Dear Neighbour,

Happy Halloween! This year, you are encouraged to stay home and find creative ways to celebrate. As you finalize your plans for fun tomorrow, check out these great tips to keep safe. Remember to keep your 2 meter distance, wear a mask and wash your hands.

It has been a busy few weeks at committee meetings and Council. Quick recap: we lost the Urban Hens motion, we received confirmation of federal and provincial funds we can put towards much needed housing and infrastructure across the city, and kicked off the 2021 City budget cycle.

Last night, my office hosted the first of four Community Safety & Wellbeing Meetings focused on street safety. We provided an overview of the Ward 3 Vision Zero and Complete Streets review and discussed next steps to reduce speeding on our streets and make them safer for those who walk, roll and ride them. The meeting was well attended and neighbours asked important questions of myself, my team and our City Staff in Traffic Engineering and Roadway Safety. We will be posting the video soon along with a FAQ sheet and the resources shared in the meeting to each social media platform and the website next week.

We look forward to connecting with many more of you on November 26th for the virtual community meeting focused on Emergency Services and Public Health. To learn more and to register, click here.

Please scroll down in this email to access other important updates on the King St Corridor demolitions, the closing of Emerald Lodge, details on new funding, more safe needle disposal, and opportunities for you to engage on key policies impacting Hamilton.

Yours in Community,

Nrinder Nann
Ward 3 City Councillor

Federal Housing Funds

The federal government is offering $10.8 million for “rapid housing” efforts in Hamilton amid a homelessness crisis.

Housing providers can apply for cash to convert buildings into multi-residential units, rehabilitate abandoned buildings or develop “modular” rentals — just so long as they do it within 12 months.

The City will support any project which can maximize the use of federal funding to add much needed new units in the middle of a housing crisis that has also left hundreds of our neighbours houseless.

Today, I received an exciting update from the Hamilton is Home Coalition on phase one plans to deliver over 900 affordable units by the end of 2021

Emerald Lodge

Many Stinson neighbours have expressed concerns for the safety and well-being of residents of Emerald Lodge. This past week, the City has responded to a deteriorating situation at Emerald Lodge Residential Care Facility (RCF).

Last Friday afternoon, the City initiated an orderly and safe relocation of Emerald Lodge residents. The former residents were relocated to the temporary shelter at the former Cathedral Boys Secondary School. I am happy to share that the City rehoused 20 residents, while others received much needed medical attention. Twelve remain in transition, safely cared for, while appropriate and permanent housing solutions are secured for them.

The City has arranged for 24/7 security (paid for by the Receiver) at Emerald Lodge as the facility is now closed. They will direct anyone who comes to the Lodge who identifies as a resident to the Temporary Emergency Shelter for further information.

The Receiver is in the process of arranging for the broken windows to be boarded up to deter individuals from accessing the building. We will share regular updates on this file.

King Street Corridor Update - Demolition & Community Benefits

My Office met with Metrolinx Staff on Wednesday to gain a better understanding of the upcoming demolitions.

Metrolinx applied for several demolition permits this week and pending approval, demolition will begin in mid-November.

While the schedule has not been confirmed, the properties will not necessarily be demolished in the order in which the permits are approved.

We stressed that Ward 3 residents expect and deserve a schedule of demolitions with enough notice to prepare for any possible inconvenience.

Metrolinx has assured us that residents will have this once their schedule is set. They will also be updating stakeholders such as school boards, neighbourhood associations and my office.

As follow up to the motion I tabled and was passed with full Council support last month to identify which properties may be suitable for temporary and future housing, City staff will begin a detailed assessment of properties with Metrolinx. I will share another update after the next briefing with the company.

We have since met with the Hamilton Community Benefits Network about opportunities for temporary greening, art and social infrastructure along the corridor. It is my hope that Metrolinx will agree to work with my office to ensure that the corridor becomes a place that residents can enjoy.

Link to the newest Metrolinx blog post and frequently asked questions

Should you have further questions about the upcoming demolitions, please email hamilton@metrolinx.com and cc’ Ward3@Hamilton.ca

Safe Needle Disposal Sites in Parks - New Locations in Ward 3

The City’s Public Health Department continues to monitor the success of the safe sharps disposal bins in parks across Wards 2 and 3. There has been little vandalism and the bins are well-used. This continues to be an effective part of our harm reduction work which protects all using our parks and provides a dignified, safe, ‘no questions’ location for disposal.

Our office has received many positive messages regarding the bins from the community and the demand for more bins is encouraging. Thank you to the residents who have shared locations which would benefit from a disposal bin. We have advocated for these new locations:

Lucy Day Park, 33 Clinton St.
Gage Park, west side of the Children’s Museum, south of the Bike Rack
Escarpment Rail Trail – Off Wentworth St S.
Cathedral Shelter – 378 Main St E

You can expect to see them before the end of the calendar year. Should you come across any sharps paraphernalia, please call 905-546-2489 to have the City remove the item(s) safely.

Opportunities for Engagement
To participate in one of the surveys, or attend a virtual meeting through Engage Hamilton, please click on the title(s) which interest you.

Secondary Dwelling Units
The City is developing new Zoning By-law regulations for residential areas to enable Second Dwelling Units (SDUs) in communities across Hamilton. Secondary suites are part of the spectrum of affordable rental housing solutions we need more of to address our housing crisis.

A second dwelling unit is a separate and self-contained dwelling unit that is accessory to and located on the same lot as the main house. It can be physically located within the principal dwelling or located within an accessory building to the principal dwelling.

Certain regulations are required to ensure neighbourhood compatibility, minimize neighbourhood impact, maintain privacy as well as address safety and environmental issues.

If you are interested in adding a SDU to your current home, this survey is key for you. The survey gathers your thoughts on the proposed regulation for three different types of SDUs. Before you answer the survey please take a look at the brochure, the various options that were considered or the Discussion Paper.

Economic Development Action Plan
The City of Hamilton’s Economic Development Division and Tourism & Culture Division are working together to create the City’s 2021-2025 Economic Development Action Plan (EDAP).

Resident input is a cruciall part of the development of this updated Action Plan. Your responses will help City staff to consider the opportunities and unique challenges that residents are facing in order to provide current insights on the types of initiatives and activities we can undertake over the next five years to provide value to the community and attract new businesses to Hamilton.

Covid-19 Public Engagement
Although in-person public engagement activities are currently on hold, the City of Hamilton is committed to seeking feedback from the community, and will resume face-to-face public engagement when it is safe to do so.

Celebrating Halloween in Hamilton

The City of Hamilton is encouraging residents to stay home and celebrate Halloween in different ways this year. Avoid attending parties/gatherings with others who live outside your household to limit the spread of COVID-19.

If you are handing out treats this year, follow Public Health measures to stay safe:

Properly wear a medical mask
Use tongs to hand out candy and set up outdoors.
Hand out only pre-portioned treats and use tongs.
Wash or sanitize hands frequently.
Stay 2 metres away from trick-or-treaters.
Build a candy slide, candy catapult or other fun, non-touch delivery methods.

If you are trick-or-treating this year, follow Public Health measures to stay safe:

Trick-or-Treat only with those you live with
Only trick-or-treat outside.
Wash hands before eating candy.
Choose a costume that allows a non-medical mask to be worn underneath and that allows you to easily wash your hands.
Wash your hands before and after trick or treating and bring hand sanitizer with you.
Avoid touching doorbells or railings, knock instead of using doorbells, use hand sanitizer after touching surfaces.
Line up 2 metres apart if waiting for treats.
Outline a plan for older kids, trick-or-treating without parents for the above
Remember the usual Halloween safety tips – dress for the weather, wear reflectors, watch for traffic, and check treats before eating

Halloween at Home, Housing Updates & Engagement Opportunities