February is coming to a close. I hope you all enjoyed your long weekend. I had a great time doing some shovelling and skating at my neighbourhood rink this weekend with some neighbours. Next time you see your neighbourhood's rink coordinator give them a high five - it's a lot of work! :)

Ward 2 updates:  

- The Bus Rapid Transit red and green lines are proposed to run down 22nd street, resulting in substantial changes to transit service in Ward 2. See below for opportunities to engage in future planning, and check out the latest BRT details here.

- City administration is gearing up to move forward with a couple of redevelopment properties in Ward 2. Catch up on the progress for each:
  - Pleasant Hill Village: website here & latest update to Council here (item 7.1.8)
  - South Caswell Hill (Bus Barns): website here; a next update is anticipated at Council soon

Consultations to participate in:

- Public come-and-go on Growth Plan: March 7th, 4:30pm-8:30pm @ Western Development Museum

- Want to stay up to date as the City develops its climate action plan? Join the growing network of individuals and groups from across Saskatoon who have signed up for our “Count Me In!” emails

- Imagine Idylwyld - proposed design is now complete. You can find it online here. Staff will be on hand at the March 7th open house to share it in full detail as well. 

If you can't make it to the event, check out all engagement opportunities at saskatoon.ca/engage and use #GrowYXE on social media to share your thoughts about our plans for growth (Bus Rapid Transit, Corridor Planning, Transit Villages, etc.)

Policy Updates 

Community Safety & Wellness
As noted previously, Council has assigned strategic priority areas for leadership by individual Councillors. The strategic priority area that I am leading is Community Safety and Wellness.

Work is underway to prepare Saskatoon's application for the Smart Cities challenge presented by the Federal Government. As noted, Community Wellbeing will be the focus of this work. The problem statement will be identified and application submitted before the end of March. It will be a few months before we know whether we've been shortlisted.

The training I attended in Edmonton last week about developing community-wide safety strategies was very worthwhile and motivational. I look forward to reporting more as my City and Police colleagues and I determine how best to move this work forward in our community.

The next round of committee reporting on these priority areas will take place at the April meeting of the Governance and Priority Committee.

City Council

City Council meets Monday (Feb. 26th) at City Hall in City Council chambers. As always, Council meetings are open to the public.  
Brief highlights are outlined below. For full agenda, visit https://www.saskatoon.ca/city-hall/city-council-boards-committees/council/minutes-and-agendas

Regular Business Meeting  | 1:00 PM  
  - Property Tax Liens 2017
  - BIDs - budget approval
  - Award of Contract - ERP services
  - Multi-unit residential waste diversion opportunities
  - Recovery Park - comprehensive funding plan
  - Noise bylaw extensions - delegation to administration
  - Home Flood protection program
  - Electrical Rate Increase (SL&P to match SK Power)
  - Downtown Development Process - Cut Red Tape initiative
  - Naming - Traffic Bridge
  - Governance Structure - Advisory Committees
  - Residential Fire Pits / Revision of Open Air Bylaw

Public Hearing Meeting  |  6:00 PM
  - Discretionary Use hearings (none in Ward 2)
  - Municipal Heritage designation - Mendel building
  - Proclamations/Flag Raisings
  
As always, if you'd like to speak to Council as a whole about something on the agenda, please get in touch with the Clerk's office before the meeting. More info here: https://www.saskatoon.ca/write-letter-councilcommittees