City may bring back summer leaf and yard waste collection (12 City Council briefs)

Sault Ste. Marie City Council voted tonight to look at reinstating summer collection of leaf and yard waste.

Ward 1 Councillor Steve Butland and Ward 2's Susan Myers reported that ongoing complaints were received when the collections were halted for July, August and September 2017.

City staff will be asked to investigate the cost of bringing back the collections next year.

Councillors also voted to give Municipal Waste and Recycling Consultants a one-year extension on its eight-year residential refuse collection contract to June 29, 2019.

Over that time, the city will review costs and automated trash collection methods for service beyond 2019.

Among other things, AECOM Consulting will look at the costs of post-2019 leaf and yard waste collection.

Also at tonight's City Council meeting:

• After a lengthy discussion, City Council agreed to enter a short-term agreement with the Sault Ste. Marie RC Car Club, allowing the club to take over tennis courts at Wilcox Park. The idea was opposed by 160 neighbours who signed a petition against it. The agreement will be for a period not exceeding two years.
• Councillors voted unanimously in favour of a proposal by Ward 3 Councillor Matthew Shoemaker and Ward 6 Councillor Ozzie Grandinetti to have the Twin Saults consider a joint bid to host Amazon's second headquarters. The online retailer says it will invest more than $5 billion in its new headquarters, creating as many as 50,000 jobs. Many North American cities have expressed interest. Watch for additional SooToday coverage on the bid.
• Council agreed to issue a request for proposals for corporate sponsors interested in naming rights to the Essar Centre. Essar Steel's $1.5 million naming-rights sponsorship expires on July 23, 2018. Any sponsor must agree to retain the old Memorial Gardens name as part of the facility's new branding and signage.
• PUC will be asked to disclose whether its utility distribution microgrid project carries any broader socio-economic or development benefits or risks.
• Councillors approved a proposal from Ward 6 councillor Ozzie Grandinetti and Ward 3's Matthew Shoemaker that will have city staff prepare a report on having local improvement charges imposed on residents on most reconstructed or upgraded roads.
• Public Works will get three new pickup trucks and a van. The three 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickups will cost $25,988 each. The 2018 Chevrolet Express 2500 van will cost $34,500. All four vehicles will be bought from Prouse Chevrolet.
• Poralu Marine Inc. was low bidder on a tender to replace the fuel dock at Bondar marina and the Bellevue marina dock. The work will cost $375,740.
• Toromont/Cimco will receive $104,787 to upgrade the rooftop dehumidification system on the second ice pad at John Rhodes Arena.
• Algoma District School Board will get a 10 per cent discount on ice time at city arenas, as part of a bulk purchase deal for 400 hours. The deal applies to bookings between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the school year. The school board will also get 15 per cent off on field time. The contract is expected to bring in about $29,000 during the 2017-18 school year.
• Ward 1 councillor Steve Butland announced that the local Canadian Tire store topped the retail chain's 490 Canadian outlets, raising $80,000 through collection boxes for the YMCA. Canadian Tire's head office added an additional $20,000.