Council to axe panels on animal control, traffic

Committees were first created in 1976 so citizens can offer advice to councillors

Dr. Edward Hudson moved to Saskatoon in 1977, one year after the City of Saskatoon created the advisory committee on animal control.

Hudson, who went on to establish a small animal veterinary practice in the city, now serves on the advisory committee. He appeared before city council’s governance and priorities committee on Tuesday as council considered dissolving two long-standing advisory committees.

Hudson recalled riding his bicycle with his dog on a leash when he first moved to the city.

“My dog did not need to be licensed, but my bicycle did,” Hudson said, noting that the reverse is now true.

Despite comments from Hudson and others on the value of the committees, council voted to dissolve the animal control committee and the traffic safety committee by the end of the year. Both were created in 1976.

The committees are composed of residents who study issues and offer advice to city council or other council committees. They do not make policy decisions, but each committee includes one city councillor.

“Why do you want to get rid of an effective committee?” asked animal control committee member Jill Thomson. “It is working extremely well.”

Thomson rejected arguments that London, Ont., is the only other Canadian city with a comparable animal control committee.

A city report that recommended dissolving the two advisory committees said many of the duties assigned to them are now performed by city hall administration.

Council voted unanimously to axe the traffic safety committee, but Mayor Charlie Clark, Coun. Ann Iwanchuk and Coun. Zach Jeffries, who serves on the animal control committee, voted against dissolving the latter.

Clark said animal control issues are growing in Saskatoon and noted that his family now has a pet hedgehog.

Jeffries got unanimous support for creating a new animal control advisory group that will meet three times a year and offer advice to the administration.

Coun. Sarina Gersher, who serves on the traffic safety committee, said she was disappointed with the engagement process leading up to the vote on dissolving the committees. Both committees will be disbanded at the end of the year, unless city council reverses its decision.

The 2017 budget for the animal control committee was $21,300, while the 2018 budget for the traffic safety committee is $6,500.

The city report says city hall is also considering changes to other advisory committees: the cultural diversity and race relations committee and the street activity steering committee.

Council also voted unanimously to include a space on forms to allow applicants for committees to identify their age group.

The idea is intended to increase the number of young people on committees and boards without reserving a spot specifically for any age group.

Why do you want to get rid of an effective committee? It is working extremely well.