Winter operations are underway and budget deliberations are just around the corner (Nov. 27-29). Read on for seasonal and other updates, and head to the end of the post for City Council updates. Council meets tomorrow (Monday Nov. 20th) and there are a lot of items of potential interest on the agenda. 

Ward 2 updates:
- Conversations are ongoing to set up consultation between the King George and Holiday Park communities and Saskatoon Water regarding the future of the water treatment plant site. Now that an enclosure has been approved, residents want a say in how it will look. If you live in the area and would like to be a part of these conversations, please be in touch.

- A proposal for a Utility Scale Solar Array near the Montgomery neighbourhood has generated a lot of interest. I've been working to get more information before the site is designated for this potential project. Thank you to everyone who has written and called with questions. The item is in front of Council on Monday and with the additional information residents and I now have, as well as clear indication for extensive consultation going forward, I am comfortable supporting the land designation. If you are looking for an update on this file, please email me.

Winter season updates:

- Snow storage sites are now OPEN: saskatoon.ca/snow

- Compost depots are CLOSED for the season

- Landfill is operating on winter hours: 7:30am to 5:00pm daily excluding Dec 25 and Jan 1. More here

- As always, for up to date road restrictions anytime, visit the online map here

- Snow grading after a snow fall. What to expect from us:

De-icing and grading occurs based on the following Priority Street System:
Priority 1: Highest traffic streets - will be plowed within 12 hours after a snowstorm ends.
Priority 2: Rapid transit bus routes and busy streets - will be graded within 36 hours.
Priority 3: Main streets, school zones and residential pathways - will be graded within 72 hours
If another snowfall or blowing snow occurs within the 72-hour timeframe, crews may be required to return to Priority 1 streets, causing clearing to take longer.
Our snow grading map shows the status of cleared streets after a snow event.
- Neighbourhood grading will be initiated after snow pack is a minimum of 15cm. This is done to reduce the impact of windrows on parking.

City-wide updates & happenings/Consultations to participate in:

- The City's partnership with Saskatoon Tribal Council on the development of a new Hydropower Station at the Weir continues to move ahead. Just this week a Memorandum of Understanding was signed, and a full feasibility study will now take place.

- Construction season wrap-up:
Roads Rehabilitated in 2017: 185 lane kilometres
Sidewalks Replaced in 2017: 10 kilometres
Durable Line Markings in 2017: 9 kilometres
Street Sweeping in 2017: 21,000 tonnes of debris removed

- Help us name the North Commuter Parkway Bridge:
Thank you to everyone who submitted a name for consideration. There were well over 400 names submitted and the committee has its hands full with the next steps in this important task. Curious about the construction status of the new bridges? Stay up to date here: saskatoon.ca/bridgingtotomorrow.

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.

Most recently, I have been exploring questions that I am presented with around rental properties and landlord responsibility. I continue to hear about rental properties that negatively impact nearby communities in an ongoing way and do not promote wellbeing for tenants. Work is being done by administration to explore new mechanisms to remedy these situations and to promote active and effective property management.

You can find the full set of priority area updates from Nov. 14 here.

City Council
Budget 2018:
The draft business plan and budget was tabled and deliberations start in a week. Find everything you need to know about the 2018 budget here.

City Council meets on Monday (Nov. 20). Both meetings are at City Hall in City Council chambers, and open to the public.
Brief highlights are outlined below. For full agendas, visit https://www.saskatoon.ca/city-hall/city-council-boards-committees/council/minutes-and-agendas

Regular Business Meeting | 1:00 PM
- Terms of contribution to UofS/Home Ice campaign for Merlis Belsher Place
- Parks Asset Management strategy
- Allocation proposals for previously declared Neighbourhood Land Development Surplus Funds
- Service Level report - Property Maintenance and Nuisance Abatement Bylaw
- Adjustments to development servicing rates and levies
- Animal Control: prohibiting pets in Ecological Core of NE Swale
- Development Incentives for Heritage Buildings in City Center
- Recreation Game Plan - next steps for capital priorities and partnerships
- Facilitating Solar Energy Opportunities in Saskatoon
- Utility Scale Solar Project - land designation
- Storm Water FLood Resiliency - Home Flood protection program pilot & further options
- Recovery Park & Landfill Capital investments - shortfall
- ICI waste diversion opportunities
- Next steps in Organics & Waste Utility program development
- Bus Rapid Transit - preferred configuration & conceptual network
- Downtown Protected Bike Lanes demonstration project - next steps
- Governance review - Advisory Committees

Public Hearing Meeting | 6:00 PM
- Major development proposal on University Drive including Rezoning & Official Community Plan amendment applications
- Flag raising/proclamations

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