The current Municipal Emergency Response Plan was approved by the Public Safety Committee on August 4, 2021. The plan is required by the Province of New Brunswick through the Emergency Measures Act. Among the requirements are that each municipality must establish an emergency measures organization and prepare and coordinate emergency measures plans for the community. 

The Emergency Response Plan must be reviewed regularly. An updated version of the plan will be presented to Public Safety Committee during Emergency Management Week this year, May 1-7, 2023.

Purpose

The purpose of the Municipal Emergency Response Plan (The Plan) is to outline procedures to be followed by local government to provide a prompt and coordinated response to an emergency, and activities that support emergency preparedness. The Plan addresses incidents that may cause damage of a magnitude warranting activation of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).

Authority

Issued by Council, under the authority of the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Act; and The City of Saint John By-Law Number EM-7, A By-Law to Formulate Plans in the Event of An Emergency, also known as the Saint John Emergency Measures By-Law, originally enacted by Common Council on September 12, 2005.

Responsibility for the management of municipal emergency operations rests with the Mayor and Council. Council is the ultimate authority for decision-making during an emergency while delegating operational decisions to the Saint John Emergency Management Organization Director. The EMO (Emergency Management Organization) Director is responsible for coordinating the efficient emergency response operations in the community on behalf of the Mayor and Council. The Director may activate the Emergency Operations Center partially or fully, depending on the magnitude of the emergency.

Guiding Principles

The Plan has been developed from a series of guiding principles. In Canada, municipalities are responsible for the first response to emergencies within their boundaries, supported by the provincial government if the scale of the emergency exceeds municipal capabilities. SJEMO has adopted the following guiding principles to ensure the highest standard of municipal response.

Partnerships

All members of the community have a role to play in emergency management. Emergency preparedness starts at the level of the individual and households and includes private sector businesses; industrial partners; volunteer and non-government organizations and academia. Effective partnerships with the emergency management organization and first response agencies must be based on effective collaboration, coordination, and communication.

Continuous Improvement

SJEMO aspires to be better today than it was yesterday and better tomorrow than it is today. Through a vigorous and systematic after-action review process following any incident, SJEMO aims to learn from any gaps and improve emergency preparedness, emergency response and measurement of success. 

SJEMO activation

The Saint John Emergency Management Organization is mobilized when an emerging incident is beyond the scope, capacity and capability of primary response agencies and requires coordination of resources. Be sure you are signed up for notifications through the public alert system. 

How does alternate-side parking work?

• From the 1st to the 15th day of each month, parking is allowed on the odd-numbered side of the street.
• From the 16th to the last day of each month, parking is allowed on the even-numbered side of the street.
• Changeover from one side of the street to the other takes place from 6:01 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on the 15th day and the last day of each month.

South Central Peninsula

In an effort to better manage street cleaning, snow removal and street maintenance in the South/Central Peninsula, alternate side parking is in effect year-round, January 1 to December 31.

Schedule G & G-1 of the Saint John Traffic By-law lists the streets and street sections where alternate-side parking is in effect.

Areas outside of the South Central Peninsula

In specific areas located North, East and West of the City, alternate side parking is in effect from December 1 to May 31. 

Schedule G-2 of the Saint John Traffic By-law lists the streets and street sections where alternate-side parking is in effect during this time. 

King Street East – Alternate-side parking

For the blocks of King Street East between Carmarthen and Wentworth Streets and Pitt and Crown Streets, alternate-side parking is in effect from December 1 to March 31. Parking is permitted on both sides of the street of these two blocks from April 1 to November 30.

Saint John has four off-leash dog parks across the City. Dog owners are reminded to respect the rules of the parks by keeping their dogs leashed unless they are within the designated off-leash area. All owners must pick up after their dogs, and properly dispose of their refuse. For your convenience, City dog parks offer dog bag dispensers and garbage cans and pole baskets. 

Rockwood Park

10 Fisher Lakes Drive

(Fisher Lakes/Hawthorne Street entrance to the Park.)

Hours: Dusk until dawn. Open year round.

Parking and vehicle access is restricted to April-December.

Rainbow Park 

205 Sydney Street

Hours: 24 hours a day, year round.

Chown Park

50 Paul Harris Street

Hours: 24 hours a day, year round.

Little River Reservoir

1800 Loch Lomond Road

Hours: 24 hours a day, year round.

NOTE:

City By-law dictates that unless you are in a designated off-leash area, your dog must remain on a leash at all times. This By-law is enforced by fines, and offences are recorded.

If a person has been bitten by a dog, or if there’s an altercation with dog owners, contact the Saint John City Police.

Saint John Common Council consists of a Mayor and ten Councillors. Of the councillors, two represent the city at large, and eight represent the City's four wards (two councillors per ward). The Deputy Mayor is appointed by Common Council and traditionally has been the elected member who received the highest number of votes in the municipal election. 

Municipal elections are held the second Monday in May and the newly-elected Common Council assumes office the fourth Monday in May. All positions are held for a term of four years.

Committees

Council has the authority to establish committees of Council, and Council may delegate a power, duty, or function to a committee of Council by adopting a by-law. Council Committees are either Standing Committees, which are formed to carry out much of the work of council and then report back with recommendations; or Special or Ad/Hoc Committees which are formed for a specific task and dissolved upon completion of the task.

The Office of the City Clerk is the official link between Common Council and the public, and acts as secretariat for Common Council and its Committees. Duties of City Clerk include agenda preparation, recording of official minutes, administration and certification of City by-laws, and execution of all legal documents on behalf of the city. 

In addition, the Clerk has been designated by Council as “head” pursuant to the provisions under the Right to Information and Protection Privacy Act (RTIPPA).

All property owners are responsible for posting civic numbers on their homes and buildings. Your civic address should be highly visible, day or night. This ensures that you receive the support and services you need from first responders, delivery personnel and service providers without unnecessary delays.

The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) service maintains the official civic addresses and street names records for the City of Saint John. Civic addresses are assigned based on the Province of New Brunswick’s 9-1-1 guidelines.

Names of public and private streets within municipal boundaries are approved by Common Council.

To ensure that your commercial and residential construction, renovation or demolition projects are safe for their intended purpose, the Permitting and Inspection service staff review applications, issue building permits, and conduct inspections.  

Building and plumbing codes and related by-laws guide the permitting and inspection process.  Our goal is to ensure these standards are met; through education, mediation and, as necessary, through enforcement and prosecution.

Applications and submission packages for permits and licenses

• Accessory Building (Garage, Shed or Gazebo)
• Change of Use Development Permit
• Demolition
• Electrical Waiver
• Fences and Retaining Walls
• Flood Risk Area Development Permit
• Heritage Permits
• Industrial, Institutional Or Commercial Property
• Midrise Combustible Construction
• Minimum Property Standards Permit
• Plumbing Permit
• Residential Property
• Sign Installation
• Street and Sidewalk Related Permits
• Subdivision

Other Helpful Documents:

• General Application Form
• Building and Development Permit Process
• Research Request

Communities that are wonderful places to live, work, learn, and play are communities that were well planned. In this way, Community Planning plays an important role in improving the quality of life for residents. 

The Community Planning Service is responsible for preparing statutory plans, policies, and studies that guide Saint John’s growth and development. Community Planning is also responsible for processing applications for Municipal Plan Amendments, re-zonings, Section 59 Amendments, and permit applications (Development Officer) for developments and variances.

Public input is key to creating recommendations that reflect the long-term goals of the Community. Policies, initiatives and applications reviewed by the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) and Council are public hearings where citizens may contribute their opinions to decision makers.

Minutes, Agendas, and Records

Community Planning, Building Inspection, Infrastructure Development, and Heritage Conservation form the City’s One-Stop Development Shop to serve all of your development needs. The One-Stop Development Shop reviews applications and works with large developers and homeowners alike to ensure the success of your development project and the prosperity of our City.

Community Planning is responsible for preparing policy documents and implementing by-laws to guide and regulate the development in a smart and sustainable manner.

Building Inspection works with developers and consultants to ensure that buildings meet the National Building Code of Canada to ensure they are safe and comfortable to live in for years to come.

Infrastructure Development approves engineering drawings, municipal servicing plans, drainage systems, and utility installations to protect City infrastructure and ensure that citizens are not adversely affected by new development.

The Heritage Conservation Service identifies, protects, and promotes that which is important to the culture and history of Saint John. The City of Saint John is proud of its 225 years of rich heritage represented in our people and our architecture.

For over 25 years the City of Saint John has been a leader in implementing best practices in energy efficiency.