Saskatoon Minute: Issue 109

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

📅 This Week In Saskatoon: 📅

• On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a City Council meeting. Council will assess a request to exempt new fire stations from the High Performance Civic Building Policy requirement to achieve “Net Zero Energy Ready,” which is defined as 75% better than the 2017 National Energy Code baseline. Administration explains that due to Saskatoon’s climate and the 24/7 operational demands of fire stations, this target is not technically achievable under current modelling rules and building constraints. For Fire Station No. 11, three design options were evaluated, all of which fall short of the 75% target but range from about 48% to 62% improved efficiency over the baseline, with Option 1 recommended as it stays within budget and avoids project delays while still delivering strong energy performance improvements. The report notes that even the preferred option would make the station the most energy-efficient fire station in the city to date and comparable to high-performing facilities elsewhere. It also recommends applying the same exemption approach to Fire Station No. 10 to ensure consistent design standards across projects.
  
  
• On Wednesday, at 6:00 pm, there will be a City Council Public Hearing. Council will gather feedback on several land use amendments. One concerns an application to rezone 1401 11th Street West in the Holiday Park neighbourhood from R2 (low-density residential) to RM2 (medium-density residential) to enable a future multiple-unit dwelling. Administration’s recommendation is to deny the rezoning, primarily because it is not considered consistent with the City’s Official Community Plan policies on neighbourhood infill and would allow a higher level of density than is intended for standard residential areas. Another proposes rezoning a series of vacant parcels along 3rd Avenue North (902 through 938) in the City Park neighbourhood from M1 (Local Institutional Service District) to CR2 (Corridor Residential 2 District) to enable future residential development. Administration recommends approval, noting the change aligns with the City’s Official Community Plan and Corridor Growth Area policies, which prioritize higher-density infill development along planned transit corridors like the Link Bus Rapid Transit routes.
  
  
• A new report estimates the municipal cost of responding to homelessness at about $15.8 million between 2024 and 2027, with roughly $4 million budgeted annually in the coming years. The largest ongoing expense is emergency response to encampments, which alone is expected to cost about $3.2 million this year and is often handled by fire and frontline services. Overall costs have risen in recent years, increasing from $3.2 million in 2024 to $4.6 million in 2025. The report also includes spending on shelters, staffing, drop-in services, and public facilities, alongside more than $5 million in support from other levels of government. In addition to direct homelessness response, the City has spent even more - about $16.9 million - on affordable housing initiatives, supported by federal and provincial funding programs. The update comes as Saskatoon prepares new warming centres and a provincially funded 60-bed shelter, while homelessness counts and housing costs continue to rise.
  
  
• The Governance and Priorities Committee has recommended repealing 10 outdated bylaws, most dating back nearly a century. These regulations, deemed redundant or no longer enforced, include a 1944 prohibition on early-morning milk delivery and a 1928 ban on using explosives like dynamite for construction. Also slated for removal is a 10:30 pm curfew for minors, which officials noted was potentially unconstitutional and difficult to enforce. Additionally, a 1925 ban on river bathing has been superseded by modern swimming regulations. This "historical sweep" was prompted by upcoming provincial amendments to The Cities Act, which will require municipalities to publish all bylaws online. City Solicitor Cindy Yelland stated that while these rules are no longer relevant, they offer insight into the city's early history. The recommendation now proceeds to Council for a final vote.
  
  
• The Rural Municipality of Corman Park is preparing to potentially withdraw from the Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G), a regional planning body that includes Saskatoon and nearby municipalities. Corman Park leaders argue the current structure slows development decisions, requiring up to 60 days for reviews by other municipalities, and they want greater recognition as an equal partner given their size and planning capacity. The region, which includes Saskatoon, Martensville, Warman, and Osler, has been working under the partnership since 2014 to manage rapid population and development growth. Officials from Saskatoon and Warman have expressed disappointment, emphasizing the importance of continued regional cooperation to manage growth and investment. A key point of tension has been disagreements over specific developments like the proposed Solair community, which remains in arbitration between the RM and Saskatoon. While withdrawal is being seriously considered, leaders acknowledge it could prompt provincial intervention in regional planning if cooperation breaks down.

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