Transcript - Advancing Downtown Revitalization Efforts - Downtown Sub-Committee

Advancing Downtown Revitalization Efforts - Downtown Sub-Committee - April 9, 2026

Sound check one two 3. Sound check one two 3. Hello and welcome to the downtown subcommittee meeting for Thursday, April the 9th. I'm War City Councelor Cameron Cretch and the chair of the downtown subcommittee. I'm just going to go through and let you know who's also here. Vice Chair Susie Braithweight from the International Village BIA and member Emily Walsh from the Downtown BIA, Councelor Moren Wilson from Ward One, and we have citizen members Karen Row, Andrea Zarafa, and Ryan Moran. I believe I saw Anya from the Beasley Neighborhood Association there, and I believe that's Udrina from the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. That's who I see on the screen with us now. We have quorum for our meeting. So, we're going to get started. Our first item of business is the approval of the agenda. And so, I wanted to check if there's any discussion on today's agenda and have a mover and seconder to approve the agenda as presented. Moved by vice chair briefly, seconded by member Walsh. Any discussion on today's agenda? I'll say a couple things I wanted to just let people know about. What we had done before was we had certain items that were supposed to appear here according to the minutes that are not here. So I just want to address that issue before we get into our meeting and then discuss what we're doing going forward. So what happens here is we bring motions forward and then we sit and sort of go back and forth with staff and ask them does it seem like this date will be okay and staff say yeah this date will be fine or no we can't do it that date we'll do it at a future date and then they give us a date and then we put the date in the motion in the minutes but then it still sometimes doesn't come back on time. what's happening as a practice behind the scenes is that people are emailing saying, "Oh, that report's going to be late." And that email goes to probably legislative folks or other people that they report to, but we don't know that as a committee. So, what I've asked now is if people want to change a date, they just have to come back here and change it. We give plenty of time for reports to come back, usually not one meeting cycle. So, if it needs to be pushed at the next meeting, they can come back here and say to us, "Hey, we need to push this and here are the reasons why. Is that okay with you?" and then we can approve that because ultimately all of our minutes are approved by council, right? So council's saying, "Yep, this stuff's going to come in on time." And then it doesn't come in on time sometimes. So want to make sure that's a more transparent process for everyone. So that's why it asked to happen going forward. So when the legislative coordinators get this stuff, I'll get it. I'll for it on to people saying, "Okay, bring it back to the next meeting. We'll have to change the date." So I want to let you know why you're not seeing some things that are supposed to be here that are going to be coming forward on June 11th instead. and why that happened and how it happened and hopefully it won't happen in the future without letting us know. On that note, no one else wanted to say anything about the minutes uh sorry the agenda. So all those in favor by show of hands. That is everyone. Thank you very much. Now we're on to the approval. Um so before we get there, declarations of conflicts of interest. Does anyone have a declaration of a conflict of interest to declare today? Not seeing it. So we'll go on to section five, which is the approval of minutes of previous meetings. And that will be for March 2nd, 2026. So we'll need someone who is there to move it. Member Wakeford and seconded by member Moran to adopt the minutes of our last meeting. Are there any discussion on the minutes from our last meeting or any of the items there? Not seeing anything. All those in favor by show of hands. That is everyone. Thank you. Now we're on to items for information. And so I'll need a mover and second to put the report on the floor. And that report is 7.1PW26049 2026 International Village Pride Event Support and that be moved by Vice Chair Braithweight and I'll second that. So it's on the floor. Staff's available to answer the questions. We're going to be receiving this report only. So let's have questions if anyone has them. Now Vice Chair Brie, it's not it's just a comment in the report. the uh the date for the event is incorrect. So, it should be June 7th. So, I just wanted to state that. But that's it. Everything else looks great. So, thank you for that. Thanks very much. Any other questions or comments about this report? I'm not seeing any. So, all of us Oh, pardon me. I am seeing one now. Councelor Moren Wilson. Thank you. Um could I just uh first receive an overview so I'm clear on what what the city deems to be its role in supporting and facilitating an event like this through the chair. Thank you through the chair to councelor Wilson. Uh Angela Story the director of waste management. I'll maybe start with this answer because our manager of waste collections did uh um coordinate the write the writing of this memorandum. So the way the report is written is we provided an overview of the services as they are generally provided from a level of service perspective and then we highlighted for this specific event any differences or increased level of service that would be provided. So, in the areas that were talked about here, um, in this report, you'll know that it was related to graffiti, cleanliness, I'm just scrolling, security, and then specific to Ferguson Station because that's where this um, event is taking place. Uh so under those areas the level of service would be provided in the report councelor Wilson based on for example from a cleanliness perspective our waste downtown cleanliness group because it's in this area um would service litter and containers um seven days a week uh until 3 p.m. So it works very nicely with uh this event. And then there's some other services such as graffiti or the Ferguson station uh maintenance in general that would be um a little bit increased level of service just to ensure that during that event and leading up to it and following it, it would be um uh a little bit more paid attention to. So the general levels of service are what we offer. Um because this is in the downtown area and we do have some shifts that do cover the um event timeline, we were able to increase that support. Okay. So if I've understood then um this is an event that is not being organized by the city per se. Yes. And as a consequence, it wouldn't trigger an enhancement of a level of service that is normally provided in the downtown. Do I have that so far? Okay. Yes, through the chair that is correct. Okay. But my presumption would be I would deduce that the report was called for because it was there were occurrence occurrences in the past either with this or similar events where there were perhaps gaps that did not support perhaps the fullness of of the event. Do I have that correct? Yeah. Through the chair and chair Braithweight can probably assist if she'd like. Um what we've noticed in the past is typically leading up to event in the days closest to the event some urgent requests come along for and sorry through the chair some urgent requests come along for some services like these in this case and because we do have this committee and we do have great working relationship with the BAS in the downtown area um chair Braithweight did reach out and through the motion and said I have this event coming up and we've experienced some issues in the past what is it that we can do to prepare earlier and more completely for that event in advance. Okay, thank you. That's very helpful. Um my question is just out of curiosity um when I was I'll let full disclosure skimming the report um the bed rehabil rehabilitation um I think there is reference to a possible um staff will also in investigate the use of a soil treatment compound designed to neutralize odors is that's of interest to me. Um, is that something that staff are able to comment on? Have we done that before? Is it a best practice? It seems to make sense that we would want to do that through the chair. Through the chair, Cynthia Graham, director of environmental services. Uh, it's not something that is a standard course in our planters only because it just hasn't been needed. In uh Ferguson station though there is uh some um ongoing evidence of of odors coming from the planters and therefore staff in investigating and and their knowledge of um working in urban environments knew of a product. Uh I don't have any more specific details on it for today but we can provide an update on what we have been able to source and find. uh we're able to do that through our our own operating budget, so there's no impact. Thank you. Um there is of course um a motion on the agenda about um a downtown washroom. Would staff be able to opine whether they think these conditions in a concentrated urban core might be as a consequence of an absence of public washrooms in the downtown? or is that a bridge too far at this point? I I don't want to lead, but it seems to me that it couldn't be completely detached from the condition. Uh through the chair, um I can confirm that staff understand the odors to be as a result of human defecation and urination. And therefore, um, I I would presume that if there were places for people to relieve themselves that that might assist with that, um, condition. Okay. Thank you. Um, I guess my other question perhaps is more politically sensitive. Um, given the history in Hamilton, um, the notation on the security, um, in, uh, and the history of what has perhaps occurred at Pride events previously? Um, and am I reading this correctly to say that the corporate safety and security team um there there's going to be no change in service in that for that event through the chair. So I I will start with um what I know the safety and security team's current level of service which is the mobile patrol that is the um the team that was dedicated to the 247 washrooms that then was transitioned to a roving park security team because Ferguson station is considered a park's asset. that is a place that we requested that they have a regular circulation through in order to assist with the conditions and and the activities that were seen at that event. So I can confirm that that is the security level of service that is discussed in the report. I see that Joel um manager McCormick has turned his camera on. So I'm I'm hopeful that that's because he has additional information. Good afternoon everybody. Uh Joel McCormick, manager of waste collections. Um yeah, through the chair I don't necessarily have much more to add. Uh when connecting and having the conversations with our corporate security uh area, uh they explained that the the level of service that's outlined in the report is the level of service that's provided for the downtown on the 247 uh time frame. And uh if I believe I'm remembering correctly, the actual Ferguson station, the location for the event would have security roaming every 3 to four hours, I believe. Just trying to go off memory. Yep. No. Uh thank you for for clarifying that. So if there was a want for a greater presence that would have to be um obviously that would be an enhancement and there it would have to be budgeted andor the resources would have to be taken from some other patrol for this particular patrol. Do I have that correct through the chair? Yes, through the chair. Correct. Okay, thank you. Those are my questions. I might be able to clarify uh that councelor Wilson. So, our pride events take place on the same day as Open Streets and Open Streets provides security to the streets. So, we also have an undercover security person that is part of the 2SLGBTQA plus community. We don't like to advertise that there's like security roaming about because it makes people uncomfortable. Um, but we have covered that side of it for this. Now, if we weren't to run that event on open streets, then it would probably be a request that would come through, but for now, we're okay. So, just to clarify that, thank you. Just checking to see if there's any further discussion on item 7.1. I'm not seeing any. So, this is item for information that we're going to receive. All those in favor of receiving the item by show of hands. That's everybody. Thank you so much. We're now moving on to 7.2, which the Hamilton night guides pilot project. I have a few questions about this. Um, before it gets started, I'll turn it over the chair over to Vice Chair Braithweight because it's really an information item and so we'll need a move in second first though to put it on the floor. Moved by member Wakeford, seconded by Vice Chair Braithweight and I'll ask my questions about this. So obviously it's coming to us after the Junos has happened, right? So the pilot was put here as as close as it could be to a meeting that we were having at the downtown subcommittee. So I have a couple of questions. One firstly being how did it go? Thank you for the question, Lisa Abbott, director of tourism and culture. Uh to respond through the chair, um it was a very successful pilot. The pilot was uh based on similar pilots that have been done in other cities such as Vancouver for their Junos last year. Also, Ottawa has a very uh robust program. Um over the four nights, uh there were 194 interactions uh uh with approximately 230 people helped. Uh the interactions uh were generally um requests for information, uh responses for uh where to find things or or directions, um how to get places safely, uh requests for, you know, calling for cabs or transportation. So all actually and and a lot of interactions were about what is this night guides program? Who are you and what are you doing? Um so a lot of raising awareness. Uh, and these folks were um on the streets uh out until um 4:00 a.m. uh just uh and patrolling. Um and overall it was very positive. We've gotten very positive responses back from from all. We are also waiting on uh we had consultation with uh Hamilton Police and we're waiting on uh responses back from them about how they felt the program went as well. Okay, that's really helpful. So I understand this is obviously not a bylaw thing. This is not that kind of uh enforcement or any kind of thing like that. This is mainly for a big event that we're trying to do this because there's discussions about ambassador programs in the past and one of the reasons why we didn't pursue that is because having an ambassador program just going on constantly without any anchor to it um doesn't really make a lot of sense. So we try to figure out how can we anchor those projects to events that are happening. Do we have plans to do this again and when and if not why not and how much should it cost are my next questions. Thank you for the question certainly. So we are still compiling and collecting data. We do feel that an ambassador program or a night guides program is integral to uh uh the nighttime economy which is a study that we are embarking on this year uh through tourism and culture um as part of the tourism strategy. Uh so there are plans on on do on doing this again further uh and information will be coming forth with um to your point it does make a lot of sense to anchor the the night guide uh the night guides out um to specific events um and other events in the community have approached us and said we're interested in partnering with you. So there's many different avenues that we can that we can go down in order to implement a night guides program. The overall cost for the program was less than $15,000 for the four nights. Uh, and that included a lot of work to sort of get it up and running. And we wouldn't have those one-time costs in the future. In the future, it would really only just be for the staffing. And again, this was a partnership with the city and the good sheeperd mission. The good sheeperd mission provided those staff who were the night guards night guides um who have the appropriate training uh to be out on the streets at that hour and at that time to provide the right kind of guidance for folks. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. So ideally I'd like to see that information. I'm sure other people would be interested in seeing that more fullsomely reported back to us so we can see what the costs were, what the planning is because I think an event downtown should have a definition, right? So what is a small event? What is a medium event? what is a large event but you know our crawls are now happening pretty it's pretty popular there are thousands and thousands of people on a Friday five or six times a year that are happening so like those are those are a level that's happening at night until 11:00 is when we close the streets until that's nighttime so you know deploying folks for those would be helpful there's also other events the BAS are doing that sometimes occur at night so there's lots of nighttime events that are occurring over the summer months super crawl you name it right um what is the downtown area considered, where will we do this? Um, people coming into the GO station and so on and so on and so on. So, how can we get a report back here? The easy way might be me moving a motion saying that you report back on this at some to some future meeting. Um, I'd be happy to move that, but absolutely. Thank you through the chair. Um, so we do have some uh some data and a lot of results that are in now that uh we can circulate for uh commu for information uh right away. Um and uh we would be able to come back with a more wholesome plan about how this was going to be rolled out. Um I'm hoping before the summer. Okay. So we have meetings on June 11th and August 13th. Which one would you choose? Well, the June 11th we'll have to do then. Thank you. Yes. So I'm happy to move that if someone wants to second that we get a report back. I'm not chairing right now though. You are vice chair Braithweight. So can I get a seconder Emily? Yeah, the motion is just that we get a more wholesome report back to the downtown subcommittee about the Hamilton night guides pilot project including costs. Does that seem reasonable enough? Carrie, did you get that? Okay. Okay. All in favor? Carrie. Thanks. I'll take the chair back. Does anybody have more questions about the night guides pilot project at this point or are we happy to wait till June 11? Take it away. Vice Chair Braithweight. Um, I just wanted to note I was a little disappointed that it ended at John Street and didn't come down to at least Wellington. So, RBI was technically left out of the night guides program and I did hear some feedback from my members on that. So, just in the future if we could also be wrapped into that. I know we have lots of restaurants that people attend at night and events and things. So, that'd be great. Thank you. Through the chair, we'll take that into consideration. Thank you. Okay. Okay, I'm not seeing anybody else. So, we'll move if we can, all in favor to receive this information report. That is everyone. Thank you. Now, we're moving on to motions. We don't have any items for consideration today. And just a warning that our June 11th meeting, uh, we have many items for consideration. So, come prepared for a long meeting. There will be lots and lots of recommendation reports that we've been waiting for for a while to get back. So, don't be surprised if you come to a very full agenda that day. The motions are firstly the downtown washroom community impact considerations. It's moved by member Walsh and seconded by myself. And if you'd like to introduce the motion, Emily, go ahead. Absolutely. So, um, we recently saw a public works committee that there's a motion to explore the feasibility of a new public permanent washroom in John Rebecca Park. So, this is just a motion to uh have some research into best practices in other urban uh public washroom projects and uh see if there's any strategies that we can implement to make this as big of a success as it possibly can be. Thanks. I'll add a couple cents in here just for information since I'm the one who is bringing forth the other motion. So, the investment in the new downtown washroom is the title of the motion, which is, I think, frankly, slightly misleading, misleading, and that's my fault. Um, the word investment doesn't make sense because we already have the money set aside in our budget and have for probably collectively over the three-year period. So, we've been saving money to try and implement a downtown washroom program. And so, we have about one between one and $2 million, I think, saved aside now to do that. And the goal originally was to consider Ferguson Station as a place to put a washroom. but then quickly realized it wasn't really practical to do it there. It wasn't uh pedestrian access wasn't great. Um sandwiched between Maine and King. And then like structurally we'd have to kind of remove a lot of the infrastructure that's already there to put a washroom in. So then the question became, well, where can we put one that we can do so feasibly? And if you've seen other cities, they have washrooms that are um I guess you'd call them a mobile home washroom essentially, right? It's stationary. It's permanent, but it's not a building structure that you have to build brick by brick. It's something that you can buy that's pre-constructed and you can install it by adding some municipal infrastructure to it. So, there's been ongoing discussions about where and then staff recommended, well, we thought about the area beside the parkade on York Boulevard across from the farmers market. There's a small parkquette closest to James and we thought maybe that would be a place since it's underutilized, but that u because we don't own the park anymore and we don't know the future of the park. We thought that might be might be a smart choice. So then we kept looking around downtown in the core specifically where there was and our choices were Gore Park. Um but then we'd have to contend with probably a number of other problems in Gore Park because we have three phases of a master plan that are happening in Gore Park and we're not even at phase two I don't believe if I have it correct right so we have much more to do in Gore Park and then we're going to do this and then move it the next year. So then the last place remaining was John Rebecca Park also it's situated near a fire department. So, we thought that as a potential partnership or potential way to try to mitigate some of what's going on near the fire department might be smart. So, staff are already aware of this thing, but I think the motion's important because it will um get some coordination happening here and discussion happening here and checking in with people. So, it's a bit awkward because one thing gets approved somewhere else and then one thing gets approved here, but they all kind of go up to the same place. I'm just looking at staff when I say this like the tracking of this I think will be will be tricky to do and making sure that it also connects with the folks who are doing the washroom who aren't here today. So, um, it's a different team altogether who are doing that. Um, and because it's a park though, Cynthia is slightly involved in it. And so, I just wanted to give her an opportunity to say anything she wanted to about about how how this will work and how we'll get information back to the downtown subcommittee before the design phase, etc. Like the practicality of this, that's all through the chair. So yeah, I'm peripherilally um aware and involved in uh the uh initiative and uh conversations and yes um my understanding is that the um facilities team is leading the project uh to do a feasibility for washroom. Uh if the location is John Rebecca Park, um that's great. And um I'll just flag this item to Daniela Periv who is the director of that team so that she is aware that there is a report back requirement to this committee as well as public works committee. Thanks. I want to just get that in the public record and also just kind of say to the legislative coordinator if it's possible just to follow up with Danielle as well just to make sure that she knows because she's not here today. One of the most important things about this committee and how we're trying to structure the work is to have as many of the people who are making the decisions here so that things don't fall off the radar or become the responsibility of somebody who it's not. So I'm just mindful of that. Um also it hasn't been confirmed 100% yet that that's going to be the location. But that's the proposed location because there aren't again a lot of spots where we can put them. Also last thing I'll say is that um really appreciate this because one of the issues a best practices uh Beasley neighborhood association in about 20 I want to say 17 or 18 or 19 commissioned a study North Americwide through city lab and that's available on their website which talks about all the different conditions and staff are aware of that and are going to incorporate in their plans but I want to let you know about that as well that it's available on their website at bna rbna.com and um it talks about the different things and that one thing that I've discussed with washroom vendors when I was representing the city at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference a couple of years ago was density of washrooms. One won't do it and we just have to anticipate and know in advance that when we install one washroom downtown, it will not be successful and everyone knows that upfront. Meaning it's not going to work perfectly as we expect it to work. We're going to be presented with challenges. We'll have to do repairs and maintenance. We'll have to operationalize uh people to help with the washroom. Once we hit four or five washrooms, that's when you start to see a balancing out because there are other places for people to go. So then when one washroom isn't working, it's not really a big deal. Um, last thing I'll say about this is our office is putting out something hopefully soon, but this year, a washroom guide by neighborhood, so people can find out where to go to the washroom in their neighborhood they're in downtown. Because there are actually tons of public washrooms globally in W 2. people just aren't aware that those businesses have a kind of perspective which is while we're open this welcome washrooms for everybody that there's some like art galleries other kinds of institutions which are just like yep you can come use our washrooms there's public institutions there's the mall all kinds of places so we don't have that collectively anywhere and so people are asking our office or other people where can I go what can I do and people don't know then we can hand this information out broadly and people have a more of a sense of it so there's not a crisis created around the one the one public washroom downtown when there of course like many public washrooms. People just aren't aware of them. Yes, Karen. Go ahead. So then since the homeless people are literally told they can't go anywhere, where are they supposed to go if there's only going to be at this point in time some public washrooms in the park? Yeah, that's an ongoing problem, Karen, that we don't have an answer to. Right. I mean, so a lot of the policies the city has are kind of in controvention with one another or contradict one another, I should say, right? So that's one of the issues we're trying to resolve here holistically is where can people go? So one thing that happened in more just so you know is that we're trying to winterize some of the washroom facilities that we have so they can be open more more year round. Corktown Park, Jackie Washington Park where we're doing now. So we're trying to find a way to make sure there's washrooms that are available in multiple places. But we also recognize that we need purpose-built downtown washrooms um in more locations than just randomly in a park. So Jackie Washington Park is not exactly a downtown space. It's in the north end. It's out of the way. Corktown Park, same thing. While it's pretty close to downtown, it's mostly south, mostly east. And so most people aren't going to be in those areas. So how do we concentrate more washrooms that are publicly available to the downtown core? What we've done for Saturdays, for instance, at city hall, um they're open now on Saturdays from I forget when until like 2. We have the building open now for washrooms. So, we're slowly starting to integrate these policies because we recognize of course that is the issue is that people need a place to go to the washroom and we haven't built infrastructure for that for many many years and we're having to undo a lot to do to do things if that if that helps. Not much but sorry it's the best answer I have for you in the moment on on the spot. The staff have anything they want to add. I don't think the people who are here today have as much insight on that subject but they're welcome to add something if they do. No. So, we're developing this program and this is part of trying to develop a downtown washroom program to make sure people have a place to go. It's wonderful because we live in the downtown core and we know about the Ferguson station. Yep. And we know about the Gore Park. Everybody goes there, too. So, Yep. It's not a pleasant experience. No, I live downtown. I hear you. Yep. Yeah. Thank you. I appreciate that. Any other comments on Emily's motion? One second. Uh, Bratzella, I don't see your camera on, but you're there. Yes, I'm here. Sorry. Um, I I just wanted to clarify something, and I know it's from what you just said, it sounds like it's in the infancy stage and you don't actually have a plan, but I'm a little confused. If you know for uh for sure that implementing one washroom is not going to be successful, would it not make sense to implement like almost like a pilot thing where you do like four or five whatever you think the successful number would be, but maybe with like less robust infrastructure, maybe a like a popup like a plan to and then you can kind of get more data to see cuz it just seems like a big waste of money to like put one in and then know it's going to fail. Um and you know there's a big need for it and you know we business it shouldn't be on businesses or other people to be included in this. It really should be you know public washrooms downtown. So yeah I just I I know you said it was in the infancy but I just don't understand how do we stop this from being a failure right away. Yeah. Apologies for my language if I made it seem like it was going to be a failure. No, it's not going to be a failure, but what it means is it's not going to be a successful program till we can afford to build out four or five of them. And part of this is a pilot. So, the consideration staff have are about making sure it's going to be successful as a single washroom. What I'm trying to say is we're going to need a lot of resources to make that happen. That's not a successful outcome or a sustainable outcome is what I should say. You can't have that many resources for one washroom. As we get more washrooms built into the system, it'll be more successful and it'll be better. But what I'm saying is that if we don't start with one and we don't start doing something and start measuring the progress and getting some data, we're not going to get anywhere. So we did this pilot um a pilot project two years ago, I'm looking at director Graham, two years ago in eight downtown parks. We put in temporary washroom infrastructure and it was successful and not successful, right? There were some places where it was okay and some places where it didn't really work and we learned a bunch of lessons from that which is why we're using those lessons to make this better. So what I mean by unsuccessful is we're not going to have an amazing or successful downtown washroom program until we have four or five or six. The problem is they're quite expensive to do. Quite expensive to operationalize. We simply don't have enough money to do all of them at once. So most like most other Ontario cities, we're trying to get one. St. Catherine's did it. North Bay did it. A couple of other cities did the same thing. They found a way of making it work and then they expanded when they had had a process that works. What I'm saying is we have to set our expectations for. It's not going to be something that we're going to be like, "Oh, we have a downtown washroom. solved all of our problems. I'm just saying that when we get the first one, we're going to have some bumps in the road until we can figure out exactly how to make it operationally work. Once we get there, we can expand the pilot from there. So, that's kind of a better explanation with a better choice of words. Preab washrooms, will they be purchased in Canada by Canadians or are we going to China again? As far as I'm have that information in my brain anyways, I don't know if we can answer that at this moment for you. But I think the manufacturers we're looking for are both Canadian. I think one's in Quebec at least as far as I know. The folks that we used for we have already in our relationship with someone to do this because it's not the very first wash from where we're going to buy. It's just that we're doing it downtown. But if you want to send an email in to find that answer out, we can get it for you. That's actually not the subject of this motion in particular. That's the subject of a motion going to a different committee entirely. So none of the people who are here can talk to that because it's this emotion is not about installing a downtown washroom. It's about getting feedback for one. So I don't have the answer handy but my answer for my brain is I think so. Yeah. Helen, go ahead. We have a winter washroom program over the uh winter months where most of the parks are direct um covered by the winter washroom facilities team for you know if damage is done and if they open and close uh the washroom. There was a quite a few of them on the winter washroom program. I think like five or six. Is that where you're getting your um data from to see how the winter washroom program was utilized? Is that going to be moving forward? Like does anybody know how that worked out? That's part of the data set, but the data I was speaking about was about washrooms we put in during the warmer months in eight downtown parks specifically. But you're right, there are a bunch of winterized washrooms and there are about two or three I think in W 2 and then there's more in W three. But specific to the downtown is the issue, right? So when people think of the downtown there's many definitions about that, but we're trying to create a concentration of washrooms that are publicly available in the core, make sure people know about them and can access them and then that will once we have a certain tipping point of a number that address the number of issues, then we'll be in a place where we're going to be able to sustain this. But it's not going to happen overnight. We'll need a certain number. And don't worry, I've had a lot of conversations with staff about operationalizing that. And I, it's a big word I'm using, operationalize. What that means is we will need staff to help with the washroom situation. We can't just plunk a washroom in somewhere and expect that it's just going to manage itself. We're going to need staff to be able to monitor those situations. We're going to need staff to be able to help operate the washrooms. Uh there may be some options for selfcleing washrooms, but there may be washrooms that require some cleaning assistance. So have to have someone regularly cleaning it. That's part of the cost as well. So unfortunately, as you may all know, part of the reason we have a downtown subcommittee is because we need to focus our efforts on ensuring that things are being improved in our downtown and they haven't been for a very long time. And so that's one of the reasons why we're doing it this way and we're trying to have the motions come through here about consultation and that kind of thing because it hasn't been a priority necessarily. For those also willing to have more information, I'll say a few more words. Next week on April 15th, the downtown revitalization strategies coming forward. If you haven't had a chance to read the report, I recommend you read the report because some of the recommendations are pretty outstanding. Now, for a lot of us who've been waiting for those things to happen for a long time, they feel like uh sort of basic building blocks of what should be going on in our downtown. And you can read that cynically and say, "Yeah, no kidding. This should have been happening for 20 years." But it hasn't been. It's okay. Uh it's happening now. Meaning that we have that in writing. We have a plan coming. I I really recommend people read it because some of the things there are going to be transformational for our downtown. So, it's great that that's happening. That's underway. A lot of the work of getting a governance plan in place and starting to action those things is happening this year and next year. And hopefully eventually we'll have a downtown office where it's going to be coordinated from so that things that are happening won't happen to fall to all of us entirely on our own. We'll have or the staff who are just sort of being assembled, you know, and to to attend these meetings, but they'll be a coordinated group of individuals whose focus is on muring uh ensuring the downtown is looked after specifically. And I get it. It's frustrating for all of us and many people who think well why hasn't this been or in place for x number of years or why has well um this is what happens when a forced amalgamation on a city of of this size and nature and when there is not equity considerations built into budgeting this is what we get sorry it sucks but it's real um on that point on this motion I'm going to call to see if any more discussion on the motion which is to get consultation about the washroom to come here so we have more of of a sense of the kinds of considerations people are making and that'll come before hopefully in early Q3 2026 because the other reporting is due in another part of Q3 2026. So we wanted to get be here in early Q3 2026. Not seeing any more. All those in favor that's everyone. Thank you so much. And now we're on to the last motion of our meeting which is a Ferguson station power washing and cleanliness. It's moved by Vice Chair Braithweight and seconded by myself. And would you like to introduce it, Vice Chair Braithweight? Sure. So, basically, just to summarize it, uh we do events at Ferguson Station, but also it's meant to be a public gathering spot. And unfortunately, when the power washing is only done, uh periodically for events, the smells build up. So by the time the event comes, even if the power washing was done like the day before, it's like I'm emptying bottles of Fbreze trying to not have it smell. So I think it needs an ongoing plan to have power washing weekly or bi-weekly, especially in the hot months, so that it we don't get to the point where we have to do that all the time and we're panicking right before an event. So that would be my request. Um, and just basically that it's it's looked at and and those services are increased for power washing. Thank you. And I'm just going to turn to the motion briefly to make sure that I've got this here. So, it's a request to come back to our June 11th, 2026 meeting respecting this issue. This is the exciting moment where I turn to look and see if anyone has a concern about June 11th and would like it to be August 13th. This is your public opportunity to say so through the chair Vincent Sprassa, director of transportation services. Um so uh we can report back on our existing um resources that we have. I can tell right now we currently just have one sidewalk power washer machine dedicated to the downtown and the north district of Hamilton. So we can certainly come back with just some basic information about what we currently have, but what may be needed in the event that uh once a week service level would need to be accommodated, which would be purchasing equipment and perhaps some type of position associated with it. Okay. So my question only is just do you think that it's okay for you to bring that information back by June 11th or do you need more time until August 13th? Just want to make sure we're getting it when we get it because I don't want to delay it. I would say so through to through to the chair uh because of timelines associated with reports um if at the indulgence of the committee uh we would appreciate perhaps being deferred to August. Okay. I mean it makes sense. The reporting cycles for communities are usually two to three months after they go through the whole cycle. So it makes sense that you need more time and we'd rather have a complete and comprehensive answer that you feel confident getting to us on time. So August 13th we'll change that in the motion too. I think the goal just if I can speak briefly to it is just that we want to make sure we understand what are the cost implications of doing it. What are the staffing implications? If it costs money for uh to purchase a machine and we don't have the ability in our budget or block funding to do so then there's the ability of reserve funding that we can use to do so. Um this is obviously an unplanned expense. So, and we didn't budget for it in the last budget and it's coming up as a request now and we're learning that there may not be enough equipment and there may not be enough individuals, which by the way happens all the time. For those who've been following the highlights, this happened when we had a discussion about underpass cleaning where we had to have a motion come to the budget live during the budget to get money to clean the underpasses in our city. So, this is just a peace meal activity we've been doing. Again, when we have a downtown office eventually, hopefully these things can be coordinated through that budget specifically. So, thank you very much. Any other questions or comments on getting this report back? I'm not seeing any. All those in favor? Show of hands. Thank you very much. That's everyone. On that note, we don't have anything else on our agenda. There are no notices of motion nor general information or other business. And so, I'm not seeing any further under general information or other business. Karen, you wanted to ask a question. Usually we don't ask skill testing questions, but we'll do our best because we're not surprising people here. Um, however, just a second. I got to turn your microphone on for you. Go ahead. What happened to the garbage cans that were supposed to be in the downtown core? I'll broadly answer that and then I'll turn to to so broadly we've installed about a hundred I think almost in in the last three years. If you want a location map, we have one. Um, what I can say to you is that there is a report you weren't at this meeting. There's a report coming back on June 11th, I believe it is, if I'm not wrong, that is going to be talking about exactly how the replacement program goes. So, the replacement program, just briefly, since I'm highly involved in this, but I'll turn to staff if they want to fill it up, is we have currently uh steel drum style garbage cans and the different kind you've seen that are covered over the top. And so, we been replaced about a hundred and installed about 100 in this term of council all along different parts of the downtown where there weren't any garbage cans and slowly have been replacing the steel drum style. that a motion came forward here to say let's replace the steel drum style and install more. But there's a conflict between um installation in the right of way like just streets in general and places where we can put them because you need a concrete pad to be installed for each one so they can be supported versus parks which are different kind of insulation because you've got a lot of grassy areas. So our report's coming back at our next meeting to say this is this is our plan and how we're going to do it. But I can turn to Cynthia Graham perhaps who could respond or Angela story who could respond about this more through the chair Cynthia Graham director of environmental services. So uh the report that we are writing now is looking at the drum style and replace and and what would be the costs and operational implications of switching to a different different kinds of styles of garbage can. Uh so that is that is what councelor Cretch is referring to as the work associated with my team. Um in anticipating that that might not be the full answer to the question that you are actually asking. In the winter we do pull um garbage cans from inaccessible locations within parks because staff can't physically get to all of them and we find that park usage does go down in the winter. uh when our students come back at the beginning of May, those garbage cans will start to come back out. So, if that's the gap that you're referring to, that's a bit of an explanation. And if there are specific locations you're looking to have a garbage can installed, you can send that off information off to war 2.ca. We have an active map of garbage cans. And again, there's some locations that are trickier than others. So, sometimes people put requests in and we say, "Sorry, can't do it there." But then we end up doing is putting four in the neighborhood of around that block in other locations where we can install them. So that's what we've done to respond to those issues in the past. There's a specific location you're looking for, email us about it and we'll coordinate with folks. Uh Angela. Yeah. And through the chair, I I just wanted to basically include that same information at any time. If you've got a location that you want us to intake for the program, uh we're able to do that. So anyone around the garbage is being dropped on the ground to ascertain where you because there is a lot missing in downtown core. Yes. Well through the chair. Uh we do have criteria of where they can go. So that's the first thing that we would look at them. And then plus we do empty them every day. So every day litter containers are emptied. And so, um, when we do that, we would notice if there's extra garbage there, packaged garbage, like household garbage that we might need to look into, etc. The purpose for those cans, as you know, is litter. Um, and then we do do an inspection of the containers for, uh, do they need maintenance, do they need replaced, uh, other issues like that also happens once a year. Uh, one of the items as councelor Cretch mentioned about can we put them in on private property if they've got the proper infrastructure there. That's something we're working on um as a project this year in our division. But also uh we're looking at um is there additional proactive walkabouts, patrols, etc. that from time to time maybe garbage peaks and so it might be something that would be warranted especially right you know snow melts we've had a lot of conversations about dumping and things like that. So part of the report back related to where all can garbage cans go, uh we'll also look at and is there a way that we can proactively more often um take a peek to see if something is needed to be added or relocated. In some cases, maybe the can's always empty and we could move it to another location. I hope that helps. If I can just add one thing that's information that may not be available, what's happening with development downtown has shifted the place that litter sometimes accumulates. So an example will be near where the corridor is along York Boulevard Cannon that area near Bay. Once the development was up at Bay and Cannon, a lot of the garbage that was blowing in different directions had arrived at the Sir Johnny McDonald fence stopped arriving there and went somewhere else. And so that's not something you can always see because it'll go on private property. It'll go behind somewhere. You won't know what's happening. So part of the program has been us trying to at the ward level, right? when people write in saying, "Hey, this has been a concern here, right? We're trying to coordinate because no, most city services and councelor Morning Wilson can probably attest to this. Most of our city services are not funded to be proactive. Most of our city services are funded to be reactive. That's the funding model that's been going on here for 25 years. So, I'm not going to answer for that. But we don't of course, but the funding model is requires a change. It's extremely more it's much more expensive of a proactive funding model than a reactive funding model. So, you can't do that overnight. you just need to build it into a budget. So that's why they're investigating. Then they have to bring an ass to the budget and the city council has to approve it. So that's the process we're in right now. But yeah, I appreciate that. And if there's individual locations you see, take a picture, send it in, and if there's a concentration of garbage there, we can see if we can put a can in. Any other questions under other business? Oh, sorry, Helen. Yep. Um just a question about the um developments downtown. So city center is empty, full of graffiti. There's a few buildings on John that are missing the top three floors of some of the buildings. They're, you know, boarded up and whatnot. Um, moving forward, uh, with W, do we have a hand or a say in what happens to these buildings that are like derelch, boarded up, full of graffiti, you know, maybe like city center is owned by a third party, but, you know, they just have it fenced off and closed up. Do we have a say in what happens to these properties or you know when you look at the TD center aerial views you know you see the lovely TD coliseum but then around TD coliseum you see all these like broken down buildings is that something we have a hand in and trying to beautify or do in the downtown core. This is the last question we're going to entertain under general information and other business because this really isn't meant to be a Q&A session and no one from the plane division at the level that could answer that question is here today. So I'll give you the best information I have and then stop when I don't know anymore. Generally speaking, the province has made sure since the 19 18th cent sorry 19th century to absolutely protect property rights. The absolute protection of property rights and put a firewall in between cities and private property owners to the extent that if we wanted to assist, clean up, give money to repair a building, we wouldn't be permitted to by law through the planning act. we'd have to instead go through a granting process and that person would have to apply for a grant and then we'd be able to give them grant money to help them with the building. Also, we have no ability unless a building's in danger, meaning in safety danger, like going to collapse, literally like in a situation of safety danger. And that's a motion I'm helping with somewhere else for heritage buildings to do anything about that specifically. So, we can't just go into buildings on private property and do what we want. Again, the province prohibits that. There are lots of places downtown with vacant lots or buildings that have been in a bad state for a long time. Again, this province will not allow us to put in any rules that will allow us to charge taxes to those properties for vacant units if they're not residential. So, only residential vacant unit taxes can occur. The province has banned the ability for commercial vacant unit taxes. I have happened to ask staff all these questions already, so I that's why I know the answers to these questions because they come up regularly routinely. Lastly, we have the Expropriation Act, which allows us to purchase and sometimes get a building and then when we get it in our property, we can deal with it. Unfortunately, the Expropriations Act requires years of hearings and then us to pay a premium on the land. So, as an example, since you brought it up, the city center was purchased for around $40 million. If we wanted to purchase the city center today and take it away from the city center uh people because we want to do something with this, it would cost the city more than $40 million. and we have to provide a substantial reasonable legal documentation for why we need to take that on. Right? So, as long as they're maintaining the building, even if we may see it as graffiti and other people may see it as art, and that's a question I'm not debating today or discussing today, they are allowed to adorn their building in certain ways or decorate it in certain ways. And again, the province allows them to do pretty much what they'd like where there's actually a property standards issue. Yeah, we can deal with a property standards issue and you know that already Helen anyways, but there's a property standards issue. We can address that. We finally have got more people hired in the last three years to address some of those issues through our bylaw and municipal law enforcement services. So that can be helpful to a certain extent, but the province does hem us into a tiny hole and say you can't do much here. And we've written to the province, we've talked to the province, I've sat across from ministers myself, this is not something that they're willing to budge on. And private property ownership is is the number one most protected asset in this province. Period. Hands down. That's how it works. That applies to owners of apartments. It applies to landlords. It applies to all kinds of different ways. You got to understand what private property ownership is about. But the law is absolutely in favor of folks who own property. So we have very limited rules here. But I'll tell you this, we do enforce them. We have been doing a better job of it in the last couple of years. But there are some tricky spots. So there's a specific location in war you can think of. There's a bylaw a motion coming up to the next planning committee meeting next week that's going to address vacant buildings and heritage things and increase up to the limit of the law what we're doing here and talk about what those resources look like. And so I'd be happy to hear about any specific locations you have. Send me an email anytime on that. Um thank you for your questions. Thank you for being here today. Our meeting is adjourned. It's 2:21. Enjoy the rest of your day. Thank you.

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