Saskatoon Minute: Issue 72

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

📅 This Week In Saskatoon: 📅

• There will be a Governance and Priorities Committee meeting on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The Committee will ​​review the City’s 2026/2027 business plan and budget amid ongoing challenges such as rising costs and increasing public service demands. Administration has developed a list of operating and capital budget options for Councillors to consider, asking them to prioritize additional funding beyond existing approved service levels. Operating budget options total approximately $7.6 million in 2026 and $8.1 million in 2027, with priorities including affordable housing incentives, asset management, cybersecurity, and homelessness response. Capital budget options amount to over $5 million in 2026 and $7 million in 2027, with projects like the City-USask research partnership and Meewasin Trail upgrades already committed. Council will prioritize capital projects through a survey and finalize decisions during budget deliberations later in the year.
  
  
• The Committee will also review a report on the South Saskatchewan River Watershed Stewards (SSRWS) restructuring and a proposal from the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds (SAW) to create an annual scholarship program. The SSRWS, of which the City was a founding member, dissolved in 2024, transferring assets to SAW for local watershed projects. SAW proposes reallocating the City’s $20,000 annual membership fee to fund scholarships for post-secondary students developing and implementing environmental solutions within Saskatoon. The City would contribute $15,000 in 2025 for program development, then $20,000 annually starting in 2026, with SAW matching funds.
  
  
• Council has voted to remove the pedestrian overpass at the University of Saskatchewan on College Drive, replacing it with a street-level crosswalk. The decision, passed by 7-3 vote, is part of broader plans to reconstruct the College Drive corridor in preparation for the upcoming Link Bus Rapid Transit system. The overpass, built in the 1960s, is no longer compatible with current accessibility standards or the road design that will feature dedicated centre-lane bus routes. City staff say keeping the structure would cost $3.2 million, while the new crossing is expected to cost about $500,000. Some residents have raised concerns about pedestrian safety and traffic delays, but City officials say the crossing will be integrated with nearby traffic lights to maintain traffic flow. Construction on the Link system is set to begin in summer 2026, with demolition of the overpass expected as part of that work.
  
  
• The City’s Transportation Committee has endorsed the introduction of user fees at municipal electric vehicle charging stations. The stations, located at the Lawson and Lakewood Civic Centres, have been free since May 2023. Councillor Mairin Loewen supported the change, suggesting that it's time to “take the training wheels off.” Administration reported that usage remained steady throughout the pilot, with costs for electricity, maintenance, and administration totalling around $4,500 annually. Council is expected to approve the fee structure at a future meeting, with rates yet to be confirmed. The move is part of Saskatoon’s broader strategy to grow EV infrastructure while reducing public subsidies. City officials noted the new fee would help balance fairness for taxpayers while still supporting electric vehicle adoption.
  
  
• The Rotary Community Garden was given a 29-day eviction notice in July, requiring the garden to be removed by August 21st to allow for site remediation aimed at cost savings. Established in 2019 on a former brownfield lot, the garden provided fresh produce to low-income and houseless individuals, supporting community well-being and even helping some find stability. The City applied for provincial funding to improve the site but was denied, though collaboration with former landowner Imperial Oil is expected to save the City about $500,000 in remediation costs. Garden coordinators emphasized the social value of the garden beyond its financial cost. The community requested a delay in eviction until after the fall harvest or relocation to prevent the loss of plants. Council unanimously passed a motion to find a new permanent garden site near Pleasant Hill for the 2026 season and to assist with storage of garden materials during the transition.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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