News Releases

ONGOING

WANUSKEWIN RD SB LANES CLOSED BETWEEN 71ST STREET AND MARQUIS DR
(SaskEnergy gasline work)
Detour via 71st St WB and Arthur Rose Ave. 71st St EB closed between Arthur Rose Ave and Wanuskewin Rd
Start: April 13, 9:30 a.m. End: April 17, 6:00 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

24TH ST CLOSED BETWEEN SPADINA CRES & AT 5TH AVE
(Water main repair)
Start: April 13, 9:00 a.m. End: April 13, 6:00 p.m.

WANUSKEWIN RD SB LANES CLOSED BETWEEN 71ST STREET AND MARQUIS DR
(SaskEnergy gasline work)
Detour via 71st St WB and Arthur Rose Ave. 71st St EB closed between Arthur Rose Ave and Wanuskewin Rd
Start: April 13, 9:30 a.m. End: April 17, 6:00 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 of Saskatoon’s compost depots open on Monday, April 13 for the 2015 season, with a new east location and new hours of operation. The depots are free for residents of Saskatoon to help reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill by bringing their unbagged grass clippings, leaves, non-elm wood, sod, and yard waste to one of the depots:

• East Compost (Transfer) Depot at Highway 5 and Zimmerman Road; east of the former Sundown Drive-in
  • Open Thursday – Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Closed Tuesday and Wednesday)
• West Compost Depot at Highway 7 and 11th Street West
  • Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The depots accept tree and shrub material; however, due to the threat of Dutch Elm disease, elm wood is not accepted at the Compost Depots (fallen elm leaves are accepted). Elm branches, limbs, logs, or stumps may be disposed of at the Landfill located off Valley Road where regular tipping fees apply.

Important Information for Commercial Haulers
Commercial haulers are required to purchase and display an entry permit when visiting the compost depots. The registration fee for 2015, per business, is $200 for the first vehicle and $50 for each additional vehicle, payable at City Hall or saskatoon.ca/greencarts.  The East Compost Depot is a temporary transfer site that collects and transfers residential material to the west location for composting. For this reason, commercial dump trucks and tip trailers are not permitted. These commercial customers must haul directly to the West Compost Depot at Highway 7.  We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation.

The former east depot site was on McOrmond Drive and was closed after last season to accommodate development in the area. Learn more about the City’s composting programs, including the Green Cart residential collection program, at saskatoon.ca/composting.  For timely updates, watch for Compost Depot Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca and on Twitter with @YXEServiceAlert.

The City of Saskatoon (City) and Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) have together developed the first-ever publication of Saskatoon’s First Nation Community Profiles, now available to view and print at saskatoon.ca/regionalplanning under “Urban Reserves & Treaty Land Entitlement.”

“We hoped to create a document that would not only showcase the demographic story of First peoples in Saskatoon, but the economic story of First Nations and the contributions they are making to our city,” says Gilles Dorval, Director of Aboriginal Relations.

 The Profiles are the most recent joint initiative and include information regarding:

• Community highlights and opportunities;
• Historical information and location of each home reserve;
• Demographics, employment data (where available), and land holdings;
• Current and proposed business developments;
• Education and services; and
• Current governance and contact information.                                                                                                                                                                                    
  
  “In the spirit of innovation and making our community a better place to live, the City has worked with SREDA on a variety of initiatives,” says Director of Planning and Development, Alan Wallace.  “We want to help engage First Nations and the broader business community to promote economic opportunities and partnership.”

 Profiles were created for 11 First Nations who have land holdings and reserves within Saskatoon and region:

• Cowessess First Nation;
• English River First Nation;
• Little Pine First Nation;
• Mistawasis First Nation;
• Moosomin First Nation;
• Muskeg Lake Cree Nation;
• One Arrow First Nation;
• Red Pheasant Cree Nation;
• Saulteaux First Nation;
• Whitecap Dakota First Nation; and
• Yellow Quill First Nation.

 Profiles will be updated on an ongoing basis to reflect new economic, statistical, and governance information and additional Profiles will be created as new First Nation partners become involved in the Saskatoon region.

 For more information call the City’s Planning and Development Division at 306‑657‑8681.

 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 waterslide in the leisure swimming pool at Lakewood Civic Centre is now up and running, and ready for the public to enjoy! 

The waterslide had been closed for repairs for several months as a result of ground movement issues in the mechanical crawlspace affecting the pump that supplies water to the slide.  All necessary repairs have now been completed.

The City of Saskatoon sincerely thanks the public for their patience and understanding, and would like to invite everyone to enjoy free access to celebrate the reopening of the waterslide on Saturday, April 11, from 1 to 5 p.m.  During this time, no admission fee will be required to public swim, access the fitness or weight rooms, or take part in drop-in basketball.

For more information, call Lakewood Civic Centre at 306-975-2944 or visit www.saskatoon.ca/lakewood.

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

WANUSKEWIN RD SB LANES CLOSED BETWEEN 71ST STREET AND MARQUIS DR
(SaskEnergy gasline work)
Detour via 71st St WB and Arthur Rose Ave. 71st St EB closed between Arthur Rose Ave and Wanuskewin Rd
Start: April 10, 9:30 a.m. End: April 10, 11:30 a.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 Spring Street Sweeping Blitz programs and the Pothole Blitz program will begin on Monday April 13.  These programs are designed to address the high-traffic (priority) streets over a three week period. The Priority 1 streets will be swept at night to enhance public and crew safety and reduce the impact for drivers.  The Priority 2 streets will be swept during the daytime hours.

“With warmer weather finally here, we want to get out there and clean things up as quickly as possible,” says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works. “Less sand and debris on the priority streets as a result of the improved winter de-icing and snow removal programs will contribute to the success of the spring clean-up programs.”

The Spring Sweeping Blitz is designed to collect the bulk of the debris left behind over winter and benefits the Accelerated City Wide Neighbourhood Sweeping program by making it more efficient and cost effective. The Blitz will also remove sand and debris from medians where snow was stored. There will be no parking enforcement applied during the Blitz programs.  Sweepers will go around parked vehicles.

2015 Improvements:

• When weather permitted, crews were out as early as March 30, pre-sweeping many high-traffic streets in advance of the Blitz.
• A new coordinated approach to first sweeping medians and boulevards on high-priority streets will be more efficient and reduce traffic impact.

Once the Blitz sweep programs are complete, the Accelerated City-Wide Neighbourhood Sweeping begins and will continue for approximately six weeks, weather dependant.  Should the Blitz sweep programs progress as scheduled the City Wide program is expected to start on May 4.  During the City-Wide program parking enforcement will be applied in order to allow for a full curb-to-curb sweep.  Further information will be provided closer to the program start date.

The Spring Pothole Blitz will be focused along many of the same high-traffic streets as the Spring Street Sweeping Blitz programs. Pothole repairs for all remaining streets will also continue throughout the Accelerated City Wide Neighbourhood Sweeping program. Hot-mix asphalt is now available and is being used to repair potholes. Residents are encouraged to report locations with the online Report-a-Pothole map or call Public Works Customer Service at 306-975-2476.

The Spring Sweeping Blitz Schedule is available at saskatoon.ca/betterroads. Stay tuned for the Accelerated City-Wide Neighbourhood Sweeping Schedules to be posted soon.

The City of Saskatoon’s Wildwood Golf Course and Holiday Park and Silverwood Driving Ranges are now open for the season.  Holiday Park and Silverwood Courses are being targeted to open late next week, and updates on the scheduled opening dates will be posted at www.saskatoon.ca/golf.

Holiday Park (Phone:  306-975-3325; 1630 Avenue U South)

Silverwood (Phone:  306-975-3314; 3503 Kinnear Avenue)

Wildwood (Phone:  306-975-3320; 4050 8th Street East)

Online tee time reservations are available during the season at www.saskatoon.ca/golf.  Golfers are able to book 9 or 18 holes of play for groups of one to four players up to ten days in advance at any of the three municipal golf courses.  Online tee time reservations are not available for same day bookings.  Same day bookings can be completed by phone or in person.  A valid email address is required to make tee time reservations.

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.

For the second year in a row, the City’s Housing Business Plan has exceeded the targets set by City Council.  The plan supported the creation of 542 new attainable units in 2014.

“Adequate housing is an important part of the City’s Strategic Plan adding to the quality of life for all residents,” says Director of Planning and Development, Alan Wallace.  “It enables young people and newcomers to put down roots and contribute to the growth of our city.”

 The recently released Annual Report on the 2013 – 2022 Housing Business Plan shows the City has slightly exceeded the target for each of the five housing types identified in the plan, with the exception of affordable ownership housing; that target is expected to be met and surpassed this year: 

            Targets and Results Achieved in 2014

 While the plan has helped make improvements throughout 2014, the cost and supply of attainable housing in Saskatoon continued to be a challenge for some low- and moderate-income earners.  The average price of a Saskatoon home was $356,476, and the monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment averaged $1,093.

 “A priority of the City’s Housing Business Plan is to create attainable housing in all areas of the city,” Wallace says.  “In 2014, 82% of the newly created attainable units were located on the east side, including the first purpose-built rental units in the new Evergreen neighbourhood.  These new units are providing attainable housing options in some of Saskatoon’s more expensive neighbourhoods.”

 Approved by City Council in June 2013, the Housing Business Plan contains a variety of incentives and initiatives, which support the creation of attainable housing units across the housing continuum:  from emergency shelters to home ownership units for first-time buyers.

 For more information on the Housing Business Plan and the work the City is doing in this area, visit www.saskatoon.ca/housing or call 306-975-3340.

 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.

Beginning Monday, April 13, 2015, the Landfill will be operating on summer hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week.  Summer hours are in effect until mid-October.

The Landfill is located off of Valley Road, south of 11th Street and accessible by residents and commercial customers.  Our entrance fee remains at $10 per vehicle per visit this year; however, some changes to other disposal fees are available on our website.

Advise the scale attendant if you are bringing in recyclables, as some materials can be recycled for free.  Please follow all signs and/or instructions from Landfill staff.

For more information about the Landfill, including service alerts, and the City’s Waste and Recycling programs, visit saskatoon.ca/garbage.