Sarnia meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Sarnia council weighs $9.4M Wellington Street Extension contract; June procurement totals detailed

Sarnia City Council's July 20 regular meeting agenda included a proposed $9.4 million contract for the Wellington Street Extension, part of a slate of infrastructure and planning items. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published, so outcomes for individual items are not confirmed.

July 20 Regular Council Meeting

The agenda listed several major items for council consideration:

• A contract award to Henry Heyink Construction Inc. for the Wellington Street Extension, valued at $9,418,514.84.
• A contract award to IPL North America Inc. for curbside green bins and kitchen containers, valued at $1,452,621.47.
• A proposed 100% reduction of residential development charge fees for three years.
• Incorporation of the Sarnia Airport Municipal Services Corporation.
• Official Plan Amendment No. 17 and Zoning By-law Amendment 03-2026 for 1519 & 1521 Confederation Line.

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not confirmed which items were approved, amended, or deferred.

June 2026 Procurement Activity

A July 23 non-agenda mail report summarized procurement activity for June 2026, covering emergency, single source, sole source, and open competition purchases. The report listed five contracts:

• St. Andrew Plant Clarifier Catwalk — Canadian Structural & Mechanical Ltd., $475,219.20.
• Construction of Clearwater Arena Playground — ABC Recreation, $193,019.94.
• Installation of WWTP DSII 400A Breaker — Eaton Industries (Canada) Company, $121,435.30.
• Replacement pump at Pump Station 36 on Murphy Road — Nevtro Pumps & Mechanical, $102,715.42.
• Accessible Pedestrian Signals installation at Cathcart Street and Colborne Road — Bluewater Power Services Corporation, $93,965.36.

AMO Watchfile Updates — July 30

A July 30 non-agenda mail from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) included informational updates, event notices, and funding deadlines:

• August 6 deadline for the Build Communities Strong Fund Local Impact Stream infrastructure funding.
• AMO Annual Conference scheduled for August 16–19, 2026.
• AMO call for the province to reverse the appointment of Regional Chairs through Bill 100.
• Passage of Bill 9, the Municipal Accountability Act.
• New Canoe procurement invoicing process effective August 1.

Coming Up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Readers seeking confirmed outcomes from the July 20 council meeting should watch for published minutes on the City of Sarnia's official website.

Sarnia council agenda includes $3.5M BACE Recreation Campus request; minutes not yet published

Sarnia's June 22 regular council meeting agenda lists a request for up to $3.5 million toward the BACE Recreation Campus, along with proposed infrastructure contracts and zoning changes. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published, so the outcomes of the items below are not yet confirmed.

June 22 regular council agenda

The published agenda includes several items affecting money, land, and city services:

• **BACE Recreation Campus:** A funding request of up to $3.5 million for the Sarnia BACE Recreation Campus.
• **Renovictions by-law:** Direction to draft a renovictions licensing by-law based on public engagement results.
• **Ontario Street reconstruction:** A proposed contract award of $505,238 to Clarke Construction Inc.
• **Clearwater Ball Diamond #1 upgrades:** A proposed contract award of $507,573 to Van Roestel Contracting Ltd.
• **700-718 Cathcart Boulevard:** An Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment.
• **Public hearings:** One for an Economic Development Community Improvement Plan and another for the rezoning at 700-718 Cathcart Boulevard.

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not possible to confirm which items were approved, amended, or deferred.

June 25 non-agenda mail

This was an information package, not a voting meeting. Items included:

• A staff report recommending the award of Tender 26-02, Clearwater Ball Diamond #1 Upgrade, to Van Roestel Contracting Ltd. of Lucan, ON.
• Two door-to-door sales licences issued to Bell Canada covering TV, Internet, Phone, and Smart Home, valid through Dec. 31, 2026.
• An AMO call for reversal of Bill 100, concerning the appointment of regional chairs.
• An AMO note on a new federal Local Impact Stream with up to $1 million for community infrastructure.
• An IESO notice of a new process for major energy projects affecting municipalities.

July 2 non-agenda mail

This was also an information package. Items included:

• City Hall illumination in safety green on July 6 in support of Canadian Injury Prevention Day, following existing council policy and requiring no new funding or formal vote.
• AMO conference updates and registration for local leadership training.
• A new Canoe procurement invoicing process effective Aug. 1.
• Grant applications open for public safety mental health supports, with a deadline of July 7.
• A reminder to complete the 2026 Canadian Census questionnaire.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the city's published calendar for the next 14 days. Readers seeking confirmed outcomes from the June 22 council meeting should watch for the posted minutes.

Council weighs $3.5-million BACE campus request, OKs road and park contracts

Sarnia City Council debated a request for $3.5 million in funding for the BACE Recreation Campus at its June 22 regular meeting, alongside infrastructure contracts totaling more than $1 million and direction to draft a renovictions licensing bylaw. No votes have been confirmed as minutes were not published by press time, but staff recommendations provide the most complete picture of items considered.

BACE Recreation Campus funding

Council considered a funding request of up to $3.5 million for the planned Sarnia BACE Recreation Campus. The item was discussed during the regular meeting, though no decision was recorded in the agenda package. The project is intended to expand recreational services in the community.

Infrastructure contracts

Two construction contracts were on the table:

• Reconstruction of Ontario Street: a $505,238 contract to Clarke Construction Inc.
• Upgrades to Clearwater Ball Diamond #1: a $507,573 contract to Van Roestel Contracting Ltd. (Lucan, ON). A staff report in the June 25 non-agenda mail reinforced this recommendation, noting the award of Tender 26-02 to Van Roestel.

The agenda indicated council would vote on these awards, but results are not yet public.

Renovictions bylaw

Based on results of public engagement, council gave direction to draft a renovictions licensing bylaw. The measure aims to regulate landlord practices around renovictions. A timeline for the draft’s return to council was not specified in the meeting material.

Planning matters

Council held two public hearings:

• An Economic Development Community Improvement Plan.
• A rezoning and Official Plan amendment at 700–718 Cathcart Boulevard. No outcomes from the hearings were available.

Other council news

• **City Hall illumination**: City Hall will light up in safety green on July 6 in support of Canadian Injury Prevention Day, as approved under existing policy. No vote was required.
• **Door-to-door sales licences**: Two licences were issued to Bell Canada for TV, internet, phone and smart-home sales, valid through Dec. 31, 2026.
• **AMO updates**: The Association of Municipalities of Ontario is calling for the reversal of Bill 100, which deals with the appointment of regional chairs, and is promoting a new federal Local Impact Stream offering up to $1 million for community infrastructure.
• **Energy projects**: The Independent Electricity System Operator launched a new process for major energy projects that may affect municipalities.
• **Other reminders**: A grant deadline for public safety mental health supports is July 7; a new Canoe procurement invoicing process begins Aug. 1; residents are reminded to complete the 2026 Census questionnaire.

Coming up

No council meetings or public hearings are scheduled in the next 14 days according to the city’s calendar as of July 5. The next regular meeting date has not been announced.