Saskatoon Minute: Issue 59

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

📅 This Week In Saskatoon: 📅

• On Tuesday, at 9:30 am, the Governance and Priorities Committee will consider a report recommending the adoption of a Priority-Based Budgeting tool for the 2027 budget cycle. This tool would provide a framework to help Council assess and compare the value of City programs based on strategic alignment, demand, cost recovery, and safety impact. Administration supports full implementation rather than a limited pilot, arguing it offers clearer long-term benefits and more useful insight into resource allocation. The report also recommends scaling back the Climate Budget by removing the requirement to report on projects that add greenhouse gas emissions, allowing staff to focus on emissions reductions.
  
  
• The Governance and Priorities Committee will also review a proposed advocacy plan to support Saskatoon’s municipal funding needs ahead of the 2026 provincial and federal budgets. The plan outlines strategies to engage elected officials and civil servants on priority issues such as transit funding, housing support, flood protection, and green infrastructure. Key actions include targeted meetings, written submissions, and strategic collaboration with groups like the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The report emphasizes the importance of coordinated messaging and consistent outreach to build long-term relationships and secure investment in Saskatoon’s future.
  
  
• On Friday, at 11:30 am, the Saskatoon Environmental Advisory Committee will also receive a presentation from the Meewasin Valley Authority on native planting initiatives. The presentation will focus on how strategic landscaping using native species can help combat climate change, support pollinators, and reduce urban heat. Committee members will discuss opportunities for collaboration with the City, including citizen science programs, ceremonial space planning, and climate adaptation strategies. Questions are expected on biomass replacement, access to water, and the role of the TransCanada Trail. Administration will also speak about integrating Indigenous land use perspectives into planning through the National Urban Park initiative.
  
  
• A Council Committee has endorsed a proposal to implement stricter energy efficiency standards for home construction, aiming to exceed the provincial requirements. This recommendation follows the Saskatchewan government's decision to relax energy efficiency regulations in April. The proposed shift would help the City meet its climate goals, such as achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Mayor Cynthia Block supports the change, stating it aligns with the City's low-emissions plan and will make homes more affordable in the long run. The move would return Saskatoon to Tier 2 standards, which are more energy-efficient than the provincial Tier 1 standards. However, some builders are concerned about the potential for creating two different sets of regulations in the province. While the proposed standards could increase construction costs by $1,000 to $3,000 per home, the City argues they would save homeowners up to $300 annually in energy bills. The recommendation will be presented to Council for final approval.
  
  
• City officials are adjusting snow removal expectations due to delays in clearing some roads. The Transportation Committee discussed two options: increasing resources to speed up snow clearing or lowering service levels to better reflect current performance. Currently, the City declares a snow event when five or more centimeters of snow fall, with priorities set for major roadways and secondary streets. Over the past four years, Priority 2 streets, which make up more than half of the city's roads, have often been cleared slower than the 36-hour target, averaging 45 hours. To address this, the Committee has approved extending the clearance deadline for Priority 2 streets from 36 to 48 hours. Additional resources, including more graders and operators, would be required to meet the original 36-hour standard, but at a significant cost of $890,000 annually. The City is also open to re-evaluating road prioritization in the future, especially with the upcoming bus rapid transit system launching in 2028.
  
  
• Councillors are weighing whether to create a vacant property registry to deal with the city’s 68 abandoned buildings. The Saskatoon Fire Department supports maintaining the current enforcement model, which includes issuing remedy orders and billing non-compliant owners via property taxes. The department has resolved 280 complaints since 2018, with 49 buildings demolished. A new bylaw amendment is also proposed to increase fines for repeat property maintenance violations. Administration argues that a registry would be costly and unnecessary given the relatively low number of vacant properties. Other cities like Winnipeg and Edmonton have implemented more aggressive policies. Council will consider both the bylaw change and registry recommendation.
  
  
• Concerns have been raised about the safety of the Link bus system's design along College Drive in Saskatoon, particularly around the intersection of College Drive and Campus Drive/Field House Road. Cary Tarasoff, a local resident, highlighted issues with the traffic flow, pedestrian crossings, and bus transfer locations. He suggested relocating the bus platforms to a safer area near the Stadium Crescent turnoff, where a pedestrian overpass currently exists. City Councillors, including Robert Pearce and Scott Ford, acknowledged Tarasoff's concerns and his proposed alternative, but City Administration defended the current design, citing its overall efficiency and benefit to patrons of the Field House. Despite these discussions, a motion to delay the project for further review was withdrawn due to time constraints.

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