New deal would establish gas station as urban reserve
A gas station on a prominent corner in Caswell Hill could soon become Saskatoon’s sixth urban reserve.
Saskatoon city council will hold a special meeting Monday at noon, where it will vote on an agreement to provide services to the property on the southwest corner of Idylwyld Drive and 33rd Street.
The property is owned by the Thunderchild First Nation, which has operated a Retro Petro gas station and convenience store at the site since 2016. Thunderchild is located just outside Turtleford, about 227 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.
The urban reserve agreement would mean the property would fall under the jurisdiction of Thunderchild, which would pay fees to the City of Saskatoon in lieu of property tax.
“The overall intent of the agreement is to recognize and respect Thunderchild’s separate jurisdiction, while also recognizing the need for co-operation and co-ordination between Thunderchild and the city,” a city report outlining the agreement says.
The agreement to be considered by council Monday ensures the property is subject to the same safety, land use and public health regulations as other similar properties in Saskatoon.
The fee-for-service part of the agreement only applies to property tax levied by the city and the library. The First Nation must negotiate a separate agreement with the school boards on the education portion of property tax. Thunderchild must also strike a pact with the Saskatoon board of police commissioners.
City council doesn’t have the right to veto the urban reserve, according to the city’s website. The reserve status is granted by the federal government. If the city and the First Nation cannot agree on a fee-for-services deal, the matter goes to arbitration.
The agreement with the city doesn’t apply to retail taxes, meaning on-reserve conditions can apply where those with status cards don’t pay federal or provincial sales tax.