Reversed Greenbelt Direction, 2024 Budget Outlook, Gender-Based Safety Audit, Housing & Shelter update
Dear Neighbours,
What a special time of year we are in. The air is a bit more crisp, local harvests are in the markets and gracing our tables, and we are beginning to see the beautiful reds and oranges in the foliage around us. I encourage you to get outside and enjoy a walk or stroll on the Gage Park multi-path this fall and take sometime to connect with yourself, friends or family.
After a bit of staggered time off this summer, the #OurWard3 Office team has been busy preparing for various community meetings and events to ensure we provide as many opportunities as possible for residents to learn and provide input. Please check out the section below called “Ward 3 Updates” which includes the events my office is hosting.
Council is preparing to kick off our annual budget deliberations. Check out the update below and stay tuned to our bi-weekly enews to learn more.
As always, please reach out if my team and I can be of support/assistance at ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2107.
Yours in community,
Councillor Nrinder Nann
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Province Reverses Previous Greenbelt Direction!
Congratulations to all residents who have been engaged in the fight back against the Greenbelt land grab. The findings of both the Provincial Auditor and Integrity Commissioner exposed the corrupt process used by the Ontario Government in choosing protected Greenbelt land to open up for housing development.
The reports found that a small group of well-connected developers heavily influenced the process and they stood to make billions of dollars. The reversal of the decision is the direct result of public scrutiny, calls for transparency, and exposure by these two important public bodies.
Hamilton will see 1900+ acres of Greenbelt lands restored, how that will happen exactly remains to be clarified. However, 5400+ acres of farmland that were forced into the city’s Urban Boundary Expansion by the Province is also under public scrutiny as the same reports show that developers were given preferential treatment in the process.
The ministry consulted with the landowner agents instead of the City. Hamilton’s Chief Planner stated that this was the first time ever in his 30-year career he has seen cities sidelined in the process. Council remains opposed to Bill 23, which on top of forcing prime agricultural soil and environmentally significant lands to be paved and built on, downloads tens of millions onto tax bills instead of direct payment by developers through Development Charges.
2024 Budget Outlook
An article in a local newspaper has caused much confusion regarding the projected tax rate of 14.2% that staff presented last week at the General Issues Committee. Every year, staff provide a projection, which Council then responds to in order to best understand the financial pressures and any potential offsets we have to pursue. It is truly unfortunate that this article was framed in such a manner which has subsequently resulted in much stress and anxiety for residents.
I want to stress that the projection is simply a starting place for Council. Mayor Horwath directed staff to present a 2024 Budget that reduces the burden on residential property taxes through the use of debt and emergency reserves while responsibly maintaining the city’s credit rating. Council is united in ensuring we deliver a strategic and balanced budget.
Some of the main driving factors putting pressure on this budget are:
Bill 23, mandatory and legislated pressures from the province
Inflation and Supply chain
Employee related cost increases and implementing Council Term Priorities.
The 2024 Budget timeline is as follows:
I will share a regular standing item in future issues of the e-newsletter until Budget deliberations are finalized.
Gender-Based Safety Audits of Public Spaces
At the September 21st Emergency and Community Services Committee, Councillor M. Wilson moved a motion to have the City collaborate with the YWCA Hamilton on conducting a gender-based safety audit and develop tools for future assessments.
The audit, which is funded through the federal government's Building Safer Communities Fund, seeks to understand women and gender-diverse persons’ key safety concerns in city spaces and to bring about improvements to the physical environments to remove hazards and improve feelings of safety. This process will also identify any policy and/or operational recommendations and evidence-based actions to improve the service delivery and public infrastructure based on the audit findings.
Read the full motion and review the YWCA presentation to the ECS committee.
Housing & Shelter Update
As the housing crisis continues, more individuals are living unsheltered and the number of individuals who are homeless continues to rise. Hamilton’s shelter system has consistently been at or over-capacity since before the pandemic, and has worsened as a result of a severe lack of affordable housing, bottlenecks from the pandemic, and long stays in the shelter system.
While the problem may appear to be solved with building more shelter capacity, it’s important to recognize that emergency shelters cost the most within Hamilton’s homeless-serving sector and Hamilton invests more per capita in emergency shelters than many surrounding municipalities.
The path forward for Hamilton is to invest in more permanent housing while continuing to provide emergency response to individuals who are homeless and/or living unsheltered. And so, Council approved significant additional investments for 2023 and have projected what we must focus on in 2024.
$7.9M in emergency investments to help address the immediate pressures:
$4.1M for shelter overflow for families
$600K to Indwell to provide high level supports for the King William location
$876M to support overnight drop-in sites
$2.5M conditional grant to Indwell as the City’s municipal contribution
Council majority also voted to consider the following initiatives within the 2024 Budget:
$4.64M for the continuation of shelter overflow supports for families
$952K for 20 additional beds in the women’s emergency shelter
$333K to enhance programs within shelters to prevent homelessness for an estimated 600 people
$2M increase to the Municipal Housing Benefit to end homelessness for an estimated 332 households
$1.2M to Indwell to provide continued high level supports for 24 units at CHH King William
I attended a Regional Housing Roundtable hosted by some federal MPs and Ministers and raised the need for them to directly provide support to house asylum seekers and refugees. I stressed the reality that we’re seeing more families trying to access shelters and living encamped.
The solution remains, all three levels of government working in alignment to solve these immediate needs. The city simply cannot afford to address the affordable and supportive housing needs alone. I will continue to advocate for this with my Council colleagues.
Image of houses in the ward. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates"
Belview Park Temporary Fencing
Back in the spring, my office and I met with concerned parents and school officials at Holy Name of Jesus School in regards to safety concerns at Belview Park.
One of the solutions brought forward was to install a fence between the park and Belmont Ave N to prevent children from running out onto the road during scheduled school breaks as well as during regular park use by the community.
As a result, a temporary fence was determined to be the quickest way for us to collectively build a sense of safety for the community and school using the park.
Currently, the fence has openings between the sidewalk and park to allow for general use of the park, but will also provide the needed safety requested by the community with the majority of the park fenced off.
Should the temporary fence prove effective, a more permanent solution will be investigated by the City’s Parks North Team for implementation.
Thank you very much to Steve Hasselman and the Parks North Team for all of their efforts on this community win!
Parks are for Everyone: Stirton Tot Lot Mural Project
I had the pleasure of joining several #OurWard3 neighbours for the unveiling of a community-led mural at the Stirton Tot Lot on Sunday September 17, 2023.
A mural that reads, “Parks are for Everyone”, was created by artists Katie & Sahra. This project is part of the larger resident-led plans for the under utilized space, stewarded by neighbours Vania & Kerry here in #OurWard3. They were inspired to move away from complaining about the accumulation of litter and illegal dumping and with other neighbours have been focused on transforming the space over time.
I offered a reading of Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, by Andrea Beaty as my contribution to the celebration (be sure to request it at your local HPL branch!). It is a great story about a girl similar to Vania & Kerry who took action.
I will continue to support resident-led projects that focus on building community resilience and pride. To some, this is a beautification project, for others this is place making, it is that, while also strengthening the capacity of our neighbours to lead and take positive action.
Thank you to everyone involved in transforming a complaint about litter into a public space that will continue to evolve and foster community.
Community Meeting - LRT Updates & Information: Sept 26 - 6:30pm-8:00pm at Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre
Join us on Tuesday September 26th from 6:30pm-8:30pm in the cafe area at Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre for an LRT Community Information Meeting with Metrolinx & City of Hamilton Staff here in #OurWard3.
This meeting will be providing updates on the LRT project & also provide an opportunity for residents to ask questions.
Child minding will also be available for those with children wishing to attend.
Sherman Ave Reconstruction, Bikelanes & Parking
As previously reported, portions of Sherman Avenue, south of King St, will be reconstructed for LRT-enabling works, address other roadway safety concerns, as well as facilitate multimodal transportation. The area of review also includes the intersection of Main and Sherman.
My office is working with a inter-divisional team of city staff to set up a quick virtual input opportunity to review the working roadway design. We will be inviting the Adelaide Hoodless School community and adjacent neighbours to ensure we cover any safe routes to school points as well.
The virtual session will take place on Tuesday, October 24th at 6:30pm. If you would like to attend, please email ward3@hamilton.ca
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HSR Wants to Hear from You! - HSR (re)Designed Network
HSR is in the final weeks of its Network (re)Design engagement and this is your last chance to give feedback on the proposed network.
HSR's proposed new transit network marks a significant step forward for transit in Hamilton. The goal was to redesign the network from the ground up to ensure it meets Hamilton’s current and future transit needs, and maximizes the benefits of the future LRT.
Please complete the short survey to give feedback on the network before September 30th and enter a draw to win an iPhone 14 Pro Max and other prizes. The survey will take 10 minutes to complete and it’s on the City’s engage platform: engage.hamilton.ca/hsrredesignednetwork.
In early 2024, Hamilton City Council will decide how to move forward on a growth plan for transit. To learn more visit: hamilton.ca/reenvision.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to share your voice and shape the future of transit in Hamilton.
Orange Shirt Day: September 30, 2023
September 30 is Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is meant to recognize the ongoing and significant long-term impact Indian Residential Schools have had on the Indigenous community.
By wearing an orange shirt, we can show our continued support and commitment to reconciliation, inclusion and anti-racism to reinforce that every child matters.
Orange Shirt Day was established by Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor who told her story of her shiny new orange shirt, which was taken from her when she attended her first day of school at the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school. To learn more please visit: www.orangeshirtday.org
The City of Hamilton recognizes and acknowledges that we are located on the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas, and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” Wampum Belt Covenant.
Through collaboration, the City’s Urban Indigenous Strategy is working towards strengthening the City’s relationship with the Indigenous community.
In honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Saturday, September 30 a Public Art Ceremony, unveiling Hamilton’s newest piece of public art, led by local Indigenous artist, Angela DeMontigny at Hamilton West Harbour will take place from 10:30 am to 4 pm.
For more information on Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, please visit: www.hamilton.ca/IndigenousRecognition
Building Safer Communities Grant
The City of Hamilton is pleased to announce the launch of its Building Safer Communities Grant in partnership with Public Safety Canada.
This grant will provide multi-year funding for community led initiatives that aim to prevent, and address risk factors with youth gun and gang violence.
Applicants must be identified as a non-profit, registered charity, community organization and/or volunteer organization with non-profit goals and should have a demonstrated track record of working in the Hamilton community to promote the safety and well-being of community members, especially youth.
The Building Safer Communities Grant application is now open for submissions until October 11th, 2023 at 5pm.
For more information about the grant and the selection criteria, please visit: www.hamilton.ca/safercommunitiesgrant
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Green Venture Update: Barton Street is Blooming!
This fall, two Barton St businesses are getting a new garden space thanks to the Canada Community Revitalization Fund, Green Venture, Adele Pierre, the Barton St BIA and other community partners.
At 342 Barton St E, Green Venture and partners will be extending the garden at the side of the building to make the space more pollinator-friendly. The garden will feature dozens of native plants which will add more colour to the street. Next spring, you will see all the flowers in bloom as you walk along Emerald St.
Then, in early October, the east entrance into the Barton Street BIA will get a welcoming new public green space. Green Venture, in partnership with the property owner at 673 Barton St E, the City of Hamilton, Barton Village BIA and Landscape Architect Adele Pierre, are transforming the boulevard at 673 Barton St E into a beautiful garden by removing 72.57m2 of asphalt and adding plants such as Anise Hyssops, Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Purple Coneflower and more!
Green Venture is looking for volunteers to help plant dozens of beneficial native species which will bring this green infrastructure project to life. Volunteers interested in helping on planting day or for on-going stewardship are encouraged to sign up to the Green Venture newsletter to find out the details about the planting days which will be released soon.
Green infrastructure projects like these are invaluable to Hamilton as climate change effects threaten biodiversity and more intense weather events that lead to droughts and intense rainfall. Installing green infrastructure projects like the ones on Barton Street will be instrumental in mitigating the amount of stormwater flooding that occurs during the expected increase in volatile weather.
Birge Meadow Planting - October 13 & 14
A collaboration of the Hospital Zone Steering Committee and in partnership with Green Cities Foundation. We will create a natural meadow on 784 feet of Birge Street between Wellington and Victoria with permission from the City of Hamilton. Please register at Join Us for the Birge Street Meadow Community Planting Day! (google.com)
Beautiful Alleys Fall Community Cleanup - October 21, 9am to 12pm
Join us to clean and beautify alleys, parks and greenspaces across the City in partnership with Team Up to Clean Up, Community BIA's and The Ward 3 Office. Register at www.beautifulalleys.ca or email hamiltonalleys@gmail.com
Track Gang Cleanup - October 21 9am to 12pm
Join us for a cleanup event in partnership with CN Rail, Crime Stoppers and Beautiful Alleys. We will clean the area around Birge and Cheever placing barriers and signage to discourage illegal dumping. Email hamiltonalleys@gmail.com or visit www.beautifulalleys.ca
It's FALLOWEEN! - October 28 1pm-4pm
A combination of Fall Fun and Trick or Treat! Join us October 28 from 1pm to 4pm for games, crafts and a costume parade at Powell Park Clubhouse. In partnership with GALA, Barton Village BIA and Wever Core. Register at Falloween Tickets, Sat, Oct 28, 2023 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite