Saskatoon Minute: Park Upgrades, Transit Safety, and a New Police Chief

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 options for a solar farm on Dundonald Avenue, hear an update on flood control plans for Cumberland Park, and receive a report regarding a plan for establishing a City-owned organics processing facility. Later in the day, at 2:00 pm, the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation will meet. The Committee will hear suggestions from the public on ways to improve traffic flow and safety before discussing some reports from Administration regarding improvements to bus safety, changes to Second and Third Avenue, and concept drafts of a new neighbourhood plan.
  
  
• On Wednesday, the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development, and Community Services will meet at 9:30 am. Two community members have requested to speak - one regarding the degradation of the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood and the other looking to have the spelling of Pawlychenko Street changed to Pavlychenko. The Committee will also discuss disbursing $585,281 to various organizations under the Assistance to Community Groups Grant Program. Later in the day, at 2:00 pm, the Standing Policy Committee on Finance will meet. The Committee will hear a presentation and receive an annual report from Discover Saskatoon, consider utility billing delivery options, and discuss the acquisition of some property from U-Haul for a future 17th Street extension.
  
  
• The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee meets on Thursday at 12:00 pm. The Committee will consider two co-sponsorship event applications - one for the Saskatoon Norooz Gala put on by the Saskatoon Iranian Cultural Association and another for a faith-based music event put on by For Kingdom and Light Ministries. The Saskatoon Accessibility Advisory Committee will meet on Friday at 12:00 pm. On the agenda is a discussion about getting some material printed to offer insight into Saskatoon's progress toward becoming a more accessible city. There will also be a verbal update from the Deafblind Subcommittee. Finally, at 2:30 pm on Friday, there will be a meeting of the Public Art Advisory Committee. The Committee will consider its 2024 Workplan, with its priorities focused on adjudication of public art and the education of artists and the community about the City’s Public Art Program.

Last Week In Saskatoon:

• The recent stabbing incident on a Saskatoon transit bus has prompted the City to enhance support on select bus routes due to escalating violence. The City plans for the Saskatoon Fire Department to take over the Community Support Officer program, with additional officers hired to patrol high-incident bus routes. Bus riders have expressed concerns about safety, with incidents of drug use and violence affecting their experiences on public transit.
  
  
• The City has announced upcoming changes to several Saskatoon neighbourhood parks this spring, funded by the City and the Government of Canada's Natural Infrastructure Fund. These upgrades will address deficiencies and bring parks up to current standards, and will include adding new pathways, lighting, irrigation, and amenities like benches and play structures. Locations like Boughton Park and Leif Erickson Park will also feature food forests, providing free-to-pick fruits like apples and Saskatoon berries. The food forest project, costing around $350,000, is part of a pilot project in which locations were chosen based on criteria like neighbourhood incomes, land availability and accessibility, and distance from grocery stores.
  
  
• Cam McBride was announced as the new Chief of Police for the Saskatoon Police Service by the Board of Police Commissioners. McBride expressed his surprise at this opportunity, mentioning that he hadn't initially aimed for the Chief position during his early years in Saskatoon. He emphasized his desire to focus on supporting both police officers and civilian staff, acknowledging the challenging nature of their work. McBride highlighted the importance of community-oriented policing and collaboration, aiming to understand and address community and service needs collectively.