the newly created attainable units were located on the east side, including the first purpose-built rental units in the new Evergreen neighbourhood.  These new units are providing attainable housing options in some of Saskatoon’s more expensive neighbourhoods.”

 Approved by City Council in June 2013, the Housing Business Plan contains a variety of incentives and initiatives, which support the creation of attainable housing units across the housing continuum:  from emergency shelters to home ownership units for first-time buyers.

 For more information on the Housing Business Plan and the work the City is doing in this area, visit www.saskatoon.ca/housing or call 306-975-3340.

 For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

Beginning Monday, April 13, 2015, the Landfill will be operating on summer hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week.  Summer hours are in effect until mid-October.

The Landfill is located off of Valley Road, south of 11th Street and accessible by residents and commercial customers.  Our entrance fee remains at $10 per vehicle per visit this year; however, some changes to other disposal fees are available on our website.

Advise the scale attendant if you are bringing in recyclables, as some materials can be recycled for free.  Please follow all signs and/or instructions from Landfill staff.

For more information about the Landfill, including service alerts, and the City’s Waste and Recycling programs, visit saskatoon.ca/garbage.  

New this year, weekly collection of residential Black Carts begins May 4, one month later than previous years. 

Black Carts will continue to be collected every two weeks through April, as shown in the Waste and Recycling Calendar available at saskatoon.ca/collectioncalendar and the print calendar that was mailed to each household in January. 

Reduce your household garbage by recycling all your paper and packaging in your Blue Cart and consider subscribing for a Green Cart for un-bagged leaves, grass clippings and garden waste.  Residents can also take yard waste to the City’s compost depots free of charge, beginning April 13.

Sign up online for e-mail or phone reminders to never miss a Blue and Black Cart collection date at saskatoon.ca/collectioncalendar.    

NEW

3RD AVE S NB CLOSED FROM 21ST ST E TO 22ND ST E
(Transformer Installation)
Start: April 7, 6:30 p.m. End: April 7, 8:30 p.m.

3RD AVE N NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 24TH ST E TO 25TH ST E
(Transformer Installation)
Start: April 7, 8:00 p.m. End: April 7, 10:30 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

As warmer temperatures near, the City of Saskatoon (City) reminds visitors to the Woodlawn Cemetery of the guidelines for gravesite memorials, which are intended to maintain a pleasant environment and respect the final resting place of loved ones.

Only approved monuments or memorials are considered permanent items and are permitted to remain in the cemetery year-round.  All other items placed on a gravesite, flowerbed, monument, or concrete foundation are considered temporary and need to be removed weekly.  Flowers and other items are permitted on the gravesite the day of the burial and will be left for a period of seven calendar days.  After this time period, items will be removed by the City.  Please note, the City does not take responsibility for any removed, damaged, or missing items placed in the cemetery by the public.

From May 1 to October 15:

• Families may establish a flowerbed at the gravesite (with the exception of Military burials in the “Field of Honour” and flat marker areas) upon approval from the Cemetery Office.  Annual flowers are allowed, provided they do not hang over the edge of the flowerbed or impede maintenance of adjacent gravesites.
• Items not allowed within flowerbeds include shrubs, perennials, decorative fencing, rocks, stones, concrete, and breakable or fragile items.
• The City assumes no responsibility for the appearance, maintenance, and fall cleanup of approved flowerbeds planted by the public.  If flowerbeds are neglected, they will be removed.

The Cemetery Office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding statutory holidays.  All inquiries should be directed to the Cemetery Office at 306-975-3308.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

The City has launched the Building Better Roads plan for 2015. This is the second year of a three year strategy to dramatically improve the condition, safety and longevity of Saskatoon’s road network.

“Despite the significant gains we made in 2014, we recognize that more work is required to ensure that our public infrastructure meets the needs of residents,” says Angela Gardiner, Acting General Manager of Transportation and Utilities. “We are heading into another busy season of road work that will rival 2014 in terms of the number of work zones and traffic detours. We expect residents will again see a noticeable difference in the condition of our roads.”

In 2015, more than $53 million will be spent on Saskatoon roads, including street sweeping, pothole patching, sidewalk rehabilitation, back lane upgrades, road construction and repair, as well as snow and ice management. In 2014, $50 million was invested, 47 per cent more than in 2013. This investment into roads demonstrates the commitment to improving roads as residents have again identified road conditions as the single most important issue facing Saskatoon, according to the annual Civic Services Satisfaction Survey.

“Last year we used more efficient ways to complete the road repair work to minimize the amount of time high-traffic roads were closed for construction, such as evening work and 24 hour work,” says Gardiner. “The 2015 construction season will continue to see these efficiencies to allow the work to be completed timely and effectively, while reducing the impact to drivers, residents and businesses.”

We are also pleased to launch our upgraded Report a Pothole map allowing residents to report potholes online. The enhanced version allows residents to include more descriptions that will help crews locate and repair potholes more quickly and efficiently. It is available for use on desktop browser, mobile phone or tablet device. Residents can find the tool on saskatoon.ca under Popular Services for Residents. Residents should continue to report emergency potholes to Public Works Customer Service at 306-975-2476.

Crews have already been repairing larger potholes on priority streets since the snow melted and will continue full force into the spring and summer. Pre-sweeping programs on priority streets have also begun with Downtown already complete. For more information and schedules throughout the season visit saskatoon.ca/betterroads.

The City has again been selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2015.  The award was announced in a special editorial supplement in Tuesday’s edition of the Globe and Mail and online at http://www.canadastop100.com/diversity/.

"Once again the City of Saskatoon remains one of Saskatchewan’s Top Diversity Employers because of our dedication to developing a workforce that better reflects our community,” City Manager, Murray Totland.  “In particular, the City was recognized for developing partnerships and programs with Aboriginal organizations to assist in enhancing economic, employment and training opportunities which is a strategic priority for us”.

The selection was based on information from the City’s application to this year's Canada's Top 100 Employers project along with independent workplace research.  A detailed outline appears in the City’s Employer Review on Eluta.ca – a source used by more than five million job-seekers in Canada every year.

The recognition also notes the City maintains a social diversity group which is comprised of race relations, Aboriginal relations and diversity programming staff to provide training and educational workshops on topics, such as, religious accommodation, intercultural awareness, cultural competence, Aboriginal awareness and cultural bridging, to help employees better understand issues faced by newcomers.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

NEW

CIRCLE DR E SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT 8TH ST E
(crash cushion repair)
Start: April 1, 9:00 a.m. End: April 1, 1:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR W NB/EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED AT 33RD ST W
(crash cushion repair)
Start: April 1, 1:00 p.m. End: April 1, 6:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The following are the hours of civic services and facilities for Easter weekend, Good Friday, April 3 through Easter Monday, April 6:

City Hall will be closed and will reopen on Tuesday, April 7.

Parking meters will not require payment on Friday, April 3 and Sunday, April 5.  Motorists are required to move their vehicles within the time period shown on parking meters, allowing for a constant turnover of parking availability.  Parking meters will require payment on Saturday, April 4 and Monday, April 6.

The Municipal Impound Lot will not be releasing vehicles to the public on Friday, April 3 but will be open Saturday, April 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with regular operations on Monday, April 6.

All locations of Saskatoon Public Library will be closed on April 3, 4, and 5.

The Saskatoon Landfill will be open every day throughout the Easter weekend with regular winter hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Garbage and Recycling collection will take place as scheduled.

The Mendel Art Gallery and Saskatoon Civic Conservatory are open every day, 364 days a year, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

TRANSIT SERVICES FOR EASTER WEEKEND

Transit service will operate as follows:
April 3: Sunday/Holiday service
April 4 and 5: Regular weekend service
April 6: Regular weekday service

Access Transit service will operate as follows (normal booking procedures apply):
April 3: Holiday service from 8:15 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
April 4 and 5: Regular weekend service
April 6: Holiday service from 8:15 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

RECREATION & SPORT FOR EASTER WEEKEND

Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo will be open daily.
Forestry Farm Park hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Zoo hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Admission charges in effect

LEISURE CENTRES HOURS FOR EASTER WEEKEND

Saskatoon Field House
April 3: CLOSED
April 4 to 6: Regular hours

Cosmo Civic Centre
April 3: CLOSED
April 4 to 5: Regular hours
April 6: CLOSED                                                                            

Lakewood Civic Centre
April 3: CLOSED
April 4 to 6: Regular hours

Lawson Civic Centre
April 3: CLOSED
April 4 to 6: Regular hours

Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre
April 3: CLOSED
April 4 to 6: Regular hours

Shaw Centre
April 3: CLOSED
April 4 to 6: Regular hours

Fitness Circuit & Terry Fox Track (in the SaskTel Sports Centre)
April 3 to 5: CLOSED
April 6: Regular hours

For modified Lane, Public and Parent & Tot Swim times, please visit Drop-in Online at www.saskatoon.ca/dropinonline.  For more information on operating hours and programs, please contact the Leisure Centres or facilities.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

For Immediate Release:  March 31, 2015
CP15-105

The following are the hours of civic services and facilities for Easter weekend, Good Friday, April 3 through Easter Monday, April 6:

City Hall will be closed and will reopen on Tuesday, April 7.

Parking meters will not require payment on Friday, April 3 and Sunday, April 5.  Motorists are required to move their vehicles within the time period shown on parking meters, allowing for a constant turnover of parking availability.  Parking meters will require payment on Saturday, April 4 and Monday, April 6.

The Municipal Impound Lot will not be releasing vehicles to the public on Friday, April 3 but will be open Saturday, April 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with regular operations on Monday, April 6.

All locations of Saskatoon Public Library will be closed on April 3, 4, and 5.

The Saskatoon Landfill will be open every day throughout the Easter weekend with regular winter hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Garbage and Recycling collection will take place as scheduled.

The Mendel Art Gallery and Saskatoon Civic Conservatory are open every day, 364 days a year, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

TRANSIT SERVICES FOR EASTER WEEKEND

Transit service will operate as follows:
April 3: Sunday/Holiday service
April 4 and 5: Regular weekend service
April 6: Regular weekday service

Access Transit service will operate as follows (normal booking procedures apply):
April 3: Holiday service from 8:15 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
April 4 and 5: Regular weekend service
April 6: Holiday service from 8:15 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

RECREATION & SPORT FOR EASTER WEEKEND

Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo will be open daily.
Forestry Farm Park hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Zoo hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Admission charges in effect

LEISURE CENTRES HOURS FOR EASTER WEEKEND

Saskatoon Field House
April 3: CLOSED
April 4 to 6: Regular hours

Cosmo Civic Centre
April 3: CLOSED
April 4 to 5: Regular hours
April 6: CLOSED                                                                            

Lakewood Civic Centre
April 3: CLOSED
April 4 to 6: Regular hours

Lawson Civic Centre
April 3: CLOSED
April 4 to 6: Regular hours

Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre
April 3: CLOSED
April 4 to 6: Regular hours

Shaw Centre
April 3: CLOSED
April 4 to 6: Regular hours

Fitness Circuit & Terry Fox Track (in the SaskTel Sports Centre)
April 3 to 5: CLOSED
April 6: Regular hours

For modified Lane, Public and Parent & Tot Swim times, please visit Drop-in Online at www.saskatoon.ca/dropinonline.  For more information on operating hours and programs, please contact the Leisure Centres or facilities.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

The waterslide in the leisure swimming pool at Lakewood Civic Centre is now up and running, and ready for the public to enjoy! 

The waterslide had been closed for repairs for several months as a result of ground movement issues in the mechanical crawlspace affecting the pump that supplies water to the slide.  All necessary repairs have now been completed.

The City of Saskatoon sincerely thanks the public for their patience and understanding, and would like to invite everyone to enjoy free access to celebrate the reopening of the waterslide on Saturday, April 11, from 1 to 5 p.m.  During this time, no admission fee will be required to public swim, access the fitness or weight rooms, or take part in drop-in basketball.

For more information, call Lakewood Civic Centre at 306-975-2944 or visit www.saskatoon.ca/lakewood.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

- 30 -

NEW

22ND ST E EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 1ST AVE S TO 2ND AVE S
(Sign repair)
Start: March 31, 9:00 a.m. End: March 31, 1:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon (City) invites the public to an open house to view and comment on the proposed North Sector Plan, which will include Saskatoon’s future north industrial growth and employment area.

 The North Sector Plan will create a vision to facilitate economic development opportunities by expanding the north industrial growth and employment area.  In the future, the area will generate new employment possibilities; accommodate fully-serviced industrial, commercial, and business park developments; and potentially include provision for new recreation facilities.

 OPEN HOUSE:  North Sector Plan
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – “Come and Go”
Bishop James Mahoney High School (Cafeteria)
231 Primrose Drive

 Presentation panels illustrating the proposed North Sector Plan vision will be shown and civic staff will be available to answer questions.  Feedback from the open house will be collected and considered in the development of the final North Sector Plan.

 If you are unable to attend the open house, please visit www.shapingsaskatoon.ca to review meeting information after the open house.  If you have questions or wish to provide comments, please call the City’s Planning and Development Division at 306‑975-7946 or email city.planning@saskatoon.ca.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

NEW SATURDAY

8TH ST E EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM MCKINNON AVE S TO WIGGINS AVE S
(Tree pruning)
Start: March 28, 8:00 a.m. End: March 29, 3:00 p.m.

NEW SUNDAY

SPADINA CRES NB LANES CLOSED BETWEEN 24TH ST & UNIVERSITY BRIDGE
(Light pole repairs)
Start: March 29, 7:30 a.m. End: March 29, 9:00 a.m.

14TH ST ON RAMP TO CIRCLE DR NB CLOSED
(Street light repairs)
Start: March 29, 7:30 a.m. End: March 29, 9:30 a.m.

SPADINA CRES CLOSED BETWEEN DUKE ST & QUEEN ST
(Street light repairs)
Start: March 29, 7:30 a.m. End: March 29, 11:00 a.m.

IDYLWYLD DR SB CENTER & CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT MARQUIS DR
(Light pole repairs)
Start: March 29, 9:00 a.m. End: March 29, 10:00 a.m.

CIRCLE DR SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LAN CLOSED APPROACHING CIRCLE DR WB
(Street light repairs)
Start: March 29, 10:00 a.m. End: March 29, 11:30 a.m.

CIRCLE DR WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT WARMAN RD
(Street light repairs)
Start: March 29, 10:30 a.m. End: March 29, 12:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

McOrmond Dog Park will be closed for the day on Friday, March 27, to allow construction crews working on the upcoming Brighton neighbourhood access to the site.   The Park will re-open on Saturday, March 28.

Southwest Dog Park has now re-opened for use.

Continue to enjoy Dog Park access at the following six Parks:

1. Avalon – Broadway Avenue, south of Glasgow Street
2. Caswell – Avenue F North or Avenue G North, south of 32^nd Street
3. Hampton Village – North of 33^rd Street, along Junor Avenue
4. Silverwood – Adjacent to the northeast edges of Silverwood Golf Course
5. Southwest – North of Cedar Villa Road
6. Sutherland Beach – Accessed via grid road, with entry off of Central Avenue

For more information on Dog Parks, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/dogparks.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

Spring is officially here and with that, the City of Saskatoon’s winter road maintenance season is coming to a close. Crews worked 24/7 sanding, salting, grading, plowing and removing snow from streets to keep drivers moving. Crews will continue to respond if it snows in the coming weeks.

“We are always at the mercy of Mother Nature, but with the introduction of new pilot programs, improved services and greater efficiencies, our high-traffic roads have been in the best winter condition we’ve seen,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works. “Crews have dealt with six snow events this winter, where more than 5 cm of snow fell, and on each occasion priority streets were graded, at least once well within the targeted timeframe for each event.”

The City’s goal is to grade Priority 1 streets within 12 hours after a snowstorm ends, Priority 2 streets within 36 hours, and Priority 3 streets within 72 hours. This past winter, as a result of new maintenance area configuration, the average was 65 hours for grading all priority streets after a snow event.

Winter road maintenance results:

• More than 13,000 tandem truckloads of snow removed
• More than 25,000 tonnes of sand applied
• More than 120 tonnes of cold mix asphalt used to temporarily repair potholes
• 52 water main breaks were repaired restoring services for residents

New Programs:

The City initiated two pilot programs this winter to improve driving conditions on high-traffic roads.

The new de-icing product called Caliber M1000 was tested to soften and break the ice bond on priority streets; it was used at temperatures below -14 where salt is no longer effective. This reduced the amount of sand needed to be applied by 28% resulting in approximately $250,000 in savings. This will also result in less overall material to clean up as part of the spring street sweeping program.

Initial results of the pre-wetting pilot program, where sand is sprayed with a liquid chemical de-icer before being applied to the road, were also positive. The wet heavy sand adheres better to the road and provides enhanced traction for vehicles.

Other improvements:

• The 18-vehicle snow train was activated to remove collected snow along the edges of Circle Drive, bridges and overpasses. This was performed after every snow event and kept the barriers and guardrails clear of snow build up.
• Snow piles were removed from school zones more frequently and removal areas were expanded to reduce traffic congestion and enhance student safety at student pick-up and drop-off locations.  As a further measure of student safety awareness these operations were performed during off school hours at night and weekends.
• The use of private contractors for snow grading was expanded to be more efficient and cost-effective.  Along with an improved deployment of City crews these were directly applicable to the time savings for meeting 72 hour goal.
• An additional snow storage site was added in the southeast quadrant of the city to increase the number of sites to four.  All sites were open to the public and snow hauling contractors. 
• Snow grading was enhanced in the Business Improvement Districts and industrial areas improving access to businesses.

“This is just the start of better winter roads in Saskatoon. We will continue to build on this year’s progress into the future,” says Hyde. “While our focus shifts towards our spring street sweeping and pothole patching programs, we are mindful that the last snowfall typically occurs in April and has been known to happen as late as May. Crews will be ready for whatever comes our way.”

For more information about the City’s Snow & Ice programs visit saskatoon.ca/snow. Stay tuned for street sweeping and pothole patching updates and schedules at saskatoon.ca/betterroads.

The City of Saskatoon (City) reminds residents that the provincial ban on pruning elm trees will be in effect between April 1 and August 31, 2015.

The ban ensures that elm bark beetles, which transmit dutch elm disease (DED), are not attracted to the freshly pruned trees when these beetles are most active.  Anyone wishing to prune elm trees during the ban must obtain a permit.  Please call City of Saskatoon Parks Division at 306-975-3300 for information.

DED was first discovered in Saskatchewan in 1981 and continues to be found in more areas of the province every year.  DED is caused by a fungus that clogs the tree’s water conducting system, which eventually causes the tree to die, usually within one or two seasons.  Early symptoms of the disease usually appear by July when the leaves on one or more branches wilt, curl, turn yellow, and then die.

The only effective management strategy for the elm bark beetle is to deprive it of its breeding habitat.  This involves keeping elm trees healthy by removing potential breeding material in trees and eliminating detached elm wood.  For this reason, it is necessary to dispose, or render un-inhabitable, elm stumps and remove any fallen branches or any wood from a fallen elm tree.  Under no circumstances should elm wood be left lying around, stored for firewood, or other purposes.

Elm removal can occur at any time of the year; however, the entire tree must be removed and all waste elm be transported to the nearest approved landfill site in the municipality where the elm was removed.  In Saskatoon, the Saskatoon Landfill is the only site approved for elm tree disposal.

It is estimated that Saskatoon’s 25,000 boulevard and park elm trees are worth approximately $45 million, and many more are located on private property.  While Saskatoon does not have the disease, effective DED management requires everyones support.  Anyone suspecting an elm is unhealthy is asked to please contact the City at 306-975-2890.

For more information, visit www.saskatoon.ca/trees.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon (City) invites the public to an open house to view and comment on the proposed North Sector Plan, which will include Saskatoon’s future north industrial growth and employment area.

 The North Sector Plan will create a vision to facilitate economic development opportunities by expanding the north industrial growth and employment area.  In the future, the area will generate new employment possibilities; accommodate fully-serviced industrial, commercial, and business park developments; and potentially include provision for new recreation facilities.

OPEN HOUSE:  North Sector Plan
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – “Come and Go”
Bishop James Mahoney High School (Cafeteria)
231 Primrose Drive

Presentation panels illustrating the proposed North Sector Plan vision will be shown and civic staff will be available to answer questions.  Feedback from the open house will be collected and considered in the development of the final North Sector Plan.

If you are unable to attend the open house, please visit www.shapingsaskatoon.ca to review meeting information after the open house.  If you have questions or wish to provide comments, please call the City’s Planning and Development Division at 306‑975-7946 or email city.planning@saskatoon.ca.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.