Cathy DobsonHandouts for special events, parking lots, a new council member on the Sarnia Police Services Board, a temporary bike lane for Canada Day celebrations, and more…
SHOULD CITY PARKING LOTS BE USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING?
With a non-profit wondering if a downtown parking lot could be a good location for affordable housing, local resident and walkable- cities advocate Robert Dickieson urged council to mull over the possibility.
“I believe that prioritizing housing over car parking is a crucial step towards creating a thriving, equitable and sustainable city,” Dickieson said.
Converting parking lots for affordable housing is efficient land use, can alleviate the housing crisis, reduce housing costs, generate property taxes and create jobs, Dickieson told council.
Cities with fewer downtown parking lots are more vibrant and less car-centric, he said.
During that discussion, Mayor Mike Bradley commented that the non-profit looking to build an affordable housing project, has asked if the city’s Victoria Street parking lot could be declared surplus.
“That process has a long way to go,” Bradley said, adding that downtown parking has already taken a hit with the closure of hundreds of spots at the former Bayside Mall.
The Victoria Street parking lot is at the southwest corner of Cromwell and Victoria streets, next to Tang’s Restaurant.
Staff is already reviewing parking space downtown and will prepare a report, CAO Chris Carter said.
Later in the meeting, city solicitor Emma Nicholson and corporate services general manager David Stockdale reported in writing that they will provide a staff report on whether to declare the parking lot at 115 Victoria St. North surplus and deliver it at council’s July 10 meeting.
Coun. Terry Burrell was very clear he doesn’t believe the city should consider losing any downtown parking.
“This is way premature and not a good idea,” he said. “…if anything, more parking spots could be required.”
“We could be starting a process that could be very negative on other projects, such as the Bayside Mall (redevelopment),” Burrell said.
Others on council, including Coun. Adam Kilner and Coun. Brian White, said they support a staff report on the future of parking lots.
“Any and all options should be considered when we are facing extreme weather events, knowing there are folks living in unsafe conditions, I’d much rather explore all opportunities to provide safety and shelter for folks,” White said.
TEMPORARY BIKE LANES GET GREEN LIGHT FOR CANADA DAY
Without discussion, council approved a pilot project to close one lane of Michigan Avenue from the Howard Watson Trail to Colborne Road for use by cyclists on Canada Day.
“This is a huge win for us,” said Tristan Bassett of the nuSarnia Foundation, a group that promotes active transportation and requested the temporary bicycle lane.
“Generally, we don’t see a lot of pilot projects like this in Sarnia,” she said. “This is going to help the community embrace the idea and begin to experience change.
“Really, it’s a win for everyone who wants to avoid sitting in their car.”
Details still need to be clarified but Bassett’s understanding is that one full lane on Michigan will become bi-directional for cyclists on July 1 only.
A staff report said it will cost an estimated $10,000 - $12,000 for the lane closure on Canada Day since traffic barrels will need to be rented and set up and take down will require significant staff time.
Many other municipalities including Brampton, Ottawa, Guelph and Waterloo have implemented temporary bicycle lanes for special events like Canada Day, the report noted.
FAMILY RATE APPROVED FOR TECUMSEH POOL
The city has a new agreement with the local YMCA to offer a family rate of $6 for open swims this summer at Tecumseh Pool. Individuals pay $2 per person to swim, while lessons are available at $45 per person. Council heard that bookkeeping challenges mean that season passes are not feasible.
MCROBERTS REPLACES MAYOR ON POLICE BOARD
City council voted 7-2 in favour of Coun. Chrissy McRoberts finishing the mayor’s two-year term on the Sarnia Police Services Board.
Mike Bradley resigned in May after serving 35 years on the board. The reasons he gave primarily involved disagreement over spending.
At Monday’s council meeting, Coun. Bill Dennis was also nominated to replace Bradley but didn’t get support of council and lost the position in a 5-4 vote.
Bradley said he would not vote for Dennis – and preferred McRoberts – because he believes the police services board needs more diversity.
McRoberts received support from all of council except for Coun. Dennis and Coun. Dave Boushy.
As Bradley began to move ahead on the agenda, Coun. Terry Burrell asked why Bradley said he wants more diversity on the board.
“There is a move across the province to bring more diversity, more females, more aboriginals, more people of colour to boards,” Bradley answered.
The five-member police services board already has two women, Burrell said.
“In my view, there could be more,” Bradley responded.
WELCOMING 300 VISITORS WITH A BREAK IN DIAMOND FEES
Council heard that a Good Neighbour’s Game annual baseball event is coming to Sarnia Aug. 16 and 17, bringing with it 14 teams that will play competitively at the three Clearwater diamonds.
Volunteer co-ordinator Dearl Hill said 300 people are attending from all over Canada and the U.S. and will fill Point Edward hotels, cruise on the Duc d’Orleans, play 18 holes at Greystones, and hold a banquet at the Point Edward arena.
He asked that Sarnia council pay $750, which is half of the diamond fees plus insurance. Tourism Sarnia-Lambton has agreed to pay the other half, Hill said.
“I just want to show a real good strength of what Sarnia stands for and we wouldn’t charge for the use of these diamonds,” he told council.
Council voted unanimously in favour, with Coun. Brian White saying tongue-in-cheek that Point Edward Mayor Bev Hand might want to write a thank-you note to the city since the hotels and banquet hall are all in the village.
Mayor Mike Bradley noted that an “extraordinary events” fund for unexpected requests like this had been dissolved and asked that staff write a report about re-establishing one.
DENNIS THUMBS DOWN ON MAYOR'S SUGGESTION TO BRING BACK SHOWMOBILE
Mayor Mike Bradley is floating the idea of buying a new city showmobile, a mobile stage that fell into disrepair and was scrapped several years ago.
Bradley suggested providing a showmobile was a good way for the city to support community special events and asked staff to explore the costs.
But Coun. Bill Dennis gave him a verbal slap on the hand about financial prudence.
“I do recall Mayor Bradley advising council to ‘focus on the basics’ after the last election in October,” Dennis said. “I also recall him telling us two meetings ago that when it comes to our pet projects, to pump the brakes…I do not understand how a showmobile is a basic necessity when we have so many capital needs” including new roads and a multi-use rec centre.
CELEBRATION OF LIGHTS GETS A PASS ON CITY FEES
Coun. Terry Burrell would have preferred to know how much council was waiving in fees first, but agreed with the rest of council that the annual Celebration of Lights should not have to pay to use Centennial Park and the Suncor Agora stage for its opening night and to erect its popular holiday light display.
No dollar figures were provided but council voted in favour of waiving the fees for the next four years, the length of time to be served by this council.
Mayor Mike Bradley commented that it would be better to have these kinds of requests at budget time as “small amounts eat away at our budget.”
But a general sense prevailed that the Celebration of Lights – an entirely volunteer organization that attracts thousands to the waterfront – is a local treasure that needs to be supported.
Chairman Dean Holtz said the event currently has about 50 light displays and is the “longest running, largest, community-run” light show in Canada.
UNANIMOUS COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR MITTON VILLAGE BLOCK PARTY
When the 5th annual Mitton Street Block Party takes place Saturday, Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., the city parking lot at 135 Mitton St. South will be closed with council’s blessing.
Organizers were at council Monday and asked permission to close the road between Davis and Wellington streets, as well as the parking lot for the “bigger and better” event.
The Block Party was conceived as a way to support revitalization of the commercial and residential area, connect neighbours, inspire pride and improve public perception of the neighbourhood.
This year, a KidZone will be set up in the parking lot and all sorts of family-friendly activities, vendors, music, food and arts and crafts will be on tap.
BURRELL WANTS TO HIRE A CITY ECOLOGIST; DENNIS NOT A FAN
A new staff member specializing in ecology should be hired to help developers avoid “the really big costs” of environmental assessments and assist with park management, says Coun. Terry Burrell.
Burrell, who is generally against spending money on new staff, asked for a staff report in July on the feasibility of hiring an ecologist.
Coun. Bill Dennis expressed his distaste for hiring more staff.
“I believe there are far better things we could do with $80,000 a year,” he said.