Saskatoon Minute: Water Projects, Ethics Complaint, and Many Zoning Amendments

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. On the agenda are several land use amendments, including proposed amendments to the Brighton Neighbourhood Concept Plan and the Rosewood Neighbourhood Concept Plan, among others.
  
  
• There will be a Regular Business Meeting of City Council on Wednesday at 9:30 am. Council will discuss increasing the budget for rehabilitation and upgrades at the Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre facility by $5,950,000 to a total of $29,982,700. Council will discuss expanding the Varsity View Residential Parking Zone to include several new areas, including the 1000 block of 13th Street East and the 1400 block of 13th Street East, among others. Council will also discuss a report by the Integrity Commissioner in response to a complaint about Councillor David Kirton. The Councillor was found to have contravened the Code of Ethics in a heated conversation with a resident regarding the changing of John A. Macdonald Road to Miyo-wâhkôhtowin Road. No sanctions are recommended by the Commissioner.
  
  
• Also on Wednesday, at 6:00 pm, Council will hold a Public Hearing to discuss several land use amendments. On Thursday, at 9:30 am, there will be a Public Hearing Special Meeting to address the comments submitted with regard to some larger land use bylaw changes.

Last Week In Saskatoon:

• Seniors have had to resort to forming a safety squad at Saskatoon’s Scott/Forget Towers due to concerns about safety. The housing community was initially designed for low-income individuals aged 55 and above, but the complex has now accepted individuals struggling with addiction, prompting concerns among the residents. The safety squad comes in response to reported issues such as drug use, weapons, vandalism, and safety threats within the complex. Despite efforts by the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation to address these concerns through security services and safety upgrades, residents continue to feel unsafe and are seeking further action from their MLA.
  
  
• Another Councillor has decided not to seek re-election. Mairin Loewen, Saskatoon's Ward 7 Councillor since 2011, will not be on the ballot. Having run in four municipal elections, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent residents but noted that 2020 marked her final candidacy. Loewen's announcement means that there will be a roster of new faces joining Council in November, not only in Ward 7, but also in the Mayor’s chair and Wards 2, 3, and 8.
  
  
• The City officially announced the completion of two key infrastructure projects aimed at bolstering Saskatoon's water supply to meet the demands of its expanding population. One project involved the construction of a new water reservoir and pumping station near McOrmond Drive and Baltzan Boulevard, which has technically been operational since March, providing essential clean and safe water resources. The underground reservoir has a capacity of up to 43 million litres and serves neighborhoods such as Evergreen, Aspen Ridge, and Willowgrove. Additionally, the Spadina Lift Station project, designed to manage a significant portion of the City's wastewater, has been successfully completed. These developments, funded through collaborative efforts between federal, provincial, and municipal entities, totalled $75 million.