News Releases

For the December 14, 2015 Regular Meeting of City Council

9.5.1  Saskatoon Public Schools - By-Election - Ward Nine Establishment of Date, Hours of Voting, Polling Areas and Places, Advances/Special and Mobile Polls Wednesday, February 24, 2016 

*City Council will be asked to consider a recommendation that establishes hours of voting, polling areas and places, Special Poll and Advance Poll hours and locations, and a Mobile Poll, for the Saskatoon Public Schools, Ward Nine by-election to be held on February 24, 2016.

Additional Information:

*There is a vacancy on the Saskatoon Public School Board for Ward Nine. In accordance with Section 7(1) of The Local Government Election Act, City Council is to name a day specified by the board as election day.
*At the November 24, 2015, regular meeting of the Saskatoon Public School Board, February 24, 2016 was set as the by-election date.

9.6.1 2016 Taxi License Fee Increase

*City Council will be asked to consider Bylaw No. 9342, The Taxi Amendment Bylaw, 2015 (No. 3).

Additional Information:

*During the November 23, 2015 City Council meeting, Administration recommended the annual taxi license fee for 2016 increase from $375 to $525.

9.6.2 2016 Transit Fare Adjustment

*Council will be asked to consider Bylaw No. 9340, The Transit Fares Amendment Bylaw, 2015.

Additional Information:

*during meetings on November 30 and December 1, 2015, Administration recommended Transit fares for 2016 be adjusted by increasing the costs of tickets, monthly passes, annual passes, senior passes and low income passes, and by decreasing the cash fares for post-secondary students, adults and seniors.

9.6.3 Fee Increase for Woodlawn Cemetery

City Council will be asked to consider Bylaw No. 9341, The Cemeteries Amendment Bylaw, 2015.

Additional Information:

*During meetings on November 30 and December 1, 2015, Administration recommended an increase to cemetery fees for 2016 by an overall average of 5%.

9.6.4 2016 Fee Increase for Multi-Unit Residential Recycling

City Council will be asked to consider Bylaw No. 9339, The Waste Amendment Bylaw, 2015.

Additional Information:

*The Waste Amendment Bylaw implements City Council’s decision to increase the Multi-Unit Residential Recycling Program fees effective January 1, 2016.

9.6.5 Regulation of Electronic Cigarettes/Vaping and Ceremonial Tobacco Use

*City Council will be asked to consider Bylaw No. 9338, The Smoking Control Amendment Bylaw, 2015.

Additional Information:

*On November 23, 2015, City Council received a report recommending possible exemptions to existing smoking prohibitions to include the use of electronic cigarettes within an electronic cigarettes retailer and the use of tobacco in traditional Aboriginal spiritual or cultural practices or ceremonies being carried out in City-owned public places. City Council resolved that such exemptions be implemented and that the City Solicitor prepare the necessary bylaw amendment.

9.6.6 Municipal Governance Structure

*City Council will be asked to consider Bylaw No. 9331, The Procedures and Committees Amendment Bylaw, 2015 (No. 3).

Additional Information:

At its meeting held on November 23, 2015, City Council passed a resolution that:

-Executive Committee be renamed the Governance and Priorities Committee and remain a Committee of all members of Council; the Governance and Priorities Committee’s mandate includes: governance, strategic priorities, annual business plan and budget process, legal matters, human resource and collective bargaining issues and government relations; and, the Governance and Priorities Committee continues to meet on the third Monday of every month.
-City Council have the ability to extend a Regular Business Meeting past 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. upon a majority vote of the members present.
-For Public Hearings, members be prohibited from voting when absent for an entire Hearing; members vote when they have missed part of a Hearing but have reviewed a summary or a recording of what was missed; and, procedural provisions be included which aid in preventing members from missing small parts of Hearings.”

Tomorrow, the City of Saskatoon hosts Jazz Aviation’s final stop on their cross-country tour in search of Santa. The event is intended to bring holiday cheer as some of Saskatoon’s most deserving children join Jazz, and community partners such as Saskatoon Transit, in a special day of “Searching for Santa.”

“You hear people talk about ways to instill holiday cheer, but we literally get to deliver it,” says Michael Moellenbeck, Operations Manager for Saskatoon Transit. “When we take these children to the airport, we are delivering them to an experience they will talk about for years to come. Saskatoon Transit is proud to be a part of this worthwhile holiday experience.”

For the Saskatoon portion of this seasonal event, Saskatoon Transit will be transporting 35 children from the Boys & Girls Club to the Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport where they will begin their holiday adventure. After their flight the children will enjoy breakfast with His Worship the Mayor Donald Atchison while they share their exciting stories.

As part of a national initiative, Jazz is enlisting the help of children from communities across Canada to help them search for Santa. In each community, children from various organizations board a Jazz aircraft where they get the opportunity to go for a short flight while helping to locate Santa.

“Christmas is a time for making positive memories that last a lifetime,” says Jon MacWilliams, Jazz’s Area Manager of Customer Service for the Prairies. “Jazz is grateful to Saskatoon and the many businesses and organizations like Saskatoon Transit that jumped on board when we proposed this idea. We do these events all across Canada and I am so pleased to bring this special adventure to some very special children here in Saskatoon.”

For more information about Saskatoon Transit, visit transit.saskatoon.ca or follow @StoonTransit on Twitter. You can also plan your route in advance using any of the following tools: Saskatoon Transit Trip Planner, Google Transit Trip Planner, or the Transit App on your mobile device.

With equipment moved on site, all regulatory permits in place, and the Meewasin Trail detours finalized, construction on the new Traffic Bridge is officially underway. Trail detours and construction fencing will be installed over the next couple of days and in-river construction will start next week.

Graham Commuter Partners (GCP) will work with the City over the next three years to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the new Traffic Bridge.

Starting tomorrow (Dec. 12), areas of the Meewasin Valley Trail will be restricted. Phase I of the restrictions will be in place until Spring 2016, and include the closure of the Trail between Broadway Avenue and the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge on the south side of the South Saskatchewan River. Trail users will be detoured onto Saskatchewan Crescent East at each end of this section of the Trail via pedestrian crosswalks.

“Signage will be in place to ensure Trail users understand where the Trail is closed, the new temporary route, and where pedestrian crosswalks are located along Saskatchewan Crescent East,” says Dan Willems, Special Projects Manager with Major Projects.  “In addition to the detour signage, construction fencing will be going up around the perimeter of the construction site, and we remind residents to comply with posted signage. We want to ensure people are safe when moving around the live construction site.”

Next week, work on the construction berm in the river is expected to begin. “GCP will be constructing an earthen berm that extends from the south bank of the river to the existing pier in the centre of the river,” says Willems. “The berm will allow vehicles and equipment to access the river to work on the new bridge.”

Once the berm is constructed, the first phase of bridge demolition will occur. Information regarding the demolition will be shared in the coming weeks.

GCP is also in the process of applying for final permits to begin work on the North Commuter Parkway, the second component of the Bridging to Tomorrow project. It is expected construction of this bridge will start in early 2016. The City and GCP will be holding public information open house events on the Parkway piece of the project in early 2016.  

For more information, and a map of the Trail detours, visit saskatoon.ca/bridging.

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.

The City is pleased it has been able to achieve a settlement with the Transit union on the matter of two weeks of damages due to that portion of the lockout last year being declared illegal.

The final amount of the payment is approximately $651,000.  The payment will have no adverse budget impact for 2015 or for 2016, as the City already accrued a sufficient amount during the 2014 year-end and funds were reserved for this purpose.

It’s expected affected Transit staff should receive a payment by mid-February.

Despite the City’s efforts, continuing discussions with the Transit union on wages and pension concerns unfortunately remain at an impasse.  Nonetheless, we will remain working on a new contract with the Transit union. 

Fire officials are offering some advice on how to keep your family safe during the holiday season.

Today, Saskatoon Eastview MLA Corey Tochor, on behalf of Government Relations Minister Jim Reiter, joined Saskatoon Mayor Donald Atchison at a demonstration of a natural Christmas tree burn to remind citizens to be fire safe this holiday season.

“During the busy Christmas season, remember to add fire safety to the top of your holiday list, as you prepare to celebrate this wonderful time of year,” Tochor said.

“As we celebrate this season, I hope families will make fire safety a tradition in their holiday plans,” Atchison said.  “Please take a few minutes to make sure your home is always a safe and welcoming place for friends and loved ones.”

Picking a tree:
When choosing a real Christmas tree, pick one with fresh, green needles that don’t fall off when touched.  At home, and before placing the tree in a stand, cut at least two inches from the base of the tree trunk.  Make sure the tree’s base is watered right away with it immersed at all times, then check and water it daily.

Placing, decorating and disposing of a tree:
The tree should be placed at least three feet from any heat source like fireplaces, radiators, candles and heat vents.  Tree decoration light strings should be approved by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), discarded if damaged, and never left on when leaving home or going to sleep.  Trees should also be disposed of quickly after celebrating the holidays.

Smoke alarms:
Remember to check your home’s smoke alarms before the holidays and test them monthly.  Everyone in your home should understand a smoke alarm’s sound and know they are to exit a building quickly and calmly before calling the fire department.

For fire safety message videos, visit the Government of Saskatchewan at https://youtu.be/RdvVdkNlQTM and the City of Saskatoon at https://youtu.be/ssEC0ZbhJ3I.

The Ministry of Government Relations includes the Emergency Management and Fire Safety Branch and the Office of the Fire Commissioner of Saskatchewan.

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.

December 8, 2015 meeting

8.2.1 Appointments to Governance and Priorities Committee

*The purpose of the report is to transfer the 2016 appointments for Executive Committee to the newly-formed Governance and Priorities Committee.
*The committee approved forwarding a report to City Council recommending the 2016 appointments for Executive Committee be transferred to the Governance and Priorities Committee.

Background

*On November 23, City Council requested the following changes be implemented:
-Executive Committee be renamed the Governance and Priorities Committee and remain a Committee of all members of Council; the Governance and Priorities Committee’s mandate includes: governance, strategic priorities, annual business plan and budget process, legal matters, human resource and collective bargaining issues and government relations; and, the Governance and Priorities Committee continues to meet on the third Monday of every month.

8.2.2 Deferral Report – Municipal Governance – Practices and Procedures for the Reporting Out of In Camera Items

*Executive Committee approved deferral of the report until the January 18, 206 meeting of the Governance and Priorities Committee.

Background

*At the Executive Committee meeting of November 16, the Leadership Team Governance Subcommittee committed to providing a report respecting practices and procedures for the reporting out of in camera items. The finalization of this report has been delayed partly due to the passage of new Cities Act provisions impacting the issues. 

The City’s new garbage system will improve collection reliability, enhance customer service and improve efficiencies for the benefit of all black, blue and green cart customers.

“We’re so pleased to introduce new collection routes and take a bold step toward our vision of a highly efficient and effective waste management system,” said Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental and Corporate Initiatives. “The City’s new efficient waste system will improve our service level to Saskatoon citizens, lower fuel costs and reduce our carbon footprint.”

Using real-time data collected by the new system over the past several months, the City is introducing optimised routes and schedules, designed specifically to move efficiently and directly through Saskatoon’s road network and neighbourhoods. The new routes also consider trips each truck needs to take to drop off collected materials at the landfill, recycling centre, or compost depot and ensures these trips are as short and direct as possible, with reduced back-tracking by collection trucks. There is no location change for front-street or back lane collections.

The new collection days begin January 4, 2016 and are clearly identified in the personalized 2016 Cart Collection Service guide and calendar delivered by Canada Post in December.

“Almost every neighbourhood will have a new day for at least one program starting January 4,” says Wallace.  “We encourage people to help their neighbours catch on to the new collection days for black and blue carts by reminding them if they don’t have their cart out, and by rolling out a cart for someone with physical challenges.”  

In addition to developing more efficient collection routes, the City’s new garbage system tracks where a garbage truck is on a route and confirms when your garbage has been collected. It also identifies any missed collections before a truck leaves the neighbourhood, and reduces the amount of kilometers the trucks travel, which is better for the environment and saves money in gas.

Increased efficiency of waste collection supports the City’s Strategic Goal of Asset and Financial Sustainability and being the best-managed city in Canada.

December 7, 2015 Meeting

7.1.1 Update on Railway Delays

*The report updates ongoing operational issues with Canadian National Railway in the southwest part of the city and provides an overview of the Rail Working Group.
*Administration will:
-provide a report with the traffic projections for Marquis Drive and 51st Street between Wanuskewin and Millar Avenue after opening of the new commuter parkway bridge
-provide a report with the criteria and assessment used in deciding which crossings to evaluate for the possibility of grade separation, including traffic counts, traffic projections, frequency of delays, length of delays, or whatever other criteria were used and to include a fact-based rationale for which crossings were selected, which were not, and why.
-review the possible relocation of the CN freight yards
-be instructed to review the relocation of the CP Yards in Sutherland and that they entertain the joint use/co-sharing of the CN mainline south of the city.

 Background

*In January, 2015 City Council resolved a committee be established between the City, CN, and CP to develop solutions to reduce delays resulting from at-grade railway crossings.
*In September, a letter was sent to the Regional Director of Transport Canada requesting clarification of jurisdiction and enforcement of regulations on the spur line at 11th Street West. To date, there has not been a response.

7.1.3 Varsity View Neighbourhood Traffic Review – Main Street and Wiggins Avenue

*The committee received the report outlining results of the additional public consultation with Varsity View residents and the Community Association on the proposed temporary traffic restriction at Main Street and Wiggins Avenue.

Background

*Administration will proceed with three relatively minor changes to signage along Main Street to mitigate shortcutting traffic. The majority of residents did not support the first restriction which included installing a raised curb to restrict east-west vehicular movement.

7.2.2 Neighbourhood Traffic Review – Revised Process

*The report outlines proposed changes to the Traffic Calming Guidelines and Tools document.
*The proposed changes include that major roadway modifications are made on a temporary basis for at least one year, at which time the Administration will evaluate impacts to traffic and collect community feedback to determine the level of support for maintaining the changes.
*The committee recommends to City Council that the Administration:
-be directed to update the “Traffic Calming Guidelines and Tools” procedure.

-be directed to proceed with current and 2016 Neighbourhood Traffic Reviews as outlined, until the Traffic Calming Guidelines and Tools document has been updated and approved by Council.

Background

*In November, the committee asked Administration to report back with recommendations on a clear policy regarding the endorsement of a final Neighbourhood Traffic Review, including a process outlining alternatives where some elements of a Neighbourhood Traffic Review may not be acceptable to Council.

December 7, 2015 Meeting

7.1.1 Saskatoon Light & Power Smart Meter Program Update

*The committee received the report as information, which outlines progress on the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project as well as steps SL&P has taken to ensure commitment to safety through the smart meter replacement program.
*The AMI network for communicating with electricity and water meters within the SL&P service area has been installed.
*System acceptance testing is underway for the AMI system and integration with the existing billing system is set for early 2016.
*SL&P has completed safety checks for all new and existing meters including inspections of private and SL&P infrastructure.

Background

*In June 2014, City Council approved the implementation of AMI. In early 2015, to ensure a commitment to safety through its smart meter replacement program, SL&P announced plans to conduct safety checks on all meter installations.

7.1.2 Building Better Infrastructure: Water & Wastewater Systems

*The committee received the report as information. The report provides information on the sanitary collection and water distribution inventory, value, condition, and asset management initiatives.
* Saskatoon currently has $3.39 and $2.84 billion of sanitary collection and water distribution assets.
*The water distribution system’s current preventative maintenance funding levels are sufficient for distribution mains. Further information is required to appropriately assess service connections, primary mains, valves and hydrants.
*The sanitary collection system’s current preventative maintenance funding levels are sufficient for sanitary collection mains and service connections. Further information is required to appropriately assess force mains, sanitary trunk mains and manholes.

Background

*The sources of data contained in the report are the City’s Geographical Information System (GIS) database, asset management databases, past contract values, and operations and maintenance records.

7.2.1 Service Saskatoon – Free Public WiFi Service

*The report will be forwarded to City Council for information. It provides information on the procurement process, and the business partner selected to provide citizens, visitors and businesses with free public WiFi service at a number of City-owned facilities.

Background

*A Request for an Expression of Interest and a Request for Proposal were issued for providing free public WiFi service in City customer-serving facilities.
*Shaw Communications has been awarded the agreement and will provide free WiFi at no cost to the City in transit terminals, recreation and sport facilities, libraries and City Hall.

7.2.5 Update from Corporate IT

*The report will be forwarded to City Council for information. It articulates high level activities the Information Technology (IT) division has been focused on during the past 6 months.

Background

*An independent consulting report recommended the development of a multi-year business plan determining how IT will support the strategic direction of the City. Based on the results of this review, IT launched a new vision and mandate statement in July 2015. Main components to the vision outlined in the IT Division are:
•Being a strategic business partner empowering our citizens and the Corporation in effectively utilizing technology to access our programs and services.
•IT would become the leaders in innovative business solutions for our business partners providing the effective and efficient use of the corporations’ resources. In conjunction with the development of a strategic business plan for IT, activities that are in alignment with goals of the Corporation have been initiated.

City Council approved a 3.96% property tax increase at final budget deliberations yesterday which translates to a $64.70 per year increase, or $5.40 per month based on an average residential assessment value of $325,000.

** All figures in millions

Highlights of the Final 2016 Budget 

Transportation: 7% increase in expenditures or total change of $8.2 million over 2015

Snow & Ice Management: City Council resolved to dedicate 0.55% ($1.039M) of the increase to snow and ice programs in 2016, and instructed the Administration to bring forward similar increases in 2017 through 2020.  This additional funding will be used to improve snow removal programs immediately, and over a number of years of phased-in increases, this funding could eventually be sufficient to fund city-wide snow removal on residential streets when conditions warrant.  The January SPC on Transportation will be considering improved service levels to implement in 2016 and beyond, and is expected to make recommendations for Council to consider at its January meeting.

Snow disposal sites are a major consideration of this initiative for future years.  As such, Council has directed the Administration to bring forward detailed options and funding implications to the 2017 budget process.

Other Major Initiatives for Transportation in 2016:

• Build the North Commuter Parkway project, Traffic Bridge, interchanges at Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 and at College Drive and McOrmond Drive
• Continued focus on improving the condition of the transportation network through the Building Better Roads Program
• Establish a long-term Transit Strategy
• Utilize automated technology to provide a condition assessment of all of Saskatoon’s roadways
• Free Transit Service on Election Days
• Implement Neighbourhood Traffic Management Process

Environmental Health: 0.72% decrease in expenditures or total reduction of $0.14 million over 2015

• Funding approved for Major Initiatives that include the first phase of a Dutch Elm Disease Response Plan to prevent loss of urban forest trees and to increase public awareness; Recovery Park; a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Business Plan; Community Waste Reduction and Resource Recovery aimed at the Household Hazardous Waste Program in 2016; and Landfill Replacement Reserve
• To support waste diversion from the Saskatoon Landfill, the 2016 Green Cart Program subscription remains unchanged at $55 per year

Utilities: 4.9% increase or total change of $14.0 million in expenditures over 2015 - Capital $2.9 million,
ROI $3 million Operations (2.8%) $8.1 million

• For major initiatives that include continued Conservation Education Programs Odour Abatement
• Saskatoon Light & Power’s Green Energy Generation Projects; Additional power source-reliability; and infrastructure renewal funding strategies
• Water Treatment Plant upgrades to reliability and efficiency; additional fill main & reservoir in the NE and E Sectors
• Waste Water Treatment Plant Odour Abatement  with a goal of reduction to 76%; and addition of Fourth Digester/Liquid Waste Haulers Station/ Lift Station upgrades

Urban Planning & Development: 2.87% increase in expenditures or total change of $0.4 million over 2015

• For Major Initiatives that include the Growth Plan to Half a Million; New Regional Plan; New Active Transportation Plan; Parking Strategy; Comprehensive Re-write of the Building Bylaw; and Centralized Bylaw Enforcement through the Community Standards Division

Community Support: 2.54% increase in expenditures or total change of $0.4 million over 2015

• For Major Initiatives that include partnerships and programs for the Urban Aboriginal Leadership Program; the Age Friendly Saskatoon Action Plan; Immigration Action Plan; Culture Plan Implementation; and renewal of Accessibility Action Plan

Recreation & Culture: 3.65% increase in expenditures or total change of $1.74 million over 2015

• Major Initiatives include Recreation and Parks Master Plan implementation; planning for the next Leisure Centres; development of a sustainable plan for the maintenance of Parks & Recreation assets; and establishment of a PotashCorp Playland Asset Replacement and Maintenance Reserve

Fire: 3.3% increase in expenditures or total change of $1.49 million over 2015

• Expanded operations requiring additional resources due to the expansion of the city’s population and physical boundaries, and to meet the Service Levels established by City Council

Corporate Asset Management: 6.2% increase in expenditures or total change of $0.6 million over 2015

• For Major Initiatives that include enhancement of the Corporate Radio Communications network to meet civic demand and city growth; development of core capital renewal principles and funding strategies for long-term asset preservation; and corporate partnerships in Asset Management and Service Agreements to support program delivery

Corporate Governance & Finance: 6.99% increase in expenditures or total change of $4.5 million over 2015

• Service Saskatoon – 311/Customer Relationship Management
• For other Major Initiatives that include service levels for assets and preventative maintenance; continued Civic Service Reviews to ensure continuous improvement; risk management; strategies for Citizen Engagement; alternate sources of revenue through bundling advertising opportunities

Land Development: 24.34% decrease in expenditures or total reduction of $2.1 million over 2015

• Major Initiatives include the continued servicing of initial phases of Aspen Ridge; extending arterial roads and trunk sewers into Aspen Ridge and Brighton; Elk Point Concept Plan; new park construction throughout the city; and continuing to service last phases in Marquis Industrial Area for further employment growth

Taxation & General Revenues: 6.38% increase or total change of $21.9 million over net revenue 2015

• Major Initiatives include investigating alternate revenue sources to help alleviate pressure on the property tax levy; examining User Fees and Subsidies Policy; and analysis of Non-Tax Revenue

For more related budget reports, visit saskatoon.ca > Budget & Finances

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.