City manager admits ‘mistake’ in jumping the gun on servicing

Council told internal processes in place so it doesn’t happen again, writes Phil Tank.

Saskatoon city manager Murray Totland admits city hall administration should not have started servicing for a new neighbourhood without an approved concept plan or permission from city council.

Totland made the comments in response to concerns that Saskatoon Land began work in the new Elk Point neighbourhood without proper authorization. City administration also did a poor job of acknowledging the mistake in a report to a council committee, Totland added.

“I think we should have been more explicit with committee, simply fess up and admit what happened,” Totland told Monday’s council meeting.

“We got ahead of ourselves. We made the mistake.”

Council heard the servicing began in 2012 when the city’s real estate market was still booming and there was concern about sufficient lot supply. Totland said internal processes are now in place to make sure the situation could not happen again.

Saskatoon is likely to experience another real estate boom at some point, he added.

Council voted for an internal process review on the matter, but rejected a third-party audit that had been recommended.

MEETINGS FOR MOMMIES

Coun. Mairin Loewen wonders whether city hall’s community consultation meetings need to be tailored better for the people they serve.

Loewen cited low participation in a meeting on traffic concerns in the Stonebridge neighbourhood, which she said are numerous based on the number of emails and phone calls she receives.

Only 24 residents attended a May 25 public meeting to gather concerns about traffic, a City of Saskatoon report says, even though Stonebridge is one of the city’s largest neighbourhoods at more than 10,000 people.

“I think I can attribute that to the fact that almost everyone in the neighbourhood has a kid under two and we hold all of our meetings at bedtime,” the Ward 7 councillor said. “A town hall style meeting at 7 p.m. does not meet everybody’s needs.”

SERVING SPEAKERS

Coun. Randy Donauer got unanimous support for a report from city administration on the ramifications of routinely moving agenda items with speakers earlier at public meetings.

Donauer said he did not know what the entire ramifications of the move would be.

Coun. Darren Hill noted council already has the ability to amend agendas and cautioned against any move that might disrupt priorities, such as considering “time-sensitive” items.

Hill said he could support the intent of Donauer’s motion provided it did not hinder council business.

Donauer made the motion out of concern for speakers intimidated by sitting through hours of other council business. Donauer’s motion was not considered until after 8 p.m. Monday. The meeting began at 1 p.m.

Any changes would apply to city council meetings, as well as those of council’s governance and priorities committee.

RECONSIDERING REASSESSMENT

Coun. Cynthia Block told council she intends to try to reduce the amount of time between reassessment cycles in Saskatchewan.

Provincewide reassessment takes place every four years, including this year. Block said she wants Mayor Charlie Clark to write a letter to the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA) to urge a switch to a two-year reassessment cycle.

SAMA is an independent body that develops and maintains the province’s property assessment policies. SAMA receives some provincial funding. Many expressed concern this year with huge increases in assessed value and property taxes in Saskatoon.

Some, including the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, called for a shorter reassessment cycle to reduce the big swings.

Manitoba reassesses property value every two years, while B.C. and Alberta do it every year.

PARKING PRIVILEGES

Council approved expanding the residential parking permit program in four neighbourhoods: Caswell Hill, Riversdale, Varsity View and Nutana.

The program allows those who live in an area with limited on-street parking to purchase permits that allow them to park for longer than posted time limits. Those with permits must still abide by the 36-hour limit for on-street parking.

The largest expansion of the program is slated to happen in Varsity View where 33 blocks are expected to be added to the program. The city surveys residents to determine support for parking permits, which cost $25.

The cost of expanding the program is pegged at $125,000.

TYPO TROUBLE

Coun. Zach Jeffries wants city hall administration to help out those who get parking tickets for entering their licence plate number wrong in the on-street parking pay stations.

The stations, introduced in 2015, require motorists wanting to park in certain areas like downtown to enter their licence plate number before paying.

The city’s parking enforcement vehicles scan licence plates to determine whether payment has been made for a vehicle.

Jeffries wants the city to develop an internal process so those who make typos entering their licence plate numbers can get their tickets reviewed without requiring them to go to court.