Public Delegations, Engagement Opportunities, Victoria Cycling Project and more
Dear Neighbour,
As many pause to remember the sacrifice of loved ones and the toll of war, I reflect on what a veteran of WW2 once told my school, “Remember so it does not happen again. Devote yourselves to peace.”
Thank you to the over 150 people who applied for the Resident Liaison & Admin Assistant position. It is inspiring to know that many people want to make a difference in the lives of our neighbours here in #OurWard3. I’ll be conducting interviews this week and next with the help of the city’s HR team with the hopes of having our new team member onboard by Dec 1st.
In this week’s update: Public Delegations, status of the Urban Boundary debate, Integrity Commissioner’s Report Recommendations, Engagement Opportunities, Victoria Cycling Project, and our Community Standards and Guidelines.
Yours in community,
Nrinder Nann
Budget Delegations
This week, Council heard from 29 of delegates, including 5 video delegations and 3 official correspondences in advance of the 2022 budget on the topics of: a just and equitable recovery, the need for housing solutions and supports for the unhoused, living wage for students and other city workers, and the necessity to integrate a climate lens to all major investments to deliver real outcomes.
The next public delegation day is February 7th. Please see the full schedule for the 2022 budget here.
Urban Boundary Update
On Tuesday, Council heard from over 700 written correspondences, 49 delegates and 30 videos. General Issues Committee recessed after 13 hours and will resume the meeting on November 19th. The decisions will be ratified immediately following a Special Council meeting on the same day.
Residents, farmers, urban planners, environmentalists all put forward a compelling case for what will be the most important decision guiding how our City grows over the next 30 years and the type of housing we will facilitate into the future.
A key takeaway for me came from Phil Pothen’s delegation, stating that should Hamilton plan to accommodate the projected population growth with market-based demands for types of housing within our existing urban boundary we would be within the provincial requirements. The key in delivering this would require the city to change our residential zoning by-laws that currently prevent middle and higher density housing from being built in Hamilton now.
Land planning and growth policies in the province were designed to obligate municipalities to plan well within their boundaries, maximize intensification, preserve agricultural and natural lands before expanding out.
Integrity Commissioner’s Recommendation Report on Code of Conduct Complaint against Councillor Terry Whitehead
“When there is silence around the table, ...it speaks volumes more than merely enabling... bad behaviour, it condones and encourages it.”
This sentence in the IC Report is an alarm bell for all of Council - it is a description of the toxic culture and practices that have enabled harm and gone unchecked for far too long. Bullying, harassment, intimidation are all forms of violence. And it is a shame that it took an employee to file the complaint to have this thoroughly named and addressed.
When people act with courage to report harassment, they are taking a stand not only for their own humanity and dignity but for anyone who has also endured a similar situation. It models that it is okay to demand accountability and action throughout the organization, and acts as a beacon of light into each neighbourhood across the City.
At Council yesterday, I took the opportunity to say “To the residents of Hamilton, all City staff and colleagues, you all deserve better from this Council. No one should ever have to experience being treated in this egregious way by any elected member of City Council. The expectation moving forward is for all members of this Council to speak up and stop it.”
I want you to know, you can count on me to uphold the Code of Conduct and foster a healthy environment that enables democratic participation for our residents, even if I don’t agree with you. You can count on me to facilitate a supportive environment for City staff to bring their subject matter expertise and offer their professional opinion. May this report and its aftermath signal a new day and the end of a disgraceful era.
To the City staff who brought forward the complaint, your leadership and courage helps ensure public confidence that the City’s elected representatives operate from a base of integrity, transparency, justice and courtesy.
Woodlands Park Community Design Meeting in December
The Woodlands Park Spray Pad design options will be presented at a Public Information Centre meeting on December 7th, 2021. The purpose of this meeting is to introduce the design options created as a result of the survey responses and gather additional feedback.
Registration details coming soon. Head to the Engage Hamilton website for more information.
HSR’s Annual Transit Accessibility Public Event - Virtual Public Forum
The HSR is holding the Annual Transit Accessibility Virtual Public Forum. Please see below for key dates:
Initial consultation - Feedback gathering: November 8-26
Online: engage.hamilton.ca
Email: ats@hamilton.ca (subject line: AODA Accessibility Event)
By mail: Attn: AODA Accessibility Event, 2200 Upper James St., PO Box 340, Mount Hope, ON L0R 1W0 (arriving no later than November 26, 2021)
In-person: Fill out a comment card or survey at the HSR Customer Service Centre, Hamilton GO Centre, 36 Hunter St. E., or at any Municipal Service Centre
HSR video response and update: Date: December 1st, 4 PM (EST). Watch via the City of Hamilton’s YouTube channel.
Summary of feedback and next steps presented to ACPD: January 2022
City of Hamilton Voter Experience Survey
With the 2022 municipal election less than a year away, the City of Hamilton is inviting residents to take a short survey to understand barriers facing voters so they may be addressed prior to the election.
Community members can take the survey online via the link above or by visiting one of the City’s Municipal Service Centres or branches of the Hamilton Public Library to complete a survey in person.
In addition to the survey, residents are also welcome to suggest polling station locations in the city.
For more information on the Municipal Election see here.
Victoria Ave Cycling Project is underway!
The City has begun installing bi-directional bicycle lanes (also referred to as a cycle track) on the east side of Victoria Ave between the CN rail tracks (beside Hamilton General Hospital) southerly to Cannon St. A barrier of flex posts, and precast concrete curbs will provide extra comfort for cyclists adjacent to auto traffic. Crews have been posting signs, and marking where bicycle lanes will be painted. There should be minimal disruption to residents, and businesses along this stretch of Victoria Ave while the cycle track is installed. The installation is planned to be complete by late November.
Please see more details here:
Recycling & Garbage:
Please continue to place your garbage, green bin, and blue box at the existing curb for weekly collection. Do not place items in the cycle track. Regard the cycle track as an active lane of traffic – for bicycles only.
Street Sweeping & Snow Clearing:
The City will continue to clean the street and salt and plow the street in the winter as usual. The cycle track will also be swept, salted, and plowed by City services.
HSR customers & ATS/ DARTS clients:
At HSR stops, the cycle track will incline to a raised platform that’s level with the sidewalk. Cyclists will cross over this platform. The raised platform enables transit users, including those who use a personal mobility device, to easily board transit vehicles. When your transit vehicle is arriving, wait on the sidewalk until the vehicle has fully stopped. It will stop on the other side of the cycle track at the edge of the raised platform. Transit users boarding or alighting do have the right-of-way, but still look both ways for approaching cyclists before crossing the cycle track to board the vehicle.
As a temporary condition, until the raised platforms can be constructed, transit vehicles will pull into a yellow hatched area and continue to service passengers from the existing curb and sidewalk. Signage will be posted for cyclists to stop where designated when a transit vehicle is approaching or pulled into the yellow-hatched temporary transit stop within the new cycle track.
Vehicle Access:
Existing driveways along the cycle track will be maintained. With the cycle track installed, please be aware to give right-of-way to cyclists in both directions when turning into OR exiting driveways.
Parking & Taxi Services:
On-street parking will continue to be permitted as it currently exists along the west curb of Victoria Ave. Motor vehicles are not permitted to drive nor idle in the cycle track to service passengers; please use driveways or side streets at intersections.
Sidewalks:
The cycle track will act as a buffer separating auto traffic from pedestrians using the sidewalk on the east side of Victoria Ave. When crossing the street, pedestrians are reminded to be aware of cyclists riding in both directions.
The City's Transportation Master Plan (2018) and Cycling Master Plan (2018) identify the need for cycling facilities to provide an efficient and safe network to encourage cycling. The promotion of cycling fosters a healthier community through reduced reliance on automobiles (less congestion and reduced vehicle emissions) and increased physical activity levels for residents. The design should also encourage cyclists to not ride on the sidewalk, making the sidewalk more comfortable for pedestrians.
If you have any questions, please contact City Transportation Planning staff responsible for Active Transportation (sustainable.mobility@hamilton.ca or 905.546.2424 x 2066). If you are a tenant, please share this information with your landlord.
In our Ward 3, we belong to each other. That includes in our online communities, such as on social media. These online spaces are intended to provide all users with a space to connect, engage and stay informed about Ward 3 news, events, updates, and information.
In order to ensure that all communications are shared in a safer and constructive manner, our office has implemented a Community Standards and Guidelines.
The purpose of these standards is to foster a community of mutual respect and care for all users and participants.
To read the Community Standards and Guidelines, which we use for all communication channels with our office, including social media and e-mail correspondence, please see here.