Hello! 

I hope that you enjoyed a nice Family day. I'm away this week, but wanted to get this update out on the regular schedule so that you have the usual heads up about upcoming decisions. Decision highlights are below.

And a quick reminder: initial black cart swap requests need to be received by March 1st. This is your first opportunity to re-size your cart. Later opportunities will also be made available.

Meetings & Upcoming Decisions

City Council meets on Wednesday Feb 28th. The Regular Business meeting takes place in the day starting at 9:30am and the Public Hearing takes place in the evening beginning at 6:00pm. Highlights below.

Downtown Entertainment & Events District (DEED) - Acquisition of YMCA
City Council is considering the final approval of the purchase of the property currently occupied by the YMCA next to the TCU Place convention center. The City and the YMCA have been negotiating the sale of this property for about a decade. It is a strategic site for the potential expansion of the Convention Center. If the purchase is confirmed, the YMCA would operate until they decide to vacate, or until the property is required for Convention Center - DEED development. The details of the decision are here and the YMCA's perspective has been shared here.

As the YMCA highlights, their building is aging and has a limited number of years of service in its current capacity. As the decision report outlines, they are exploring operating partnerships for recreation facilities with the City, starting with the planned NE Leisure Center and potentially also Harry Bailey after it is renovated and reopened. This is all yet to be determined. 

Other DEED reports - information updates
The Concept Design for the Downtown Event and Entertainment District (DEED) has been published! Check out the full report and the virtual tour here. 
An update on the direction of the DEED Project overall can be read here, and the details about which option is being included in the potential project related to the Convention Centre can be found here.

31st Street Bikeway Connection
A cycling connection solution has been proposed between 31st street and 33rd street just East of Idylwyld for when 31st street is retrofitted as a shared use street bikeway. This would complete the connection to the 33rd Street shared-use pathway. The plan and decision report can be reviewed here. 

Homeless shelter updates

The City has been assisting the Province of Saskatchewan to identify two sites each for use as 30-bed homeless shelters. The first potential location has been identified as 421 Central Avenue which is the former Fire Station. Public information meetings will be held in March on the 11th (virtual) and 12th (in person). Background is available here and more details about the meetings will also be shared there shortly.

Engagement 
To see all projects open for engagement visit www.saskatoon.ca/engage

City Council | Feb 28th (Wednesday)

City Council meets on Wednesday. Brief highlights are outlined below. Click here to find the full agenda. Correspondence on Council items can be made in writing or as a request to speak (accommodated by phone or in person). Meetings are live streamed.

Regular Business Meeting  |  9:30 AM
  - Full agenda listing at link above

Public Hearing Meeting |  6:00 PM
  - Full agenda listing at link above