Saskatoon Minute: Issue 60

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 discuss a proposal to reduce the speed limit on Munroe Avenue North between College Drive and 14th Street East from 50 km/h to 30 km/h as part of the implementation of a new neighbourhood bikeway. The new bikeway, set to be installed in summer 2025, will use semi-permanent infrastructure and include traffic calming measures. The reduced speed limit is a requirement under Council Policy for streets designated as neighbourhood bikeways. Once all physical street modifications are complete, the lower speed limit will take effect. Required signage will be installed accordingly, and there are no additional financial impacts, as costs are covered within the project’s existing budget.
  
  
• Council will also consider revisions to the College Drive corridor design for its Bus Rapid Transit (Link) system between Clarence Avenue and Preston Avenue. The new concept includes dedicated centre-running transit lanes that move with traffic flow, replacing the previously approved contraflow design. Changes also involve new Link stations, improved pedestrian infrastructure including the replacement of a pedestrian overpass with an accessible at-grade crossing, and various road reconfigurations such as lane removals, added pathways, and reduced speed limits. These updates aim to improve pedestrian safety, accessibility, and transit efficiency. Public engagement showed strong support for the shift to with-flow lanes, while opinions were mixed on replacing the overpass. The University of Saskatchewan supports the revised plan, including additional stations and repositioning of the Rugby Chapel. If approved, the project will proceed with public notices, land acquisition, and construction starting in 2026.
  
  
• The Temporary Reserved Parking (TRP) Program, formerly known as "meter hooding," allows on-street parking spaces to be temporarily reserved for purposes such as construction or events. Council requested a report exploring the possibility of TRP fee reductions when construction projects result in the creation of additional paid parking spaces. Currently, the TRP Policy only allows fee reductions for reservations exceeding 30 days. A municipal scan found that no other Canadian cities offer similar fee reductions, favouring a consistent and equitable pricing model. The report raises concerns that estimating future parking revenue from new stalls is speculative and may not offset the revenue lost from fee reductions. Financial implications could affect the Streetscape Reserve and general revenue contributions. If Council chooses to proceed, administrative and procedural changes would be required, and a detailed follow-up report could be provided in early 2026.
  
  
• On Wednesday, at 6:00 pm, there will be a Public Hearing to gather feedback on a proposed daycare facility. Happy Faces Early Learning Centre has applied to open a day care centre at 1615 1st Avenue North in the Kelsey-Woodlawn neighbourhood, aiming to care for up to 34 children with 5 staff on site. The property is zoned for low-density residential use, where day care centres are discretionary uses. While the proposal meets zoning requirements for outdoor play space and parking, City Administration is recommending that the application be denied due to concerns about the impact on neighbouring properties, particularly regarding insufficient parking and potential traffic congestion during drop-off and pick-up times. Administration suggests a smaller day care centre serving 25 children with 4 staff would be more appropriate for this location. Public feedback has been mixed, with some residents expressing support for the new facility due to local demand, while others raised concerns about traffic and proximity to another daycare nearby.
  
  
• Mayor Cynthia Block delivered her first State of the City address, highlighting the city’s strengths, such as low unemployment and regional cooperation, while also addressing the growing homelessness crisis. She expressed concern about the visible increase in homelessness and emphasized that the situation is unacceptable, even if other cities face similar challenges. Block praised the federal government’s housing accelerator fund for enabling the creation of 757 new housing units and acknowledged the Province’s commitment to addiction recovery support. However, she raised questions about how to help those not yet ready for recovery. The Mayor stressed the importance of collaboration between all levels of government and noted ongoing efforts with local Indigenous groups and housing partners to develop a homelessness action plan. She also mentioned urgent work with the Province to establish a new drop-in centre and pointed out that while new affordable housing is coming, it will take time to have an impact.
  
  
• The Saskatoon Ex is preparing to celebrate its 140th anniversary with several changes, including extending the fair to eight days from July 31st to August 7th - the longest run since 1999. Prairieland Park’s CEO, Dan Kemppainen, highlighted that the fair will feature larger rides and will offer about 85% of the Calgary Stampede’s ride lineup despite Saskatoon’s smaller market size. The event will kick off with a downtown parade on July 30th, followed by an entertainment lineup that includes acts like Metric, Loverboy, and TLC. Entry prices will increase, but advance tickets will be cheaper. The agriculture pavilion will return as a nod to the fair’s origins as an agricultural society. Security has improved significantly in recent years, with stricter screenings helping reduce incidents involving bear spray and weapons. Attendance is expected to reach around 250,000 visitors this year.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Common Sense Saskatoon is keeping a close eye on City Hall.

We're continuing to monitor Council and Committee meetings and hold local officials accountable. As part of this work, we want to make sure we're focused on the issues that matter most to you.

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