News Releases

For Immediate Release:  March 18, 2014
 

Today, The City of Saskatoon launched Building Better Roads – Saskatoon’s Road Plan, the most aggressive program of road work in this community’s history. 

“The Building Better Roads Plan demonstrates that we are heading into an action-packed season of roadwork,” Jeff Jorgenson, General Manager of Transportation and Utilities says. “More than $50 million will be spent on Saskatoon roads this year; that’s 47 per cent more than was spent last year. We want everyone to be ready because the result will be more projects this construction season, meaning more work zones and traffic detours.” 

The Building Better Roads Plan grew out of the 2013 Civic Services Survey which identified road conditions as the single most important issue facing Saskatoon.  

City Council responded by introducing the Dedicated Road Levy in this year’s budget, providing the necessary funding to launch the Building Better Roads Plan. The Plan supports the City of Saskatoon’s strategic goals of Asset and Financial Sustainability, Quality of Life, Continuous Improvement and Moving Around. 

The Dedicated Road Levy is funded by a 4.29% increase in property taxes for 2014 which provides $6.7 million in new funding to be used exclusively for road repair and road maintenance. 

“The Dedicated Road Levy is a key element of investing substantially more in our roads for 2014.  The Dedicated Road Levy and added investments will go toward work such as street sweeping, pothole patching, sidewalk rehabilitation, back lane upgrades, road construction and repair, as well as snow and ice management,” Jorgenson says. 

“We take this investment seriously. This year citizens will see changes in how we do our work.  For example, to minimize the amount of time high-traffic roads are closed for construction, much of the work will either be done at night, or round-the-clock. Continually improving our practices will ensure we get the absolute best value for our citizens’ dollars.” 

Jorgenson adds extra workers and equipment have already started with increased snow grading and removal activities and will soon flow into aggressive pothole patching and street sweeping.  

In the coming weeks, the City will be launching new ways for people to keep up to date where and when work is being done. 

We are also pleased to launch a new “Report a Pothole” tool which allows the public to report potholes online. This Report a Pothole tool is map-based, GPS-enabled and allows anyone to report a pothole from their desktop computer or mobile device. Users will be able to see if the same pothole has already been flagged, and when potholes are repaired. Residents can find this tool on our website at Saskatoon.ca under “check this out.” It’s designed to be easy to use, and a detailed help menu and step-by-step video is also included. 

In an emergency or to talk directly to customer service staff, potholes can also be reported by phone 24/7, at 306-975-2476. 

“We’ve already been repairing the larger potholes since the snow started melting. And as soon as weather permits, the spring pothole blitz will be in full force,” Jorgenson says. “We’re anticipating the streets will be dry earlier than last year because so much snow and ice along priority roadways was trucked away this winter.”  

City crews will  concentrate on patching potholes in all driving lanes on freeways and other high traffic roads including tackling those larger clusters of potholes. Immediately following spring street sweeping, eight patching crews will constantly patrol Saskatoon throughout the summer, keeping roads smooth, including fixing potholes on residential streets.  He says a cold, temporary asphalt mix will be used on potholes until the streets dry and the weather improves, following which a more permanent hot asphalt mix will be used. 

The spring pothole blitz is a key component of Building Better Roads – Saskatoon’s Roads Plan.

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.

On March 29, 2014 at 8:30 p.m., the City of Saskatoon will be taking part in Earth Hour - a global event to acknowledge the importance of environmental awareness and action both during and beyond the hour.

This year, the City of Saskatoon has created an Online Earth Hour forum on shapingsaskatoon.ca. “Businesses, organizations, students and community members are encouraged to post why they feel Earth Hour is important and what they’re doing this year to participate.

“Our collective efforts raise awareness of climate change and promote actions that conserve energy and help reduce GHG emissions.” says Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental & Corporate Initiatives.  “Celebrating and acknowledging these efforts is part of creating a more sustainable Saskatoon.”

FREE Transit March 29, 2014

As a way of showing support for action on climate change, Saskatoon Transit is offering free transit on March 29 from 7:30 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. Reduce your footprint and save money by giving transit a try!

“Saskatoon Transit is once again proud to participate in the Earth Hour initiative by providing free Transit service from 7:30pm until last bus on March 29, 2014,” says Bob Howe, Director of Saskatoon Transit.  “This free service will provide citizens who may not have tried Transit in that past, with an opportunity to try it free of charge. For our regular Transit Customers, this event is another way of saying thank you for using Saskatoon Transit.” 

Post Your Photos Online

The City of Saskatoon is encouraging residents to show the world how they’re participating in Earth Hour. Residents can simply post their Earth Hour photos to their own Facebook or Twitter accounts using the hashtag #yxeEarthHour to show how they're taking action on climate change. Two lucky winners will be drawn to receive a 1 month bus pass and transit promo prize pack from Saskatoon Transit!

In 2013, the City of Saskatoon partnered with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society to engage businesses and City Facilities in Earth Hour. There were 205 participants who took part by: dimming or turning out lights, shutting down computers and other electronics, lowering their thermostats, engaging their employees and clients in environmental action, or hosting events.

To find out more about the City of Saskatoon’s participation in Earth Hour, please visit Saskatoon.ca and search under “E” for Earth Hour.

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 (City) reminds residents that the public survey and forum for the first stage of the Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon project will remain open for input until Friday, March 21, 2014, at www.shapingsaskatoon.ca.

Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon is a city-wide initiative that will take us from vision to action on how we shape the City’s Growth Plan to Half a Million. It is a proactive way to plan for our future and help navigate the challenges associated with rapid population growth. The Growth Plan to Half a Million will help guide civic investments over the next 30 to 40 years by addressing three key elements:

Shaping Growth - How do we grow along major corridors?
Shaping Transit - How do we move more people?
Shaping Bridges - How do we manage infrastructure investments?

A public event was held on Tuesday, February 25, 2014, at TCU Place to start the discussion about future options for transit, bridges, and growth along major corridors. Event materials and project information are available on the Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon website at www.growingfwd.ca.  

Your feedback is important to us!  Public consultation will be ongoing throughout the Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon process. The survey is one of many opportunities for the public to get involved in this exciting initiative.  Watch for more public input opportunities coming in the Fall.  Those interested can also sign up for project update notifications at www.growingfwd.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.

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A major amendment to the Rosewood Neighbourhood Concept Plan is proposed to accommodate a number of changes to the east side of the neighbourhood.  The amendment will provide for the inclusion of lands east of Zimmerman Road as an employment area consisting of commercial and light industrial land uses.  Also proposed are changes to the layout and land use pattern of the eastern portion of the neighbourhood, including new opportunities for higher density residential and mixed-use development along corridors.  Roadway access to the neighbourhood from Highway 16, previously proposed to be via Rosewood Gate South, is now proposed for Zimmerman Road.

The proposed changes will add 152 acres to the neighbourhood, bringing the total area to 876 acres.  The original concept plan, approved by City Council in 2008, projected a total neighbourhood population of 10,657 residents.  The proposed amendment would result in approximately 11,890 residents.

Amendments to the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw related to this concept plan amendment are also proposed.

The public is invited to attend a “come-and-go” open house to view the proposed amendment to the Rosewood Neighbourhood Concept Plan and to ask questions of the City of Saskatoon staff and development partners.

Proposed Rosewood Neighbourhood Concept Plan Amendment Open House
Thursday, March 20, 2014
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Elim Church (Atrium)
419 Slimmon Road

Can’t make the open house?  Visit www.shapingsaskatoon.ca/discussions from March 20 to April 3 to view details of the proposals and to share your thoughts. 

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 Immediate Release:  March 16, 2014

At approximately 7:30 a.m., March 16, 2014 a vehicle struck an electrical pole on the 100 block of 111th Street W in the Sutherland neighbourhood. As a result, nearly 1,300 homes and businesses were left without power early Sunday morning.

Saskatoon Light & Power crews were on the scene shortly after power was disrupted, assessed the situation and are expecting to be able to restore power to most of the affected homes and businesses by early afternoon.  However, due to the extent of the damage, crews are anticipating that 30-40 homes and businesses between 110th Street and 111th Street will be without power for up to six hours while the entire pole is replaced.

Updates are being issued through Service Alerts and through the City’s social media feeds.  Residents can also phone customer service at 306-975-2621. 

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 Spring/Summer Leisure Guide will be delivered to every home in Saskatoon on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, and can also be picked up at any Leisure Centre, Saskatoon Public Library location, or City Hall.  The guide will be available online beginning Monday, March 17, from www.saskatoon.ca/go/leisureguide.
The Leisure Guide contains everything you need to know about Saskatoon’s Leisure Centres and is the “go-to source” for fitness programs, recreational activities, and arts and culture opportunities for all ages and abilities.  Get a spring in your step by staying active throughout the warmer months with the many options provided by the City of Saskatoon!
 
Highlights of the Spring/Summer (April 1 to August 31, 2014) Leisure Guide include: 

• 45 FREE Playground Programs in neighbourhoods across the city.  Drop in and make every day an adventure!
• A new 2-week LeisureCard Trial Pass for families, adults, and youth so you can try before you buy. 
• Bulk Tickets to use for admission at the four outdoor pools.
• New lower rates for Juniors (8 to 12 years) at Silverwood Golf Course.
• The return of the Sport & Splash Camp at Shaw Centre and Lawson Civic Centre.  The camp will also be offered during Easter Break at Shaw Centre!
• Public, Parent & Tot, Family, and Lane swimming opportunities at the indoor and outdoor pools.
• Preschool and children’s recreational registered programs such as Teddy Bears Picnic and Dunk, Dribble & Slam.
• Adult, Teen, Beginner (Smart Start), Advanced, and Active Agers (50+ years) drop-in exercise classes, personal training, and registered fitness programs at the six indoor Leisure Centres.
• Group Fitness Training for youth and adults at Shaw Centre and Saskatoon Field House.
• A map of the six dog parks in Saskatoon - spend time outdoors with your furry friend!
• And much, much more, including many arts, culture, and recreational services offered by other organizations in Saskatoon.

Registration for programs begins Sunday, March 23, at 6 p.m. by phoning 306-975-2800 or register online at leisureonline.saskatoon.ca.

Starting Monday, March 24, at 6:30 a.m., all six Leisure Centres will be accepting mail or walk-in registrations; phone registration begins at 8 a.m.  (Please note that walk-in registrations will not be accepted at any Leisure Centre on the first night of registration). 

Registered programs are very popular and fill up fast!  Many people will be registering Sunday evening, and the City of Saskatoon sincerely thanks our citizens for their patience.  While additional online and telephone resources are in place to make the process go as smoothly as possible, there are still thousands of people registering at once, so here are some tips to help you be prepared: 

• You will require a client ID number and family PIN to register online.  To set one up or if you forgot yours, phone any Leisure Centre before Sunday, March 23. 
• Have a list of second and third program choices, just in case you do not get into your first choice.
• Join the waiting list.  Every full program has an online waiting list, and new classes may be created if there is enough demand.
• Ensure your major web browser (Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, Google Chrome) is up to date. 

Get the Guide!  Keep the Guide!

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.

 

Aspen Ridge Neighbourhood Concept Plan
Aspen Ridge is a proposed residential neighbourhood, consisting of 639 acres, and is the next neighbourhood to be developed in the University Heights Suburban Development Area.  Its boundaries include the Evergreen neighbourhood and University of Saskatchewan lands on the south, the proposed Perimeter Highway route on the northeast, and the Northeast Swale on the northwest.

The neighbourhood has been designed to be walkable with amenities, transit, and recreational spaces close to homes.  It will include a variety of housing, such as one-unit dwellings, townhouses, multiple-unit dwellings, and mixed-use development combining residential with retail and office space.  Elements will include a complete streets design concept for McOrmond Drive, a village square, a multi-use greenway abutting the Northeast Swale, and a linear park system.  Upon completion, the neighbourhood will be home to approximately 12,956 residents.

Amendment to the Evergreen Neighbourhood Concept Plan
An amendment to the Evergreen Neighbourhood Concept Plan is proposed to accommodate changes to the District Village in the northeast corner of the neighbourhood.  The changes will support the transition of McOrmond Drive to the complete streets design concept as it enters Aspen Ridge and foster better connections between the two neighbourhoods.

Amendments to the Zoning Bylaw are also proposed in relation to this concept plan amendment.

The public is invited to attend a “come-and-go” open house to view the proposed Aspen Ridge Neighbourhood Concept Plan and the amendment to the Evergreen Neighbourhood Concept Plan, and to ask questions of the City of Saskatoon staff and development partners.  Details are as follows:

Proposed Aspen Ridge Neighbourhood Concept Plan and Evergreen Neighbourhood Concept Plan Amendment Open House
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Alice Turner Library (Auditorium)
110 Nelson Road

Can’t make the open house?  Visit www.shapingsaskatoon.ca/discussions from March 18 to April 1 to view details of the proposals and to share your thoughts. 

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 access roads and conditions at the City of Saskatoon snow storage sites are quickly deteriorating due to the warmer temperatures. The sites remain open, however they may need to be closed either temporarily or for the season.  The City of Saskatoon will provide as much notice as possible although it is dependent upon weather and ground conditions therefore they may close with little advance notice.  

The conditions are being monitored daily, although as the weather becomes warmer, it will become challenging for vehicles to enter and exit the sites.  

The snow storage sites are located at:
Central Avenue (3.8 km north of Attridge Drive)
Wanuskewin Road (1.4 km south of Highway 11)
McOrmond Drive (between 8th Street East and College Drive)
Valley Road (west of the Saskatoon Landfill access)

The City of Saskatoon thanks everyone for their cooperation.

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.

Public Skating and Parent and Tot Skating are wrapping up for the season at the City of Saskatoon indoor rinks.  Archibald, Cosmo, Lions, and Kinsmen Arenas will remain open for ice rental until Thursday, March 20, 2014.  ACT Arena will remain open throughout the Spring and Summer for ice rental only.  Please call the Allocations Office (located in Lawson Civic Centre) at 306-975-3366 for booking information.

Archibald Arena:  (1410 Windsor Street, 306-975-3313)
Sunday, March 16: Last day of Public Skating (12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
Wednesday, March 19:  Last day of Parent and Tot Skate (2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.)
Thursday, March 20:  Last day of operation

Cosmo Arena:  (3130 Laurier Drive, 306-975-3370)
Thursday, March 20: Last day of Public Skating (12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
Monday, March 17:  Last day of Parent and Tot Skate (2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.)
Thursday, March 20:  Last day of operation

Kinsmen Arena:  (1405 Avenue P South, 306-975-3310)
Thursday, March 20:  Last day of operation

Lions Arena:  (2205 McEown Avenue, 306-975-3306)
Sunday, March 16:  Last day of Public Skating (6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.)
Tuesday, March 18:  Last day of Parent and Tot Skate (2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.)
Thursday, March 20:  Last day of operation

ACT Arena:  (107 - 105th Street East, 306-975-3316)
Tuesday, March 25:  Last day of Tuesday evening Public Skating (7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
Thursday, March 27:  Last day of Parent and Tot Skating (2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.)
Sunday, April 13:  Last day of Sunday afternoon Public Skating (2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

Ice continues to be available for rent by calling Allocations at 306-975-3366

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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Since February 28, following a significant period of extreme cold temperatures, there have been 71 water main breaks in Saskatoon.  While they tend to be slightly above average at this time of year, this is still about seven times the average.  As of this afternoon, there are 23 water main breaks in our queue to repair.

City and contract crews continue to work long days to repair locations as quickly as possible, but affected residents can still expect to be without water service for four to seven days.  We are doing our best to accommodate everyone with temporary water in a day from when a water main break is reported.

Temporary Water
Water trailers will continue to be provided to affected areas, but there are not enough to supply all of the areas at this time.  To prevent longs waits for a water trailer to be delivered, we are providing the average recommended amount of drinking water for three days to each affected home.  Each day, two to three 19-litre (five-gallon) jugs of drinking water are delivered to new locations without water and to refill locations after three days.  These deliveries are provided through the water jug supplier and occur late afternoon and early evening. 

Once the repair is completed and water service is restored to locations where jugs of water were supplied, City staff will collect all of the jugs for sterilization and re-use.  To supply the large volume of homes with jugs of water, the supplier had to deplete their stock and we would like to minimize the cost where possible.  If you are not at home when our staff comes to your door, please call our customer service call centre to make arrangements for us to return.  We greatly appreciate everyone’s cooperation in returning the re-usable water jugs.  

Residents who are without water due to a water main break are invited to use the shower facilities at the City Leisure Centre closest to them.  Please present identification or a recent utility bill with your address, so staff can provide free admittance.                                               

What is causing these water main breaks?

With the type and age of the city’s water and sewer infrastructure, water main breaks are a normal occurrence at any time of year.  When there is a change in temperature that affects ground conditions, such as extreme cold or extreme heat, the underground pipes can move.  Extra pressure on a weak point may cause it to break.  This is consistent with many communities across the country.  What is different this year is that the ground frost level has reached as deep as the underground pipes, almost three metres (ten feet)!  With warm temperatures, the frost is starting to come out of the ground, but it will take several weeks of the same heat to reach the deepest frost.  

Be prepared

Every home should have an emergency preparedness plan for any time of the year, not just for water outage.  Residents in areas where water main breaks have occurred in the past few years, including neighbourhoods adjacent to current water main breaks, are encouraged to be prepared by having extra drinking water stored as a precaution.  The recommended supply of water to have on hand for a 72-hour period is 3.8 litres (one gallon) per person or pet per day.  Emergency preparedness information is available on the Government of Canada’s public safety website getprepared.gc.ca, including further recommendations for an emergency water supply. 

Frozen water connections
Home owners are also reporting frozen water connections, where there is a blockage on the water connection from the City’s water main to the private home. If your water does not turn on, it may be an issue with the private portion of your water connection.  If there is an issue on the City portion, we will come out and use specialized equipment to thaw the line from your home.  Staff are experiencing a high number of frozen water connections, so they may not be able to inspect a location for up to 24 hours.  To help prevent this, we recommend making sure the pipes are well-insulated, including the portion at the outside walls of your home. 

Water service is currently off at the following locations:
- 612 Spadina Crescent East
- 602 4th Avenue North
- 2106 William Avenue (incl. Gladmer Park)
- 74 Bence Crescent
- 1537 Avenue G North
- 99 Howell Avenue
- 2116 14th Street East
- 53 Maxwell Crescent
- 114 Nesbitt Crescent
- 2702 Clinkskill Drive
- 37 Simpson Crescent
- 1415 Argyle Avenue
- 805 47th Street East
- Connaught Place & Idylwyld Drive North
- 57 Malcolm Place
- 127 Charlebois Crescent
- 156 St Lawrence Crescent
- 4138 DeGeer Street
- 1109 Osler Street
- 1238 Elliott Street
- 629 4th Street East
- 1023 Osler Street
- 1109 Taylor Street East

Current water main breaks are available on the City’s website.  This list is updated daily, including over the weekend.

We want to thank everyone for their cooperation and understanding.  If you are affected by a water outage and have any questions, or to report a water main break, please call the Public Works customer service call centre 24/7 at 306-975-2476.  Find out more about the Precautionary Drinking Water Advisory that is in effect when the water is turned back on.

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 from the links at saskatoon.ca.