Saskatoon Minute: Issue 73

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

📅 This Week In Saskatoon: 📅

• City Administration has released a budget preview outlining potential operating and capital priorities ahead of November budget discussions. Recommended items include affordable housing incentives, asset management, cybersecurity, homelessness response operations, and riverbank washroom monitoring. Many initiatives are scalable, allowing Council to adjust funding based on importance. Capital options, such as guardrail repairs, Meewasin Trail upgrades, and customer experience strategies, are prioritized separately, with costs estimated at $5.1 million in 2026 and $7.2 million in 2027. The Chief Financial Officer highlighted potential property tax increases of 9.9% in 2026 and 7.34% in 2027, noting that reductions may be possible before final deliberations. Council feedback will be gathered through surveys before the next committee meeting on October 15th to guide final budget decisions. We'll be sharing our budget analysis soon!
  
  
• Saskatoon is planning a new 60-bed enhanced emergency shelter on 31st Street E, replacing a temporary facility that opened in April 2025. The site, currently a Saskatchewan Polytechnic parking lot, will provide 24/7 services. The provincial government will fund operations and oversee the design and construction, while The Mustard Seed will operate the shelter. No construction timeline or opening date has been announced, but neighbourhood information sessions are planned for next month. The move comes as homelessness in Saskatoon has surged, with a 2024 count identifying 1,499 people without stable housing, nearly triple the 2022 figure. The shelter is part of broader efforts linked to the upcoming Saskatoon Homelessness Action Plan, which is expected to be considered for approval this fall.
  
  
• The Broadway Community Patio officially opened recently, providing a new space for local artists and entertainment. Located across from 5 Corners Cafe, the patio was delayed by City construction but has already hosted some large events. The space will also be used for Broadway Block Parties, featuring live music, street performers, and night markets. Residents and artists can book the patio for activities such as yoga, busking, and dance performances, and early uptake has been positive. Organizers hope for a long summer to maximize its use. The City is treating the patio as a pilot project, with hopes to create similar spaces elsewhere.
  
  
• Saskatoon is upgrading its parking meters with new touchscreen machines that accept tap payments, including debit, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, while still allowing coins. The City says the previous meters, installed in 2015, were outdated and the upgrade was long overdue. Residents have praised the new meters as easier and more convenient to use. The machines are designed to withstand harsh Saskatoon winters, with pilot testing showing they function well even with gloves. City officials note that card insertion is no longer supported. The replacement project will cost $1.78 million, funded from the City’s Parking Capital Reserve. 
  
  
• Saskatoon is constructing 44 new bus stations and platforms this year, part of its $250-million Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project set to launch in 2028. Construction began in 2024, and six platforms are already completed, with the remaining concrete work expected to finish by October. The new stations will feature accessible points for wheelchairs, bright tactile strips for visibility, and in the future, shelters and other amenities. This expansion is the largest single-season effort for Saskatoon’s transit infrastructure, according to City officials. Work is also continuing on other major projects, including the Broadway Bridge and road resurfacing. Next year, construction will focus on College Drive, adding dedicated bus lanes and replacing a pedestrian overpass with a street-level crossing. 

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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