September 2022 Newsletter

Ward 8 Updates

On Demand Transit in Brighton

I have had the chance to ride On Demand Transit (ODT) to Brighton a couple times since the changes launched in August. I really appreciate the feedback that neighbours have been sharing with me. A few of the tips that I have found helpful in ensuring a smooth ride include:

• Booking in advance. If you book early (i.e. up to two weeks) this prioritizes your booking. The earlier you book, the better.
• Choosing the "arrive by" option has been the smoothest in keeping travel times to a minimum. If this does not work for you, trying "leave by" is also an option.

Further changes have been incorporated for ODT in Brighton. While many of these changes are on the back end to ensure reliability is being met, I did want to share that 3 stops have been added to the Nelson/Lowe Hub. This ensures there's drop-off/pick-up at both St. Joseph and Centennial Collegiate. Find a photo of the new stops here.

Downtown Event and Entertainment District Survey

I wanted to take this opportunity to share an update that I no longer have a conflict of interest related to land matters for the Downtown Event and Entertainment District (DEED). I have previously recused myself from voting on previous site location items relating to the DEED project out of an abundance of caution due to the potential of a conflict of interest arising. With the recent decisions made by Council on August 29, 2022, the potential conflict of interest I had is no longer present and as such, I will be now able to fully participate in all Council matters going forward. 

Voice your opinion on the future location of the DEED project. The City is looking for the public’s view on the opportunities and challenges of the two potential sites under consideration -- Midtown Shopping Centre North Parking Lot (Site A) and the North Downtown/City Yards (Site B). The survey is now open, and you have until Monday October 3rd, 2022 to complete it. You will find background information on the sites, evaluation criteria and next steps at the survey link. 

Photo renderings of site options.

Renaming of Shakamohtaa Street

“Shakamohtaa Street” is being replaced with “taskamanwa Street”. “taskamanwa” is a Cree word meaning “shortcut” and was selected from the “technology” theme identified for use in this area of the Brighton neighbourhood.

This name was initially identified for use through consultation with elders as part of the Chief Mistawasis Bridge project and has been finalized for use here.

Call for Committee and Board Applications

Interested in community, and want to have your say and hand in helping? The City is looking for citizen volunteers for several vacant positions on our Boards, Commissions and Committees. We rely on citizen volunteers to bring their diverse backgrounds and expertise to these committees to help make Saskatoon a better city.

Are you, or do you know of someone who is passionate about or has expertise in one of these areas?

• Arts & Heritage
• Events & Gatherings
• Community & Inclusion
• Property & Business

If so, you can apply for a position in these areas and more at saskatoon.ca/boards. The deadline to apply is 5:00 pm Monday, October 3rd, 2022.

City Council Meetings

Bin Options for Future Waste Utility

With the decision to implement a variable rate utility for residential curbside garbage collection commencing in 2024, a decision on the bin sizes need to be made. The recommendation before City Council is to have three different garbage cart sizes available for residents to choose from, including the current large (360 L), medium (240 L) and a smaller black cart (180 L) to allow for more customizability and control for residents with their curbside pick-up. This option of variable rate utility for garbage is projected to increase waste diversion, extend the life of the landfill, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The final decision that is yet to be made is the cost of each bin. This decision will be made in the coming months.

Read more about the options here.

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The UN Declaration is a comprehensive international human rights instrument on the rights of Indigenous People, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007. It offers guidance on cooperative relationships with Indigenous peoples based on the principles of equality, partnership, good faith, and mutual respect.

The recommendation before Council is that the United Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples be adopted and Administration work with Saskatoon Tribal Council and Indigenous partners on developing a plan for implementation. 

Major Capital Prioritization Process  

Since the discussion of a Downtown Event and Entertainment District came up in 2018, City Council has been asking for a process to prioritize major capital spending.

This report is selecting guiding principles to determine which capital projects to be included in the proposed 2024-2035 Major Capital Prioritization Process. Administration has recommended to the following guiding principles:

1. Advance City Council Priorities
2. Deliver Excellence in Core Services and Operational Priorities
3. Drive Corporate Transformational Change
4. Maximize Other Sources of Funding
5. Limit the Scope to Civic Projects
6. Limit the Scope to Major Projects
7. Present Triple Bottom Line summaries of each project. 

These guiding principles are to be accepted to help drive the next steps in the prioritization process and to help rank the proposed projects. 

Saskatoon Transit Changes  

Saskatoon Transit is actively working on actions to meeting service levels in the winter of 2022-23. While 2021-22 was a hard year on public transit with more than regular service disruptions, Saskatoon Transit have proposed actions to help with service and reliability for the upcoming winter. The changes and actions that are aimed to help prepare for the upcoming winter seasons are:

• Maintenance Plan;
• Purchasing and Stores;
• Maintenance Organizational Structure Review;
• Asset Management Plan and Funding Strategy for Fleet Replacement;
• Productivity Committee and ATU Engagement with Transit Management;
• On Demand Transit Revamping;
• Key Performance Indicators and Process Improvements;
• Operator Recruitment; and
• Operator Barrier Supply and Installation.

Furthermore, based on earlier direction, the City Internal Auditor is completing an audit to determine root causes and provide recommendations on actions for improvement. The audit report is expected in October 2022.

Additional reports of interest 

• Flashing Beacons on School Zone Signs
• Traffic Calming Policy Update – Technical Warrant Criteria – Follow-up
• Funding of Canada Healthy Communities Initiative
• Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program Application Intake

Find the full agenda for September 26 at: regular business meeting and the public hearing.

COFFEE WITH YOUR COUNCILLOR

• Jump on the call anytime to chat with me and other neighbours
  
  • October 13, 2022  |  12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
• Where: Hosted via ZOOM

The Zoom link can be found here.

• Greystone Heights Community Association AGM & BINGO night is set for October 14. Learn more here.
• Wildwood Community Association AGM & BBQ is set for September 27 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Learn more here.
• Rock your Roots Walk for Reconciliation is happening on September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Find details on the event here.
• On September 30 the Saskatoon Tribal Council is hosting a Pow Wow and free concert in honour of the National Truth and Reconciliation Day. The event details can be found here.
• Bi-weekly residential waste collection resumes on October 3. More information and updates can also be found here.  
• The City of Saskatoon has opened a call for nominations for Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. Submit a nomination today! Learn more here.
• Phase 1 of developing a regulatory framework for a shared electric scooter (e-scooter) program in Saskatoon is now over, and now begins phase 2! Provide feedback on the draft regulatory framework. 
• Updates are now available on previous public realm discussions relating to the College Corridor Plan. An Executive Summary is available, in addition to a summary video prepared. 
  
• Keep up to date with City engagement events by visiting saskatoon.ca/engage.