Ward 2 Newsletter - Issue 25
March 12, 2025
Initiatives Coming to Help Revitalize Downtown Hamilton
Over the last several months, I’ve been working with the Downtown BIA, the International Village BIA, businesses in Hess Village, and City staff on a number of initiatives to revitalize our downtown and help it recover from the impacts of the pandemic. It’s my hope that many of these initiatives will come to fruition in this term of Council. Below is a high level summary of what’s being planned and when I anticipate we might see things starting to take shape. The timing outline below is an estimate and it might change. If it does, I’ll let folks know.
Relocation of Gore Park and Ferguson Station Outreach Programs
Timing - Spring and Summer 2025
Both of these outreach programs have done a great deal to support Hamiltonians experiencing food insecurity and deep poverty, but they’re taking place in areas that aren’t set up for sustainable operations. Most people who access these programs arrive by foot and, due to the numbers of those who rely on these services, it can make sidewalks unsafe and push people into dangerous road traffic. City staff and I have been working with these programs to assist them in moving either to City property or areas where other City programming already exists so they have the support they need.Temporary and Permanent Open Streets
Timing - Spring and Summer 2025
I’ve been working with City staff on a proposal to close streets in and around Gore Park and Hess Village temporarily (and eventually permanently). At this point, City staff and I are talking about short, medium, and long term approaches to doing this to ensure we can start quickly but also get feedback from affected businesses (including access for delivery vehicles). Street closures have been proven to make downtowns more vibrant and help businesses succeed. We’re currently targeting parts of Hughson Street, King William Street, and Hess Street.Downtown Revitalization Strategy
Timing - Fall and Winter 2025
Last year, I supported a City staff recommendation to begin the process of developing a Downtown Revitalization Strategy. A request for quotes has been put out by the City and we should have a consultant on board to help us with this work sometime in March. If you’d like to know more about the impact of strategies and plans like this, check out the Downtown Revitalization Project (Brantford), Strengthen the Core (Windsor), and the Greater Downtown Plan (Calgary).Downtown Hamilton Clean Team (DHCT)
Timing - Spring, Summer, and Fall 2025
It’s been difficult to keep track of litter, graffiti, illegal dumping, and other issues related to downtown cleanliness in a manner that’s effective and coordinated. The goal of implementing a DHCT is to address these issues more proactively and cross train our existing teams so they can more effectively tackle a wider range of cleanliness issues. In March, we’ll be simplifying reporting for BIAs and Councillors’ offices to report instances of graffiti.Social Support Outreach Program
Timing - Summer 2025
Businesses, residents, and visitors have reached out to ask if there’s anything the City can do to help those in need who may be falling through the cracks or gaps in existing services. As a result, we’re currently reviewing the City of Guelph’s Welcoming Streets Initiative, which may inform a City led pilot. City staff have also secured funding through the recent budget to study the gaps in our social support and outreach programs across the City. This work will inform how the City delivers additional services not captured by traditional emergency services (police, fire, paramedics) like what the City of Toronto has been doing.
A large part of this work has been informed by the contributions of the Boards of Directors of the Downtown BIA, International Village BIA, and businesses in Hess Village. I’m excited to continue to support this work to help revitalize our downtown and I’ll keep you posted as things progress.
Deadline Approaching for Vacant Unit Tax Submissions
I’ve heard from some Ward 2 residents the Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) has caused confusion, especially with respect to submitting declarations by the April 30, 2025 deadline. If you’re not already aware, all owners of residential property, in houses or buildings, are required to submit a declaration whether or not they have a vacant unit. Below are the top issues residents have raised with the Ward 2 Team and I. We’ve gathered the information below from City staff to keep you informed. Please reach out to Ward2@hamilton.ca if you need support.
Difficulty Using the City’s Vacant Unit Tax Website
City staff recognize there’s some confusion with how to use the website and are working on making improvements so it’s easier to submit a declaration. Based on what I’m hearing most, there is some confusion about whether or not you need to create an account on the City’s website in order to submit your declaration. To answer that, yes, you will need to create an account before you can submit a declaration. You can create an account on the sign in page by following the “Sign up now” link.
Information about the Vacant Unit Tax Program not Received by Mail
Some residents have reached out to say they haven’t yet received information about the VUT program from the City staff that was sent out in the mail and aren’t sure what the deadline is. City staff were able to confirm that information was mailed out on February 7, meeting all of the requirements to ensure it should have been in mailboxes by February 21. Unfortunately, there are still lingering impacts from the recent postal strike, so not everyone has received this mailed notice yet. The deadline to submit your declaration is April 30, 2025.
Reasons for Implementing the Vacant Unit Tax Program
Some others of you have asked why Council approved this VUT program in 2024. At a high level, and I encourage you to visit the VUT website for more information, it was implemented because it has been proven, in other cities, to help address the affordable housing crisis. It can create an incentive for owners of residential property to sell unoccupied homes or condos or put vacant units in multiresidential properties up for rent. The City is doing its part to make more housing available for those who need it.
As you know, there are many other types of vacant properties in Ward 2. I’ve met with City staff to speak to them about the possibility of a non residential vacant property tax for empty sites and commercial buildings. I’ll report back when I have more information after I’ve met with City staff again to follow up on some outstanding questions.
City Council Summary - February 12 and March 5, 2025
The Council decisions leading up to February 12 and March 5 included the approval of the budget and the elimination of the Encampment Protocol.
Approval of the City’s 2025 Operating and Capital Budgets
General Issues Committee - February 7, 2025
City Council - February 12, 2025
After all was said and done this year, through the new budget process handed down by the Province, the Mayor approved a 5.7% increase. I wrote about my reasons for supporting this year’s budget in the last edition of my newsletter and I’ve outlined the work I’ve done to reduce the overall budget. In total, I put forward decreases to the budget that would have lowered the final number of 5.7% to about 4.2% but not all of my motions were accepted by Council, unfortunately. Overall, Council supported 4 of the 6 motions I put forward this year. For deep dives on why I put forward these motions, read the last issue of my newsletter. Here are the outcomes with some brief explanations.
Hamilton Police Service Board Budget
Council did not support this motion. As the largest portion of the annual taxes levied from residents, I think this part of our budget deserves the same scrutiny as any other budget line. As a result, since I was elected, I have put forward motions to make the police budget more accountable and fiscally responsible. In 2022, it was a straight up and down vote on the police budget; in 2023, it was an effort, as a member of the police board, to put forward a number of motions to decrease unnecessary spending; and in this year, because of the new process, I was only permitted to put forward a motion to affect the increase so I put forward a motion to freeze the current budget. Next year, I’ll have more time to work with City staff to put forward a motion I hope more of my colleagues will be able to support.
In favour (2) - Kroetsch (mover), A. Wilson (seconder)
Against (14) - Beattie, Cassar, Clark, Danko, Francis, Horwath, Hwang, Jackson, McMeekin, Nann, Pauls, Spadafora, Tadeson, M. Wilson
Unallocated Ward 2 Balance from the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF)
Council supported this motion. I was able to return $97,415.72 remaining of the $2m given to Ward 2 in 2021 to the City for it to be used on other Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF) projects, including work on local roads and bridges, improvements to broadband connectivity, brownfield redevelopment, capacity-building, community energy systems, culture, drinking water, fire stations, public transit, recreation, regional and local airports, resilience, short-line rail, short-sea shipping, solid waste, sports, tourism, and wastewater.
In favour (16) - In favour (16) - Beattie, Cassar, Clark, Danko, Francis, Horwath, Hwang, Jackson, Kroetsch (mover), McMeekin, Nann (seconder), Pauls, Spadafora, Tadeson, A. Wilson, M. Wilson
Development of a Community Benefits Protocol
Council did not support this motion. Despite this being an ask for $75k to carry out the work of the Community Benefits Protocol Sub-Committee, an increase of only 0.006%. Council voted this down on February 12 after initially supporting it on February 7. There is another path forward, that City staff identified, and I will be exploring that to keep this work going in April.
In favour (8) - Cassar, Kroetsch (mover), Horwath, Hwang (seconder), McMeekin, Nann, A. Wilson, M. Wilson
Against (8) - Beattie, Clark, Danko, Francis, Jackson, Pauls, Spadafora, Tadeson
Improving the Cleanliness and Safety of Downtown Underpasses
Council supported this motion. It was an oddly contentious discussion, despite the result. I’m grateful most members of Council decided to support this. It means that 14 underpasses, tunnels, and adjacent roadways will now be regularly cleaned across Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4.
In favour (10) - Cassar, Clark, Horwath, Hwang, Kroetsch (mover), McMeekin, Nann (seconder), Tadeson, A. Wilson, M. Wilson
Against (6) - Beattie, Danko, Francis, Jackson, Pauls, Spadafora
Funding to Help the Downtown YMCA Recover from their 2024 Summer Fire
Council supported this motion. This was a surprise motion that I didn’t outline in the previous issue of my newsletter as it arose after it was published. In short, the YMCA was devastated by the fire at its downtown location last summer. This has meant 43 of its residents have been displaced while the YMCA tries to secure funding to repair units on its third floor. In order to support the YMCA, I put forward a motion as part of the budget process to allocate up to $350,000 to get these units back online.
In favour (15) - Beattie, Cassar, Clark, Danko, Francis, Horwath, Hwang, Kroetsch (mover), McMeekin, Nann, Pauls, Spadafora (seconder), Tadeson, A. Wilson, M. Wilson
Support for the Library’s Efforts to Recover from the 2024 Cybersecurity Incident
Council supported this motion. The Hamilton Public Library, whose Board I joined at the end of last year, was significantly impacted by the cybersecurity incident. City staff were not able to get about $1.5m into the budget in time to honour a request of the library for financial support as this investment is critical to securing their Information Technology network and will help the library’s systems to better withstand any future incidents.
In favour (16) - Beattie, Cassar, Clark, Danko, Francis, Horwath, Hwang, Jackson, Kroetsch (mover), McMeekin (seconder), Nann, Pauls, Spadafora, Tadeson, A. Wilson, M. Wilson
Elimination of the Encampment Protocol
City Council - March 5, 2025
As Council directed earlier this year, the Encampment Protocol has been eliminated. As you likely know, I voted against this direction and have spoken, at length, to my reasons for this in previous editions of my newsletter and in The Hamilton Spectator this year. This move by Council drags us back to an approach similar to how the City had evicted encampments during the last term of Council during the height of the pandemic, which was not, according to many experts, grounded in a human rights approach. Council voted to eliminate the Encampment Protocol despite a letter from the Federal Housing Advocate (FHA) on Council’s Agenda warning us to consider her recommendations before voting to move forward with a enforcement approach. Unfortunately, despite my efforts to ask for a discussion in a Closed Session to get legal advice, the majority on Council wanted “no delays” (as Councillor Tom Jackson put it) and voted to proceed without getting legal advice. The FHA’s letter to Council says she has “grave concerns” and it outlined her responsibilities through the National Housing Act as an appointee of the Federal government (she is not a housing activist, as Councillor John-Paul Danko implied she was). For additional context, in her report, FHA Marie-Josée Houle says cities should “[e]nd the practice of forced evictions of encampments on public lands”. Council’s decision to instead restart this practice is in direct conflict with her advice and recommendations. The FHA is part of the Federal government’s National Housing Strategy, which flows about $5m worth of funding to the City annually. I am concerned this may put that funding at risk, but we’ll have to wait for legal advice from the City Solicitor before we know for certain.
How did Council vote on moving forward with an enforcement approach?
In favour (13) - Beattie, Cassar, Clark, Danko, Francis, Hwang (seconder), Jackson, McMeekin (mover), Nann, Pauls, Tadeson, A. Wilson, M. WilsonAgainst (2) - Kroetsch, A. Wilson
Upcoming Meetings and Events
This section lists upcoming Ward 2 public meetings including town halls happening over the next few months. Some of this information may change closer to the meeting dates, including times and locations.
To read Committee and Council Agendas and Meeting Notices, please subscribe to updates directly through the City’s website or visit the City’s Committee Calendar.
For more on what’s happening in the downtown community, check out event listings from The Vibe Hamilton, Hamilton City Magazine’s regular events listing, and the Ward 2 website’s Public Meetings page.
March 20, 2025 - Affordable Housing Town Hall - Hamilton Farmers' Market - 7:00pm
March 24, 2025 - James Street North Businesses Community Meeting - Hamilton Artists Inc. - 5:30pm
April 3, 2025 - Neighbourhood Association Council - Council Chambers - 7:00pm
April 7, 2025 - Art Crawl Community Meeting - Hamilton Artists Inc. - 7:00pm
April 24, 2025 - Seniors Town Hall - YWCA - 12:00pm
April 30, 2025 - Accessible Streets Town Hall - 7:00pm
May 10, 2025 - Youth Town Hall - City Hall