Saskatoon Minute: Code Brown, Aggressive Coyotes, and New Executive Appointed

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

This Week In Saskatoon:

• It’s another quiet week at City Hall - there are no Council or Committee meetings scheduled. Meetings will resume on July 17th.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan Jazz Festival is underway, running through July 13th and featuring a diverse lineup of events spanning multiple days. Tickets for the main evening performances at Victoria Park can be purchased on the festival's website, which also offers a comprehensive program guide.
  
  
• There are now reduced speed limits of 30 kilometers per hour on three road sections as part of an initiative to enhance safety on neighbourhood bikeways. The affected roads are 23rd Street West between Vancouver Avenue North and Avenue C North, Avenue I between the north and south legs of 23rd Street West, and 14th Street East between Saskatchewan Crescent East and Cumberland Avenue.

Last Week In Saskatoon:

• Residents have expressed frustration over the City's wildlife policy following reports of aggressive coyotes in several parks. Ward 5 Councillor Randy Donauer, during a recent Council meeting, noted an increase in aggressive coyote behaviour, particularly in the city's north end where some coyotes have shown no fear of humans, even challenging people and their pets. The City has responded by posting warning signs near parks and riverbanks where coyotes have been sighted, but Donauer believes a more comprehensive approach is needed to ensure public safety. He has initiated a Notice of Motion to review the City's current wildlife policies, seeking input from the public and exploring strategies used in other cities, such as trap and release programs.
  
  
• A Code Brown (Hazardous Materials) incident took place at Saskatoon City Hospital. It was caused by a leak from a sterilization machine using the hospital-grade disinfectant Rapicide, according to the Saskatchewan Health Authority. The leak prompted a response from Saskatoon Fire Department, leading to the isolation of the affected area and evacuation procedures to muster points. Hazmat technicians safely contained and cleaned up the spilled disinfectant, ensuring ventilation of the area before transferring contaminated materials for proper disposal. Fortunately, no injuries or illnesses were reported among the four individuals exposed, and the hospital's emergency services remained fully operational throughout the incident.
  
  
• The City appointed Celene Anger as the new General Manager of Community Services. Anger's career at the City began in 2013 as a project engineer, and since 2020 she has been the Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer. Reporting directly to the City Manager, Anger will oversee programs such as parks and recreation, community standards, and urban planning.