Saskatoon Minute: Operating Deficit, Washroom Trailer, and an Arena Funding Plan

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

This Week In Saskatoon:

• The Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services will meet on Tuesday at 9:30 am. The Committee will discuss a report on the current condition of distribution water mains, as well as plans to ensure the reliability and resiliency of Saskatoon’s water distribution infrastructure. The Standing Policy Committee on Transportation also meets on Tuesday, at 2:00 pm. The agenda includes a discussion about potential improvements at the intersection of Preston Avenue South and Cornish Road/Hunter Road, and a review of the 2023 Household Travel Survey. The Survey shows that on average, there are 1.59 vehicles per household and 1.33 vehicles per worker, and that 90% of Saskatoon households have access to at least one vehicle.
  
  
• On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services will meet. The Committee will discuss the allocation of $13,284,000 towards 18 projects for the development of 492 new affordable rental units, as well as receive a report on the Corridor Planning program, which has been the City’s strategy for developing a framework for future growth on lands near the planned Bus Rapid Transit routes.
  
  
• The Standing Policy Committee on Finance will also meet on Wednesday, at 2:00 pm, to discuss selling City-owned property in the Brighton neighbourhood and exploring alternative credit card payment processors that offer surcharging for future use. A fiscal update is also on the agenda. (More on that below!). The Civic Naming Committee will meet on Thursday at 10:00 am. The agenda includes a report on expanding the boundary of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area to include an adjacent "unnamed afforestation area."

Last Week In Saskatoon:

• The City projected a $5.3 million operating deficit for this year, primarily due to unexpected costs from city-wide snow clearing after a heavy snowfall in March. The City plans to use reserve funds, specifically from the snow and ice management reserve, to cover the shortfall. To balance the budget, the City is trying to find $3.75 million in savings, though this leaves little room for unexpected expenses. The fiscal update will be discussed on Wednesday at the Standing Policy Committee on Finance meeting.
  
  
• Council voted in favour of allowing City Staff to pursue a funding strategy for a new downtown event and entertainment district, which will cost around $1.2 billion. Council did not hear from a representative of OVG360, an American firm committed to contributing $20 million to the project. The firm's representative was expected at an earlier meeting but could not attend, and was absent from this meeting too. Councillor Bev Dubois proposed delaying the discussion until OVG360 could attend, but failed to get support from other Councillors. Other funding is proposed to come from a combination of revenue tools, including a surcharge on event tickets and a 5.9% accommodation tax, which faced criticism from local hotels for potentially increasing hotel costs and impacting the local visitor economy. The plan also seeks additional funding from provincial and federal governments. Nothing is set in stone yet.
  
  
• Saskatoon has opened a 24-hour washroom trailer in response to rising homelessness in the city's core neighbourhoods. The facility, located at the Central Urban Métis Federation office, will be staffed and monitored by the Saskatoon Tribal Council's Saweyihtotān program. The washroom, approved by Council with a budget of up to $700,000, aims to provide safe, accessible public restrooms in the Riversdale and Pleasant Hill areas. This temporary solution will be tested until October 31st.