Transcript: Council Tackles Homelessness and Lobbyists - Council - April 22, 2026 | Summary 277

Soundtrack one, two, three. Sound check. One, two, three. Thanks very much. Uh good morning everyone. Uh welcome. Uh clerk Trenum, can we start please by your confirmation that quorum is indeed present? Mayor Horvath Quorum is present. Excellent. Uh so as we do have quorum I'd like to call this meeting of city council uh today to order. Uh with us in chambers we have a number of city councilors including city councelor Francis uh Tison Jackson Clark Cooper Casar Alex Wilson Nan Crutch McMin Wilson and online joining us we have uh councelor bey and councelor Paul's is is here as well. So, uh, welcome everyone and welcome to, uh, folks who are joining us from the community as well as our our city staff. Uh, um, and we are going to start our meeting as we always do with the national anthem. So, as you are able, please rise for the national anthem. Our to be with thee. people stand. Stand Thanks very much. Please be seated. The city of Hamilton is situated upon the traditional territories of the Eerie Neutral, Hiron, Wendat, Hodneson, and Missagas. This land is covered by the dish with one spoon wampen belt covenant, which was an agreement between the Hodnosi and Anisha to share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. We further acknowledge that this land is covered by the between the lakes purchase 1792 between the crown and the missagas of the credit first nation. Today, the city of Hamilton is home to many indigenous people from across Turtle Island, North America. And we recognize that we must do more to learn about the rich history of this land so that we can better understand our roles as residents, neighbors, partners, and caretakers. Members are reminded that all electronic devices are to be switched to a non-audible function during council meetings. Members are also reminded of the 5-minute time limit when asking questions and or making a statement and that no member of council shall speak more than once on any matter as a at a council meeting without passing a motion to do so. So, we'll get right into it and start with the approval of the agenda. Are there any amendments to the agenda? Trenum, any amendments to the agenda? Apologies, mayor. um not familiar with any and I don't see any from the floor. Okay, thanks very much. May I have a motion then to approve the agenda as presented? Moved by councelor Francis, seconded by councelor Kretch. Uh can we uh raise a hand for the vote, please? All those in favor? Any opposed? That's carried. Thanks very much. We're on to declarations of interest. Members of council, are there any declarations of interest? Seeing none, uh we're on to ceremonial activities. Uh and we have a ceremonial activity today which is the commemoration uh of the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Uh and so in a moment I'll be inviting some folks up to the podium. Uh and actually I'd ask them to um to come down now if you don't mind. We're going to have you at this podium so that there's more room uh for you to be able to uh uh to be here. Uh so I want to welcome members of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, community leaders, and all guests who have joined us here today at council. In particular, I want to recognize President Constantin Shouel, um, Vice President uh, Oena Besley, past president Elena Lazar, and past president Mary Hadak Holc. Uh, thank you for being here and for your leadership and your continued contributions to our community. On April 26th, we marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. a tragedy that had devastating and far-reaching consequences not only for Ukraine but for communities around the world. Today's commemoration is an appropriate sorry is an appropriate opportunity to pause to remember those who lost their lives and to reflect on the lasting impacts on families, communities, and our shared environment. Hamilton is a home to a strong and vibrant Ukrainian community. One that has helped shape our city for generations through leadership, through culture, and through resilience. Moments like this remind us of the importance of coming together in remembrance and in support of one another. We also recognize that for many this anniversary carries added weight in light of the current situation in Ukraine. The ongoing impacts of war are a painful reminder of the hardship and suffering Ukrainians have endured throughout history. As a city, we stand with the people of Ukraine. We stand with the Ukrainian community here in Hamilton. And we stand for peace, for sovereignity, and for the safety and dignity of all people. It is especially meaningful that this commemoration is being recognized here around our council table in our council chambers and that it will also be marked in a lasting way with the planting of a tree in Gage Park uh this May. That tree will stand as a living tribute, a place for reflection, a reminder for future generations. For Hamiltonians, these moments matter. They strengthen our sense of community, deepen our understanding of one another's histories, and reinforce the values of compassion and respect that define our city. Thank you again to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress for bringing this forward and for your ongoing participation with the city of Hamilton. At this time, I'd like to uh invite you to share your remarks uh and present the commemorative plaque. Sir, thank you. Please go ahead, Constantine. Your worship, madame mayor, members of council, thank you for the opportunity to address you here today. We are grateful to stand before you as partners in community reflection and remembrance. On April 26th, 1986, reactor number four of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant located near the city of Pryyat in Ukraine exploded during a late night safety test. The test was intended to simulate cooling the reactor during a blackout. Despite dangerously low reactor power and clear warning signs, the test was allowed to continue. A sudden power surge followed, rupturing reactor components, causing a loss of coolant, and triggering massive steam explosions and a meltdown that destroyed the reactor building. The immediate consequences were devastating. Two engineers were killed instantly. Hundreds more were injured and a reactor core fire burned for days, spreading radioactive contamination across Ukraine, Russia, and much of Europe. More than 100,000 people living within a 30 km radius were evacuated. The city of Pryyat was abandoned and remain so to this day. In the years that followed, thousands of radiation related illnesses were documented, including over 6,000 cases of thyroid cancer directly attributed to the disaster. A concrete sarcophagus was hastily built in 1986 to contain the reactor. And decades later, the new safe confinement structure was completed to allow for the long-term removal of radioactive debris. Work that will continue well into the future until at least 2065. 40 years later, Chernobyl stands as a powerful reminder of how fragile our planet truly is and how farreaching the consequences of such a disaster can be. As we reflect on this anniversary, we must also acknowledge the present reality in Ukraine. Once again, nuclear safety has become a global concern. This time, because of war. The legacy of Chernobyl reminds us that threats to nuclear facilities place not only one nation at risk, but the entire world. Today also coincides with Earth Day when we are reminded much like the images of our planet seen from space that the Earth is alive, interconnected and worthy of our care and protection. In presenting this plaque, I would like to thank all the individuals and partners whose contributions made today possible. We also wish to extend our heartful thanks to Mayor Andrea Horvath and the city of Hamilton for your long-standing support of the Ukrainian community. Ukrainians have been an integral part of Hamilton since the early 1930s, contributing to its growth, culture, and resilience. Your continued support affirms that this city values its diverse history and the people who have helped build it. Opportunities like today remind us that when we work together as a community, through remembrance, cooperation, and mutual respect, we help build a stronger Hamilton, one that honors the past while creating a better future for generations to come. On behalf of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Hamilton, we are honored to present a plaque to Mayor Horvath and members of council acknowledging the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in memory of those who lost their lives and with hope that such a tragedy never occurs again. Thank you. Thank you, Constantine. Going to take a quick picture. First of all, thank you very much. We're very honored. Uh, and I'm honored as mayor to be able to receive this. Uh, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Hamilton acknowledges the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster which occurred in April on April 26, 1986 in Ukraine. presented to the honorable Andrea Horvath, mayor of Hamilton, April 22nd, 2026. On behalf of the city of Hamilton, all of the people of this city, I want to say we are grateful for everything you've contributed. Uh I want to thank you for this commemorative plaque and we all look forward to the tree planting that's coming in May. uh because as a community, it will be a nice big space that we can all gather together uh to uh uh to put a an active remembrance in place that um is particip participatory uh and hopeful for the future. So, thank you. Thank you. You put it in the box because it'll show up better. See what I say? That's it. I got fingerprints on it. I'm sorry. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you so very much. This will be displayed in one of our prominent display cases in the city. So, thank you. So, we're going to continue with our uh agenda and we're on to item 5.1 CL26-00005 April 1st, 2026. May I have a motion to approve the minutes of the April 1st, 2026 uh meeting as presented? Moved by Councelor Cooper, seconded by Councelor Paul's. Uh any discussion on this item, folks? Seeing none, please uh indicate your vote now by raising your hand. All in favor? Any opposed? That carries. Thanks so much. We're going to take items for information. uh LR1 or LRI 2206-001 lobbyist registar inquiry report respecting micro shelters inc lobbying activity. May I have a motion to receive the lobbyist registar inquiry report moved by councelor uh cret seconded by councelor nan. Uh any discussion on this one folks? Uh yes, councelor. All right, this first please. Thank you, mayor. I do have a series of questions on this report and it could either be directed towards staff or the integrity commissioner, maybe the city manager, the integrity commissioner. But my question, my first question is, is there a mandatory requirement of staff or elected officials to verify lobbying uh or lobbying if they've registered as a lobbyist before any non-competitive procurement discussions begin? We I'm going to ask the expert who is our integrity commissioner, lobbyist, registar, uh expert in the room to uh respond to your questions. Councelor Francis, if that's okay. If you if you're not if you want further um we'll we'll go to somebody else. Okay. Uh Mr. Bogian, please go ahead. Good morning. Thank you for being here. Good morning. Um, councelor Francis, I uh do not believe there is any requirement for members of the senior leadership team to uh make inquiries about people that are meeting with them or attempting to set up meetings to uh inquire whether they have registered as a lobbyist. Um, I would defer to uh city manager Klucky on on whether they I've overlooked something in the code of conduct for employees of the city that might relate to this, but I'm not aware of any requirement. Thank you. Uh, city manager clucky through you, Madame Mayor. I'm not aware of that, but we can take another look just to be certain. Francis, so I appreciate that leads my next question then. Are there any safeguards in place that would um ensure that unregistered lobbying doesn't influence potential procurement decisions through you, mayor? Uh I would send that over to the city manager. Please go ahead. Through you, madame mayor. So typically the members of senior leadership team do not meet about um procurements of any type and we redirect to the applicable staff members which often includes procurement. Okay, I appreciate that. Um, so I guess my next my next question then would be to the integrity commissioner. Based on the findings in this report, does the absence of a ver mandatory verification step does that increase the risk of imp improper influence? Yes. Your worship, I I neglected to introduce myself for the record. I'm David Begoian, the integrity commissioner and lobbyist registar. with me is my partner Avil Allen who is sort of the lobbyist registar registry bylaw specialist. Uh so if there's any really technical questions I'll defer to her. Uh in terms of the question uh councelor Francis, yes uh making those inquiries uh could spur uh members of the public who are unaware of the requirement to register aware of that requirement and uh would thereby encourage them to register as I've indicated in the report. Um there there is a best practice in my view would be uh for for members of council and and even members of the senior management leadership team um before meeting with members of the public to uh have a uh form uh electronic form that can be filled out. One one of the questions on which uh could be are you registered as a lobbyist with the direction to go to the uh page of the Hamilton website that has the lobbyist registry uh uh information. Um and and that would spur them to at least take a look to see if they they are required given the subject matter of their com uh their inquiry, the reason for the inquiry and uh what their position is whether whether they ought to be registered. But yes, I think best practices and I note that the mayor's office does have a form uh in in uh the course of scheduling meetings uh that ask that very question. Are you registered as a lobbyist? I think it could go one step further and direct them to the uh lobbyist registry page of the Hamilton website. Thank you, Councelor Francis. I appreciate that uh answer there, which you know leads me to the conclusion. Now, this is the second incident that's happened now. I think the second incident that's happened now where a lobbyist was suspended uh for improperly uh failing to disclose or be registered with the city. So clearly there's a gap here to be addressed. Um and we just you mentioned best practices, but is there anything preventing council from implementing a mandatory uh lobbyist register or registry verification uh disclaimer for for staff to give to anybody that has reached out before any non-competitive procurement discussions begin? Do you mayor? Uh sure. We can start with the um integrity commissioner or lobbyist registar and then if necessary we'll go to the city manager but please go ahead. Thank you. Uh there there is no impediment to council imposing such a requirement. Satisfied. Thanks. Thanks councelor Francis. Uh we're now on to councelor Clark. Please go ahead. Thank you. Um mayor I appreciate the opportunity. So, do we have now released into the public all documentation, all emails, correspondence between senior staff, the mayor's office, and this proponent lobbyist registar, please? We to the best of our knowledge, we did receive all communications uh both text and email between the individuals identified as having engaged in improper lobbying in the report uh with members of the senior leadership team and members of council or their staff. Uh that was done in in a two-step fashion. One was that the auditor general, Mr. Brown provided us with emails that uh and texts that he obtained during the course of his micro shelters uh investigation. Uh we augmented that by going to the city's IT department and asking to search certain key terms uh to make sure that we did have all the uh relevant communication with these individuals. That's clerk. Thank you, mayor. So to the best of your knowledge, you've received everything that there is. Yes. Thank you. On page three, mayor of the the documentation um from the integrity commissioner, it says this report, I include the term report established that that lobbying resulted in affirmative signals from city officials. Those signals predated council authority and the integrity of council's approval role was compromised. Care to elaborate on that? We'll just give you a minute to uh get to the page to see exactly. I I don't believe that was our conclusion. I think that was the complaintant characterization. My my my apologies. Mr. Clark, just one second. I was looking for one more thing and that was in the document. I have to let it go there. Thank you. Thanks, Councelor Clark. Uh I don't see anybody else on this item. So with that I thank the integrity commissioner and lobbyist registar and his uh his colleague um his colleague Averil Allen for uh being here with us today to respond to questions of counselors. I appreciate that. Uh so we'll now ask for a motion um to receive Oh do we have the motion on the floor already? Remind me we have the motion on the floor already. Uh and so we'll go to the uh vote if there are no other speakers and there are not. Uh so a show of hands please. All in favor? Any opposed? That carries. Thanks very much. Again, appreciate your work. Uh but don't go anywhere. Um we're now on to 6.2 with which is correspondence respecting Hamilton integrity commissioner services file number 976-1000. Uh may I have a motion to receive the correspondence from the integrity commissioner. Uh and we do have the com the integrity commissioner here obviously who would like to provide a brief overview. So before I ask for uh I'll I'll get the motion and then before I ask for any discussion perhaps we'll give him an opportunity to say a few words because he might be able to answer questions that folks might have uh in his uh brief presentation. So then let's get the motion on the floor. Councelor Casar uh councelor Moren Wilson uh please go ahead. Integrity Commissioner Bosian. Uh thank you your worship. Uh this month I received what I believe to be the fourth inquiry about the propriety of writing letters of support to the committee of adjustments. Uh and because of the regularity of these inquiries, I thought it best to uh provide the members with um my view about the propriety of it. And that is that in uh in my opinion uh members of council should not be writing letters of support for constituents to me uh to the committee of adjustments. The committee of adjustments is a quasi judicial body required to apply legal and planning principles. Uh they should not be unduly or improperly influenced by uh uh support expressed by members of council um or sympathies of the particular situation as expressed in letters of support by members of council. Uh I regard it as a breach of section 10.1 of the code to be writing such letters. Now that I've indicated my position, of course, it obviously was not clear prior to uh uh these inquiries that that this was not a proper thing to do, but now that you've got notice, I would expect that members would not be writing letters of support to the committee of adjustments. Uh thank you. Um Integrity Commissioner Begoian, are there any I've got Jeff uh sorry, councelor Bey first. Please go ahead. Oh, you're online. Thank you, Mayor Through you. Um, thank you to the integrity commissioner for the for the letter. Um, I think it's very you've very clearly stated um the appropriateness of letters of support, but I'm wondering, mayor, about uh the opposite. So, uh, counselors often receive dozens of pieces of correspondence from residents who may have opposition to COA applications. And uh often there's an expectation that as their elected representative that they would bring these concerns forward at least in an aggregated form and that the feedback be sent somehow to the COA. Um, and so I'm trying to uh to understand uh what the integrity commissioner's opinion may be on what counselor should do with these pieces of correspondence and then what does the where's the delineation point between representing a particular constituency um and the roles and responsibilities as to ensuring that that representation is adhered to uh without doing so in a way that may jeopardize uh COA uh decision-m thanks councelor bey uh integrity commissioner go uh it whether whether it's letters of support or letters of opposition uh it's it falls into the same category of improper uh uh uh expression of extraneous considerations. The like I said the committee of adjustments is required to apply legal and planning principles and and come to decisions in a quasi judicial fashion. Uh it is not a political forum and should not be turned into one. And I think the best thing to do is when you get on treaties from constituents uh either to support their for example application for a minor variance or oppose an application for a minor variance. you have to tell them that uh according to our integrity commissioner, I am not permitted to uh lobby or or um uh express my position on the application for or against. Okay. So, yeah, thank you Maron 3. you just for absolute clarity and I think you did that in the last uh sentence there um integrity commissioner begoian um it doesn't matter if it's a letter of support or if it's a an aggregated summary of opinion of a neighborhood um against uh in summary sorry Mrs. Jones. Uh, that type of interaction with the COA is deemed to be inappropriate and and therefore forbidden if I have that correctly. Yes, that's what I believe you should be advising people that come to you asking to support or oppose an application to the committee of adjustments. Thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you, Mayor. Thanks, Councelor Bey. Um, councelor Clark, please go ahead. Thank you, Mayor. Just a couple of of of questions. Um, So in the letter the integrity commissioner is advising us mayor that they've had several inquiries regard regarding the propriety of of such actions by counselors. Um is there a recent example? Um my advice is confidential and I don't want to uh provide uh uh particulars that might disclose the member who made the inquiry. I understand. Um the the the second question and it's surprising that this is still an issue. Um when a committee of adjustment receives a position from senior staff, our planning director and the committee of adjustment does something that the planning director feels uh is not consistent with our policy. Uh the the um director can recommend that council oppose the decision that the committee of just of adjustment is making. Can the integrity commissioner um perhaps clarify or the director of planning clarify why that is different than the direct intervention of an elected member? Please go ahead. Start with the integrity commissioner and then if we need further uh information, councelor clerk will let me know and I'll go to staff. Well, there's there I I regard council setting policy, planning policy to be followed by the committee of adjustments to be a different matter than supporting or opposing a particular application. So that's the vital distinction in my uh view. Councelor Clark, and perhaps we can hear from the director. Yes, our general manager isn't here. I know that our city manager has uh would like to actually kind of give perspective as well as if uh if uh necessary, we'll go to uh the director of economic development, Norm Schllean, who's sitting in for uh our general manager of planning and economic development. Uh city manager clucky. Uh you madame mayor. Um so I'll speak more generally first. I don't know if um the chief planner is here today or not but when something comes to staff so recently I had something come to me for example seeking support I promptly responded that we that I would be unable to give a position on that and provide support because it's an active planning process and it would not be appropriate that it's appropriate to consult with planning staff who can add clarity on their position from a planning principal perspective um but that it would not be appropriate to reach out to others on that matter. And and so again, um only because this is still seems to be an issue and in my mind there's a a a legal difference between the intervention of an elected member and an appeal recommendation from our director of planning because the decision of the committee of adjustment goes against city policy and we just get a response. Sure. I'll I'll ask um director Schllehan to respond to that if he's uh uh able to. Um through the mayor to the counselor. Uh I'm certainly not an expert in this area, but uh and our chief planner is not uh here this week with us either. Uh but I did get a response from one of the planners that is is uh online saying they're unsure, but under the planning act uh uh it it it's likely because of direction under the planning act for the committee of adjustment. So that's that's the response I have. I'm sorry I don't have anything stronger than that. No, I appreciate that. But we should follow up just so that everyone around the table really understands the the the delicacy, the difference between the two. One is directly interfering and putting your presence as an elected member before the committee of adjustment and the committee of adjustment may or may not defer to your authority as a counselor as an indication as to that they should take a position one way or the other. And we should not be doing that. and it's been reinforced by a couple of integrity commissioners, not just Mr. Begoian, but the previous one did the exact same thing, the same advice that we received. Um and and I'm I appreciate that the integrity commissioner is providing this hopefully one last time um to protect and it's purely prot to protect elected members because you can find yourself in a great deal of trouble um by doing that whether you're in opposition or in support of the application. Thank you for the opportunity for the clarification. Mayor and thank you for helping with the clarification councelor Clark. Councelor Anan is next please. Thank you through you, mayor. Uh thank you for the report and the clarity. Just two further clarifying questions. Um one is if you could integrity commissioner uh through the mayor, there's zero limitations on the role of counselors to inform our residents of agenda items on a committee of adjustment agenda. Correct. IC. Uh I apologize council nan. I I don't understand uh the question. So the agendas are public. Is that what you're saying? And so if there if there's something on the agenda for the committee, councilors do have the ability to flag their constituents that in fact there's something on the agenda. So that is if I may sorry just to clarify as we do with public information meetings when the city is putting forward a construction project for example as counselors we put forward information to our reg uh residents so that they are clear about their opportunity to participate and have a say. um the committee of adjustment those those types of files also sometimes come forward. It's a file that is you know taking place in your ward might have impacts to your local community. Is there any limitation to a counselor's office to inform our residents that there is a file of interest in the ward or a file in the ward on the next committee agenda? No. That's that seems like a neutral act as long as there's not an expression of support or opposition. Yes. I wouldn't think merely republishing the agenda item as as being any problem at all. Thank you for clarifying and through you mayor. Last question to clarify for council colleagues. Sometimes media inquires with council members about a committee of adjustment agenda item and seeking council members thoughts, opinions, ideas. So similar to I think what city manager Klucky clarified, the process is underway with a committee of adjustment. Council is not in you know interfering in that process. But here are the facts on the file. Speak speak to the applicant. Would that be an appropriate path? Yes. I I think you have to advise that you you are not permitted to take a position for or against an application and uh certainly not with respect to a matter that's pending before the committee of adjustments. Thank you for that clarity, mayor. Uh with media present, I think it's really important to have asked that question. Thank you. Thank you. Cancel Nan agreed. Uh, I have um councelor Clark as a second time speaker. Is there any uh anybody else that wants to speak first time? If not, we'll go to councelor Clark. I'm sorry. Oh, yes. He does need permission. Can we have uh So, councelor Clark would like to speak a second time. Thank you, Councelor Jackson. Moved by Councelor Jackson, seconded by Councelor Tatterson to allow Councelor Clark a second time on this matter. Uh, all those in favor, show of hands. Any opposed? That carries. Uh, please go ahead. Councelor Clark. Thank you, Mayor. And along the same lines as councelor Nan's inquiries, um it prompted another one for me in my in my mind. I have had experience where residents have called and had a position on something that was going to come before the committee of adjustment that but they did not understand the process and they did not understand the procedures. I'm assuming, but I'd like to hear from the integrity commissioner on the record that an elected member can provide advice on process and procedure, how to proceed to get a position before the committee, what the committee will be doing, what the process is that the committee follows. Notwithstanding that I don't provide a position or I don't opine on a position, is is that an accurate statement? Integrity Commissioner. Uh yes, Councelor Clark. Um merely advising of the process and and uh how to go about uh be becoming involved is is fine. Thank you. I think it's important that we have those things clarified so that there are no further issues. Thank you. Uh thank you, Councelor Clark. Um I would just add that uh we should be keeping a list of the things that we need to beef up in our orientation as we're heading into an election at the end of the year or near the end of the year. We should be a lot more I think careful about making sure councilors who get elected to the next council are very well aware of what the uh what the bur what the lines are in terms of quasi judicial um committees and uh making sure there's no undue influence being uh put forward. On that note, then we will go to the uh show of hands on the uh report. All those in favor? Any opposed? That's carried. Thanks very much. 6.3 is uh FC and again thank you very much uh both of you for being here this morning. Uh FCS26050 clarification of loan loss risk better homes Hamilton pilot program back item E reports PEED23106 and PEED 26078. May I have a motion to receive uh the item? Uh moved by councelor Wang, seconded by councelor Casar. Any discussion on this one? Councelor Clark, is that a legacy? Are you on on this one? Okay. Uh, thank you, Mayor J. I I I think some of my questions at AFNA may have prompted this memorandums. Um, so the program that we have, uh, when there's loans, just to be clear, um, there's no risk to the municipality. It it it is done as a lean on the property taxes that if they don't pay the loan whenever the property is sold, then the lean would get paid out at that time. Is that correct? Uh Jim Ziggar, please. Through the mayor, Mike Ziggar, general manager of finance corporate services. That's correct. Once the charges are secured uh and a bylaw is approved, then the special charges uh are secured against the lean on the property and uh that minimizes risk to local taxpayers. Thank you. And so in in keeping with that same policy, there is no justification or reason for the city of Hamilton to set aside a set amount of money in the event of default on the program. James Garrick through the mayor. Uh the rationale in the interimm period during the pilot project was uh the intent was to assess whether or not uh during the pilot project there were risks. But now that the program is permanent and uh with the bylaw that's before council today, uh the risk is minimized through the means that uh were just described. Um mayor, I'd like to thank Jim Ziger for providing this clarification. I think it was really important. It came up in the meeting. Did and so I think it's been resolved. Thank you. Uh thank you, Councelor Clark. Uh so then um let's have the vote on this one. All those in favor, raise of hands, please. Any opposed? That carries. Thanks very much. Uh we're now on to committees. Uh 7.1 is uh HUS 26-001 Hamilton Utilities Corporation Shareholder minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, April 7th, 2026. Councelor Tatison, may I please have a motion to receive and approve the recommendations within the Hamilton Utilities Corporation Shareholder minutes of April 7th, 2026? Moved by myself, seconded by councelor Francis, that the HUS260001 being the minutes of the Hamilton Utilities Corporation shareholder meeting held on Thursday, April 7th, 2026 be received and the recommendations contained therein be approved. Thank you. And that's seconded by C councelor Francis. Great. Uh any discussion on this these minutes? Uh seeing none, uh we have to go to an electronic vote on this one. is up. I think And that carries 16 to zero. Thanks very much. Uh PWC public works committee 26-005 April 13 2026. Councelor Nan, may I have a motion, please, to receive and approve the recommendations within the public works committee minutes uh of April 13th and receive the correspondence items? Yep. Moved by myself and seconded by councelor Casar that PWC 26005 being the minutes of the public works committee meeting held on Monday, April 13th be received and the recommendations contained there be approved and that the following correspondence items be received. A correspondences respecting motion concerning replacing the playground structure and adding shade structures at Memorial Elementary School 1175 Main Street East Hamilton award 3 listed in the item before you. Uh thank you. I don't see any Oh, Councelor Wilson, please go ahead. Thank you, Mayor Horvath. I just wanted to once again publicly express my sincere gratitude and thanks to the Patrick J. McN Foundation um for their wonderful uh philanthropic donation to the residents of W 2. And I may add uh sorry W one and may I add W two as as well honestly because of the the catchment of this. This is a historic fieldhouse in the HAA park which is under redevelopment at present. The plan is for us to activate um that fieldhouse which has been um closed off to the public for too long. Um this donation of $650,000 from the Patrick J. McNal Foundation will enable us to get over the line uh to provide for accessible public washrooms that will be available all season. um a kitchenet, a public meeting space, and a plaza, and we're looking forward to it, and it will be activated um with reconstruction of the interior of that historic building starting next year. So, once again, my my thank you to the Patrick J. McN Foundation for their investment in this this city and its public spaces that matter so much to the people who live, work, and play here. Uh thanks very much. I don't see any further speakers. So, we'll go to the electronic uh vote, please. Uh on this item moved by councelor Nan and seconded by councelor Casar that carries 16 to zero. Thanks very much. We're now to planning committee PLC 26- year5 April 14th, 2026. Councelor Tatison, may I please have a motion to receive and approve the recommendations within the planning committee's open and close minutes of March 24th, 2026, and receive the correspondence items. Thank you, mayor. Moved by myself as deputy mayor, seconded by vice chair councelor M. Wilson that the PLC26005 being the minutes of the planning committee meeting on Thursday, April 14th, 2026 be received and the recommendations contained therein be approved that the following correspondence items be received. Correspondence respecting PEED26063. Minute item 8.3 concerning application for an urban Hamilton official amendment for lands located at 392 398400 406 and 412 Wilson Street East and 15 Lauren Avenue and Caster Ward 12 from SD Geral Jalammo T-Bull and J Asamudas. Those are residents. Thank you. Thank you, councelor Tatison. I don't see anybody in the queue for uh uh speaking our remarks or questions. So, we'll go to the electronic vote, please. And that carries 16 to zero. Thanks very much everyone. Uh we're now on to GIC 26-006 general issues committee uh April 15, 2026. Uh can uh councelor Tatterson, can I please have a motion to receive approve the recommendations within the general issues committee's minutes of April 15, 2026 uh and receive the correspondence items. moved by myself, seconded by past past uh deputy mayor or I guess it' be deputy mayor Brad Clark that that GIC 26006 being the minutes of the general issues committee meeting held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 be received and the recommendations contained there and be approved and that the following correspondence be received. A correspondence respecting FC S26023 minute item 7.5 concerning 2026 municipal election and municipal use of resources policy citywide and that's from Viv Sanders who's a resident. Thank you. Uh thank you very much. And I believe councelor Jackson may have an amendment. So let's go to councelor Jackson Jackson for his amendment. Please go ahead. Thank you very much Mayor Horvath and good morning. Moved by myself, seconded by Ward 8 counselor Robert Cooper. Motion to amend GIC minutes item 7.1. Whereas in setting transit fairs, the city considers factors such as affordability, wrership impacts, equity, financial sustainability, and alignment with council priorities. Whereas through the 2022 to 2026 council priorities, council is committed to increase transit ridership and accessibility. Whereas Hamilton's seniors 80 years of age or older qualify for a golden age pass, which is fully subsidized, allowing them to ride the HSR for free. Whereas Hamilton seniors 65 years of age or older qualify for senior tickets and monthly and annual senior passes, which allow them to ride the HSR at discounted rates relative to the adult fair. And whereas in 2025 there were 3173 unique riders using the golden age pass. Whereas reducing financial barriers to transit could contribute to affordability and increased transit ridership. And where staff are currently working with consultants to develop a corporate user fee framework which includes a focus on transit fees. Therefore be a resolved. A the staff be directed as part of the user fee framework project to analyze the feasibility of lowering the age of eligibility for HSR golden age passes and report back to our GIC committee hopefully in quarter 3 on the impact of reducing the age of eligibility from 80 years of age to possibly 75, 70 or 65 years of age including considerations for number one financial impacts including projected changes in fair revenue, two ridership impacts, including any system capacity considerations, and three, benchmarking, including comparisons with similar programs in other Ontario municipalities. And if I might, Mayor Horvath, just to elaborate, please, I want to thank our uh wonderful HSR director, Nancy Purser, who helped me with the language of this motion. I believe over the last week to 10 days I gave uh well in advance uh public preview to my colleagues that I was going to bring this forward Mayor Horvath in the proper format and clerks have advised that this is the proper format to add this amendment to the approved uh framework of fee reviews that's going forward. I've just talked to a number of seniors uh in my community and working with seniors as I do across the board whether it's on for um whether it's with our long-term care facilities uh junior seniors senior seniors as I as I dub them. I call the junior seniors roughly 55 to 80. I call the senior seniors 80 80 plus. And I'm very proud of the fact that I was part of a council 20 years ago that I think the first time in the province of Ontario, we introduced the Golden Age Pass and it was unanimously supported. I'm thrilled that nearly 3,200 seniors of 80 years of age and older have been utilizing it to ride our transit system everywhere all year, any route for free. And I just thought maybe in terms of overall wanting to increase ridership and if there's those seniors and again meeting an income threshold that's obviously always part of the eligibility that if there's an opportunity to explore the feasibility of lowering it so that more seniors with limited disposable income could ride for free. I just thought that it'd be worthy of consideration given the fact that it's probably been a good 20 years since we've done any review. So, Mayor Horvath, I doveetailed it and tied it in to the re review being brought forward both by director Perer and through Healthy and Safe Communities general manager Mater seconded by Councelor Cooper. Thanks, Mayor Horvath. Thank you, Councelor Jackson. I have a speaker list. Um, councelor Wilson, Moren Wilson, please go ahead. Thank you. Um, do we have a copy of the amendment via email? It was on the screen a minute ago. It I don't have it. So to that end, if I could have this it back on the screen again. Thank you. I apologize. I just assumed that it would have been distributed. I'm sorry. Thank you. I just didn't want to uh disrupt Put it back on the screen, but I I'll have to. There we go. Councelor Wilson. Thank you. Um, if I could just ask that it be kept up while I'm um on this on the speakers list. Let's stop the time clock for you. Thank you. So, I just want to make sure I understand uh the the the direction and what is going to be included in the analysis. So I guess my first question if I could is is director perser available. I don't know if director perser is available but we do have the general manager Jackie Kennedy with us. So uh GM Kennedy or did we want to have my first question perhaps it may even be GM Zerk who may be of assistance. I'm not sure. I we'll send it up to the bench and they can decide who's going to go for the question. Thank you. So I I heard my colleague express both um two components to inform the analysis. One being age and one being being income. And so my first question is just to establish um at present is is our user fee policy and our fair policy primarily informed by income or by age or both? because it was always my understanding that income is a more appropriate and equitable um measure of need through the chair. Okay, sending it over to GM Kennedy. Thank you. Uh through the mayor, uh Jackie Kennedy, general manager of public works. Um thank you for the for the question. I do have um Katherine Pisakala online from transit. She's the manager of um the group that can provide us some more details on this. So if she can Good morning. Good morning. Please go ahead. Good morning. Katherine Piscala, manager of transit support services through the chair to the counselor. Thank you for the question. Um so for the golden age pass specifically, age is the only criteria. So 80 above is the qualifying factor. For other products we have like ferrais that's a means tested product with different eligibility criteria. Thank you. So I am aware of the golden age pass informed by age. I'm just trying to establish in your analysis going forward. This may constitute a deviation from the accepted policy I think and practice of this corporation which is income is a more equitable um measure of need. I whether that I'm just asking for a professional comment on whether that is what we have been exercising manager through the chair uh for the ferris program yes that's correct equity has been the main um consideration and driving principle there thank you councelor Wilson on item two for your analysis this uh writership impacts including any system capacity considerations. Could I just have some insight into what system capacity considerations means please and thank you? Manager Pitakola, do you have that information? Uh through the chair. Um, I think that my interpretation from this motion would be that that would be referring to if we did see significant increase in ridership resulting from this um decrease in eligibility for the golden age pass that then would that um result in any challenges for the system to absorb given our existing um capacity. Thank you on that very last point through through the chair then on our existing capacity but this is a future forward um action will you be does that mean you'll be including in your analysis the impact on our capacity to deliver on HSR next that's kind of my question through the chair uh my understanding based on this motion is that we would work with the consultants to consider within the context of HSR next. Um what would be the um potential increase in ridership resulting from a change like this? Um and we would look at kind of the the population that would be impacted, what we see in terms of wrership trends from that population currently and then um if um fairs are a barrier for that group, removing those fairs if that would have a significant impact on wrership. And from that we would try to kind of make an assessment whether that um that uh estimated increase in wrership would could be absorbed by the um existing plans within um HSR. Next councelor Wilson the bell's off but you did start a little bit late with the um motion not being available. So go ahead if you have another question. Thank you. I I just want to make sure I I understood um the staff members response in terms of writership impacts that you will be directing the consultant to not only discern the impact on our the H the system's capacity to deliver but the impact on the capacity to deliver um on the HSR um vision um and its service expectation for all riders present and primarily future. Andrew Pitcola uh through the chair apologies. So the HSR next kind of um changes that are coming to the network we would we would see as kind of um an overarching significant change for the system that is being considered by the consultants. across this project. So across the user free use framework that they are considering and then this consideration of the change in eligibility for the golden age pass would be considered within that broader context. I think I'm at time. Thank you. Uh thank you. Next we have councelor Casar. Yeah. Thanks Mayor Horvath. Uh my interpretation of this and I just want to get confirmation is there's a user fee report that this is an amendment to and it's looking at transit fairs and it could come back with recommendations similar to this or not similar to this but this is just within the framework of that report just asking staff to look at something very specific. Uh so just confirming that that's what's happening here because I I'm I'm supported in that case if that's what it is. Sure. We'll just go to councelor Jackson for that confirmation. Uh through you mayor Horva to councelor Kosar. That's all it is at this time. Just adding on with, if you will, earmarking the specific item, but within the overall framework. That's all. Nothing presumed or preemptive in terms of assuming uh an outcome. Thank you. Yeah, thanks for the clarification. And then just had a follow-up question from councelor Moren Wilson's questions uh on income as it relates to the golden age pass because I think in councelor Jackson's comments, he referenced that there was an income test. I heard an answer to councelor Moren Wilson that the golden age pass does not have an income test. So I just wanted to get clarif clarification because there's been two different things on the public record. Uh okay. I guess we'll start with manager pizzaala. Sorry I've been saying your name wrong. Pizza. Uh go ahead. No problem. Uh through the chair. So age is the only criteria for eligibility for the golden age pass. There is no income requirement. Okay. Good. I'm glad that's clarified. And just the statement I think well I'm supportive certainly of the spirit of this and I think it's an important acknowledgement from councelor Jackson that uh you know there are challenges in mobility for different segments of our population including our elderly who may not be able to drive cannot afford to drive or get around in other ways. So you know the spirit of this I think is very good in looking at ways to expand transit and help mobility. Uh, and I think the spirit of that in generally and looking at different ways of mobility for citizens of Hamilton is important and, you know, encourage us to continue doing that. So, I'm supportive of the amendment. Thank you, Mayor Horvath. Thank you, Councelor Casar. Councelor Cooper, please. Thank you, Chair. Um, I have to say, as I've gone to different parts of Hamilton, this issue comes up consistent consistent consistently among seniors. Uh, we're in the middle of a affordability crisis as everyone knows. By the time seniors pay for their utilities, pay their taxes, sometimes there's not enough money for food, let alone transit. So, um I've I've been asked that we consider this sort of thing, as has councelor Jackson, and uh I appreciate councelor Jackson taking a lead on this, and I I I very deeply support this. I think it's being responsive to our community, and as you get around and start knocking on doors and talking to people, you'll see this uh come up more and more. It's it's a it's a real issue among our seniors right now. So, thank you. Thank you, Chair. Thanks, Councelor Cooper. Uh, Councelor Clark, please. Thank you. I'm supportive. It's a report back. I can share that residents in my community who are in their senior years are struggling to continue to keep a car. The insurance is so expensive, the gas is so expensive, it takes a lot of money out of their um fixed income. and so they have been selling cars and using transit. So, um I think it's a good idea to get the report back. I would also suggest to staff that in the report back um you may want to look at the funding offset because I would suspect that if we went to 65 there would be a significant increase in usage. And I'm curious as to whether or not the gas tax that we receive from the senior levels of government could be used to offset that. But perhaps just consider that uh in your thoughts when you're bringing back the report. Um I'd like to have both avenues covered off. Thank you. Uh thanks Councelor Clark. I'm going to put the chair over to councelor Tatison just to say a quick word myself. Thank thanks Councelor Tison. Um, I just want to say thank you to councelor Jackson. I think this is a really important piece for us to look at considering that we're looking at uh the entire fair ball of wax. Uh, I would say also that we do have a part of our our mission is uh part of our vision is to be the best place to age with dignity. Uh, to age successfully actually is the way that it reads. And um this is an example of that in motion in terms of making sure that we are recognizing and acknowledging that seniors make up a growing uh proportion of our residents uh here in Hamilton and uh things that we can do uh to help them to age successfully is uh is incumbent upon us and so thank you for bringing it forward. I also support it. Back to you, mayor. And um I think councelor Jackson's up for a second time. Oh, look at you. Uh, thanks Councelor Tatison. Councelor Jackson, I don't know that we need a motion. We probably do. So, we'll move by councelor Tatison. Seconded by councelor Paul's. Uh, all those in favor, hands up for a second time for councelor Jackson. Any opposed? Please go ahead. That carried. Thanks, Mayor Horva. Thanks, Councelor Casar Clark, councelor Moren Wilson. Thank you very much for your overall support. Um, I just want to offer some clarification. Uh the professional language in this was all through director Nancy Perer. I wouldn't even have the ability to put that type of professional language in. She understood the thrust of where I was going with my intention. So I deeply am grateful to her. So in case anybody wondered on some of the points where the uh language came from. Secondly, Council Marine Wilson, I think you know my reputation, I love giving advanced notice on anything I bring forward. I just need to ask city clerk Trenum. Clerks I thought had pretty well from a week ago when I gave everybody advanced alert. I thought they had taken carriage of this amendment and was their ability to distribute it. Now if that was a failing and Tom it was really left to you then I'll apologize but city clerk Trenum just a maybe a learning uh moment for me as well please if if I miss that I was to distribute this please. Through you mayor Horvath. Thank you Clerk Trenum. So through you mayor to the members. It's not something that we would normally circulate. We may have just sort of missed the ball in confirming that with you. So, I will apologize for that, but uh as an amendment, it's not something we would normally circulate. Okay. Thanks, city clerk Trenum. Next time, I'll double make sure that at least um I'll give my copy a hard copy to my colleagues. And lastly, um I sorry that I kind of mixed the age and income. I kind of blurred it all together with the seniors passes and seniors um fairs. Uh for those that are under 80 that don't utilize the golden age, there is an income threshold. I kind of kind of blurred it all together when talking about the golden age pass which is strictly about age. So I just wanted those clarifications. Thanks Mayor Horvath. Uh thank you councelor Jackson. I don't see anyone else on the list and so uh with that note on this amendment uh we'll go to the electronic vote please. And that carries 16 to zero. Thanks very much. Uh we're back now to the uh report as a whole. Are there any speakers uh to the report? Councelor Tatison, please go ahead. Yes. Uh, mayor, I'd like to lift items 9.1, C, and E, uh, that were voted on at the committee. And, uh, C is that staff be directed to provide a consolidated report no longer than Q4 to 2026 outlining current consult consultant utilization trends and associated expenditures and areas of sustained external consultant reliance. And then E that staff provide an update on the current status and future plans of the implementation of recommendations 1 through 12 as attached in the report AUD 17008 appendix A to the general issues committee by quarter 4 2026 and in C I just wanted to acknowledge that seconder yeah councelor Franc thank you go ahead that's okay um sorry and in C I just wanted to acknowledge that there was a friendly at the time to bump bump it to quarter to quarter 2 of 2027. And I just wanted to acknowledge that. Basically, um I'm asking for an update from the city on the current status and future plan. Oh, okay. Sorry. Okay. So, I'll I'll just basically start again. I'm asking for a report for C. I'm asking for a report on the consultant use in areas of sustained reliance. Um, it's basically for me it's it it's something that's imp that's important to have for staff so that they can do two other pieces that were already passed in this. Um, in E, I'm asking for an update from the city on current status and future plans of the city's response to 12 recommendations made by the city auditor in 2016 and a report on consultant use. Um, basically what I'm what I'm asking for is that I don't want it to be rehashed and and and the staff to to think that this is thou shalt do thou shalt do. I'm asking them to look at it, tell us what they've done, what their action plans are going to be in the future if they haven't done things, and if they're not going to take something up to report and share the reasoning why. So for me, I think um we haven't had an update on this auditor's report since 2017 that I can identify. And so I think it's it it the city councilors, this city council and future councils would would benefit from having a more recent update um on this report that was a very important report back in 2016 2017. Thank you. Uh thank you, Councelor Tatison. Councelor Clark, please go ahead. Thank you. on the auditor's report from 2017. I I uh spoke with councelor Tatison um separately and I went through all of our records that I could see um using escribe and using the tools that we have and it seemed to have been just a generic response to the recommendations of the auditor back in 2017. I don't recall if our policy back then was that they would each item they would provide a response to the recommendation. That is our policy now. Um, I don't think it is beneficial for us to rehash what was done in 2017 because things may have changed. But I think it's prudent for senior leadership team to understand that um we need to uh tighten up when we use consultants because the costs are are growing. And I think we all agree around the table here. Sometimes we're our own worst enemies with reports that we're requesting and there's no capacity with our staff to get that done. So they hire a consultant to do that. Um but I think um we I think what councelor Tatis is bringing to mind that that we should be cognizant of the amounts that we're spending and the policies on when and and how we use consultants. So I appreciate his digging on this. Thank you very much, sir. Thanks, Councelor Clark. I don't see any further speakers on the list. So, I would suggest that we do each one separately. Is that what you want? Or you want them together separately? Okay. So, then we'll start with item I think it was C and E. C. Yeah. Okay. Is that all right with the clerks? That's going to be fine. Do them separately. Okay. So, on item C, then this is actually I guess it's lifting that's on the floor, right? And so, we've got that on the floor. We've approved the lifting lifting kind of more or less and so we'll go straight to the detail. So on item C then um can we take the vote uh on item C? Uh that's an electronic vote please. Uh that's carried 13 to three. Thanks very much. Uh we're now on to item E. Electronic vote, please. We get the vote up. Okay, thank you. Oh, there it is. provide an update for the auto. Uh and that carries 14 to2. Thanks very much everyone. Uh now on to the balance of the general issues committee report. Is there anything further? Uh, Councelor Clark, please go ahead. Um, Mayor, I' I'd like to speak to item 10.1. This was the motion that you uh wanted to bring um before the committee with respect to the uh mergers of the conservation authorities uh that the province of Ontario is doing. Um this has been a bit of a frustrating process um both for the mayor and for myself as chair of the conservation authority. Um it's important that council understand that over 14,000 people wrote letters to the ERO opposing the direction that the province was proposing with regards to the conservation authority mergers. Um they did change it a little bit. It went um they they took a couple off of off the list, but really nothing changed in in what they had proposed. So, they didn't really, in my humble opinion, consider the letters that came in. Um I want both the council and the residents to understand that as of tomorrow, this will be law. So while we are sending the letter formally, it's important that the residents understand this is not the first letter that we sent to the minister about the conservation authority merger. Councelor Casar in his wisdom raised it back when the ERRO had been posted and this council took a position in opposition of it. Um and I thank councelor Casar for his diligence. Um the merger of the four conservations in our area will be uh the NPCA, the Niagara Pinsa Conservation Authority, which councelor Tatison and I serve on and uh citizen member uh Stu Bey, who has been on it, I think for 15 years. He's been on it a long time. He's been a wonderful member down there. um the Hamilton Conservation Authority and Halton and Credit Valley will be merged. I want to advise counselors and um the residents that the HCA has a wonderful relationship with all three of the conservation authorities that are merging together. We have a respectful cordial um relationship with the CAOs and the chairs. We work well together at Conservation Ontario and we are all committed to ensure the preservation of the watersheds and the preservation of the conservation lands in Hamilton. Mayor we have 11,000 acres of land. Um we have consistently been looking for conservation lands. We don't buy development lands to prevent development. We buy lands that are natural hazard lands that are floodrone or have marsh lands in them and we purchase them to preserve the ecological function of those lands. So, the Hamilton Conservation Authority when we were directed by the province of Ontario to conduct a land inventory, and yes, they did direct us to do that. Uh we did that work and we found that uh out of the 11,000 acres, they were all conservation lands. They they were lands that were legitimately purchased and preserved because they serve a vital function within our ecological profile in our watershed. uh conservation authorities are uh required under law and mandated to help control floods and to monitor for flooding in Hamilton. Um we have recently purchased lands in the east end of Hamilton uh for a new conservation area. It's at the Saltfleet Conservation Area and it's holding back hundreds of Olympic size swimming pool. uh of water when it rains. And what that does is it protects downstream counselor Francis's area uh from the flood waters that would use that used to flow over. So if you haven't had a chance to go there, check it out. Bottom line, mayor, I know you and I um and our board uh at the conservation authority, councelor Moren Wilson serves on the board, councelor Alex Wilson serves on the board, councelor Casar serves on the board, councelor spat and councelor Francis serves on the board with me. Um we are committed to continue doing the work that we do today after they do the merger. So, we're not changing anything and the minister has committed that there will be no job losses. So, we will keep you informed as we go through this transition process, but I want to thank the mayor. She's been steadfast in her opposition to this and her support of the conservation authority. It means a great deal to the board and to the residents. Um, the positions that you have taken and I I'm frustrated. I don't like what we're going to have to do. It's going to be a great deal of work and we still don't know what the goal is to make us do it. Thanks, Councelor Clark. Oh, and councelor Jeff Bey. Sorry, Councelor Bey. I forgot all about you. You weren't in the room. Thank you for waiting. Thanks. Thanks, Councelor Clark. I I gave you an extra minute or so there. Uh, I'm going to uh go to councelor Spataphora and then councelor McMaken. Mayor, I just wanted to ensure that councelor Bey would have been recognized, but councelor clerk did that, so I I'm done. Thanks very much. Councelor Tatterson, please go ahead. Councelor Tatterson. Councelor Tison. Oh, never I'm sorry. Oh, councelor McMin. Oh, I'm sorry. I was reading it wrong. Geez, that's weird. Go ahead, Councelor McKin. What an honor to be Whoops. Honor. What an honor to be confused with council. Um, I I just Maybe a puzzling question. What's the impact? Uh you we hear there's 11,000 uh uh consequential acres of of precious e ecologically sensitive lands. What's what's the impact of this merger on the lands around ownership uh um uh management uh and such? you know that that's that I think is is the key concern does councelor or anyone on the as the chair of the conservation authority I'll hand it over to councelor clerk thanks councelor clerk sorry thank you very much mayor thank you councelor Mcmick excellent question um our staff at the Hamilton Conservation Authority will stay in their positions uh and we will continue to do what we do today so all of our programs that exist today will continue. Um, we are nervous and I need to put it on the record to be clear. The bill and the language from the ministry talks about speeding up housing development. I need to ensure the residents that in Hamilton the conservation authority hits every marker when an application comes in for a permit. It was very rare for us to hold a section 28 hearing on lands that are in our jurisdiction. Um and our permit process um met the targets from the province. So the expertise it continues but we we don't know if there is a hidden reference there that they're looking for lands that they can use for housing because everything that the HCA and to be fair the NPCA has been doing can't speak for Halton and and Credit Valley um they've we've met the markers we we've done everything that the ministry says in terms of timelines to get a permit approved. Um, so I don't know at the present time we don't know the ramifications in the future. What we know is the commitment from the government that nothing's going to change except there's going to be a regional conservation authority and a provincial conservation agency, but they have the control over our conservation programs once the merger occurs. McMin, I guess my uh my sense is I see a pattern here. Um you know we had a a dismemberment of the green belt advisory committee as well and appointment of new directors on a revised group which one could state I think with with complete authenticity was not particularly reflective of people with an orientation towards environmental concerns in the green belt and I worry that this may be the next uh uh step there. Um, you know, I know there was a subsequent apology for, you know, and and I anticipate this this is maybe something down the road too, but this is a pattern your worship, I think. Um and uh it's one that is is u is troublesome in terms of uh horseshoe u representing a community that's made some strong statements around urban boundaries being keen and and green and uh and um and proactive around protecting the legitimate interests of our community and uh I appreciate council and the other members their their leadership there. We need to contend I guess through AMO and others u need to continue to and yourself I your good efforts as well need to need to press you know there needs to be more of a rationale here you know I I understand the provincial governments need to make decisions and and offer leadership and direction but it's helpful if that's done in uh collaboration and consultation with municipalities and with a clear explanation. We talk a lot here when we initiate something about making sure we have a calm strategy. I think that's missing here. Thanks. Thanks, Councelor McMakin. Councelor Casar, please. Yeah, thanks. Just to briefly weigh in on the topic and the question on, you know, the why of it. Um, you know, the minister has said, you know, the purpose of this is to get shovels in the ground sooner and get permitting done permitting done faster. So when you take what councelor Clark has offered up in that what the both Hamilton and Niagara have done is just purely protecting conservation lands. Yeah, it doesn't really connect. So in conversation as the board um at the HCA, we haven't been able to connect the dots on how this is actually going to impact the housing objective um by making these changes to the conservation authorities. It just it it doesn't make sense to me. It doesn't make sense to our chair. Um, so I just wanted to put that on the record that the minister has stated it certainly it's just to get approvals and permitting done faster whatever that means in this context. Uh, thanks Councelor Casar. Councelor Moren Wilson please. Thank you. I very much appreciate the comments offered by HCA's chair. Um, I just want to make sure we're very very clear and open on some of the narrative that is being uh propelled to fuel this merger. We've heard from some professional circles that the existing conservation authorities uh which were put in place for a reason after Hurricane Hazel are not working contrary to any evidence in the public realm. Um we have heard uh that this government is serious about building homes faster. Um and then to put a reconfiguration and merger of conservation authorities as part of that equation suggests um that conservation authorities in exercising their mandate may be some of the pro may be part of the problem in delivering on homes that is um as councelor Clark pointed out in the provision of permits that's there's no evidence to suggest that. But I think much more concerning is the idea that the capacity to deliver homes somehow has to um that that the protection and the advancement of our natural environment. We have to choose one over the other, which is the provision of homes versus protection of our natural environment presently and for generations to come. I would argue that's a false narrative. There's no evidence to suggest that. And we see that in the clawing back of the authorities that were historically given to conservation authorities, which was to protect and promote um in in the exercise of their authority the natural environment in the impact on groundwater and our water resources. that's been taken away in an effort to build homes faster. That should be a concern for all Ontarians. Life uh water is life and in the absence of us publicly, professionally, with due diligence protecting um our water sources um the the future is significantly compromised for our children. um conservation authority. The boundaries of those conservation authorities are actually they're not politically uh defined. They are defined by watersheds. So these are naturally defined boundaries. So this is not a discussion about whether we're in favor or not of municipal mergers. These are boundaries that abide by water courses and groundwater and water um waterheds. And I I think it would be probably a a good rule of thumb for the government of Ontario to actually lean into fulfilling the recommendations that were put out by its own affordability task force and perhaps um ensure that conservation authorities and their diligence that they give and provide and promise for this uh this province are upheld. By the way, uh a lot of those duties have now been downloaded onto municipalities without the provision of a fee. Thank you. Uh thanks, Councelor Wilson. Uh we have councelor Clark for a second time um on the agenda, but I I quickly want to say and formally I'll pass it over to councelor Tatison. Thank you to councelor Clark and councelor Casar. Uh I put the notice forward. I wasn't able to follow through because I had to do other uh city business and had to leave that meeting. So, I just want to say thank you both for carrying it forward uh and for the engagement of all of the uh uh the um councilors around the table. It's extremely important matter. So, thank you. Uh thanks councelor tax. I'll take the chair back. Uh and so then for councelor Clark for a second time uh we need a a motion and a vote moved by councelor Jackson, seconded by councelor Casar. All those in favor, raise your hand. Any opposed? Seeing none, uh, please go ahead, Councelor Clark. Um, thank you, Mayor, and I I appreciate, as as I indicate, I appreciate all of your efforts on on this file and many others. Um, I it's important for me to um acknowledge that the next step in this process will be the creation of a transition committee. The transition committee will uh have one elected member um from council and in this case I am the chair and the and would be serving as the elected member on that transition committee and the CAO of the HCA will serve on that committee with me. So there will be eight people on the committee at a minimum. Um if the chair is not an elected member, it's a citizen member, then that conservation authority or the member municipality has to find an elected member to serve on that transition committee. That transition committee will not be selecting the chair for the se transition committee. The chair of the the transition committee will be selected by the province and whoever is selected as chair for the transition committee will end up being the first CAO for the regional conservation authority for two years. So the province is appointing that person just so to be very clear. And finally, um, and and I've said this before and I I mean it with with all of my heart. Um, and you've heard from two of our board members at the HCA here tonight. Um, the board of directors for the Hamilton Conservation Authority this term has been one of the best boards that I have served with. Um, they have served with distinction. They have served with honor. They they they um truly embrace um the mandate of the conservation authority and they are completely in sync with our staff at the conservation authority. We have had an excellent staff at the conservation authority. Um they need to be thanked for their services. Um and I need to say this again. There are no jobs at risk according to the minister and we have stressed that very much. We've been dealing with the minister of labor to ensure that any collective agreements all of that has to be addressed through the legislation. Um so I want to just thank everyone that participated in this process. It's not what we wanted but we will work um respectfully and honorably to ensure that the wershed is protected. Thank you. Thank you councelor Clark. Uh so then we are going back now to the balance of the amended uh uh report. Is there any other comments or questions that people want to raise? Any other items? Oh, councelor Bley, please go ahead. Thank you, M. Madam Mayor, just looking for a separated vote on item 9.4. Uh just want to be consistent in my vote in opposition to the motion for the reasons stated during GIC. Uh okay. So we are So you wanted to lift 94 for a separate vote. Okay. Correct. Um so then we'll start with N. I don't see anybody else on the list. So then we'll start with 9.4. I'm just going to try to remind people. Uh I'm sorry. Oh, councelor Cretch, please go ahead. I'll speak to 9.4 if that's okay. It's a motion I put forward in the municipal price index. So this is asking staff to come back with a feasibility very similar to councelor Jackson's motion on the golden age pass just a feasibility to look at a municipal price index. It's not saying we're going to have one. It's not setting up any kind of situation that's was described to GIC in terms of excusing tax increases or other kinds of things that were ascribed to this motion by others. Read the warehouse clauses. This is about asking for us to look at developing a municipal price index so that we can let residents know which I get asked questions about regularly by the way from residents is what costs the municipality face? What are the costs that are not captured with inflation or the consumer's price index? What's the difference between food and concrete? These are questions I get asked at town halls all the time. And so this municipal price index which has been used in other municipalities gives us a chance to look at that information and know where our costs are. So it's asking for a feasibility of doing so. thinks it's a really reasonable thing to do. It gathers more information for our municipality and gives everyone in our city u the chance to understand how the municipality functions and what the cost pressures are here in a much more transparent way. Thank you. Uh thanks Councelor Crutch. Councelor Clark, please. Thank you, Chair. I keep reaching to turn on my mic and shutting myself off, which I'm sure some people would like to do anyways, but that's an aside. Oh, sorry. That's my fault. I did it again. It's all good. That wasn't It wasn't on purpose and it wasn't subliminal. It just happened. It was functional. I apologize. So ironic. Thank you for that injection of some humor into the meeting. Um yeah, the municipal price index. I I understand what staff are saying. I understand very clearly what councelor Cretch is saying. Um, I've always had a a a concern when we are looking at services and materials that a municipality needs, they are always seems to be seem to be priced higher than what the private sector will need. So the private sector, if they're wanting a service and you compare a quote that they get versus what a municipality gets, the costs are always higher with the municipality. And I fear that a municipal price index will simply entrench that and we should be pushing back to prevent that. Um and it's important that we always acknowledge that um CPI which is what the consumers the residents face that's what their salary increases are based on that is what um their fixed income inc increases are based on and so to have a separate mindset or culture as to how we finance things, salaries, services, materials. I have a concern about that. So, I'm going to continue to oppose it. Notwithstanding, I understand exactly what the council is asking for a report back. Regardless of what the report back, I'm still going to be philosophically opposed to adopting an MPI. Thank you. Uh, thank you, Councelor Casar. Please go ahead. Yeah, I'm supportive of the motion. I supported it. The GIC, I'll support it here. just offering some thoughts, you know, picture if we didn't have a CPI, consumer price index, we wouldn't have the information to understand, you know, prices that are affecting population in everyday lives. Uh, if we have a municipal price index, um, to councelor Clark's point, we may be able to then understand if there's a concern the private sector has cheaper prices, we would be able to understand the our municipal prices and potentially compare to the private sector and then maybe take some action and do some some, you know, get better prices. is I mean so it's information it's about intelligence to understand and help us do our job better. So I think there's many reasons won't go and and list them all why it's important to have more information to exercise good governance. So I encourage members to support the exploration. If you have further reservations when the report comes back or want to learn more about it and dive into it I think that's the appropriate time. But um I think this is a very reasonable and and productive exercise to get this information back. Thanks mayor. Uh thanks councelor Casar. Uh I see no other sp speakers on the list. Councelor Tatison, if you uh can take the chair just very briefly uh out. Thank you. I just want to add that um I thanked councelor Cretch at the committee. I'm going to do so again. This is something that I raise every time we have a budget discussion. It uh is does and does never hurt to actually get uh more information in terms of uh uh populating our uh understanding of the pressures that this city faces. But it's also never harmful to have that information provided to the public as well. One of the things we found out very clearly uh as we have been engaging more and more people in the budget process through our community through our town halls through our online processes etc. uh people really don't have a good idea of the pressures the city faces and and the kinds of things that we uh are uh dealing with in terms of expenditures and so uh I mean I would just say this I think more information is better educated public is a good thing uh and um I would end by saying that there are things that we do that that people don't do in terms of their household expenditures they don't have collective agreements uh that add the pressure they don't have the kind of uh legal costs that we have for example they're not buying Zambonies or fire trucks uh etc. So both on operating and on capital it's a different scenario and having information uh to help inform uh our pressures and also how we uh move forward with budgeting as well as with comparison to other um you know similar large organizations that are not necessarily municipal uh I think is a positive thing. So I'm I'm absolutely in support. Uh so on that note uh any further speakers? I don't see any. So we'll uh we'll go to the uh recorded vote on that. Please all those in favor of the motion um that was lifted. H oh councelor Bey uh was the mover and councelor C. Oh, it's just a separate vote, right? It was just it was just lifted for a separate vote. So that's fine. So we don't need it was just lifted for a separate vote. Thank you. There's no amendments to it. So all those in favor oh sorry it goes to the electronic role. Please uh please go ahead on this item particularly first and then we'll go to the report. It was lifted 9.4 before I lift it for a sec a separate vote. Uh that carries 14 or sorry 12 to 4. Thanks very much. Uh anything further on this general issues committee minutes that people would like to discuss or have voted on separately. Seeing none, then we'll go to the balance of the report. Uh we put that up for the electronic vote, please. Councelor BD can you please vote? Uh that carries 16 to zero. Thanks very much all. Uh 7.5 and 12.2 uh AFNA 260 uh 005 audit finance administration committee April 16th 2026. Councelor Bey, may I please have a motion to receive and approve the recommendations within the audit, finance, and administration committee's open and closed minutes of April 16, 2026. Thank you, Maron. Through you uh seconded by Vice Chair Mike Spaphora. I don't have the particular wording in front of me as I'm remote today. So, I'll use the wording that you just provided and uh happy to um move this along. Thank you. Uh okay. Thank you. Um, apparently there has been a request to go into closed for the close session AFNA minutes. So, in fact, what we are only doing then is the open minutes. Am I correct, Clerk Trenum? Well, he's we're going to just confirm that u it's in my road map, but um if we don't need to go into camera on the minutes, then we can the close session minutes and we can get that uh dispatched right now. Sorry, mayor that may have been a carryover from the last last road map. Yeah. So, that may just be an error. I'm not seeing anything from around. Was there anybody that asked for those minutes to be put into the close session? Seeing none, then we'll just go ahead with the motion that councelor Bey put out uh initially, which was both the uh recommendations in the minutes as well as the uh committee's closed minutes. So, that's what's before us. Any speakers on this list? Councelor uh Clark, please go ahead. Yes. I just wish to be opposed to item 9.4 and 9.2. Thank you. Or sorry, 10.2. 9.4 and 10.2. Okay. Okay. Do we have those uh that recorded then to the clerks? Okay. Thank you. Anything further? Okay. Seeing none, we'll go to the U electronic vote then, please. Yes. No. On on Yeah, this is on 7. No, he's just No, counselor. The counselor just wants to be recorded opposed to those two things. Oh, so Oh, okay. So, we'll have to do a full separate vote on both of them. Okay, then. So, we're starting with a 9.4. Was it councelor Clark? 9.4. Can we have the recorded vote, please? Sorry, I'm just actually wanting to make sure I understand what we're voting on here. This is my fault because I wasn't ahead. 9.4 is uh award to community grants 2026. Okay. So, 94 94 9.4 community grants. Okay. So, can we put that one up, please? Uh, that carries 14 to2. Thanks very much. The other one, I'm sorry, councelor Clark. 10 10.2 and 10.2. two is W 11 community grants 2026 pilot. Okay, that's put that vote up for us, please. Um, thank you Okay, that carries 14 to2. Thanks again very much everyone. Then on the balance of the uh AFNA uh minutes and uh in in camera minutes, anything seeing none, we'll go to the vote please. Votes up. Thanks. All that carries 16 to zero. Uh we are now on to uh item 9 one supporting the role of trustees and maintaining an accountable and transparent education system revised. Councelor Wang, would you please present your motion? Yes, mayor. Moved by myself, seconded by former trustee Jeff PD. Uh this is this has been a notice of motion from last time and then it went to GIC. Uh and I'm very thankful for the two delegates that we had uh trustees and trustee Furman who came and spoke to us at GIC and then GIC went a little bit longer and now it's here today. Uh so just for council's sort of edification there were two changes because during the time when it came from a notice of motion to where it is today there was a additional bill that was put forward bill 101. In terms of my comments bill 33 and the newly introduced bill 101 significantly alters the balance of authority between province and local boards. The these bills grant the province expanded authority over schoolboard governance which may impact the long-term role of elected local representation and uh oh I forgot to read the therefore be it resolved the therefore be it resolved that a Hamilton city council supports the role of locally elected trustees in ensuring accountability representing local priorities and advance and advocating for the needs of students that Hamilton City Council requests that the province of Ontario conduct an impact assessment of bill 33 and bill 101 on the governance role of elected trustees and work collaboratively with school boards, trustees and trustee associations to develop a clear framework defining the role and responsibilities of trustees moving forward and ensure local accountability and representation are maintained through the implementation of these changes and C that this motion be circulated to the HWDSB and HWCDSB liaison committees Ontario Public School Boards Association, Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association, Rural Ontario Municipal Association, the Association of Municipalities Ontario, members of Provincial Parliament representing writings in the city of Hamilton, the Ministry of Education, and the Premier of Ontario. In terms of my comments, Mayor, as I said, uh the role of uh Bill 33 and the newly introduced Bill 101 significantly alters that balance of authority. Trustees act as a primary point of contact for city councilors on local education and school site issues. Their no local knowledge is a unique resource that pro the provinially appointed supervisors are not designed or mandated to replicate. I will say selfishly that I lean on uh my trustees in Ward 4 significantly to to be a lot more accountable to the families that I represent and is specifically putting the needs of uh children and students at the forefront. This motion council requests that this province conduct this a more robust pro provincewide consultation and a formal impact assessment on bills 33 and 101 before making permanent changes to the role of trustees. I believe that this goal is to work collaboratively and to define a clear framework that ensures that local accountability is maintained for as these governance models evolve. So my hope is that council will support this call to the province and again support our local trustees in this endeavor. Thank you mayor. Uh thank you councelor uh Wang. Councelor Bey please go ahead. Thank you mayor and through you. Uh thank you to uh councelor Hang for bringing this forward and and allowing me to be the seconder on this. As noted I uh did serve in the role of trustee uh third generation actually. Both my father and grandfather served in that role as well. And while I acknowledge that the role has evolved uh since its early inception and mayor making note that the role of an elected schoolboard trustee predates uh that of an elected counselor. I believe it predates that of an elected uh member of parliament as well. I believe uh historically that it is the oldest elected um form of governance in if not Ontario uh certainly in in the country. And so setting aside uh that history recognizing that the rule has changed uh and continues to evolve uh at one point trustees were expected to show up at the one room schoolhouse and ensure that there was an ample supply of coal for the furnace. uh and you can imagine the trustees are not showing up to unlock the doors of schools in 2026. Um so there is an evolution that takes place but I would maintain and argue that the role is uh incredibly essential uh for local implementation of education. It is uh the the province's prerogative to ensure the education system functions but it is the local implementation through our local boards and with the input of locally elected trustees representing their communities uh that we ensure that that that continues. I would also make note, mayor, that uh as a member of the city schoolboard liaison committee, there's an incredible amount of goodwill and work that takes place when you have elected officials between the two organizations sitting down in a room with staff and the administration in the background. moving forward, common goals. Moving forward, opportunities for uh shared collaborative uh betterment exercises, if you will, uh abilities to make our community stronger, better uh through those collaborative efforts. And outside of the liazison committee, uh like um councelor Hang made note of, I also work uh very closely with my my local trustee on issues that are for greater good purposes. And so, uh, while I am appreciative that the government has chosen to retain the role, I know that that was in question at one point, uh, some concerns about exactly what the new definition of the role will look like moving forward. And so wanting to ensure that that we lend our voice of support to the work that trustees do and uh hopeful that the provincial government will take that into account as they move forward with the implementation of local education. Thank you, Mayor. Uh thank you, councelor Bey. Uh councelor Clark. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I was torn on this to be quite frank because from time to time I feel like we we um oppose the provincial government um a little more often than we should. When you review some of the things that we've opposed them on, we didn't really oppose, but we provided our opinion. They ask for our opinion, we provide our opinion. We don't they don't always agree with us. We've noticed that. Um uh this motion is is is slightly different. It's not asking council to oppose the government of Ontario's changes that they have made. This motion is asking that the government attend the government of Ontario conduct an impact assessment on the governance role of elected trustees. So, it's asking for them to look at the role and clarify the role. That is different than simply opposing something because we don't like where they're going. They made the they've made their choice and they're going to have to deal with their choice and I don't think it's going to be good for them. They're going to find that uh it was better having local autonomy at the board level than than where they're going. But I think this is a is a reasonable motion. I think this motion is simply asking, can you please clarify exactly what the role is of the trustee, where you're going with this program? What's their role going to be so the public understands it, the city understands it, and all stakeholders understand it. Most importantly, the parents because the parents are just plainly confused right now by the whole process. Um, I have eight grandchildren now in in um public school and and the parents are confused. They really are. They don't and they're there's nervousness. There's apprehension as to where the government is going. So, I think this is appropriate. Thank you. Uh, thanks Councelor Clark. Councelor Tison, please. And, uh, I just want to thank councelor Clark for clarifying that. As a former principal with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board, I think it's very important. I've worked with trustees closely. It's very important to maintain local autonomy. It's very important to allow those that are closest to the situations and understand situations the best to be the ones that make that decision. And I think that that's um I just want to throw that out there for our friends at the provincial level to consider in their considerations. Thank you. Uh thanks Councelor Tatison. I don't see any further speakers. So then on the motion moved by councelor uh Wang and seconded by councelor Bey, can we have an electronic vote up please? Councelor, we waiting for somebody. Okay, thank you. Uh 16 to zero that carries. Thanks very much. On to a motion 9.2 jurisdictional scan on emergency shelter access and intermunicipal coordination. Councelor Fran Francis, would you please present your motion and advise of your second? Thanks, Mayor Horvath. This moved by myself, seconded by councelor Spataphor. Whereas municipalities across Ontario, including the municipality of Chattam, Kent, the region of Peele, Halam region, Nagar region, Haldman County in the Wellington County have implemented practices that prioritize access to emergency shelter services for local residents or for those with demonstrated community connections. Whereas these approaches often include diversion supports and coordination to connect individuals to services in their municipality of origin where appropriate supports may exist. Whereas the city of Hamilton does not currently have a clearly defined or consistently apply approach respecting residency, community connection or coordination diversion. And whereas any approach must remain compassionate and include protections for vulnerable individuals including those fleeing unsafe situations. Therefore, be it resolved A, that staff be directed to report back to the general issues committee by the end of Q2 2026 with a jurisdictional scan of emergency shelter access policies across Ontario municipalities, including eligibility criteria, residency or community connection requirements, intake practices, diversion or return to origin supports, funding implications, and available service outcome data. B. that staff be directed to report back on current city of Hamilton practices, including how residency or origin is tracked, system pressures related to non-resident access, and analysis of residency data collected through HIFS, including current proportion of non-resident shelter users and any available historical trends and how these compare to other municipalities where data is available. and C that staff be directed to report back with policy recommendations on emergency shelter access including residency, community connection, and intermunicipal coordination and diversion practices based on the findings of the jurisdictional scan with clear exemptions for individuals fleeing intimate partner violence or human trafficking. And if I may just um got a few questions of staff mayor, if this is the appropriate time to do that. Uh sure. You would normally speak to your motion, but sure. Go ahead. I've got both. So, I just given the pressures in our shelter system there and the level of taxpayer investment uh it's important that we get an understanding of actually what's happening on the ground uh and make decisions based in that clarity. And I've had a brief conversation myself with a shelter operator who suggested this is a uniquely uh Hamilton and Toronto issue which makes it even more important that we get this clarity. And uh through my uh research it is my understanding that Hamilton is the last city to implement a policy outside of Toronto. So just a a few quick questions for staff mayor. I'm just hoping uh staff can give a high level summary for those who who are not familiar with hyphus that that database and um what it is exactly. Uh thank you uh Jim Mater please go ahead. Uh through the chair Grace Mater general manager of healthy and safe communities uh through the chair to the counselor. Um the database you're referencing is how we categorize and and count all of the individuals that are in the shelter system and they're um the operators are the ones who input input that data. We do know that the majority of people that are living in Hamilton or that are in the shelter system are from the city of Hamilton and have lived here for greater than 5 years. However though we are starting to see some changes in that demographic as well. we are seeing an uptake of those numbers of less than six months, less than a year, less than 18 months. So we are noticing that as well. So this this does align with some of the the research and thinking that we were already um having underway with Francis. Thank you. And so my question would be with that database does it uh track the community of origin through you mayor you meter through the chair? I am uncertain of that. However, um we will include that in the report back. Understood. My last question, mayor, is what percentage of shelter users have a last known address outside of Hamilton and what percentage have been there for less than one year? Uh through the chair, I don't have that data. That would be part of what our research would be. Um I can confirm I've Rob Mastriani, the manager of the shelter system, is online. I can defer the question to him to see if he's got any further information on that. Can I ask if if he's online? Oh, there you go. Oh, thank you. Hi, Rob. Good morning. Uh through the chair, Rob Astriani, manager homeless system supports. Um we do know that generally there the majority of individuals that are accessing the emergency shelter system. the the high proportion of those individuals are Hamilton residents to to Grace's point that have been in in Hamilton for one to five years. Um but uh as she noted we can provide uh more detailed information in our report back. Thank you, Mayor. In my conversations with staff, the number that came up was actually 30%. I've been told by staff I've been told by other by others as well that it is 30%. I just want to get that clarity if that is something that they've heard as well. Uh I guess where you're asking manager Masuani, is that who you're asking? Councelor Francis. Sure. The number 30% has been suggested by councelor Francis in terms of information that he has. Uh is that something that you would concur with or I think that's the question you're asking councelor Francis. Am I correct? Uh through the chair. Uh I believe uh based on my understanding the information that you might be referring to is some data that's reported through our point in time connection information uh and there is a there is a figure that is uh noted in that information that 30% of individuals accessing the shelter 37% sorry of individuals accessing emergency shelters in Hamilton uh have always been Hamilton residents. I'm not I'm not exactly sure if that is the information that you're referring to but uh we can definitely clarify. Uh, thanks. Did you want to go to GM Mater? I see you looking over to the bench. Councelor Francis, GM Mater, do you have any further clarity? Uh, through the chair. Councelor, can you maybe repeat the question to make sure that I'm really understanding it? Yeah. I just want to know what percentage of the shelter users have a last known address outside of Hamilton and what percentage I've heard it's um been told by staff it is 30%. It's one of that confirmation. So, address outside of Hamilton. So we know that we have some statistics that 20% of the people who have been in that have been in Hamilton less than 6 months, 7% have been here less than um between a year and 18 months and 10% have been here under under um 5 years. So I'm not sure if that's we don't I don't have the statistic exactly in front of me about the last known address though. Sorry. So, okay. Are you satisfied then, councelor uh Francis? Because we're we have a speakers list. So, you can go back on. I apologize, GMater. That was not very clear to me because, you know, in my discussions with staff, it was up in the 30% range for folks with a last known address outside of Hamilton within the last year. I just want that absolute clarity. I I apologize that I didn't it didn't come across as clear to me and that maybe just my interpretation Jer through the chair. We will absolutely get that answer for you though counselor. Okay, never mind. Uh thanks councelor Francis. Uh councelor Nan please. Thank you through you mayor. Just a few questions to staff. Um so number one recognizing um discussions from GIC uh just want to clarify that the report request for Q2 2026 coming up pretty soon is that feasible is that doable Jer uh through the chair yes it is doable as I indicated earlier that this was something we were already looking at and we're including it in that look at our transformation of the system. Thank you. And then second question through you, mayor, is um the the the direction has language um including residency and I'm just curious about that term specifically and how we would define residency as a municipality in reviewing the request for data and recognizing you know human rights as well as immigration as well as refugee status etc. So if staff could just clarify what does residency mean in this context and how would you interpret it in a way that's appropriate through the chair we would be looking at how our our some of our counterparts are doing it around the province as to how they're interpreting that so there's some consistency within that and that would be part of our report back on how best to categorize it. Okay. Thank you. Thanks Councelor Nan. Councelor Crutch please. Thank you. Um my questions about this and I have some comments when we collect information in hus how do we collect information in hus from whom gator through the chair I'll defer that to uh mayor manager masterani please go ahead uh through the chair so hyphus is a software program that uh exists in each of our homelessness serving system programs so the staff the agency staff within those locations are the ones that uh collect information from the individuals accessing service and input that information into the H highest database. That's great. So to be clear, this is anecdotal information that's gathered from people by word of mouth. There is no verification method we have at the city of Hamilton to verify anyone's address. Correct. There are questions that are sorry through the chair. There are questions that are asked as part of the intake process of uh what the individual's last known address was, where they may have resided in the past 6 months that information. But it is all based on um what the what the individual accessing service is able to report uh and what is input into the system. So somebody could say anything they wish and we record that in the system as as the information without any way to check that uh through the chair. We do not verify an individual's last address with any sort of documentation or anything like that. I think it's important to say that because it's perfectly reasonable for people to tell us where they live and where they are. But also when we start having conversations about what data means, what data looks like and what confidence we have in that data, right? In this data, we don't have any confidence in the data. We just have the confidence that the person told us that they live here and if they know there's a restriction, then they can just say they live here and that solves that problem. So that's not a very effective policy from my perspective. When we looked at the point in time report and we had conversations with GM Mater, one of the things that we discussed at that time was whether or not this was a unique problem to Hamilton alone. And the answer was that you gave that Michelle gave director Baird that no it's not. And that when we look at the point in time stats from the national point in time across municipalities that what we saw in the evidence there what you answered was that no there's not a disproportionate number of people coming to Hamilton from other cities. In fact people from Hamilton are leaving Hamilton and going to other cities as often as they're coming here and there is that split ratio. Jim Mer through the chair as I indicated that we are seeing a change in that there are seeing a greater number of individuals coming to here as our partner and neighboring municipalities are implementing those restrictions in their shelter system and we without a restriction at all we're seeing them gravitate to Hamilton. So what you're saying is that people are restricting other people from being in their cities and you're seeing as a result of us not having a restriction recently that we're seeing some more people coming here. We haven't done a point in time connection since you've seen that though. So we don't actually have that data. Is that right through the chair? It's an anecdotal information that we're providing and that and we see this as the opportunity to do that investigation on it in a deeper way. Now thank you. I just want to make sure that we're making decisions here based on data and right now we're not making decisions based on data. We're basing decisions on anecdote. So I'll say this as a comment. introducing more barriers for people and starting to create up artificial borders around cities about where people can move is pretty dangerous thinking as far as I'm concerned. That's what we're doing essentially is we're setting up a border and saying that people can and can't come here. They have to prove they have a community connection. They have to prove they have a reason to be here. Um I think that's really concerning language in this is not a new thing either that's happening. I understand we have a new change, but this has been a political conversation that's been happening in the city since the 19th century. On March 31st, 1856, Hamilton City Council discussed the issue of, and this is not my language, this came right out of the official record, of poppers in the city and said, "It's greatly to be deplored that the city has been and is being daily inundated with poppers of a variety of characters from all parts of the province is what the city council at that time said." And it seems like we haven't moved too far from that conversation. Politically speaking, we look at the evidence, which we don't have yet in front of us. The evidence is telling us that this is not actually what's happening disproportionately. Yes, I don't disagree that other cities putting policies in place will have an impact on us. Certainly, it will. I also think it's just problematic to continue to have a discussion where we're not thinking about what the impacts will be locally to doing things like this. disproportionately residents who don't have housing live in wards two and three. That's where they are and that's where they reside. This council has continued to put policies forward. The provincial government mostly to be fair. We've done a few things here but mostly it's the province. I'll say that quite clearly that have pushed people into tighter and tighter spaces have pushed them out of public spaces pushed them out of private spaces to the point where they no longer have space to be. And what's happening now, for those of you who don't know, if you're not downtown and walk around often like I am, is that folks are now stuck, literally stuck, physically stuck in places. They have nowhere else to go. And then eventually enforcement comes along and asks them they must leave. Then they go somewhere else and they're stuck. And so what happens here in this community is that I hear from a group of residents that say there's some folks that are stuck in this place outside and they're not moving. And what happens? And then they report that to someone and we have a council approved policy that enforces something. And that's what council decided to do. So that happens and those residents might reach out to me and say, "Hey, what's going on counselor? What's the what's the process? What's happening here momentarily, then they go somewhere else, somewhere else, somewhere else?" And the same different groups of residents contact me saying the same thing. So I'm just saying here, and I'll wrap this up, is that this is going to make that problem worse. And I encourage every single one of you who votes in favor of this to come actually get out your feet on the ground in war two and walk around and see what the experience is like for people who are experiencing this and stop making policies without talking to the people who are impacted by them. Uh thanks Councelor Crutch. Councelor Casar, please. Yeah, thanks Morv. I absolutely understand where the motion's coming from and the the feeling of being overburdened and hearing from constituents uh that you know taxes are increasing and the the perception or the fact whatever it may be of individuals coming from other cities in Hamilton paying for it. Uh yeah, totally understand that. That's a very real concern. Uh ironic though when it's a provincial responsibility, housing and mental health, which is what this is about, is a provincial responsibility. So, I think it's important to consider that and we're, you know, other municipalities and potentially Hamilton are looking at how do we minimize our risk and our cost for something that's escalating that is the province's responsibility. So, I just think that's important to say out loud. Um but from a governance point of view just for the city of Hamilton um when I read through the motion the first question that came up um and I've asked this of solicitor Shields and would like to get a response is is there any implications infringements on the charter of rights uh that we should consider when making this decision. Um so I'd really like to hear um if there's anything that can be shared in public or if we need to go close then um we should do that too. Thank you. Thanks Councelor Casar. Uh, Solicister Shields, please. Lisa Shields. City Lister. Um, I I I would have to think about it and I I I recognize that um there you want an answer. Um, but I think it would be best if I could answer that in closed um because it would be given legal advice around the charter implications of the motion. That's Yes, sir. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. I don't have any other questions, but I guess um after we exhaust the speakers list, maybe I'll leave it the prerogative up to you, but I would like to go into close to ask that question. I think that's prudent thing to do at the appropriate time. Uh thanks and I just want to confirm with the city solicitor that uh uh if we go into camera later today, which we will be for other items, then you would have the time to be able to consider uh a response to the question later today. through the chair. I I can try my best to give an answer. It might require me to do a little bit more research that will need Yeah. Thanks. Okay. Thanks very much, uh, Councelor Casar. Thanks, city solicitor. Okay. We'll go to councelor Jackson now, please. Thank you, Mayor Horvath. Thank you, Councelor Francis. Thank you, Councelor Spaphora, for bringing this motion forward. This is reminiscent 23 years ago in the first amalgamated term of this new city council. I was honored to be on and there was a general manager of healthy and safe communities back then who assisted me because I kept hearing whispers and words yes anecdotally but you know when a theme develops and word on the street is growing and there's a pattern uh usually I listen even more carefully and uh the the word back then was Mayor Horvat that there seemed to be a greater number of welfare recipients that were coming from the GTA and migrating to Hamilton. Uh I've always said we're a compassionate city. Our doors are always open. We want to look after those in greatest hardship. Absolutely. But I said, you know what? Uh with council support back then, a study was commissioned. And sure enough, the general manager came back then all documented. It showed on average over a year's period, 400 individuals migrated more coming down the QEW this way to Hamilton than going in the other direction. The impact to local taxpayers was on average about a million dollars a year more to the everyday taxpayers of Hamilton to cover that. So I suggested well how about then we do some pooling with those municipalities with either the provincial government or the other governments regional and city around the GTA. The answer was councelor Jackson we're not going to get into pooling. You the residents are arriving in your city. You look after that with your own taxpayers. So have I got a burn in me because of what happened back then? And fast forward now to the latest issue that this municipality has uh absorbed and has gone through specifically during this term of council. Specifically with some of the decisions by the majority of this council that's enabled the uh greater increase of legally allowing homeless tent people to occupy public spaces. We've seen what's happened in front of central library 18 months where families children couldn't even use our neighborhood parks. All this motion is asking is can we look after our own? Can we look after those residents that are Hamiltonians? And can we be cognizant of the everyday taxpayer who's absorbing more and more the cost to help the homeless even though it's a small percentage and the greater number of our citizens are absorbing and looking after the costs in an unprecedented way during this term of council. That's how I feel. So I'm strongly supportive of this uh motion. Um, Mayor Horvath, uh, I saw, uh, a comparison to what happened 23 years ago, and I think it's timely to, uh, find out exactly what's happening. And again, let's remember the headlines Hamilton went through in the past this term of council. I I can't recall seeing those type of headlines in Burlington, Milton, Oakville, Grimby. Please don't say to me, Tom, the problem's everywhere. It's nationwide, provincewide, other municipalities wide. Please, let's not don't let's not insult each other here. We know Hamilton has a disproportionate amount of this issue that we've been dealing with. I want to look after our own to the best of our ability, and I'm strongly supportive of this motion. Thanks, Mayor Horvath. Uh, thanks, Councelor Jackson. Councelor Moren Wilson, please. Thank you. Um I just want to make sure I understand uh the ask in a uh so my question is going to be to staff uh through the chair. um in your jurisdictional scan, will you be will part of that be identifying how many emergency shelters uh are known to staff in Hamilton versus the other jurisdictions where you'll be asking for information through the chair? J uh through the chair to the councelor that can be part of it. Yes, we would be including and the percentage of utili those utilizing the shelter system in those communities. Thank you. If if if it doesn't have to be enumerated in the um therefore be it resolved and if it's understood that you will be canvasing for how many emergency shelters exist in this jurisdiction and how many exist in others, I I think that would be helpful. Thank you. Um in part of a um it references intake practices. Would you be asking about I don't know the name how to phrase this. It's not outtake practices, but is there a formal policy in place where if a jurisdiction finds itself at capacity that they do um transfer uh individuals or provide for support for individuals to be transferred to this jurisdiction through the chair? Jive through the chair. That's part of what we would have to be investigating. We don't know that. Um some of the things that we are hearing is that they're before anyone is admitted into the system is they're asking for verification before they come into the system is to verify that they are in fact a resident of that community. So just so that I'm clear through the chair, you you will be determining uh what they do if they are at capacity that may be informed by their their their eligibility is rooted in residence, but I'm interested in the practice of what happens in when they are at capacity through the chair, then that can be included as well. Okay. If the mover is fine with that. Um, I just have a comment on the reference. I've said this before, so forgive me on the pooling reference made by my colleague, Councelor Jackson. Um, when the Miceris government decided to download an array of social services, including public housing onto municipalities, uh, there was something in place called the Greater Toronto Services Board. and the Greater Toronto Services Board actually did um exercise um pooling for the purpose of social services. So they said collectively we don't think this formula advanced and put in place by the premier premier Harris at the time is sustainable. We're going to collect collectively pull our resources to try and respond to it. Well, that didn't last very long um at all because our neighbors quickly uh discerned that uh the need, if you will, was so significant in Hamilton that they didn't want to contribute anymore. Even though we know that individuals are fluid in Ward 1, we've had the great privilege of when housing prices went uh began to escalate, particularly in the Toronto area, uh we had individuals and families migrate uh to to Hamilton to seek housing that they could afford. And it's my opinion that and I've become friends with some of those former Torononians and they have contributed significantly. So I I would be very interested in in learning uh what this information offers. Um, I think if we're going to advocate to the province that human services uh should be funded by a jurisdiction which has legitimate constitutional oversight of human services because people are mobile, then I think any information to make that case would be very important. So, I'll support the motion. Thank you. Thanks, Councelor Wilson. Councelor Clark, please. Thank you, Mayor. Just a couple of questions and then perhaps a comment. Um the Hamilton the homeless individuals and families information system that's what hist means is can I get confirmation uh gator through the chair? Yes that's correct. Thank you. And I I heard uh one of our colleagues indicate that it was um uh information that was provided to us but it was not confirmed by us. Do you and your staff have confidence in the data that you are receiving from hy through the chair? I'll ask uh um manager Mastriani to answer that for sure. Councelor Manager Mastriani. Uh through the chair. Yep. So through the chair. Um the information I believe that we were referring to is actually uh point in time count information and data. Uh the information that is within Hifus is is to an earlier point that um like self-reported information. So, so those stats are the point in time count information that we have and and we do have confidence in that information. So, the point in time surveys that are done that gives us by name list for houseless or homeless individuals. It's the same data that we use for hyphus manager must join him uh through the chair. if if I could explain that. Uh I'll do my best to explain that. Um so the information within Hyphus is that daily information that's input uh through all of our program areas and and in most cases somebody's um address history is is added into that into that into that software as part of an intake process. So a question is asked of like what was your last known address and that information is input. So that is collected on a regular basis. the information that we're referring to and those those percentages that we're referring to is is collected through a separate process which is the point in time connection which is which is that count for lack of a better term that is conducted on a regular basis. It's a it's a one-day count uh that's conducted on regular intervals and it's required through um our federal require federal reporting requirements. So there's there's two separate processes kind of at play. And in both processes, we have confidence in the data that we're receiving even though the individual is providing it anecdotally. We don't verify what they're telling us through the chair. That is correct. Thank you. Um I'm curious, do our staff know if other municipalities are providing monetary enducements for um social services recipients to go to another municipality? G meter through the chair to the counselor. No, we're we're not sure of that and that would be part of what we're going to be doing some investigating on. Thank you. Um I heard the the request about le requesting some legal advice. Um could we not incorporate the legal advice in this report so that we've got all the information when it comes back through the chair of the council? Yes, we can. And would that be a friendly amendment to what you're requesting? Um the request for legal opinion on the information. So that would be friendly. Okay. Uh I'm comfortable with the report coming back. Um mayor, it has come up many many times. Um I get and I recall very much different answers from different people. Um and we even I remember we had a a rather significant labor leader in our community raised the spectre of people being transferred to Hamilton by bus. Um and so the question of monetary inducements and transferring people to other municipalities, I think we need to have that information. Thank you. Uh, thanks Councelor Clark. Councelor Alex Wilson, please. Thank you. Um, through you, Chair, are we aware of any municipalities that I I see the language is prioritize. What does prioritization mean? Are we aware of an example of a municipality that prioritizes? Is that part of the I understand it's part of the report back is to get the jurisdictional analysis, but is there an example um from one of these municipalities that we could point to about what prioritization like functionally actually means in terms of their practices? It's not the city that's doing intake. It's the service provider that the city funds through the chair. That was so sorry. I'm I'm going to repeat that. Um is that you know that is this part of the report back. Like I said, we have heard some commentary in that. I wouldn't want to say anything definitively without really making sure that we've verified it. You um so some municipalities have said that they're doing that prioritization, but we're not necessarily sure. And that's what this report back will be is, you know, you've said prioritization, but what does that actually mean you're doing? Does that mean that, as Council Me Wilson was alluding to, when something gets filled, someone gets kicked out and bust somewhere else, is that what they mean by prioritization? Does it mean that they just ask everyone and they do with that data what they do? And maybe it forms an advocacy point that some other folks have had. Um, I didn't initially think I'd be supporting the motion today. I think the goal of getting more information and being able to frame this conversation as to what's happening. I mean, I I think within a grain of salt as to the information, it's self-reporting and there's some extreme biases in that reporting. You know, if you're in a space and you can stay in that space by saying, "Yes, I've been in Hamilton for a very long time." You know, the reliability of that data is, I think, questionable. And adding that barrier of just a question, I think I also don't I don't know what we're getting. The juice worth the squeeze? Is this something from the budget season? Um, is that a is that a question worth asking and what does that actually lead us to? Um, but other counselors have talked about the advocacy piece and the value in that. Just a question to staff as they were already thinking about this on their work plan. Could you comment on what was the goal from staff's review of this? What was the outcome that you were trying to understand and is that uh captured in the motion as written or is there kind of additional work you'll be doing? Jim through the chair to the counselor. I think this will give us the opportunity to definitively answer a lot of the questions and the commentary about you know we are seeing an increase and we people are being shipped in there like as I mentioned it's a lot of that's anecdotal I think this gives us the opportunity to either prove or disprove that by providing answers to self-reported information would be how we would prove or disprove okay thank you thanks uh councelor Wilson councelor please well for me. I'm just going to offer some comments. This is again reflective of a greater societal issue. The city faces it, the province faces it. Nationally, we face this. Um, for me, this motion can be looked at in different ways. It I think it's it's it's what you bring to the table and how you see it. For me, I see that this is giving us data and more information. Um when I look at a it basically it's looking at access policies and and asking to see what other jurisdictions do so that we can understand better so that we can possibly advocate to the province for consistency so that we can bring a better package to the table as a province as opposed to just looking at it as Hamilton versus Brford versus Niagara. The next one it we're just asking for the shelter demographics. I I I I I believe that that hus information, that hyphus data, it can give us a lot more data than we're aware of and and that data should be utilized in a positive way to help deal with the situation. And then basically the last recommendations that like if we need to change or if we need to um look at our policies in terms of what's happening out there in the province, of course we're going to be compassionate, but we're going to actually use this data to encourage other jurisdictions to be as compassionate as Hamilton. That's what I see this leading to. That's why I'm going to support this motion today. Thank you. Uh thanks Councelor Tison. Councelor Spataphora, please. Thank you, Mayor. Um, few questions and then a comment or two. My first question, just looking for confirmation. I I maybe I missed it. Are there other municipalities that have policies already in place that we're aware of like a return to sender policy? Do we know of those uh municipalities? I don't need the names, but are there other municipalities that have those policies through you, mayor, through the chair of the councelor? Yes, that's under our understanding. Okay. Um, so I would assume those municipalities would be inundated with human right lawsuits if this was a issue. Obviously, we don't know for sure exactly how they collect the information, what information they are collecting. Um, but if there are municipalities that have these policies, I think that's at least in my opinion as the um dummy around the table. That would tell me that the conversations that happen around people getting shifted from one municipality to the other, there's probably some truth to it. Not saying it's 100%. But if there's municipalities have a return to sender policy, then 100% there's movement from individuals being however they do it, however they get to that answer, you you can't be here anymore. You need to leave. So I think that clears that up. I'm not saying it's bus loads, but there's definitely moving if you if these policies are in place. Um there was a comment made about this is a provincial file. Totally agree. Probably said it for the last three years. We cannot continue to fund the social services in this city on the back of everyday Hamilton taxpayers. It's not feasible. It's not feasible for us to do. It's not feasible for us to ask our residents to take on $und00 million in investment. I'm not saying the investment's bad, but I'm sure if we ask GM Zagaric how much we spent the last two years, federal and provincial total together was close to 60. If we spent $150, that means we poured out $90 million. We did our tax. Well, we didn't. We just decided to use the money from the taxpayers to do it. So, I think we owe it to our residents to have this information. And I think we owe it to our residents to push back and put a policy in place so municipalities near and far understand that we're in the same game. Now, you guys want to send people here because we have the best services. I applaud our social services in our city. We do have the best services, but we can't provide those services for everybody in Ontario. Not our job. I'm sorry, it's not. And it might be difficult to figure out, oh, are they Hamilton residents or not? Well, we better do our darnest to figure it out the best way we possibly can cuz our taxpayer money cannot be spent in this amount on social services that are a provincial file. Let the province handle it and let municipalities that have, you know, well, I we only have one shelter. Guess what? get your taxpayer money, build yourself another shelter, and keep your residents there and help them like we've been doing for sounds like since the 1950s. So, I I think this is a good policy. I can't wait to get the information back and the sooner we could send a message to all other municipalities, you need to take care of your people because we've been doing it for far too long and we have our own people to take care of and we can't afford, we literally can't afford to keep doing this year after year after year. Thanks, Mayor. Uh, thanks Councelor Spataphora. Uh, I have uh councelor Wilson for a second time, but before that I'd like to pass the chair over to councelor Tatison and say a few words myself. Thank you. Thanks uh councelor Tatison. I appreciate that uh deputy mayor. Um there's a number of points that were raised in the discussion today by uh by all of you that I've really appreciated. They were on my list of things to uh to talk about. Uh if I recall the most recent article in the spectator talked about the other orders of government and their participation in our housing and homelessness sector services and uh the stat that I believe Michelle Baird and I don't sorry director bar uh put forward uh and I don't know if it I'm appropriately quoting her as the person it could have been GMA Garrick. Uh $200 million being uh invested uh in this sector 27 million coming from the province. 13 million coming from the feds for a total then of $160 million uh coming from the the people of Ontario or of Hamilton rather and uh this is something that we've raised in every budget cycle. In fact recall when we decided we were going to provide the the picture the pie pie chart about uh about exactly who was paying for what when it comes to uh this particular sector. There's just no doubt that the uh the um discussion around how this happened, why this is here uh is absolutely clear. Uh it was mentioned I think by councelor Clark, by councelor Morin Wilson. Uh this leads back to provincial decisions uh stemming out of a hood as what exercise that really was was not u appropriately done. Uh and the revenue neutral situation ended up being revenue neutral for the province as a whole, but individual municipalities were certainly not revenue neutral. Whether that's the downloading of social housing or where we are now uh which is the de facto downloading of homelessness and mental health and addiction services to the uh municipal sector. Uh either way, it is inappropriately on property taxpayers. Property taxpayers should not be paying for these kinds of services. And then when you have communities that don't have any shelter beds, and that is the case, there are communities that have no shelter beds. There are communities that have no social services, that have nothing, small communities. And so, yes, historically, uh I think it was councelor Wilson that talked about some of Oh, no, it was councelor Crutch talked about some of the language that's been used historically uh around people looking for services in larger centers. That's not new. Uh that's that's been happening for a very very long time. But that's why it has historically been covered financially by the province of Ontario uh and the federal government. Why? Because those are the orders of government that receive taxes that are progressive that are based on income and wealth. We don't do that here. Our taxes are based on property and of and some fees that we can charge here and there. What do we know? We don't have very many revenue tools. That's not news either. And so this is definitely information that I think is welcome and and required and necessary at this moment in time. I want to confirm that this is not actually a policy that is in front of us. It is a request for in information including potential policy recommendations. I'm looking to the mover. That's the case. Yes. And so as we've always talked around this table about having information to make our decisions. I think it's an appropriate thing for us to be doing and I'm I'm grateful not only in terms of the motion but in terms of what the staff were already identifying uh in terms of a time to to look at this as a uh as something we need to address. I do believe that it will help us it will help us advocate uh to the provincial government and the federal governments uh because it is crippling municipalities and it's easy for other orders of government to say you have to keep your taxes lower at the municipal level. We've heard that. I've heard that from local members of provincial parliament who will remain unnamed. Uh but the response is if you paid your bills, we wouldn't have to pay them for you and we would be able to not have the pressure that we currently have on our operating budgets. So uh this is uh I think important for that uh for that reason as well. I I do want to say that um that the there are a couple of items that were um mentioned in terms of inclusion on the uh on the report back. And so I I want to just confirm with councelor Casar as was articulated by councelor Clark uh that in fact instead of going into camera today we could get the legal advice asked for uh as a part of that motion and it was confirmed by councelor Francis that that was friendly. So we won't I'll just say as chair well sorry when I get back to the chair I'll make a decision on that. Uh but um but also I do want to make sure that we're not losing any of the threads we talked about uh number of beds or shelters. I would say beds more appropriately what's that in relation to population of these communities for example uh what about what about capacity and policies around capacity and what happens uh so there are a number of pieces that have been added on to and I'm I'm confirming with the uh through you uh deputy mayor Tatison with the city uh with the um general manager uh mayor with general manager mater that that she caught all of those pieces so that they can be included through the chair. Yes, we did. Thank you very much. Um though those are the some of my comments. I think it's a difficult conversation to have. We're in a difficult time. People are living in dis difficult desperate situations and we need to find a a more uh compassionate but also uh appropriately funded solution. Thank you, mayor. And before I throw it back to you, I will um take a motion for councelor Wilson and councelor Clark to speak second times. Seconder, you you're moving that. Okay. Moved by councelor Jazz and second by councelor Spataphora. Uh let's have the show of hands on the second time speaking of councelor Wilson uh and councelor Clark. Uh okay that's go. That's great. Go ahead please councelor Wilson. Moriam Wilson. Thank you very much. Um I do have a question but uh before doing that I I think it was an unintentional mis uh speak. Um but the who does what panel actually did their job very well. Um it's just that the government of the day rejected their recommendations. Oh that's true. That's true. Uh thank you. Um my question there has been some uh discussion or through some of the questions raised by my colleagues about uh self declaration hyphus not being perhaps as uh definitive as we one would like for this exercise. Nonetheless again I will support this motion. I think it's very important. Um I do have a question through the chair to staff. uh when I've had discussions with some of the excellent leaders of our different shelter uh partners, they have great insight into uh who's coming to their shelter and very open conversations with me about why. So, would it be um appropriate for you perhaps to do a um some intake uh on a handful of shelters because they're very clear with me that they're the shelters in some of uh our neighboring municipalities are putting individuals on a bus, sending them to to Hamilton. Um so those I think conversations might um provide for some intelligence that would be important through the chair through the chair to the councelor. Absolutely. That engagement with our providers will be invaluable to this report back. Okay. I I just beg your pardon because I didn't see that again as a specific ask along with the number of shelters but it it will be included. Okay. Um thank you very much. Uh, councelor Clark, please go ahead. Thank you, Mayor. Can I just ask um clerk Trenum to put the motion up with the amendments uh specifically about the the legal direction. Um I I want to be clear to my colleagues, I'm not objecting to asking for the legal direction. I don't think it should be getting a prefuncter legal opinion. It's not fair to our solicitor to be asked on the spot, can we do this without her actually reviewing common law. So, uh, and with that, um, that's the motion. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you, Lisa. Uh, thank you, Councelor Clark. Uh, for a second time, we have Oh, uh, there's been a request to to, uh, have the the, uh, A, B, and C voted on separately. Uh, so I don't see any fur. Oh, councelor Crutch, did you wish to speak to this now? Okay, so we need a on this one. It's the first time speaker on the amendment. Okay, please go ahead. Oh, sorry. Just want a separate vote on C. That'll make things easier. Just want a separate vote on C. It's the only thing I oppose. I'm happy with the rest of it, but I want a separate vote on C. Thank you. Okay. So, uh, we've had a foul some discussion. We'll now go to the motion. that's in front of us as uh I guess I'd have to ask for the amendment to be voted on first uh or not. Okay, so we're good with the amendment uh as is because it was a friendly amendment. Uh so then we are on to items A, B, and D. Uh can we have the electronic vote on that please? I carry 16 to zero. Thanks very much. Now separately uh the electronic vote on C please uh that carries uh 13 to three. Thanks very much everyone. Uh we are now on to what time is it? We are now on to um 9.3 in motions. A counselor travel to 2026 International Children's Games in Wan uh Taiwan. Can I have a mover and seconder for the motion, please? Oh, sorry, Councelor Paul. Okay, this motion is on a lighter note. So, um I just uh the motion is quite long, so I'll just do the therefore and then I'll speak about it if that's okay through the Yep. Please go ahead. Okay. And you have your second. Let's just get that on the table. Councelor Jackson and I thank him for it. Okay. Please go ahead then. Councelor calls. Okay. that the grant to subsidize costs associated with brandic ceremonial and competitive uniform for 5,000 be pay for ads to promote fundraising a th000 small gifts exchange for the city of Hamilton a th000 and assist with registration fee of flights and accommodation 3,000 to the international children game to be funded from the ward 7 discretionary account number 3302309 97 0 and an upset limit including contingency not to exceed $10,000 that that would be approved and the exception to the ward specific funding initiative policy be approved to wave the requirement that allow funding to extend across multiple wards. So that's one motion and this one is a different motion, but I put it together that the international travel for myself, Council Esther Balls, be approved and that up to 3,900 be allocated for the uh general legislative budget 30100 to cover the cost of airfare and incidental for councelor uh myself to attend the 2026 international children games in Eileen, Taiwan as a city repres. representative and that the mayor and the city clerk be authorized and be directed to execute any requirement agreements and auxiliary documents with such terms and condition in a form the satisfactory to the city's solicitor. Uh as you see the motion is quite long and you have it in front of you but I want to say that this year it we are traveling quite far and the cost is a lot more. Uh just the airfare it was over uh about $3,000 plus hotels and all that. But I want to say that this year we're taking 12 young athletes to our um from our city from all different wards to the international children's game in Hyim. And we're competing in soccer, women's soccer and basketball. As you know, sport is not just about fitness. It's about character. It teaches discipline, teamwork, resilience, and respect. These are the life lessons our youth carry into school work and to our community. When we support all of us here uh these ath athletes, we are investing in the future and for a better Hamilton. And the impact doesn't just stop here. They come back inspiring others. They raise the bar for youth across the city. Mayor, yesterday I was at the Y and there was about 20 youth engaging with the police talking about bear spray and the engagement was amazing. I had some parents and the and some teachers and they were saying we have to get our youth. This is ages 12 to 14. Our youth involved with a vision, with a passion and that's what sports is and that's what we need to do. And it was such a great conversation that we're having. Those youth were engaged. They were saying they could get bear spur anyway. And some kids were saying, "Yeah, we some of us have it. We do this." It was incredible how open they were. So, it's important for us to support youth into sports and to support the international children's game. And uh you know, this is an opportunity for 12 of them to go. And I know usually we take 18, but the cost is so high. So I hope that you could support this. It's something that the city's involved with. I know the mayor supports it. Uh loves uh seeing our youth being involved in this. So I hope I could get your support. Thank you. Uh thanks Councelor Paul's. Uh councelor Clark, please. Thank you chair. So this is I think one of the largest asks that we've had for the international game. So can I get just clarification? Does the federal government provide any money to the international games? I don't know who would be responding to that. Oh, we have Steve Savor. Director Seavore, please go ahead. Through the chair, uh through the mayor, uh Steve Savor, director of recreation. Uh thanks for the question, counselor. Uh in my understanding, uh we do not have a a good clarification that the federal government does provide support. uh it is supported the program is supported through the international uh Olympic Foundation. Uh so that falls within the um the Canadian Olympic Committee's perview. So we can follow up with that but uh that's the information that I have at this point. That's correct. Um I would appreciate understanding that for the next round of international games that will be coming I'm sure. Um, again, can I clarify sponsorship of sports teams is limited to 500 and some odd dollars per sponsorship through GM Zagger, James through the chair. Uh, within the ward office guidelines, sponsorship is approximately $560. uh and that that is indexed uh annually. So it would be just north of $560, but that is specifically as it relates to the ward budget guidelines. And this doesn't fall within the ward budget guidelines. Yeah. through through the chair. Apologize. I should have highlighted that this distinction. the discretionary and the capital reinvestment reserves do not have similar restrictions. It creates some interesting dichotomy because in W9 I'm limited to $560 for team sponsorship and yet I've seen around here significant team sponsorships above that $560. again something that we can address more formally um next term if we're lucky enough to to get back here. Um I have concerns. I understand the intention. I I think it's the wrong time to be spending $13,900. Um even though the international games and councelor Paul's has been um I guess one of the best cheerleaders we've ever had involved with the international games. Um so I'm just going to quietly oppose it myself based on those reasons. Thank you. Uh thanks councelor Clark. Uh councelor Morin Wilson please. Thank you. I I think there would be strong concurrence around this table that there is no stronger uh champion and cheerleader for children in sport than councelor Paul's. So thank her for that. Um I just want clarity uh in the advertising advertisements to promote the fundraising. um those advertisements wouldn't have to be informed by any city practice or policy through the chair because we're Oops. We're giving the money to an organization which will be doing the fundraising and doing the promotion. Just looking for some confirmation. I'm not sure who on the bench would be able to respond to that. Jim through the mayor. If I could ask the counselor to repeat the question. Of course. Um I think in a it's a grant and the grant money will be given to uh the organization who will be responsible for the fundraising. I'm just seeking any feedback on whether um the ads that the organization is not obligated um to adhere to any city of Hamilton policy that informs our public facing ads because we're we are just giving a grant just seeking confirmation through the mayor. I'm not familiar with any requirement for an organization that receives grant funding from municipality taff to adhere to any city policy with respect to advertising. Okay. Thank you for that confirmation. Uh thanks uh councelor uh Wilson. Councelor Mark Tatison, please. So I'm going to support this. Um, if in the future we want to bring the games, the international games to Hamilton, I think it's important that we are participant all the way through. Um, and not just show up when it's convenient or when it's uh, you know, everyone's facing difficult times, but I see this as possibly generating economic benefit down the road in a few years if we're going to host these games. And I think it would be good for us to always support the games. Thank you. Uh thanks councelor Tatison. Uh councelor just to be clear councelor uh Paul's I'm taking the other speakers because you're second time. So councelor spat please. Mayor quick question. Don't know if someone could um who would clarify this but besides I guess the costs changing from year to year because of the location. Is this any different than the motions that have been brought forward the last three years on the International Children's Game? Can anybody confirm? I don't know. I think Go ahead. Clerk Shrenum has a response. Uh councelor for you, mayor. Only that the motions were reviewed by staff and very similar wording to what's been approved in the past. Perfect. Thank you. Uh thanks. So we have councelor Pauls for a second time. Can we have a mover and second to have second to have her speak for a second time? Councelor Jackson, councelor Nan. All those in favor? Any opposed? I know we all do. Councelor Paws, uh, please go ahead. Colleagues, I want I just want to say that when uh last uh uh year when I went, everybody knows where Hamilton is. Everyone I met mayors, counselors, everyone. They even wrote a story about Hamilton. And my desire is and I was going to say it but I left and I thank councelor Tatis that in 2028 they come here. You will not believe the economics that happens just like we did the Junos. This is the same thing I'm promoting. Hamilton is a place to come and I know I know within my heart that they will uh ask us that they will ask to come and we if we do the invitation. So, this is not just about this trip. And I want to also say that last year I did not ask or I did not sponsor them. So, really, it's only I've been doing every other year. So, it's about $5,000 out of my area. And I want to tell you when we had the meeting with the parents, each child was in different wards. I was so happy and I was happy to tell them that the city's here for you to help you guys. And they're doing I told every person there the children I said you have to do some fundraising cuz this is costing about 3500 per child. So they are doing a fundra. They're doing the Ancaster Mill uh run. They're all going to participate and get their uh aunts, uncles, whatever to sponsor them because really it's a lot of money to go 3500. We're going for six uh uh six days, seven days and it's going to be competitive and it's going to be so much fun. They love it. So, I wish you could have been there when we had our our staff meeting. Not our staff, our parents meeting. They were so proud of the city of Hamilton for us. So, thank you. Thank you, Councelor Paul's. Uh I don't see any further speakers, so we will go to the electronic vote, please, on 9.3. that carries 15 to1. Uh thanks very much. Uh we're on to 9.4 uh in motions and just to kind of remind folks that uh we probably have about 10 motions left or no not 10 maybe nine or eight eight or nine motions left. Uh and we have to break at one. So that's just a friendly reminder. Uh let's uh let's move on to to yet another motion on the city council agenda uh which is uh councelor spat is motion 9.4. Councelor spat please go ahead. Thank you mayor. The war two council would like me to read every word on this motion. So let me start with city of Hamilton motion. No sir. Uh anyways this is here uh not because of me but because uh clerk Trenum is a lot smarter than I am. If you'll see here, there was a approved uh project ID that is in the motion that um sent funds from my discuss discretionary account to a project that we are no longer doing. That money is being shifted to Carpenter Park um which is the motion, but because it was already approved at council, it had to come to council to move that money to um 145 Eagle Glenn Way, which is Carpenter Park play structure. It's seconded by councelor Jackson. Hopefully everybody can approve this and we can move on. Thank you. Okay, I have about five peers people on the speakers list. Only kidding. I don't see anybody on the speakers list. So, let's go to the vote, please. Right now. That carries 15 to1. Thanks very much. We're on to 9.5. Councelor Nan, uh, please put forward your motion. Oh, I'm sorry. No worries. Thank you. Uh, mayor, it's moved by myself and second by councelor Wang. Uh, council already approved this direction. This is related to Barton Street deep repaving resurfacing. uh we just need to clarify the account. So there was more money available in the minor maintenance funds. We're borrowing more not borrowing we're using allocating more from there uh versus the W3 capital reinvestment reserve. That's the only amendment. Thank you. Uh thanks councelor Nan. Uh do you had a who was your secondary? I'm sorry councelor Wang. Thanks very much. I don't see any speakers on the list. So then we'll uh go forward with the electronic vote please on 9.5 council men's motion that carries 16 to zero. Thanks very much. 9.6 6 Association of Municipalities of Ontario election to the 2026 2028 board of directors. Uh do we have a mover and a seconder for this motion? I'm sorry, who's moving it? Uh councelor Tison. Oh, sorry. Deputy Mayor Tatterson. I'm sorry. My apologies. And seconded by Councelor Nan. Thank you. Go ahead and Nan. Yes. Okay. Thank you. I wasn't aware of that. Sure. Okay. Is there any discussion on this? Go ahead. Seconded by councelor Nan. Um, I'll just say that therefore there that council of the city of Hamilton endorsed councelor Tammy Wang to stand for election at AMO 2026 2028 board of directors and that should councelor Wang be appointed to AMO's 2026 28 board of directors council agrees to assume all costs associated with councelor Wayne's board duties including attendance at Amos annual conference from the general legislative budget. Thank you. Thanks very much. Uh, I see councelor Wang on the speakers list. Please go ahead. I'm getting piercing gazes from uh from councelor spatora here. Um, council colleagues, uh, it has truly been a pleasure representing you in this last two-year term and last one-year term previous to that. So, the last three years of this last four-year term for me to be your rep representative at AMO and I am asking for your support again for the next two years to be um your voice again at the AMO board of directors. I have learned significantly from being um on the board and I have spent a lot of time uh forging and uh developing relationships with other municipalities all over Ontario. I do believe that the work today is crucial because of the sheer amounts of uh policy and directions from the province that need to have Hamilton's voice at that table. And my hope is that as we are developing stronger relationships with the province that having a consistent face and voice at AMO uh will also help with developing our further to further some of the goals and the responsibilities that we have as this council to to that order of government. So I hope that you will consider that endorsement from you to uh for me to represent you at a mo board. Thank you. Thanks, Councelor Wang. I don't see any further speakers on the list, so we'll go to the electronic vote, please. Full confidence of your council colleagues. Congratulations, Council Councelor Wang. Uh we are now on to 9.7 enhancing the public act the public access green space and community use space at 1067 Barton Street East Ward 3. Councelor Nan would you please present your motion and advise of your secondure move by myself and second by councelor Crutch. Uh this is to enhance the public access green space and community use space at 1067 Barton Street East. Um, as council members uh remember earlier this year, uh, council ratified direction to staff to implement a citywide plan to reinvigorate Barton Village and the adjacent corridor along Barton Street back in February 2026. And since then, I've been working with community partners to identify booster projects that will help move us forward in that revitalization. And uh, this one was with the YW.CA CA who is transforming the former Oakwood Place into 90 new units dedicated to women and folks who are surviving gender-based violence um and need housing and additional supports. This project is also bringing with it a child care center, a muchneeded child care center to this area in the community. And because that community center as well as the associated health supports and social service supports being open to the whole public and not just the YW residents who will be living here, this is beginning becoming a new hub in Ward 3 on Barton Street. And so with the YW, they've designed and are in ready to construct a biodiverse landscaping courtyard which will be suitable for community use and open for community use. This streetscape will allow us to have community events outside in the courtyard um that are not just hosted by the YW, but available for the entire community to to use in the same way. So, I'm looking to allocate Ward 3 capital reinvestment discretionary funds at the total of $100,000 and an additional W3 capital reinvestment reserve account of $50,000. So, a total of $150,000 to advance this work. Thank you. Uh thanks, Councelor Nan. I don't see any speakers on the list. So, we'll go to the electronic vote on this important project carry 16 to zero. Thanks everyone. 9.8 is placemaking mural. Revitalization at 645 Barton Street East in Barton Village BIA Ward 3. Councelor Nam, would you please present your motion and advise your second? It's moved by myself and seconded by councelor Huang. Uh same rationale in terms of booster projects uh identified with the local community. This one is at the Barton Village BIA and it is allocating a total of $10,000 248 and.75 to um revitalize and uh implement some murals specifically at the address of 645 Barton Street East. Um and the funds will go to the Barton Village BIA and will be funded through the W3 Capital Reinvestment Reserve account as listed. Thanks very much. I don't see any speakers on the list, so we'll go straight to the electronic. Oh. Oh, yes. Did you want to speak to it further? No. Okay. Now you're confusing me. Uh, Councelor Wang, I don't see you on the list. Did you Okay, that's great. Then we'll uh go to the electronic vote, please. carry 16 to zero. Thanks very much. Uh we're on to 9.9 which is confirmation of the Hamilton Police Service. Counselor uh Spataphora, would you please present your motion and advise of your seconder? Oh, sorry. Councelor Pauls, would you sorry, it's different in the road map. Uh councelor Paul's would you please present your motion and advise of your seconder? Thank you. uh is boomed by myself and second by councelor Sparaphora. This is housekeeping. Uh confirmation of the Hamilton Police Service Board. Whereas the Community Safety and Policing Act 2019 states that the Municipal Police Service Board shall be composed of five members unless the municipality passes a resolution to change the number of members. Whereas the city of Hamilton desire uh to confirm composition of Hamilton Municipal Police Service Board to be seven members. Therefore, be it resolved that the Hamilton City Council confirms the composition of Hamilton Police Service Board to be seven member consisting of the following. the head of the municipal council or if the head chooses not to be or is ineligible to be member of the board, another member of this uh municipal council appointed by resolution of the municipality. Two members of the municipal council appointed by resolution of the municipality. One person appointed by resolution of the municipality who is neither a member of the municipal council or employee of the municipality and three person appointed by the lieutenant government and council. So this is a housekeeping. I was just going to ask that housekeeping which was supposed to be done in 2019 is my understanding. Okay. Uh thanks very much. Uh moved by councelor Pauls then and seconded by councelor Spataphora. We have a a speaker list. Councelor Tom Jackson please. Thanks Mayor Horvath. Are you all ready for another little retro story? Okay. That was not exactly a nice affirmative nod. Anyways, Mayor Horvath, um I just want to say that um I'm just surprised this was here only because I thought once council of the day and going back to the mid late 90s when I was honored to be on regional government with former regional chair Terry Cook. At that time, the police service board like other police services boards in Ontario just had five members and the province always outweighed us with three appointees and we had two. Uh so I remember uh regional chairman Cook and I we lobbyed the province uh the solicitor general and we were successful in increasing it to seven members and maybe more importantly that we got the m the municipal majority of votes on the seven member board with three members of council the mayor or and or her designate plus two appointees plus the municipal citizen appointee as well. So if anything happened to come to a point where there was um a contentious vote, hopefully hypothetically at least the municipality had the majority of votes on the new seven member board. So I was obviously strongly supportive back then, strongly supportive here today and I guess I'm just surprised as a housekeeping matter if we can find a way to make the provide a permanency to the seven member board so we don't have to do this every so often. But I'll leave that uh between the police services board, the chief, and the solicitor general. Thanks, Mayor Horvath. Uh thanks, Counselor Jackson. Just for information, I was re the chair of the board reached out to me. They found out administratively that the proper paperwork wasn't in place. Uh and they need to comply with the current legislation. Uh and so that's what what it's really just about making sure that what you guys did back then is actually papered. Thank you. Um, councelor uh Brad Clark, please. Thank you, mayor, for that clarification. It begs the question, what impact does this decision actually have on the board then if they operated as though they had seven and they're supposed to notify the province? You you would have think that once we've appointed the individuals, it adds up to seven. That that means that it's going to be seven. Um, but I'm just I'm flumx as to why it's here. It just it Thank you. We're just getting the ducks in a row, I think. Thanks very much, Councelor Clark. Councelor Crutch, please. You ask and I shall answer. So, although it says the Community Safety Policing Act 2019, it didn't come into effect until 2024 April. And so in April 2024 with a new act, we just had to reaffirm under that act because a bunch of changes happened to the act. We have the option in Ontario of a five, a seven or a nine person board and so we have to choose our destiny when the act got changed considerably. Thank you. Very good, councelor Crutch. Very helpful. Thank you. Um so on that note, I don't see any further questions or comments and we'll go to the electronic vote, please. and that carries 16 to zero. Uh, thanks very much. Uh, we have one notice of motion on our agenda. Councelor Francis, did you want to uh read out your own notice of motion? I would. I first I have to suspend the rules but be dispensed is how it's being worded at council here. So can I just get some confirmation that we dispense with the rules in order for you to brief explanation just because uh the registration for the soccer is uh before the next council meeting. Ah okay. So that to to move it from a notice to an actual motion. So, we need a two-thirds vote to dispense of the rules and allow councelor Francis to turn his notice into an actual motion for today. Uh, so we'll put that vote up, please. Oh, that's seconded by councelor Tison. Or councelor Jackson. Fine. Councelor Jackson, let the record show it was seconded by councelor Jackson. Let's go to the phone, please. Those are biting words. Uh carried 16 to zero. Thanks very much. Congratulations, counselor. Please go ahead with your motion. Thanks, Mayor. Um, it's moved by myself, second by councelor Jackson. And, uh, I've got 12 minutes here, so I will read out the whole thing. Youth soccer sponsorship 200 245 Canor Avenue. Whereas participation in organized sports, youth, health, inclusion, and community well-being. Whereas financial barriers limit access to recreation for youth and lower income communities, including residents of city housing Hamilton at 245 Canor Avenue. Whereas the city of Hamilton recreation assist program provides up to $100 per eligible program fees. And whereas registration with East Hamilton Soccer Club is a maximum of $235 per participant, leaving the remaining balance for families. Therefore, be it resolved A, that a grant to East Hamilton Soccer Club to support youth participation in the soccer programming be funded from the W 5 capital discretionary account number 330239500 at an upset limit, including contingency not to exceed $3,375. B. that funding be used to cover the remaining registration cost to a maximum of $135 per participant up to 25 youth residents of 245 Canor Avenue. Conditional on prior approval through the Wreck Assistance Program with payments made directly to East Hamilton Soccer Club upon confirmation of eligible registrations. And this is actually a former initiative from uh former counselor Chad Collins and a very important one at that. It's been uh there's been interest um I was raised in the east end. I attended Hillrest Middle School alongside many of the residents from 245 Canora and I understand firsthand the challenges that this community faces. And as someone who spent years playing sports as well, I I know how important they are and not just for your physical health. I've got uh 10 more minutes here. Councelor Spaphora, uh, building confidence, uh, discipline, a sense of belonging and connection and and that's why I'm looking for committee support, uh, for this funding to give 25 kids an opportunity to play soccer this summer for free. Thanks, Councelor Francis. Uh, councelor Alex Wilson, please. Thank you. Uh, we've done through our community grants similar sport accessibility motions before, so I know there's been a conversation about grants versus sponsorship. my questions just around how does the funding get notified um get acknowledged by the receiving body. So sometimes that goes, you know, it's thank you to the people who've donated. Other times you think about Timbits soccer, it's uh this is made possible by the W 5 office. I think we're all kind of understanding there's a line there and it's about how it gets acknowledged. I'm just wondering whether it's maybe first through the mover and then through staff. Just what are our policies on that given that this is called in the motion of sponsorship as opposed to you know a grant for affordability or accessibility just what's the actual being what's being sponsored or is there an ad or kind of trying to understand what the piece there is? Councelor Francis, I don't know if you can enlighten. Just my understanding of it that uh this was how I was asked to do this from staff, but uh there'll be no advertisement associated with this. Just uh once the community is notified of this and then they register with the uh recreation assistance program, uh they will then once approved by that program, they'll receive that confirmation. Then they can go to the East Hamilton Soccer Club on that on the uh registration dates. I think it's May 10th and the 16th. And at that time, uh, they'll just be notified by the club that they're eligible for 100% funding. Okay. Thank you. I don't know if there's any further clarification that staff wanted to provide. Is that does that suffice? Yeah. To me, sponsorship is an exchange for, you know, like there'll be some type of not acknowledgement of the funding request. This sounds more like a grant to me, the language of sponsorship. I don't need to get into the particulars of the motion. I just wanted to clarify because it said sponsorship in the motion, what was actually being sponsored or happening. I think it's been clarified. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Councelor Wilson. Uh uh so then we have that motion in front of us. I don't see any further speakers. Can we go to the electronic vote, please? Uh that carries 15 to1. Thanks very much everyone. Uh we have noticed uh sorry we have statements by members next. Uh however we then are going into close session. Uh the doors are not adequate uh in terms of us being able to uh have an appropriate close session here in this chamber. So my suggestion is my uh I'm putting to you that we will instead of coming back in the changer uh the chamber for statements uh just take it all over to 264 uh and we'll do the member statements there and then move into the uh uh the closed session. So with that nods around the room uh can we have a motion then to uh to break for the required lunch period? Uh that's moved by councelor Jackson, seconded by councelor Tatison. Uh, and just to confirm, we'll be back at what time in 264. Clerk Trenum. Uh, 1:30. We'll be back at 1:30. Uh, thanks very much. Then, uh, all those in favor, show hands. Any opposed? Uh, that's carried. One, two, three. We're going to pick up where we left off in the remainder of this uh council uh meeting. And as folks may recall, we broke uh for our required lunch um break and have now member statements by members. Uh and then the balance of the agenda is the private and confidential. Uh so for folks who are watching, we've we've moved into a different room uh because uh we didn't don't have the capacity to undertake private and confidential matters in the current council chambers state of um uh repair needing some work to be done to enable us to do that. So here we are in 264. Welcome back everyone and we have a speaker list started up uh and we will begin our statements by members with councelor Clark. Please go ahead, Councelor Clark. And just a reminder for folks to let the clerk know if you want to make a member statement. Uh, thank you very much, Mayor. I'll be brief. I only have one um statement. Um, there have been reports of aggressive coyotes in Ward 9. The aggressive coyotes seem to be in the Aramosa area um along Felker's Creek um Valley Park. community center and then Felker's conservation area. Those seems to be the three areas where we're having incidents. There are a couple of areas, mayor, where the pathways that we have, which are very popular in in my area, um are very close to um natural areas, bushes almost right beside. And in one instance, I've had a report aggressive coyotes hiding in those those bushes that are right beside the path and then coming out after dogs and people. Um we've had it um last year also we had them uh just off of Marsden. So I've asked um animal control, the director of environmental services and the CEO of Hamilton Conservation Authority to make sure that our signs are up uh to alert people We are looking at a couple of the trails where the proximity to um potential coyote dens is very tight and and could put hikers at risk. So, we're looking at that. Uh we're looking at trimming the bushes so that at least you have an eye sight. You can see what's there. Um and so we're looking at all different ways of dealing with this including um public education uh sessions uh at Valley Park like a little uh I envision a popup where the conservation authority animal control and perhaps the ministry of natural resources can all be there to answer questions for the residents. So I just wanted the residents to understand that that we are aware of it. We are working on uh some solutions to provide better protection and safety for residents who are hiking. Um, but it's also important, and I can't stress this enough, keep your dog on a leash. I know it's it's always a temptation to let your dog run free because it's such a big open area, but the dog being loose, the coyote sees the dog as a threat, especially when they have a den or they have pups. And so keeping the dog on the leash will prevent 99 times out of 100 um an encounter with that coyote. And so just asking people to to be very careful in their hiking. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Clark. Important public safety uh remarks. Appreciate that. Uh we now have uh councelor Bey. Please go ahead. Councelor Bey's online folks. Thank you through you. Yeah. Uh happy to bring a little update report from the W 10 community. First starting with congratulations to our Orchard Park robotics team. Uh as you'll recall, I probably have spent a lot of time talking about this team from OP uh ranked number three in the world and they did it again. They are on their way to the World's Competition after being successful at the Ontario Provincial Championships in collaboration with uh their alliance partners from Governor Simco High School in St. Catherine's which is on record as the most successful collaboration in the history of these robotics tournaments going back to I think 2007208. At any rate, mayor, they're on their way to Houston, Texas once again to compete in the world's competition and we'll be hosting a watch party at Stony Creek City Hall and Council Chambers Saturday, May 2nd. the public is welcome to come and watch and celebrate and hope that the uh the team once again uh has great success in the Houston World's Robotics uh competition. Uh also want to give a quick thanks to the Hamilton Naturalist Club for coming out to W 10 this past weekend. We were cleaning up Hunter Estates Park, particularly out in the wood lot. Um, Garten is fortunate to have a number of these wood lots in some of our parks and we pulled out a we pulled out a ton of really bad stuff, but we cleaned up the wood lot and we're looking forward to doing that again at Edge Lake Park this coming Saturday morning, 900 a.m. Just look for the big green W 10 tent. That's the annual community cleanup there. It's been going on for a number of years. W 10 office is happy to continue to support this for the fourth year in a row. Uh Edge Lake Park is adjacent, of course, to the Turtle Pond area, which you'll recall is a very large u uh environmentally sensitive area that we acquired from the school board a few years back and adjoined it to Edgelake. And so, uh please drop by if you want to help clean up these areas. Uh we're looking forward to to doing this again this year. And if any other group or individual wants to do a clean up in their area, their neighborhood, their street, please reach out to the W 10 office and we'll be happy to assist. Uh that same day on Saturday, we'll be downtown Stony Creek celebrating family funday and looking forward to seeing members of the W 10 community. Uh occasionally they do migrate over to W 5. I'll concede to councelor Francis on that. And uh it is a terrific event downtown Sony Creek. Looking to see everybody there. And then on Sunday, a little more solemn event, but one that I proudly attended for the past three years, which is a com commemoration of the Armenian genocide. And I'll be joining councelor Jackson, I'm sure many others at the Armenian Community Center on Barton Street in more attend for that. And lastly, mayor, uh probably won't get an opportunity before the next council meeting to uh invite everybody to come out to the Winona community for the celebration of our blossoms. Um we we know that the Winona Peach Festival is at the end of the harvest, but the beginning of the harvest starts with blossom celebrations. And this year, two of our largest farms are doing something on May 9th, which will celebrate um th those uh those beautiful blossom uh displays with uh uh markets and food trucks and music and entertainment and uh local vendors. So come out and see the cherry blossoms. The true cherry blossom I've made note unlike the ornamental cherries that you see. True cherry blossoms of fruit producing trees are white. And if you do see some pink out there, that's uh that's going to be a peach tree just to define the two for those watching. Looking forward to seeing everybody come out and celebrating the beginning of the growth season in our agricultural community. And that is the update from war 10. Thank you, mayor. Uh, thank you, councelor Bey. We now have, uh, councelor McMin. Please go ahead. Thanks, your worship. Uh, I I want to share a story, um, about the importance of young people getting involved and youth mentoring. And it's uh it is kind of a a story that points out how one can accidentally influence somebody's life. Um 35 years ago, my wife Barb and I were involved for a couple years with a youth mentoring group and there were two young young boys there at the time. I think they were probably 12 or 13. Evan Smith and Nathan Teddridge who were part of the group and both had a fascinating interest in indigenous uh issues. Um and whenever we went on holidays, we'd it just kind of as a nice gesture, we'd go out of our way to if there were arrowheads to be picked up or whatever, we picked them up and we'd bring them back and share them with Evan and Nathan. Well, today the two of them are two history teachers in Waterdown uh who are together are offering the first treaty studies program uh in any Ontario of the only one in any Ontario high school. They in the process a couple years ago of of discovering u uh their or having their their interest affirmed um tripped upon the fact that there was a an indigenous old indigenous trail which was a lying fellow and uh in and quite a state of disrepair adjacent to a major development and they worked with the class to organize not only the museum of hope which you've been to studentled award-winning um but but also supporting the so Harrison trail which is includes a pond project um several kilometer trail which is well used uh which three different left tenant governors have participated in different dedications around and most recently thanks to this illustrious horseshoe endorsed a special granted the last general council meeting uh to place four benches around the uh the sacred firestone uh as a gathering place uh for u the students, the watered down community primarily and several of the indigenous chiefs that the kids have been working closely with. So, um, it's it was my favorite favorite project to to present last week and we were in a rush. So, I thought I would just take a minute just to highlight how sometimes these things can pay dividends down the road. We had six kids, six kids, I call everybody under under 40 a kid, right? Um, we had six young people from from the high school come and they spent a half an hour just sharing indigenous history with the group and the importance of the Soh Harrison Trail. And uh, of the seven presentations we had, that was the single most impressive one. They' done their homework. And I'm just so proud of the young people in the community and particularly the two 14year-olds that grew up to be history professors at the high school. So, I just wanted to share that with everybody here. Thanks. Thank you and contributing so much. Uh, thank you, Councelor McMakin. We now have Councelor Jackson. Please go ahead. Thanks, Mayor Horvath. Uh, quickly, five public service announcements. Three events happening this Saturday, April 25th, from 10:00 a.m. to noon hour at Mohawk Sports Park. I've got a community cleanup organized by Kevin Gony. A team of volunteers were meeting at the back of Bernie Arbor Stadium. My office is providing refreshments and food. And you may have heard Kevin Gonce's name before if you recall, chair of the Mohawk Sports Park Community Council hub. So, I want to thank Kevin for organizing the volunteers. That's from 10 to noon this Saturday. Later that day, there's a Hamilton Animal Services volunteer appreciation event at the recently renovated Huntington Park uh rec center uh from 1:00 to 4:00. Thanks to our manager of animal services, Kelly Beaton, uh, for organizing and her program assistant, Abby Huffman. Uh, the animal services and SPC are you, as you know, are in the heart of W 6. And once again, my office will be providing some food and refreshments. I want to thank all the 50 some odd volunteers not at the SPCA but at our animal services department who helped Kelly beaten and Abby volunteering to help with the care and support and love of the animals as well until hopefully adoption may occur. Thirdly, that day uh at uh in the afternoon at the home of uh Sam Maniti, who happens to work for me and counselor Spataphora, his parents, Pasquali and Carmela Maniti, will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Uh God's continued blessings upon them both. And I know uh counsel assistant Sam Maniti is a very proud son and devoted to his parents and him and his wife Anna are going to put on a great spread and that's from 1 to 5:00 at their home up in Mount Hope. Fourthly, thank you councelor Bey for starting the reminder of the 111th commemoration of the Armenian genocide, the recognized as the first genocide of the 20th century. 33 countries around the world, including Canada and the US, have recognized the Armenian genocide where 1.5 million Armenians were deported to their death by the Turkish Ottoman Empire of the day. Um, it was an attempt to annihilate a culture and a race of people. Uh, the service and the program is this Sunday, April 26. The commemorative day is actually April 24th, but the actual service and commemoration event will be on Sunday, April 26 at 2 p.m. at the Armenian Community Center as as councelor Bey said, 191 Barton Street East. It's between Grayson and Greens Road. I want to thank the organizers Arlene Buckmadzian Magetta Silva Vartanian and Kletian and Jackup Kerrion. uh we always get a darn good turnout and to think 111 years later Mayor Horvath we still can't get a simple apology from the Eragon government of Turkey. And lastly on Sunday May 3rd at 1 p.m. at St. Stannisla's Church and at 3 p.m. later that day at the White Eagle Banquet Hall the commemoration and celebration of the Polish Constitution will take place. 235 years of Polish heritage and the constitution, the oldest living, breathing democratic constitution existing in the history of mankind, uh, Mayor Horvath that the Polish community of our city celebrates along with the uh, polls around the world and in Poland proper. I want to congratulate President Andre Felanzic and the Canadian Polish Congress executive of Hamilton. It'll always be a great event. St. Stand Lav's Church this Sunday at May 3rd on 1 p.m. and at the Whitey Gold banquet hall at 3:00 and my um attendance is absolutely mandatory because my wife Basha is Polish. Thank you, Mayor Horvath. Uh thank you, Councelor Jackson. Uh councelor Tatison, please go ahead. As councelor McMakin noted, we were a little bit rushed last GIC. Um, I did stay late to chair and finish up, which meant I showed up 10 minutes late to a gymnasium packed with uh or a community hall packed with about 80 people. There wasn't a chair left in the room uh for a truck route and traffic safety meeting, which um was very appropriate at that time because um one reason just the weekend before we did have another fatal accident in Bimbrook that claimed a life. Um unfortunately anyways there's another situation that the room was also packed because of the truck roots and it's an issue that resonates with my res with my residents because um they feel the vibrations of the trucks in their houses as they drive down the roads. And we're talking rural roads with no shoulders and transport trucks taking them. So, I wanted to thank staff for coming out and facing the crowd. Um, there were lots of uh issues that came forward. We were able to share with the crowd about um enforcement and I recently seen a lot of enforcement in the last uh week or so. We had my my office is aware of three trucks that were stopped on rural roads in our area just uh just as of yesterday that happened. Um, we have a new rural road toolbox to use. We shared that. We also have the truck route in um I guess it's an in uh an identifier where people can share that information and then that creates hotspots where the police uh can focus on and city staff can focus on and possibly use um tools such as enforcement by design. Um so so lots of positive things came out. Um, we had a again a very a very I'll say interesting meeting and and many people shared lots of good ideas. Um, we're looking at implementing some of those and I'm looking forward to working with city staff to try and help improve this this which is really a biggest probably the one of the biggest issues for for my residents that live on rural roads. We just had a team up to clean up in Mount Hope. I picked up uh seven or eight garbage bags myself, reached into a bush of thorns, cut myself all up, went back with my bags, bloody hands, and she says, "Oh, I'm sorry. I don't have any first aid." That's okay. I was born in Bimbrook and raised in Mount Hope, so I you know, I I can take it. And we we got a lot of we got a lot of stuff cleaned up. And I want to thank the airport came out with uh one of their trucks and picked up all the garbage for us um and litter and brought it back. So, that was very positive. I wanted to also say I have a public information meeting coming up. I think it's uh May 21st at the Glambert Municipal Service Center and it's about that Sbend that we went through um by the arena there and the first bus trip that we took like almost four years ago. And I said, I love this intersection. Well, this intersection is a huge issue now that we have such significant growth in Mount Hope and Bimbrook and significant growth in Haldman County on on GL on uh the Grand River. Thousands of people using this road. It was meant for to be a rural road and so it's difficult for newcomers to navigate this Sband and so we're looking at possibly bringing traffic circles to that area. So that's a positive. Um, one other issue I wanted to remind people of is that the city extended the vacant unit tax deadline again because, you know, this isn't a tax grab. This is about bringing forth and putting more houses on the uh on the market for sale. And um and it's not really an issue for me that um like I said, for me, houses were made for people to live in. And so if you're having a vacant unit, you're contributing to a problem that's greater than all of us. So if we all contribute by filling out those forms accurately and soon um and on time, there's no penalties and it helps us bring more housing onto the market. So I just wanted to throw that out there and um we'll be supporting any one of our residents that call up and and need any support. Thank you. Uh thanks Councelor Tatison. Uh, councelor Pauls, please. And then councelor Nin. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, now that the weather's nice, I'm having Paul's in the park. I've done this many times. And, uh, this, uh, one is on Tuesday, May 5th and from 6:30 to 7:30 and it's upper Sherman Avenue. It's Billy Sharing Park. And the topic is traffic. I'm going to four parks and each park has a different flavor. one is bylaw, one is safety, and one is uh ask whatever you want. Um anyways, uh so I'll be doing that. And also I started new and I did it last um when was it? April 9th, uh pulse in the mall. So I go to Limebridgeidge Mall. I sit down with a little table and uh people come and ask all kinds of question whether they're in my ward or not. uh I try to answer them and people are saying this is so neat that you know a counselor could be in a mall enjoying a cup of coffee and talking to people. So that's what I'll be doing. Um on May 14th it's going to be in the mall and uh Tuesday May 5th is going to be in the park. And I want residents to know that I will be coming around uh May 1st or 2nd with flyers like this to put in your door about 200 of you that are around the park to make sure you come out if you have concern. I know that sometimes I have meetings and I have a lot of people come and sometimes not too many. So I just want people to be aware that I'll be there and I will be delivering these pamphlets in your door. Thank you. Uh thanks councelor Paul's councelor Nam please. Thank you uh through you mayor just in acknowledgement of the fact that today is earth day. Yesterday the w 3 office uh held a earthw week event a small community gathering uh really providing our residents in w 3 an opportunity to take the land acknowledgement from word into action. and were led through a really powerful ceremony and art installation by the Wakatoan um group and it was really moving and I want to say publicly thank you so much to every artist who was part of that as well as Elder Jim for taking the community through a beautiful ceremony where we could reconnect to the land and make our commitments um publicly. Inside of that, we also resurrected the Ward 30 Hero Awards, which is to celebrate the people and businesses in Ward 3 that are making positive impact to our local environment like reducing waste, cutting emissions, and putting their commitment to environmental responsibility in action. The first group I want to highlight um in this moment of privilege is Style Cycle, which is a youthled registered nonprofit co-founded by Maria Alex and Miam Muayad. two best friends who turned their shared passion for fashion into something truly meaningful for our community. Since launching their style cycle organization last year, it's grown from a grassroots clothing redistribution effort into a structured organization that weaves together social services, youth education, researchinformed advocacy, and it's all rooted in circular fashion and zerowaste principles. They work at Eva Rothell Center with the local community to have neighbors access style, donated clothing directly through the cent's clothing room and youth workshops that help young young people unlock their personal style while giving them a chance to take home some cool outfits. They also have partnered with Baby Depot um and donated over 56 hygiene kits to mothers and babies in need. So, one of the recipients of this year's Zero Hero Awards. The second is Detour Coffee. Detour Coffee is showing us what climate leadership looks like here in Hamilton. Their roasting process at their Clinton Street location in Ward 3 uses a precision technology that reduces emissions and natural gas consumption by 80%. And inside their facility, they've achieved a 98% recycled and compost waste rate. And their coffee packaging is all returnable and recyclable as well. So, not only is it exceptional coffee, they're also demonstrating exceptional leadership and their commitment to the planet. So, just wanted to highlight those two organizations, one a business, one a youthled organization who've been doing a lot in our community uh in terms of environmental responsibility and leadership. Thanks. Thank you, Councelor Nan. I don't see any further uh members of council wanting to uh make any statements. Is that uh is that the case? If if there are no further ones, then I'll just make a couple of uh comments about some of the things I've been up to uh in the city. Um and some of the things upcoming. Uh National Volunteer Week is underway April 19th to the 25th. Um during this time, it's important to recognize the incredible Hamiltonians across our city who give so generously of their time, energy, and compassion. every day in ways both big and small. Volunteers are strengthening our community and making life better for others and our city is stronger because of them. Tomorrow um the 35th annual uh city of Hamilton Sport volunteer volunteer awards uh is celebrating coaches uh organizers, officials, volunteers whose commitment creates opportunities for Hamiltonians of all ages to play, compete, and belong. I often say volunteers make the world go round. Volunteers make this city go round. And it's important to acknowledge that I was at an interesting event the other day which was the Norma Bertie book launch uh on um on Sunday if I'm not mistaken. I'm looking at is that the right day? Uh anyways, it was a it was a book that's actually was written by a former City of Hamilton employee QP local 5 member at the time uh when he first started learning how to um better read and write through a labor sponsored program which I happened to be a part of at the time many many years ago. He's gone on to write many books and this one was about Norma Birdie who was a very uh powerful uh trailblazer in the union movement here in Hamilton fighting for fairness, equity, women's inclusions at um women's inclusion at uh United Steel Workers Local 105. Um she changed the landscape of for women at that plant uh the Stelco plant and was the first woman to be recognized as woman of the year in the city of Hamilton. So it was quite an amazing uh uh event and uh good on Ed Thomas for his work uh documenting labor history. uh Excel in Style came after that which was another great appreciation event of some um something that took place a couple of weeks ago in March uh on a Saturday where hairdressers and braiders and stylists came together. Uh more than 170 folks showed up just to celebrate the amazing event that happened back in March. Uh and what that did is it provided young people uh with um with different types of hair from various racialized communities, black community, uh brown communities and others an opportunity to not only get styling on the way back from March break uh but also uh to grow confidence and uh self-esteem and learn in many t in many ways uh how to uh better manage their hair. And so it was a really amazing event and uh the celebration of that event uh there was that happened the other day and I think uh councelor Nan was there councelor uh Wilson I saw as I was uh as I was heading out uh and so many folks. So there's a woman in our community called Lohifa Pogusen Acre. Uh she is an amazing organizer and particularly so committed to youth in our community. So that was a really a great event and many thanks to her. Sick heritage month of course we're in the midst of and on oh that's me. I have to tell myself to stop. I'm sorry. Um the um I'm sorry. The prime minister. Is it the prime minister? Well, um excuse me. I have to go get that call. Uh anyways, the sick heritage month that we're now uh in the midst of. We had once again an opportunity uh to celebrate sick heritage month with the sick community. Uh it was an excellent event and I want to thank the counselors that joined including councelor Nan and uh uh the first sick uh to be elected to city council and the first woman of color to be ann uh elected to city council. Uh and uh with us was also councelor Wilson to celebrate sick heritage month. The diversity of our community is quite something else and finding opportunities to celebrate here at city hall uh their city hall is uh something I'm very committed to. uh Ontario big city mayors happened uh in Pickering LA at the end of last week and uh it was quite interesting had several conversations with uh Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack uh Minister Tib Tibolo who's the associate minister of uh Souljen if I'm not mistake not mistaken um also uh Minister Beth Falvi and had a a great conversation with Anna Bau the CEO of Build Canada Homes. It was a very uh excellent uh meeting and thank the staff from uh government relations for their support in that. Uh April 13 uh was the uh milestone the 50th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Hamilton and Fukyama Japan Japan. I'm not going to talk much about that. We were many of us were there for that and I want to thank you uh for your uh participation. The 50 50-year sister city agreement was renewed. Uh and I want to particularly thanks thank councelor Wang for her role as MC in the signing sim ceremony. Councelor Paul's councelor Casar, councelor Mikin uh and councelor Tatterson and councelor Nan who were all there. Uh we had on April 14th Yamashoa uh which was the uh opportunity to commemorate uh the um the Holocaust uh pain and suffering particularly around the um the uprising in the uh uh in the uh the the ghetto that in Poland that showed really these this s significant courage and uh uh and uh strength really of Jews during the uh the Holocaust. Uh it was um a very moving ceremony. Councelor uh Wilson was there as well, Moriam Wilson at McMaster University for that uh that extremely important Holocaust me remembrance event. Um as well speaking of um of various faiths, h Oh, councelor Pauls was there as well. Sorry, Councelor Pauls. Um 75th anniversary of Our Lady of Assumption Paris took place. I was there with counselor uh um Clark who's a parishioner and uh it was an amazing celebration 75 years of that faith community. Really great great um uh great event. Uh I just want to say that something is coming tomorrow which is the ribbon cutting of the new pickle ball. I promised councelor Jackson I would take the liberty of um u mentioning that um Gretzky pickle ball club ribbon cutting is happening tomorrow uh on Nebo Road 180 Nebo Road tomorrow afternoon. Uh and there's also a special announcement happening about Special Olympics Ontario Pickle Ball Championships that are going to be happening there. Thank you councelor Jackson for all your work on uh making sure that this uh facility was uh uh able to get its permits etc. Appreciate that. But I know my office worked on it with your office and others and so congratulations and looking forward to tomorrow. I'll probably see you there. I'm sure there are many many other things. Uh but those are some of the highlights past and some of the things that are coming upcoming uh that hadn't been mentioned yet by others. So thanks very much. I don't see anybody else. So we're going to now go to our next um piece which is the private and confidential se section. So uh folks uh who are watching online uh will know that this is what uh we do uh in order to um discuss a number of private and confidential matters that are not able to be discussed in public. So I now am ask going to ask uh for oh we we do have um we do have closed minutes that we can dispatch before going into uh into our closed session. Uh, so I would ask for um a motion to adopt the council minutes um the closed council minutes 12.1 of April 1st. Uh so if we can get that motion that's moved by councelor Cassar, seconded by councelor McMakin. Um and that's requires an electronic vote. So this is just approving minutes and the vote is up. Councelor Francis is up. Thumbs up. Thumbs up. Council Francis Clark. Thumbs up. Thumbs up from Clark. comes up from Jackson. 75 years of that faith community. Really great great um uh great event. Uh I just want to say that something is coming tomorrow which is the ribbon cutting of the new pickle ball. I promised councelor Jackson I would take the liberty of um mentioning that. So what was that? What was that vote? I'm sorry I missed it. I still I didn't get councelor Paul's vote. She was a thumbs up. It's coming. Oh, there it is. That carries 16 to zero. Thanks very much, everyone. Uh now may I please have a motion to move into close session to cons consider peed 26066 agenda item 12.3 respecting acquisition of property citywide uh revised pursuant to section 9.3 subsection C and K of the city's procedural bylaw 22-021 as amended and section 2392 subsection C and K of the Ontario Municipal Act 2001 as amended. Uh as the subject matter pertains to a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land uh for city or a local board purpose or city or local board purposes. Uh and a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality or local board and HSC26038 agenda item 12.4 Four, respecting sport training facility development opportunity citywide pursuant to section 9.3 subsection K of the city's procedural bylaw 21-021 as amended and section 2392 subsection K of the Ontario Municipal Act 2001 as amended as a subject matter pertains to a position plan procedure criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the city or a local board. So that's moved by councelor Wang and seconded by uh councelor Casar. Um so can we get an electronic vote on moving into close session please folks? So just confirming for everybody that's numbers 12.3 12.4 and 12.5. So including CM260001 the cyber security follow-up. Oh I'm sorry I didn't see that one wasn't in here. Oh I don't know what's going on today. Cooper. Yeah. Cooper Francis. And that carries 16 to zero. Thanks very much. Members of the public, the meeting will continue following the close session portion of the meeting. When you see the members rejoin the meeting, council will wait up to five minutes upon reconvening in open session before proceeding with the meeting to provide members of the public and the media time to return. So, thanks everyone. We'll be back. Uh, okay. Thank you very much. Uh, welcome back uh to our open session. Can I can get some order? We can get through uh what we need to do in open session. Excuse me. Can we get some order in the room? Hello. Thank you. Uh so in uh open session we're now at 12.3 ped260 066 acquisition of property citywide revised. May I have a motion to approve the confidential directions to staff and maintain the confidential confidentiality of the matter moved by uh counceloran seconded by councelor Wang. Uh electronic vote, please. Thumbs up from my computer's waking up. So just council councelor Wayne. Thumbs up from councelor Paul's from Francis Johnson. Councelor M. Wilson. Councelors. That' be easier if there are any nos. need to remember these 15. Great. Thank you. That carries 15 to zero. Thanks very much. 12.4 lease of property in the city of Hamilton W 12. May I have a motion to approve the confidential directions to staff and maintain the confidentiality of the matter. Moved by councelor Casar, seconded by councelor Wang. Uh we can go to the electronic vote, please. Oh, yes. Uh, sorry. Councelor Mikin, um, while in close session, declared a conflict of interest. Counselor, would you like to just state publicly your your conflict? Um, yes. I asked my financial adviser to make an investment in in a certain group and I have reason to believe he did so. Thank you. Uh, okay. And so this is so the conflict has been noted in the vote. Is the vote up? Have we already done so? Paul's thumbs up. Francis, thumbs up. Jackson, thumbs up. Cooper, thanks. 14. Uh, that carries 14 to zero. Thanks very much, everyone. Confidential CM2601 cyber security follow-up audit phase 2 incident response and insurance review. May I have a motion to receive the confidential information and maintain the confidentiality of the matter? Moved by councelor Clark, seconded by uh councelor Paul's. Uh can we have the electronic vote, please? And the thumb vote all at once from all the same people. Oh, that was fun. We should play that. Was I the same people? We got you, Jackson. Absolutely. Always cancel always. I know. That carries 15 to zero. Thanks very much. We're now on to the bylaws. Item 13, Councelor Tatterson. May I have the mo may I have the motion on the bills? Moved by myself, seconded by councelor Brad Clark, that the bills 26058 to 26070 be passed and that the corporate seal be affixed thereto and that the bylaws be numbered be signed by the mayor and the city clerk to be to read as found on this motion of 13 bylaws and one direction to confirm proceedings of council to So thank you for that councelor. just we've got the wrong uh numbers on your motion and so just confirming the numbers at the top. It's 70 uh through uh 85 7 070 to 085. So is it still 26070 to 26085? Yes. Okay. Shall I read it again? No, that's fine. That's moved by councelor Tison. It was seconded by councelor Paul's. Uh thank you sorry by councelor Clark. Apologies again. Anyways okay so we're in to our vote. Please uh identify your votes. Uh, we have a couple thumbs up. Jackson, not Clark. Thank you. You waved your hand. That carries 15 to zero. The business now being done. I announce that our council meeting is adjourned. Thank you so much everyone. It is 3:25.

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