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The Ward 7 Candidates Forum: What Each Candidate Said In Pitch to Get Your Vote – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

March 1, 2016
“This race has 22 candidates”, a fun play on words, for the first and only open forum with the 22 candidates for the Ward 7 Hamilton City Council seat.
Election day less than three weeks away (March 21), and 17 candidates came out to the Ukrainian Hall on Upper Wentworth to give their four minute pitch to an audience of over 150 people.
(Note: The Public Record’s video camera is in for repair and there is no recording of the meeting.)
Looking at the room, I’d estimate about a third of the room were undecided voters.
The event was organized by the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic, Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, Social Planning Research Council.
Here’s The Public Record’s summary of the candidate pitches in order of their short four minute presentations.
Being first to speak is the shortest straw in this kind of format. Heroux was a bit nervous off the start, but more than compensated with prepared speaking notes that included statistics to support the points in her pitch.
She spoke about the need to address homelessness but not in isolation of other challenges. She continued by stating we need to support those on Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program to find better housing by addressing the long affordable housing wait list.
She is concerned about food bank demand across the City as a sign of the challenges many residents are facing with the raise of precarious employment. She cited the growth of the pay day loan industry – she called it predatory lending – as symptom of the challenges.
Hamilton’s horrible pedestrian safety record and high injury rate for cyclists were both problems she says she’ll address as a City Councillor.
We need to increase commercial activity to address high residential property taxes, she told the crowd. There was a mention of the Stelco pensioners in her pitch.
She was particularly strong in the final minute of her pitch – her nervousness having subsided.
“I’m much younger than other candidates here,” she said never the each of her time. While some may say that means she is inexperienced, she says “youth have been the catalysis for change” in society.
http://www.chelseyheroux.com/
Vecchioni opened by highlighting that he lives in Ward 7 “since 1999”.
A retired Stelco electrician, he says he is running he wants to make a contribution. “People shouldn’t just sit on the sidelines complaining … people need to get involved and give back to the community”
He’s passionate about democratic involvement and legitimacy saying voter turnout is a major problem, saying due to low voter turnout, City Councillors are elected by a “majority of a minority of voters”.
He spoke of the need to address the City’s mounting debt which is causing pressure on property taxes.
If elected, he will use Ward 7 area rating funds to address the social housing shortfall.
He closed by saying “Expressing one’s opinion in society is important in democracy … the people of the Ward should vote for the person they feel is best suited for the role”
No website found
Pacey opened by highlighting she is a resident of Ward 7 and then delivering an autobiographical profile of herself to highlight her qualifications.
She is a civil servant, working for the City of Hamilton pre-amalgamation until 2001 when she went to work at the City of Brantford on “downtown initiatives”. She says she earned a reputation as a “go-to person in the City”.
“If you needed to get something done, you are the person to speak to,” people who tell her when directed to seek her assistance on projects.
She wants to see term limits imposed on City Council of two terms and a requirement that Councillors be a resident of their wards (at present, Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr and Ward 14 Councillor Robert Pasuta do not live in the wards they represent).
She says she’ll work to see improvements to HSR service on the Mountain.
In closing, “As your City Councillor, I will listen to and work hard for you to improve city services”
Jeanne Pacey for Ward 7 on Facebook
Nicholl quickly started talking about the issues he wishes to address.
He wants to “improve social services and programs for families”, improve HSR and DARTS – especially for seniors, and address poverty.
He told the story of a woman he knows in the Ward who is living in a sub-standard CityHousing unit with leaky roof that allows for water to flow behind her walls and how the City does fix it.
Nicholl says its very frustrating for the woman to have puddles of water in her basement after rainstorms and that CityHousing isn’t addressing it. There is likely mould in the walls and Nicholl believes this is why the woman is often sick. It is unacceptable, he says.
Safe roads and safe communities were another theme. Nicholl says Ward 7 needs more policing, and noting the increase in graffiti.
He came back to poverty in his closing minutes, telling the story of a woman who was turned away from an emergency shelter with a infant.
He says the City must address poverty and ensure there are safe places for people to sleep, “even if we have to open City Hall” as shelter space at night. “This is unacceptable,” he said of the housing crisis.
https://vote4nicholl.wordpress.com/
Charters started out as a long-time politician by thanking the other candidates for ‘their passion and commitment to getting involved’ saying the City will be well served by all candidates being involved in public service.
He then spoke about being a member of City Council in the 1990s, highlighting that that three members of the 1990s City Council are presently on Council (Collins, Eisenberger, Jackson) and his ability to work with them.
“Times have changed, but the issues have not”, Charters told the crowd. Looking around the room, many were perplexed by him citing being on Council in the 1990s and saying the issues are still the same 15 years later.
“Ward 7 has been not been well represented, but that’s no fault of the Councillors,” Charters said. “The Ward Councillor is saddled with a larger ward,” then citing the Ward Boundary Review said “That’s going to change”.
He highlighted his 30 years working in the ward and then got to specific issues he wishes to address.
Upper Sherman and Wellington need to be upgraded to urban roads from their present rural-based two lanes with no sidewalks, Charters told the crowd.
He says he’ll work hard to manage city government to keep tax increases low, saying he was successful as chair of the finance committee in the 1990s at keeping taxes under control.
He says his experience will benefit the City, with his real estate experience, he helped to negotiate the deal to get the Pier 8 lands transferred from the federal government to the City.
He says City Council needs to think ahead, and to lobby the province and federal governments more and effectively.
“If you allow me the chance, I’d love to serve the people of this ward going forward”
http://www.bobcharters.ca/
Rabb started off like most of the candidates before him, telling the crowd autobiographical info. He cited his experience working for Ward 8 Councillor Terry Whitehead saying he knows how to “work closely with staff, getting things done”, then his business background.
He quickly wrapped this and delivered his pitch – which earned the best applause of the night and clearly impressed both the crowd and the journalist writing this. Instead of listing issues, he went into specifics on an issue and stated a plan to act on the file if elected.
The issue? Affordable housing.
Rabb wants to see the City make inclusionary zoning a standard practice. “We have to make sure we don’t create ghettos,” Rabb convincingly told the audience. He stated he is “not supportive of putting affordable housing in one place, this is lazy and we can do better!”
He spoke about his desire to ensure people can succeed in housing, citing supporting housing projects like the Perkins Centre at Main and Kenilworth.
He says all areas of the city should have supporting housing, “including Ancaster”. “If you know the rules for zoning in Ancaster, that joke’s funny,” Rabb said to the enjoyment of many in the audience.
He wants to implement a development charge “holiday” for the construction of new rental units citywide to address the low vacancy rate problems in the City. Rabb says the holiday will be time limited to get developers building rental apartments before DCs are reinstated.
He closed as the first candidate to toss to his website “ElectHoward.ca”.
The room applauded as Rabb left the stage.
http://electhoward.ca/
McMullen earned laughs from the audience before reaching the microphone, joking as she walked on stage “I’ve been getting up a lot of stairs lately”.
She quickly launched into platform issues.
“It is important to have safe healthy sustainable complete streets,” she declared citing challenges to transportation on the mountain. She spoke about meeting the needs of many road users specifically citing “HSR buses in mixed traffic”, cyclists who commute to work at Maple Leaf Foods, and motorists dealing with the potholes on Rymal.
She is proposing a transit fare freeze until the HSR is reviewed and a plan put in place for transit changes. No right turns at red lights, such as at Upper Gage and Mohawk, should be implemented “where it makes sense”. She spoke of the tragic death of a pedestrian at Upper Gage and Mohawk which lead the City to finally make safety improvements at the intersection.
She wants to see more focus on the poverty strategy, and applauds Council’s work on the payday loans file.
She closed by noting her involvement in the community, including being on the board of numerous community agencies.
http://www.votemcmullen.ca/
Danko opened by thanking the organizers of the forum for their work bringing the candidates together and the opportunity to speak to voters.
“When you are out there campaigning, you really see how people are struggling with poverty,” Danko said. He wants to see the City do more to help people and to meet the City’s potential.
He says 20 years ago as a student at McMaster Engineering, he had to explain to out-of-town students that Hamilton is on the cusp of greatness.
He then spoke about his desire to see his kids enjoying similar experiences he did growing up in the Ward. (He emphasized living in the Ward)
“As a kid, I rode my bike to Concession for comic books, really looking forward to my kids being able to do the same.”
He says he is “running to make sure Hamilton can reach its potential”. “Somehow we haven’t achieved what is obtainable.”
He emphasized he is “running as an independent” and has never been a member of a political party.
“I am asking for your vote,” he said “because 20 years from now, I don’t want my kids describing Hamilton as on the cusp of greatness” saying it is time for Hamilton to meet its potential.
http://jpdanko.com/
Bradshaw introduced himself as a small business owner on Concession Street, emphasizing his connection to the ward.
He says the ward needs more policing and the return of community policing centres. He says the elimination of the Concession Street community policing centre is having a negative impact on Concession Street with an increase in vandalism and graffiti.
He spoke of his many community involvements, and says he looks forward to further serving the community.
Philip Bradshaw for Ward 7 on Facebook.
Starr started with a different opening than we had heard thus far in the night. He told the audience how he first because involved in civic life 24 years ago during “one of the most contentious issues our City has experienced”, the Red Hill Valley Parkway.
He says today transit remains a major issue in the City with both the HSR and problems on the Linc and RHVP as examples.
He says the City Council has a problem of repeating their errors. “We need to learn from our mistakes”
He then gave his autobiography, telling the audience of his six children: “Two of my children have developmental disabilities which is to say that have different abilities …. We need to build a community for everyone”
He spoke about running his own business and his support for addressing poverty. “My wife and I are supporters of living wage by doing, not just talking.” He says living wage is one of the best decisions they’ve made “We don’t have employee turnover like we used to, our productivity is doubled.”
He wants to see electoral reform. He also spoke to having safe and accessible infrastructure.
“I’m motivated by a desire for all residents to reach their full potential”
http://www.daminstarr.ca/
Murphy opened, as did most of the candidates who live in the Ward, by saying he is a resident of Ward 7. “Ward 7 is made up of the hard-workers of Hamilton”
He wants to see improvements to HSR service on the Mountain and told the audience about the challenges his nieces have getting to McMaster from the Mountain. It takes a long time and when they finally get downtown, they have to wait for an available B-Line Express bus because they are all full.
He wants to see sidewalks installed in the newer parts of the Ward where they were not placed on both sides and on the stretches of Upper Sherman and Wellington which are still rural-style roads.
The number of potholes, and the quality of repair jobs, are unacceptable Murphy told the crowd.
He says he is from a “strong union family” with his mother having worked at Dominion grocery and father at International Harvester.
Murphy wants to see more action to reduce poverty, saying precarious employment is a major issue as many people – himself included – have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
No website found
Opening by saying she was raised and lived in Ward 7 where she also “cares for my elderly parents”.
Qureshi (who prefers to go by the more easily pronounced Uzma) says she wants to address the problems of HSR service on the Mountain. She spoke on poverty issues for most of her pitch.
On affordable housing, she wants to see the City require “inclusionary family friendly neighbourhoods”, applauded the City Councils actions to deal with predatory lending, and wants to see more done to help those in poverty.
She pivoted to highlighting the endorsements she’s received, pointing to former Ward 7 Councillor (now MP) Scott Duvall’s, she proudly told the audience of Duvall’s endorsement.
She says she’s learned from Duvall “No issue is too small for the constituents of the ward”.
“There is a need for another strong voice on Council,” Qureshi declared. “Ward 7 works better when it starts with our neighbours and our local businesses”
http://uzma.ca/
Bolton came onto the stage and quickly declared he was “born and raised in Ward 7” but “now I just live on the other side of Upper Gage.” “I’m in the ward every day.”
He then spoke of his military service. “You can take the man of the military, but you can’t take the military out of the man – I’m driven to get results”.
If elected, he plans to take care of seniors, DARTS, and look after the Sackville Senior’s Centre. He says these are issues dear to his mother who will soon celebrate her 107th birthday.
He spoke about poverty, saying he’s been around the world and seen worse poverty, but that doesn’t mean he won’t address it here in Hamilton.
“The City is a business, it must be run like a business”, he told the audience that “we need to address taxes, they are too high”.
How? He didn’t say, but time is tight in the format.
He closed speaking about his experiences on a co-op housing board.
No Website Found
The worst delivery of the night without a doubt went to Shaun Burt. To call it a train wreck would be generous. Burt is an experienced candidate, there was no excuse for his complete lack of preparation and some of the implausible, unexplained, and contradictory statements during his four minutes.
(The Public Record does not practice either “view from nowhere” or “access journalism“. This site states it as seen)
Burt came on stage, took the microphone off its stand, and started by saying he ‘prefers to speak from the heart and didn’t have prepared notes’.
The moderator intervened to have him place the microphone back onto the stand. All candidates were instructed at the beginning of the forum that they were not allowed to move the microphone.
Burt stood behind the podium, without any speaking notes, and declared he was born, raised and lives in Ward 7.
That was the high point of his four minutes. He paused, then asked all the candidates in the room to stand up. They did so slowly, the entire room wondering what this guy on stage – who was clearly winging it and unprepared – was doing. He then asked everyone to applaud the candidates.
Now, when the candidates sat down, he started talking about how he is always positive, he prefers to be positive, and to be positive in his politics. It wasn’t really coherent, just a bunch of words strung between repeated use of the word positive.
Then he changed tone declaring “I’m up here as an independent” and not affiliated with any political party.
Burt was Liberal Party of Canada candidate in the fall 2015 federal election, he is using red in his campaign materials, and a font the same as or very similar to the Liberal Party of Canada font.
The independent line was quickly followed by the weirdest lines of the night.
He declared he had a “lengthy conversation with the Prime Minister about Ward 7” and he “has the assets in place to assist the Ward that the other candidates do not have.”
The room was stunned, especially the local Liberal party leaders. Did this guy just claim that the Prime Minister of Canada had the time to talk to a candidate about municipal ward issues during a municipal by-election?
Burt, looking at the room, seeing he wasn’t getting a positive reaction, defensively said of his assets in place comment “It’s not a haw haw, it’s a fact”.
He was then at the 30-second warning, declared, wow, its been already three and a half minutes, and then called on people to vote for him. With that, he walked off stage to polite applause as the seasoned political observers in the room tried to make sense of what they just saw.
I’ve never seen such a poor showing by an experienced candidate and I attended my first political debate 20 years ago.
http://shaun-burt.squarespace.com/
Zuriel opened by thanking organizers and launched into his autobiography. He says he’s engaged in the Ward as a “community activist”, he is an “economist by training”, and was on the Deans Honour List at McMaster.
He is the only candidate promising if elected, he will lower property taxes.
While lowering property taxes, he is promising to improve municipal service levels. How you can revenue and increase expenses was not explained, but there are only four minutes, maybe he has a plan. (Municipalities are not allowed to run deficits)
He says poverty must be addressed and that he’ll focus on economic sustainability to ensure the City can address poverty.
He plans to focus on economic growth as a City Councillors, and will build in expert advice as needed to improve the City.
“I don’t claim to have all the answers and I won’t hesitate to consult the community and expert groups.”
Zuriel closed with the best received humour one-liner of the evening.
Asking for people’s votes, he said “you’ll find my name at the bottom of the ballot”.
Hans Zuriel for Hamilton Ward 7 Councillor By-Election on Facebook
“I’m a long-time journalist with CHCH News, I’ve covered many people and many stories over the last 30 years” is how Skelly opened her four minutes, noting her most recent beat was City Hall.
She then turned to issues.
“There is a growing need for affordable housing,” she declared. “We hear about it at City Council.”
Skelly criticized Ward 4 Councillor Sam Merulla. Merulla is an NDPer to Skelly’s  Progressive Conservative.
“Merulla says that’s [affordable housing] the responsibility of the province” then Skelly berated Merulla and Council for a lack of action. “We talk about it, but we never come up with a plan, and when I say we, I mean City Council”
Skelly referenced her experience as a two-time Progressive Conservative candidate, saying the City Council needs to lobby and pressure the province to address affordable housing with a strong plan to make Queen’s Park pay attention.
On Living Wage, Skelly praised Tom Cooper and the Poverty Roundable for moving the community to where it is “ready for honest conversation to start implementing a living wage.” Skelly says five years ago, the community wasn’t ready for the conversation.
Skelly says she’ll focus on job creation as a Councillor. “We need to create really good jobs.”
The “City claims to be open for business” but Skelly says she often heard from businesses about red tape at City Hall and costly time needed to navigate City Hall’s red tape. She says Council needs “to address red tape at City Hall.”
http://skellyward7.ca/
The final candidate to be drawn and speak was Doug Farraway.
One of the advantages of speaking last is that you can adjust to the mood of the audience and Farraway took the opportunity to open by declaring his support for living wage and saying it’s long past time to make it happen.
He gave a shoutout to Damin Starr for his business leadership in implementing living wage.
Farraway then gave his autobiography, and in noting his work with Neighbour to Neighbourhood thanked Tom Cooper for his work and assistance when Farraway started at N2N.
“Hamilton is the comeback city of Canada”, Farraway declared pointing to recent national media stories. The Downtown is renewing, but the City must be mindful of gentrification and what this means for vulnerable residents.
He complimented Ward 3 Councillor Matthew Green by name for leading on the pay day loans file.
Farraway said he was at the public meeting last week on the housing development plans for West Harbour – noting Damin Starr was present as well – and declared the City must have inclusionary housing to succeed.
“We need a waterfront village for everybody,” he declared, saying the waterfront cannot be an exclusive enclave. “We only get one chance to get the waterfront right”
He delivered the strongest single line of the night saying he will implement inclusionary zoning: “I’m not going to give developers a free ride, not in this red hot market”
There are 10,000 people living in poverty in Ward 7, Farraway says this is unacceptable. He is concerned about the growth in precarious work.
He cited his past community work and closed “You know that I know the issues, I need you to vote for me on March 21”
http://farrawayfor7.com/


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West Harbour Community Conversation Agenda Released – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

March 26, 2016
The City’s public consultation series on Pier 7 and 8 continues this Thursday (March 31) from 7:00 to 9:10pm with a larger venue at LIUNA Station on James Street North.
The City calls the meetings community conversations and they have – despite the City’s desire to discuss other matters – become dominated by community demands for the integration of affordable housing as a part of the City’s west harbour developments.
Disclosure: I live within the Sailing Sail plan boundaries, have participated in the public meetings, and am a strong supporting of creating a mixed-income development by including some affordable housing as a requirement in the development.
Affordable housing may be the dominant topic, but it is not the only topic that residents wish to address with many seeking updates on other aspects of the plan.
The City has rebooted the public consultations this month by adopting a new format and focusing the discussion upon the creation of a vision statement for the West Harbour plan.
The agenda for the March meeting involves breakout groups for discussion of the West Harbour vision statement. There is no question and answer session scheduled.
It will be interesting to see how breakout groups form, what feedback they provide, and how it will impact the City’s plan to sell it’s West Harbour real estate during the 2018 budget year.

source: news-thepublicrecord

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


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Filming in Hamilton, April 22 to 29, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

April 23, 2016
The City of Hamilton’s Planning and Economic Development Department is proactively providing The Public Record with film permits, which are public information.
I’ll need to determine how to organize this information into a dataset, likely during the summer recess when I hope to build a backend database with public facing API.
There are two films with permits this week.
xXx 3 The Return of Xander Cage will film beginning Saturday and continue until Wednesday, breaking on Thursday and Friday, and finishing up on Saturday May 1st. In the event of rain, the film permit allows for May 2, 2016.
Burlington Street (lower level) will be closed from Strathearne to Parkdale for the filming. HSR detour information is kindly compiled by Jason Nason on his Hamilton Transit Blog.
On Thursday, filming will occur in the Wilcox, Sherman, Lower Industrial Drive area. The Downtown-Bound Industrial Drive (often mistaken for Burlington Street) will be closed from 9am to 9pm. Intermittent traffic storages will occur on Wilcox, Sherman, and Lower Industrial Drive during filming.
Filming inside the St. Joseph’s Healthcare campus on West 5th on Saturday April 22. More about the film on Software Hamilton.


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Hamilton City Council Board of Health for April 18, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

April 18, 2016
Council meets as Board of Health to discuss 2016 performance metrics and self-evaluate their 2015 performance.
Replay


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Hamilton City Council for April 27, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

April 27, 2016
Hamilton City Council’s regular Council meeting debate ratification of their committee work of the past two weeks.
Full Replay.


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Hamilton City Council GIC for April 20, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

April 20, 2016
City Council meets today to debate the North End Traffic Management Plan (30km/h), Licensing Uber and other “ride-sharing” operations, and the City spending $600,000 in capital and over $100,000 annually to stream its meetings.
Replay


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Hamilton City Council GIC for April 6, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

April 6, 2016
City Council will hear from six delegations and conduct one item of business during their GIC today. Among the delegations, members of Hamilton’s Colombian community asking for a public apology from Councillor Lloyd Ferguson.
Replay video.
Related stories: Wilson Blanchard Representatives Pitch New Gore Park Buildings Compromise to Council


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Hamilton City Council Public Works Committee for April 18, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

April 18, 2016
Replay video of City Council’s Public Works Committee


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Hamilton Council Emergency and Community Services Committee for April 25, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

April 25, 2016
An update to the 5-year Hamilton Affordable Strategy is the main item on the agenda with an update of new provincial and federal affordable housing initiatives.
Replay


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Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee for April 2016 – Vote on Wilson-Blanchard Gore Buildings Proposal – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

April 21, 2016
Hamilton’s Municipal Heritage Committee’s April 2016 meeting will include a delegation from Wilson-Blanchard pitching their plans for the demolition of the Gore Buildings at 18-28 King Street East and the rebuilding of the facade of two of the buildings at 18 – 22 King Street East.
The Heritage Committee will be asked to make a recommendation to City Council in regards to the proposal.
Wilson-Blanchard’s legal counsel Tim Bullock and architect David Premi presented to Council in early April, here’s the full video of that delegation on The Public Record’s Facebook page.
Live video starts at 9:30am on The Public Record
Full Agenda:
https://www.thepublicrecord.ca/static/agendas/2016/April-21-2016-Hamilton-Municipal-Heritage-Committee-Agenda.pdf


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Hamilton Planning Committee for April 5, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

April 5, 2016
Planning Committee will decide on four planning applications, a by-law for building exterior cleaners lawn signage, and update the pool enclosure by-law.
Live video starts at 9:30am


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Hamilton Public Works Committee for April 4, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

April 4, 2016
Council’s Public Works Committee will discuss road safety, vision zero, accessible transit, and emergency repairs to the Kenilworth stairs.
Live video starts at 9:30am


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HSR to Implement Social Media and Web Updates This Summer – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

April 20, 2016
The Hamilton Street Railway will, finally, provide real-time detours information and updates on its website and social media starting this summer.
HSR Director David Dixon and Manager of Transit Operations Murray Hill say they’ve completed the job description, identified the funding source, and are submitting the necessary paperwork to the City’s human resources department and General Manager of Public Works to submit for Council approval.
Council approval is required as hiring a social communications coordinator changes staffing structure. Dixon states the HSR will replace an existing transit fare clerk in the ticket office. Once approved by Council, the job will posted.
The social communications coordinator will report to the Manager of Transit Operations Murray Hill and be part of the HSR operations control centre to ensure rapid updates to the public.
The coordinator will manage communications during business hours and train HSR inspectors on how to update HSR communications to ensure updates are provided to the public during all hours of operation.
David Dixon states he hopes to have the position hired quickly and fully operational this summer.


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Mayor Fred Eisenberger's Telephone Town Hall – April 25, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

April 25, 2016
Mayor Fred Eisenberger is holding a telephone town hall with 50,000 local landline users invited.
Full Replay.


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New Downtown BIA Branding – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

April 19, 2016
Hamilton’s Downtown Business Improvement Area is sporting new branding as “DWNTWN Hamilton”. The new brand, unveiled Tuesday evening seeks to refresh the image of “The Core” by focusing on six primary marketing themes: Appetizing (food), Captivating (entertainment), Creative (the arts and creative businesses), Dedicated (service industry and businesses), Genuine, and Professional (services).
All of these themes are tied to the tagline “To The Core” such as “Dedicated To The Core”.
(Ward 2 City Councillor Jason Farr’s tagline is dedicated to the core as well)
The biggest change is the new text based logo, replacing the Gore Park fountain as the distinctive landmark of the BIA, and the dropping of vowels in the name. The colour palette is interesting to me, mostly because I’ve never seen these two colours put together in a Hamilton logo and it is a sharp departure from the green and blue previously used by the BIA.
When the BIA last redesigned their brand, Downtown Hamilton had recently seen the rebuilding of the Gore Park fountain and the civic pride of the large fundraising campaign that made that 1996 City of Hamilton sesquicentennial project possible.
The BIA launched a new website with the rebranding on its domain at downtownhamilton.org. Of note on the website is the events calendar page.
It will be interesting to understand the full meaning of the new logo and branding as it is rolled out this summer.


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West Harbour Pier 7 & 8 Urban Design Calls for 110,000 sq ft of New Residential – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

April 27, 2016
City staff released the Pier 7 & 8 Urban Design Study yesterday evening.
The 116 page report is the result of years of planning and a lengthy series of public meetings on the future of the valuable lands along the West Harbour waterfront owned by the City of Hamilton.
The final proposal maintains the nine development blocks presented at earlier public meetings and will not surprise anyone paying attention to this file. Overall, the final plan calls for 110,000 square feet of new residential units for a total of 1,071 to 1,531 new residential units with 1,422 parking spots integrated into the buildings and a centralized parkade.
The perimetre of Pier 8 will become a urbanized public access area with patios, an artificial beach, bike and cycle path, and other amenities. The existing park on the west portion of the pier will remain, and public art will be added throughout the perimetre.
The report proposes building in phases, starting along Guise and moving closer to the waterfront in phases.
The final Urban Design Study calls for “a high quality waterfront with a mix of public activity areas”,  “diversity of architectural styles and building massing”, and a “human-scaled development that frames the streets and open spaces”.
There is the implementation of green roofs, a “greenway” storm water capture area which also serves as a pedestrian and bike path, and a focus on green technologies to reduce the environmental footprint of the new residents.
The Urban Design Study says there are elements requiring  additional study, including affordable housing.
There is one remaining community meeting on the Urban Design Study scheduled for Monday, May 2, 2016, 7pm at the Waterfront Banquet and Conference Centre at 555 Bay Street North.
Council will begin consideration of the Study at a special West Harbour Development Sub-Committee to be held at the Hamilton Waterfront Trust Building on Thursday, May 5, at 3pm. Seating will be limited and on a first come, first serve basis.
(As The Public Record’s media credential was revoked for “eavesdropping” on public meetings at City Hall, I cannot guarantee I’ll be able to get in the room to cover this public meeting)
Following this, the proposal will go to Planning Committee on Tuesday, May 17, and be ratified by City Council on Wednesday, May 25.
The full report and appendices are available on the City of Hamilton website’s Piers 7 and 8 Urban Design Study page. https://www.hamilton.ca/city-planning/planning-community/piers-7-and-8-urban-design-study


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Wilson Blanchard Representatives Pitch New Gore Park Buildings Compromise to Council [Video Replay] – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

April 6, 2016
Ward Two Councillor Jason Farr and developer Wilson Blanchard have reached an agreement to demolish two and rebuild the facades of the other two historic buildings facing Gore Park at 18 to 28 King Street East in Downtown Hamilton.
The proposal was a surprise walk-in delegation at today’s Council General Issues Committee.
Councillors voted unanimously to have staff review the proposal and report back at the May 4, 2016 Council General Issues Committee.
Wilson Blanchard’s lawyer Tim Bullock and architect David Premi presented Council with a five-storey building proposal which will include 14 residential units on upper floors and 3,000 sq ft of retail on the ground levels.
The proposal will involve the complete demolition of the two easternmost buildings at 24 and 28 King Street East and preservation of the facades at 18 and 22 King Street East with the demolition of the remainder of the buildings.
Bullock told Councillors the developer is willing to build as soon as they gain site plan approval from the City and before securing tenants for the building.
Ward Two Councillor Jason Farr walked the delegation and staff report motion onto the Council floor today without notice.
Asked by The Public Record why he didn’t give notice, Farr said the deal between him, the developer, and the City was reached in the past few days. Farr says the momentum for the project is positive, reflective of the growing strength of the downtown economy and that the developer is willing to build without having tenants in place. He stressed there was no urgency to walking the motion onto the agenda today, and he did so solely for convenience and momentum.
Farr stressed that today’s presentation was the first step and nothing has been decided, that the developer is interested in attending Heritage Committee in April, and Farr will receive public input before Council makes it decision when the staff report returns in early May.
The heritage designation passed by City Council in December 2013 is being challenged by Wilson Blanchard and a pre-hearing was scheduled for today.
The hearing was adjourned. By giving staff direction by the motion today, Council enabled the adjournment of the hearing.
Councillors asked the developers representatives to make a presentation to the Municipal Heritage Committee with their proposal. Farr says they will make the presentation.
The next Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee meeting is Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 9:30am.
The staff report will be presented to City Council at their May 4, 2016 meeting.


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City Moving Forward With Heritage Designation of Gibson School – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 15, 2016
With the full support of owner/developer Harry Stinson, the City of Hamilton is moving forward with the heritage designation of the former Gibson elementary school at 601 Barton Street East.
The City circulated the legal notice of intent to designate under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act last week stating:
The former Gibson School, located at 601 Barton Street East, Hamilton, has heritage value as a contributor to the Hamilton public education system for nearly 100 years (1914-2009). The former school building also has design value as a representative example of the Edwardian Classicism architecture style that was common in Ontario between approximately 1900 and 1930. The former school was most likely designed by Hamilton architects Stewart and Witton, who designed many prominent public buildings and residences in Hamilton.
The designation will allow Stinson to access heritage grants and other programs for the renovation of the building into residential apartments.
Stinson and I chatted a few weeks ago about the building, how its conversion to residential will serve as a catalysis for that stretch of Barton, and the most interesting part of our conversation was on the impact of the restorative washing of the exterior bricks.
After over 100 years, construction of the school was completed in 1914, of exposure to air pollution – only blocks from Hamilton’s heavy industry – the beautiful bright bricks had become a brownish-black colour.
When the Board of Education had to repair bricks near the roofline, they replaced the original bricks with bricks that matched the pollution stained colour. You can see the difference in this pre-restoration photo contained in the City’s heritage assessment report.
Now that Stinson’s starting restoring the building, the dark bricks are out of place. It will be interesting to see how this quirk of historical neglect is handled in the final design.
UPDATE:
Thanks to Zena Hagerty for this photo showing the cleaned bricks which clearly shows the difference in brick work.


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City Staff to Explain Cycling Plan Implementation Prioritization to Council Later in Spring – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 2, 2016
Council’s micromanagement of the Hamilton Cycling Master Plan will expand later this spring as the Public Works Committee will renew how staff implement and prioritize implementation of the plan.
The Public Works Committee passed a motion at their May 2nd meeting calling on staff to report on their processes before the summer recess.
Councillors are upset about staff applying for, and receiving, a provincial cycling funding grant to implement the Bay Street cycling lane which is part of the 2009 Plan.
The report is expected for the June 6, 2016 Public Works Committee meeting.


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Flamborough Chamber of Commerce Holds Public Meeting on LRT [Full Video] – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 26, 2016
The Flamborough Chamber of Commerce hasn’t taken an official position on the Hamilton B-Line LRT project. It has questions, and many concerns.
As part of their mandate to promote informed civic engagement, the Chamber invited staff from the LRT office to speak to Chamber members in Flamborough on the project.
The meeting, held in the middle of the business day, attracted many RSVPs but many did not attend.
The City of Hamilton’s director of LRT Paul Johnson presented to the audience, Flamborough Chamber of Commerce CEO Arend Kersten address the room, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Keanin Loomis spoke about why the Hamilton Chamber supports the LRT project and addressed concerns about business disruptions.
Following this, three Flamborough Chamber members made statements and asked questions.
One of them, Bill Elliott, was particularly interesting as he spoke in favour of LRT in one of the best pro arguments I’ve heard advanced thus far in the debate:


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Get Informed on Inclusionary Zoning and Density Bonusing [Videos] – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 14, 2016
Hamilton’s Planning Committee held a special planning workshop in May 2016 on Inclusionary Zoning and Density Bonusing in Ontario.
The Public Record streamed the full workshop and we’ve split each presentation and discussion into four videos to make it easier to be informed.
Shonda Wang, SvN on Municipal Bonusing:
Edward John, City of Hamilton, Inclusionary Zoning in Ontario:
Joanna Wice, City of Hamilton, Legal Issues Related to Development Bonusing in Ontairo
John MacKenzie, City of Vaughan, Vaughan Ontario’s Experience Applying Section 37


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Hamilton Board of Health for May 16, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 16, 2016
A quick Board of Health meeting this month as Councillor approved the expansion of Epipens to the medical kits of Hamilton’s Fire Department, and received information reports.
Full Replay video
Full Agenda on City Website here: http://hamilton.siretechnologies.com/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=962&doctype=AGENDA


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Hamilton City Council for May 11, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 11, 2016
Hamilton City Council’s biweekly full meeting will ratify decisions of standing committees including launching public consultation on new zoning, expansion of Community Improvement Project Areas, adding funding to address affordable housing and poverty reduction, making no changes to Public Works organizational structure and more.
Following ratification business, Council will debate a motion to “reaffirm” their support of LRT, and a motion from Terry Whitehead addressing “aggressive urbanism”.
Live video at 5:00pm.


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Hamilton City Council for May 25, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 25, 2016
Hamilton City Council meets to ratify their business of the past two weeks, including the Piers 7 & 8 Urban Design Study, the LRT debate minutes, and more.
Live at 5:00 p.m.


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Hamilton City Council GIC for May 18, 2016 [LRT Decision Day … Again] – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 18, 2016
Hamilton City Council meets Wednesday and the main event is another vote about the Light Rail Transit B-Line proposal. Council will also look at a new sole-source address information system, approved downtown incentive grants for Vrancor’s new residential building at 220 Cannon East, and how to expand City celebrations of Pride Month.
Live video starts at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Agenda available on the City website here: http://hamilton.siretechnologies.com/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=966&doctype=AGENDA


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Hamilton City Council GIC for May 4, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 4, 2016
City Council meets in Committee of the Whole today to discuss a motion to fund poverty initiatives by an extra $5-million per year, the 2015 City Manager’s Performance Review, splitting the fiasco factory known as the Public Works Department, a motion to renegotiate the lease of the airport, governance of DARTS, six closed session items, and more.
Live video starts at 9:30 a.m.


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Hamilton City Council Light Rail Transit Committee for May 2, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 2, 2016
Council’s LRT Committee will consider a staff report outline the route plan, and King Street road changes, for Hamilton’s LRT.
The report includes new stop locations, how to handle the limited road allowance in the Downtown International Village.
Live video starts at 3 p.m.


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Hamilton City Council Public Works Committee for May 16, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 15, 2016
The Public Works Committee failed to meet quorum for their May 16 meeting with only Councillors Collins, Merulla, Vanderbeek, and Whitehead in attendance. Missing were Councillors Conley (who sent a note he was sick), Ferguson, Jackson, and Pasuta.
The Public Works Committee’s agenda had no debate items, and one time-sensitive consent item – an appointment to the local Source Water Protection Committee. In addition, there was be a staff presentation on City’s horticulture floral program.
Agenda on City Website: http://hamilton.siretechnologies.com/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=965&doctype=AGENDA


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Hamilton City Council Special Planning Committee on Inclusionary Zoning and Section 37 Density Bonusing – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 9, 2016
What is inclusionary zoning and how can it be implemented in Hamilton if Council chooses to use it as an affordable housing tool? What about Section 37, commonly called density bonusing, can it be used to create community facilities and benefits in exchange for allowing increased density and height in new developments?
Council will receive four presentations on these matters, including two from external experts.
Live video starts at 9:30am Tuesday.


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Hamilton City Council Votes to Defer LRT Debate, Will Decide on Project May 18 [Replay Video] – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 11, 2016
In a surprise twist, Hamilton City Council will debate if they will reaffirm support or turn down provincial funding for Light Rail Transit during their Council GIC meeting on Wednesday, May 18.
This comes after Councillors voted to defer a vote on a motion by Sam Merulla supporting the LRT project.
Merulla moved his motion and spoke to it. As soon as Merulla was done introducing the motion, Partridge moved to close the debate and defer the motion until the May 18 Council General Issues Committee.
Nine Councillors voted for the deferral – Collins, Conley, Jackson, B. Johnson, Partridge, Pasuta, Skelly, and Whitehead. Six, all supporters of LRT, voted against the deferral – Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, A. Johnson, and Merulla.
With that, Council will be in a position on Wednesday where they may vote down the project and decline the provincial funding.
The Public Record will broadcast Wednesday’s meeting live, in its entirety.


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Hamilton City Councillor Donna Skelly Uses Olivia Chow & Jack Layton Affordable Housing Claim – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 10, 2016
Hamilton City Councillor Donna Skelly dug up the old claim that Olivia Chow and her husband, the late Jack Layton, were living in subsidized housing in 1990 while Layton was a member of Toronto City Council and Chow a School Board Trustee
Hamilton City Councillors often use questions of staff to lead and posturing in favour of their political positions. Skelly was positioning against using inclusionary zoning in the redevelopment of City owned lands at Piers 7 & 8 on Hamilton’s West Harbour.
What started as a line of questioning on criteria of affordable and subsidized housing, and how it is ensured people who need housing supports, turned into criticism of the idea of applying inclusionary zoning on Piers 7 & 8 where the City plans to sell land for a up to 1,531 new housing units.
It was at this point which Skelly, a two-time provincial Progressive Conservative candidate, brought the 25-year old claim about Chow and Layton into the debate.
“If the City does include, does more forward to include, affordable housing at the waterfront, that will be some of the most sought after real estate and rental units in the City of Hamilton.
How can we ensure that people who are applying, and can we actually prevent people who have a, is there anyway of actually determining who can actually access those units for 20 to 30 per cent of the going rate. Again, from my understanding is that you can’t prevent anyone from using those, renting those units.
I’ll go back to the example of Olivia Chow and Jack Layton using affordable housing units.
How can you prevent anybody in the prime piece of real estate in the City of Hamilton renting that clearly don’t fall or aren’t in need of social or affordable housing?”
Did Chow and Layton improperly live in affordable or subsidized housing? As David Demchuk wrote in 2014 for The Torontoist “Campaign Fact Check: Did Jack Layton and Olivia Chow Live in Subsidized Housing? The answer is yes—but it’s complicated.”
As much as we like things in black and white, the world rarely works that way. It must be stressed that Chow and Layton did not break any rules, that many housing advocates praised them for living in the coop, and their rent was the market rate for a coop at the time.
None of this was relevant to the discussion of inclusionary zoning at Council today. Skelly couldn’t resist attempting to score a political point.
She completely undermined herself and the position she was advancing about the management and criteria for affordable and subsidized housing.
The focus won’t be on her position as it relates to affordable housing on Piers 7 & 8. Instead, the focus is upon her decision to dig up a 25-year-old claim about a man who is deceased and who is widely revered for his work as a Toronto Councillor and leader of the federal NDP.
What should’ve been a day in which City Council looked good for focusing on substantive issues of planning and policy has become yet another embarrassing moment.
What a shame.


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Hamilton Committee of Adjustment for May 19, 2016: Applications of Note – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 16, 2016
The Committee of Adjustment will consider 24 applications during this meeting. A couple jump out for your editor for various reasons.
The City of Hamilton is applying for variances to construct the new Police Investigative Services Building at 100 Wilson Street in Downtown Hamilton, Greenwin is applying for variances to increase the number of units in its apartment buildings at 181 John Street North and 192 Hughson Street North, and across from McMaster, the owner of two houses at 43 and 55 Forsyth Avenue South is looking to increase the number of bedrooms in houses which are rented to McMaster University students.
The Committee meeting starts at 1:00pm Thursday.
The full package of applications is available on the Committee of Adjustment webpage and as May 16, 2016.
Full application package PDF
The City of Hamilton is applying for minor variances to allow for the construction of the the new Hamilton Police Investigative Services building, despite concerns expressed by the Design Review Panel and that the variances required for the building are many as the building is not envisioned in Downtown secondary plans.
Will the Committee of Adjustment decided the variances are in keeping with planning intent and meets the test for a minor variance? The Beasley Neighbourhood Association is expected to attend the meeting to state the variances are not minor and this file belongs at Planning Committee.
Full application package PDF
Greenwin purchased ownership of these two high-rise residential apartment buildings just north of Cannon Street a few years ago and have been extensively remodeling the buildings to attract a different demographic which pays higher rents than the existing tenants.
As part of the changes, Greenwin is asking – as a minor variance – to increase the number of individual units in the building and make other unspecified changes. Due to the nature of minor variance, the public package does not provide many details.
What will be interesting in this variance is how the City will act in response. Council’s official position on multiple bedroom apartment units is that Hamilton has a deficit and there is a freeze on condo conversions due to this deficit.
Ultimately the question Committee of Adjustment must answer – this being the first of this type of application for the term – is this a minor application or does it belong at Planning Committee for a fuller public hearing?
Expect the Beasley Neighbourhood Association and housing advocates to be at this hearing on Thursday.
Full Package PDF
Directly across from McMaster University Medical Centre, these two houses are separate applications to officially convert to duplexes, and one of the houses is seeking to add more bedrooms.
Applications in Westdale, especially conversions of single family homes, usually draw objections from the community.
The Committee of Adjustment during this term has denied similar applications.


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Hamilton Council Audit, Finance, and Administration Committee for May 19, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 19, 2016
Councillors will discuss workplace mental health, receive three delegations, and debate extending development charge credits for 46-52 James Street North.
Live video starts at 9:30am


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Hamilton Council Audit, Finance, and Administration Committee for May 9, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 8, 2016
Council’s Audit, Finance, and Administration Committee will discuss primarily housekeeping items. Two items of note, the Freedom of Information office remains one of the worst in Canada, and Councillors will vote to ban Bondfield Construction Company Litd from bidding on City contracts for non-compliance of the City’s Fair Wage Policy.
Live video starts at 9:30am.


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Hamilton Council Governance (Accountability and Transparency) Committee for May 2, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 2, 2016
Council’s “Accountability and Transparency” Committee – now called the Governance Committee – meets to discuss the latest misbehaviour of Councillor Lloyd Ferguson, review increasing their discretionary ward budgets, create a new policy for proclamations by City Council, and create a draft meeting schedule for all Council meetings in 2017.
Live video at 1pm.
Full Agenda as PDF.


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Hamilton Council Planning Committee for May 17, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 17, 2016
Council’s Planning Committee approved the urban design study for Piers 7 & 8, waiving planning application fees for affordable housing developments, and a flat fee for inspection of grandfathered overhanging store signs.
Full agenda on City website here: http://hamilton.siretechnologies.com/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=971


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Hamilton Council Planning Committee for May 3, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 3, 2016
Council’s Planning Committee will discuss expanding development incentives outside of the downtown core to include most of Barton Street East, Kenilworth, north Upper James, and other areas of the City.
Live video at 9:30 a.m.


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Hamilton Council Public Works Committee for May 30, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 30, 2016
Council’s Public Works Committee will discuss hiring a social media coordinator for the HSR, improvements to composting facilities, adding a pond to Gage Park, and more.
Live video at 9:30am


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Hamilton Council West Harbour Development Committee for May 5, 2016 [Urban Design Study Approval] – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 6, 2016
Council’s West Harbour Development Committee approved the Piers 7 & 8 Urban Design Study during their May 5th meeting, pushing the plan forward to the May 17 Council Planning Committee meeting.
Numerous delegations presented to the Committee, the tensions between different resident viewpoints were apparent, and in a surprise motion, the Committee voted to recommend funding the Waterfront Trust to assist with development work.
The first video is of the delegations at the beginning of the meeting. The second video is the staff presentation and Council debate which followed.


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Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee for May 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 19, 2016
Hamilton’s Municipal Heritage Committee meets on May 19 at 12 noon.
On the agenda: approving new lighting at Dundurn Castle National Historic Site, a presentation on the heritage impact of the Light Rail Transit Project, and approval of the heritage policy and design working group meeting notes.
Full agenda on The Public Record site: https://www.thepublicrecord.ca/static/agendas/2016/May-19-2016-Hamilton-Municipal-Heritage-Committee-Agenda.pdf
The Public Record will attempt to go live from the Committee Room.


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Hamilton PEDTalks "Improving Health by Design in the GTHA" (May 12, 2016) – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 14, 2016
Hamilton’s Planning and Economic Development department hosted Gayle Bursey, Director of Growth Management Strategy for the Region of Peel, who spoke on the topic of Improving Health by Design in the GTHA.
Bursey’s talk was based upon her work in the inter-regional report “Improving Health by Design in the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area” released in May 2014 by the Medical Officers of Health for Hamilton, Peel, Simcoe Muskoka, and Toronto.
McMaster’s Jim Dunn, the Director of the McMaster Institute for Healthier Environments, added to Bursey’s remarks with additional focus on how better urban design can improve Hamilton.
There was an audience question and answer at the end of the talks.
Full replay video.


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Hamilton Planning Committee for May 31, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 31, 2016
Live video of City Council’s Planning Committee.


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Hamilton Public Library Board for May 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 18, 2016
Full video of the Hamilton Public Library Board from May 18, 2016.


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Hamilton's Business Internet Options are Limited, Time for Chamber to Lead A Movement to Bring High Speed to Hamilton – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 23, 2016
Hamilton’s businesses are choking on slow internet speeds and high internet costs.
Our City Council, in their infinite foresight, sold off our municipal fibre optic network in exchange for an undisclosed amount in 2008. Since this time, Hamilton’s businesses have faced a duopoly for land based services with speeds that are the laughing stock of other countries.
Wholesalers provide some options, but they are limited by the duopoly in the service they can provide. NetAccess (my business internet provider) offers over-the-air internet with dedicated speeds up to 50/50Mbps, but the cost is prohibitive for new small businesses. I’m very happy with the 50/10 service I have with NetAccess – which includes a backup wireless link.
Ultimately, my provider is limited by Bell’s wholesale network.
Dale Mugford, of Brave New Code, spoke last week on the need for Hamilton’s IT and Internet business communities to mobilize to convince the City’s economic development department, and eventually Council, that we need to create a strategy to promote – and if necessary build – high speed internet infrastructure in Hamilton.
I’ll go a step further, this is an opportunity for the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce to create a task force and bring Hamilton’s leading internet services providers – I thinking of both NetAccess and Clearcable – to the table to create a whitepaper to make internet access a 2018 election issue.
Even now, the City of Hamilton is thinking of building its own fibre optic network to replace the very network it old in 2008. Why? Cause the City’s internet bill is ridiculous, since they no longer control the network.
Let’s not forget, Hamilton was once the envy of the rest of Canada – the creation of Hamilton’s Fibrewired network in the 1990s was visionary. We connected every civic facility and school to the Internet using fibre optics. In the 1990s.
Let’s get back to the 1990s in terms of infrastructure, and into the 2010s in terms of speed.


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HSR David Dixon Leaving Position in Mid-June, Search for Replacement Begins – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 24, 2016
Hamilton’s public transit director David Dixon is leaving the City in mid-June. Dixon was recruited by another public transit agency and will be leaving on June 18.
The news spread among bus drivers and at City Hall this morning. City employees – who are not authorized to speak on the record – informed The Public Record this morning.
City of Hamilton director of communications Andrea McKinney confirmed the information and says city manager Chris Murray issued a statement saying “Dave has played a significant role in his two years here … working with staff and our ATU partners, Dave and team have made a lot of positive progress.”
Dixon was hired in October 2014, following a serious sexual harassment scandal which saw his predecessor moved out of the position and made a “special advisor” to the City Manager.
During this less than two years in the position, Dixon made significant changes to the HSR. He significantly improved morale of HSR employees, improved on time performance, brought forth a ten-year transit plan, and recently pushed to improve HSR customer service and communications.
Dixon marked a significant departure from his predecessor. He became known as the transit director who believed in public transit.
His highest profile proposal, a $300-million Ten Year Transit Plan, was approved by Council on the condition that the province fund the $200-million capital cost of a new bus garage facilities and buses. The province did not fund the request, as conventional local transit is funded by the gas tax and the responsibility of the municipal level.
Council did not commit to the tax levy funding of the plan either.
Eric Tuck, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107 representing HSR employees, calls the news “devastating”.
“He’s made a major impact on improving relations between the union and management”, Tuck says. “It’s unfortunate he fells it is time to leave.”
“I believe a lot of it has to do with his frustration dealing with a divided council”, Tuck says citing the “inability of council to remain focused on deliving on the 10 year plan”.
“I encourage Council to find a way for him to stay”.
The ATU says city manager Chris Murray must address some of the problems Dixon faced including dealing with the human resources department. When Dixon began as director, Tuck says he encountered “Frustration with having very little control or ability to negotiate” with the union during contract talks.
Tuck says Murray must hire a replacement who “must continue along the same path” improving transit and morale of transit employees.  Murray must give the next director “the reins, the new director must have full control of the HSR and be able to implement their plans”
HSR operations manager Murray Hill, who Dixon hired from Toronto with experience at the Toronto Transit Commission, remains in his position. This gives HSR drivers and employees confidence there will be continuity of the positive changes started by Dixon, Tuck says.
Ward 3 City Councillor Matthew Green says the City should hire a transit director who “believes in LRT and the massive opportunity it represents for Hamilton”.
No information has been released about how Dixon’s departure may impact proposed service improvements for September or who will be acting transit director.
A search for Dixon’s replacement is underway.
City Manager Chris Murray’s statement
Dear Mayor and Members of Council,
I would like to announce Dave Dixon, Director of Transit has decided to leave the City of Hamilton effective June 18th.
Dave has played a significant role in his two years here. He was instrumental in the development of the 10 Year Transit Strategy, Accessible Transit Delivery Strategy and the LRT project. On behalf of everyone at the City of Hamilton, I would like to acknowledge and thank him for his efforts, his commitment and the leadership he has brought to his team. Working with staff and our ATU partners, Dave and team have made a lot of positive progress.
Please join me in wishing Dave all the best.


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Hughson Street Baptist Proposing Affordable Housing Development with Indwell – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 30, 2016
Hughson Street Baptist Church is holding a public meeting on Wednesday June 1 at 500 James Street North starting at 6:30pm to unveil plans for including affordable housing as part of a new church building at the corner of James Street North and Picton Street.
They plan to partner with Indwell. Indwell is one of Hamilton’s most successful affordable housing providers, with recent projects including the Perkins Centre and Rudy Huist Commons on Main Street just east of Kenilworth.
The meeting invitation is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2Dad0hjQYGSQkhRY0hTbktwUFk/view


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Mayor Eisenberger's 2016 Hamilton Chamber of Commerce State of the City Address – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 2, 2016
The Chamber of Commerce changed the format of the Mayor’s speech, replacing with a Question and Answer session moderated by recent CHCH journalist Elise Copps. (Copps now works for Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation)
The Mayor discussed the City’s LRT and Traffic Management plans, development of Piers 7 & 8, open for business, and took questions from the audience.
(Note: there are some audio sync issues at points during the video. They were caused by a video driver error in my hardware.)


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Ontario Municipal Board Hamilton Ruling Summary for Week of May 9 to 13, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 14, 2016
The Ontario Municipal Board released a few decisions involving the City of Hamilton this week.
The most significant came in appeals of the City’s new rural official plan and zoning bylaw, the others involved a 307-unit new subdivision in Binbrook, a denied severance in Ancaster, and a six-storey multiple dwelling on Barton Street in Flamborough.
Each one of the cases decisions can be read on CanLii.ca and are linked in the summaries below.
http://www.canlii.org/en/on/onomb/doc/2016/2016canlii26566/2016canlii26566.html
This is one of the larger appeals of the City’s new rural official plan and zoning bylaw, which is now narrowed to a fourteen remaining appellants , with the City and other appellants having reached agreements.
The significance of this week’s ruling, which is procedural in nature, is the Ontario Municipal Board ruled – with the exceptions of sections under appeal, the new rural official plan and zoning bylaw is in effect.
From the ruling (para 26):
“Those parts of Rural Hamilton Official Plan Amendment No. 9 that are not under appeal, as set out in Exhibit “C” to the affidavit of Ms. Hickey-Evans, dated March 30, 2016 (the “annotated RHOPA”, at Exhibit 1 of these proceedings), came into effect on the day after the last day for filing a notice of appeal, being August 10, 2015, in accordance with the provisions of s. 17(27) of the Act.”
The remaining appeals will require significant litigation and hearings.
The City put out a press statement after the ruling to note the significance of the OMB decision to enact the OP and ZB.
The City created a website for materials related to the proceeding, which will include all the litigation documentation and is extremely useful for tracking the ongoing appeals (bookmark it):
https://www.hamilton.ca/city-planning/official-plan-zoning-by-law/rural-zoning
The next OMB date is a pre-conference hearing on Tuesday, July 26, 10am, at the Dundas Town Hall.
http://www.canlii.org/en/on/onomb/doc/2016/2016canlii26564/2016canlii26564.html
Section 34(11) of the Planning Act requires municipal councils to make final decisions on planning applications within 120 days of a submission. In effect, due to statutory requirements of notice for Planning Committee hearings, municipal staff only get two months to review and make recommendations to the municipal council.
Empire Communities applied to the City for a 307 unit residential sub-division in Binbrook. The development will be on 20.8 hectares of land.
After the 120 days expired, and Council had not made a decision, Empire filed to the OMB for failure of the City of Hamilton to make a decision.
The 120 day requirement is an ongoing point of contention in the Planning Act with municipalities seeking amendments to the limit for more complex applications or in situations where a developer is negotiating with a City.
In this case, the City and developer reached an agreement, the hearing was cancelled, and the subdivision is approved.
From the ruling (note: Paul DeMelo is counsel for the developer and Joanna Wice is counsel for the City of Hamilton):
“At the outset of the hearing, Mr. DeMelo reported that Empire had resolved all its issues with the City’s staff.  Ms. Wice reported that she did not have instructions from Council with respect to the resolution of issues worked out through staff, and asked for an adjournment to seek instructions.  She added, however, that she was not elevating the request to a formal motion.”
http://www.canlii.org/en/on/onomb/doc/2016/2016canlii26542/2016canlii26542.html
The character of older parts of Ancaster is homes on large lots, setback a distance from the street, and with large setbacks from neighbouring properties.
With larger lot sizes, and the appeal of living in an established low density community such as Ancaster, there are increasing numbers of severance applications to split single home lots into two properties to build new separate homes.
The Ancaster zoning bylaw and official plan does envision this type of neighbourhood. Applicants for severances at the Committee of Adjustment have been turned down, and a few of the applicants have filed appeals of denial to the Ontario Municipal Board.
Last week, the OMB upheld the denial of a severance at 114 Reding Road where the applicants proposed to “divide the subject property into two lots and construct two residential dwellings”.
Reding Road is southwest of the corner of Sulphur Springs Road and Wilson Street.


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Planning Committee Votes in Favour of Piers 7 & 8 Urban Design Study – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 17, 2016
Councillors on the Planning Committee voted in favour of the Urban Design Study for Piers 7 & 8 which calls for 110,000 square feet of new residential representing 1,071 to 1,531 new units of housing. The plan also calls for ground level commercial and entertainment businesses across the lands.
The proposal, outlined in an earlier TPR article, now moves to City Council for ratification next Wednesday.
Following this, City staff will need to create the zoning bylaws to match the urban design. The zoning bylaw will need to approval by Council after a public hearing, under the Planning Act, at Planning Committee.
The zoning bylaw can be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board.
Full video of the presentation, delegations, and vote below.


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Public Meeting on Pier 7/8 Urban Design Draws Over 200 Residents [Full Replay of Mtg] – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 2, 2016
Over 200 residents attended the public information session on the West Harbour Piers 7 and 8 Urban Design Study which proposes to add 110,000 sq ft of new residential and thousands of more square feet in commercial uses.
The Urban Design Study, unveiled last Wednesday, will be considered by City Council’s West Harbour development sub-committee on Thursday and will be debated by Council’s Planning Committee on May 17.
Monday evening’s public meeting was the only public information session following the release of the study, coming after over a year of public meetings and consultations on the proposed development.
YouTube Video Link


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Public Meeting on Pier 7/8 Urban Design Draws Over 200 Residents [Full Replay of Mtg] – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 3, 2016
Over 200 residents attended the public information session on the West Harbour Piers 7 and 8 Urban Design Study which proposes to add 110,000 sq ft of new residential and thousands of more square feet in commercial uses.
The Urban Design Study, unveiled last Wednesday, will be considered by City Council’s West Harbour development sub-committee on Thursday and will be debated by Council’s Planning Committee on May 17.
Monday evening’s public meeting was the only public information session following the release of the study, coming after over a year of public meetings and consultations on the proposed development.
Here’s a key highlight from the meeting when public questions began and a resident asked about the future of the Navy League and Sea Cadets program which is being dislocated in the City plan.


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Special Hamilton Council GIC – Presentation by Hamilton Health Sciences on HHS 20 Year Plan – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 24, 2016
Council is holding a special GIC meeting to hear from Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation on the hospital system’s 20 year plan.
Replay Video


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Ted McMeekin Remarks on LRT at McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 31, 2016
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Ted McMeekin offered opening remarks at the McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics research presentation “Benchmarking, Planning and Promoting Transit-
Oriented Intensification in Rapid Transit Areas”.
The presentation was held on May 31, 2016 at the Hamilton Waterfront Conference Centre.


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Updated: City Gets Insurance Money for 2013 Cash Handling Fraud. Public Still Gets No Answers. – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 7, 2016
The City released a short statement late Monday afternoon (May 9, 2016) saying “The City of Hamilton has been successful in a claim to its insurer for approximately $1 million relating to a loss arising from the mishandling of funds by a former employee in 2013.”
The update provided no further information, and ended “We continue to work with the Hamilton Police Service on this matter.”
Original story from Saturday May, 7, 2016
This week, after the closed session, Council voted to provide a public update. The original motion was to have the update issued Wednesday night. City Manager Chris Murray asked for the motion to read the update be issued “As Soon As Possible” by way of a statement to media.
As of the Saturday evening of this posting, The Public Record (which is not recognized as media by Hamilton City Hall) has not seen any email statement nor have the accredited media mentioned the release of any statement.
A significant part of the fraud involved taking cash rent payments at the Farmers’ Market. The City refuses to provide the amount that was stolen from the Market, nor acknowledge how it happened.
Shane Coleman (no relation), President of the Stallholders Association and now a member of the new Farmers’ Market Board of Directors, has been leading the fight among market tenants to get answers from the City of how much money was taken from the Market, and what the City is doing to recover the funds.
Coleman often expressed frustration at City market practices prior to the revealing of the fraud. City staff preferred to collect tenant rent and short-term rental fees in cash from vendors.
While the City refuses to comment on the matter, it is widely believed by market vendors the fraud involved siphoning those cash funds. The allegations, and their documentation of the concerns prior to the realization of the fraud are shocking.
Shane Coleman spoke with The Public Record last February after getting stonewalled by City Hall. As a member of the market’s Board of Directors, he sought access to the market’s financial records during the time of the suspected fraud. He also sought access to the internal auditors report on the market’s finances that was initiated after the suspected fraud.
He says he was denied access to either document.
Shane Coleman completed and filed a Freedom of Information request for the documents.
The Hamilton Police Service is investigating the fraud. However, as the fraud is not ongoing, the suspect isn’t considered a flight risk, and the suspect is not in a position to commit further fraud, the case is progressing but charges have yet to be laid.
Former Chief of Police Glenn De Caire asked for extra funding to add investigators to the HPS fraud unit, saying the unit was unable to keep with the number and complexity of fraud cases. The City Councillors on the Police Board fought against the budget increase, and Council ratified the police budget that did not add investigators to the fraud unit.
That’s where the case stood a few weeks ago.
That’s a good question, one which should’ve been answered at the end of the Council meeting on Wednesday. If there is a need for a statement, then there is a need for a press conference.
It’s time for the City to do more than give non-answers, it’s time to explain how in 2013, and the decade proceeding, the City of Hamilton was accepting cash payments without the basic accounting safeguards that a small coffee vendor has in place. Even Dickie-Dee knows how much inventory is bought, and how much money should be collected.  There are lemonade stands with accounting ledgers!
It’s was time for answers in 2013, why are we not getting them in 2016?


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City of Hamilton Says $1-Million Fraud Forensic Audit An "Employment-Related Matter", Denies Freedom of Information Request – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 2, 2016
The City of Hamilton’s freedom of information office – rated worst municipal office in Canada – is claiming the forensic audit of resulting from a $1-million plus fraud discovered in 2013 is exempt from freedom of information.
City manager Chris Murray’s office claims the audit is exempt from freedom of information as a “meetings, consultation, discussions or communication about labour relations or employment-related matters in which the institution has an interest”.
Section 52(3) of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act exempts most personal, employment, and labour records from disclosure for primarily privacy reasons.
The City is claiming the forensic audit falls under this protection and denied access to the Hamilton Farmers’ Market Stallholders Association which filed the request.
Since 2013, the City has been coy and evasive about the fraud, avoiding answers on how the $1,052,235.20 fraud was committed, where the missing money was stolen from, and how the City lacked financial controls that allowed for so much money to disappear over a couple of years.
The City claims the fraud was committed solely by one employee, it occurred over the course of several years, and the employee was fired.
Last month, the City stated the City’s insurance will cover the loss. As The Public Record wrote:
It’s time for the City to do more than give non-answers, it’s time to explain how in 2013, and the decade proceeding, the City of Hamilton was accepting cash payments without the basic accounting safeguards that a small coffee vendor has in place. Even Dickie-Dee knows how much inventory is bought, and how much money should be collected.  There are lemonade stands with accounting ledgers!
It’s was time for answers in 2013, why are we not getting them in 2016?
The market stallholders can appeal the City’s claim that the forensic audit is exempt from access to information.
The challenge is that the process is lengthy, costly, and the City of Hamilton stretches out freedom of information battles. The reality is that very few organizations have the ability to fight the commitment of the City to blocking the release of information, with a nearly $2-billion dollar annual budget, the City is easily able to outspend and wait out all but the best resourced of freedom of information filers.
Much as in 2013, we are still without answers in 2016. It doesn’t look like we’ll ever get the truth over how the money was stolen.


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Council Debate Ward Boundaries as Consultant Promises To Release Proposal in June – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 1, 2016
Hamilton City Council, with the exception of Matthew Green, does seem particular keen on completing a 1999 recommendation of the Transition Board to review the City’s 15 ward boundaries.
Council debated the Ward Boundary Review as part of the receipt of a project progress report from consultants.
The consultants states they will be releasing several ward boundary proposals by the end of June.
During a 45 minute question and answer with the consultant from Watson and Associates and Dr. Robert J Williams, Councillors ask how the review is being guided, what are the criteria for new boundaries, and if there is any need to make the changes to the current boundaries..
There was concern about maintaining representation for former municipalities “community of interest” in the jargon of today’s debate.
Ward 12 Councillor Lloyd Ferguson was particularly strong in his remarks, saying the people of Ancaster are happy with the current ward boundaries and their representation as is.
“Two people from Ancaster showed up, others were there but they were from other wards,” Ferguson said. “One goes to everything, one has political aspirations”.
“This means people support the status quo”
Ward 7 Councillor Donna Skelly asked many questions about what is the ideal size of a ward, and concerns about discrepancies in the sizes of ward. She kept to questions.
Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr opened with question about attendance at first round public consultations and asked if people were attending multiple meetings, Are there “ward boundary groupies?” he asked.
Ward 3 Councillor Matthew Green spoke to the need for fair representation by population across the City. He asked what will happen if Council does not adopt changes
“This process begun some time ago by citizens. An agreement was made, perhaps, to hold off and allow things to unfold this term of Council,” he stated. “Given these recommendations come back to Council for approval or not, if we choose not to approve the recommendations, what recourse do residents have to challenge this process and/or the outcomes?”
Dr. Williams stated citizens will have the right to petition Council and then appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board. Just over 500 signatures will be required on the petition to move it to the OMB.
Green said he asked his questions to put on the table “just so that the residents who are watching, people who are still interested in electoral reform and fixing our democratic deficit might be able to take this [to OMB] should we do nothing, it’s always an option for Council to do nothing.”
From OttWatch.ca “If you were a ward boundary review petition, what would you look like?”
Ward 8 Councillor Terry Whitehead responded to Green’s comments with “Context purpose – I want to make it clear that it wasn’t a petition driven by the highest populated ward or the lowest populated ward. The petition was primarily driven by lower city residents”.


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DISCLOSURE: Beasley Neighbourhood Association and Movement to Build John/Rebecca Park – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 9, 2016
A disclosure for readers of The Public Record. I’m active in my neighbourhood association, the Beasley Neighbourhood Association and am involved in the BNA’s initiative to see the implementation of the City’s plan for a park on the City block bound by John, Rebecca, Catharine, and King William.
Following the Club 77 homicide on May 13, 2016, the BNA was approached by residents of the Film Work Lofts for assistance with improving their block. The BNA executive asked me to step up and meet with them.
In response, I suggested numerous strategies for the BNA to pursue. Noting that the City already has a plan to build a park where Club 77 exists, I proposed we call on the City to move forward with those plans and expropriate the block to implement the public good.


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Hamilton Advisory Committee for Persons With Disabilities for June 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 14, 2016
The Hamilton LRT office’s scheduled appearance at the Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities was cancelled.


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Hamilton City Council Audit, Finance, Administration for June 6, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 6, 2016
City Council’s Audit, Finance, and Admin Committee meets to deal with routine reports, and a presentation on energy price hedging.


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Hamilton City Council for June 22, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 22, 2016
City Council meets to ratify their committee work of the past two weeks. Live video starts at 5:00pm


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Hamilton City Council for June 8, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 8, 2016
Hamilton City Council meets to ratify their work of the past two weeks.
Among the highlights: hiring an HSR social media coordinator, escarpment road access rock slope maintenance, denying a development at 271 Beach Boulevard, the City’s vision statement and 10-year strategic plan, lifting heritage designations on the Gore Buildings to allow for a new development, St. Mark’s capital funding, ward boundary review, police officer matching funds from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Service, and a call on the provincial government to restore funding for Intensive Behaviour Intervention for children with autism over the age of five.
Live video starts at 5 p.m.


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Hamilton City Council GIC for June 1, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 1, 2016
Hamilton City Council meets to debate St. Mark’s, Poverty Reduction, Ward Boundary Review, and the Gore Buildings.
Live video at 9:30am


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Hamilton City Council GIC for June 15, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 15, 2016
It’s Super GIC Wednesday at City Council as they decide on the future of Auchmar, Pool Enclosures Bylaw, Mayor’s Intelligent Community Task Force, On-Street Patios Pilot, Postal Banking, Grants Sub-Committee 2015 Grants Decisions, Tobogganing Locations, and the future least at John C Munro Airport.
Live at 9:30am


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Hamilton City Council – Open for Business Committee for June 24, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 24, 2016
Hamilton Council’s Open for Business Committee meets to discuss business licensing, and planning application processes.
Live video at 1:30pm


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Hamilton City Council Planning Committee for June 14, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 14, 2016
Hamilton City Council’s Planning Committee meets to conduct three public hearings on new developments, three housekeeping consent items, and three motions from Councillors.
Live video starts at 9:30am


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Hamilton Committee of Adjustment for June 23, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 20, 2016
Committee of Adjustment will hear 24 applications during their June 23 meeting. Here are a couple which drew the attention of The Public Record.
Full Agenda on the City website.
The City of Hamilton, acting as the developer of the proposed Police Investigative Services Building, is hoping to use the Committee of Adjustment to gain approval of large setbacks for the proposed buildings parking and secure storage areas.
The building has been panned by members of the City’s Design Review Panel. The item was tabled at a May meeting when city planning staff did not recommend approval. (Public Works is the applicant department).
The application is to legalize an existing multiple unit dwelling on Barton between Lottridge and Barnesdale. The building is currently zoning as single family residential. The owner is asking for four units and some commercial on the first floor.
The owner of the property on the northwest corner of Balmoral and Main is asking for variances to permit three residential units on the second floor and a 47-seat restaurant on the first floor. Each one of the dwelling units is proposed to be an average of only 34.8 square metres, wheres the requires dwelling units be at least 65 square metres.
The restaurant proposes to include an outdoor patio.
The building is directly across from the former No Frills and Bright Spot restaurant. It was a 24-hour variety store about a decade ago when the No Frills was Delta Bingo, and sold a lot of bingo dabbers.
With the small apartments, it will be interesting to see the staff comments when they are issued.
The new-ish owners of Treble Hall, Yoke Group, are looking to convert the upper floors of this designated heritage building into 15 dwelling units. The conversion requires five parking spots.
The City’s official position is there is a crisis of parking shortage in the Central Business District.
Expect this variance to be quickly approved. DISCLOSURE: While I’m not an active member of the Beasley Neighbourhood Association, the BNA may request I comment on this file at the hearing on behalf of the BNA.
The owners, Yoke Group, are changing their plans for the property from five stories of commercial to a mixed use building with the first floor commercial and the upper floors containing 24 dwelling units.
The building is directly to the rear of the Royal Connaught complex.
The conversion requires parking spots, which are yet to be defined. As the property contains no area for parking, the owners needs a variance for no parking.
The City’s official position is there is a crisis of parking shortage in the Central Business District.
Expect this variance to be quickly approved. DISCLOSURE: While I’m not an active member of the Beasley Neighbourhood Association, the BNA may request I comment on this file at the hearing on behalf of the BNA.
The former location of the Cheese Shoppe on Locke is being converted into a ground floor restaurant. Variances are required for the existing eight upper-floor residential dwellings and parking.
In May 2014, Spallacci Group was approved to build a five-storey residential building on the northwest corner of Charlton and Wellington. (Video of meeting)
They are seeking minor variances to expand the building footprint onto the adjacent property they own at 253 Charlton, adding a sixth storey for mechanical and roof top amenity spaces, and property line / maneuvering space variances.


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Hamilton Council Emergency and Community Services for June 6, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 6, 2016
Hamilton City Council’s Emergency and Community Services Committee will discuss assisting families with children with autism over than age five – following a provincial decision to limit Intensive Behaviour Intervention to children under age five -, recreation concessions, neighbourhood engagement grants, and more.


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Hamilton Council Public Works Cmte for June 13, 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 13, 2016
Hamilton Council’s Public Works Committee meets to debate a pedestrian crossing for Wentworth Street at the rail trail, governance of the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System, and PRESTO operating agreement.
Live at 9:30am


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Hamilton Council Truck Route Sub-Committee Votes to Change Signage – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 8, 2016
Council’s Truck Route Sub-Committee wants to change the City’s present truck route signage system to add restrictive signing to “proactively work with each ward Councillor to determine problematic truck route violation locations” and place new signs to discourage trucks from leaving truck routes.
Hamilton’s present truck route signage is “permissive” meaning signs tell trucks where they can go, but does not clearly show where they cannot drive.
Ward 6 Councillor Tom Jackson says his residents wish to see restrictive signs to ensure trucks do not leave the City’s truck routes or use the Kenilworth Access.
This proposal was originally scheduled for a vote in early May, but do to a lack of quorum, the meeting was adjourned.


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Hamilton Cycling Committee Agenda for June 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 2, 2016
The Public Record wasn’t able to cover this meeting due to the lengthy standing committee meetings during this week.
The agenda for the June 2016 Hamilton Cycling Committee is available here in the DOCX format provided by the City.


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Hamilton Farmers' Market Corporation AGM (June 8, 2016) – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 8, 2016
Council is meeting as the sole voting member of the Hamilton Farmers’ Market Corporation for the Annual General Meeting as required by the Corporations Act.
The meeting is required to delegate authorities to the Farmers’ Market Board and begins at 1:30 p.m. on June 8, 2016. Live video will be provided by The Public Record.


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Hamilton Farmers' Market Needs Back of House Infrastructure Work: Report – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 5, 2016
A report at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market Corporation AGM informs City Councillors the Market needs work to replace “loading dock lifts, freight elevator, and some of the power transformers.” (Page 3 of agenda package)
These items were not addressed as part of the massive 2009/10 renovation of the Market.
The staff report says the infrastructure work will be proposed as part of the 2017 Capital Budget.


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Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee for June 2016 – Cancelled – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 2, 2016
The City Clerk states in an email to members of the Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee that the June meeting is cancelled.
“After consultation with the Chair and discussion with staff, it has been decided that the June 16 Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee meeting will be cancelled.
The next HMHC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 28 at 12:00 p.m., in Room 264, City Hall.”


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Hamilton Public Library Increases Borrowing and Hold Limits – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 7, 2016
The Hamilton Public Library wants to reach 7-million items circulated per year. In 2015, the HPL circulated 6,473,602 digital and physical items, down from 6,769,703 in 2014.
To reserve this trend, and encourage more use of the library system, the Library Board voted in May to increase the borrowing limit from the present 50 items at a time to 75 at a time, the maximum number of holds from 50 to 75, and allow for up to five renewals of borrowed items when there is no other patron waiting for the item on hold.
The Library Board was told that some library patrons are reaching both the borrow and hold limits, and the collection of the library can accommodate the increased limits.


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Hamilton Rental Housing Sub-Committee for June 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 12, 2016
Hamilton’s Rental Housing sub-committee continues to work on the creation of a rental housing regulation program for Hamilton.
Full video of their June 2016 meeting.


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Hamilton Veterans Committee for June 2016 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 25, 2016
The Veterans’ Committee – which I participate in as a resource (I served three years) – held its June meeting on Tuesday the 21st.
This was the first meeting with new members for the 2014 – 2018 Council term.
Discussions were mostly housekeeping and orientation in nature, with discussions of note on veterans affairs, parking for persons with veterans license plates, and the future of the two Hamilton decoration days.
City Council was divided on free parking for veterans when they approved it last July – creating a series of exemptions for police officers who served with the United Nations, denying them free parking.
A staff report is expected in September and the Veterans’ Committee plans to try again to have the City adopt a no-administration acceptance of all Veteran’s plates.
The City presently holds two “Decoration Days” each year – one at Woodlawn Cemetery in spring and another at Eastlawn Cemetery in August. The Veteran’s Committee will consider a proposal to focus on one ceremony each year – with heavy promotion and a larger budget to increase public turnout to the tradition which “began in Hamilton and the Niagara Peninsula as a way to mark the sacrifice of Canadian Militia members killed during the Battle of Ridgeway during the Fenian Raids.”


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Liberals Increase Ontario Municipal Board Application Fee to $300 from $125 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 20, 2016
The Ontario Liberal government is increasing the application fee for filing to the Ontario Municipal Board to $300 from its present $125 level.
The proposal is in the form of a new Ontario Regulation released last week.
The new fee takes effect on July 1, 2016.
“OMB fees, which are deposited in to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, have remained the same for approximately 25 years. The proposed fee increase to institute a new proceeding would allow the OMB to recover approximately 8% of operating costs, up from 3% at present.”, the government states.


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List of Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and City of Hamilton Shared Properties – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 2, 2016
A useful list of properties shared by the public school board and City including information about acreage, facilities, and use agreements.
Provided by the City of Hamilton on June 1, 2016 in PDF format.


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Mississauga Councillors Not Happy About Campaign Finance Reforms – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 22, 2016
An interesting read from Metroland’s Mississauga operation on Mayor Bonnie Crombie’s reaction to banning corporate and union donations to municipal political candidates.
The short, Crombie want’s the province to provide assistance to municipal candidates to ‘recoup income lost’.