News Releases

The City of Saskatoon Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) will be conducting another semi-annual, city-wide test of the notifynow mass notification system on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, starting at 6:00 p.m. The purpose of the test is to give residents the opportunity to better understand the notifynow system, to let people hear what a notifynow message will sound like, and to encourage people to sign-up.

“It is important to familiarize residents with what a notification will sound like,” says Director of Emergency Planning, Ray Unrau. “With each test of the notifynow system, we increase our residents’ familiarity with the notifynow process so they will be ready to respond appropriately in a real emergency situation.”

The notifynow system allows the City of Saskatoon to inform residents by sending a written or voice recorded safety message to their cellphone, home or business phone, or email - so they know what to do, where to go, and what to expect during an emergency. With the push of a button, notifynow can reach tens of thousands of Saskatoon residents with timely information on how they can ensure their personal safety and/or minimize damage to their property.

Residents who have already signed up to receive notifynow messages, or who have their phone number listed in the 2014/15 SaskTel Phonebook should expect to be contacted during the notifynow test on Tuesday.

Similar to other tests, persons receiving the notifynow test on a phone will hear a recorded message explaining this is only a test.  Please note: because of the volume of calls going out during the test on Tuesday, and depending on your phone settings, there may be a voice message left. However, in a critical life or property safety emergency, a notifynow voice message with pertinent instructions will be left.

“Later in the evening, after the test is complete, we ask that residents take note of how they received their notification message and whether the message was delivered to them in the most effective way,” Unrau says. “For example, if they received a voice message on their home phone, but would prefer to receive a text message on their cellphone they would need to sign-in to notifynow on our website and update their account. This way, residents decide their preferred method of contact, and they can even sign-up family members.”

Residents with an unlisted SaskTel phone number,  those who have just moved to Saskatoon and are not yet listed in the phone book, or those without a landline, will have to sign-up to receive future notifynow messages by selecting their preferred method of contact.

To sign-up for notifynow or to sign-in and customize the method of how you would like to receive your notifynow message, visit saskatoon.ca/notifynow or look under the Announcements section on our homepage.

The City of Saskatoon Green Cart program has expanded so more residents can conveniently dispose of yard waste without putting it in their black garbage cart.

For $55 we’ll collect your unbagged leaves, grass clippings and non-elm tree trimmings every two weeks from May to November. Register online at Saskatoon.ca/greencart. New registrations and renewals accepted until June 1. For more information call 306-975-2487. Food waste is not accepted in the 2015 Green Cart program.

There are more ways to keep yard waste out of your garbage cart.  The City’s compost depots are open for residents to drop off their leaves, grass and non-elm branches and tree trimmings free of charge. For locations and hours, visit Saskatoon.ca/compostdepots. And for home composters, the City offers a $20 rebate to residents who purchase a compost bin from a Saskatoon retailer in 2015. Visit Saskatoon.ca/composting for information.

Yard waste isn’t garbage. When yard waste goes to the landfill, it’s mixed with garbage and quickly buried, often in an airless environment. Without oxygen, it doesn’t turn into soil or compost. Instead, it creates methane (a greenhouse gas much stronger than carbon dioxide) and garbage fluids called leachate, which have to be managed under strict environmental regulations.

Visit us at the Living Green Expo this weekend for more information on how to put waste in the right place.

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.

Cleaning of the process basins at Saskatoon’s Water Treatment Plant is underway. These tanks are regularly cleaned twice a year to remove a build of river sand and process materials which can cause equipment breakdowns.

As a result residents may notice plumes of orange-coloured liquid being released into the river. This discharge is made up of river sand and other natural organic materials that are removed during the water treatment process. The orange colour is caused by an iron based compound that is used during the treatment process. 

Cleaning is expected to be complete by May 8, 2015. Learn more at saskatoon.ca/water.

NEW

CIRCLE DR E NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT 108TH ST W
(Garffiti cleaning)
Circle Dr NB curb lane closed under 108th St
Start: May 1, 9:00 a.m. End: May 1, 12:00 p.m.

DIEFENBAKER DR EB CLOSED AT VANIER CRES & PEARSON PL
(Storm lead repair)
2-way traffic in WB lanes
Start: May 1, 9:00 a.m. End: May 1, 6:00 p.m.

ONGOING

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.

City crews have been working day and night since April 13, brushing off centre medians and sweeping the curbs along 830 lane kilometers of high-traffic streets in all areas of the City.   To date, 665 tandem dump truck loads of sand and debris have been collected during the Spring Sweeping Blitz, reducing some of the dust and allowing residents to enjoy the outdoors this spring.

Beginning Monday, May 4, Accelerated City-Wide Street Sweeping will clean all streets curb-to-curb by neighbourhood, beginning at 7:00 a.m. 7 days a week.  

“As long as the weather cooperates, all City streets will be swept over the next six weeks,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works.  “As a result of the weekend’s snow storm, sweeping on a few streets scheduled during the Blitz, had to be postponed and will be completed next week.”

Bright yellow “No Parking” sandwich boards will be placed throughout the scheduled area at least 36 hours in advance of sweeping to notify residents and visitors of the sweeping date when parking is not permitted. Each neighbourhood is scheduled around the front street garbage and recycling collection programs.  Neighbourhoods with grid streets and less off-street parking will have Streets and Avenues swept on different days to make parking available for vehicles that need to move.

Alongside daytime neighbourhood sweeping, evening crews will have separate schedules for all School Zones and Business Improvement Districts (BID). For the safety of students, the roadway within the 30 km/h school zone speed limit will again be swept at night, beginning at 8:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday.  School zones and BIDs are identified on the new street sweeping interactive map.  Refer to the online schedule and watch for new overnight “No Parking” signs to avoid getting a ticket and having your vehicle relocated.

Important to note:

• Residents are encouraged to check the online schedule often and pay attention to the day of the week on the “No Parking” signs placed on the street.  Rescheduling may occur to accommodate delays due to weather or other unforeseen circumstance. Street Sweeping service alerts will be issued as soon as an interruption occurs, and all changes will be updated online.
• Vehicles that remain on a scheduled street beginning at 7:00 a.m. will be ticketed $100 and relocated to a nearby street. Find My Vehicle application can help you locate a towed vehicle or call our customer service centre at 306-975-2476.

“We want to get out there and clean the streets as quickly as possible, so everyone can enjoy the warmer weather,” says Hyde. “Drivers are reminded to be patient and drive carefully when they encounter slow moving street sweeping vehicles.”

Visit saskatoon.ca/betterroads for the Street Sweeping schedules; link to a new street sweeping interactive map; and Street Sweeping service alerts for notifications of cancelled or incomplete sweeping areas. 

As the last of the snow melts and warmer temperatures are on the way, the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo will be switching to summer hours on Friday, May 1, 2015.  The extended hours mean that the Forestry Farm Park gates will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and the Zoo will be open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.  The last person will be admitted to the Zoo one hour before closing. Parking fees also come into effect on May 1.  The public is reminded that the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo is a pet-free park.

Watch for new animals arriving this year at the Zoo, and visit the red panda and cougars in the PotashCorp Ark exhibit, which houses animals never seen before in Saskatoon.  

For more information, visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/zoo. 

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

MCKERCHER DR NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT COLLEGE DR
(Graffiti cleaning)
Start: April 30, 7:00 a.m. End: April 30, 8:30 a.m.

COLLEGE DR EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT MCKERCHER DR
(Graffiti cleaning)
Start: April 30, 8:30 a.m. End: April 30, 10:30 a.m.

8TH ST E WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT MELROSE AVE
(Hydrovacing)
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: April 30, 12:00 p.m.

DIEFENBAKER DR EB CLOSED AT VANIER CRES & PEARSON PL
(Storm lead repair)
2-way traffic in WB lanes
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: April 30, 6:00 p.m.

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.

22ND ST W WB CLOSED FROM AVE J S TO AVE K S
(Water Connection Repair)
2-way traffic in EB between Avenue K & Avenue I
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: April 30, 6:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR NB TO 22ND ST OFF-RAMP MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED
(Crash cushion repair)
Start: April 30, 9:00 a.m. End: April 30, 6:00 p.m.

COLLEGE DR WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE APPROACHING CIRCLE DR
(Graffiti cleaning)
Start: April 30, 10:30 a.m. End: April 30, 12:00 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

MILLAR AVE SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 45TH ST E TO 43RD ST E
(Connection repairs)
Start: April 29, 8:00 a.m. End: April 29, 5:00 p.m.

22ND ST E WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING AVE P N
(Groundwater testing)
Ave P NB median (inside) lane closed north of 22nd St
Start: April 29, 9:00 a.m. End: April 29, 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.

CASH GRANTS AWARDED TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

A total of $10,000 is allocated through the City of Saskatoon 2015 Environmental Grant program to recognize local non-profit organizations implementing initiatives that support the City’s strategic goal of Environmental Leadership. To be eligible for the grant, activities must relate to protection of the environment; conservation of natural resources; and/or environmental communications, education and research.

Congratulations to the organizations that will receive funding in 2015:

Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre ($1,600): to increase the educational experience for visitors of the Garden Patch, by providing demonstrations of solar PV energy generation, water catchment techniques and home composting methods.

Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan ($1,400): to connect kids and agriculture through the Summer Garden Program which focuses on plants, gardening, healthy eating, and environmental stewardship.

South SK River Watershed Stewards ($1,400): to initiate awareness and monitoring programs for Aquatic Invasive Mussels in Saskatoon and the South Saskatchewan River watershed, with the ultimate goal of preventing the invasion of AIMs in the watershed.

Saskatoon Cycles ($1,400): to purchase bicycle racks and expand outreach to allow the Bike Valet to continue its commitment to providing an environmentally conscience option for Saskatoon festival attendees.

Saskatoon Farmers’ Market Co-operative ($1,400): to develop and deliver a pilot project to eliminate and/or divert waste for re-use, by working with the Market’s food service vendors to provide organic waste to local farmers as a soil amendment.

Saskatoon Jazz Festival ($1,400): to implement proper recycling, waste and water stations for attendees at the Friendship Park ‘Club Jazz’ venue of the 2015 Saskatoon Jazz Festival; the initiatives will be communicated through various marketing methods.

Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan ($1,400): to fund Wild about Saskatoon’s NatureCity Festival 2015, designed to encourage residents to appreciate and value wildlife and wild places in our urban landscape.

More information on the City of Saskatoon’s environmental initiatives can be found at Saskatoon.ca/ourenvironment.

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 City of Saskatoon (City) Urban Forestry and Public Works crews continue to inspect and follow up on reports of tree damage, as well as monitor catch basins and ponding water as a result of the heavy, wet snowfall over the weekend.

The Urban Forestry crews are focusing on locations where branches are blocking roadways and sidewalks or have the potential to cause injury or damage.  To report damage to City-owned trees that have fallen and are blocking roadways and sidewalks, residents are asked to call 306-975-2890. Callers should provide the adjacent address and a description of the issue in order for staff to prioritize responses.

Trees on private property are the responsibility of the property owner and brush that is cleared as a result of private trees obstructing public sidewalks or roadways will be left on the adjacent private property for the owner to clean up.  The City has two compost depots for residents to drop off non-elm branches, stumps, and tree trimmings for free:

• West – Highway 7 Compost Depot: Located at the junction of Highway 7 and 11^th Street and open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• East – Highway 5 Compost Depot:  Located off Highway 5 by the junction of Highway 41 and Zimmerman Road and open Thursday to Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 The following materials are NOT accepted at the compost depots:  elm wood, sawdust, lumber (treated and untreated), wood chips, mulch, building materials, or any other waste product.  In accordance with the Dutch Elm Disease Regulations, elm branches, limbs, logs, or stumps must be taken to the landfill for disposal.

 Public Works crews are working proactively to keep the water flowing into the storm sewer system, which can easily carry all of the flow resulting from any snowmelt.  Crews continue to monitor critical intersections, ditches, ponds, and culverts and are ready with equipment for emergency situations.

 Residents are asked to call Public Works Customer Service at 306-975-2476 to report gravel-filled utility cuts that require maintenance, hazardous potholes, or catch basins that are not draining.

 To view a video about spring melting conditions, visit www.saskatoon.ca and search “snow melt.”

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