News Releases

The City will soon be saving energy and reducing operational costs at two major civic facilities.  City Council approved plans for two combined heat and power (CHP) projects in December 2013 and with funding support from partners, natural gas fuelled CHP units will be installed at Lakewood Civic Centre and the Shaw Centre.

“These installations help demonstrate our commitment to environmental leadership through the use of more energy-efficient practices in City buildings,” says Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental and Corporate Initiatives.  “The project also helps ensure that existing leisure centres remain financially efficient and services can be provided more reliably.  We are extremely pleased to participate in partnership to leverage funding from other sources.  This contributes to ensuring the long-term sustainability of community assets.”

The units, which will be integrated into the existing electrical and heating systems, produce electricity and recover waste heat to be used inside a building.  The technology also offers a cleaner energy source that can reduce utility costs and provide backup electricity and heating in the event of a power outage or equipment failure.  Between the two facilities, greenhouse gas emission will be reduced by 915 tonnes, which is equal to removing 180 cars from Saskatoon roads each year.

The total cost of the project is $1.3 million.  Almost half of that amount, $600,000, is funded through Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) as a result of a successful proposal submitted in response to a request for proposals to the Market Development Incentive Payments (MDIP) Fund and the Clean Energy Fund (the Program).  Through this Program, NRCan provides up to 50% matching funding for eligible costs for projects which identify innovative applications for natural gas and make greater use of technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

SaskEnergy, a supporter of combined heat and power technology, also contributed $325,000 to the project.  The City will contribute $375,000 towards the implementation of the project.

Earlier this year, City Council approved the award of a contract to Calgary-based Power EcoSystems to design, supply, build and maintain the project, the value of which was $1,116,000.

“There are other civic buildings that could benefit from moving to combined heat and power technology.  After measuring the benefits of these installations, the business case for other civic facilities could be reviewed,” says Wallace.

Installation and commissioning of the units will be completed by early 2015 with ongoing monitoring and reporting being conducted until the completion of the project in fall of 2016.

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.

CIVIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES FOR EASTER WEEKEND

The following are the hours of civic services and facilities for Easter weekend, Friday, April18 through Monday, April 21:

City Hall will be closed.

Parking meters will not require payment on Friday, April 18 and Sunday, April 20.  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 19 and Monday, April 21.

The Municipal Impound Lot will not be releasing vehicles to the public on Friday, April 18 but will be open Saturday, April 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with regular operations on Monday, April 21.

All locations of the Saskatoon Public Library will be closed on April 18, 20, and 21.

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

The Compost Depots will be open every day throughout the Easter weekend with regular hours of 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 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.  Admission is free.

TRANSIT SERVICES FOR EASTER WEEKEND

Transit service will operate as follows:
April 18: Sunday/Holiday service
April 19 and 20: Regular weekend service
April 21: Regular weekday service

Access Transit service will operate as follows (normal booking procedures apply):
April 18: Holiday service from 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 p.m.
April 19 and 20: Regular weekend service
April 21: Holiday service from 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 p.m.

LEISURE SERVICES FOR EASTER WEEKEND

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

LEISURE CENTRES HOURS FOR EASTER WEEKEND

Saskatoon Field House
April 18: CLOSED
April 19 to 21: Regular hours

Cosmo Civic Centre
April 18: CLOSED
April 19 to 20: Regular hours
April 21: CLOSED

Lakewood Civic Centre
April 18: CLOSED
April 19 to 21: Regular hours

Lawson Civic Centre
April 18: CLOSED
April 19 to 21: Regular hours

Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre
April 18: CLOSED
April 19 to 21: Regular hours

Shaw Centre
April 18: CLOSED
April 19 to 21: Regular hours

Fitness Circuit & Terry Fox Track (in the SaskTel Sports Centre)
April 18 to 20: CLOSED
April 21: Regular hours

For modified Lane, Public and Parent & Tot Swim times, please visit Drop-in Online at www.saskatoon.ca/go/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.

Eleven classes of Grades 4-8 students have been participating in the sustainability-focused pilot program. With support from the program partners, each teacher has been facilitating student learning, action and inquiry in one or more of the program’s five focus areas: waste, water, energy, food, or transportation. The resulting projects will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, as well as other sustainability benefits in students’ classrooms, schools, households and the community at large.

Through various subject areas and curriculum outcomes, this program allows students to gain an understanding of their actions through a sustainability lens, linking environmental, social, and economic impacts.

Other program goals include:

• reflecting the goals set out in the City of Saskatoon’s Energy and GHG Management Plan and Strategic Plan
• pursuing inquiry- and action-based learning (experiential education)
• making connections with the local community (place-based education)
• striving towards environmental outcomes that are measureable
• having a meaningful community impact
• reflecting multiple ways of knowing, as well as Indigenous knowledges and practices

Upon completion of this year’s program, each class will be showcasing their project outcomes at a student tradeshow. School board trustees, superintendents, City of Saskatoon representatives, students’ parents and family members, and other stakeholders have been invited to view the amazing work that the different classes have worked on.

Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental & Corporate Initiatives: “The Student Action for a Sustainable Future program is an innovative way to engage school-aged children in sustainability-focused action projects. The results of their hard work and enthusiasm will have a tremendous impact on their schools, families and community.”

On April 15, 2014 participating students showcased their hard work at the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon. This included more than 40 displays, performances and other exciting results including:

• Conducting home and school energy audits
• Organizing school-wide waste audits
• Creating garbage art
• Creating lights out and lights half-out campaigns
• Lowering the school’s thermostat and encouraging “sweater days”
•  Discussing worldviews and learning about the relationships between humans and nature from Elders and Knowledge Keepers
• Going on field trips, such as touring the Saskatoon Landfill, visiting Saskatoon Light and Power, interviewing vendors at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market, and learning about local food through ice fishing
• Getting involved in community and indoor gardens
• Measuring food miles and assessing the implications of both local and global food systems
• Creating a vermi compost for classroom organic waste
• Improving the school’s recycling system, bin system, and messaging

Spring is a busy time of year for projects in the yard, garden, and around the home.  Saskatoon residents 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.  In order to ensure that parks are safe and enjoyed by everyone, any type of work in a park that requires vehicles, equipment, or restricted access, must first have approval from the City of Saskatoon Parks Division. 

Parks Division will evaluate the request, conduct a site inspection, and if reasonable, provide approval.  In order to minimize any damages, vehicle access will be permitted only when turf conditions are dry and suitable for driving on.  The property owner will be responsible for removing any litter or debris, repairing any damages at their own expense, and being liable for injury that may occur as a result of the work.  City of Saskatoon Inspectors regularly follow-up on complaints and investigate damage to parks.

For more information or to request approval for your project, call 306-975-3300 or visit www.saskatoon.ca (look under “P” for Parks – Request Access to a Park).

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.

T

On April 27, 2014, Saskatoon Transit will introduce its Summer Route Schedule.

Each year during the post-secondary school term, Saskatoon Transit typically adds additional routes to support the higher number of transit users travelling to and from the University of Saskatchewan.

These support routes are being removed during the summer months and service will resume September 2, 2014. Details of the changes are as follows:

From April 27 to September 1, 2014, the following support routes will travel less frequently:

• Route 13 Lawson Heights
• Route 13 Broadway
  

From April 27 to September 1, 2014, the following route will be temporarily discontinued:

•  Route 21 University

For more information, visit www.saskatoon.ca and click on “T” for Transit or call the Transit Customer Service Centre at 306-975-3100.

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 Saskatoon Civic Conservatory has an Easter flower and plant display for visitors to enjoy throughout April, which features Easter lilies, snapdragons, stocks, astilbe, and kalanchoe.

The Conservatory showcases a variety of orchids, and tropical and arid plants, along with a new seasonal flower display each month.

The Conservatory is located in the same building as the Mendel Art Gallery at 950 Spadina Crescent East. It is open 364 days per year from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.  The cost of admission is by donation.  For more information, please visit www.saskatoon.ca (look under ”C” for Civic Conservatory).

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 future elementary schools in Saskatoon will be an exciting new opportunity for learning and community-based recreation.  The City of Saskatoon (City) wishes to provide residents with information on the possibilities for new community spaces and access to schools in the neighbourhoods of Hampton Village, Stonebridge, Rosewood, and Evergreen, which were made possible by the Community Centre Levy collected through new lot sales.

The City, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Saskatoon Public Schools, and Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, invites you to come and learn more about the new schools, see models, and have an opportunity to ask all of your questions and provide your thoughts.  For those who cannot make the first presentation, it will be repeated a second time later in the evening.

Future Saskatoon Schools – Community Spaces and Access – Information Meeting
Wednesday, April 16, 2014, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. Doors Open
5:30 p.m. Presentation and Ask Your Questions
7:00 p.m. Repeat Presentation and Ask Your Questions
Council Chambers, City Hall, 222 – 3rd Avenue North

More information is available at www.shapingsaskatoon.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.
- 30 -

A 3:15 a.m. fire at a Saskatoon Light&Power wood pole caused a power outage in Pleasant Hill, Mount Royal and Meadow Green neighbourhoods this morning.  The power for these neighbourhoods was rerouted and power was restored around 4:30 a.m.  This pole will be scheduled for repair early next week, but no further outages are expected.

Around 10:30 a.m. this morning, the same neighbourhoods were affected by another power outage.  The cause of this second outage was trees contacting a power line.  The trees were trimmed and the power was restored at 1:00 p.m. this afternoon.

We want to thank everyone for their patience and cooperation during these outages.  Regular updates were provided through the Saskatoon Light & Power service alerts and at saskatoon.ca throughout the outage to keep customers informed.

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

The Information Technology Division has investigated City-web based services and discovered City of Saskatoon services are not vulnerable to the computer bug known as Heartbleed.

“Customers should feel absolutely comfortable to access City online payment services,” says Brenda Wallace, Acting Director of Information Technology.  “It’s business as usual for anyone wanting to pay a parking ticket, renew a pet licence or to subscribe to our green-bin service.”

Heartbleed allows computer hackers to access information that should be securely encrypted on a website such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, banking information and online shopping information.

Heartbleed has existed for a couple of years but is now receiving attention because a fix for the flaw has been publicly released and researchers have now realized how dangerous the bug was.
Current information suggests anywhere from 17 to 65 percent of websites could be affected.
The City website www.saskatoon.ca is safe from Heartbleed.

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.

Starting at 9:00 a.m on Monday, April 14, the Circle Drive westbound curb lane near Avenue C will be closed for water main repairs. Access from Circle Drive westbound to Avenue C northbound will be maintained.  

The work should be completed and restrictions lifted by 3:00 p.m., weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.   

Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Starting at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 14, 2014, the College Drive westbound curb lane west of Preston Avenue will be closed while crews repair a primary water main. Turning in all directions at the College Drive and Preston Avenue intersection will be maintained.

Motorists are strongly advised that delays are expected and to please allow for extra time when travelling. There will be water service disruption to the Field House and parts of Innovation Place for the duration of repairs. The scheduled maintenance is not expected to affect the nearby residential neighbourhoods of Varsity View and Grosvenor Park.

It is expected that this work will take three days to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances. 

The City thanks drivers for their patience.

Drivers are reminded to allow extra time when travelling through the orange zone, watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

The Saskatoon Field House will be closed to the public and lease-holders due to a water main repair on College Drive on Monday, April 14, and Tuesday, April 15, 2014.  The facility will re-open, and regularly scheduled programming will resume on Wednesday, April 16. 

Shaw Centre, Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre, Lakewood, Lawson, and Cosmo Civic Centres, as well as the Fitness Circuit & Terry Fox Track will maintain regular hours during this time.  For drop-in programming information at any of the other six facilities, please refer to www.saskatoon.ca/go/dropinonline.

The City of Saskatoon and Saskatoon Field House thank patrons for their cooperation.  For information on programming and services affected, please contact the facility at 306-975-3354. 

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.

“We want to get out there and clean things up as quickly as possible, so everyone can put the long, cold winter behind us and we can all enjoy the early benefits of being outside again,” says Director of Public Works Pat Hyde.  “Fortunately, the improved snow grading and removal programs this winter were effective in helping to speed up the spring melt and reduce the development of potholes.  This, along with the fall street sweep program in October, will help to improve the effectiveness of both the pothole and sweep programs.”  

Your Tax Dollars at Work – Building Better Roads
Part of the new 4.29% dedicated tax levy is for improved roadway repairs and maintenance.  Residents and businesses will see improvements as a result of an additional $605,000 for the Spring Street Sweeping Blitz and the Accelerated Residential Sweeping programs; and an additional $550,000 for the Spring Pothole Blitz program. Learn more about Building Better Roads.

Spring Street Sweeping Blitz
The Spring Sweeping Blitz is designed to collect as much of the heavy dirt and debris as possible from the Priority 1, 2 and some Priority 3 streets, over the next three weeks.  Additional parking restrictions will not be applied and ticketing and relocation towing will not be engaged during the blitz.  As a result the sweepers will be going around parked vehicles and focus mainly on the driving lanes of the roadway. 

Sweepers will be on the higher traffic volume streets, such as Circle Drive, Idylwyld Drive, 22nd Street, 8th Street and College Drive (Priority 1 streets); and the majority of the priority two streets.  The schedule is dependent on the weather, but if time permits, some Priority 3 streets will also be swept. 

The purpose of the spring sweep blitz is designed as a quick pass through in order to remove the heavier dirt and debris so that once the Accelerated Residential Sweep program commences in early May, it will enable a more effective and complete curb-to-curb sweep program and cover all streets including those from the Spring Sweeping Blitz.  

Civic and private contractor crews will also be cleaning the boulevards areas adjacent to the sidewalks/curbs, and centre medians to remove the debris that collected over the winter from snow storage.  The debris will be swept onto the street and hauled away as part of the clean-up, with any remaining dirt being picked up by the sweepers.  

Spring Pothole Blitz
Aggressive pothole patching will also begin Monday, April 14 and will involve both civic and private contractor crews.  Hot asphalt mix material is now available and will be used because of its permanent bond and longer lasting patch for potholes.  Crews will be focused along many of the same priority one, two and three streets as the sweeping blitz.  The Spring Pothole Blitz is designed to patch as many of the potholes within the driving lanes of the priority streets in order to provide a smoother, comfortable ride on these higher traffic volume streets.  Pothole patching will also be continued throughout the Accelerated Residential Sweep program and throughout the summer months until winter freeze up as potholes can develop even during the summer months. 

Pothole patching will also continue throughout the spring blitz on the non-priority streets for emergency requirements.  Residents are encouraged to please continue to report locations with the online Report a Pothole map or call our customer service centre at 306-975-2476 to report any dangerous locations. 

Accelerated Residential Street Sweeping and Pothole Patching
Upon completion of the Spring Sweeping Blitz, the Accelerated Residential Street Sweeping program begins, where every street will be swept curb-to-curb by neighbourhood including the business improvement districts.  This six-week program will use relocation towing and a $100 fine will be applied for parking on a scheduled street.  The yellow ‘sandwich style’ No Parking signs will be used and augmented with yellow replica paper signs throughout the program where on-street vehicle parking is an issue. 

Weather permitting, the scheduled start of the program is Monday, May 5.  Further information will be provided closer to the launch date of the Accelerated Residential Street Sweeping program.

Schedules and more information are available at saskatoon.ca as part of the Building Better Roads campaign.  Saskatoon’s Road Plan is a coordinated approach to repair, maintenance and construction, Building Better Roads in Saskatoon.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroads and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.  

Tonight at the 2014 Badge, Shield and Star Dinner Doreen Brown, Scott Wright and Gord Thompson will all receive awards for their outstanding contribution to emergency services in Saskatoon.

Doreen Brown will be presented with the Badge Award by Saskatoon Police Service Chief Clive Weighill. Doreen is being honoured for an exemplary life of service to her community. After a long career at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon, Ms. Brown has played an integral role as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Saskatoon Police Service Volunteer Program. She has consistently made a special effort to get to know the volunteers and ensure that the police service is well represented at every event. Doreen has limitless energy and patience when coordinating people and tasks and always makes sure that every event is well staffed and supported. It is said that Saskatchewan is known for volunteer spirit. Ms. Doreen Brown is one of the people who have helped create that reality.

Scott Wright will receive the Shield Award from Chief Dan Paulsen of the Saskatoon Fire Department. Scott is being honoured for his leadership roles in search and rescue in Saskatoon in particular but also throughout Canada. Scott was a founding member of Saskatoon Search and Rescue. He has held a variety of leadership roles in the organization and remains an integral part to this day. Scott has also been the president of Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers (SARSAV), the Secretary and now Vice-President of Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada (SARVAC) and the chair of the CSA Technical Steering Committee for the development of GSAR Standards in Canada.

The Star Award will be presented to Gord Thompson by Dave Dutchak of MD Ambulance. Gord has a long history of partnership with MD Ambulance. Over the last number of years, he has delivered joint training sessions to rural fire departments and first responder groups across Saskatchewan. He was key in implementing the 310-5000 telephone number, a 911 system for rural residents surrounding Saskatoon. Over the years, Mr. Thompson has attended hundreds of calls as a first responder with the City of Warman where he currently holds the position of Fire Chief of the Warman Fire Department. 

TU-209

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, there will be lane restrictions near the Idylwyld Drive Overpasses at 19th Street for bridge inspections:
- Idylwyld Drive northbound will be limited to one lane from 1st Avenue to just over 19th Street
- Idylwyld Drive southbound will be limited to one lane over 19th Street
-There will be no access to Idylwyld Drive southbound from 1st Avenue.

It is expected the work will be completed by 3:00 p.m. that day, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.
The City thanks everyone for their patience.
Drivers are reminded to allow extra time when travelling through the orange zone, watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.
Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

As negotiations with civic unions and associations continue, the City would like to provide the public with an update on the progress of all its contract negotiations so far.

“I think the negotiations have gone exceptionally well,” Director of Human Resources Marno McInnes says.  “We have resolved some very complex issues with most of our bargaining units already and we look forward to fruitful discussions in the near future with those units with outstanding matters to discuss.”

Firstly, no job action on the part of the City or any of its unions or associations is happening right now.  For public clarification, if a union or association holds a strike vote, it does not trigger immediate job action.  A formal notice must be served by either party prior to that.

The City has offered all of the nine civic unions and associations the same proposal on wages and pension matters.  Five of those nine have already settled on that offer, while talks continue at the four remaining bargaining tables.

A crucial element to negotiations in the current round of contract offers is a deal to manage the sustainability of employee pension benefits.  The City is pleased to report eight out of nine bargaining units have ratified the wage and pension component of this offer.

“The deal offers competitive wage increases and more importantly, agreement on how to keep the pensions viable,” McInnes says.  “This was a serious challenge that both the employer and employees were facing and we’ve arrived at a solution.”

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) announces the 2014 recipients of the Jack Adilman Fund Capital Grant for Amateur Sports Organizations.  Through his estate, Jack Adilman (1920 - 1992), a prominent businessman, sportsman, and tireless supporter of amateur sport in Saskatoon, provided a bequest to support the future of amateur sports.  From this bequest, the City established this grant in 2011 and has awarded a total of $349,030 since its inception.

Thirteen organizations applied for funding, with requests totalling $480,268 of support for projects worth in excess of $1.4 million.
Based on available funding, a total of $157,030 was awarded to the following amateur sport organizations:

• Marian Gymnastics Club Inc. – for asset acquisition – $14,650;
• Mayfair Lawn Bowling Club – for facility upgrades – $10,000;
• Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association – for asset acquisition – $14,335;
• Saskatoon Cricket Association Inc. – for facility upgrades – $11,250;
• Saskatoon District Sports Council – for asset acquisition – $11,470;
• Saskatoon Fencing Club – for facility upgrades – $7,400;
• Saskatoon Lions Speedskating Club – for asset acquisition – $57,400;
• Saskatoon Racing Canoe Club – for asset acquisition – $18,525; and
• Saskatoon Ultimate Disc Sport Society – for asset acquisition – $12,000.

For more information about the Jack Adilman Grant, visit www.saskatoon.ca (look under “G” for Grants).
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.

Starting at 9:30 a.m. on April 8, 2014, the Idylwyld Freeway southbound curb lane from Ruth Street to Lorne Avenue will be closed while Saskatoon Light & Power crews work on street lights.

The work should be completed and restrictions lifted by 2:00 p.m., weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.   

Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Starting at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, April 7, westbound traffic on Circle Drive from Attridge Drive to the Circle Drive Bridge will be restricted to one lane until 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8. The restrictions are required to allow crews to remove in-road traffic monitoring sensors. The City will continue to record traffic volumes on an hourly basis throughout the year at eight permanent City-operated stations. 

Motorists are strongly advised that delays are expected. Traffic will be directed to the curb lane and speed reduced to 60 kilometres per hour. 

Drivers are reminded to drive with extreme caution as workers will be onsite throughout the night, allow for extra time when travelling through the work zone and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

The City of Saskatoon thanks motorists for their patience and cooperation.

Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

TU-206

Spadina Crescent East is closed between 21st Street and 22nd Street while crews work on a water main. Motorists are advised to use 4th Avenue as an alternate route.

Restrictions are expected to be lifted by 12:00 noon on Thursday, April 10, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Drivers are reminded to allow extra time when travelling through the orange zone, watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Starting at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 7, 2014, 20th Street will be closed between Avenues B and C while crews work on a water connection. Through traffic on 20th Street is advised to use 19th Street or 21st Street. 
The work is expected to take two days to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Drivers are reminded to allow extra time when travelling through a work zone, watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.
Know before you go!  Find up-to-date Traffic Detour information on our website at www.saskatoon.ca and follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our City Blog.

After the first year of implementation, the City of Saskatoon’s (City) Housing Business Plan has supported the creation of 629 new attainable units in 2013, exceeding the target set by City Council of 500 new units per year.

The recently released Annual Report on the 2013 – 2022 Housing Business Plan indicates that the City has slightly exceeded the target for each of five housing types identified in the plan, with the exception of entry-level housing where the results were double the City’s target:

The City is also reported to be on track to achieve its housing targets for 2014.  To date, a total of 378 attainable units of various housing types have been approved, with the goal of supporting 480 to 500 units. 

“Housing is not a traditional role of municipalities in Saskatchewan,” says the City’s Director of Planning and Development, Alan Wallace.  “However, the City understood there was a growing deficit of affordable housing in Saskatoon in 2007 and decided to proactively address this challenge by setting an ambitious goal to create 500 new attainable housing units per year, which eventually led to the creation of the Housing Business Plan.”

Approved by City Council in June 2013, the Housing Business Plan contains a variety of incentives and initiatives that support the creation of attainable housing units, which helps increase home ownership rates, with a focus on neighbourhoods where levels of ownership is a concern.

“Adequate housing is an important part of the City’s Strategic Plan and an essential infrastructure for supporting a growing economy and a good quality of life for all residents of Saskatoon,” says Wallace.

For more information on the Housing Business Plan and the work the City is doing in this area, visit www.saskatoon.ca and look under “H” for Housing Initiatives 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.

If you drive in Saskatoon, you will have noticed there are significantly fewer potholes this year.  Some of that is due to weather conditions, but the biggest factor is the increase in our snow and street maintenance operations this year as a result of the dedicated road levy.  

Increased snow grading and removal this winter reduced the standing water on the streets that cause potholes.  With less moisture on the streets at the start of spring, crews were able to get out and repair the potholes sooner than last year.  We were not only out there patching sooner, but we were able to patch the potholes that are causing the biggest problems for drivers.  Since its launch March 17, there have been 557 (88 since March 28 news release) locations reported by residents in all areas of the city using the Report a Pothole interactive map.  Up to ten new pothole locations are being reported daily by residents and visitors to Saskatoon from their mobile device or desktop.  

The weather is also cooperating this year with gradual warm weather that allows the ground frost to come out of the ground slowly.  Potholes can be caused by pressure on the asphalt as a result of the ground frost coming out quickly.  The temperature spike expected for next week may cause the frost to move very quickly out of the ground and increase the potential for more potholes.  

Pothole patching crews repaired 350 (103 since March 28 news release) of the larger reported pothole on major streets, plus hundreds of others!  Until the roads are completely dry and the asphalt supplier produces hotmix for our use, the priority is emergency locations and larger potholes in the driving lanes of the high-traffic streets. Beginning mid-April, the Spring Pothole Blitz will address the remaining potholes on higher traffic volume and speed roadways, including arterials, collector and freeway/expressways.  The residential streets will be repaired beginning in May and run in conjunction with the Residential Street Sweeping program.  

About a third of the locations currently reported on the map are another type of issue resulting from completed City or private underground utility work that required an excavation.  These are known as utility cuts and have a temporary gravel/recycled asphalt cover until they can be properly paved once ground frost is gone.  Those on arterial and major streets are monitored and re-grading regularly. Until permanent repairs are made we will be leaving these reported locations as red dots on the Report a Pothole map. 

Severe and emergency locations are addressed immediately by the nearest pothole patching unit.  Large potholes in the driving lane of Priority 1 and 2 streets will be scheduled for repair the next day.  The inspector, along with area supervisors and crews, is also on the look-out for unreported severe/emergency potholes.  The more information supplied by those reporting online the inspectors have, the easier it is to determine the priority of the necessary repairs. The reported potholes, represented by red dots on the map, are updated to green dots at the end of the day they are repaired. 

Please report severe/emergency locations to Customer Service at 306-975-2476 so we can fix them as quickly as possible.  For more information about the pothole and utility cut programs, visit saskatoon.ca and select “P” for Potholes. 

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroads 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. 

Areas east of Idylwyld Drive and Louis Riel Trail and north of Circle Drive, including River Heights, Lawson Heights, Silverwood, North Industrial, Hudson Bay Industrial, and Marquis Industrial will be without power for approximately three hours starting at 3 a.m. Thursday morning.  The anticipated total outage area includes the City of Martensville and the City of Warman and rural communities east of Highway 12 to the South Saskatchewan River. 

SaskPower will be turning off the power to this area for necessary system improvements, and anticipates that power will be restored by 6 a.m. Thursday morning. If you have questions about the planned outage, please call the SaskPower Outage Centre at 306-310-2220.

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.

Starting at 9:30 a.m. on April 2, 2014 there will be various lane restrictions along the Idylwyld Freeway while Saskatoon Light & Power crews work on street light repairs: 

Wednesday, April 2 – southbound curb lane from Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge to the 8th Street off ramp will be closed. 

Thursday, April 3 - southbound curb lane from the 8th Street overpass to the Taylor Street exit ramp will be closed. 

To minimize the impact to traffic the work has been scheduled to take place from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day. The work is expected to take two days to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Know before you go!  Find up-to-date Traffic Detour information on our website at www.saskatoon.ca and follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our City Blog.

The City of Saskatoon Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) today launched NotifyNOW, a new mass notification system. It means Saskatoon residents can receive information via direct text, voice mail, and e-mail messages in emergency situations that could affect them or their property.

“NotifyNOW will provide the EMO with the capacity to reach tens of thousands of residents within seconds of an emergency occurring in Saskatoon,” says Mayor Donald Atchison. “Public safety and security are a fundamental priority. This move is in line with City Council’s strategic goals of Continuous Improvement and Quality of Life, making Saskatoon a great place to live.”

An emergency could include any situation in which residents would be required to take some form of precautionary action as a result of a major blizzard, tornado warning, plane crash, hazardous goods spill, etc.

A past example of when NotifyNOW could have been helpful is the 2007 blizzard which ground the city to a halt, stranding motorists in their vehicles for several hours.

“With NotifyNOW, we would have been able to contact many people on their cell phones,” says Fire Chief Dan Paulsen. “We could have provided them with important safety messages and assured them that crews were working to locate them.” 

To create its contact database, the EMO purchased the phone numbers listed in the 2013-2014 Saskatoon SaskTel Phonebook. This database will be used only in emergency situations. Residents who do not have a phone number listed in this phonebook, or who wish to customize how they receive messages, can sign up on the EMO’s website.

Throughout the month of April, the EMO will run a promotional campaign to encourage residents to log in to NotifyNOW, check to see if they are already entered into the system, customize their options, or sign up if need be.  In May, the EMO will run a city-wide test during Emergency Preparedness week.  More details regarding the system test will be available soon.

Looking forward, the City plans to build on the benefits the system provides in other ways. By late spring 2014, residents will have the option to receive messages via NotifyNOW regarding service disruptions such as power outages and water main breaks occurring in their area. The notifications will complement the City’s existing communication tools which include the City’s online Service Alerts, News Releases, Public Service Announcements, and social media posts.

For more information, or to sign-up to receive notifications, please click here.

Attending Gardenscape at Prairieland Park this weekend? Come and visit the City of Saskatoon at booth 406 to register for the Green Cart program, a convenient and cost-effective way for you to dispose of yard waste without sending it to the landfill. Everyone who stops by can enter to win compost and mulch, and learn about other environmental initiatives you can get involved with.

 The green cart program is available to residents who receive black cart garbage collection and runs from May to November.  Registration is required to participate in the convenient curbside pick-up service program and the cost is $55 per household. The service includes bi-weekly pickup of your unbagged leaves, grass clippings, and non-woody yard vegetation.

 A healthy environment is essential to a healthy community, now and in the future. The City of Saskatoon demonstrates environmental leadership through outreach, partnerships, and community programs that help Saskatoon thrive in harmony with its natural environment, and conserve resources.

For more information and to register, visit us at Gardenscape this Friday, Saturday or Sunday, or http://saskatoonenvirostore.ca/leaves-and-grass-bin.

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 from the links at saskatoon.ca.

For immediate release: March 28, 2014

Hundreds of people are using their mobile devices and desktops to help us find potholes on major streets around the city.  Since its launch March 17, there have been 469 trouble locations reported by residents in all areas of the city using the City’s Report a Pothole interactive map.  While we aren’t into the Spring Pothole Blitz yet, we’ve repaired 247 of the larger reported pothole on major streets, plus hundreds of others!

“While we want people to call Public Works Customer Service to report emergency locations, there are definitely fewer calls for regular pothole reports than three weeks ago before we launched the tool,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works.  “It’s difficult to track the exact number of potholes we repair, but our initial observation is that the online reports represent about 10 per cent of the actual potholes that are out there.”

City crews have been repairing potholes in the driving lane of the Priority 1 & 2 streets since the snow started melting with a temporary cold mix asphalt to prevent damage to vehicles and for safety.  The cold mix is a semi-permanent patching material that can be used in temperatures above -10 degrees Celsius (with wind chill) even where moisture exists.  The preferred permanent patching material is an hot mix asphalt, which is not available from our suppliers until the warm weather is sustained and overnight lows are above zero. 

Approximately 40 per cent of the reported locations on the map are excavation locations from completed City or private underground utility work.  These are known as utility cuts and have a temporary gravel/recycled asphalt cover until they can be properly paved in the summer.  Those on Priority 1, 2 and 3 streets are maintained daily and remaining utility cuts are monitored on a less frequent basis and as residents call in reports about issues.  While we are monitoring and re-grading these sites regularly, we will be leaving these dots red on the Report a Pothole map until they are permanently patched.  

Once a pothole is reported on the map, an inspector checks it out and rates it on the following:

1. Severe/emergency: deep and larger than a tire with potential for damage,
2. Requires repair: large in driving lane of Priority 1 or 2 street, or 
3. Can wait for Spring Blitz: small to medium, or outside of driving lanes.  

Severe and emergency locations are addressed immediately by the nearest pothole patching unit.  Large potholes in the driving lane of priority 1 and 2 streets will be scheduled for repair the next day.  The inspector, along with area supervisors and crews, is also on the look-out for unreported severe/emergency potholes.  The reported potholes, represented by red dots on the map, are updated to green dots at the end of the day they are repaired.

“Once the hot mix asphalt is available into the first two weeks of April, the Spring Pothole Blitz will begin and every size of pothole will be repaired on high-traffic, collector and arterial streets,” says Hyde.  “Potholes on residential and other streets will be addressed during the summer pothole program, unless they are determined to be severe requiring attention sooner.” 

Please report severe/emergency locations to Customer Service at 306-975-2476 so we can fix them as quickly as possible.  For more information about the pothole and utility cut programs, visit saskatoon.ca and select “P” for Potholes. 

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroads and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon (City) reminds residents the provincial ban on pruning elm trees will be in effect between April 1 and August 31, 2014.
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 the City’s 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 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 uninhabitable elm stumps and remove any fallen branches or wood from a fallen elm tree. Under no circumstances should elm wood be left lying around or 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 everyone’s 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, (under ‘D’ for Dutch Elm Disease).
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.

Snow Forecast
With light snow in the forecast, two sanders are available for priority streets and at risk intersections, as required. If the snow begins to collect on the street and plowing (occurs on Circle Drive) and grading (other priority streets) is required, additional staff and contractors are available to be called in. For more information about snow clearing priority streets, visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/snow.

 Snow & Ice Activities
The majority of streets are dry and the snow along the curb has been melting on warmer days. Crews are monitoring the snow melt and addressing streets where drainage issues are occurring. Because of the extra snow removal efforts throughout the winter, high-traffic streets are melting and draining well. Up to four grader crews are assigned to drainage and utility cuts.

If there are concerns of rutting, residents may use the online Report a Rut form or call Customer Service at 306-975-2476.

 Potholes
Residents are reporting potholes on high-traffic streets using the online Report a Pothole. These locations will be investigated and repaired with temporary cold asphalt mix if they are causing driving issues. Other locations that do not present a risk of causing damage to vehicles may be left until the streets are dry and hot asphalt is available for a permanent repair. Please report emergency pothole locations to Customer Service at 306-975-2476 immediately.

 Utility Cuts
Utility cuts refer to the section of roadway that is dug up for underground repairs. Once the repair is completed, the hole is filled in with gravel and recycled asphalt until the summer when they can be patched with hot asphalt. As vehicles drive over the area, it can develop rutting, and regular maintenance is required. Up to four grader crews are assigned to monitoring and maintaining these locations. To report a dangerous driving concern at a utility cut, please call Customer Service at 306-975-2476.

Thank you to everyone for your patience and remember to please watch for crews and equipment on the road. Slow down and keep 15 metres behind maintenance equipment; be prepared to stop; and, if required, use extreme caution when passing. This is for your safety, as well as the safety of the operators and other drivers.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroads and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

 -30-

Starting on Monday, March 24, the Idywyld Freeway northbound curb lane approaching Ruth Street is closed while Saskatoon Light & Power Crews work on street lights. The Ruth Street off ramp is also closed.

The work should be completed and restrictions lifted by 1:00 p.m., weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.   

Know before you go!  Find up-to-date Traffic Detour information on our website at www.saskatoon.ca and follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our City Blog.

Starting on Monday, March 24, the 2nd Avenue southbound lane between 20th Street and 19th Street will be closed while crews work on construction at Galaxy Cinemas. 
Restrictions are expected to be lifted the same day by 3:00 p.m., weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Citizens are reminded that there is currently a vacancy on the Board of Revision, a quasi-judicial Board that hears appeal arising from assessment procedures.  Appointees to the Board of Revision shall also serve on the Licence Appeal Board which hears appeals regarding the City’s various licensing bylaws.

Interested candidates should submit their applications by the deadline at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2014. All applications will be kept on file and reviewed throughout the year as openings occur.

Application forms can be obtained from the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall (second floor, 222 – 3^rd Avenue North), or online at www.saskatoon.ca, search under “A” for Appointments to Boards and Committees.

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 extended warmer weather and extreme melting at the City of Saskatoon snow storage sites is flooding access roads and creating slushy road conditions.  To prevent further damage to the roads the Central Avenue and Valley Road sites will be closed today until further notice.  Two sites remain open, but may experience the same conditions and be required to close.  All visitors to these sites are advised to use caution to avoid getting stuck.

The snow storage sites are located at:
Wanuskewin Road (1.4 km south of Highway 11) 
McOrmond Drive (between 8th Street East and College Drive)
Closed - Central Avenue (3.8 km north of Attridge Drive)
Closed - Valley Road (west of the Saskatoon Landfill access)
The City of Saskatoon thanks everyone for their cooperation.
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.

Starting at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 22 until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, the section of 23rd Street between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue will be completely closed in both directions for a charity road hockey tournament.

Know before you go!  Find up-to-date Traffic Detour information on our website at www.saskatoon.ca and follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our City Blog.

During the spring melting period, the City of Saskatoon’s Parks Division reminds citizens to be cautious around park ponds, pathways, and low-lying areas where melt water has collected.

Recent weather conditions have contributed to some low-lying areas in parks accumulating very deep and potentially dangerous water levels.  Low-lying park pathways in Draggins Car Club Park in the Hampton Village neighbourhood have been closed due to flooding.  Pumping of excess water is underway in the parks that require attention.

The ice on ponds and areas of melt water accumulation is extremely thin.  Citizens are advised to stay clear of these areas for their safety. 

Caution is also advised along park pathways as sporadic freezing and thawing is causing slippery conditions. 

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.

Water main breaks are back to normal rates for this time of year and we are back to repairing these locations and restoring water service within one to two days.  Saskatoon typically experiences one-two per day during the winter months, but between February 28 and March 14, there were about five or more per day, with one day up to 15!  There have been 175 water main breaks since January 1, compared to 89 last year at this time.  The record number (in the last 19 years) of breaks for the same date was 191 in 1996; followed by 164 in 2003. 

The main cause of the increase in water main breaks was the extended, extreme cold weather that caused ground frost to develop at 9-10 feet, where the underground pipes are located.  The shifting that occurs with frost put pressure on the pipes, causing weaker points to break.  Even though the weather was warmer, the frost is still in the ground at those deep levels. 

Frozen Connections
While water main breaks have slowed down, there is still a number of frozen water connections occurring.  If your water does not turn on, it could be an issue in the portion of the pipe that provides water service to the home from the main line.  This involves City staff inspecting the location to determine where the line is frozen which there is currently a queue of 24 to 48 hours.  Once it’s determined if the break is within the property or the City’s right-of-way, the thawing, if possible, can be scheduled.  In many cases, we can arrange temporary water service using the neighbours’ connection. In some cases, the frozen connection is within the building or under the foundation and we provide advice and support to the owner to have the lines defrosted.  To help prevent this, we recommend making sure the pipes are well-insulated, including the portion at the outside walls of your home.

Temporary Water
We empathize with residents and businesses without water service.  We can normally provide water trailers within 8 hours for areas affected by a water main break.  Residents without water service due to a frozen connection may also access drinking water from the water trailers.

Water Trailers are currently parked at the following locations:
340 Russell Road
2616 Woodward Avenue
830 Avenue B North
613 Salloum Crescent

If the water trailer is empty please call Customer Service 24/7 at 306-975-2476.

We are pleased to be able to offer free admission for residents who are experiencing a water outage due to a water main break or frozen water connection to use the shower facilities at the City Leisure Centre closest to them. They will require identification or a recent utility bill showing their address, which will be compared to list of homes affected by a water outage.

Water service is currently off at the following locations due to water main breaks:
612 Spadina Crescent East
335 Russell Road
2606 Woodward Avenue
234 Benesh Crescent

Be prepared
Every home should have an emergency preparedness plan for any time of the year, not just for water outage. Residents in areas where water main breaks have occurred in the past few years, including neighbourhoods adjacent to current water main breaks, are encouraged to be prepared by having extra drinking water stored as a precaution. It is recommended to have a 72-hour supply of water on hand for drinking and cooking equal to 3.8 litres (one gallon) per person or pet per day. Find Emergency Home Preparedness Plan information, along with videos and tips on the Saskatoon Fire Department's Emergency Measure Operation's website.

If you are affected by a water outage and have any questions, or to report a water main break 24/7, please call Customer Service at 306-975-2476 or learn more about Water Main Breaks and Repairs.

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 from the links at saskatoon.ca.

The City of Saskatoon invites the public to the Lawson Civic Centre (225 Primrose Drive) on Saturday, March 29, 2014, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to celebrate the facility’s 25th Anniversary. 

Come and sign the GIANT card, view the displays of Lawson’s past, and meet the friendly staff.  There will be face painting, games, prizes, and lots of family fun.

There is no fee to attend this event; however, regular admission rates to the pool and weight room are still in effect.

Lawson Civic Centre 25th Anniversary Celebration - Saturday, March 29, 2014
Drop in between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Cake and refreshments:  11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Family Swim:  10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Public Swim:  1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Lawson Civic Centre includes a wave pool, fitness room, meeting and recreational space, and the Rusty Macdonald Branch Library, all under one roof.  The facility officially opened its doors to the public on March 11, 1989.

For more information on Lawson or any of the five other leisure centres, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/Lawson.

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 Saskatoon Fire Department reminds the public to be cautious and stay off the South Saskatchewan River and other ponds and lakes throughout the city this spring. At this time of year the ice on these bodies of water becomes unpredictable and can change rapidly.

Keep safety in mind whenever you are near larger bodies of water. Water pooling on top of the ice or melting at the edge of the river, lake or pond is an indication that the ice has started to melt and may not be strong enough to support you. The riverbank and areas around city ponds and lakes also get very slippery at this time of year and are not a safe place for anyone to play, especially children and animals.  

Remember, in an emergency call 9-1-1.

The City of Saskatoon’s (City) Parks Division is pleased to announce the City’s participation in iCemetery, a free, third party app for mobile devices that can be used for locating loved ones buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. 

iCemetery provides a convenient way to search for the final resting places of those who have passed at select cemeteries in Canada, which now includes Saskatoon’s Woodlawn Cemetery.  Visitors can search by first and last name, view the burial plot detail, and be guided to the actual location of the plot within the cemetery using GPS data from your mobile phone.

iCemetery is free for download at the Apple App Store (http://itunes.apple.com/app) for iPhone, iPad, and iTouch devices and at Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps) for Android mobile devices.

Woodlawn Cemetery is a beautifully landscaped 105 acre public cemetery that is owned and operated by the City. It is centrally located at 1502 2nd Avenue North, just near the intersection of 33rd Street and Warman Road.  The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (October 1 to March 31 - closed from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. for lunch) and can be reached at 306-975-3308 for inquiries.

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 public is invited to the “Living in Harmony” Recognition, Art, and Literary Awards Ceremony on Friday, March 21, 2014, at 10 a.m., at Centennial Collegiate.  The Awards Ceremony marks the date of March 21 - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Living in Harmony Recognition, Art, and Literary Awards Ceremony
Friday, March 21, 2014
10 a.m.
Centennial Collegiate
160 Nelson Road

This event acknowledges the Living in Harmony Literary and Art Contest winners and the Living in Harmony Community Recognition Award recipients.  The Living in Harmony Program recognizes the efforts of individuals who engage or promote intercultural harmony and social cohesion.  The City of Saskatoon’s Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee presents these awards to focus attention on the positive initiatives taking place in our community.
 
For more information, please visit www.saskatoon.ca and search under “L” for Living in Harmony.

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 18, 2014
 

Today, The City of Saskatoon launched Building Better Roads – Saskatoon’s Road Plan, the most aggressive program of road work in this community’s history. 

“The Building Better Roads Plan demonstrates that we are heading into an action-packed season of roadwork,” Jeff Jorgenson, General Manager of Transportation and Utilities says. “More than $50 million will be spent on Saskatoon roads this year; that’s 47 per cent more than was spent last year. We want everyone to be ready because the result will be more projects this construction season, meaning more work zones and traffic detours.” 

The Building Better Roads Plan grew out of the 2013 Civic Services Survey which identified road conditions as the single most important issue facing Saskatoon.  

City Council responded by introducing the Dedicated Road Levy in this year’s budget, providing the necessary funding to launch the Building Better Roads Plan. The Plan supports the City of Saskatoon’s strategic goals of Asset and Financial Sustainability, Quality of Life, Continuous Improvement and Moving Around. 

The Dedicated Road Levy is funded by a 4.29% increase in property taxes for 2014 which provides $6.7 million in new funding to be used exclusively for road repair and road maintenance. 

“The Dedicated Road Levy is a key element of investing substantially more in our roads for 2014.  The Dedicated Road Levy and added investments will go toward work such as street sweeping, pothole patching, sidewalk rehabilitation, back lane upgrades, road construction and repair, as well as snow and ice management,” Jorgenson says. 

“We take this investment seriously. This year citizens will see changes in how we do our work.  For example, to minimize the amount of time high-traffic roads are closed for construction, much of the work will either be done at night, or round-the-clock. Continually improving our practices will ensure we get the absolute best value for our citizens’ dollars.” 

Jorgenson adds extra workers and equipment have already started with increased snow grading and removal activities and will soon flow into aggressive pothole patching and street sweeping.  

In the coming weeks, the City will be launching new ways for people to keep up to date where and when work is being done. 

We are also pleased to launch a new “Report a Pothole” tool which allows the public to report potholes online. This Report a Pothole tool is map-based, GPS-enabled and allows anyone to report a pothole from their desktop computer or mobile device. Users will be able to see if the same pothole has already been flagged, and when potholes are repaired. Residents can find this tool on our website at Saskatoon.ca under “check this out.” It’s designed to be easy to use, and a detailed help menu and step-by-step video is also included. 

In an emergency or to talk directly to customer service staff, potholes can also be reported by phone 24/7, at 306-975-2476. 

“We’ve already been repairing the larger potholes since the snow started melting. And as soon as weather permits, the spring pothole blitz will be in full force,” Jorgenson says. “We’re anticipating the streets will be dry earlier than last year because so much snow and ice along priority roadways was trucked away this winter.”  

City crews will  concentrate on patching potholes in all driving lanes on freeways and other high traffic roads including tackling those larger clusters of potholes. Immediately following spring street sweeping, eight patching crews will constantly patrol Saskatoon throughout the summer, keeping roads smooth, including fixing potholes on residential streets.  He says a cold, temporary asphalt mix will be used on potholes until the streets dry and the weather improves, following which a more permanent hot asphalt mix will be used. 

The spring pothole blitz is a key component of Building Better Roads – Saskatoon’s Roads Plan.

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) reminds residents that the public survey and forum for the first stage of the Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon project will remain open for input until Friday, March 21, 2014, at www.shapingsaskatoon.ca.

Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon is a city-wide initiative that will take us from vision to action on how we shape the City’s Growth Plan to Half a Million. It is a proactive way to plan for our future and help navigate the challenges associated with rapid population growth. The Growth Plan to Half a Million will help guide civic investments over the next 30 to 40 years by addressing three key elements:

Shaping Growth - How do we grow along major corridors?
Shaping Transit - How do we move more people?
Shaping Bridges - How do we manage infrastructure investments?

A public event was held on Tuesday, February 25, 2014, at TCU Place to start the discussion about future options for transit, bridges, and growth along major corridors. Event materials and project information are available on the Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon website at www.growingfwd.ca.  

Your feedback is important to us!  Public consultation will be ongoing throughout the Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon process. The survey is one of many opportunities for the public to get involved in this exciting initiative.  Watch for more public input opportunities coming in the Fall.  Those interested can also sign up for project update notifications at www.growingfwd.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.

-30-

On March 29, 2014 at 8:30 p.m., the City of Saskatoon will be taking part in Earth Hour - a global event to acknowledge the importance of environmental awareness and action both during and beyond the hour.

This year, the City of Saskatoon has created an Online Earth Hour forum on shapingsaskatoon.ca. “Businesses, organizations, students and community members are encouraged to post why they feel Earth Hour is important and what they’re doing this year to participate.

“Our collective efforts raise awareness of climate change and promote actions that conserve energy and help reduce GHG emissions.” says Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental & Corporate Initiatives.  “Celebrating and acknowledging these efforts is part of creating a more sustainable Saskatoon.”

FREE Transit March 29, 2014

As a way of showing support for action on climate change, Saskatoon Transit is offering free transit on March 29 from 7:30 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. Reduce your footprint and save money by giving transit a try!

“Saskatoon Transit is once again proud to participate in the Earth Hour initiative by providing free Transit service from 7:30pm until last bus on March 29, 2014,” says Bob Howe, Director of Saskatoon Transit.  “This free service will provide citizens who may not have tried Transit in that past, with an opportunity to try it free of charge. For our regular Transit Customers, this event is another way of saying thank you for using Saskatoon Transit.” 

Post Your Photos Online

The City of Saskatoon is encouraging residents to show the world how they’re participating in Earth Hour. Residents can simply post their Earth Hour photos to their own Facebook or Twitter accounts using the hashtag #yxeEarthHour to show how they're taking action on climate change. Two lucky winners will be drawn to receive a 1 month bus pass and transit promo prize pack from Saskatoon Transit!

In 2013, the City of Saskatoon partnered with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society to engage businesses and City Facilities in Earth Hour. There were 205 participants who took part by: dimming or turning out lights, shutting down computers and other electronics, lowering their thermostats, engaging their employees and clients in environmental action, or hosting events.

To find out more about the City of Saskatoon’s participation in Earth Hour, please visit Saskatoon.ca and search under “E” for Earth Hour.

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.

A major amendment to the Rosewood Neighbourhood Concept Plan is proposed to accommodate a number of changes to the east side of the neighbourhood.  The amendment will provide for the inclusion of lands east of Zimmerman Road as an employment area consisting of commercial and light industrial land uses.  Also proposed are changes to the layout and land use pattern of the eastern portion of the neighbourhood, including new opportunities for higher density residential and mixed-use development along corridors.  Roadway access to the neighbourhood from Highway 16, previously proposed to be via Rosewood Gate South, is now proposed for Zimmerman Road.

The proposed changes will add 152 acres to the neighbourhood, bringing the total area to 876 acres.  The original concept plan, approved by City Council in 2008, projected a total neighbourhood population of 10,657 residents.  The proposed amendment would result in approximately 11,890 residents.

Amendments to the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw related to this concept plan amendment are also proposed.

The public is invited to attend a “come-and-go” open house to view the proposed amendment to the Rosewood Neighbourhood Concept Plan and to ask questions of the City of Saskatoon staff and development partners.

Proposed Rosewood Neighbourhood Concept Plan Amendment Open House
Thursday, March 20, 2014
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Elim Church (Atrium)
419 Slimmon Road

Can’t make the open house?  Visit www.shapingsaskatoon.ca/discussions from March 20 to April 3 to view details of the proposals and to share your thoughts. 

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 16, 2014

Saskatoon Light & Power crews were on the scene shortly after power was disrupted, assessed the situation and are expecting to be able to restore power to most of the affected homes and businesses by early afternoon.  However, due to the extent of the damage, crews are anticipating that 30-40 homes and businesses between 110th Street and 111th Street will be without power for up to six hours while the entire pole is replaced.

Updates are being issued through Service Alerts and through the City’s social media feeds.  Residents can also phone customer service at 306-975-2621. 

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 access roads and conditions at the City of Saskatoon snow storage sites are quickly deteriorating due to the warmer temperatures. The sites remain open, however they may need to be closed either temporarily or for the season.  The City of Saskatoon will provide as much notice as possible although it is dependent upon weather and ground conditions therefore they may close with little advance notice.  

The conditions are being monitored daily, although as the weather becomes warmer, it will become challenging for vehicles to enter and exit the sites.  

The snow storage sites are located at:
Central Avenue (3.8 km north of Attridge Drive)
Wanuskewin Road (1.4 km south of Highway 11)
McOrmond Drive (between 8th Street East and College Drive)
Valley Road (west of the Saskatoon Landfill access)

The City of Saskatoon thanks everyone for their cooperation.

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 Spring/Summer Leisure Guide will be delivered to every home in Saskatoon on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, and can also be picked up at any Leisure Centre, Saskatoon Public Library location, or City Hall.  The guide will be available online beginning Monday, March 17, from www.saskatoon.ca/go/leisureguide.
The Leisure Guide contains everything you need to know about Saskatoon’s Leisure Centres and is the “go-to source” for fitness programs, recreational activities, and arts and culture opportunities for all ages and abilities.  Get a spring in your step by staying active throughout the warmer months with the many options provided by the City of Saskatoon!
 
Highlights of the Spring/Summer (April 1 to August 31, 2014) Leisure Guide include: 

• 45 FREE Playground Programs in neighbourhoods across the city.  Drop in and make every day an adventure!
• A new 2-week LeisureCard Trial Pass for families, adults, and youth so you can try before you buy. 
• Bulk Tickets to use for admission at the four outdoor pools.
• New lower rates for Juniors (8 to 12 years) at Silverwood Golf Course.
• The return of the Sport & Splash Camp at Shaw Centre and Lawson Civic Centre.  The camp will also be offered during Easter Break at Shaw Centre!
• Public, Parent & Tot, Family, and Lane swimming opportunities at the indoor and outdoor pools.
• Preschool and children’s recreational registered programs such as Teddy Bears Picnic and Dunk, Dribble & Slam.
• Adult, Teen, Beginner (Smart Start), Advanced, and Active Agers (50+ years) drop-in exercise classes, personal training, and registered fitness programs at the six indoor Leisure Centres.
• Group Fitness Training for youth and adults at Shaw Centre and Saskatoon Field House.
• A map of the six dog parks in Saskatoon - spend time outdoors with your furry friend!
• And much, much more, including many arts, culture, and recreational services offered by other organizations in Saskatoon.

Registration for programs begins Sunday, March 23, at 6 p.m. by phoning 306-975-2800 or register online at leisureonline.saskatoon.ca.

Starting Monday, March 24, at 6:30 a.m., all six Leisure Centres will be accepting mail or walk-in registrations; phone registration begins at 8 a.m.  (Please note that walk-in registrations will not be accepted at any Leisure Centre on the first night of registration). 

Registered programs are very popular and fill up fast!  Many people will be registering Sunday evening, and the City of Saskatoon sincerely thanks our citizens for their patience.  While additional online and telephone resources are in place to make the process go as smoothly as possible, there are still thousands of people registering at once, so here are some tips to help you be prepared: 

• You will require a client ID number and family PIN to register online.  To set one up or if you forgot yours, phone any Leisure Centre before Sunday, March 23. 
• Have a list of second and third program choices, just in case you do not get into your first choice.
• Join the waiting list.  Every full program has an online waiting list, and new classes may be created if there is enough demand.
• Ensure your major web browser (Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, Google Chrome) is up to date. 

Get the Guide!  Keep the Guide!

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.

Aspen Ridge Neighbourhood Concept Plan
Aspen Ridge is a proposed residential neighbourhood, consisting of 639 acres, and is the next neighbourhood to be developed in the University Heights Suburban Development Area.  Its boundaries include the Evergreen neighbourhood and University of Saskatchewan lands on the south, the proposed Perimeter Highway route on the northeast, and the Northeast Swale on the northwest.

The neighbourhood has been designed to be walkable with amenities, transit, and recreational spaces close to homes.  It will include a variety of housing, such as one-unit dwellings, townhouses, multiple-unit dwellings, and mixed-use development combining residential with retail and office space.  Elements will include a complete streets design concept for McOrmond Drive, a village square, a multi-use greenway abutting the Northeast Swale, and a linear park system.  Upon completion, the neighbourhood will be home to approximately 12,956 residents.

Amendment to the Evergreen Neighbourhood Concept Plan
An amendment to the Evergreen Neighbourhood Concept Plan is proposed to accommodate changes to the District Village in the northeast corner of the neighbourhood.  The changes will support the transition of McOrmond Drive to the complete streets design concept as it enters Aspen Ridge and foster better connections between the two neighbourhoods.

Amendments to the Zoning Bylaw are also proposed in relation to this concept plan amendment.

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

Proposed Aspen Ridge Neighbourhood Concept Plan and Evergreen Neighbourhood Concept Plan Amendment Open House
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Alice Turner Library (Auditorium)
110 Nelson Road

Can’t make the open house?  Visit www.shapingsaskatoon.ca/discussions from March 18 to April 1 to view details of the proposals and to share your thoughts. 

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.