In brief, here are three items of public interest that were discussed during the January 2019 City Council meeting. The full agenda can be accessed here.
Curbside Waste and Organics Program Update
The report presented to City Council provided a summary of the decisions made on waste services (organics and garbage) to date, including the decision to rescind the waste utility. The purpose of this report was to provide an update on what direction has been given to City Administration and what are the next steps.
This is a summary of the Administration’s understanding of where the City stands now with respect to solid waste programs and services based on City Council’s resolutions in 2018:
- Administration, through the RFP process, will be seeking a private-sector organics processing firm to provide organics processing for the City. The processing capacity will include all sectors as those programs are finalized. The
costs of this program will be funded by property taxes. - Administration will develop and implement a comprehensive curbside organics collection program for single-family residential homes. The cost of this program will be funded by property taxes.
- The Administration will continue working on organics diversion strategies for the multi-family and Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional sectors. No policy decisions have been recommended to City Council for organics diversion for these sectors.
- The existing compost depots will continue to operate as they currently do. This service will be funded by property taxes.
- Solid waste services will remain unchanged until the single-family organics program is in place. At that time, waste collection will become bi-weekly yearround rather than weekly during the summer months. Funding solutions will need to be found for known deficits within the solid waste program.
The Administration will report further on funding alternatives and options. Now that program parameters have been set, cost estimates can be refined. That Administration will bring back options for a multiyear phase-in of organics and waste funding. Options could include, but need not be limited to, mid-year program implementation and reallocation of dollars to best match program start dates. At least one option that includes an annual mill rate target of one percent or less.
Further reporting will include further reporting on:
- a prohibition on organics from the landfill and black bins;
- the expansion of the current organics program with a prohibition of yard waste in the black bin;
- on consideration for current composters to opt out;
- the landfill costs associated with any delay or phased in approach; and
- how any delayed or phased in approach impact Council’s goal of 70% landfill diversion by 2023.
The comprehensive report can be found on pages 184 - 204 as agenda item 10.1.1 at the following link.
Intelligent Transportation Systems Strategic Plan
The ITS Strategic Plan identifies ten projects that support Saskatoon’s needs and goals of today and over the next fifteen years. Projects have been prioritized as either short or long-term, and quick wins (projects that can be implemented within two years) have been identified. The vision, goals, and key directions of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Strategic Plan were approved by City Council.
The comprehensive report can be found on pages 78 - 149 as agenda item 8.4.2 at the following link.
Decorative Lighting Bylaw
The Decorative Lighting rate in Bylaw No. 2685, The Electric Light and Power Bylaw has historically been applied to Christmas lights and decorations owned by the City of Saskatoon (City). Bylaw No. 2685, The Electric Light and Power Bylaw currently defines
the dates and times when seasonal decorative lighting will be in operation. These lights are turned on beginning the first Monday in December through to and including the 14th day of January. Each day the lights operate on a timer control between the hours of
07:00 to 09:00 and 18:00 to 24:00. The Decorative Lighting rate category in Bylaw No. 2685, The Electric Light and Power Bylaw will now permit dusk-to-dawn lighting throughout the entire year.
City Council additionally requested that when the Winter Cities decorative lighting policy come forward, that the Administration report back with a recommendation for setting a time to shut off decorative lighting during the middle of the night.
The Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services requested that Administration report back by June 2019 on a strategy for winter lighting through consultation with the Business Improvement Districts.