Dear Neighbours,

This past weekend, I hope you were able to celebrate and honour all the Moms, Mother-figures, and folks who provide care, nurturing, support and fiercely stand with you in truth in your life. It certainly was wonderful to see so many people out in the city enjoying our green spaces and commercial corridors.

Congrats also to all the vendors, volunteers, local businesses and staff who made this year’s Sew Hungry a success. The rain did try to dampen the vibe a bit but for everyone that was able to make it, thank you for supporting local.

Two major updates from Council are related to the 2024 Development Charges Bylaw and update on the previous Vrancor proposal for housing donation to City Housing Hamilton. There are loads of Ward 3 specific and City service updates, as well as local events for your attention.

As always, please reach out to my office for any city service related support by connecting with us at ward3@hamilton.ca or at 905-546-2107.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Photo of Hamilton City Hall in spring with tulips out front. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Council & Committee Updates".

2024 DEVELOPMENT CHARGES BY-LAW

All cities use the financial tool of imposing Development Charges (DC) to recover growth-related costs associated with the capital infrastructure. Development Charges are one-time fees paid by developers at the time a building permit is issued to help pay for municipal services to new developments or major redevelopments, fees for services such as roads, transit, water and sewer infrastructure, community centres as well as fire and police facilities. This is also understood as having growth pay for growth.

Last week during Council, we approved the 2024 DC rates. Historically, previous Councils have established discretionary exemptions to DCs to reduce the upfront cost of development with the assumption this approach would spur investment. What this has effectively done is passed down the cost of paying for the infrastructure needed to support the development onto property taxes, effectively shifting the responsibility of paying for growth disproportionately to existing property owners.

Watsons & Associates Economists Ltd, hired to prepare our background study, recommended that since we are experiencing a boom in development investment, that Hamilton is well positioned to end discretionary exemptions. In fact, in 2023, the City of Hamilton issued building permits valued at $2.5B! These values are the highest annual building permit values in the City’s history, surpassing the previous record years of 2022 and 2021.

Ultimately, Council decided to phase out DC exemptions for residential development in the downtown Community Improvement Plan Area (CIPA), as well as, for any industrial development outside of metal and machinery manufacturing. This phase out ranges from 5 years to 8 years depending on the category of development.

Personally, I would have preferred to end the era of Hamilton exceptionalism, where we buck expert advice to end discretionary exemptions and have growth actually pay for growth. Why? We are already facing a multi million dollar infrastructure deficit. The historical decisions by previous Council has artificially kept property taxes low, starving infrastructure requiring investment, and effectively passing the burden of failing infrastructure as a cost to future years.

Councillors A. Wilson and Craig Cassar tabled a motion to help reach a compromise to get us there faster, however it did not receive majority support.

The fiscal reality that every city across the country is grappling with is how to balance needs with investment and correcting the course after years of neglect.

That said, I remain hopeful and clear about how we can achieve the vision of our city motto. To be the best city to raise a child and age successfully will require diligent investment and incentives to attract sustainable development. Incentive grant programs tailored to deliver excellence for future generations and tangible outcomes were also recommended by the leading experts at Watsons & Associates.

And when it comes to the industrial north end of Ward 3, I believe Hamilton needs to consider a customized incentive program that works with industrial developers to deliver on Council approved targets like those covered in the Bayfront Industrial Area Strategy. I plan to bring a motion on an industrial incentive program and will keep residents informed of the work and decision.

CHH UPDATE - VRANCOR’S UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL

At the April 23rd City Housing Hamilton (CHH) Board meeting, staff provided a report back after meeting with the DV Trillium Group Inc (DVTI) regarding their previous unsolicited proposal involving the donation of a building or buildings to CHH for operation along with rent subsidies.

A fulsome assessment of the proposal was conducted with CHH legal counsel for due diligence operationally and financially. In order to pursue the donation, CHH would have to create a new non-profit organization with charitable status to issue charitable tax receipts that DVTI Group Inc is seeking.

Some other noteworthy changes we learned at the Board meeting was that Vrancor is reducing the number of units they are proposing from 130 to 100. They are also now looking at other potential sites across the city and are not tied to the King St location in this exploration of partnership.

There are several other requirements CHH would be seeking,including that:

DVTI can build in general conformance with CHH design standards and that CHH receives a building of comparable quality to its own new construction.
CHH has adequate use and/or control over any shared building elements.
CHH will not in any way be put in a worse position, including financially (e.g. impacts to cash flow or unanticipated costs), legally (e.g. through additional liability) or otherwise through this endeavor.

Ultimately, this is a proposal for much needed affordable housing, and it must be considered as such. I look forward to seeing movement on this project.

To read all 7 pages of the CHH report as an accessible PDF visit https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S8wLOyETGOzqR9cc8sye4NuDKZmgmVRs/view?usp=sharing

A aerial photo of Ward 3. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates".

MAPLE AVE & OTTAWA ST INTERSECTION UPDATE

Many residents have been reaching out to the Ward 3 office for updates regarding the intersection at Maple Ave and Ottawa St.

You may recall from our last update on this intersection that work on the traffic light and crosswalk installation was slated to take place in the Spring of 2024. As a result of the City’s cybersecurity incident, several City projects have been delayed by 8 to 10 weeks from going to tender.

The Traffic Operations Team has shared that the work will now begin in late summer or early fall, and have confirmed the work will be completed this year.

I have requested Traffic Operations Staff to ensure this work is completed before students return to school this fall for the new school year. As many in the area are aware, this intersection is highly used by students and families walking to Memorial Elementary School.

RECAP FROM WOODLANDS PARK COMMUNITY MEETING

Thank you to all the neighbours who joined us the evening of April 30 for a collaborative community meeting to discuss the future of Woodlands Park. Big thanks to park adoptees Barton Village BIA, GALA Community Planning Team, 541 Eatery & Exchange, and Westinghouse HQ for co-hosting with my office and city staff.

We broke into two topic areas to identify what needs/hopes residents have for the park as it relates to Safety & Maintenance and Infrastructure.

Staff are working with the limitations of the insurance company to repair the existing washroom facility while also bringing it up to current building standards, including accessibility.

Community input received Tuesday will help shape what is emerging as both a Phase 1 repair strategy and a Phase 2 enhancement plan.

What is clear is a need for a comprehensive plan for the park versus piecemeal, stand alone items. Woodlands Park and #OurWard3 deserve the investment.

A more fulsome update will be shared in the next issue of my e-newsletter.

REVITALIZING THE FIRST PLACE CAFE

Residents of City Housing Hamilton’s First Place building have been contacting the Ward 3 office for some time now to inquire about the future of the cafe space in the building.

Currently, the space is being used by Wesley, however, their contract will be ending in 2024, and we have learned that CHH Staff will be hosting a drop-in meeting to discuss the future of the cafe space with tenants so that ideas can be shared on how to build a community space together.

The meeting will be taking place on Wednesday May 29 from 12:30pm-3:30pm in Bagshaw Room A. Light refreshments will be provided.

OPEN STREETS

Save the date for Open Streets! Join us on Sunday May 26th and Sunday June 23rd from 10am-2pm for a car free adventure along King St. E from John St. to Gage Ave!

Come walk, cycle, roll, and play on King St!

For more information and a full list of activities, please check out the Open Streets website here.

See you there!

HSR 150

In 2024, we're celebrating 150 years of Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) operations. Since 1874, the HSR has been integral to Hamilton's history, connecting communities and facilitating opportunities for residents and visitors.

Some of the Ways We’re Celebrating:

Take a Ride with HSR:
Celebrating 150 Years of Connections is Tourism Hamilton’s latest exhibit at the Visitor Experience Centre and honours HSR’s long standing service to the community. This free exhibit will run from May 21 to December 21, 2024 and is open daily from 10am to 4pm. The curated exhibit looks back through the years and towards the future of transit in Hamilton.

$1.50 Fare Days:

Starting in May, HSR customers will be able to enjoy $1.50 fares on all buses on select dates until the end of 2024 to commemorate HSR’s 150th year of service.

Currently, Monday, May 20, 2024 is one of the scheduled dates, with more $1.50 days being planned for 2024. Subscribe to Bus News and follow us on our socials in the coming months to stay up to date on the latest details.

Customer Appreciation Week, May 19 to 25, 2024:

Keep your eye out for one of our retro wrapped buses, coming soon to city streets. During Customer Appreciation Week, your ride on a retro wrap is on us. These commemorative buses will be on various routes throughout the city.

Our friendly Customer Experience staff will be out and about meeting customers and may even have some HSR 150 merch to share. Stay tuned to our HSR social media channels for where to find us.

Limited Edition PRESTO Cards:

Starting May 21, get your commemorative HSR 150 PRESTO card at HSR Customer Service, 36 Hunter St. E.

Cards can be purchased for $4, while supplies last. Featuring the iconic horse and buggy, this limited-edition card honours HSR’s history.

For a comprehensive list of activities and celebrations, please visit: https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/hsr/hsr-150

CYBER SECURITY UPDATE

On April 29, 2024, the City of Hamilton launched a new job posting website to resume essential recruitment efforts. The new platform replaces the previous job posting website, which has been offline since February due to the cybersecurity incident.

With this solution, the City is able to:

Restore functionality and also use a customer-centric approach to enhance capabilities and offer a seamless and simplified user experience.
Provide a thoroughly vetted for security, privacy, and reliability, the new platform provides a safe environment for the City to resume hiring activities.
Priority will be given to filling essential front-line positions and critical roles alongside opportunities for student positions.

For additional information on the City’s cybersecurity incident, the job application process, and updates on other impacted services, please visit https://www.hamilton.ca/cyberincident.

Photo of people from Roots to Justice working on a community garden project. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Community Events & Opportunities".

HAMILTON NEWCOMER DAY, MAY 24

Newcomer Day is an annual event held by the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council in May that welcomes newcomers to Hamilton, helps them understand and access a wide range of services, and celebrates their contributions to Hamilton.

It is a FREE event open to all!

All Hamiltonians are invited to join in welcoming newcomers in Hamilton!

Friday May 24, 2024 at Hamilton City Hall from 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM (71 Main St W, Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5)

Questions or inquiries about Newcomer Day 2024? Contact: Sarah Wayland, Senior Project Manager – HIPC at sarah.wayland@hamilton.ca or visit https://hamiltonnewcomerday.ca/

ROOTS TO JUSTICE

The time has finally come to open registration for the Youth Garden Mentorship Program 2024!

The Youth Garden Mentorship Program is a program for youth to learn and grow their gardening and leadership skills through interactive working sessions in the garden, and informative workshops on topics related to gardening. Youth will learn all the skills they need to grow their own food, as well as about the impacts of food insecurity. For complete details of the program or to register, please visit the Roots to Justice website here.

COMMUNITY MEETING: AIR POLLUTION, MAY 22

Are you concerned about Hamilton’s industrial air pollution? Neighbours in the community are taking action! Join us!

Wednesday May 22, 2024
6:30pm-8:00pm
Pinch Bakery & Plant Shop
183 Sherman Ave. N

Come to this first event to:

meet one another in a respectful, friendly atmosphere
share your experiences with air pollution
discuss what we can do to change our air quality

For more information, please contact breathe.easy.hamilton@gmail.com

HAMILTON BLACK FILM FESTIVAL

Hamilton Black Film Festival, the first BIPOC film festival in Hamilton is hosting its 4th anniversary at the following two theatres:

May 24-25 at Playhouse Cinema - 177 Sherman Ave. N

May 24: The Color of Slavery, 6:30pm
May 25: Ray of Hope, 4:30pm

May 26 at Zoetic Theatre - 526 Concession St.

May 26: Award Ceremony, 7:30pm

When the group embarked on this incredible journey four years ago, their vision was clear: to provide a platform that celebrates the rich diversity of Black storytelling through the powerful medium of film.

They aimed to create a space where the underrepresented voices could shine, where narratives often overlooked could be shared, and where the beauty and complexity of the black experience could be acknowledged, appreciated, and celebrated.

2024 Development Charges By-Law, CHH update: Vrancor's Unsolicited Proposal & More