Hamilton City Council's Final Meeting Addresses Infrastructure, Housing, and Recreation

Hamilton City Council's final meeting of the term addressed infrastructure spending, rental-unit cooling, e-scooter safety, recreation development and heritage matters. Council deferred a stormwater fee decision, approved a rental-unit temperature pilot and authorized further planning work for the proposed Glanbrook Community Recreation Centre.

Councillors also debated the rising cost of the Enterprise Asset Management project, which is now forecast to cost $28.9 million and be completed by the end of 2028. The meeting included a $572-million infrastructure funding update, the reopening of the Hamilton Canal Pier and a report of declines in several categories of crime.

Topics Discussed

INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENTERPRISE ASSET MANAGEMENT

Council considered an extension of the Enterprise Asset Management project, which is intended to replace 11 departmental systems used to manage roads, water infrastructure, facilities, parks and other assets.

The project was approved in 2020 at $13.1 million. Its forecast cost has since risen to $28.9 million, with completion delayed until the end of 2028. Staff requested $2.1 million in additional funding. About 60% of Public Works assets have been integrated, while staff attributed delays to the COVID-19 pandemic, staffing shortages and a cyberattack that destroyed four years of project work.

Staff said manual workarounds are contributing to about $400,000 in annual overtime and delays in work orders. They also said the project's business case identified more than $100 million in long-term cost avoidance.

Councillor Mike Spadafora questioned the value of the spending, saying, "We're going to spend $30 million over an 8 to 10 year period" and that the value to residents "is going to fall short." Brad Clark questioned the risk of consolidating 11 systems into one platform and asked, "Who has assessed the risk for us?"

Council approved the project recommendations, including additional funding and an extension of the implementation-partner contract. It also directed staff to update comparisons with other municipalities and report back by the first quarter of 2027.

RENTAL HOUSING AND MAXIMUM-TEMPERATURE RULES

Council approved a rental-unit cooling pilot by a 12–3 vote after defeating a broader amendment. The pilot will initially apply in Ward 2, with enforcement targeted for June 1 of the following year. Staff discussed a cooling period from May 15 to September 15 and the use of window or portable air-conditioning units.

Four enforcement officers were planned for the Ward 2 pilot. Staff said an immediate citywide rollout would be difficult and that the city does not yet have a complete estimate of the cost of electrical upgrades or cooling equipment.

Councillors also discussed whether landlords could seek above-guideline rent increases to recover those costs. Hamilton Housing was not included in the pilot while the city assesses its own upgrade and compliance requirements.

Staff described the proposed bylaw as establishing a maximum indoor temperature of 26 C. Brian Hollingworth said it would be "the first of its kind in Ontario." Nrinder Nann said the city has an obligation to consider the needs of Hamilton's approximately 200,000 renters.

PLANNING, HOUSING AND RECREATION DEVELOPMENT

Council approved policies for additional dwelling units and mid-rise residential development, each by a 9–5 vote. It also approved, by a 14–1 vote, appeals related to including the White Church lands in the urban boundary.

A 9–5 vote directed staff to prepare an Official Plan Amendment and hold a public meeting concerning municipal water and wastewater services for the proposed Glanbrook Community Recreation Centre at 4300 and 4280 Binbrook Road. The project has a preliminary cost estimate of $184 million, including $136 million in construction costs, and would include an indoor pool, gymnasium and walking track.

Mark Tadeson said Glanbrook residents "have waited for 47 years for this pool and rec center." Other councillors questioned the cost of extending services to a site outside the urban boundary and within the Greenbelt, as well as the project's sixth-place ranking on the city's recreation priority list.

Council also approved a plan to plant trees, shrubs and pollinator gardens at Vincent Massey Park in spring 2027.

PUBLIC SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESS

Council approved a 13–0 motion on e-scooter safety, education and enforcement. Hamilton Police reported 73 pediatric e-scooter trauma cases at McMaster Children's Hospital between September 2025 and September 2026, including 29 admissions. The patients were between seven and 17 years old, with an average age of 12.7.

Officials reminded residents that riders must be at least 16, riders under 18 must wear helmets, e-scooters are prohibited on city sidewalks and park pathways, and legal devices are limited to 24 km/h. Council directed staff and police to examine collision data, enforcement, speed limits, parking and designated operating areas.

Cameron Kroetsch said system design should be prioritized because "Enforcement only helps with 15% of the picture." Staff were also directed to work with Bird on improved geofencing.

Council approved $294,160 in additional capital funding for interim safety work at Highway 52 North and Powerline Road before a planned roundabout. It also voted to retain speed cushions on Moxie Street.

Public access to the Hamilton Canal Pier has been restored. Seasonal, nighttime and winter closures, as well as additional safety railings, will apply.

HERITAGE, ETHICS AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNANCE

The Lobbyist Registrar acknowledged that a report concerning Crosswalk Communities omitted correspondence supplied by Councillor Francis. Registrar David Boghosian apologized and said he would issue a supplementary report. He said the correspondence did not meet the bylaw's definition of lobbying.

Council received the report and approved, by an 8–5 vote, an amendment eliminating the fee for filing lobbyist-registry complaints. Cameron Kroetsch said the fee should not apply to people filing complaints.

Council approved the heritage designation of 71 Claremont Drive after revised wording was presented. The Philpott Memorial Church matter at 84 York Boulevard was deferred for legal advice. A separate report concerning a downtown heritage property and heritage easement negotiations failed on a tie vote.

Motions

• Stormwater fee implementation: deferred while staff review data in 2027; a final decision is targeted for 2028.
• Additional Dwelling Units and Mid-Rise Residential policies: passed 9–5 each.
• White Church lands urban-boundary appeals: passed 14–1.
• Enterprise Asset Management recommendations: approved; benchmarking report due in the first quarter of 2027.
• Maximum rental-unit temperature pilot: passed 12–3.
• Glanbrook recreation-centre planning amendment: passed 9–5, subject to completion of the feasibility study.
• Vincent Massey Park planting plan: passed 15–0.
• E-scooter safety and enforcement: passed 13–0.
• Highway 52 North and Powerline Road safety improvements: passed 12–0.
• Moxie Street speed-cushion reconsideration: passed unanimously.
• Lobbyist Registry complaint-fee amendment: passed 8–5.
• Heritage designation of 71 Claremont Drive: approved.
• Philpott Memorial Church heritage matter: deferred for legal advice.
• Downtown heritage report and easement negotiations: defeated on a tie vote.
• Municipal bylaws and related confidential land, audit and cybersecurity reports: approved.

Attendees

The supplied notes identify these councillors as present or participating:

• Mayor Andrea Horwath
• Brad Clark
• Cameron Kroetsch
• Chad Collins
• Craig Cassar
• Esther Pauls
• Matt Francis
• John-Paul Spadafora
• Mark Tadeson
• Maureen Wilson
• Nrinder Nann
• Ted McMeekin
• Tom Jackson
• Alex Wilson
• Rob Cooper
• McMakin

The supplied notes contain inconsistent spellings and do not provide a complete official attendance list.