Safer Streets Progress Updates, Woodlands Spray Pad Final Design, Office Pop-Ups in August & more
Dear Neighbour,
Like many of you, I saw the disturbing video of a man making hateful remarks towards 2SLGBTQ+ people, racialized residents, and a woman while riding on an HSR bus near Gage Park. He made threats and continually harassed passengers before exiting the bus.
The individual has now been arrested and he has been charged with assault and uttering threats. It is important to remember you can turn to the Hamilton Anti Racism Resource Centre, Hamilton Community Legal Clinic and the Canadian Anti-Hate Network for support and assistance in incidents like this.
We must keep vigilant in our efforts to foster belonging and justice - because all our neighbours deserve to feel safer in Hamilton.
Next week is another packed week of concentrated Council and Committee meetings. Much like July, there will be many updates to follow in the next e-newsletter. This newsletter includes Monkeypox and COVID-19 vaccination resources, Ward 3-specific and City-wide updates, and tons of opportunities to get involved in our community this August.
The Ward 3 Office Pop-Up schedule for August is now confirmed. Please see the Ward 3 updates section of this newsletter for the list of locations, and save the dates to join us at any of these opportunities to connect in person on city services, and other issues that matter to #OurWard3.
Yours in Community,
Councillor Nrinder Nann
Automated Speed Enforcement Expansion
The City is preparing to expand Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) as a tool to address speeding and improve roadway safety enhancements on Main Street and King Street along Wards 1, 2 and 3. Once approved by Public Works Committee next week, it would result in early 2023 implementation.
ASE is an automated system that uses a camera and a speed measurement device to help enforce speed limits in school zones and community safety zones. If a vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit in an ASE-enforced area, the ASE system captures an image that is stored and reviewed by a Provincial Offences Officer. The ticket, which contains a digitized copy of the image and an enlargement of the plate portion, is mailed to the registered plate holder.
This technology can only capture so many lanes of traffic, which is why we have not been able to apply it to date on Main and King Street. Now that Main and King streets will see lane reductions as part of the current phase of immediate safety enhancements, it will now be technically applicable for ASE use. This is a major win to address excessive speeding and ensuring that drivers are held accountable for speeding.
ASE has also now been deployed at Victoria Avenue, from Charlton Avenue East to Wilson Street as previously approved as part of the City’s Community Safety Zones work.
Flooding and Drainage Improvement Framework
It is well known that the City has a massive infrastructure deficit, requiring some major investment strategies to tackle. At Public Works, City staff will be presenting a 10 to 20 year strategy for improving flooding and drainage in the combined sewer system in Hamilton. The current sewer system is woefully out of date and strained, and this report aims to address it.
Recommended strategies include:
- Managed sewer separation, an effort to build separated storm sewer infrastructure within the Combined Sewer System (CSS) where it does not currently exist today.
- Connecting that new infrastructure to existing or new storm sewer outlets, conveying storm water flow to the natural environment and reducing inflow to the existing combined sewers.
- Increasing sewer system service to the community through sewer rehabilitation, underground storage, major system conveyance improvements, inlet controls, green infrastructure, and private property measures.
- New trunk sewer opportunities have also been proposed as options to help increase City sewer capacity.
The completed assessment has recommended a significant capital investment and infrastructure program that carries an estimated 10-year cost of $367M, a 20+ year cost of $404M, for a total program value exceeding $1B.
Council & Committee Schedule – Week of August 3 – 12
Check out the published meeting agendas for the Council & Committee meetings being held this week and next. Please note, agendas can change, and often you will find revised agendas prior to the meeting. Council will be held on August 12th to ratify the decisions of standing committee.
• August 4 – General Issues Committee
• August 8 – General Issues Committee
• August 9 – Planning Committee
• August 10 – Board of Health
• August 11 – Public Works
• August 11 – Emergency & Community Services Committee
• August 11 – Audit, Finance & Administration Committee
2022 Municipal Election – October 24, 2022
Hamilton's next municipal election is October 24, 2022. To find out if you are eligible to vote and to see the many options available this time around, visit the City's Municipal Election Voters page.
To find out who is running for councillor, mayor, and trustee, visit the Nominated Candidates page.
Monkeypox Virus & Vaccination
Monkeypox is a rare viral disease. It can cause fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes and tiredness. About 1 to 3 days after these symptoms a rash can develop. It is usually spread by very close contact with someone who has Monkeypox. Most people recover from Monkeypox on their own within 2 to 4 weeks. However, some people can get seriously sick.
Anyone can get Monkeypox. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) the risk of infection is low for the general population. Monkeypox typically does not spread easily between individuals. When spread does occur it is most often through contact with body fluids from an infected person. Most transmission of Monkeypox in Canada has occurred between close contacts like intimate partners or household members.
For information on vaccine eligibility, and upcoming Monkeypox vaccine clinics, please visit here. Please note that all Monkeypox vaccine clinics are appointment only.
COVID-19 Vaccination Availability
It is strongly recommended that immunocompromised individuals 18+ and other previously eligible and high-risk individuals, receive their fourth dose of vaccine if they have not already.
This includes:
• Individuals aged 60+;
• First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18+; and
• Residents of local long-term care homes, retirement homes, or an Elder Care Lodge and older adults living in other congregate settings that provide assisted-living and health services
COVID-19 vaccines are available for young children aged six months to under five years. Parents and caregivers of this population are able to book appointments for their young children as of this date.
You can book a vaccine appointment online if you:
• Have an Ontario health card (green photo health card OR red and white health card)
• Have an email address OR a cell phone that can receive SMS messages (texts)
If you do not have access to online booking, call the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7 to book an appointment. Translation services are available by phone.
Vaccine Access
For a full list of vaccine clinics across the City, please see here: https://www.hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.
Additionally, residents are also encouraged to check with local pharmacies who are offering COVID-19 vaccinations.
Phase 1 - Ward 3 Complete Streets Implementation Plan
The first round of roadway safety enhancements reported in the Ward 3 Complete Streets Report will be implemented this fall. This will include speed hump installation in the streets listed below. Staff are completing a detailed field review of the following locations this week to confirm feasibility of speed cushions.
• Smith Ave from Barton St E to Cannon St E
• Belmont Ave from King St E to Dunsmure Rd
• West Ave N from Barton to King William
• Lottridge St from King St E to Rosemont Ave
• Lottridge St from Beachwood Ave to Clinton St
• Rosslyn Ave N from Roxborough Ave to Barton St E
• Emerald St N from Cannon St E to Barton St E
• Emerald St S from Stinson St to Main St E
• Balmoral Ave N from Barton St E to Cannon St E
• Balmoral Ave S from Maple to Montclair Ave
• Glendale Ave N from King St E to Barton St E
• Holton Ave from Main St E to King St E
• East Ave S from Stinson St to Main St E
All adjacent residents will receive a notice in your mailbox when the installation will take place. Should you have any questions, please contact Brad Wyllie, Project Manager (Acting) – Roadway Safety, at 905-546-2424 ext. 1713 or brad.wyllie@hamilton.ca.
Woodlands Park Spray Pad – Final Design Update
The Woodlands Park Spray Pad project page has now been updated to include the much anticipated final design. The second Public Information Centre presentation includes survey results, final design renderings, construction timelines, and more. Please visit the updated project page here to learn more.
Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups – August Schedule
The Ward 3 Office is continuing to “pop up” all over #OurWard3 this month in our ongoing effort to reach residents where they are. Please save the dates below and join the Ward 3 Office Team to connect one-on-one, have your needs around municipal services addressed, and to discuss City issues.
Below are the confirmed dates, times, and locations for the Ward 3 Office Pop-Ups for August:
• Tuesday, August 9 – 6:30-8:30 pm - Lucy Day Park (33 Clinton St)
• Wednesday, August 17 – 1-3 pm - First Place (360 King St E), outside on mezzanine level
• Wednesday, August 24 – 1-3 pm - Myrtle Park (13 Delaware Ave)
• Wednesday, August 31 – 1-3 pm - Powell Park (53 Birch Ave)
Reminder to neighbours that many issues require consultation with City Staff, so we may not be able to bring everything to immediate resolution. Where that is the case, we will be sure to follow up and keep you in the loop as we work toward getting you the answers and support you need.
In order to assist you best during our pop-ups, please be prepared to to follow these Terms of Engagement:
• Please wear a mask, respect distancing and COVID safety
• To receive support, be prepared to provide your name, address and contact information
• Read and follow our Community Standards and Guidelines
• Each appointment with Councillor Nann and/or staff is limited to 15 minutes
• In order to maintain privacy with residents, we will ask folks waiting to sign up on the sign-in sheet to be called upon when it is your turn.
Please help spread the word about the schedule above. We look forward to connecting with you soon.
Major Arterial Roads Updates
I want to provide residents with a progress update on safety enhancements being implemented on Main and King Streets as a result of a motion Councillor Wilson and I brought forward.
You will have noticed some of those already implemented in early July included no right turn on red and painting crosswalk ladders. More is underway now, through to the end of summer. Here is the list of safety enhancements and locations they have been installed.
The approved conversion of Main Street from one-way to two-way operations requires the development of an implementation plan that will integrate a redesign that integrates guidelines from the Complete Streets Manual. It will ultimately enable safe use for all road users, and incorporate a climate change lens by considering additions such as urban trees and permeable surfaces in the planning process.
To keep up to date on these efforts, please visit the project website here.
JC Beemer Park – Wading Pool and Supie Program
The interest in programming at JC Beemer Park has been low this year. We want to help spread the word about the many things that this park offers, so more families can take advantage of it. These facilities are open from now until August 26.
• Wading Pool: Open Daily – 12 pm (noon) - 4 pm. It is a free, supervised, shallow pool for young children to splash around and enjoy. Please be advised that parent supervision is also required.
• Supie Program: Open Monday - Friday – 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
The Supie Program is free recreation programming that includes games and crafts for children. No registration is required for this. Please be advised that Supie staff do not replace parental supervision.
Help spread the word among neighbours. We really appreciate your assistance in helping to bring more families out to this great community asset and programming.
Operation Backpack 2022 – Fundraising for Back to School Supplies
With the rising costs for basic living expenses, too many families are being left behind across our neighbourhoods. Too many children will start school next year without the supplies they need to function well at school.
The Hamilton Steelworker’s Area Council is doing another backpack drive this year, where they purchase backpacks and fill them with supplies for children and families in need. This year, they are ordering 2000 packs and supplies. For many of the kids, these are the only new things they will have when they go back to school.
To donate, please visit here, or send an e-transfer to hamiltonsteel@live.com.
Depave Barton – Virtual Information & Engagement Session – August 10
Join Green Venture, the Barton Village BIA, and the GALA Community Planning Team on August 10th from 7 pm to 8:30 pm for a virtual information and engagement session.
This meeting will be a discussion about completed, in-progress and future projects, that will also give residents a chance to help identify spaces in the Barton Village community that would benefit from depaving, and share what you think would make for the most impactful Boulevards.
Register here to attend the webinar. And, to learn more about the Depave Paradise program, please visit here.
Art in the Park(ing) Lot – Every Tuesday in August
Each Tuesday in August, from 1 pm to 3 pm, the Crown Point Community Church hosts a craft afternoon for folks of all ages in the church parking lot (92 Ottawa Street North). All materials are provided, and all are welcome to craft!
For more information, please visit here.
Kitchen Garden Education Sessions – August 13
The Children’s Garden has partnered with Dundurn National Historic Site to facilitate a free one-hour education session on Saturday, August 13, beginning at 10 am. Registration is required, and space is limited. For more information, and to register, please visit here.
Movies in the Park – August 13
All neighbours are welcome to join another free Movies in the Park event on Saturday, August 13th. Big thanks to Barton Village BIA and Playhouse Cinemas who have partnered to bring community together and enjoy a family-friendly movie in Woodlands Park (501 Barton St. E). Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory will be the feature movie next Saturday, at 8 pm until 11 pm. For more information, and to find out what the next upcoming movie will be, please visit here.