Sarnia council notebook: New development charges by law approved

Sarnia has a development charges by law again.

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Council 8-1 voted to approve a new 10-year bylawletting the city raise money from development projects for related infrastructure.

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Council let the bylaw expire at the end of 2023, then pivoted to reconsider after learning it could mean increasing taxes later.

All but Coun. Bill Dennis Monday voted to approve the bylaw to close that gap, and leaving up to a year for homebuilders and others to talk with the city about potential revisions.

Dennis has said Sarnia’s development charges are not competitive with smaller, neighboring municipalities, and has warned being out of step with places such as Plympton-Wyoming and Petrolia will mean growth there instead of Sarnia.

Council deferred a request to exempt places of worship from development charges, giving time for a staff report.

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Coun. Adam Kilner, a practicing minister, declared a conflict and didn’t vote on that issue.

Coun. Terry Burrell noted the new development charges, up about 30 per cent, but phased in over five years — one of several changes from the last bylaw due to new provincial rules and exemptions — haven’t nearly kept pace with house prices.

“So, I think it’s more than justifiable, the prices we’re putting in,” he said.

Council takes aim at federal carbon tax

Sarnia will write the federal government urging it to cancel the carbon tax.

Council 5-4 passed a motion from Dennis to write the letter.

Dennis, who first brought the motion in September, said he thinks the price on pollution is ineffective and hurting people financially.

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The city’s environmental advisory committee disagreed in October, but a survey of about 400 mostly Sarnia residents found 63 per cent in favor of sending the letter..

Councilors George Vandenberg, Dave Boushy and Burrell voted with Dennis. Councilors Chrissy McRoberts, Gillis, Kilner and White were opposed.

Bradley broke the tie.

The mayor said he doesn’t oppose the tax, but how Ottawa has handled its execution.

“Which is taking what should have been a positive exercise to reduce climate change, (and turning it) into a negative,” he said. “I think that’s the issue: how it’s been handled. Not the direction itself.”

Council also voted 5-3 not to include a climate change risk section in every city report, as the environmental advisory committee had su7ggested in September.

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Burrell called it “overkill” to do that every report.

A staff report said the section likely wouldn’t be applicable in many cases, adding it could be quickly noted in reports as needed.

All but Kilner, White and Gillis voted to keep reporting as is, including yearly adaptation and mitigation reporting as part of the city’s Climate Change Action Plan and Implementation Strategy.

Bradley didn’t vote.

Work started on the action plan in 2019, the same year Sarnia declared a climate change emergency.

Fire chief honored

Retiring Sarnia fire chief Bryan Van Gaver has been recognized by the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office for his 37 years of service.

“Your commitment to fire and life safety and the leadership you have shown in your community are sincerely appreciated,” the message from Ontario Fire Marshal John Pegg said.

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Van Gaver, who is retirement in Marchcalled his “a very enjoyable and fulfilling career.

“And I’d just like to thank the community for allowing me to serve,” he said.

Strategic plan work begins

Sarnia’s $58,000 strategic plan is expected to be ready in July, says the consultant crafting it.

Sarnia awarded the contract to Deloitte LLP in October, and firm officials discussed the process Monday, including gathering community and council input.

The plan is to be a vision for the city, and steps to get there, said Deloitte’s Trudy Parsons, noting it will include mechanisms to monitor implementation.

More library project funds OK’d

Another $100,000 was approved for Bright’s Grove community hub and library expansion work, including to finish traffic, environmental impact and utility infrastructure studies.

Sarnia approved $350,000 for detailed design work in 2022.

Money was approved in this year’s budget to start building the estimated $8-million to $10-million expansion.

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