Saskatoon Minute: City Surplus, Unlicensed Rentals, and a Community Patio Project

Saskatoon Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Saskatoon politics

This Week In Saskatoon:

• The Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services will meet on Tuesday at 9:30 am. The agenda includes the Elm Wood Disposal Initiative, the Saskatoon Environmental Advisory Committee’s 2025 Work Plan, and proposed amendments to the Waste Bylaw. Later in the day, at 2:00 pm, there will be a meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation. The Committee will discuss intersection improvements at 22nd Street and Confederation Drive and wheelchair accessible taxi service wait times, among other items. Councillor MacDonald will bring forward a Notice of Motion to assess options and costs for including snow clearing on Neighbourhood Bikeways in the next budget.
  
  
• On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services will meet. The agenda includes amendments to the Animal Control Bylaw, and the 2024 Annual Reports of the Public Art Advisory Committee, Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee, and Development Appeals Board. Later in the day, at 2:00 pm, the Standing Policy Committee on Finance will meet. The agenda includes the 2025 Budget Approval for Business Improvement Districts, the 2025-26 Audit Plan, and a lease extension for an existing SaskTel cell tower in Churchill Park.
  
  
• Saskatoon is reporting a surplus of $12.27 million for 2024, primarily driven by strong returns from the City's investment portfolio. While a $6.48-million deficit in snow and ice management was noted, the City found savings of $4.87 million across various departments, including a $4.96 million surplus in transit operations. The surplus will be allocated to reserves, following the City’s established practice to ensure financial sustainability and flexibility for future needs.

Last Week In Saskatoon:

• The City has applied for $380,000 from Canada’s short-term rental enforcement fund to crack down on unlicensed Airbnb and Vrbo properties. Currently, only 230 short-term rentals in Saskatoon are licensed, while around 850 are listed on these platforms. If the funding is approved, the City plans to move from a complaint-driven approach to proactive enforcement, issuing deadlines and potential fines of up to $25,000 per day for non-compliant owners. The federal program aims to reduce the number of short-term rentals that remove long-term housing from the market.
  
  
• Council has approved $15 million in incentives for three affordable housing projects, adding 256 units across the city. Funded through the federal housing accelerator program, the incentives include $50,000 per unit and five years of incremental tax abatements. The largest project, led by Camponi Housing Corporation, will build 120 units near Lakewood Civic Centre, while the Saskatoon Open Door Society (SODS) is developing a 112-unit complex downtown that will include a grocery store and settlement services. A private developer was also approved for a 24-unit project on Broadway Avenue. Mayor Cynthia Block praised the initiative, saying it plays a role in addressing homelessness. Construction on the SODS project is expected to begin by August 2026.
  
  
• The Broadway Business Improvement District (BID) in Saskatoon has requested a waiver of $11,975 in annual parking fees for a community patio project launching in June. The initiative would repurpose four paid parking spots at the end of 12th Street East, creating a shared space for businesses and residents to enjoy. While the City has previously reduced parking fees for other programs, officials noted that this project does not meet existing criteria. The BID argues that waiving the fees would support a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly space without adding financial strain to the organization.