An agreement between the City of Sarnia and Bridgeview Marina Limited has been extended for an additional five years, following unanimous approval by council.
The current agreement was set to expire in 2026.
Bridgeview has operated the Andrew S. Brandt Marina, formerly known as the Sarnia Bay Marina, since 2006.
As part of the agreement, the city will receive $140,000 annually for the 2027-2031 term.
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Councillors Terry Burrell, George Vandenberg, and Brian White have been designated to the Police Service Board Citizen Appointment Review Committee.
There is a vacancy on the board that needs to be filled. The recruitment process is already underway, with the deadline to submit applications set for November 20.
The review committee will meet with applicants and recommend a candidate for the position.
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Council has agreed to purchase five eight-metre gas buses for a total of $2 million.
However, with grant funding under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, the city's portion of the overall cost would be $533,400.
Councillor Terry Burrell shared concerns about a drop in ridership due to fewer Lambton College students utilizing the service.
General Manager of Engineering and Operations David Jackson said new routes weren't added when college ridership ramped up, they just got busier.
"We did have a college express, which we're able to reduce. But these buses are still required to maintain the system," Jackson said.
Jackson also noted the buses are replacing ones that are end-of-life.
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A portion of land, east of Modeland Road, has been declared as surplus.
Lots 14 and 15, Concession 4, were transferred to the city (formerly the Township of Sarnia) in 1966. It's believed the site was the Sarnia Township Disposal Area for residential waste, which closed in 1974.
The city does not use the site, and staff said a request was received to negotiate the purchase of the lands.
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Mastermind Youth Foundation, a non-profit organization, is asking the city to lend up to one acre of land for its Sarnia Food Sovereignty Project.
Spokesperson Jacques Villeneuve said the youth-led program would focus on agri-tech education while addressing food insecurity.
The group initially identified McGibbon Park as a preferred site but councillors noted opposition from community groups who use the space. Villeneuve said they're open to other sites, ideally near a bus route.
City/County Councillor Brian White introduced a successful motion to have staff look at potential sites and report back to council.
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City staff have been directed to return to council in December with further reductions to development charges.
A new development charges bylaw was adopted in January 2024.
City staff have been working with a group of landowners within Development Area 2 (DA2) -- a piece of land between Modeland Road and Blackwell Sideroad -- since an appeal was filed in February 2024 with the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Proposed changes include rate reductions of 12 per cent for a single detached dwelling in DA2 ($44,942 to $39,621) and a 10 per cent decrease for all other urban areas ($21,985 to $19,755).
The report to council noted other potential grants that may help lower the rates even more.
Councillor George Vandenberg suggested reducing the rate for DA2 by 50 per cent.
"The development charges are there to fund capital projects that are required to support growth," said General Manager of Engineering and Operations David Jackson. "If we reduce the development charges, that means that the rest of the funding required would have to be paid by property taxes and water and sewer rates that existing users pay for."
A motion to defer the matter to next month passed, with opposition from Councillor Terry Burell.
