After months of negotiation, the City of Sarnia and Tourism Sarnia-Lambton (TSL) have reached a municipal accommodation tax (MAT) agreement.
The city will keep a two per cent cost deduction, prior to dividing the net funds with TSL, until the end of 2022.
Staff believe once the process is automated, no significant costs will be incurred and that appointing a position to the TSL board will allow for increased participation and oversight.
The agreement extends to the end of 2023.
The executive director of Tourism Sarnia-Lambton (TSL) accused the City of Sarnia of issuing an ultimatum when negotiating part of the municipal accommodation tax (MAT) agreement last June.
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Sarnia council has approved a rezoning application in principle to permit the expansion of the existing Procor Ltd. rail car maintenance operation at 725 Procor Drive, east of Highway 40 and south of Confederation Line.
A 5,300 square metre paint and blast facility with an attached storage shop, 930 metres of additional railway, new access road, parking lot and stormwater management facility are planned.
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Sarnia council has approved additional spending on road and sewer projects after receiving $2.8 million from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund.
An additional $1 million will be spent on road rehabilitation, $1 million is being directed to Plank Road reconstruction and $700,000 is being transferred to the Bright's Grove Sewage Treatment Facility upgrade project.
The remaining will help cover additional costs in ongoing sewer separation and watermain replacement projects.
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Sarnia council has postponed its planned return to in-person meetings.
Council agreed in October, when Ontario was in Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen, to return in January 2022.
The province moved back into a modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen January 3, 2022.
Staff will report back April 11 on the potential to resume in-person meetings.
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A $3 million tender has been awarded for construction of the Vidal Street Utility Bridge.
Carlington Construction Inc. has been awarded the rehabilitation contract that includes watermain replacement.
The three span structure runs over the Canadian National Railway (CNR) line between Tecumseh Street and Vidal Street South, just south of the Donohue Bridge.
A cost sharing agreement with Enbridge Gas Inc. and Bell Canada was ratified by council last June.
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Staff have been directed to implement a mini-roundabout at the intersection of Cathcart Boulevard and Indian Road.
Council voted to reconsider future plans for the intersection last December after voting to install traffic signals and permanent curb bump-outs at Errol and Indian Roads.
The mini-roundabout is estimated to cost as much as $650,000.
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Sarnia has joined a list of cities unifying against Quebec's Bill 21.
Council supported the request made by councillor Bill Dennis.
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On street parking on Finch Drive between Wellington Street and London Road is to be reviewed.
Councillor George Vandenberg asked for the report in response to a number of concerns expressed to him.
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The city is also requesting a detailed report from the Sarnia Police Service.
More information comparing the calls for service, infractions, complaints and collisions on Colborne Road, before and since the implementation of its road diet, is being requested.
Traffic statistics and the final cost of the retrofit is also being requested from the city's engineering department.