Saskatoon Minute: Grant Applications, Crime Rates, and Unpaid Parking Tickets

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

This Week In Saskatoon:

• The Municipal Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday at 12:00 pm. The Commission will address proposed amendments to the Brighton Neighbourhood Concept Plan, as well as an application to develop a Parking Station at 1213 1st Avenue North.
  
  
• There will be a Regular Business Meeting of City Council on Wednesday at 9:30 am. Council will consider a budget increase in the amount of $340,000 for Saskatoon Fire for the purchase of station wear and winter jackets, funded from the Fire Department Uniforms Reserve and Fire Department Capital Reserve. Council will also discuss applying for funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Adaptation in Action Program. This program provides grants to help cities adapt to climate change and support community benefits. The City plans to use the grant to fund two projects: upgrading spray pads for water conservation and public cooling during heat waves, and creating a green burial section at Woodlawn Cemetery to reduce environmental impacts and support biodiversity. The grant would cover up to 60% of the costs for these projects. Later, at 6:00 pm, there will be a Public Hearing Meeting of Council to address several land use amendments.
  
  
• Saskatoon is introducing two new electric buses to its transit fleet. The Nova LFSe+ battery-electric buses, which will start operating by the end of the month, are quieter and produce fewer emissions compared to diesel buses. They successfully performed in various weather conditions during a prior test phase, leading to their addition as part of a $115.4 million fleet renewal strategy. Despite a higher initial cost, the City believes electric buses offer lower lifetime costs in terms of energy and maintenance. We'll see.

Last Week In Saskatoon:

• Saskatoon ranked eighth on the 2023 Statistics Canada crime severity index (CSI), reflecting one of the highest crime severity rates among Canadian cities. While this is an improvement from sixth place in 2022, Saskatoon Police Chief Cameron McBride remains concerned about the rising number of violent crimes, particularly those involving weapons. The Saskatoon Census Metropolitan Area reported 8,730 crimes per 100,000 people in 2023, marking a 5% increase from the previous year. Despite some reductions in break and enters and motor vehicle thefts, shoplifting incidents surged by 69%. Saskatchewan, as a province, continues to lead the country in crime severity, a position it has held since the CSI was first reported.
  
  
• City Administration proposed the possibility of hiring a collections agency to recover unpaid parking tickets. This initiative follows a request for information to gauge the interest and capabilities of collection firms. With about $8 million in outstanding fines and challenges in enforcing payments, the City is considering this step to improve recovery rates. Currently, the City has over 9,800 vehicle owners classified as "scofflaws” - having two or more outstanding fines and subject to having their vehicles booted, towed and impounded. But, some vehicles are no longer registered in Saskatoon or located outside Saskatoon, complicating enforcement efforts. The City issued around 86,000 parking tickets in 2023, collecting $3.12 million from these fines.
  
  
• The Whitecap Dakota First Nation broke ground on a $52-million thermal spa near Saskatoon, integrating Dakota culture into its design. The Dakota Dunes Thermal Spa, which complements the existing hotel, casino, and golf course, will employ over 100 people and is scheduled to open in 2026. Chief Darcy Bear highlighted the First Nation's progress from historical restrictions to becoming a successful tourist destination. The federal government is contributing $15 million to the project, with additional funding from Whitecap's revenue and a bank loan. The spa's design, inspired by the Big Dipper constellation, includes thermal pools, meditation areas, and various wellness amenities.