MW Site

• Cybersecurity Incident Update
• Resumption of Property Taxes Pre-Authorized Payment Plans
• Upcoming Ward 1 Community Meetings
• In case you missed it
  • People Over Parking
  • City of Hamilton 2024 Budget
• Strathcona & Kirkendall Neighbourhoods Complete Safe Streets Study
• Kirkendall Neighbourhood Association Annual General Meeting
• Citizen Recruitment to the New Public Health Sub-Committee
• Earth Day - Spring into Action for the Climate
• Don't Toss Those Eclipse Glasses!
• 2024/2025 Recycling and Waste Information Guide
• Stories of Migration and Belonging Digital Exhibit
• Hamilton Water Protective Plumbing Program
• Lights Out
• Festivals and Events Ontario Municipality of the Year
• Practice Proper Petiquette
• Events

Projects in Ward 1

This edition of the Ward 1 newsletter includes:

• Cybersecurity Incident
• Affordable Housing Stalled - Explaining 5 and 13 Lake Avenue South, Hamilton
• City of Hamilton 2024 Budget
• ICYMI - recent Ward 1 meeting videos
• 2024/25 Recycling and Waste Information Guide
• Strathcona and Kirkendall Neighbourhoods Complete Streets Safety Report
• Stories of Migration and Belonging Digital Exhibit
• Celebrate International Women's Day with HSR
• Hamilton Water Protective Plumbing Program
• Solar Eclipse Glasses
• Events

Hamilton City Council passed its 2024 operating budget on February 15 with a tax increase of 1.64% for essential city services and 1.6% for housing/homelessness services.

An additional tax impact of 2.55% comes from the Government of Ontario's shift of infrastructure costs from land use developers to existing local property taxpayers. Premier Ford has promised to "make municipalities whole" and permanently alleviate the impact of this provincial policy decision, but this has yet to occur. 

The local and provincial impacts meant an increase of 5.79% overall.

The budget leverages the City's strong financial position to manage affordability while responding to the rapid legislative changes and insufficient funding to pay for the impacts of Provincial policy.

You may have read or heard that half of Hamilton's City Councillors were blocking the City's efforts to allow for affordable housing on city-owned parking lots in downtown Stoney Creek, requiring the Mayor to use Strong Mayor Powers to resolve the impasse. These lots offer free parking, have been declared surplus for many years, and have been zoned for multi-residential use for 30 years.

To borrow from Edmund Burke, elected representatives, more than anything else, owe the public their judgement and not just their obedience to public opinion.  Citizens’ trust in government is frustrated when actions don’t match words.  

Any decision on housing affects everyone across the City.  Hamilton City Council unanimously declared a housing crisis in April 2023, followed by unanimous support for an action plan to bring focus and urgency to this crisis.  All of Council committed to action, not just words.

The action plan is called the Housing Sustainability and Investment Roadmap (HSIR). It is intended to be a "whole community" response, with the City of Hamilton partnering with community organisations to build affordable housing.

The sale or lease of surplus City-owned parking lots for a nominal price to not-for-profit housing corporations for affordable housing development is a tool available to municipalities and an identified action in the HSIR. The City and community partners can then use this land asset to leverage federal and provincial housing investments.

THIS EDITION OF THE WARD 1 NEWSLETTER INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:

• Affordable Housing Actions - A Ward 1 Update
• First Ward 1 Q&A Session of 2024 with Councillor Wilson
• 2024 City Budget Deliberations
• Strathcona Community Council Annual Public Meeting

To bring focus and urgency to the housing crisis in our city, Hamilton City Council launched the Housing Sustainability and Investment Roadmap (HSIR) in 2023.

The HSIR is intended to be a “whole of community” response, with the City of Hamilton partnering with community organizations that bring different strengths, experiences, needs and resources to the housing table.  Although HSIR is an excellent step in bringing local resources together, ultimate success requires a fully engaged and committed federal and provincial government.

This Ward 1 update is to provide residents with the first annual update on the HSIR and the Housing Secretariat.

• Maureens' Annual Letter to Residents
• Join Councillor Wilson for the First Ward 1 Q&A Session of 2024!
• Hamilton's Winter Response Strategies for Unsheltered Residents
• Strathcona and Kirkendall Complete Safe Streets Study Kick-Off
• Next Phase in the Churchill Park Master Plan
• Make your home future-ready with the Better Homes Hamilton Program
• Call to Upload Urban Parkways to Province
• Victoria Park Tennis Court Replacement
• Immerse Yourself In Our Local Geological Wonders
• Hamilton Outdoor Winter Recreation
• Hamilton Public Library Hour
• Events

THIS EDITION OF THE WARD 1 NEWSLETTER INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:

• Strathcona and Kirkendall Complete Safe Streets Consultation - Dates and locations
• Churchill Park Phase 3 Overview and Informal Teaching Area Survey
• HAAA Park Renewal Features Survey - Options for Skate Dot, Outdoor Gym & Bouldering
• Snow Angels 
• Make Your Home Future Ready. Better Homes Hamilton Program
• Residential Zones Project - Reimagining Neighbourhoods Survey Ends December 8th!
• Stormwater Incentive Program Survey
• City Services & Assets Review
• New Short-Term Rentals By-law
• The Order of Hamilton Open for Nominations
• Events