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Developing partnerships: Developments such as the Shaw Centre and the SaskTel Sports Centre were projects that came to fruition because the government and corporate donors worked together. In your opinion, what are the top 3 factors that contribute to a successful partnership between public and private entities?
Mayor Atchison: You can accomplish a lot by building trust and relationships. My word is my bond and people know that. Too many people worry about a legal agreement but we have been able to bring people together, sometimes on a handshake, to work on projects that the community values and provides a benefit to all citizens. The Shaw Centre for Aquatics is a perfect example of bringing together the federal and provincial governments, the city, two school boards and the private sector to create a first-class aquatic centre. The Shaw Centre is the number one aquatic centre in Canada and one of the top three in North America with the largest volumetric tank of water.
The SaskTel Soccer Centre was a product of a positive relationship with the provincial government, the city and the soccer families. The soccer families contributed $7.4 million of the total cost of $14.85 million. It is the number one indoor soccer centre in all of Canada with the largest continuous artificial turf surface in all of Canada.
Another factor in successful partnerships is that everyone brings money to the table. Every partner must contribute to the project. Governments cannot and should not do everything for everyone. If a group wants a project to succeed, they will contribute to that success.
The Mayor’s role should also be as a facilitator. On so many occasions we have been able to bring the private sector, governments and community groups together.
Direction: Saskatoon broke ground on a 40-unit affordable housing project in May 2015, targeted at single parent and low income families. You have said that the city will be stronger because these families will have a place to call home. Can you share your thoughts on what the impact of an effective housing policy has on the city’s resilience?
Mayor Atchison: Housing is the cornerstone of a great community. I believe Singapore has done very good work in creating safe, clean, affordable housing for every family. Here in Saskatoon, I believe everyone deserves good, clean, safe, attainable and affordable housing. We set a goal in 2008 to help create 500 units a year over five years. We exceeded that goal with a total of 2,534 units. At that time we set a new goal for the decade from 2013 through 2023 of another 5,000 units and we are on track to achieve that goal as well. A home creates hope and opportunity for each family. The families could see that others cared for them and loved them. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reported that Saskatoon has the number one housing program in all of Canada. The Saskatchewan government adopted the program and now the neighbouring province of Manitoba has adopted the same program.
The program connects the private sector, governments, faith-based groups and individuals to offer incentives and tax abatements that make the housing projects financially viable.
Once people have a home they feel the safety of a community, the warmth of a neighbourhood and the stability in their lives; they become more productive in their private lives. They become better parents, better employees at work and productive members of the community. Saskatoon has one of the highest employee retention rates in all of Canada.
Design: You shared that you would like to have 35,000 people living in the city’s downtown to increase its density. How do you think good urban design and urban planning can help to ensure that the city continues to remain liveable given the densification efforts?
Mayor Atchison: A high density city centre makes other city services more viable whether it is delivering sewer and water or public transportation. High density creates a heartbeat in the city. A healthy downtown is critical to a city’s future viability. But high density in the downtown should not come at the expense of other developments outside the city centre. It has to be a balance. Not everyone wants to live in a high rise condominium. We must discourage urban sprawl but at the same time offer choices. I am a strong believer in smart growth. The South Saskatchewan River flows through our downtown and on each side we have parks and green space. We also have the top-rated Meewasin Trail that provides connectivity and healthy living options for biking, walking and running. Green space is critical for a healthy community.
Direction: Saskatoon rolled out the protected bike lane testbed in July 2015. What are two challenges that you have met with since the bike lane trials started, and how have you overcome them?
Mayor Atchison: The bike lanes haven’t been operational long enough to determine whether they will be a success in those locations. City Council has given the demonstration project two years to assess the operation. The real question is whether the bike lanes were sited on the right streets. Connectivity is exceedingly important. Bike lanes must connect to other bike lanes and the trail system throughout the city. We need to make sure that cyclists, pedestrians and motorists can move around in a safe environment. We are a winter city, so moving the snow is very important. Initially we had a challenge with moving the snow in a timely manner so we changed contractors and I believe that issue has been resolved.
Looking into the future we will see autonomous vehicles on our streets so we need to plan for that. Vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians may be sharing the space so bike lanes as we know them today could soon look very different.