Hamilton Council Meeting: Vacant Unit Tax, Heritage Dispute, and Infrastructure Updates

Hamilton council dealt with several resident-facing items, including changes to the vacant unit tax appeal process, the 2026 vacant unit tax bylaw, a hospital heritage dispute tied to redevelopment plans, water and wastewater governance, and the public release of findings from an HR investigations audit. Council also approved a resolution asking Ontario to restrict the sale of invasive plants.

Topics Discussed

1. VACANT UNIT TAX: bylaw adopted and appeal rules changed

Council considered the Vacant Unit Tax 2026 bylaw (FCS26055 / Bill 140) and a related appeal motion. Mayor Andrea Horwath declared a conflict on both the bylaw item and the related motion and did not vote.

Council approved amendments allowing the director and/or program administrator to waive the late appeal fee when a property owner misses the initial appeal deadline because of specified circumstances. Director Pereira said the change would apply when a deadline is missed due to "legitimate extenuating circumstances." Councillor Matt Francis moved the amendment and said it would "provide administrative flexibility to address exceptional circumstances."

Council also discussed whether the change would apply retroactively. Councillor Tom Jackson asked, "if approved today. Is there any retroactivity on this?" Staff said the change would apply to open and new appeals, not closed cases.

2. HOSPITAL HERITAGE DESIGNATION: council rejects full designation

Council debated whether to proceed with full heritage designation for a hospital building connected to a redevelopment project. Staff said the property met eight of nine criteria for designation, but council voted 12-3 against the designation recommendation.

Councillor Craig Cassar said he was weighing heritage preservation against the hospital project's need for certainty. He said, "having a high degree of certainty and minimizing risk is important on balance," and added that while he would "love to see heritage in all cases preserved," he would vote to defeat the planning committee recommendation and support an alternative.

Councillor Cameron Kroetsch said the alternative would shift the discussion out of the public committee process, stating: "Now it's going to be happening in a nonpublic way but likely a similar outcome."

Council then approved an alternative approach focused on documentation and salvage. Director Kite said staff's primary recommendation had been designation, but "if that is not possible then staff do recommend the alternative which is the documentation and salvage."

3. WATER AND WASTEWATER GOVERNANCE: response to provincial consultation

Council discussed Hamilton's response to a provincial consultation on a possible water and wastewater public corporation model (PW26-081 / ERO-26-026-0419).

An amendment from Councillor Brad Clark stated that water and wastewater services should continue on a "cost recovery not for profit basis" and that revenues should be used only for "operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, replacement, and improvement of the system" for ratepayers, without profit distribution to shareholders.

Staff also confirmed that current funding supports both traditional and natural infrastructure. Carrie VanderPloeg, director of watershed management, said the money currently goes to "green infrastructure as well as gray infrastructure."

The amendment passed 15-0.

4. INVASIVE PLANTS: province asked to ban sale of listed species

Council passed a resolution supporting stronger provincial regulation of invasive plants sold through nurseries, garden centres, and online suppliers.

Councillor Craig Cassar said municipalities in Ontario incur "nearly $51 million" in costs to "remove and hold back invasive species." The resolution asks Ontario to update its framework, expand the list of prohibited and restricted species, prohibit the sale and trade of listed invasive plants, provide public education, and create a transition plan for affected businesses.

The vote was 13-0, with Councillor Tammy Hwang abstaining due to a conflict.

5. HR INVESTIGATIONS AUDIT: partial public release approved

After meeting in closed session, council approved the public release of parts of an audit of the city's HR investigations process (AUD 260006A / audit 26-260A). Council directed that Appendix A and a revised Appendix B be released on Aug. 6, 2026, while Appendix C remains confidential.

City Manager Marnie Cluckie said, "The city takes this matter very seriously and is committed to taking action on it."

The vote to release the public portions was recorded as 14-0.

Motions

Passed: - Vacant Unit Tax 2026 Bylaw (FCS26055 / Bill 140 / Bylaw 13.12) - Vacant Unit Tax appeal deadline flexibility / fee waiver amendment (related to FCS26055 / Bylaw 25-201) - Alternative hospital heritage salvage/documentation approach - Water and wastewater governance response amendment: cost-recovery, not-for-profit model (PW26-081 / ERO-26-026-0419) - Invasive plants provincial regulation resolution - Release of HR investigations audit Appendix A and revised Appendix B; keep Appendix C confidential (AUD 260006A) - Industry arts organization grant arrears exemption (Item 9.3) - Portable toilet installation at Upper Red Hill Park (Item 9.4) - Road and sidewalk infrastructure funding including Valley Drive resurfacing (PW21073) - Lancaster Road speed cushions and related safety measures (Item 9.6) - Holiday parking program change (Item 9.7) - Autism funding redirection to communication-first training video - LRT Subcommittee minutes (26002) - Committee minutes approval

Rejected: - Heritage designation of hospital building (Item 8.2 / HM HC2607 / PLC 26-010 related matter) — 12-3

Attendees

• Andrea Horwath
• Matt Francis
• Tom Jackson
• Brad Clark
• Craig Cassar
• Cameron Kroetsch
• Tammy Hwang
• Mark Tadeson
• Rob Cooper
• Mike Spadafora
• Ted McMeekin
• Maureen Wilson
• Nrinder Nann