You may be able to watch live Sarnia council meetings online by the end of this year.
City Council has directed staff to move forward with the installation of live webcasting.
The broadcasting system is expected to cost approximately $45,000 with annual costs, which include online hosting, maintenance, archiving and close captioning, estimated at $16,000.
In order to move the project ahead early, as requested by council, some budgeted projects, including website updates have been delayed.
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Ocean Group, based out of Quebec City, has been awarded the nearly $3-million tender for Sarnia Harbour Maintenance Dredging.
The last time Sarnia Harbour dredging was undertaken was in 2008 by Transport Canada and Public Works Canada.
Staff say the project wasn't completed due to lack of funding and areas alongside the government dock and North Slip were omitted from that project.
Ocean Group hopes to start the project September 19 and complete it by the end of the year.
It's hoped crews will achieve a minimum working harbour depth of 8.40 m.
The project is to be funded from the Federal Sarnia Harbour Reserve.
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An electric vehicle charging station will be installed Sarnia's Charlotte St. parking lot.
Council has directed staff to work with Bluewater Power on the task.
It will take 6-8 hours for the electric vehicle to receive a full charge at the level 2 charging station.
The project is estimated to cost $25,000 and will be viewed as a pilot project to test the potential level of demand for the use of such facilities.
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Demolition of Sarnia's Parking Authority Building at 226 Wellington St. has been approved.
Council has authorized the use of the Capital Reserve to fund nearly $55,000 for demolition and fill costs, with repayment from the lot maintenance account over time.
Staff were evacuated from the building in December 2015 after complaining of headaches and nausea.
Although tests conducted by Sarnia Fire and Rescue found acceptable levels of CO and other gases, further testing found mould spoors present.
Staff were then relocated to City Hall.
Director of Planning and Building Alan Shaw says the building suffered significant water damage last month as the result of a broken water pipe in the second floor bathroom.
He says the building is now considered unsafe for use and access has been restricted.
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Sarnia council has approved a sub-lease for an existing hangar at Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport.
The hangar will be used to store planes and will generate lease revenue for the airport operator and $900 revenue yearly in total tax revenue to the City.
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Sarnia council has tabled a motion recommending restrictions remain in place that bicycles having a wheel diameter greater than 51 cm be banned from city sidewalks.
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City Hall will celebrate "Jour des Franco-Ontariens", or Franco-Ontarian Day September 25.
Sarnia Council has approved a request to change the outdoor lighting at City Hall green and white that day.
Council has also supported a proposal to fly the Franco-Ontario flag in the Seaway Parkette, the Centennial Park flag court at the base of Lochiel St.
The flag flew for the first time on September 25, 1975 at Laurentian University in Sudbury.
It became the symbol of the Franco-Ontarian community and was officially recognized in 2001.
Approximately 6,000 francophone people live in Sarnia while 612,000 live in Ontario, Canada’s largest francophone community outside of Quebec.
