News Releases

The YMCA of Saskatoon, City of Saskatoon, and Saskatoon Tribal Council have partnered together to explore the potential of a new joint recreation facility in Saskatoon’s city centre.  The goal of a joint recreation facility is to be able to share in the available resources and improve the quality of and access to recreation in the community.

Working together with the Saskatoon office of MNP LLP (MNP), a national Assurance and Advisory Firm, the recreation facility partners will be seeking feedback from the community to determine the feasibility of such a facility.  This includes fully understanding what program needs are not being filled by existing facilities in the city centre area and the possibility of long-term success for a new facility.

The community is invited to participate in an open house and/or online survey to assist in understanding:

• the types of programs that could be available at a new facility;
• if people would go to a new facility; and
• what would make the facility the most successful.

OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – “Come and Go” Open House
White Buffalo Youth Lodge, Multi-Purpose Room – 602 20^th Street West

MNP consultants and representatives from each partner organization will be in attendance to collect comments.

ONLINE SURVEY
As another convenient option, a short online survey is available to the public until the end of the day, Friday May 15, 2015:
http://take-survey.com/SKMNP/psccrfsurvey.htm

If you have questions about the survey, please contact MNP at 306-664-8302 or email stephanie.bell@mnp.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.

Recent convictions and the resulting fines given to individuals for tampering with fire alarm systems or portable fire extinguishers demonstrate the seriousness of these actions.

The Saskatoon Fire Department has responded to a number of false alarms due to people spitefully activating the fire alarm system or maliciously discharging of fire extinguishers. With the evidence gathered through video surveillance cameras and other investigative methods six charges have been laid in the last two years and more are pending. All of the charges laid have led to convictions. Five individuals have been convicted of either Tampering with a Fire Alarm System or Tampering with a Portable Fire Extinguisher under Section 30 (1) & (2) of The Fire Prevention Act (1992) and fined between $580 and $2,100.

It is against the law to tamper with smoke alarms, to tamper with a fire alarm system, to tamper with or discharge a fire extinguisher, to block or obstruct an exit or to prop open fire separation doors which include suite doors and stairwell doors. The Act allows for a maximum fine of $10,000 for any of these offences.

Falsely pulling a fire alarm system has a number of detrimental effects.

• Persons who live in buildings where the fire alarm system is pulled maliciously sometimes assume that alarms are false and ignore them. If there is a fire in the building, this puts many more lives unnecessarily at risk.
• The Saskatoon Fire Department responds to many different types of emergencies not just fires. False alarms cause a diversion of fire department resources, and can hinder our response to a real emergency at another location once again putting lives unnecessarily at risk.

The Saskatoon Fire Department reminds every one of the life safety threats associated with false alarms.

 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.

NEW

WARMAN RD NB & SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM PRIMROSE DR TO 51ST ST/LENORE DR
(concrete repairs)
Start: May 11, 9:00 a.m. End: May 11, 5:00 p.m.

CENTRAL AVE CLOSED BETWEEN GARVIE RD & SOMERS RD
(Sewer main installation)
Detour via Kristjanson Rd
Start: May 11, 9:00 a.m. End: June 26, 5:00 p.m.

ONGOING

UNIVERSITY BRIDGE CLOSED BETWEEN SPADINA CRES & COLLEGE DR
(Bridge Repairs)
Start: May 3, 7:00 a.m. End: August 31, 6:00 p.m.

*EXPECT DELAYS* CIRCLE DR/HWY 16 EB & WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED APPROACHING OVERPASS
(New bypass construction)
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: May 15, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

NEW

WANUSKEWIN RD SB LANES CLOSED BETWEEN 71ST ST & MARQUIS DR
(Gasline Maintenance)
71st St EB closed at Arthur Rose Ave
Start: May 9, 7:00 a.m. End: May 9, 11:00 a.m.

ONGOING

UNIVERSITY BRIDGE CLOSED BETWEEN SPADINA CRES & COLLEGE DR
(Bridge Repairs)
Start: May 3, 7:00 a.m. End: August 31, 6:00 p.m.

RESTRICTIONS EXTENDED: CIRCLE DR/HWY 16 EB & WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED APPROACHING OVERPASS
(New bypass construction)
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: May 15, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, May 11, Central Avenue between Garvie Road and Somers Road will be closed while crews install a sewer main. The work is expected to last approximately 6 to 8 weeks, weather permitting.

Traffic will be detoured via Kristjanson Road. Access to the Regional Psychiatric Centre will be maintained at all times.

The work will improve the efficiency of the sewer system and ensure uninterrupted service into the future. The City thanks drivers for their patience as this necessary work is carried out.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The YMCA of Saskatoon, City of Saskatoon, and Saskatoon Tribal Council have partnered together to explore the potential of a new joint recreation facility in Saskatoon’s city centre.  The goal of a joint recreation facility is to be able to share in the available resources and improve the quality of and access to recreation in the community.

Working together with the Saskatoon office of MNP LLP (MNP), a national Assurance and Advisory Firm, the recreation facility partners will be seeking feedback from the community to determine the feasibility of such a facility.  This includes fully understanding what program needs are not being filled by existing facilities in the city centre area and the possibility of long-term success for a new facility.

The community is invited to participate in an open house and/or online survey to assist in understanding:

• the types of programs that could be available at a new facility;
• if people would go to a new facility; and
• what would make the facility the most successful.

OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – “Come and Go” Open House
White Buffalo Youth Lodge, Multi-Purpose Room – 602 20^th Street West

MNP consultants and representatives from each partner organization will be in attendance to collect comments.

ONLINE SURVEY
As another convenient option, a short online survey is available to the public until the end of the day, Friday May 15, 2015:
http://take-survey.com/SKMNP/psccrfsurvey.htm

If you have questions about the survey, please contact MNP at 306-664-8302 or email stephanie.bell@mnp.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 YMCA of Saskatoon, City of Saskatoon, and Saskatoon Tribal Council have partnered together to explore the potential of a new joint recreation facility in Saskatoon’s city centre.  The goal of a joint recreation facility is to be able to share in the available resources and improve the quality of and access to recreation in the community.

Working together with the Saskatoon office of MNP LLP (MNP), a national Assurance and Advisory Firm, the recreation facility partners will be seeking feedback from the community to determine the feasibility of such a facility.  This includes fully understanding what program needs are not being filled by existing facilities in the city centre area and the possibility of long-term success for a new facility.

The community is invited to participate in an open house and/or online survey to assist in understanding:

• the types of programs that could be available at a new facility;
• if people would go to a new facility; and
• what would make the facility the most successful.

OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – “Come and Go” Open House
White Buffalo Youth Lodge, Multi-Purpose Room – 602 20^th Street West

MNP consultants and representatives from each partner organization will be in attendance to collect comments.

ONLINE SURVEY
As another convenient option, a short online survey is available to the public until the end of the day, Friday May 15, 2015:
http://take-survey.com/SKMNP/psccrfsurvey.htm

If you have questions about the survey, please contact MNP at 306-664-8302 or email stephanie.bell@mnp.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.

ONGOING

UNIVERSITY BRIDGE CLOSED BETWEEN SPADINA CRES & COLLEGE DR
(Bridge Repairs)
Start: May 3, 7:00 a.m. End: August 31, 6:00 p.m.

*EXPECT DELAYS* CIRCLE DR/HWY 16 EB & WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED APPROACHING OVERPASS
(New bypass construction)
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: May 11, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The City has started mailing the 2015 Property Tax Notice to 91,000 properties in Saskatoon. Property owners should expect their tax notices to arrive over the next two weeks. If you do not receive your tax notice by May 31, 2015, please call 306-975-2400.

Property Taxes for 2015 are due June 30, 2015. 

Included with your 2015 Property Tax Notice is an informative brochure that explains the information you will find on your tax notice, and contact information should you have any other tax related questions. The tax brochure also highlights how you can get involved in shaping the City of Saskatoon’s financial future, through upcoming opportunities to participate and have your say in shaping the City’s annual budget for 2016. Watch for updates under City Hall>Budget& Finances>Shaping Saskatoon’s Financial Future.

Property owners are also encouraged to visit saskatoon.ca and look under >Popular Services for Residents>Look Up My Property Assessment to use the Property Assessment & Tax Tool. This helpful and easy to use tool allows the user to look up any Saskatoon property by address to see assessment information, related market area information, property tax information, and details on how the City distributes the current year’s municipal portion of property taxes to civic services.

Visit saskatoon.ca/propertytax for additional information. Or contact a Customer Service Representative at 306-975-2400, we are pleased to answer any tax related questions you may have. 

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 will continue to expand the use of durable markings on major roadways and high speed freeways this year. Durable markings are more visible and last 7 to 10 years longer than regular road paint.

“Winter operations, including sanding and snow clearing, as well as high traffic volumes tend to wear off road paint faster,” says Angela Gardiner, Director of Transportation. “With increased funding in recent years we’ve been able to expand the use of durable markings, which are visible year round.”

The type of durable markings the City uses are called inlaid thermoplastic. Crews grind out 5 millimeter deep sections in the asphalt and fill the groove with the liquid plastic material to a level slightly above the roadway surface.  Glass reflective beads are then distributed across the liquid surface before it cures.

This year, durable markings will be applied to a total of 11.8 kilometers of road including, portions of Millar Avenue, Wanuskewin Road, Warman Road, 22nd Street, Lorne Avenue and Circle Drive. This work is scheduled to begin in June.

Traditional paint will still be used to mark lane, centre and edge lines on more than 800 kilometers of roadway across Saskatoon this year. Crews began painting lines on Monday, April 20, and are approximately 5 per cent complete.

“Repainting road markings is a priority for the City in the spring to help drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to understand and navigate the roadways safely and efficiently,” says Gardiner. “We coordinate road marking with road resurfacing work, and to minimize traffic disruptions, lines on high traffic streets are painted at night.”

Crews paint road markings two to three times each year:

• Lane lines, edge lines and center lines are painted three times a year
• Crosswalks are painted at least twice a year
• Shared bike lanes markings (sharrows) and chevrons (near freeway ramps) are painted once a year
• Road markings are repainted if they are removed  due to paving, patching etc.

For the safety of workers, please slow down when approaching work zones or line painting vehicles, and give the workers the room they need to get the job done safely and efficiently.

For more information about line painting visit saskatoon.ca/betterroads.