The morning opened with a Convention Planning Committee meeting, where details continued to come together for Convention 2018.
The committee set rates for registration and tickets. Members who register by the December 21 early-bird deadline ($425 after the early-bird deadline). Tickets for the Welcome Reception will go for $40 and the President's Banquet and Awards Ceremony for $60.
The Welcome Reception will be held in the AGT Lounge at the new Mosaic Stadium. This event will kick off Convention 2018 with a bang, as FOGDOG takes the stage for the evening.
The President's Banquet and Awards Ceremony will be filled with celebration and laughter. After a buffet-style supper, we will recognize long-term dedication and outstanding service in the municipal sector, followed by comedian Dave Hemstad. Don't forget to nominate deserving elected officials and municipal employees in your municipality by October 4.
The agenda for February 4-7 is now set, including education and breakout session topics. Watch for more details as we approach registration, which is set to open on November 6. We'll keep you updated in Urban Update and Urban Voice as well as on the Convention page of our website.
The Board meeting was a full agenda, with several highlights.
The Municipal Grants Regulations require a review of the municipal revenue sharing allocations five years after the last review, which was in March 2013. The Board considered five options, and we will engage members over the next few weeks. SUMA will then forward a proposal to the Government of Saskatchewan on how municipal revenue sharing funds should be allocated.
The recent Caucus Committee on Crime Report and the Ministry of Justice's response to that report were another discussion item. We will provide a formal response to the ministry.
The Board also discussed ride sharing services, especially in the wake of the shuttering of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC). SUMA will be asking SGI to develop a licencing regime for ride sharing services that makes it easier to establish these services, limits the liability of local governments, and requires the service providers to abide by local bylaws.
September 28