News Releases

From the January 31, 2017 Meeting

7.2.2 North Commuter Parkway Bridge Naming Engagement Process

Decision

*The Committee approved the process to name the North Commuter Parkway, as outlined in the report.

Background

*During its July 21, 2016, meeting, City Council resolved that, “With respect to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action report, would the administration report back on how to engage the community as a whole to name the pending new North Commuter Parkway in recognition of the TRC.”
*The process undertaken to propose a name for the North Commuter Parkway will be community driven, building on the community reconciliation process and Aboriginal Elders will guide the Aboriginal Cultural and Spiritual processes for the naming process.
*Requests for a name will be screened by the Naming Advisory Committee with City Council having final approval.

7.2.4 2016 Waste Characterization Study

Decision

*The Committee forwarded the report to City Council for information.

Background

*In October 2015, the Administration issued a Request for Proposals for the characterization of municipal solid waste generated in Saskatoon and development of a draft Waste Diversion Plan based on the characterization.
*A Waste Characterization Study was completed throughout 2016 with four seasonal sampling periods and targeting all waste generators in Saskatoon.
*The results of the Waste Characterization Study will be used to inform a Waste Diversion Plan, a Plan that will outline options for achieving 70% waste diversion by 2023. It will also be used in the review of civic waste management services.
*The Waste Characterization Study indicated that 77% of waste sampled in residential black carts could be diverted from the landfill if new programs for diversion are made available.
*On average, a single-family household puts 15.6 kg of waste in their black cart each week, and multi-family household puts 7.2 kg. The biggest percentage of this (58% and 40% respectively) is organic, mostly food waste.

7.2.5 Waste Management Master Plan – State of Waste

Decision

*The Committee recommended to City Council that the information regarding the state of waste be received; that the values to be used in preparing options for a new Waste Management business model be approved; and that the Administration be directed to report back at the next stage of the Waste Management Master Plan.

Background

*The 2012 - 2022 Strategic Plan has set Environmental Leadership, including waste diversion from the Landfill, green energy, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and soil quality as a goal.
*Administration has completed a review of the current Waste Management business plan and found that it is not environmentally or financially sustainable.
*Administration has developed a plan to complete a comprehensive review of waste related services to better deliver those services to citizens.
*Administration has prepared a list of values for approval by City Council to be used in evaluating alternatives as part of the review.

The Provincial budget is having a large impact on our city.  Because of the sudden changes announced by the province, the Administration has prepared an emergency report with some ideas for lessening the financial impact on citizens. The Province’s one percent increase of the PST and its cut to the Grants-in-Lieu of taxes (GILT) program have left the City of Saskatoon with $9 million hole in this year’s budget and $15 million in each of the following years. 

“City Council has two goals for how we want to respond to these cuts,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. 

“We need to find a way that mitigates the impact on taxes for residents, as well as maintaining the services that provide quality of life and keep the engine of our economy going.”

Administration based their recommendations on principles that included:

Keeping any property tax increases to a minimum, and service levels up;

Adjusting all options – how we spend, and the cash collected in fines and fees;

Short-term solutions that are doable this year as well as longer-term ones;

Back-filling the provincial budget hole without dipping into reserves;

Maintaining jobs.

"A wide range of solutions has enabled us to keep any possible property tax hike as low as we could," says City Manager Murray Totland.

Totland adds with the proposed 1.69% increase to cover the provincial shortfall, the total change over the 2016 City property tax bill -- on an average house assessed at $325,000 -- amounts to $56 per year or $4.70 per month.

A report on the City Operating Budget options will be presented to the Governance and Priorities Committee Monday, April 10, 2017.

“Council will discuss these options and determine the best way forward in this difficult situation,” Mayor Clark says.

The City and museum today made the first tangible step toward hosting our community and visitors to a multi-purpose gathering space like none other before in Saskatoon.

“We now have the keys to the building, which means we can get to the finishing work and secondary contracts,” says His Worship the Mayor, Charlie Clark.  “We have the keys to a bright future and tomorrow begins with today’s handover.”

Mayor Clark also outlines the impacts of this project on the City and its residents.

The Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority expects Remai Modern to contribute $17 million in annual GDP impact.

Remai Modern Board Chair Alain Gaucher emphasizes that while work to move from the former gallery is coming along, preparations continue at the new building.

“Over the next few months, work will continue in spaces like the feature gallery, restaurant kitchen and the installation of vault systems. We continue to work towards an opening in the Fall of 2017."

“Once we know the air quality, heating and humidity levels are where they must be, we can begin the complex process of moving art into the building. It’s our responsibility to safeguard the significant investments and public assets we are entrusted to protect at Remai Modern.”

Gaucher says Remai Modern has the potential to be an incredible art museum and so much more for citizens and visitors alike.

Among its many functions, Remai Modern will include a state-of-the-art learning centre where young and old will learn and engage with art and each other.

It will offer spectacular event spaces for community gatherings, family events or professional conferences, showing off sweeping views of the South Saskatchewan River.

It will be a gathering place where everyone can come to sit and think, catch up with friends and take in the art on display, including significant Canadian and international works.

“There is no doubt: this gallery will become the living room of our city, a place where locals and travellers come to the heart of our community,” Mayor Clark says.

Five ‘white powder’ calls in recent days have used up Saskatoon Fire Department resources totaling $75,650.

“Each instance was determined to be non-hazardous, but each time we have to treat it as a potential safety threat,” says Assistant Chief Wayne Rodger. “So, each time, we have to call out our hazardous materials and emergency measures teams, on top of regular crews – and that costs money.”

Saskatoon police detectives are now investigating the calls.  No arrests have been made in the March events, but following a similar incident in November, a Saskatoon woman is accused in court.

During the City Council meeting Monday, the most recent events prompted Councillor and Police Commissioner Darren Hill to ask the City Solicitor to explore seeking restitution in any ‘white powder’ court case which results in a conviction.

“These incidents cause a lot of disruption for the businesses they target, for the people who work in these buildings and for our community,” Rodger says.  “If someone is arrested and a judge decides any of these incidents break the law, City Council does not want taxpayers to pay for the emergency response.”

The costs as presented below include the salaries and operating costs of all Fire Department staff who attended the scene of each incident.  Also included are costs of off-duty staff called back to provide coverage of stations left vacant during each incident.

Each incident was attended with 7-8 vehicles/apparatus and 23-26 staff.

Date                         Hours            Cost

March 16, 2017     4.00            $20,900.00
March 23, 2017     2.00            $10,500.00
March 27, 2017     2.50            $13,125.00
March 27, 2017     3.00            $15,750.00
March 28, 2017     3.00            $15,375.00

If anyone suspects a package or container they believe has questionable contents:

• do not handle more than necessary
• isolate the area: prevent people access to stop the spread of possible contamination
• call 9-1-1

Komodo dragons, Thorn and Shruikan (Shrew-khan), arrived in Saskatoon on March 5, 2017, and have been settling into the new Komodo Island exhibit at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo (SFFP&Z).

“We know kids and adults of all ages will be amazed by the Komodo dragons,” says Tim Sinclair-Smith, Manager, SFFP&Z.  “Having these unique animals in Saskatoon provides a great opportunity for us to talk about threatened species around the world, including those in our own backyard.”

Visitors to the SFFP&Z will have their first opportunity to see the Komodo dragons when the exhibit officially opens to the public on Saturday, April 1, 2017.

The Komodo dragons are currently on loan from the Calgary Zoo and will be featured at the SFFP&Z for the 2017 season.  The exhibit was made possible through the generous support of the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation.

“The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation is thrilled to embrace the opportunity to be part of the Komodo Island exhibit,” says Dawn Woroniuk, Executive Director, Saskatoon Zoo Foundation.  “Working with the Zoo and many local sponsors, we were able to create a world class exhibit in a short amount of time.  We hope this exhibit will help bring awareness to the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation as we continue to work tirelessly to build for the future of this facility.”

The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation raises funds for capital improvements within the SFFP&Z.

Do not miss your opportunity to see the Komodo dragons!  From September to April, the zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and from May to August, daily hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Additional information regarding the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo can be found online at Saskatoon.ca/zoo.

For the sixth consecutive year, the City of Saskatoon is one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2017.

This competition examines Canadian employer’s initiatives for workplace diversity and inclusion and recognizes those with noteworthy and unique programs. 

“We are taking a more systematic approach to help us organize, guide, and support the development of specific action plans,” says Catherine Gryba, General Manager of Corporate Performance.

Gryba says, “It’s more than just diversity and inclusion hiring practices. We’re committed to comprehensive plans that create a workplace that is respectful and inclusive to all employees.”

Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2017 are outlined in the March 28, 2017 edition of The Globe and Mail as well as on Eluta.ca.

The City has a long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion including being an equity partner with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.  As an equity partner, the City commits to the basic principles and objectives which outline a larger responsibility to foster an inclusive society.  

City  Council today approved a tax ratio of 1.59; the ratio used to be 1.75.

In simple terms,  the City’s annual budget determines how much it will need to ask from property owners to pay for services like garbage pick up or snow clearing.

The tax ratio policy determines how the taxes needed to cover those costs are split up; or putting it another way: what share of the taxes that different property classes like residential and commercial will pay. 

So, the approved ratio of 1.59 means that for every $1.00 in property taxes that a residential property pays, a commercial property will pay $1.59 on an equivalent assessment.

Here's what it looks like: 

The tax ratio shift has not affected Saskatoon's standing as having some of the lowest property taxes among Canadian prairie cities. 

City Council wants to explore appropriate legal measures in coordination with SUMA and other affected municipalities – including a court injunction – to stop a provincial government plan that would create an $11.4 million shortfall in City finances.

“We are not raising taxes today. Instead we are considering every other option available,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “What is happening is not fair or equal. The provincial government is asking city residents to pay twice for the same service. This is not right and we believe the provincial government should reconsider and explore other options.”

The Government of Saskatchewan released its budget Wednesday March 22, 2017; it became clear the provincial government plans to stop paying Grants-in-Lieu (GIL) of property taxes and to redirect those funds to the provincial government general revenue fund.

“The provincial government-owned power and gas companies are still charging customers the same amount, but instead of passing some of that on to cities, towns and villages for services those companies use, the government is keeping that money,” Mayor Clark says.  

“This leaves the City in a situation where our citizens will have to make up this loss of revenue one way or another - whether in service cuts or further cost reductions.”

Following a four-and-a-half hour special meeting Sunday afternoon, Council also resolved:

• To look into the long-term service agreements and options over lease payments from the Province for the P3 school sites including, but not limited to, charging market rent for the land
• That the Administration report on how much the Province be charged for emergency services and any other services the City provides on its properties
• That the Administration explore a market rent for the Rights of Way access by Crown Corporations
• That the Administration report on options for internal savings and revenue
• That the Administration implement a temporary hiring and discretionary spending freeze until Council can make a decision how to handle this situation, subject to the discretion of the City Manager (in the case of filling positions related to life-safety)
• That it request a joint meeting with Saskatoon Caucus MLAs from both parties to give them an information session on the impact the 2017 Provincial Budget will have on the citizens of Saskatoon

Mayor Clark stresses the provincial government’s move will have a huge impact on cities, towns and villages across the province.

“The city of Yorkton, for example, would lose the equivalent of 58% in revenue sharing – that’s a big hit.”

City Manager Murray Totland reports that nearly two-thirds of Saskatchewan’s population live in cities and are growing while other municipalities are getting smaller. He emphasizes that cities are the economic engine of the province and the magnitude of this cut is unprecedented and will have a lasting impact.

Clark adds the provincial government has suggested municipalities can fix this by taking money out of their reserves.

“Taking the money out of reserves would create a huge problem and a future liability for the city. We can’t kick the can down the road and create problems for the future,” states Clark. He says reserves are meant for when there is a big snowstorm or when buildings start to deteriorate. 

“This is why the Traffic Bridge went from being a $400,000 paint job to a $35 million bridge replacement - because there was not enough money put away to look after and maintain that bridge in the first place. We need to have the ability to maintain what we’ve already built.”  

Mayor Clark will join with other Mayors and Municipal leaders on Wednesday to meet with the provincial Minister of Government relations, Donna Harpauer, possibly other related Ministers.

“I will be talking about the impact this will have on our ability to provide services to our residents, the risk of drawing down reserves to pay for operating deficits, and the need to find another approach to dealing with this situation.  We need to take a problem-solving approach and keep the lines of communication open.”

The City of Saskatoon and communities across Canada are celebrating Water Week, March 20-26, 2017; it’s an opportunity for the City to highlight the vital role water plays in our daily lives and how it contributes to the overall quality of life we enjoy.

“Modern, efficient water and wastewater infrastructure is essential to safeguarding the well-being of Canadian families and building the Canada we want for tomorrow,” said the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. “We are very pleased to have provided funding so that Saskatoon can address their specific infrastructure priorities, while helping grow the middle class with good, well-paying jobs."

This year, the Government of Canada invested an additional $15.8 million in funding through its Clean Water Wastewater Fund, while the Government of Saskatchewan invested $7.9 million.

“The Government of Saskatchewan’s $7.9 million investment will contribute to improving Saskatoon’s water infrastructure and help keep our province strong,” the Honourable Donna Harpauer, Minister of Government Relations, said. “We are pleased to be working with our federal and municipal partners to make services better for the citizens we serve.”

The City is investing $43.3 million to replace aging water mains, sewer mains and lead service lines. All this funding approximately quadruples the annual budget for underground pipe renewal.

“Saskatoon is fortunate to have some of the best quality drinking water in Canada,” says Reid Corbett, Director of Saskatoon Water. “We can attribute this to the high regulatory standards we meet, our professional and highly-skilled staff, and our commitment to investing in state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure to serve a growing city and region.”

Lined up end-to-end, the underground pipes (not including service connections) that make up Saskatoon’s water distribution, sanitary sewer collection and storm water collection systems total 2,843 kilometres; that’s roughly the same distance as driving from City Hall to Toronto around the Great Lakes. The 2017 work includes the replacement of approximately 900 lead water service pipes, rehabilitation of approximately 15 kilometres of water mains, and re-lining approximately 22 kilometres of sanitary sewer mains.

In the Government of Canada’s Budget 2016, the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund was introduced to accelerate short-term municipal investments for the renewal of water and wastewater infrastructure to meet immediate priorities for clean water and healthier environments for communities.

Join the Water Week Facebook LiveChat! On Friday, March 24, everyone is invited to follow Saskatoon City News on Facebook and join our Why Infrastructure Renewal Matters Facebook LiveChat from 12:00 -12:30 pm. You can add your questions to the post now to make sure they get answered.

Learn more about Saskatoon’s water and sewer infrastructure at saskatoon.ca/waterweek and take a video tour of the City’s Waste Water Treatment Plant and Water Treatment Plant.

Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo (SFFP&Z) grizzly bears, Mistaya (miss‑TIE’‑yuh) and Koda (KOH’ dah), have successfully completed their first hibernation.

Mistaya and Koda started hibernating on December 5, 2016, and completed their hibernation on March 17, 2017.

“We monitored the bears throughout their first hibernation, gathering data that can be used in future research projects,” said Tim Sinclair-Smith, Manager, SFFP&Z.

After just over three months of hibernation, the bears have lost some weight, but due to not hibernating for ten years, they still have considerable fat reserves.  Mistaya and Koda will be offered small amounts of vegetables; the same food they would find in the wild after hibernation.  Mistaya and Koda will return to the Kinsmen Grizzly Bear Exhibit this weekend.

Mistaya is the sole-surviving cub from Bear 66, a well-known female grizzly killed on the Canadian Pacific railway tracks in Banff National Park, in 2005.  He stayed in the wild until it became clear that he could not survive without intervention.

Koda was orphaned that same year after his mother fled the den when a logging operation came through the Grand Prairie region.  He was rescued and nurtured by zookeepers at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. The cubs were paired at the Calgary Zoo and later transferred to their permanent home at the SFFP&Z.

For more information on the SFFP&Z, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/zoo.