Timmins council is back in action tonight for its first meeting this month.
Here are some agenda items to keep an eye on:
Work at Hollinger Park is the topic of several items on the agenda. Ken Pye, who is running for the Ward 1 councillor seat in the Oct. 22 election, is making a delegation regarding the remediation work at the park.
Council is also being asked to approve the bid for upgrades to the Hollinger Park splash pad, which will cost more than expected. Staff is recommending that council award the project to Interpaving Ltd. at a cost of $217,000. The 2018 budget for the project is $125,000. According to the report, an additional $100,000 of work was identified for drainage improvements required as part of the soil remediation. Work on the splash pads caused controversy earlier this year when there was the potential that it could be fenced off during Stars and Thunder and other peak times when kids use the splash pads.
Staff is suggesting the city acquire the parking lot at 84 Pine St. S. for $71,200. According to the report, the city has been leasing the property since 2008 for $14,400 per year. While the city has been recovering $14,000 to $17,500 in parking revenue every year, the city was also responsible for snow removal (which costs between $5,000 and $8,000 a year) and paying about $1,300 in taxes. “Needless to say (the) city was losing money on this lease arrangement anywhere from a loss of $2,500 to as much as $8,000 annually. The proposed acquisition will see the city gain the net revenue of between $6,000 to $10,000 annually,” reads the report.
There is a motion calling for environmental services staff to “commission an enhanced sampling program as determined to provide enough information for council to evaluate and make any rehabilitation decisions on Porcupine Lake and River system.” According to the motion, the current city sampling is only surface water and "there has been an expressed interest in enhanced sampling across the lake and sediments in the lake." It also recommends that the potential for the rehabilitation program be included in the 2019 budget, and allow time to submit grant applications.
The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. in council chambers at city hall. You can read the full agenda here.
