Vacant Homes Tax, Complete Streets Report, Ward 3 Pop-Ups, COVID-19 Update & more
Dear Neighbour,
We have a lot to celebrate and learn this month as June is National Indigenous History Month, Seniors Month, and Pride Month. Here are the links to get more details about each:
• National Indigenous History Month
• Seniors Month
• Pride Month
For Pride this year, I would like to encourage you to help foster belonging for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community by participating in Hamilton Porch Pride and decorating your porch, front yard, door or windows in support, solidarity and celebration of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. I hope to see more and more visible solidarity on proud display across #OurWard3 this month. Encourage your neighbours to participate and cover your block in inclusive rainbows that include: black, brown, pink, light blue, white and more! For more information on Hamilton Porch Pride 2022, please visit the event on Facebook.
A big shout out to the Barton Village BIA for all your work in bringing back the street fest this year. It was so lovely to be back outside together again connecting with so many residents, vendors, artists and local businesses on Saturday.
Last Tuesday’s Coffee With Your Councillor, I was joined by Jessica Chase, Director of Children’s and Community Services, and Brenda Bax, Manager in Children’s and Community Services to discuss the Canada-wide Early Learning and Childcare Agreement. Thank you to everyone who engaged through the social media comments during the discussion. To learn more on how the $10 day childcare program will likely roll out, timeline updates, and hear the answers to neighbours’ questions, you can watch the video here, and visit here for more information.
Yours in Community,
Councillor Nrinder Nann
Eliminating the $100 Fee for Integrity Commissioner Complaints
The Ontario Ombudsperson’s Office wrote to Council earlier this year stating that the $100 fee to file a complaint is a barrier. I advocated to eliminate the fee at that meeting, but the remainder of Council preferred to have the Governance Review Sub Committee review the issue. The committee agreed that the fee may penalize complainants from exercising their statutory rights, and may prevent legitimate complaints about a sitting City Councillor for violations of the Code of Conduct from being brought forward due to concerns about financial cost. And as such, at Council last week, the majority voted to eliminate it. It no longer will cost $100 to file a complaint with the Integrity Commissioner.
Vacant Homes Tax
I am proud to announce that Council has finally ratified the Vacant Homes Tax! After tabling it in the 2019 budget process, it took a few years to thoroughly educate Council and the public on this housing initiative and tax policy. Reminder, this is about getting vacant homes occupied and taxing those that remain vacant. It is a cost recovery model of implementation, meaning no tax levy dollars are required to get this program going. A final implementation plan will be reported to Council with annual reports thereafter.
For more details on the program, check out the staff report.
Condo Conversion – Protecting Rental Units Policy
At the last Planning Committee, Staff presented a report looking at how we may better protect rental units facing condo conversion. Council approved for Staff to consult with stakeholders and the public on the proposed Official Plan Amendment relating to policies about conversion of rental housing to condominium tenure and demolition of rental housing. As well as, how to better regulate the demolition and conversion of rental housing in the City of Hamilton.
Staff will report back to Planning Committee with final recommendations on the Official Plan Amendment and the Municipal Act By-law, with any modifications based on the results of the stakeholder and public consultation. We will share when the consultation process is underway.
Ward 3 Complete Streets Report – Investing in Implementation
In order to enable Staff to implement some of the recommendations to help reduce speed and make our neighbourhoood roads safer this year, I allocated $450,000 of Ward 3 discretionary capital funds. This was ratified at Council last week. To learn more about the proposed solutions, please join my office for a virtual community consultation on June 23rd at 6:30 pm and provide your input. Register by emailing ward3@hamilton.ca.
Community Meeting – With Staff from Tim Hortons Field – June 21
A community meeting has been booked for residents and representatives from Tim Hortons FIeld, as an opportunity to listen to local neighbours’ concerns in order to best address them. Neighbours are encouraged to join us virtually on June 21 from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. Please email our office for the Zoom registration link, at ward3@hamilton.ca.
We have heard from neighbours of Tim Hortons Field that they have some concerns about the stadium, including light and noise pollution, parking and security during events, and garbage issues. We have raised them with Staff, but also want to give residents an opportunity to voice their concerns.
Please reach out to our office if you have any questions, or are unable to attend the meeting but would like your concerns to be heard, and if you are able to help drop some flyers to ensure word gets to our residents who are not on social media. If you are unable to attend, a recording of the community meeting will be available afterward.
Ward 3 Complete Streets Review – Community Consultation – June 23
Please save the date to join us on Thursday, June 23 from 6:30 pm to 8 pm for a virtual community meeting to review the Ward 3 Complete Streets Report. The staff presentation will include recommendations from community-informed areas of concern and traffic studies.
Residents will have an opportunity to provide input on potential design interventions to enhance safety and reduce speed. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.
For more information and to register in advance, please email our office at ward3@hamilton.ca.
Ward 3 Office Community Pop Ups – June & July Schedule
The Ward 3 office is holding Office Pop-Ups throughout June and July. These Pop-Ups are an opportunity to connect one-on-one with neighbours in #OurWard3. Our objective with this roaming casework initiative is to listen to the issues that matter most to you and identify the next steps to help address them.
Please see below for the confirmed dates, times, and locations of each Pop Up.
• Friday, June 17 – 1-3 pm
30 Sanford Avenue South (Gazebo outside)
• Thursday, June 30 – 1-3 pm
St. Matthew’s House “Box” (414 Barton Street East)
• Tuesday, July 12 – 1-3 pm
430 Cumberland Avenue
• Thursday, July 14 – 6:30-8:30 pm
JC Beemer (68 Victoria Avenue North)
• Tuesday, July 19 – 1-3 pm
St. Matthew’s House “Box” (414 Barton Street East)
• Tuesday, July 26 – 1-3 pm
Bishop’s Park (91 East Avenue South)
Please note 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.
Please make sure to keep your mask on when you come by. And help get the word out to our neighbours without Internet access.
50% Discounted HSR Summer Youth Fares – June 1 to August 31
This summer, youth between the ages of 13 and 19 using PRESTO will ride for half the price, beginning June 1 and ending August 31, 2022. This means youth can travel as much as they’d like for only $8.40 per week! The 50% discount will automatically apply to single rides and monthly passes when using a PRESTO card set for a youth concession. School or government-issued ID will be required. The summer youth fare is a great opportunity for youth who are working a summer job, taking summer school or getting back out into the city for summer events and activities.
As well, residents using a PRESTO card will earn free fare faster with HSR’s enhanced loyalty program. Enjoy free fare after eight rides per week until December 31, 2022. HSR is conscious of the pinch that young families in our community are feeling, so children ages 6-12 using a PRESTO card ride free until April 30, 2023. Visit any HPL branch and show your child’s library card to get a free child’s PRESTO card while quantities last.
Please visit hamilton.ca/ReadyToRide and hpl.ca/bus-card for more information.
Norman Pinky Lewis Pool – Reopened June 9
The pool at Norman Pinky Lewis Recreation Centre has reopened as of Thursday June 9, for all regular scheduled drop in and registered swim programs. The pool closed on May 25, due to flashing falling from the ceiling onto the deck of both pools. All drop in and registered pool programming were cancelled while the repairs were being made. This work has now been completed.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to recreation@hamilton.ca.
Volunteer at Hamilton Recreation Centres
The City of Hamilton Recreation division is now accepting applications for various volunteer positions in recreation facilities across the City. Hamilton’s Recreation division offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals who would like hands-on experience supporting swimming lessons, dryland registered programs, camps, and program logistics to work towards future employment. To learn more, register for an information session on June 16 at www.hamilton.ca/recjobs.
New Truck Route Comment Period – Ends June 17
I want to remind neighbours that the new truck route network map and Report are available for public review and input now until June 17. Residents can provide written comments to Omar Shams, Project Manager, Transportation Planning, at transportation@hamilton.ca. If you would like to review the documents and comment in person, please see here for the list of locations.
For further details, and to learn more about the objectives of the Truck Route Master Plan Review, please visit here.
Open Streets: Temporary Linear Urban Park – Survey Open Until June 23
The City of Hamilton is seeking public input on an Open Streets pilot project through a survey, open to take until June 23. This project would turn King Street into a Temporary Urban Linear Park from Gage Park to Gore Park.
On one weekend day this fall, four kilometres of linear roadway space would be transformed into additional public space that could be used for cycling, physical activity stations and small urban activations. This project is being conducted as a pilot, and if determined a success, could move forward with additional dates in 2023.
Your input will help the City of Hamilton understand the interest in this project from local residents, and to help guide the final design of the project. City staff expect to bring a draft recommendation to City Council in August with more project specifics based on consultation. To take the survey, please see here. For more information on the project, please see here.
At Board of Health on Monday, Staff presented the most recent gathered COVID-19 data. The data stated that COVID-19 transmission in Hamilton is decreasing. As well, the number of reported cases, individuals tested, percent positivity, active outbreaks and wastewater signal, all continue to decrease. Case activity is now lower than what was seen between the most recent two waves (February 2022). In terms of severity indicators, hospitalizations are decreasing overall, and ICU admissions and fatalities remain stable and low. These numbers, however, are not lower than pre-Omicron levels. Hamilton’s COVID-19 forecast predicts a 7th wave in Fall 2022 due to waning immunity and the potential for increased transmission.
Hamilton Public Health Services strongly recommends wearing a well-fitting mask indoors, especially when it’s crowded. Vaccination remains the most important way to protect against COVID-19 and its health effects. It is important to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccination by receiving all eligible doses.
Vaccination Availability
Fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are available for those age 60 and older and First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over, 5 months (140 days) after their previous booster dose. Fourth doses are available by appointment only.
You can book your 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.
Individuals age 30 and over will be offered the Moderna vaccine when arriving at a vaccine clinic; however individuals can request to receive the Pfizer vaccine. Pfizer vaccine will continue to be offered to those under the age of 30.
Vaccine Clinics
For a full list of clinics across the City, please see here: https://www.hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.