Former city manager working for developer based in Vancouver

Former city manager Murray Totland is working for the developer behind a high-profile pitch to buy and redevelop Saskatoon’s city yards.

Totland, who worked for the City of Saskatoon for 36 years, surprised many when he announced his retirement in September, breaking a lucrative contract that included retention bonuses.

Jeff Drexel, the president of Vancouver-based Arbutus Properties, said Totland has been working for the company as its director of planning since the end of January. Totland left the city at the end of December.

“We are keeping Murray away from city hall to avoid any conflict of interest and his involvement in the city yards has been limited,” Drexel said in an email on Friday.

Totland could not be reached for comment.

Arbutus has submitted a proposal to the City of Saskatoon to buy the city yards, which are located in the Central Industrial area north of downtown between the City Park and Caswell Hill neighbourhoods.

Arbutus plans to redevelop the area with a mix of “experiential re- tail” and residential; the company touts a long-discussed downtown grocery store as part of the vision.

The city yards comprise about 22 acres, but the value of the land is not known. Arbutus wants six months to develop a more detailed proposal should city council approve the idea.

City hall is seeking federal funding for a $200-million plan to move the material and equipment from the city yards to satellite locations.

Arbutus is also developing the Meadows community in the city’s southeast Rosewood neighbourhood. Totland has been involved in land development for a project being planned near the Costco in the Meadows Market, Drexel said.

Totland insisted his departure after nine years as city manager had nothing to do with the new council and mayor elected less than a year earlier. His contract ran until May of next year.

Totland became the first city employee with income above the $300,000 mark.

City council’s planning, development and community services committee is expected to consider the Arbutus proposal when it meets today.