ISSUE 7 • SPRING/SUMMER 2013

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the 2013 Summer Issue of Saying Goodbye to The Honourable the Whitehead Report. As always, I am pleased to provide you with updates on what’s happening in and around our Lincoln M. Alexander community, and to share information On October 26, 2012 the City of Hamilton had the opportunity to about issues that affect our city. honour and remember a beloved Hamiltonian and Canadian; As your Councillor, I am committed to 's 24th Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Lincoln providing information, implementing Alexander. A number of agencies and individuals should be resolutions and sharing dialogue on thanked and recognized for their involvement in planning and issues of concern to you. That’s why coordinating this incredible state funeral including Mayor and every year I host over 22 issue and Mrs. Bratina, police, HSR, Hamilton Entertainment and budget oriented neighbourhood Convention Facilities Inc., parking, traffic and many other City meetings throughout the ward. I also departments, volunteers and residents. It was an honour to meet area residents each month during celebrate a proud Hamiltonian and to show our great City and my constituency days at Westcliffe residents to the rest of Canada. Mall. Photo Credit: Nick Westoll For those looking to contact me online, my new website with blog and Twitter posts is a great source for the latest Construction: Road Work in your Area information and happenings in and There are a number of construction projects taking place in • Sanatorium Rd. - Redfern to Chedmac/Rice around City Hall. You can also interact Ward 8, the main one to draw your attention to is the closure • West 5th - LINC to Marlowe • with me and other ward 8 residents by of the Queen Street Hill from June 01 to August 30th. Chesley / Chester / Annabelle Urbanization • Upper Paradise - Stone Church to Mohawk sharing your thoughts on the latest Please take time to read all of the bulletins and check my news items. • Beckett Drive - Glenfern to Fennell web site at www.terrywhitehead.ca and give yourself

adequate time to access the lower City during this I hope you find this edition of my construction period. Without a doubt, at peak hours, West community newsletter informative and th encourage you to contact my office if 5 will become a parking lot. you have any questions, concerns or suggestions. You can reach me at I am working with staff to see if we can limit the amount of 905.546.2712 or by email at traffic coming off of the Linc onto Garth especially during [email protected]. any closures of the 403 to insure that we maintain an affective transportation network. In closing, please accept my best wishes for a safe and happy Spring Construction notices will be circulated as we near Season. construction providing construction details and contact Ward 8 Community Events

information. Terry Whitehead Team up to Clean Up 2013 was a huge success! City Councillor, Ward 8 2013 Reconstruction and Rehabilitation: Thanks to the Applegarth Co-op residents for taking the initiative and making Ward 8 look even more beautiful. A big thank you goes to Jason Zelinski and our other Ward 8 business owners for their continued support and contribution to Ward events. SNAP IT! Are you hosting an event in Ward 8? Sometimes pictures speak louder than words. If you see If so, I would love to help! Contact my office and I will something that you think needs to be fixed in Ward 8, snap make sure to get the word out about your event on a picture and send it with a description by email to Facebook, Twitter and on my website at [email protected]. Help us make our community terrywhitehead.ca . Call (905) 546-2424 ext. 7409 and – and your neighbourhood better by keeping us in the loop. my project coordinator, Leena Saddik, will let you WHICH ARE THE WORST ROADS AND SIDEWALKS IN know how my office can assist you in making your WARD 8? event as successful as possible. Think your street is the worst in the Ward? Contact my office with a picture and let me know!

TERRY WHITEHEAD IS

WORKING FOR YOU

BROWLANDS DEVELOPEMENT PARKS AND RECREATION CHEDOKE MULTI-USE

FACILITY We were all disappointed to hear that the Ojntario Kernighan Park and Meadowbank Park : Scope of Work: Spring 2013 will begin Municipal Board ruled that 620 units can be built on For a number of years, it has always been in the construction of play equipment, limestone that property. The land has been sold to a local walkways, decorative fencing, tree and shrub plan to construct a year round indpoor facility to developer. I have met with this local developer and planting accommodate our large Bocce membership. This am pleased to announce that he is prepared to plan has evolved tinto providing a multipurpose engage early in the process with the Mountain Brow William Schwenger : Spring 2013 will begin facility that will not only meet the needs of the construction of a splash pad, sun shelter, armour community to see how the former development members of West Mountain Bocce but provide stone seatwall, asphalt walkway and tree planting plans can be improved upon. I look forward to this additional opportunities for the broader community engagement. William Connell : William Connell Community community. Construction to start this fall. Park: Work will continue through 2013 to confirm the master plan for the site (which was developed CASINO POLICE BUDGET through a public consultation process) to reflect additional expansion Jackie lands. PhaseCoffey One is ofa bum. the And so is Samantha Bates. I don’t implementation of the Master Plan was On February 27th, the City of Hamilton declared I believe we have one of the best police services in constructed in 2012.know This phasewhy they included are the such its bums…..sometimes support, in principle, to be a these "willing host"thing fors a the country. The delivery of overall service is installation of play equipment, pathways and tree gaming facility site in the Ontario Lottery and exemplary. Since 2008 the Police service budget planting. Funds for a justsecond happen phase of outside ourGaming control. Corporation’s (OLG) established SW9 increased by 20% whilst all other City services construction have been forecast for 2014 and are Gaming Zone boundary. City Council unanimously subject to council approval totaled a 13% increase within the same period of supported the current Flamboro Downs site as the

City of Hamilton's preferred location for a gaming time. Hamilton has 150.1 Officers per 100,000 Chedoke Waterfalls Viewing Platform : population. Ottawa, Durham, York, Waterloo, Brant, Anticipated construction start date is Spring 2013. facility. As part of its modernization process, OLG Caledon, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver HAVE is currently seeking private sector casino LESS. Since 2000 the police budget has almost Westmount Recreation Centre : operators to manage 29 proposed gaming doubled, but the amount of officers and staff have The Recreation Division’s Spring and Summer facilities across the province of Ontario. The next Program Guide is now available. It lists a wide step in OLG's modernization process will be to not. This is a sustainability issue. We need control of variety of programs at our Ward 8 Recreation issue an RFPQ (Request for Pre-Qualifications) this cost or risk the erosion of the other services Centres – Sir Allan MacNab and Westmount. for operators interested in the Hamilton Gaming controlling quality of life issues within the community. Registration for the Spring session begins Zone. It is expected that the RFPQ will be issued Wednesday March 6 at 7:00am by logging on to by early summer. www.hamilton.ca/rec You Asked and We Answered Constituents of all ages, your feedback is important to me! We received a letter from 7 year old, Ward 8 resident, Michael (beneath image on the right). I am very pleased that Michael took the time to write to us and express his opinion. Along with a copy of the park plan, including illustrations of what is proposed for William Schwenger park (image on right), Public Works staff provided the following response:

“You have made some very good suggestions that we have considered. Unfortunately, we were not able to place a splash pad and a 20' x 20’ shade sail in the parkette as the land area is too small and the close distance to the wetland has special restrictions on what we can build. We will be building a playground with a walking trail. benches and new trees for future shade. We have finished the design for Thank you for building a parkette for us at Meadowbank Drive the parkette and hired a contractor to build the park this spring. We are building a near Upper Paradise and Rymal Road. This makes us very spray pad and sun shelter at William Schwenger Park, which is near to your home. happy. Construction will begin this spring and we hope to get the splash pad finished for the summer. I hope you'll have many happy days in these parks.” We request that you also include a Drinking Fountain, a Spash Pad, and a 20’ X 20’ Shade Sail. Thanks to Landscape Architect, Lawrence Stasiuk, for the thorough response and for reiterating that every constituent concern must be addressed to our full potential. (Age: 7) TAX UPDATE 2013: How Does Hamilton Compare? The 2013 budget has been approved at GIC and will move through Council on Wednesday April 10, 2013. The final number approved was 1.93 percent, second lowest in Ontario with our comparators. At the beginning of this process, we were looking at a 5.5% increase and have managed to whittle it down to 1.93%. The major drivers for the tax increase are employee salaries and benefits, and fuel and hydro costs. The average assessment in Ward 8 dropped to -0.6% considering the average assessment, the actual tax increase in Ward 8 will be 1.5%. This would represent a $57.00 increase on an average home assessment of 269,200.00. A lot of pressure has come to bear and City Council has taken great strides to control costs, leading charge in negotiating affordable, equitable and fair compensation for unionized members. municipalities across Ontario in doing the same.

ISSUE 7 • SPRING/SUMMER 2013 Good News in Economic Development

HOUSING MARKET Development in Ward 8 Hamilton Economic Region is expected to lead Mountainview Neighbourhood: Chedoke Hospital Development was approved for 14 single family Ontario housing price gains in 2013 dwellings and 57 townhouse units (approval lapse date is April 10, 2015). Development timing not yet specified.

Gourley Neighbourhood: Fontana Gardens Phase 3 was intended to be approved by the end of Project Highlights 2012 2011 for 15 single family dwellings and 19 semi-detached dwellings, The development is aiming for 2013 draft approval and development timing after 2014. • Maple Leaf Foods- $395Million investment, 670 jobs • Navistar-250,000 sq. ft. distribution centre. 50-60 jobs Gilbert Neighbourhood: 10 Abbington Drive was approved for 48 single family dwelling units and • Activation Labs-200,000 sq. ft. facility, adding 100 new jobs will lapse Oct 2013. to their current staff of 350 Sheldon Neighbourhood: Eden Park draft approved in 2010 with no lapse date, partially registered • Staybridge Suites-Completed in 2012-125 room six storey and waiting on additional approval for servicing. 21 Single Family Dwellings, 7 Semi Detached hotel along with retail space. This complex is the first step of Dwellings and 10 Townhouse units. Development timing for 2014. Vrancor Development who plan to invest nearly $125 Million in the downtown core building 600 hotel units and 300 residential units over the next couple years • City Square Condos-this two tower, nine story condominium complex near the heart of downtown is expected to continue into 2013 with one tower opening this year and the other in as early • as 2014 Record year in Building permits, $1.5 Billion Record • • MARC Centre-McMaster Automotive Resource Centre- 2012 permit (values) broke records for all sectors: 88,000 sq. ft. building with over 120 employees dedicated to • Highest ever residential-(44% of total permit dollars) research of fuel efficient vehicles Breaking • Highest ever commercial-(13.4% of total permit dollars) • St.Joseph’s Healthcare Mental Health Campus-State of the • Highest ever industrial-(13.9% of total permit dollars) art, $581 Million mental health complex, over 800,000 sq. ft. will • Highest ever institutional- 27.7% of total permit dollars) creating numerous new good paying jobs to Hamilton

BEFORE Update on the HSR Voluntary Pay Policy

The HSR () and the ATS Those transit riders who require the use of a (Accessible Transportation Services) have been wheelchair, walker, or scooter in order to ride the directed to implement a Fare Parity Policy under the conventional transit system (HSR) and those who are Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. City CNBI cardholders are permitted under this temporary Council has approved these changes in order to promotional transit fare special program to pay the achieve this goal. All passengers on Conventional or applicable fare or ride at no charge. This means that Specialized Transit will be treated equally when it transit riders who use other devices not listed above, comes to fare payment. A new transit fare discount such as four prong canes, must pay the applicable fare. program for persons with disabilities is currently They can no longer ride at no charge. AFTER being investigated to replace our historical practice of offering no charge fares to certain individuals. In the meantime, while this policy is investigated, a temporary promotional transit fare special program will be implemented.

The HSR Voluntary Pay Policy will be eliminated effective Saturday June 1, 2013 and the implementation of the HSR Temporary Promotional Transit Fare Program will begin. New and Improved Terryberry Library Changes to Waste Collection Terryberry Branch of the Hamilton Public Library has long That You Should Know been a community destination and one of the busiest Branches in Hamilton with an annual circulation of well over Illegal dumping is costing taxpayers 1.2 billion dollars Bulk 600,000, seeing an estimated 280,000 visits per year. After 21 a year. The amount of garbage that is collected is not NEW: Bulk collection is available, but on a call-in, years, this well-used and well-loved space needed some being reflected in the diversion accounts that staff weekly basis. We will pick up furniture and other big rejuvenation. have provided in the past. This has necessitated the items, but you must call at least one week before you changes that are currently being implemented. We want your bulk garbage picked up. Terryberry now offers our community much more, including a will be closely monitoring this program and computer teaching lab where staff demonstrate e-book re-assessing the overall success in the near future. Recycling Weekly two-stream collection of Recyclable downloading and Internet classes, a much bigger, brighter Materials (one for papers and the other for containers). children’s area with more seating where we now host new Garbage If you use more than 2 bins, all materials must be evening and Saturday drop-in story times, more public Organic Waste is collected weekly (1 green bin). sorted properly. computers, improved areas in which to study and a main floor Garbage is collected weekly (1 container per NEW: There are now larger blue bins. Coming soon marketplace where new and recommended materials can be household). Continuation of Special Considerations will be an option to use alternative recycling containers displayed. for households with children, medical circumstances, with lids to reduce recyclables blowing out of bins. home day cares and agricultural properties. There is an expansive list of programming for all ages from NEW: Collection of up to 26 additional containers of Please call my office with your questions, babies on up, appealing to a broad range of interests. Visit garbage per household, per year through a curbside concerns and feedback www.hpl.ca or stop by the branch for more information. tag system. (Tags were mailed with Waste Calendar)

ISSUE 7 • SPRING/SUMMER 2013 Energy Conservation Initiatives WARD 8 MPP & MPS

The City’s Corporate Energy Policy is designed with a Monique Taylor, MPP reduction target of 20% energy intensity by 2020 905.388-9734

Fessenden Neighbourhood Flood Chris Charlton, MP AUCHMAR Hamilton Mountain Mitigation Project 905.574.3331

My preference is to maintain Auchmar, if financially Construction for the underground storage facility , MPP feasible, within City hands. The Request for Proposal started in 2012 and is expected to be completed in Hamilton Centre will determine if there is any viable interest that will June 2013. Phase 2 works include the construction of 905.544.9644 respect and be sensitive to the heritage of this historic a stormwater management pond on Sir Allan McNab site. To join Friends of Auchmar contact Pat Saunders Dave Christopherson, MP School property and construction of 1500 mm at (905) 383-1308 or by email at Hamilton Centre diameter storm sewer along Lynwood to a flow [email protected] 905.526.0770 diversion structure at the Appleford and Forestgate

intersection. The City is working with the School WARD 8 SCHOOL TRUSTEES Board to purchase the lands required for the stormwater pond. The start of construction will be Hamilton Wentworth dependent on the permission to enter the school District School Board property for construction. Phase 3 consists of the Wes Hicks upsizing of storm sewers to carry a higher volume of 905.383.2222 flow. The proposed works are along Forestgate and Hamilton Wentworth Catholic Daisy ending at Magnolia. Minor works along the District School Board pathway under Lincoln Alexander Parkway will also John Valvasori be required. The City expects construction of Phase 905.679.6523 3 works in 2014.

TERRY WHITEHEAD Proposed Rental Housing Licensing By-Law Councillor, Ward 8 – West Mountain 71 Main Street West, 2nd Floor The City of Hamilton is developing a Rental consistency in rental standards across the entire City Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5 Housing Unit By-law that would require all owners of Hamilton, increase the health and safety of Tel. 905.546.2712 (landlords) of rental units ranging from six (6) units residents, establish the associated fee structure for Cell. 905.317.6001 of less in a building to be licensed. A draft By-law licensing rental dwelling units and maintain a safe Fax 905.546.2535 will be presented and recommended to the housing stock. A copy of the report will be available e-mail: [email protected] web: Planning Committee. Staff will be presenting an online at www.hamilton.ca/licensing (under Things terrywhitehead.ca information report to Committee on June 18th. The You Need To Know) or copies will be available to view

at City Hall (Clerks), 71 Main Street East 2nd Floor. purpose of this Bylaw is to ensure the health and MUNICIPAL safety of residents; maintain safe housing options CONTACT NUMBERS within the City of Hamilton; protect property; and prevent public nuisances. The bylaw would create City of Hamilton ...... 905.546.2489

Access to Housing Office 905.524.2228 FEATURED PROGRAM: Culture & 905.546.2424 Recreation ...... ext.3747 Helping Hands DARTS/ATS ...... 905.529.1212

This program provides home support to senior Graffiti Hotline ...... 905.546.4723 citizens and the disabled, allowing them to Hamilton Scores High remain in their own home environment. It also Hamilton Tenant Helpline 905.526.9119

provides Ontario Works and ODSP participants ⇒ 2012 Site Selection Magazine, Hamilton rated #1 Horizon Utilities ...... 905.522.9200 an opportunity to learn new skills, create a city regarding investment activity in Canada current work history and gain the necessary HSR Information ...... 905.527.4441 skills to find and keep employment. ⇒ Real Estate Investment Network (REIN-Calgary) M P A C ranked Hamilton #1 city to invest in Ontario. (Property Assessments) 1.866.296.6722 SERVICES INCLUDE: house cleaning, laundry, ⇒ Conference Board of Canada ranks Hamilton spring/fall yard maintenance, painting, packing one of the top diversified economies in Canada. Municipal By-law Enforcement ...... 905.546.2782 and visiting with residents. ⇒ Conference Board of Canada reports Hamilton Parking Office ...... 905.540.6000 HOW TO APPLY: economy fastest growing in 2012 among Ontario cities. (due to increases in manufacturing Contact Helping Hands at 905.546.3057 or email Police (Mountain Division) 905.546.4930 and construction sectors) [email protected] Eligibility is based on Public Health ...... 905.546.3500 need and financial ability. Public Works - West of Upper Paradise (District 2) ...... 905.546.2424 ext.1704

Boards and Committees I work on your behalf on the following Boards and Committees: Public Works - Upper Paradise and East (District 4) ...... 905.546.2424 ext.2038 • • Accountability and Transparency • Governance Board of Health • General Issues Committee • Facility Naming • Steel Committee Sewer & Water Maintenance ...... 905.546.4426 • Public Works Committee • Hamilton Association of Business • D.A.R.T.S. Improvement Areas (HABIA) • Boards • Fairness to Hamilton Campaign Street Parking • NHL Proposal Sub-Committee Committee Enforcement ...... 905.540.6000 • Planning (Economic Development) • Airport Implementation Task Force • Hamilton Utilities Corporation and • Emergency and Community Services Hamilton Street Railway Corporation Terryberry Library ...... 905.546.3921 • Physician Recruitment and Retention • Hamilton Licensing Tribunal Steering Committee • City of Hamilton Operational Review Sub-Committee Waste Management/ 905.546.2424 • Selection Committee • Truck Route Sub-Committee Household Hazardous Waste . . . ext.7494 • Federation of Canadian Municipalities • School Board Properties Sub Committee • Open For Business For By-law Enforcement during business hours call 905.546.2782 or e-mail For more information on what we’re doing, please visit my website at [email protected]. After hours please call www.terrywhitehead.ca or call my office at 905.546.2712. You can also 905.546.2489.