Saskatoon Minute: Issue 65

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 agenda includes a proposed zoning amendment for 335 Avenue G South in the Riversdale neighbourhood. Cushman and Wakefield, on behalf of the Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc., is seeking to add a daycare centre to the list of permitted uses at the site. The property is currently zoned for a Residential Care Home Type II, including offices and counselling rooms. The proposed amendment would allow care for up to 50 children with 10 staff, reduce the required parking to 14 spaces, and clarify landscaping requirements. City Administration supports the change. If approved, the proposal will proceed to a public hearing.
  
  
• City Council will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am. On the consent agenda (meaning that it will not be debated and proceed straight to a vote) is a proposed bylaw amendment requiring sellers of bear spray to record purchaser information. The Saskatoon Police Service submitted the proposal in response to rising misuse of bear spray, especially among youth. Incidents rose from 185 in 2021 to 367 in 2024, with youth now responsible for 60% of cases. The changes would prohibit sales to minors, require two forms of ID, and mandate that records be kept for two years. Bear spray must also be stored securely and only sold in original containers. Administration notes similar measures exist in Edmonton and Vancouver. Larger sporting goods retailers in Saskatoon have already adopted voluntary practices and expressed support.
  
  
• Council will also discuss the SaskTel Centre Naming Rights agreement. The City of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Place Association Inc., and Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel) are renewing the naming rights agreement for SaskTel Centre until September 30th, 2034. Under the new deal, SaskTel will increase its total investment from $3.5 million in the previous agreement to $4.85 million, with annual payments starting at $450,000 and rising to $500,000. SaskTel retains exclusive naming rights and telecommunications provider status at the venue, along with branding, signage, and event hosting opportunities. A new Downtown Event and Entertainment District (DEED) renewal clause grants SaskTel an exclusive negotiation window for naming rights to the future downtown DEED Events Centre. The agreement allows for early termination if the new arena opens before 2034.
  
  
• Also on the agenda is the City of Saskatoon's preliminary financial forecast for 2026 and 2027. The forecast projects significant budget pressures driven by inflation, population growth, and prior Council commitments - including funding for Bus Rapid Transit, new fire halls, and facility maintenance, which will require $7.5 million in 2026 and $9.6 million in 2027. Overall, civic expenditures are expected to rise by 5.89% and 5.66%, while revenues will grow at slower rates of 3.49% and 4.07%, excluding tax increases. The Saskatoon Police Service is projecting increases of 10.42% and 6.41% over the two years. These factors would result in property tax increases of 9.90% in 2026 and 7.34% in 2027 - about $22 and $18 per month, respectively, for a median household. However, Administration has been directed to propose a budget with at least a 1% reduction to these increases and will also present two additional scenarios that explore further reductions of 1% and 2%, which could require service adjustments.
  
  
• Construction has begun on Saskatoon's new $8.46 million solar farm located between Dundonald Avenue and Circle Drive South. The 2.8 megawatt facility will include nearly 5,000 high-wattage solar panels over 14 acres, enough to power more than 400 homes. Originally estimated at $4.25 million in 2021, the project's cost nearly doubled due to inflation and changes in technology, extending the City’s expected payback period from 7 to 15 years. Emissions are projected to drop by 19,380 tonnes over the farm’s 30-year lifespan - equivalent to removing 140 cars from the road annually. Construction is expected to take about six months, with fencing and vines added for visual appeal. Funding includes federal and provincial support, plus a $2.23 million loan approved last year.
  
  
• Public engagement on the proposed National Urban Park in Saskatoon will begin in July and run through September, aiming to gather residents’ input on the project. The federal government funded a feasibility study, with Meewasin Valley Authority (MVA) leading the process while aiming to retain local governance under the Meewasin Valley Authority Act. The park’s boundaries would likely align with existing Meewasin lands and, if designated, the park could receive long-term federal funding. Feedback gathered this summer at events, open houses, and through signage will help guide decisions on governance, priorities, and park boundaries by March 2026. Critics have raised concerns about the summer timeline for public input and called for early release of capital and operating plans. Environmental groups have highlighted the need to include the Northeast Swale and better protect at-risk species. Saskatoon is one of several cities being considered for national urban park status, alongside places like Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Victoria.

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