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Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark has introduced two motions to city councillors to try to get more people outside this winter.
The proposals, which would cost $250,000, come from a promise he made while campaigning prior to the Nov. 13 civic election.
During the governance and priorities committee meeting Monday, Clark told councillors people were tired and worn out.
“Families are worried about their kids having too much screen time and not getting enough exercise, seniors are concerned about isolation and being cooped up. Businesses are concerned about the fact that they can’t have patios and the same ability to attract people into their doors and we all need to collectively find the best way to get through winter.”
Clark calls the first motion the “Take It Outside Fund.”
It would be accessible by various community organizations, sports groups, associations, non-profits, service clubs and others. The three main objectives he says, are to promote health and wellness, to create activities that support local businesses and to create opportunities for “safe community connections.”
The second motion is to offer free city parking on Saturdays in business improvement districts for as much of December as possible, and then also to include Jan. through April of 2021. The cost of doing so would be about $88,000 per month to the city
“The parking, the impact is $50,000 a month of lost revenue, but an additional $38,000 per month in lost fines,” explained Clark.
If approved, the money would come from Saskatoon’s share of the Federal Safe Restart fund, or other one-time funding sources, not from property taxes.
Clark also explained that it has been an ‘unprecedented’ year.
“This is all one-time funding to address a one-time extraordinary situation this winter.”
Administration has been directed to report back on the possibility of using the money, in time for budget discussions and how the adjudication process would work.
City budget discussions are scheduled for early Dec. The city is so far facing a $20.1 million deficit, however, the exact amount won’t be known until sometime early in the New Year.
