Cost estimates for both temporary and permanent solutions for the Walk of Fame are outlined in a report to city council for Monday’s meeting.  The existing inductee plaques have been removed and stored as the City carries out its Queen Street streetscape project.  Two temporary solutions have been developed by staff each would carry an estimated production and installation cost of 2-thousand dollars.  The first would involve vinyl graphic replicas in the main concourse floor area at the north exit.  The 2nd would be aluminum replicas that would be mounted on a display board to be hung in the north exit area.  A permanent solution could involve a relocation of the Walk of Fame to the exterior wall of the Essar Centre at an estimated cost of 60-thousand dollars.  Funds have not been allocated for this project.

Council will receive a report on the status of the Memorial Tower regarding future needed upgrades at Monday’s meeting.  The city received two bids in regards to the next round of repair work needed for the tower and both came in over budget—the lowest bid was about 10-thousand dollars over budget at over 99-thousand dollars.  An engineering consultant has advised the city that the work can be postponed until 2016 but not beyond.  City staff is recommending council hold off on the project and consider the additional funds needed during the 2016 budget process.

It’s being recommended that the City not renew an existing agreement its has with the new Algoma Farmers Market which operates out of the parking lot at Roberta Bondar Park—–the farmers market has operated there since 1995.  A report to council for Monday’s meeting explains that the annual fees collected from the market under the agreement do not cover the operating costs.  The Community Services Department would like to develope an agreement which will move the operation into a revenue neutral position.

City council will be asked at Monday’s meeting to approve a tender from Municipal Waste and Recycling for a 5-year contract to provide multi-residential refuse collection in the city beginning next year.  The Blind River company submitted the lowest tender price out of the 3 submitted including from GFL Environmental from Sault Ste. Marie.