Saskatoon Minute: Coyote Plans, Recycling Model, and the Temporary Emergency Shelter

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

This Week In Saskatoon:

• On Tuesday, at 9:00 am, there will be a Special Regular Business Meeting of City Council. The agenda revolves around an item entitled “Electrical Rate Change - Pause on Carbon Tax Collection”. No attachments are available to describe the item yet. Also on Tuesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services. The Committee will discuss the 2025 Work Plan for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee as well as a report discussing the transition to a full Extended Producer Responsibility recycling model, where producers take on more responsibility for packaging and paper. The latter report evaluates three participation options, with Administration recommending that SK Recycles manages all aspects of residential recycling, including collection, processing, and education. This option is considered low-risk and low-cost for the City, with no charge for residents, though the City will no longer have operational control.
  
  
• The Standing Policy Committee on Transportation will meet on Tuesday at 2:00 pm. The Committee will discuss the 2024 Summer Road Maintenance Summary, the Saskatoon Transit Bus Network Redesign Strategy, and the Saskatoon Transit Frontline Employee Safety Plan Update.
  
  
• The Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The agenda includes the 2025 Work Plan for the Public Art Advisory Committee. Also on Wednesday, at 2:00 pm, there will be a meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Finance. The agenda includes the sale of Parkridge single-unit lots and a bonus payment to the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA). There will also be an in-camera (secret) session to address an Audit Matter and some City Auditor Updates.

Last Week In Saskatoon:

• Renovations for the temporary emergency shelter at 210 Pacific Avenue have been completed. The shelter, located in the former Saskatchewan Transportation Company depot, will provide 30 to 40 beds and include enhanced security features based on community feedback. The Mustard Seed will manage the shelter, and security and support will be available seven days a week. The City, provincial government, and local organizations are finalizing plans for a permanent site. The project faced delays and a $360,000 funding gap, but the shelter is now ready for use, with the Operating and Safety Plans available for the public.
  
  
• Council approved a series of recommendations to address the rising number of coyote sightings in Saskatoon, including a ban on feeding wildlife, hiring a wildlife specialist, and launching an awareness campaign. The number of coyote-related calls surged from 16 in 2022 to 214 in 2024, prompting concerns about safety in the city. Some residents have taken to carrying protection, such as baseball bats or bear spray, after encounters with aggressive coyotes. While some experts question whether the coyote population has actually increased, Council decided to proceed with a strategy that includes aversion conditioning and targeted euthanasia. This new approach aligns with policies in other prairie cities.
  
  
• Council declared the city an LGBTQ2-safe city, a motion that was unanimously passed. However, some in the queer community, including local advocate Blake Tait, expressed concerns about the use of the word “safe,” feeling it implies the work is already complete. Tait, who had previously proposed the city be a sanctuary for LGBTQ2 individuals, argued that the term "sanctuary" better conveys ongoing efforts. Council members clarified that the motion signifies a commitment to continue creating supportive policies for the community.