Sarnia City Council has approved, in concept, a proposal from Progressive Auto Sales on naming rights for the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre (SSEC).
City staff have been directed to negotiate an agreement and report back to council for final approval.
The 10-year $42,500 a year proposed contract currently includes exclusivity requests, access to a suite, and a one time payment of $40,000 for signage costs. It was successful over the Labourers' International Union of North America's (LiUNA) bid of $40,000 a year for 10 years with access to a community suite for five games and two events.
LiUNA Government and Community Relations Spokesperson Jason McMichael says they're disappointed in the process.
"The process wasn't necessarily as transparent as we had hoped. We feel like there were a number of elements of our proposal that weren't put forward to council that weren't necessarily considered."
McMichael says LiUNA had verbally committed $60,000 for signage fees.
"It was discussed with the Director of Parks and Rec and the City Manager by myself and the Business Manager for LiUNA 1089," says McMichael.
Meanwhile, City Manager Margaret Misek-Evans feels as though staff had appropriately evaluated the two bids through eight criteria requirements.
"We did not receive, in writing, any commitment with respect to signage and certainly no dollar value from LiUNA prior to the writing of the report," she says.
LiUNA's bid was nearly disqualified Friday on the basis of lobbying after Mayor and council received a letter addressing deficiencies within the staff report. The letter was later retracted, even though council members had already read through it.
"You can't unread it," says McMichael, who firmly believes council was made aware of their concerns. "Whether or not they're willing to consider it, they all took the information in, I can be certain of that."
He says an amendment to the staff report was not made, as per their request to the city manager.
City staff will continue to work with LiUNA for other sponsorship opportunities.
