Further funding is needed to push the plan for a gender neutral dressing room at Progressive Auto Sales Arena ahead.
In 2022, the city hired a consultant to conduct the design for converting the previous Sarnia Sting hockey dressing room into a gender neutral dressing room.
Staff are recommending $170,000 in contingency funds to increase the budget from $400,000 approved for 2023 and $235,905.18 carried over from 2022, to ensure construction work can begin this year.
Bradley said the additional funding request is because like so many things, construction and material costs have risen dramatically.
"But it's an improvement that I think is really needed for those who use that facility," said Bradley. "It's the way of the future, and it's something that we should be doing now."
City staff is also recommending council approve $25,000 to advance concept and design plans for a new corridor that would allow the Sarnia Sting Hockey Club direct access to the ice surface from the dressing room.
Bradley said these are positive improvements into a building that has served the community so well for 25 years.
"That facility could last another 50 to 100 years if it's renewed on a regular basis," said Bradley. "And with the money that we've put into it in the last few years with a brand new roof, which was in the millions, changing the dressing rooms, improvements all the way around, instead of closing the building and building a new one."
Sarnia City Council will review the recommendations during its 1 p.m. meeting on Monday, January 15.