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Access to the city hall building in Saskatoon will be restricted for the public and media starting in April.

Members of the public and the media will be limited to entering the building from the main entrance on Third Avenue and the entrance to the south wing of the building on Fourth Avenue.

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Also, starting April 1, visitors and media will be prohibited from using the stairwells in city hall and will be required to use the elevator instead.

“The changes we have planned are consistent with what other Canadian municipalities are already doing to improve public safety in their buildings,” a news release from the City of Saskatoon said.

Under the changes, the public will no longer be able to use the loading dock entrance on the building’s east side to gain access to the lobby. People entering a stairwell without an access card will be unable to exit except on the first floor.

In November 2018, city hall introduced security screening for anyone entering the council chamber for committee or council meetings. Everyone except council members, accredited members of the media and some senior city hall staff must submit to a visual inspection of the contents of bags by security staff.

There is currently a security desk at the entrance to the lobby at city hall and security doors and a checkpoint with a security guard on the second floor, where the mayor’s office is located.

If security desks do not have guards at them, a number will be posted where security can be contacted for those with appointments to meet someone, the news release said.

ptank@postmedia.com

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