City hall wants some young blood on council's advisory groups

The City of Saskatoon wants more input on issues from young people.

That's why the city is recommending that one post-secondary student aged 18 to 25 be added to each of the city's advisory committees.

"I love it," says David D'Eon, president of the University of Saskatchewan Students' Union.

Housing, transit key issues

D'Eon says the idea grew out of discussions this past summer with Mayor Charlie Clark.

"The issue that we're always seeking more opportunities for input on is transit," said D'Eon.

"Otherwise I would say the big topic we've been pursuing is housing not only ensuring that rental prices stay down and are affordable and are being accommodated for students.

"Also, ensuring that students have access to the housing market upon graduation."

Shaking things up

The city currently has 10 advisory committees. They cover traffic safety, accessibility, street naming, environmental issues, social services, street activity, municipal heritage designations, public art, cultural diversity and race relations, and animal control.

The city wants to scrap the latter committee.

"The Community Services Department oversees animal control and dangerous animal issues and has resources to engage stakeholders," reads a report to city councillors.

Ad-hoc committees could also be struck to address specific animal control issues, the city added.

The Animal Advisory Committee on Animal Control is perhaps most recently known for successfully lobbying the city to enact a new charge for pet owners who refuse to identify which of their animals attacked a person.

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The city also wants to dissolve the Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee and refashion it into a new Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Advisory Committee with a more "robust" mandate than its predecessor.

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Councillors will talk about these ideas on Tuesday some time after 1 p.m. CST.