The final meeting of the 2022-2026 Hamilton City Council has it all: a lobbyist registrar report revealing new information regarding the Downtown Stoney Creek parking lot to affordable housing project, a heritage designation for the Philpott Memorial Church in Downtown Hamilton that comes as the congregation that owns the building has applied for a demolition permit to be issued on October 23, a Ward 2-only rental apartment maximum heat by-law, and more.
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Full Replay
Good morning, there was a bug in my liveblog to start today.
I posted the following:
925am: I am in the Council Chamber at City Hall. There is a man yelling from the gallery at City Council with a series of conspiracy theories.
City Hall security managers are working to de-escalate the situation. Thus far, they are working to allow him to remain, if he stops yelling.
932am:
Roll Call today
On Time: Mayor,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,12,13
Not present at 9:30 a.m.: 11,14,15
Mayor Andrea Horwath begins the meeting with remarks looking back on the four year council term.
Council is now recognizing 16-year-old Hamilton resident Sufyan Sumser was rescued a person in the canal between Cootes Paradise and Hamilton Harbour. Sumser rescued the boy in mid-September.
10:15 AM: There was a discussion regarding the Lobbyist Registry report on the Stoney Creek parking lot conversion to affordable housing.
There were no violations, finds Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian.
Ward 5 Clr Matt Francis notes the IC failed to include some items of correspondence that Francis forwarded. The IC says he reviewed those items, they do not change the findings.
Council discussed the stormwater fee. Council has delayed implementation.
Councillors repeated their past positions on the matter.
This means we can expect a new vote in early December at the beginning of the new Council term.
Clark, Jackson, Pauls, and Spadafora vote against the information item related to the stormwater fee.
On hiring private security from Canadian Protection Services Inc. to be appointed as Municipal Law Enforcement Officers for the purposes of patrols and removing encampments that are erected around Jackson Street West and MacNab Street South.
Passes 11-3 (12-3 or 11-4)
In Favour: Mayor, 1,2,3,4,6,7,11,13,14,15
Opposed: 8,9,12
Unknown: the voting is not working for Matt Francis.
(Note: Hwang voted against at Committee, in favour at Council)
A lengthy back and forth regarding 71 Claremont Dr (Auchmar Gatehouse) which the City is designating under the Heritage Act.
The owners are opposed to designation, and this will go to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
The wording of the motion was not clear enough for some members of Council, and the item is tabled pending better wording by the end of the meeting.
Pending the improved wording, Council has voted 9 to 5 to proceed with the heritage designation of 71 Claremont Dr (Auchmar Gatehouse)
In Favour: Mayor,1,2,3,4,11,12,13,15
Opposed: 6,7,8,9,14
Unknown: the voting is not working for Matt Francis, Ward 5.
(or 9 to 6 or 10 to 6)
Council approves the Mid Rise Residential Zones Phase 2
In Favour: Mayor,1,2,3,4,11,12,13,15
Opposed: 6,7,8,9,14
Unknown: the voting is not working for Matt Francis, Ward 5.
There was a separate vote regarding the Closed Session direction to City lawyers regarding the White Church Road lands.
The direction was confirmed in a 14-1 vote with Ward 11 Clr Tadeson opposed.
Council had a debate regarding a motion by Ward 14 Clr Mike Spadafora to grant a non-competitive contract to a consultant who will review the City’s use of non-competitive procurement with the goal of decreasing the City’s repeated non-competitive procurement fiascos.
The irony of this is discussed, with staff promising to request quotes from multiple potential consultants before deciding on this non-competitive award.
Council is debating the City’s “transformation and improvement” Enterprise Asset Management project that is now a half-decade behind schedule, $30-million spent without concrete results, still no 311 or comprehensive working citizen service system.
COVID is the first excuse, the 2024 cybersecurity failure is the second excuse, the City of Hamilton not paying its managers more is the third excuse because claims of retention.
City Manager’s Office is asking for more money for the project.
CMO notes that if Council does not approve more budget, the work that is closer to completion may not be completed.
The City’s Chief Information Officer is asked for a risk assessment regarding the integration of City of Hamilton asset management systems into one interconnect cloud provider.
CIO Cyrus Tehrani responds by discussing how other municipalities use the cloud.
Ward 9 Clr Brad Clark asks Tehrani to answer the actual question, and to state if the City did an independent assessment before doing a non-competitive purchase. Tehrani responds by stating the vendor says their system is robust.
Clark, having made the point, ends his line of questioning.
This is turning into a lengthy back-and-forth between some councillors and senior management.
In short, the Council realizes they’ve lost control of the “innovation” and “transformation” offices and the projects are both costly and failing to deliver.
However, the projects are so far along in work that another ‘reset’ (which has happened multiple times) will result in millions more in wasted public funds and years of delay.
There is also an undercurrent of many Council members privately aware of speculation that if either Keanin Loomis or Rob Cooper win the mayoral election, that they’ll use Strong Mayor Powers to replace many senior managers.
Council looks like they will eventually approve the increase in funding today.
Mayor Andrea Horwath is now speaking, with force in her voice, suggesting that some council members are engaging in election speeches, and the projects in front of Council are going to solve problems and improve infrastructure management.
The Chief Information Officer is again asked for details regarding the risk management of going to a single cloud provider.
The CIO’s answer is a bunch of general statements. Eventually, at the end, he states that it is better to use a cloud provider than internal servers as the City lost all of its systems in 2024 when the cybersecurity breach occurred.
The CIO is the same person in charge, the position was given a new title after the 2024 cybersecurity failure.
Council is recessed for lunch until 12:30
It is now 12:30 p.m.
We are awaiting the return of Mayor Horwath for the meeting to resume.
12:32 p.m. Mayor Horwath has returned, and Council resumes with the report from the Audit, Finance and Administration meeting of Oct 1
Council is now debating the potential of creating a maximum heat bylaw for rental housing.
As proposed, the City will not require landlords to install air cooling equipment if the costs of installation will result in the landlord being able to get an Above Guideline rent increase. Instead, in those situations, the landlord has to pay a fee to the City for an exemption from the requirement.
On the floor – the implementation of a maximum heat bylaw city-wide.
This is going to be an interesting vote because this use of municipal authority is split along ideological lines on Council.
Thus far, speaking in favour, are Kroetsch (Ward 2), Nann (Ward 3), Alex Wilson (Ward 13)
Speaking against city-wide, but willing to support the original agenda motion for a Ward 2 specific pilot, are Jackson (Ward 6).
Ward 12 Clr Craig Cassar asks questions of process, the difference between city-wide and Ward 2.
Says he is considering how he will vote.
Ward 14 Clr Mike Spadafora discussing the different jurisdictions of the province and the municipality.
Ward 7 Clr Esther Pauls asks if the maximum heat bylaw would apply to CityHousing Hamilton.
The answer is no, due to the cost of retrofitting building and increased operational costs of providing cooling.
Max heat bylaw only applies to private sector landlords.
Mayor Andrea Horwath will vote for a Ward 2 only pilot for maximum heat bylaw.
Ward 1 Councillor Maureen Wilson will vote for a city-wide max heat bylaw.
Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark says he will not support either motion because it is being rushed, and amended on the floor, only three weeks before the municipal election.
On a City-Wide Maximum Heat Bylaw
Defeated 5-10
In Favour: 1,2,3,4,13
Opposed: Mayor,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15
On a Ward 2 specific Maximum Heat Bylaw pilot
PASSES 12-3
In Favour: Mayor,1,2,3,4,5,6,11,12,13,14,15
Opposed: 7,8,9
A lengthy discussion regarding e-scooters, safety, education, and enforcement.
There has been a lengthy discussion regarding an added motion from Ward 11 Councillor Mark Tadeson to have staff preparate an Rural Official Plan Amendment to allow for municipal water services to be extended into the Greenbelt to provide sewer connections for a planned municipal recreation centre.
It will be a split vote.
Council went into closed session around 3:00 p.m.
I have no estimate for when they will leave closed session.
I am ending the liveblog.
Discussion
1 commentOne wonders why both West mountain councillors voted against heritage designation for the gate house?