News Releases

From the December 6, 2016 Meeting

On New Year's Eve, the ride is on us!

There is never an excuse for drinking and driving. Saskatoon Transit and Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) have partnered to provide free transit and Access Transit service on New Year’s Eve. Enjoy yourself this New Year’s Eve, and don’t worry about driving because the ride’s on us!

“Impaired driving has been top of mind in Saskatchewan as we have needlessly lost so many lives because someone made the decision to drink and drive,” says Joe Hargrave, Minister Responsible for SGI. “During last year’s holiday season, seven people were killed and 33 others were hurt in 119 crashes involving an impaired driver. Let’s not allow that to happen again this year. For your New Year’s resolution – and every day of the year – please promise, ‘I will never drink and drive.’”

Free bus service, which normally starts at 8:00 p.m., will start at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 31 to ensure residents have a safe ride to the “YXE-NYE-150” event which celebrates Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation at Kiwanis Memorial Park (Spadina Crescent East). Free transit service will run until 2:45 a.m. (times may vary slightly by route).

Customers can wait at regular stops or flag down a bus at any point along the route, if they are in need of a ride. When flagging a bus please use caution: stand on the curb at a safe place for the bus to stop and raise your hand to get the operators’ attention.

“We are thankful that SGI has partnered with us again this year to provide free service,” says Michael Moellenbeck, Operations Manager at Saskatoon Transit. “There is no reason for drinking and driving, especially on New Year’s Eve. We strongly encourage residents to jump on the bus to get to and from their destination.”

Please Note: Route 14 will not be running to the North Industrial area after 7:00 p.m.

For more information about Ding in the New Year schedules visit saskatoontransit.ca or call 306-975-3100 and speak to a Customer Service Representative. Access Transit customers can call 306-975-3555 (normal booking procedures apply).

Roadways crews are encouraged with a new winter road treatment. A pilot test of a coarser salt for ice prevention is underway. The salt pellets may be sprayed with a magnesium chloride solution to make them heavier and increase adhesion to the road, resulting in better management of ice and salt usage. When temperatures drop below -12 degrees Celsius, salt is not as effective by itself and the addition of magnesium chloride will help to increase traction.

“Our initial evaluation of the coarser salt during the extreme cold and windy conditions showed exceptional results,” says new Director of Roadways, Brandon Harris of the technique also known as pre-wetting. “We applied the sprayed salt pellets to a thin sheet of ice that formed on Queen Street and the high winds were unable to blow the salt off the road.”

The City will continue to use the pre-wetting technique on high-traffic streets such as Circle Drive, where wet, heavy sand sticks much more effectively to the road in extreme cold conditions. The City’s pre-wetting fleet consists of twelve tandem sanders. Traditional sanders also use sand already pre-wet with a magnesium chloride spray.

Additionally, with current weather forecasts predicting temperatures will fluctuate around zero this week, City crews are prepared for possible freezing rain and icy road conditions. Workers are inspecting, sanding and salting high-traffic streets, bridges and overpasses to provide traction and reduce icing. Sanding and salting is also occurring at intersections, curved roads and icy sections on all residential streets.

Even with the use of sand and salt to prevent icy road conditions, the change in temperature with an increase in moisture can result in ice developing. Drivers are reminded to slow down and be cautious.

Also new this year are flashing blue and amber lights on the City’s high-speed winter maintenance equipment. The flashing lights will be consistent with highway operations and other municipalities across the country as they signal that winter maintenance equipment is ahead.

“City crews will be out there around the clock,” says Harris. “Please watch for flashing lights and slow down for your safety and the safety of everyone around you.”

Find out what happens in Saskatoon when it snows and how you can be prepared at saskatoon.ca/snow or download the Be in the Know About Snow poster (PDF).

Residents are invited to celebrate Canada’s 150^th anniversary of Confederation with an afternoon of outdoor family fun and fireworks at the “YXE-NYE-150” event being hosted at Kiwanis Memorial Park (Spadina Crescent East) on Saturday, December 31, 2016, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Saskatoon will join 18 other cities across Canada, ringing in the New Year in a spectacular way.  Event activities will include:

• Jump on the sleigh rides as they cruise up and down Spadina Crescent;
• Visit the “Inuksuk Park” and build your own inuksuk with ice;
• Create a special maple leaf candle for Canada’s giant snow birthday cake;
• Warm up by the Canada 150 bonfire or at various other warming stations with photo booths;
• Express your wish for Canada’s future on a red ribbon, and tie it to the Wishing Tree;
• Visit storyteller, Joseph Naytowhow, in the giant igloo to learn about First Nations heritage;
• Skate or just hang out at the Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink @PotashCorp Plaza where a disc jockey will lead skating games with fantastic prizes;
• Craft something special at the Remai Modern Art Caravan in the Delta Bessborough Hotel lobby;
• Grab a complimentary cup of hot chocolate or coffee from Tims Coffee Truck;
• Visit the food trucks and downtown businesses for a special treat;
• Meet Olympian, Jillian Gallays, and Paralympian, Erica Gavel, to get autographs and hear about their Olympic experiences;
• Rendezvous at the YXE-NYE-150 main stage to experience indigenous and ethno-cultural entertainment; and
• Listen to Saskatoon band, The Pistolwhips, who will headline the stage. 

To cap off the celebrations, a fireworks show, set to music, will be launched from the Broadway Bridge at 8:17 p.m. (20:17 in the 24-hour time clock).  A local radio station will broadcast the music live; attendees will be able to view the fireworks from up and down the riverbank and listen to the soundtrack on radios or smart phones.

Saskatoon Transit, in partnership with Saskatchewan Government Insurance, will be offering complimentary transit services starting at 5 p.m. 

YXE-NYE-150 was made possible through a $106,000 grant from the Government of Canada’s Canada 150 Fund.  This event will be a great kick-start to the many celebrations taking place throughout 2017 to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of Confederation.  If you’d like to help make it happen, visit www.yxenye150.ca, and click on the “Volunteer” link.  See you there!

From the December 5, 2016 Meeting

7.2.6 Boychuk Interchange Land Acquisition

Decision

*The Committee forwarded the report to City Council in support of the recommendation.

Background

*The recommendation is that Administration be authorized to purchase a portion of Surface Parcel # 120790425 from Larix Holdings Ltd. for the Boychuk Interchange Project.
*The Boychuk Interchange Project was bundled with the McOrmond Interchange Project as a Design-Build Project.
*For the Boychuk Interchange, the City has previously purchased 7.51 acres of property in 2012 from Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam (Ontario) Inc.

7.2.7 Boychuk Interchange Land Exchange Agreement

Decision

*The Committee forwarded the report to City Council in support of the recommendation.

Background

*The recommendation is that Administration be authorized to enter into a tri-party land exchange agreement with 101204822 Saskatchewan Ltd. and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344 for the interchange.

From the December 5, 2016 meeting

7.1.3 Community Standards Division Progress Update

Decision

*The Committee receive the report as information and requested a report from the Fire Department to provide an update with respect to the Property Maintenance and Nuisance Bylaw.

Background

*Established in 2015, the Community Standards (CS) Division operates on a set of founding principles.
*The CS Division is comprised of three core business sections, each accountable for four basic functions.
*Within the operating budget, the CS Division is currently represented by two business lines, operates four service lines, and supports four of the corporate Strategic Goals.
*The development of CS incorporates three high-level priorities of implementation. Specific progress in various areas has been made, and many additional items are identified in the 2017 business plan.

7.1.6 Comparing Infill and Greefield Development – Scope of Work

Decision

*The Committee will be reporting to City Council to recommend that the report be received as information and referred back to the Administration for a further report on the feasibility of creating a round table on infill and greenfield development. The Committee is also reporting to Council to recommend that the matter of establishing a framework for the development of a lane paving policy be also referred to the round table (to be established) for discussion.

Background

*The report provides a “scope of work” for a future study and report comparing infill and greenfield development, including the costs associated with these forms of development. This report also addresses a Committee resolution related to incentives for green buildings and infill development.

7.2.2 Street Activity Steering Committee

Decision

*The Committee will be reporting to City Council to recommend that the City Solicitor’s Office be requested to amend the Panhandling Bylaw with respect to prohibiting panhandling on a street, sidewalk, or other public place within 8 metres of a doorway to a cinema, theatre, or performing arts venue.  However, the recommendation of the Administration with respect to prohibiting panhandling around public parking pay stations was not supported and the Committee is recommending instead that bylaw amendments be prepared to prohibit panhandling within 2 metres around any public parking pay station. In addition, although not intended to impact consideration of the proposed amendments at this time, the Committee is recommending that the Administration review panhandling bylaws from other cities across Canada with respect to buffers around businesses serving and selling alcohol.

Background

*As a result of an increasing trend in aggressive and/or coercive panhandling and panhandling in groups, the Street Activity Steering Committee believes the existing Panhandling Bylaw requires amendments to address current needs within Saskatoon.
*In its present form, the Streets Use Bylaw does not reflect the current needs of Saskatoon and requires a comprehensive review to bring it up to date.

Transit union members today voted to accept the City's offer and the new contract will now go to City Council for final approval.

“We are very happy to have a contract agreement with the Transit union,” says City Manager, Murray Totland. 

The offer includes a 10% wage increase and back pay to 2012 as well as the same pension agreement the other eight unions and associations in the general pension plan have signed.

Totland thanks the public,  transit riders and transit employees,  for "...their patience over the last number of years as we worked toward a new collective agreement.

"The new contract comes at a very appropriate time," he adds. 

"Transit is moving into the future with a new facility, fleet renewal and plans for a shift toward Bus Rapid Transit.  We now have an opportunity to leave differences behind us and work together on drawing the new roadmap for public transit in our community."

Less than two years ago, ground was broken to make way for the new Civic Operations Centre (COC), the new home for Saskatoon Transit and the City’s first permanent Snow Management Facility. Today, City officials marked the end of construction two weeks ahead of schedule and on budget thanks to the expertise and collaboration of a project team comprised of City staff and private development partners.

Saskatoon Transit will move into its new 450,000 square foot facility, a model of innovation and efficiency, in mid-January 2017. The state-of-the-art facility is LEED certified, has 27 maintenance bays, quick service, a full body shop including a paint booth, indoor storage for 224 buses, and administrative offices. It was built with the future in mind and will accommodate the fleet expansion expected over the next 10 to 15 years. In the interim, the unused space will be used for general equipment storage.

The Snow Management Facility will also open in January 2017 and has the capacity to store up to 1 million cubic metres of snow on a 14 acre concrete pad. When the snow naturally melts, the melt water will run through an oil and grit separator and into a melt water/storm water pond. The melt water will then go through a series of specially designed baffle curtains before being discharged in a controlled fashion into the storm water system. The Snow Management Facility will be operated by the City’s Roadways and Operations Division.

To qualify for federal government support, and realize taxpayer savings over the life of the project, the City entered into its first Public-Private Partnership (P3) with Integrated Team Solutions (ITS) through a competitive procurement process.

The P3 approach is expected to deliver value for taxpayer dollars equivalent to $92.3 million over the lifecycle of the facilities – savings that could not have been achieved through a traditional Design-Bid-Build model. PPP Canada’s contribution to the $154 million project is $38.5 million.

With City oversight, ITS led the design, construction, and financing of the COC and will maintain the site and buildings over the next 25 years at which time the City will assume responsibility. At all times, the City will retain full ownership and continue to deliver services.

Quotes

Hon. Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
“This state of the art facility will serve as a model for cities and municipalities across the country. Our government understands that infrastructure is the foundation for building strong and sustainable communities of all sizes and the new Civic Operations Centre is a testament to our commitment to ensure cities have the support they need.”

His Worship, Mayor Charlie Clark, City of Saskatoon

“The Civic Operations Centre is a tremendous step forward for our Transit Operations and for snow and ice management in our city. Our Transit Operations outgrew the old bus barns long ago, and our staff have been making do in cramped facilities for many years. This LEED certified facility, built ahead of schedule and on budget, has perfect timing as we prepare to modernize Transit in Saskatoon.”

Jeff Jorgenson, General Manager of Transportation & Utilities, City of Saskatoon

“From the RFQ stage to where we are today, I couldn’t be more impressed with the execution of the Civic Operations Centre project. It’s a compliment that other Canadian cities and municipalities will be looking at our City’s first P3 project as a model of innovation and collaboration that will result in taxpayer value several years down the road.”

Peter Bullen, Project Co Lead, Integrated Team Solutions

“Integrated Team Solutions is proud to have collaborated with EllisDon and the City of Saskatoon to achieve this major project milestone, ahead of time and on budget. With construction complete, we look forward to partnering with Engie to maintain and operate these state-of-the-art facilities for the City over the next 25 years.”

Michael Kazda, Vice President & Area Manager, EllisDon Construction Services Inc.

"EllisDon is pleased to have partnered with ITS and the City of Saskatoon to bring the design and construction of this project to a successful conclusion. Safely delivering a quality project, ahead of time and on budget, requires a tremendous team effort that everyone associated with the new Civic Operations Centre project should be proud of.”

Backgrounder

Civic Operations Centre At a Glance

• Situated on 180 acres of land within City limits between the CN Railway tracks and Valley Road, just west of Circle Drive.
• Designed like a campus with various buildings and facilities with the capacity to house more civic services.
• An earth berm separates the CN railway line and the Montgomery Place neighbourhood.
• The site has internal circulation roads and a signalized intersection on Valley Road.

Saskatoon Transit Facility

• LEED Certified 450,000 square foot building.
• Fully equipped with state-of-the-art maintenance shop including 27 bays utilizing a combination of built-in hoists and mobile hoists, inspection pits, a transmission shop, machine shop, electronics shop, and tire and battery shops. Also included is a body shop with a paint booth, 2 indoor bus washes with water recycling, fueling stations, bus shelter repair area, and an upholstery shop.
• 250,000 square feet of indoor heated storage space for buses.
• Administrative offices, meeting and training rooms, fare collection room, and dispatch area.

Snow Management Facility

• Capacity to store up to 1 million cubic metres of snow.
• Storm water and meltwater management pond with inlet sand/oil/grit separator.
• Roller compacted concrete surface to facilitate site operation maintenance and cleaning.
• Geotextile material is in place to protect the soil and groundwater from infiltration and contamination, demonstrating commitment to Environmental Leadership.
• Automated Access Control System capability.
• Policies are in place to manage noise created by equipment and tailgate slamming.

Public-Private Partner

• Integrated Team Solutions (ITS) is a consortium comprised of EllisDon Capital Inc., Fengate Capital, EllisDon Corporation, and ENGIE.
• Under contract with the City, ITS will maintain, repair and rehabilitate COC facilities for 25 years.
• Penalty procedures are in place if ITS fails to meet the COC service delivery standards.
• Over the 25-year period, the City retains full ownership of the facilities and will operate civic services as normal.

Timeline

• January 2013 - Federal (PPP Canada) funding approved
• September 2013 - RFQ issued for proponents
• March 2014 - RFP issued for proponents
• December 2014 -  Contract executed with ITS
• January 2015 - Construction began
• December 13, 2016 – Construction complete
• January 2017 - Saskatoon Transit moves in and Snow Management Facility becomes operational
• 2041 - End of contract with ITS

Interesting Project Facts

• 1,250 KM of electrical wire pulled
• 9 KM of fiber optic communication cable installed by SL&P - the largest installation by SL&P to date
• 122 KM of pipe for heated floor in the Transit Facility
• 1,650 light fixtures
• 144,000 concrete blocks in the Transit Facility
• Heat Recovery Units were lifted on to the roof of the Transit Facility by helicopter
• Over 582,000 man hours worked with 0 lost time injuries
• 94.5% of construction waste was recycled
• 31,200 cubic metres of concrete in the Snow Management Pad
• 12,101 cubic metres of concrete in the Transit Facility
• 135,000 cubic metres of dirt moved to level the site (cut/fill)
• 30,000 cubic metres of topsoil utilized for the berm construction

Saskatoon is a national leader in health performance and competitive tax rates say two separate economic think-tanks.

“The combination of our quality of life and our economic competitiveness is what makes us strong as a city,” says His Worship the Mayor Charlie Clark. “This is a great foundation for ensuring we continue to be a resilient city into the future, where everyone has an opportunity to share in the prosperity and good health reflected in these reports.”   

Among ten major Canadian Cities, the Conference Board of Canada ranks Saskatoon first overall in city health.  Saskatoon finishes in first place because it scores highest in life satisfaction and receives high marks for healthy people with healthy lifestyles.

Saskatoon also has the most competitive tax rates among the major Canadian cites. The C.D. Howe Institute today released figures which show Saskatoon has the best business tax environment.

“Results like these are exactly what we’ve worked toward for many years,” says City Manager Murray Totland. “Our attention to City Council’s Strategic Goals such as Quality of Life and Economic Diversity and Prosperity lead to a community with good jobs, schools, health care and people – it’s what makes Saskatoon a great place to live.”

More on the Conference Board of Canada City Health Monitor can be found here.

Follow this link to get more information about the C.D. Howe Institute’s 2016 Report Card on Business Tax Burdens in Canada’s Major Cities. 

City contractors are not wasting any time getting started on two major interchange projects. Just days after being awarded the $57 million project, PCL Construction Management Inc. contractors will begin preliminary work on the two locations.

“We’re very pleased to see that PCL is starting its preparation work,” says Celene Anger, Director, Construction and Design. “In our experience, we have success when the contractor takes advantage of every opportunity to stay on time – or even move ahead of schedule.”

Starting today, PCL will begin geotechnical investigations at both the College Drive/McOrmond Drive and Boychuk Drive/Highway 16 locations. A drill rig will be used to take fourteen bulk samples of in-situ soils, which will provide information such as groundwater pressure, moisture content and other important data points.

Work is estimated to last about five days between the two locations and is not expected to have any lane restrictions or require any detours in the areas. A construction work zone with reduced speed limits will be established in the immediate vicinity of the workers in the interest of worker and public safety.

“This is the very first step in what will be one of the largest combined roadway projects the City has ever done,” Anger says. “These interchanges are going to provide significant traffic improvements for citizens and how they move around our city – but it’s going to take a lot of work getting there. Our commitment to citizens is to keep the lines of communications open, and provide regular updates on the project, so that you have time to plan around the work and help keep your delays as short as possible.”

The City is committed to keeping everyone up to date on the status of the projects, including regular website updates and emails to interested stakeholders. To receive these email updates, subscribe through the city website at saskatoon.ca/interchanges.

For road rehabilitation progress maps and more information on city-wide road rehabilitation work, please visit saskatoon.ca/betterroads.