Town of Goderich Council – January 13, 2025
The January 13th meeting of the Town of Goderich Council covered several items of importance to members of the Huron Chamber of Commerce. Below are the highlights:
Parking Study Presentation
Lisa Courtney of BM Ross presented findings from a parking study conducted in 2024. The study, commissioned by the Town of Goderich, provided detailed data on parking availability and usage in the downtown core. The report included scenarios for weekdays, weekends, and special conditions, such as a quiet Saturday due to rain. The data serves as critical baseline information to help mitigate the impact of the upcoming downtown infrastructure reconstruction project on parking.
Chamber of Commerce Community Information Session Report
The Chamber submitted a report on the November 2024 Community Information Session, the second such event it hosted and moderated last year. The report included recommendations on format and other aspects for future events. Council referred the report to staff to return with recommendations.
Airport Landing Fees
At it’s December 16th meeting, Council passed a new Fees By-Law. However, after a local business raised some concerns about the increased fees, Schedule ‘E’ – Airport Landing Fees was deferred to a future meeting. At the January 13th meeting, Schedule ‘E’ was included under unfinished business. Council deferred Schedule ‘E’ once again pending discussions with service providers and other stakeholders. The Chamber is actively monitoring this issue, as increased fees could affect businesses related to the airport.
Closed Session Updates
When Council reconvened in open session, two key items relevant to the Chamber were addressed:
- Flight School Contract Termination
Council decided to terminate its contract with the existing flight school at the airport. The Chamber is monitoring this decision’s potential impact on economic activity at Goderich Airport, a regional economic asset. - Memorial Arena Closure
Following the closed Council meeting on January 3rd, errors were identified in the process of reporting on the closure of Memorial Arena. These errors were acknowledged and corrected at the January 13th meeting. Council provided more information about the closure and committed to presenting additional documents at a future meeting.- Memorial Arena has historically been an economic driver, hosting events such as sports tournaments and trade shows, as well as many other community events. The building’s future remains under review by the Goderich Memorial Arena Town Task Force, which includes two members of the Huron Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
- The Chamber applauds the Town’s transparency in addressing the procedural errors and looks forward to continued collaboration as plans for the site evolve.
The Chamber will remain engaged in these matters, particularly as they relate to the business community and local economic development. If you have questions or wish to share input on these topics, please reach out to the Chamber office.