News Releases

Beginning at 3.30 a.m. on Sunday, May 4, the eastbound lanes of Circle Drive South will be closed between 11th Street West and Highway 11 to accommodate the Wings for Life World Run. Idylwyld Drive southbound will also be closed between the Sid Buckwold Bridge and Circle Drive South. The roads are expected to reopen by Sunday at 6:00 a.m.

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

For Immediate Release: April 30, 2014

Starting May 1, 2014, a section of roadway along McOrmond Drive between 8th Street and College Drive will be closed until October 31. A temporary closure is required to complete area grading, water/sewer, and roadway work as part of neighbourhood development within the Holmwood Sector Plan. Signage will be posted to advise motorists of detours.

Through access from 8th Street to College Drive will be restricted. Local access to businesses along McOrmond Drive, the off-leash dog park, and McOrmond Drive Compost Depot will be maintained. 

A new permanent roadway will be constructed as part of the neighbourhood to allow through traffic between 8th Street and College Drive. This roadway is expected to be completed by October 31, 2014, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances

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

Starting at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday May 1, 2014, 11th Street West between Chappell Drive and Highway 7, will require lane restrictions to allow for testing to be conducted on the roadway. Within the vicinity of the testing, lanes will be restricted to one-way only, where flag people will direct traffic flow.

Lane restrictions are expected to be lifted by end of day Thursday, 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 traffic detour information on our website at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroads and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

As part of a new initiative, the City of Saskatoon will be applying small plastic tags to black garbage carts across the city, which will allow the City to confirm garbage collection.

Each tag contains a barcode for our trucks to scan on collection day. The barcode links a resident’s garbage cart with their address and nothing more. The tags are similar to those used by Loraas Recycle to confirm blue cart collection of recycling.

These little tags will make a big difference in how we provide residents with this essential service:

- The assigned tag and barcode will confirm when carts have been emptied, helping us avoid missed collections. Missed collections are estimated to cost Saskatoon taxpayers $155,000 a year.

- We will be able to track and record carts that require repair or replacement, ensuring that a resident’s black garbage cart is always ready for use.

“This little tag will let us make a big improvement in how we provide this service to people across the City,” says Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental and Corporate Initiatives. “Our initial research suggests that this entire project could save the City approximately $200,000 per year, and we are hoping for even more savings in the future.”

In order to get carts tagged, the City is asking residents to make sure theirs and neighbours’ black garbage carts are out until 5 p.m. on the scheduled collection day, giving our crews time to apply the new tag to the cart.

If you have any questions about these tags or how they work, learn more at saskatoonrecycles.ca or call (306) 975-2486.

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 Spring Pothole and Spring Street Sweeping Blitzes resumed in full force on Wednesday upon the return of warmer weather and dry streets. The moisture from the rain and snow over the past week and a half prevented us from performing much of the planned sweeping and interrupted the repairing of potholes.  The snow, rain, cooler temperatures and frost coming out of the ground caused many new potholes to develop on all Saskatoon streets. 

Spring Pothole Blitz

The City has been repairing potholes along the high-traffic streets since the start of the Spring Pothole Blitz on April 14.  As a result of the recent snow/rain and cooler temperatures, many of those same streets are littered with new holes.  Standing water on the streets has a significant impact on the formation of new potholes. In order to make up for the delays due to weather interruptions, additional City and contractor crews will be engaged for the next two weeks patching potholes in the driving lanes of the priority one and two streets.  A schedule is available for the Spring Pothole Blitz on the City’s website.

The online Report-a-Pothole map usage was up 40 per cent over the past seven days, as the collection of potholes grew.  We thank those who are reporting these locations and remind everyone to please call the Customer Service Call Centre to report the dangerous locations so that we may address them immediately.

“The blitz program for patching potholes in the driving lanes of the major streets and bus routes is designed to improve the safety and ride comfort of motorists,” says Director of Public Works Pat Hyde.  “Tackling these existing and new locations that arise will prove to be a benefit for all.” 

Gravel-covered areas from construction and water main breaks (Utility Cuts)

Asphalt patching is occurring along priority streets where water main breaks occurred over the winter months.  Other gravel-covered areas caused by construction or other underground utility work will be repaired beginning in June.  The utility cuts on the priority streets are monitored daily.  Maintenance grading is performed as required and in many cases is done daily.  Graders will continue to maintain these gravel areas until they can be permanently repaired with asphalt.  Residents are reminded to please call our Customer Service Call Centre at 306-975-2476 to report utility cuts that are severely rutted.  

 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 street sweeping program which includes 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

Prior to moving into the residential areas, City and contract street sweeping crews are cleaning up along the high-traffic priority streets.  Since April 14, the focus has been sweeping centre medians where grass or trees are located, in order to promote growth and improve street aesthetics, and as well sweeping on the priority one and two streets.  The moisture over the past week also impacted and delayed this program. Extra staff are being assigned and contractors were called in to help move the sweeping along.

The Spring Sweeping Blitz is designed as a quick pass through in order to remove the heavier dirt and debris so that once the Accelerated Residential Area Sweep program commences later in May, it will enable a more effective and complete curb-to-curb sweep program.  As a result during the Spring Sweeping Blitz the sweepers will be going around parked vehicles and focus mainly on the driving lanes of the roadway. 

Accelerated Residential Street Sweeping and Pothole Patching

Upon completion of the Spring Sweeping Blitz, the Accelerated Residential Area Street Sweeping program begins.  This is designed as a six week program where every street will be swept curb-to-curb by neighbourhood including the business improvement districts and also those streets that were done during the Spring blitz.  This program will also see applied for the first time a city wide application of parking enforcement.  This will include both a relocation towing and a $100 fine that will be applied for parking on a scheduled street.  The yellow ‘sandwich style’ No Parking signs will be used during day time operations 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 12.  Further information and schedules will be provided closer to the launch date of the Accelerated Residential Area 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.

The Neighbourhood Level Infill Strategy (Strategy) made recommendations to address concerns regarding infill development that is currently occurring in established residential areas within Saskatoon. The Strategy recommended amending the development standards contained in the City of Saskatoon’s (City) Zoning Bylaw No. 8770 for primary dwellings (one-unit, two-unit, and semi-detached dwellings), and small multi-unit dwellings (up to four units) on corner lots.  The Planning and Development Division is proposing changes to the Zoning Bylaw that will ensure that these types of infill development are more compatible with existing residential development.

Residents are invited to attend a “come and go” open house to learn more about the proposed bylaw regulations, including development standards, design guidelines, and the approval process.  Civic staff will be in attendance to answer questions, gather feedback, and provide materials.

Open House for the Proposed Regulations for Primary Dwellings and Small Multiple-Unit Dwellings on Corners Lots
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
City Park Collegiate – Student Commons
820 9th Avenue North

Following the open house, background and information materials will also be available on www.saskatoon.ca, click “I” for Infill Development Strategy, along with the opportunity for residents to submit comments online.

The Strategy is one component of the overall Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon project to help guide investments to accommodate Saskatoon’s growth to half a million people.
For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours, and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

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Having fulfilled their purpose and as part of the agreement with the artists, two short term art installations, Found Compressions One and Two and INFRA are being removed today, April 30, 2014.

Intended as a short-term installation, Found Compressions One and Two, by Saskatoon artist Keeley Haftner, is a sculpture of two cube-shaped cellophane wrapped bales of recyclable materials.

“The artwork has realized its full potential in terms of generating dialogue,” Haftner says and adds she now wants to think about a venue to show a new rendition of the work to discuss the project in its entirety.

INFRA, by Toronto artist Tonya Hart, was originally installed November 2013, on College Drive near Bottomley Avenue and was later relocated to the Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink.  The artwork is a group of sculptures comprised of eight life-sized wolves created with fiberglass.  A fluorescent pigment gives the wolves their bright colours during the day and LED lighting provides their glow at night.

Both installations were placed within the City as part of our Placemaker Program, which aims to promote contemporary arts in a public space, by leasing artworks from the artist. The artwork is adjudicated by the City of Saskatoon’s Visual Arts Placement Jury.

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 at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2014, sections of 7th Street between Preston Avenue and Early Drive will be closed for sanitary sewer upgrades. The sanitary sewer construction will be staged by the following sections:

- Preston Avenue to Argyle Avenue (including the Argyle Avenue/7th Street intersection)      

- Argyle Avenue to Campbell Avenue  (including the Campbell Avenue/7th Street intersection)

- Campbell Avenue to Early Drive (including the Early Drive/7th Street intersection)

- Preston Ave/7th Street intersection (affecting Northbound traffic)                   

Following the sanitary sewer work, road restoration will occur.

“No Parking” signs will be posted in advance of when the work will commence. Signs will also be posted to advise motorists of detour routes.

This project is part of the City of Saskatoon Flood Control Strategy and is designed to provide added protection against sanitary backup in basements during intense rain events.  This project is partially funded by the Government of Saskatchewan through the Canada Saskatchewan Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component.

All restrictions are expected to be lifted by June 27, 2014, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

The City thanks everyone for their patience during this time.

Motorists 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 

To accommodate a marathon event on Sunday, April 27, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., no parking signs and lane restrictions will be in place along marathon routes in the downtown area and along Spadina Crescent. The main road restrictions will include:

- Full closure of 4th Avenue between 22nd Street and 23rd Street
- Full closure of Avenue A between 19th Street and Spadina Crescent
- Spadina Crescent northbound between 20th Street and 33rd Street (including the exit from University Bridge) 
- 25th Street westbound curb lane from University Bridge to 6th Avenue

Drivers are reminded to drive carefully, watch for participants and officials and to be aware of “no parking” signs along the marathon route. The City thanks everyone for their patience.

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

CY14- 143
 
The City of Saskatoon Municipal Golf Courses are now open for the season with the exception of the Holiday Park Executive Nine and the Silverwood Front Nine, which will open on Wednesday, April 30, weather permitting. 

Holiday Park (Phone:  306-975-3325; 1630 Avenue U South)
• Driving Range now open
• Holiday Park 18:  now open
• Holiday Park Executive Nine:  opening Wednesday, April 30

 Silverwood (Phone:  306-975-3314; 3503 Kinnear Avenue)
• Driving Range now open
• Silverwood Lake (Front) Nine:  Wednesday, April 30
• Silverwood River (Back) Nine:  now open

Wildwood (Phone:  306-975-3320; 8th Street East)
• Now open

Online tee time reservations are now being accepted at www.saskatoon.ca/go/golf.  Golfers are able to book 9 or 18 holes of play for groups of 1-4 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 information on the City of Saskatoon golf courses, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/golf.

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

Saskatoon Transit customers using Google Transit for trip planning assistance over the next week may receive incorrect information when using the application while we work to update the database.  

While City Information Technology staff are working quickly to correct the issue, they anticipate that it will take a week to correct due to Google processing times. Google has strict requirements on how data must be sent for our information to be integrated in their system.  Prior to each data upload a validation process is performed to try and avoid this situation. Unfortunately, for the most recent upload some errors were not identified and the City must restart the process.

Customers requiring a trip plan during this time should use the Click & Go service on the City’s website, which is unaffected, or phone Customer Service at 306-975-3100 where a representative can help you. Customers are also always welcome to visit us in person at our downtown bus terminal located at 226 23rd Street between 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends.

Saskatoon Transit would like to apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.  

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.

As part of its Earth Day celebrations, the City is pleased to announce the winners of the Assistance to Community Groups – Cash Grants – Environmental Component for 2014.

“These grants are handed out each year to recognize local non-profit organizations implementing initiatives that support the City’s strategic goal of Environmental Leadership,” says Brenda Wallace, Director, Environmental and Corporate Initiatives. “Funds are allocated to community groups for protection of the environment, conservation of natural resources, environmental communications and education, and environmental research, and our grant recipients this year are certainly deserving of their awards.”

Projects that will be funded in 2014 include:

• Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. ($1,000): Outreach and educational programming to increase awareness and appropriate responses to injured or orphaned wildlife in the city.
• SOS Elms Coalition, Inc. ($1,250): Revision and reprinting of the educational booklet, "Saskatoon Tree Tour - A Guide to the Unique and Unusual Trees in Saskatoon.”
• Safe Drinking Water Foundation ($1,400): Hands-on educational kits for schools, focusing on drinking water quality issues and solutions.
• Saskatchewan Environmental Society ($1,425): Earth Day Celebration to inform and educate the public about sustainable initiatives and how they, in turn, can live more sustainable lives.
• Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin ($1,425): Education on the importance of aquatic and riparian ecosystems through the curriculum based "Stan the Sturgeon Fish Habitat Program.”
• Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-operative Ltd. ($1,750): Educating inner-city youth on concepts of environmental responsibility, nutrition, gardening and general healthy living through the Community Seed Harvest Initiative: Part of CNYC's Growing Our Future program.
• FH Canada ($1,750): Collection, recycling and refurbishment of locally donated medical equipment and supplies, as part of the International Medical Equipment Distribution program.

More information on the City of Saskatoon’s environmental initiatives can be found at www.saskatoon.ca, and click on “E” for “Environmental Services”.

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.

Following the power and website outage on April 21, 2014 the City continues to improve its communications procedures.

The power outage allowed us to identify a vulnerability with the Fire Department’s radio systems.

“The Fire Department will be reviewing its protocol for switching to a more basic radio system during momentary outages that may be caused by a massive power outage,” says Assistant Fire Chief Morgan Hackl.

Further analysis revealed that radio communications were lost for 20 minutes in total, while the system switched to and from a back-up power supply.

The outage also caused the City’s website and e-mail systems to go offline.

“The City already has a plan in place to provide residents with an alternate online location to access information. This will work along with other digital information sources, such as Twitter and Facebook,” says Corporate Performance General Manager Catherine Gryba. 

Additionally, a plan is already underway to move an emergency generator from the “old” Police Headquarters on 3rd Avenue to City Hall.

In preparation for the City’s new website, the Information Technology Division has been creating alternate data centres, which will provide additional back up to essential online service such as Fire Computer Assisted Dispatch, Saskatoon.ca, corporate email and VOIP telephone service.

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 fever is in the air for both dogs and their owners. With the weather finally warming up it is a great time to get out and enjoy the six active Dog Parks operated by the City of Saskatoon (City). With exciting plans for two more parks to open this summer, the following Dog Park’s are accessible to all licensed dogs:
• Avalon - south end of Broadway Avenue;
• Briarwood - south of Wilson's Greenhouse on McOrmond Drive;
• Caswell (open Summer 2014) - next to the Mayfair Pool;
• Hampton Village - north on Range Road 3060, near the airport;
• Hyde Park (open Summer 2014) - south end of Hyde Park adjacent to Boychuk Drive;
• Silverwood - access off Kinnear Avenue or the east end of Adilman Drive;
• Southwest - off Valley Road by the landfill; and
• Sutherland Beach - west of Central Avenue, north of Attridge Drive.

With the increase of users expected in the Dog Parks, here are a few tips to being a responsible pet owner:
• Please pick up after your dog;
• Dogs must stay ON LEASH in all areas of the City unless the area is clearly designated (signed) as a Dog Park; and
• Please be considerate and courteous to other people and children enjoying the outdoors and keep in mind that not everyone is comfortable around dogs, even friendly ones.

For more information or to see a map of the Dog Parks, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/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.

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The moisture from the rain and snow over the past few days is causing many new potholes to form on all Saskatoon streets.  The Spring Pothole Blitz program, which started on Monday, April 14, is an aggressive program to address potholes in the driving lanes of the high-traffic streets. As a result of snow/rain and cooler temperatures, many of those same streets are littered with new holes.  This set-back requires crews to start over with the Priority 1 and 2 streets, pushing back the other streets that were scheduled for this week.  Inspectors are out checking for changing driving conditions due to new potholes forming and identifying emergency locations on all streets.   Asphalt plants were not producing over the weekend due to weather conditions and the Easter weekend; however, crews resumed pothole repairs again on Monday when asphalt was again available.
Drivers continue to report potholes online with the Report a Pothole map and these locations are inspected daily.  At this time, only the severe locations and those on the high-priority, high-traffic streets are being repaired until we can get caught up. Those locations not repaired will be completed once the spring pothole blitz has ended or in conjunction with the Accelerated 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.  Graders are maintaining these regularly until they can be patched with asphalt.  Utility cut patching begins today on Priority 1 streets and will continue until winter.
The Street Sweeping Blitz on high-traffic streets and business improvement districts also started on Monday, April 14.  With the rain and snow, sweeping did not occur Thursday through Monday.  Sweeping resumes today and the online schedule has been adjusted.  Sweeping cannot occur when there are pools of water on the street or when sustained sub-zero temperatures are present although they can still continue with a light rain.  Grassy medians and boulevards continue to be swept and sweeping crews are following behind to collect the debris from the street.
The Spring Sweeping & Pothole Blitz schedules are available at saskatoon.ca as part of the Building Better Roads program.  The schedules are being adjusted frequently due to the challenges we have been experiencing, most notably the weather.  With weather forecasts showing stable, warmer temperatures in the coming week, we hope to establish a more productive and regular schedule.
The Accelerated Residential Street Sweeping program is scheduled to begin on May 5. 
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 #BetterRoadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

It’s Earth Day, and around the world events are being held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Throughout the week, the City will be participating in awareness events, sharing information about its environmental initiatives, and encouraging residents to THINK about their activities and how they affect the planet, to CHOOSE to live more environmentally friendly, and to DO something that many residents are already doing – living more green. 
The Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES) Earth Day Celebrations, with financial support from the City, will take place today, April 22, at the Farmers' Market starting at 3:00 p.m. Activities will include eco­crafts and face­ painting, outdoor activities and a concert featuring local musicians. During the event, the City will be showcasing its recycling information and other environmental programs. For more information, please visit www.environmentalsociety.ca.
The City will also take part in four days of films, workshops and events at the Saskatchewan Eco Network’s Environmental Film Festival, which runs April 24-27 at the Roxy Theatre and Frances Morrison Library. The City will present a Waste Reduction Workshop on April 27 following the afternoon films. More information is available at www.econet.ca.
Throughout the week there will be daily posts on the City’s blog, saskatooncitynews.ca, providing more details on the City’s environmental programs. These programs include: 
Household Hazardous Waste Days

This program makes disposing of hazardous household chemicals and materials convenient and protects the environment. Visit Saskatoon.ca under “H” for Household Hazardous Waste Days.
Recycling Opportunities

The blue-cart recycling program has been utilized by 97% of residents who together helped divert over 8,000 tonnes of recyclable material from the Landfill. Visit saskatoonrecycles.ca and SaskWasteReduction.ca for more details. 
Be Water Wise

The Be Water Wise Campaign supports the City of Saskatoon’s efforts to reduce water consumption in Saskatoon in all sectors. Visit Saskatoon.ca under “B” for Be Water Wise.
Green Cart - Leaves and Grass Collection Program

This program has been expanded for 2014. Now any interested household can participate in the program! More details can be found at SaskatoonRecycles.ca.
Compost Depots

Residents may take their leaves, grass, and non-elm branches, stumps and tree trimmings to the City’s compost depots free of charge. The compost depots are now open! Visit Saskatoon.ca under “C” for “Composting.”
“Yer Dirt” Compost and Mulch Sales

Purchase compost and mulch for use on lawns and in gardens at the Highway 7 Compost Depot. Visit Saskatoon.ca under “C” for “Composting.”
Rain Barrel and Compost Bin Rebates

The City has a limited number of $20 rebates available to Saskatoon residents who purchase a rain barrel or compost bin from a Saskatoon retailer in 2014. Visit www.saskwastereduction.ca/rebate-form to download a rebate form. 
Pesticide Reduction

The City supports the Be Pesticide Free campaign, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society. Learn about alternatives to harmful chemical pesticides and how to do your part to reduce your pesticide use. For more information, visit www.bepesticidefree.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.

The City of Saskatoon is taking a new approach to line painting on major roadways and high-speed freeways this year by expanding the use of durable markings.  When these types of roadways are built or rehabilitated, durable markings will be used. Durable markings are more visible and also last longer than regular road paint. 

“Winter operations, including the use of gravel and snow clearing, as well as higher traffic volumes, wear off road paint faster,” says Angela Gardiner, Director of Transportation. “This is why we are expanding the use of more durable markings on higher volume roadways. While the upfront cost is higher, these markings last longer and are visible year round.” 

The cost of the annual road marking program is $800,000 per year. In 2014, an additional $500,000 will be spent on durable markings. 

Road marking begins once sweeping is underway and nighttime temperatures are consistently at 5 degrees or warmer (generally late April/early May and until late October).  

There are no specific dates for painting road markings as the program is coordinated during or after other road work, and is weather dependent. High-traffic areas (such as downtown and Idylwyld Drive) are generally painted during the night to minimize disruption to traffic.  

In 2014, some of the locations where durable markings will be installed include:
- Circle Drive – Circle Drive North to Attridge Drive overpass, eastbound
- Circle Drive – Warman Road to Circle Drive, eastbound
- 51st Street

City crews paint road markings two to three times each year:
- Lane lines, edge lines and centre lines are painted three times a year
- Crosswalks are painted at least twice a year
- Sharrows, chevrons and parking stall lines are painted once a year
- Road markings are re-painted if they have been removed due to paving, patching, etc.

More information about Road Markings is available at saskatoon.ca as part of the Building Better Roads campaign.  Saskatoon’s Road Plan is a coordinated approach to repair, maintain and construct 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. 

Deb Davies, a firefighter with Saskatoon Fire Department, credits her training with the fire department and the availability of an Automated External Defibrillator or AED at the Las Vegas airport for helping her save a bystanders life.

On Friday, April 11^th, Deb Davies and a group of her friends went to Las Vegas for a short holiday. When they arrived at the luggage carousel Deb noticed someone who was in distress. Immediately her training as a Primary Care Paramedic kicked in. Utilizing her CPR training, she started compressions while calling for others to find the AED and call 9-1-1. Other professionals assisted Deb and together they were able to shock the individual and successfully revive him.

Firefighters with the Saskatoon Fire Department are trained as Primary Care Paramedics and on the job regularly respond to life threatening emergencies. Deb recognized that as an off-duty firefighter she was a person to take control of the situation and use her training to save a life.

At their awards banquet in June, the Saskatoon Fire Department will be recognizing Deb Davies.

The Saskatoon Fire Department will also be recognizing other firefighters who were instrumental in saving a life while off-duty at a Saskatoon Hilltops football game on September 7^th, 2013.

For Release: April 17, 2014


The City of Saskatoon’s compost depots are now open for the 2014 season. Residents of Saskatoon are encouraged to reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill by bringing their leaves and grass to one of the depots:
- McOrmond Drive Depot, located just north of 8th Street East on McOrmond Drive, which is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily
- Highway 7 Depot, located at the corner of Highway 7 and 11th Street West, which is open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday to Sunday. 
The depots also accept tree and shrub material.  Due to the threat of Dutch Elm disease, provincial regulations prohibit the acceptance of elm and any other material that cannot be distinguished from elm at the compost depots.  A provincial pruning ban on elm is in effect from April 1, 2014 to August 31, 2014.  During this period, it is illegal to prune elm without a permit.  These materials cannot be accepted at the depots at any time and must be disposed of at the Saskatoon Landfill.  The Landfill is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week, including all holidays throughout the summer.
The depots are free to residents of Saskatoon.  Commercial haulers are required to purchase and display an entry permit when visiting the compost depots.  The registration fee for 2014, per business, is $200 for the first vehicle and $50 for each additional vehicle.  Registration forms are available at City Hall or online at www.saskatoon.ca and look under “C” for Compost Depot. 
New for the 2014 season: commercial hauler registrations and payments can now be accepted online at http://saskatoonenvirostore.ca! 
For timely updates, watch for Compost Depot Service Alerts at Saskatoon.ca and on Twitter and Facebook.
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.

Saskatoon Transit would like to remind those headed to the Black Sabbath concert at Credit Union Centre on Friday, April 18 that the concert will finish after statutory holiday transit service has ended. This means that there will be no transit connections from the Downtown Terminal Special Events Stop after the concert, and no connections from Malls serviced by the Credit Union Centre Park & Ride Services after the concert.

Credit Union Centre Park & Ride services will still be offered after the concert, however those concert goers who need to take a regular transit route from any of these locations (including downtown) are advised to make alternative arrangements.

Departures to the Black Sabbath concert from the Saskatoon Transit Special Events Stop, located on 2^nd Avenue and 23^rd Street, will be every 15 minutes between 6:45 p.m. and 7:45p.m. on April 18. Buses will depart Credit Union Centre for the Special Events Stop immediately after the concert.

Regular fares, transfers, and passes are accepted to and from the Downtown location only. Please contact Credit Union Centre for information on the mall Park and Ride Service.

For more information call Customer Service at 306-975-3100

The renovation and rejuvenation of Saskatoon’s most beloved park began today as PCL Construction broke ground at Kinsmen Park.

PCL Construction has been contracted for Phase One of the Kinsmen Park Master Plan, which is anticipated to open in time for Summer 2015.

Phase One includes the development of the PotashCorp Playland, which will be an attraction for both the young and the young at heart.  The PotashCorp Playland will include a “rides garden” with a ferris wheel and carousel, a children’s play area with water features, sandplay and natural elements, and the highly anticipated, new train.  The train will be a 1/3 scale locomotive built to resemble a modern day Dash 9 freight train engine.  There will be three carriages built to resemble modern-day Canpotex freight cars, and of course a caboose sponsored by Canadian Pacific Railway!  A special event is being planned in the coming months to give a sneak peek of the train and other exciting elements of the park, so watch for details to be announced shortly.

Highlights of Phase One, including the arrival of new rides, will be posted on the City of Saskatoon’s website throughout the year.  For more information on the Future Home of PotashCorp Playland at Kinsmen Park and the Kinsmen Park Master Plan, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/kinsmenpark

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

“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.  

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.   

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.

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.