Sound check 1 2 3. Sound check 1 2 3. Welcome to the city council meeting for June 3rd, 2026. I'm deputy mayor for the month of June or to councelor Cameron Cretch joined today by councelor Casar, councelor Hang, councelor Alex Wilson, councelor Cooper, councelor Clark, councelor Bey, councelor Jackson, councelor Tatison, councelor Francis and on live entrance through the doors, councelor McMaken in person and online councelor Paul's Moren Wilson and councelor Nan. This month we're celebrating many things. So, happy pride to everybody, everyone in the two spirit LGBTQI plus community who's celebrating this month. Also, we're celebrating the indigenous community this month, Italian heritage, Filipino heritage, and seniors. And so, just take a moment to think of all these groups and make your way out to the community this month to celebrate with them. Everyone's eager to see us to honor these celebrations in June. Going to call this meeting to order because we have quorum. And at this point before we begin today's meeting ask that we all stand for the national anthem our home and native land. True patient love in all of us command with glowing hearts we see the rise the true north strong and free from far and wide oh Canada we stand on guard for thee keep our Glorious and free. Oh, now we stand on God for thee. Oh, we stand on God for Thanks. Thanks everyone. And just like the cadence and beat of the national anthem, I hope this meeting will also get to a gallop and we'll be out of here after we've ratified the decisions of committees. Now the land acknowledgement. The city of Hamilton is situated upon the traditional territories of the eerie neutral hiron wendat hodnosoni and missagas. And this land is covered by the dish with one spoon wampam belt covenant which is an agreement between the hodnony and anesnabic peoples to care and share the resources around the great lakes care for them. We further acknowledge that this is land is covered by the between the lakes purchased from 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. So, I'm going to take a brief moment so we can do some of that learning. A bunch of us went to see the Missagas of the Credit First Nation recently and visit and speak to them about their treaties, their traditions. And one thing they wanted me to pass along, so I'm going to do that is that they want to be called not stakeholders, but treaty holders and rights holders. And they've put up a new map that they've been working on for quite a long time now on their website in different versions and different qualities and resolutions. So you can actually see the entire territory and all the different treaties that the Missagas of the Crest created the First Nation are party to. Um, and why they care about being called rights holders and treaty holders, not stakeholders, because they have rights and they have treaties and they want those conversations with them when we collaborate with them, when we invite them to do things, when we sit at tables with them, they want to be acknowledged for the treaties that we already agree to and the rights that they already have. So I want to share that with you today. Can you get that? >> A couple of things that um sorry, Council McMe just asked if we can get that map and you can get that map on the internet and I can send you the link if you'd like. It's at their website. There's not a paper copy. It's meant to be digital, I believe. Quick announcement. You've heard it before. If your phone is on the sound making mode, please put it on silent. Uh, and even though vibrate is a happy second, I would encourage you to also just put it on silent because vibrate can annoy your neighbor. Members are also reminded there's a fiveminute time limit when asking questions or making statements and that no member of council shall speak more than once on any matter at a council meeting unless we all say you can. And so if you wish to speak more than once, please let us know. We can put forward a motion to do so. First thing, an approval of the agenda. Can I get a mover and a seconder to approve the agenda as presented? Councelor Tatterson. Seconded by councelor Bey. Are there any amendments to today's agenda? I'm not seeing any amendments, so we'll go to a show of hands vote. All those in favor of today's agenda that carries. Thank you. We're on to declarations of conflicts of interest. Does anybody have a conflict of interest they want to declare for today? Just going to look around briefly to see if there's anybody. I'm not seeing anybody. If something should come up, don't worry. You can just file the paperwork with the clerks and let them know. Ceremonial activities item four. We do have one ceremonial activity today which is a commendation for engineering services in the Hamilton water divisions for receiving the 2026 Ontario Public Works Association award for the disaster emergency construction repair. I'll call now on city manager Klucky to present the commendation to staff. City manager >> through you deputy mayor and thank you. So to me, mayor, deputy mayor, members of council, I am very pleased to recognize staff from engineering services and Hamilton water for receiving the 2026 Ontario public works association award for disaster or emergency construction and repair. This award recognizes the emergency carbon fiber reinforced polymer rehabilitation of the Woodward Greenhill Transmission main that was completed in 2025. And this project preserved a critical transmission asset that serves approximately 60% of Hamilton residents while avoiding failure, major dis major service disruption, and large scale surface reconstruction. The work included the repair of an active pipe leak, the rehabilitation of five additional high zone risks, and repairs to more than 50 pipe joints. Impressively, the project was delivered within a 70 workingday emergency window with no public service disruption, no safety incidents, and full environmental compliance. So, this was supported by Robinson Consultants, Inc. and Pullman along with emergency, legal, and procurement coordination. And this project is an excellent example of collective ownership across multiple city divisions with a shared commitment to delivering results for our community. It's a significant achievement and a well-deserved recognition for their professionalism, expertise, and teamwork of all the city staff involved. And of course, this is a an awards recognition, but they do amazing work each and every day. So, please join me in congratulating them. And then we'll have a photo. With your permission, we'll approach approach the podium for the photo. >> Yeah, please approach. It's going to be all right. Yep. Congratulations again to folks in Hamilton Water. We're on to item five, the adoptions of minutes of previous meetings. Those are from May 13th and May 29th. May I have a motion to adopt the open and closed minutes of the May 13th council meeting and the open and closed minutes of the special meeting on May 29th? Councelor Quang, Councelor McMaken, are there any errors or omissions people want to identify of a significant nature? I'm not seeing any hands flying up. So, um, we'll ask for hands now, though. Show of hands. All in favor of the minutes from the last two meetings. That carries. Thank you so much. We're on now to items for information 6.1 LS26011. Jurisdiction of the board of health and city council. May I have a mover and a second to receive this report? Moved by councelor Tatson, seconded by councelor Clark. Any discussion on this? I see councelor Jackson, you have some discussion on this. Go ahead. >> Thank you, uh, Deputy Mayor, uh, Cretch. Um, so through you, I to the city shields now that this is, uh, for in, uh, the public domain and again, I've expressed uh, in the past now my regrets for having supported the new semi-autonomous, but that's now a ship that sailed. But I'd like to know further clarification. And I'm going to give a hypothetical deputy mayor through you to a city solicitor given the additional powers that the semi-autonomous board has over all public health matters. If in a hypothetical matter the province were to grant the semi-autonomous board's recent uh request of safe injection sites returning to the city of Hamilton and the province granted that and there was a matter of zoning application. Do I and do council still have authority on whether or not the zoning is applicable and I would have a decision-making on that through you deputy mayor please. >> That's probably a question for the planning staff I'd imagine around zoning unless you wanted to take that city. >> The city solicitor authored co-authored this report deputy mayor. So I thought I'd start with her please. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> I just I was just asking her councelor Jackson. >> Thank you. >> Go ahead. City solicitor >> through the chair Lisa Shield city solicitor. Um, so yes, the city still has jurisdiction over zoning. Um, and so we would be required to approve any zoning change if there was such an application made and a and a site located. I do have Dr. Richardson online as well to assist with with any questions. So, um I do I do know that there the the current framework does not um allow for um approval of a um supervised injection site as you've called it um without municipal approval. So, um I I I would defer to her just to see if she could expand on that, but um that that was how it was and if there was going to be a change. We don't know that that would be, but um certainly um as it was in the past, municipal approval was required. >> I'm satisfied with the city solicitor's response. Uh respect to Dr. Richardson, I don't need any further elaboration. Thank you, sis. Solicitor Shields. And although this is just to be received, I would ask for some way somehow I could be recorded as opposed to it. Deputy mayor. So between you and city have a recorded vote. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. >> Okay. I'm not seeing further speakers on this subject and so we will move to an electronic vote whenever we have a chance to prepare that. It is happening spontaneously. So we will need a moment to do to do so. That vote is up now and this is to receive the information report. Think we're still waiting for a vote. Okay. Do we have all the votes now? I believe we do. Councelor Paul is indicating that she's in favor. Okay. Thank you. And that carries 12 22 2. We're now in a 6.2 CWCL 2000202026. Is this correspondence from residents respect in the proposed Hamilton Conservation Authority parking lot at Tiffany Falls Conservation Area. I'm going to call on Councelor Cooper to move a motion to receive the correspondence. Is there a seconder before I do that? Councelor Hang is giving a nod, so I'm taking that as a second. Councelor Cooper, go ahead. Thank you, chair. Um, just wanted to uh to speak to this item. Uh, I was uh meeting with various community groups and someone invited me to their home to uh just to better understand what was happening here. It was a matter had gone to the uh Hamilton Conservation Authority and and really a direction to move where the parking was with respect to these falls onto uh Lower Lines Club Road. And uh and so as I drove to their home, it was I had to pick my way down the street because there's people walking down the street and really the street's only wide enough to accommodate two cars. And so when I got there, there was 25 families, about 50 people, children, and uh and they're like, "How are we expected when we put volume on this road to get back and forth to our our neighbors up and down the streets, our kids, uh you know, how's this all going to work? We have no sidewalks." and uh and and then when they pointed out the area that uh was going to be used, I mean, there's wild turkeys, there's deer, uh and it was very much a natural habitat. And I know this is something that hasn't come before council, but I said to them, listen, you know, if if if if you'd like to reach out to council and uh and submit your thoughts, I mean, happy to u to uh uh we'd be happy to receive those. And so, uh, where it sits right now, I understand, is it's going to the, um, NEC next and and that's the next opportunity for them to have a conversation on this. But I just wanted to, um, you know, ask staff really around the idea that I know we have vision zero and, uh, that's really a city strategy and, um, and and and and I don't believe this is this is actually going to be coming to council at all, but I just wanted to clarify that fact that it Yeah, >> I don't think that's an order. Sorry. This is before the Hamilton Conservation Authority, not before the city of Hamilton, and we shouldn't be commenting on it. Period. You're welcome to make your political comments if you want, but our staff are not here to comment on that. >> Okay. I thank you. I I would suggest my comments aren't political, but you know, we'll have a difference opinion on that, and I'll call that a point of order. Um, but so anyways, thank you for that clarification. So, anyways, uh uh I I would uh you know, in terms of what's happening here with uh with this community, it's not aligned with where the community would like to see it. Uh they would like to have a voice on this. I know that some of them were able to go to the uh conservation authority, but uh at the end of the day um I struggle to see how this aligns with even our vision zero strategy. So, thank you chair. >> Thanks very much, Councelor Clark. Go ahead. >> Thank you, chair. Uh the Hamilton Conservation Authority proposal is a matter that's working its way through the Nagris Garpon Commissioner process. Prior to the submission to the NAC, the HCA did conduct public consultations and the process was most transparent. It always is at the Hamilton Conservation Authority. The HCA heard from a couple of delegations on the matter. The Hamilton Conservation Authority is doing our best to balance an increase in vehicles and hikers at varying times of the year while protecting the ecology of the trail, the falls, and minimizing the impact on the local community while protecting the safety of hikers. The HCA does not believe that it is safe to encourage hikers to walk in the bike lanes beside Wilson Street from the Harper Nursery parking lot. and neither does the city's transportation department feel that that is a safe process. I'd be remiss if I did not indicate that the council for the area, councelor Casar, has been exemplary in his approach to this issue while wearing two hats, especially with some some residents who are passionate, who have stirred up many other people who are staunchly disagree with the proposal. I thank councelor Casar for all of his efforts in trying to balance both the resident's concerns from his standpoint as being a city counselor and also from his position as a board member at the Hamilton Conservation Authority. The fact of the matter is having people walk along Wilson Street will be far more dangerous than it is to have them crossing at one point with the correct safety proposal in place from the city of Hamilton. The HCA has received only support from the city of Hamilton because what we're trying to do is make it safe for all. So the chair is correct. It's not a matter before this council. It's now a matter before the NEC because the HCA has followed the process to the letter, did the public consultations, received positions and letters from residents in the community, and move the process along to the NEC. Is it perfect, Chair? No, it's not. But neither is shutting down the falls. Neither is asking people to walk along Wilson Street in a bike lane. That's not safe. So, we continue with the proposal that we put forward. And I thank the councelor uh Cooper for his commentary. >> Okay. And you may not have said this, but you're the chair of the Hamilton Conservation Authority, which is why you said that. And I just thought it'd be worthwhile letting everyone else know the context. I think we've exhausted our speakers on the subject of that correspondence. And so, at this point, we're going to go to a motion to receive it. And we're going to do that by show of hands. All those in favor? That's everyone. That carries. Thank you so much. We're now on to item seven, committee recommendations. And we're on to public works committee 260007 from May 25th. Councelor Nan, I need a motion from you and a second to approve the recommendations contained within the public works committee minutes. And then we'll get on to anything within them. Go ahead. >> Certainly. It's moved by myself and seconded by vice chair councelor Casar that PWC 26007 being the minutes of the public works committee that was held last Monday, May 25th, 2026 be received in the recommendations contained there and be approved. >> Excellent. Thank you very much. Item 9.3, Roman numeral 3, PW26022, the 2026 2050 Hamilton solid waste management master plan will be voted on separately. Apart from that, are there any other items people wish to speak to or have voted on separately in this report? I'm not seeing anything. And so what we'll do is we'll have a separate vote on that item 9.3 Roman numeral 3, the solid waste plan. And when that motion is up, I'll let you know. It's up. Thank you, robots, for your quick and expedient service to the council and the city clerks, by the way, who are really doing it. But sometimes the robots don't cooperate and so we appreciate their cooperation. I think we're waiting on a couple more votes, but we're nearly there. Councelor Paul has indicated that she's in favor and that carries 12 to two. And now we're going to vote on the balance of the public works committee report. And when that's up, I'll let you know. Councelor Paul is in favor. The vote is up. And that carries 14 to zero. Thank you very much. We're now on to 7.2 and 12.2 which are the open and close session minutes for the plan committee for May 5th, 2026 report 260007. Councelor Tatison, can you please present the motion and indicate your seconder? And I will turn your microphone on so you can do that instead of longingly looking at you wondering why you can't do it. There you go. Thank you, chair. Moved by myself, seconded by vice seconded by second vice chair councelor Tammy Wang that the PLC 260007 being the open session minutes of the planning committee meeting held on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, item 7.2 be received and the recommendations contained therein be approved and be that the close session minutes of the planning committee held on Tuesday, May 22nd, 2026, item 12.2 to be approved as presented and remained confidential that the following correspondence items be received. Correspondence respecting minute 9.4 concerning Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee minutes 26005 item 8.3 from the following individuals. A Robert Barbarini the friends of Amar. >> Thank you. Okay. Thank you. And so there are two items here that will be listed for separate votes. 9.3 PED25172A, a demolition permit for 974980 Upper Paradise Road. And item 9.428.3 peted 26092 recommendation to designate 71 Claremont Drive uh Amar Gate House. So those two are going to be pulled apart for a separate vote. Are there any other items people would like to have for a separate vote? I'm not seeing any. Oh, pardon me, Councelor Jackson. >> That was my fault. Premier Cretch, it was late to uh click my button. 9.1. Did you also indicate that about 84 York Boulevard? >> I did not. >> Could you please as well a separate vote for that as well, please? >> It has been done. >> Thank you. >> Councelor Clark, did you have any items you wanted to ask about being voted on separately? Uh, deputy mayor, not to vote on separately, but to request information from staff. >> What item would that be? >> Uh, it is the notice of motion. I know it's not before us, but we have received several hundred emails on the topic of the data center. Can I hear from staff exactly where this application is and who makes the decision, please? >> I don't think we can have discussion about notices of motion. To be frank and to be fair, I don't think it makes sense to do so. >> Let me rephrase it. Let me ask a question about the data center. We're getting tons of letters. Chair, >> understand. >> So, I'm just trying to clarify publicly. Not interested in debating it. Just trying to get staff to say exactly what's going on. >> We can get a brief update from staff under the general manager's update for that. >> I would be very happy. >> That would make sense if you want to ask a question about that. That makes sense. I just don't want to get into the notice of motion because it's a notice. >> Um, thank you. So, those items are before us. So, we're going to start with 9.1. And did anybody want to speech 9.1 or if we want to have a vote on that separately? Just checking. It's a separate vote so far. Does anybody want to speak to 9.1? I'm not seeing anyone to speak to it. So, we're going to go to a separate vote for 9.1. Everyone knows what that is, right? So, I'm just going to make sure you do. That is with respect to the appeal for to the Ontario Land Tribunal, with respect to 84 York Boulevard, the former Philpot Church. Everyone knows where we are. Okay. Okay. We can take a second folks. It's okay. I am going at a fast clip here so I can pause. We are at item 9.1 in the planning committee report. And this is about the planning committee decision. Okay. Councelor K, do you want to speak on this item? >> Go ahead, please. I'm I'm simply trying to get clarification as to what exactly the motion was because in the minutes I've got here it says it was deferred to after close session and then I don't really see what the decision was. >> Sure. I can clarify. I was there. So briefly what we discussed was in public session the process for entering into settlement discussions or changing the outcome has to go through this specific process of an appeal and a settlement to the OOLT because it went to the committee of adjustment. So we had that discussion in public and then the committee went in camera to get some legal advice and then we came out and I believe it was an 8 to2 vote in favor of pursuing the appeal. That's the summary of what happened and so if that makes sense. >> I understand. Thank you. >> Very welcome. Anyone else with questions about this before we go to the vote? Again, yes would just be carrying on with the process of appeal and settlement and no would be leaving the committee of adjustment decision the way that it is. Okay. Put the vote up. Please indicate in favor or against. It's okay. Some people are still voting. It's all right. And that passes 10 to 4. Thank you very much, everybody. We're now on to I believe 9.3 peed 25172, which is the demolition permit. There was a divided vote on this at the committee. >> Pardon me. Um, someone saying 9.2. I might have missed that. My apologies. I don't think it was utter, but it might have been. Councelor Clark, go ahead. Sorry. 9.2. >> Thank you. 9.2. Notice of objection to the notice of intention to designate 460 Concession Street Hamilton George L. Strong Armstrong School. Can I just ask staff um who is objecting to the notice to designate? Is it school board? >> Sure. If it's okay, councelor Clark. Um, so this is something you don't want to vote on separately. You just want a question asked about it. Is that right? >> I don't know if I want to vote on it separately. I'd like to have the answer first, please. >> No problem. I'm just asking to make sure I understand what's happening here. Yes. Up at the top there. Please introduce yourself >> through the chair, Alyssa Golden, Culture Heritage Program Lead. Um, so this is a schoolboard property. The objection is coming from a private resident. The school board has been consulted throughout the designation process and is not objecting. >> Thank you for the clarification. I don't need a separate vote. >> Thank you very much for letting me know. And now we're past 9.2. We're on to 9.3. And so again, this is just a separated vote. There was a divided vote at the committee. That's all that's happening here. I don't see anybody hands up on the subject of this. >> Sure. The demolition permits for 974980 Upper Paradise Road in Hamilton in Ward 14. >> And the vote whenever everyone's ready to do it. And the vote is up. That vote carries 12 to2. We're now on to, and this is awkward to say, but it's just how it's 9.4 4 Roman numeral 28.3 which is peed 26092 recommendation to designate 71 Claremont Drive which is Okmar Gate House and so we're having a separate vote on this straightly and easily put it to you to vote yes to this is to support staff's recommendation to designate this for heritage purposes essentially voting no would be not to do that at the committee it was voted no not to do that I believe and so that's the vote before us today and I see that councelor Cooper would like to speak to it. So go ahead. >> Thank you chair. I just want to recognize a number of people here today that are my uh uh residents in W 8 and are impacted by this issue. So, Robert and Linda Barbberini who came and uh and and spoke and delegated at uh our uh planning committee meeting and uh they're the residents who uh this property is on and uh and uh you spoke about passionately about concerned about heritage. Uh they were of the mind that they did not want this to move to uh a heritage designation. Um also uh have with us today Diane Dent who leads the friends of Okmar and number of friends of Okmar here. I'm not sure exactly who's here today, but there is a number of folks here. And uh and and just to give you a bit of history, um back in 1999, um Omar was going to be turned the actual formal site on the corner of West Fifth and uh and Fennel was going to be developed and so uh Diane got involved in that and saved it and the friends of OKAR have been working over the last 26 years to really bring Omar back. Uh so it's open to the public. Currently, it's only open to the public a couple days a year, but we have been working on that. And as part of that property is the gate house. And when you go back in time and understand that property, the gate house was the entry point to the uh Omar estate. Currently not configured that way. And so um what's before us is really and we see this many times with heritage and Hamilton is that time takes its toll on a property and really in some cases makes the decision for us because we're not actively engaged in a vial. We've heard that there's a lot of transition and heritage over the years. We heard that at the committee level and uh and and that's to some degree what's got us here, but before us today is really this question of whether we're going to designate uh the um the gate house as a heritage property. And so the concern is is that if it doesn't happen that it could be demolished and the concern for the residents is the fact that um just in terms of what that means for them and their property. So um we have this before you today for for a vote. Uh this is a conversation that we need to keep having around Hamilton in terms of getting involved their heritage properties before they uh get to a state where uh it's pretty hard to recover them. Uh I know with uh the Omar estate, we're doing that right now and getting people out to uh to get involved and to bring it back to life. It truly if you think of it historically, Okmar was the Dundan castle of the mountain back in the day. And so that's really what we're dealing with is a key piece of early history. and uh and so we'll have that before you today for a vote. >> Thank you, councelor Clark. Go ahead. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Couple of questions to staff then. Uh so the Omar House, that property remains within the power of the city of Hamilton. Correct. We still own that property. >> Through the chair, Alyssa Golden, cultural heritage program lead. Uh that's correct. The Okmare estate property is city-owned and the gate house property is privately owned. >> Sorry, the gate house property is not owned by the city >> through the chair. The Okar estate at Fennel and West 5th is city owned. The subject property that's proposed to be designated is 71 Claremont Drive. Uh it is a privately owned property. >> Okay. And was there any objections to the proposed designation from the resident or the owner of that property >> through the chair? As uh councelor Cooper alluded to, the property owners did object to the proposed designation. They provided an objection letter that was received by heritage committee at their consideration of their recommendation. As well, they provided a letter and delegated a planning committee in their objection to the proposed designation. >> Thank you. and my understanding of the heritage act and our authority as a municipality council makes the final determination as to whether or not we are going to designate a property heritage. Is that correct? >> Through the chair that is correct. Under the Heritage Act, staff can bring a recommendation forward. Advice from heritage committee must be sought, but ultimately the decision of whether or not property is municipally designated under part four of the heritage act is council's discretion. >> Thank you. Um, deputy mayor, just a quick comment. I've long been of the opinion that designating properties against the will of the property owner is a mistake. Um, and in the past I have voted that way and so I'm going to continue voting that way. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. >> You're very welcome, >> Councelor Francis. >> I'll keep it brief. I just want to know uh chair if we support if we spoke yes. Is that supporting upholding the recommendation that planning committee gave at the last meeting? I just want ultimate clarity. >> Oh, no. Sorry. When we're voting yes, it's just like going back in time and pretending we're at the planning committee. So, before us was the staff recommendation at that time to support designation. So, if we vote yes, it's supporting designation. If we vote no, it's not going to designate the property. >> Thank you. >> To put another way, if we vote with staff's recommendation or the recommendation of the property owners, right, that makes a sense. >> Thank you. >> Can I put myself on the list? Councelor Casar, could you take control of the chair while I do that? >> I'll activate you there. >> Go ahead. >> Thank you. As the city council rep on the heritage committee, just a couple comments about this. I don't disagree with the fact that we've had some buildings in the city where we've had problems with their heritage status, whether they've deteriorated, all these kinds of things. One of the very first steps we can take is designating them. And that allows us to protect the process and protect the building. It doesn't say it'll never get demolished. It doesn't say that um we can't have some way of preserving some attributes of it. What it does do is puts in place a couple of guardrails. One of them is the heritage permit review subcommittee, a group of citizens who look at these heritage permit reviews if they come forward if there's a permit to do something. There's a whole process that goes through staff in terms of the kinds of changes that can happen, what can happen to it. And it really focuses staff's attention on the building, making sure that when attributes are changed, they have an input, and so on and so forth. We can do all kinds of things like put conditions on a heritage permit to ensure that we're doing something. This isn't stopping people from doing things entirely. It would still come here for a decision if there was a discussion about demolition. It would still come to council if that was what was going to happen and staff would make their various recommendations. So, I there's always this feeling like heritage designation is somehow really tying the hands of people. And what I think it's doing is protecting heritage assets and as a city that's one of the things we do here. It's not about as far as I'm concerned who owns the property. The whole point of having municipal heritage committee is to think about heritage holistically look at assets in our city we care about preserving and putting things in place to prevent them from being demolished without that consultative process without our staff having to look at it and without us having a second thought frankly about it. So I think it's really important for us to to say yes to this so that we can have that process and the integrity of it. I don't disagree with many of the things that people said in terms of there are some attributes about it that are um very much in keeping with certain kinds of heritage features and there are some things that have been changed and so on and so forth. That's the case with nearly every heritage building. So I think it's important for us to carry on this process, carry on with staff's recommendation here to have some more guardrails along the way. Um of course vote as you see fit, but those are my thoughts as your representative on the heritage committee. Thank you. And I now take the chair back and see councelor Bey. Councelor Bey go ahead. >> Thank you uh Deputy Mayor Crutch and through you. Um I sat in on the meeting in um the end of the last month and uh heard the delegation heard from staff. Um and I always on subject matter that doesn't necessarily pertain to an area that I don't have a lot of knowledge. I often try to get an objective view. I voted a certain way at planning committee. Um, and I thought that I was kind of supporting the direction of the board counselor. So, I'm just trying to get an understanding and and maybe it's unfair to to ask, but I I wasn't definitively clear um if there's a particular direction that that the community is seeking, what the viewpoint may have changed in the W 8 community. Um, and I don't know if the board counselor has any addition additional information that might be helpful for my decision. >> Sure. Councelor Cooper, if you were willing to answer that question, you can go right ahead. >> Are you Oh, so >> that's for you. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, I wasn't sure if you're also asking staff, but I'm happy to jump in on this. So, yeah, >> certainly. So, so, um, Councelor B is correct. The property owners came and presented to our, uh, planning committee and delegated. Um since then uh the friends of Akmar have reached out and uh provided correspondence because there's no opportunity to delegate right now at council as you know and so um they're here today. They've um engaged in the process and you've seen that. So that's the new development that's happened since we were at planning committee is that there's been a ground swell of support. Uh really feeling uh their feeling is that this is a integral part of um Omar the state and and to lose that would be to lose uh some of the historical qualities of the state itself and uh and so that's really come forward in in the uh correspondence and and and with the folks that are here today that's why they've come out as well is really to support that and to get engaged in this What I was told from the friends of Okmar is that they were not aware that it was coming to the committee and so they didn't even know that was on the agenda for that particular day. So it's something that has come to their attention otherwise they would have liked to have delegated as well the planning committee. >> And just to be really clear there was the all the appropriate and notice was given to everyone about the agenda. So there was nothing going on with the last minute item being added. Just to be clear it was it was on there in a timely manner. It first came to the heritage committee, then it came to the planning committee, then it came here. There's been ample opportunity to engage on the subject. On that point, I don't see other speakers on this, so we're going to go to the vote. Again, just to clarify, if you're voting yes, you're voting in favor of the heritage designation. If you're voting no, you're not. And that vote is available now. We're just waiting for another vote. Just a moment. Okay. And that carries. 132 opposed. Thank you very much. And as far as I can tell, those are the separated vote items for the planning committee. Are there any other items people would like to speak to or ask staff questions about from these specific minutes? No, I'm not seeing any. Great. We're going to go to the vote on the balance of the planning committee minutes. Thank you. And that vote is up and available. Okay. Planning committee minutes. Councelor Pauls, could we grab your vote? >> I think I voted the wrong way the last vote, but it's okay. We'll uh move on. I'll uh >> No, it's okay. You can change your vote, Council Paul's within five minutes of your vote. So, would you like to change your vote for the last vote to in favor? >> Yeah, I I put it on. >> No problem. We can change that. I put it on. >> That's not a problem, Councilor Paul. We can change that for you. Okay. On this vote, are you voting in favor or against? This is on the planning committee minutes as a whole. >> A thumbs up. Thank you so much. That carries 150. We're now on to item 7.3, the general issue committee minutes. GIC2607 from May 27th, 2026. Councelor Casar, can I please have a motion to receive and approve the recommendations? And can you please name your seconder? Thank you. It's moved by B, second by councelor Wang that GIC26-008 being open session minutes of the general issues committee meeting held on Wednesday, May 27th, 2026, item 7.3 be received and the recommendations contained there and be approved. B, that close session minutes of that meeting uh be approved as presented and remain confidential. That memorandum PED26089A respecting the 5-year review of revitalizing Hamilton's commercial district's community improvement plan and associated financial incentive programs be received and D that the following correspondence be received uh as listed in the agenda. >> Thank you very much. And I'm just going to ask this question before I recognize councelor Tatson who I see is on the speaker's list. Anyone want to vote on something separately is my first question. Councelor Tatterson, do you want to vote on something separately? Okay. Please indicate the item. >> That's 9.2. It's the uh I guess it's the separate vote for the Olympic size 50 meter pool. >> 9.2 the feasibility of a 50 m pool in the city of Hamilton. There was a divided vote. So we'll have that for a separated vote. Any other separated votes people want? I'm not seeing separated votes. So we're going to first take a separated vote on 9.2 the feasibility of a 50 meter pool in the city of Hamilton. Did do you want to speak to that Chanc >> I just wanted to say when in reading the motion I'm supportive of the first whereas in this motion it says whereas the aquatic facilities whereas access to aquatic affili facilities is essential is an essential component to of complete communities supporting public health recreation sport development and water safety for residents of all ages and abilities. So for me, that statement clearly spells out what our priorities in the city of Hamilton should be. Everything else in this motion talks about how we need a 50 meter pool, an Olympic size pool at this time. It's not a priority for me. I represent a fast growing community. It's W 11. It's been requesting a community pool for 47 years. A city priority should be to complete incomplete communities that are sorely lacking recreational facilities such as an indoor community pool. Hamilton needs more community pools where local seniors can go for a daytime swim or aquafit, a place where children can learn safely to swim all year long before we start worrying about sending athletes to the Olympics or hosting national events in swimming. I just want to say that does anyone here know about the weight lines for seniors at our local pools? Let me share that. People from Glenn Brook regularly leave their homes 90 minutes before classes start, drive up to 25 minutes into the city to Huntington or Valley Park community pools to be there up to an hour early for a chance to put their belongings in line to get to the pool that day. If you don't have your swim bag in line 30 minutes before classes start, you don't get in. And this is not hyperbole. This is lived experience from residents in Ward 11. Yes, our entire city is underserved and people around here talk about equity every day, but those people rarely consider rural recreational needs. More community pools serving rural Hamilton close and close by neighborhoods just inside the urban boundary is the answer. Flambor, Winona, Glamrook indoor pools need to be prioritized first before we look at using our financial resources and staff capacity to support an Olympic size pool. I'm not lacking in vision. I get that Olympic pool it would be a nice aspirational goal but let's build our community pools first then renovate our existing pools that require renewal and once those goals are complete perhaps then in 10 years our master plan should look to direct our resources to that competitive 50 meter pool again our entire city is underserved when it comes to community pools I think that should be the focus thank you >> thanks councelor Tison and on this subject councelor Clark >> good speech Go ahead. >> Thanks. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Um, and I've had some time to think about this since the introduction of of this particular motion for the feasibility of a 50 meter pool in the city of Hamilton. And notwithstanding, it would be a wonderful thing to have so that um, those of us in the city who are competitive swimmers have an opportunity. And that's not implying that I'm a competitive swimmer. Just for the record. >> I appreciate you clarifying that council. >> I'm far more of a competitive floater than a swimmer. Just for the record. >> Competitions are real for everyone. Council, >> yeah, I I think it was a unanimous vote on that. So, uh, I'll just move on to to this this concern that I have. We are wolffully inadequate in the number of pools that we have. We in I I represent Ward 9ine where Valley Park is the big swimming pool there and that pool is so backed up with requests for aquafit and and swimming lessons and people go away um dissatisfied that they they simply can't get into the different programs that are being run at that that pool. Um, I do host free swims at the pool so that people who are financially challenged have an opportunity to get into the pool. Um, but I remember working with councelor Brenda Johnson on the pool for Glennbrook and we were under the impression that it was moving ahead. As a matter of fact, Mayor Fred Eisenberger um took that and put it in his campaign. >> Huh. >> Just for the record. Um, and we are still here with Glenn Brook without a pool. And so now we're talking about doing a study on the feasibility of a feeder 50 meter pool which is now going to trump the work that we have done in Glenbrook and I have a problem with that. Um, so I'm going to vote with councelor Tatis. I think we should be completing our our capital plan that we have already in place rather than adding something else to the mix uh which quite frankly is going to be a very large expense uh for the municipality. So I'll be voting no on this request. Thank you. >> Okay, we've got some more speakers on the subject. Councelor Pety, you're up next. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor Threeu. um having heard councelor Tatison's uh uh passionate words at the GIC and reflecting on them uh and trying to place I would say uh my personal value set over top of those words in terms of a focus on core service delivery first and maybe we move to some of the the extras, the pluses, the embellishments at a later date. Um the councelor has identified in his community. I'm can speak on behalf of the Winona community. We've been waiting for the rec center to be built. We're moving ahead. We're getting closer. We have a site. We have a plan. Uh we are moving towards uh 2028 2029 shovels and ground. And part of that it includes a pool. And that pool is initially at least seen as a replacement for an aging piece of infrastructure that was built by the township of Saltfleet in the 1960s called Brewster, the Brew as we nicknamed it. Um, we can't find parts for the equipment in that pool anymore. So, we are on a tight timeline for a replacement. And I I'm inclined to agree with Councelor Chatterson that we need to remain focused, keep our eye on the ball, and maybe come back to some core service delivery before we start to move on to some of these add-ons, which is not to say it's not important. It really truly is. And if we had an opportunity to um add a 50 m pool at some point somewhere, great. but it shouldn't interrupt the the hard work and focus that our staff are doing and it shouldn't interrupt the need of a particular community. So, I think I'm going to join councelor Tatis in changing my vote. >> Okay. And now, councelor Jackson. >> Thanks, Deputy Mayor Cretch. Uh similar to councelor Bey, I was absent for the uh vote last week because I was attending a funeral service for a dear friend who had passed away and by the time I got back the 50 meter vote was done and although noble initiative uh by our mayor um councelor Tatterson's excellent, eloquent speech has con converted me and convinced me that we need to do more within the communities both the former communities uh that were uh separate communities, the wonderful towns before amalgamation and now that they're back uh within amalgamation the last 25 years within our city of Hamilton. I think part of the promise had been because many of them resented joining the city back in 2000. But part of the promise was that possibly there would be savings in one particular amalgamated government u versus uh previously seven governments layers of government, but also that the uh communities, the smaller communities would benefit from the bigger city of Hamilton that would have greater resources to help them with additional fire stations and police stations and community centers and arenas. And so I was part of that commit commitment many years ago of past colleagues from the suburbs and current ones that I'm honored to serve on with this term, Deputy Mayor Crutch. And I have to be mindful of that. And I can tell you that on March 28th, the reopening of the Huntington Park Rec Center on the East Mountain, $2.1 million, long awaited by my East Mountain community, the only rec center on the East Mountain community. Some communities have more than one. And I can tell you that the reopening of that was received with over 300 in attendance. The new water slide, uh, the refurbishing, expansion of many of the amenities of that rec center, again, it's a hub for the East Mound community, so cherished, so appreciated, and what my taxpayers like to see their taxes going towards, tangible things that their families and their friends can use. So, the 50 meter pool is a noble objective. And if you recall during the Commonwealth Games bid and the group that wanted the Commonwealth Games here, this would have been the 50 meter pool and those type of citywide amenities would have been part and parcel of that. But the games just uh unfortunately wasn't meant to be. The cost was too great in my humble opinion. So, we've got to do everything we can within our limited capital resources to support every part of our city. So, I'll be voting against the 50 meters. Thank you, Deputy Mayor Cretch. >> Okay. Thanks, Councelor Jackson. We have a few more people who've decided to join the list and we'll try to keep this uh to a one-time speakers only, I hope. Next person on the list, councelor McMin, take it away. >> Yeah, thanks uh chair. Um I wasn't at the meeting either as I happen to be out of the country. Um, but I've been trying to follow it as best I can and uh my understanding is that the motion that was passed is actually looking at a feasibility study and and the possibility of uh of senior level government partnership. Uh this has come up before and uh senior levels of government have seemed um contingent on getting the games approval to to say that they wanted to be players with this. So, um, if this was a vote today to, uh, support, um, specific, uh, specific location and amount of money and capital investment and such, I would probably oppose it. But given it's a feasibility study with a chance to, uh, to look uh, down the road at partnerships, I I will support the motion. >> Thank you, Councelor McMaken. Next up, and online, so please unmute yourself and lower your hand. Councelor Morin Wilson. >> Thank you, Chair. Uh there. Um thank you very much. I was absent from GIC last week. Apologies to the residents of Ward One and my colleagues. Um I absolutely agree with councelor Tatison on this. um this size of pool is not identified in our recreational master plan and it's um been my opinion that our vision is um to raise uh a children successfully and to age successfully. Uh I believe that we have to focus on the mitigation of the uh aging infrastructure that we have at present. Um and I believe that we are long past in our um need to service uh the growing areas of our community who are deserving of uh those basic recreational services like um like pools. Um for me it's also um a matter of uh swimming is um there is a an element to swimming which uh can save your life. Every child should be able to easily access a neighborhood pool and learn how to swim. And um if they go on to representing this beautiful country at an Olympic level, uh we will be ever so proud of them, but the majority of them don't. It doesn't mean we shouldn't inspire and encourage uh children to do so. Um, but I believe our focus has to be on continuing to um put capital into our aging infrastructure that serves our existing neighborhoods and also to to share uh the importance of uh an aquatic healthy lifestyle with seniors and children alike in our new neighborhood. So, um I appreciate that it's asking uh just for information, but we are also sometimes critical of staff for not reporting back in ample time when we add to their workload at the same time. So, this is not at all a slight against those who are proposing and champion the that kind of pool. I I tip my hat. I do think it's wonderful. It's just for me a matter of returning to some of the fundamentals in our master plan. Thank you. Thank you. And to my further surprise, the list is growing on this item. We'll now go to Councelor Paul's. And you're online, so please unmute yourself, Councelor Pauls. >> And thank you, uh, Deputy Mayor. Um I guess um I just wanted to be clear if we do look for the future for this uh 50 meter pool and we do get senior government on that I wonder if we think it would jeopardize the other pools and I don't think it should. I think Glamberg should get a pool, of course. Um, but I don't think looking at something jeopardizes us not saying, "No, we're not going to put a pool over here. We're not going to pull a pool there." I think it enhances in my opinion. Uh I want everybody to know that I went to Windsor and they have tons of pools 25 meters everywhere but they also have a 50 meter pool. So we're just asking I have a lot of swimmer coaches uh calling me saying how excited they are that we could even explore and that's how we're saying explore. We are a big city. We are a big city. Brford has a 50 meter pool. Windsor of all the city that I actually grew up in Windsor. I was surprised at that pool and how many people they bring in, how many economic people from uh other places going there. I traveled there because as you all know, my granddaughter did swim and I have a one that is in the swimming. But I just want you to know this should not jeopardize any other 25 meter pool. It should be an add-on. And I want to tell you when the city lack vision for the future, that's when we kind of slow down. We have to look for the future. I'm not saying we're going to do it the next uh you know five years or whatever, but you really need to look to the future. what's good for the future and what's good for our kids, for our grandchildren, for the kids here in Hamilton that want to be competitive. So, I'm not saying to councelor Tat, I said, "Nope, we're going to do the 50 meter pool before we look at your area." or even in my ward, we need uh uh my pool needs fixing and we need uh some uh uh pools that are uh for seniors to go and do exercise. We need that. But this does not say we are not going to do anything else. So for that reason, I will vote for it to look at and to see what councelor McMegan said. senior government. We want everybody to chip in and to see what we can do. So that I will be voting for. Yes. Thank you. >> Thanks, Councelor Pauls. Next up in the chamber, councelor Cooper. Go ahead. >> Thank you, Chair. Um I I know when I was growing up, Huntington Park Rec Center was important. That's where everybody went uh uh to get be involved and get off the streets and do things, especially in the winter time, right? And um so when when I I'm I'm out talking to folks in in the suburbs, Flambor, Winona, and Ben Brook, they feel neglected. We've talked about this for so long, and there's been no action. And uh it was interesting. I met with a group of about 200 young people in Bimbrook. And I said to them, you know what? We really want to put a rec center in Bimbrook. They said, "What's a rec center? What's a rec center? They don't even know. We've been promising it so long, they have no clue what it even is." And so, you know, when I when I'm I'm up meeting with the the the uh local police station in Hamilton Mountain that also takes care of suburbs, the number one issue always here is youth violent crime. It's all the pictures on the wall. And, you know, if we don't have something good for kids to do after school, they're going to do something anyways. And so, I really think we need to be focused on getting the things done that we've promised these communities, which is the rec center. So, dreaming big dreams, it means absolutely nothing if we can't bring the fundamentals to the people in our communities. And so I think we really have to address this because we talk about downtown and we talk about things we want to do but the outlying communities continue to feel neglected by the city. And so we've made these promises. I think we have to focus and deliver on them. So I will support councelor Tatison as well and vote no on this. >> Thank you for that. Councelor Nan. >> Thank you Deputy Mayor. Um, yeah, I guess I'm I'm a little surprised by the binary uh uh view on this motion. And I would say um I don't think we need to necessarily view it that way. I think what is before us in our recreation plan, what is being advocated on behalf of council members for their communities that have been waiting what was it four decades uh for the amenities that they need in some cases. I know I can uh not only completely empathize with that as a as a person, but uh speak to that in terms of public service excellence and how we grow our municipality to meet the needs that are here for our existing population while at the same time having an eye towards what we need to develop and provide for future generations to not only uh survive here but thrive here and dream again and be able to participate in those dreams from a place of inclusion and access and so yes to all and above and therefore I'm in favor of this motion. Thank you. >> Thanks very much. I'm going to pass the chair to council casar as I'm the last first time speaker and be brief on this. Part of this feels like we're in an election year and I wish this would have come forward sooner frankly so we could have considered as part of the 2026 budget. My feelings about this are the similar to councelor Nans in terms of the fact that I think we can as a municipality hold two thoughts in our head at the same time. Staff hold millions of thoughts in their head at the same time annually and we can look at doing something and also prioritize other things that we're already working on. Those are not mutually exclusive ideas. I think that we should look at things. We should have a sense of how much it's going to cost, where it could go, what the recommendations are, what the locations are, so we can make a decision. Without this information, we can't do anything. All we can do is keep speculating on it. We had young people come forward here and delegate on the subject asking for this in their community. Frankly, we don't center young people in most of our decision-m. That's what they say to me. I was at the youth town hall recently and that's how they felt. So, I think it's important that when they come here and ask us for something, the least we can do is at least follow through on the question, get the question answered. But I'm also risked because I feel that this is hard for us to swallow when many of us asked in the mayor's budget for there to be funding at the highest level for our recreation assets across the board. I know when I sent my message off to the mayor by email, I said that it was one of the most important things to show up in the budget would be funding our recreation assets in the city. and counselors have brought up the lower city and some of the lower city assets which are in sometimes abysmal shape compared to other assets. There's no outdoor pool in anywhere in W 2 despite the fact that it's one of the hottest parts of our city because of all the ashalt and concrete. Not a place for people to swim outdoors here. So, I understand that competing feeling and I don't think it's great to basically underfund our recreation assets in a budget and then come forward with a motion saying, "Hey, there's this one specific asset I want to fund." So, from a taste perspective, I don't like this at all. But I do still think that we ought to find out the answer and have some information. All it says here is the staff report back to council no later than Q1207 with the findings of their analysis, including recommended next steps. As we all know, that just means then we get to vote then about it and make a decision then about it. But just saying no outright, I think just says to the youth who came here and asked us to look into this, no thanks. We don't care. That's my perspective on it. That's how I feel about it. Um, it's no harm to ask that question. Thanks. Take the chair back now and I will turn it over to possibly second time speaker councelor Tatison. But first, we need someone to move that counc second time. Councelor Jackson has been so enthusiastic. I feel almost blinded by that. Councelor Bey, do you want to second that? Okay. Thank you. We're going to vote by a show of hands. All those in favor of granting councelor Tatson a second speaking time on this. Okay, that carries. Councelor Tatterson, >> I just wanted to go on the record um and state to my good colleague, Councelor McGribe, that nowhere in this motion does it say we're seeking a partnership with a senior level of government. What it says is we're seeking a partnership with an institution or another municipality. So for me that means that when I when I look at that in the context this is not going to serve the needs of the of the of most Hamilton residents because access to that pool is going to be limited at best because we're sharing that pool with a partner who's also going to be having their needs met whether it's competitively or so forth international students. I get that. So for me again, my focus, my long-term goal here is is to ensure that the community pools are our priority. Um that's that's I guess my point that I just wanted to make in and in in correcting. So thank you. >> Thank you very much, Councelor Tatterson. Your point has been made and we're now going to go to the vote. >> And just a reminder, since this has been going on a while, this is a vote on the motion. If you vote yes, you support the motion. If you vote no, you don't. We're just waiting on a vote. Councelor Paul, could you indicate by either a virtual thumb or just saying which way you're going on this? I think I know, but if you could say so formally. >> Oh, there's a thumbs up. Thank you. And that's defeated 728. And now we're moving on to the next part of our agenda, which is still the same part of the agenda, which is the general issues committee 260007 minutes. No one else has indicated wanting to speak to another item here. So, we're going to go to the balance of the GIC minutes. And that vote is up now. and that carries 150. We're now on to item 7.4, the audit, finance administration committee minutes for May 27th. That's 260. Councelor Bey, please present the motion. Let us know here a second there is and we'll get into that. But only if I turn your microphone on first. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Moved by myself and seconded by Vice Chair Councelor Mike Spataphora that AFA260007 being the meeting minutes of audit, finance, and administration held on Thursday the 28th of May. Item 7.4 be received and recommendations contained therein be approved and that the close session minutes of the audit finance and administration committee meeting held on Thursday, May 28th. Item 12.4 for be approved as presented and remain confidential. >> Thank you very much. Anyone wish to have an item voted on separately from these minutes? >> Councelor Moren Wilson, go ahead. Which item is that? >> Thank you, Chair. I'm not asking for a separate vote at this time. >> Uh I I'm just uh have some questions with respect to an item on the AFNA minutes 7.1. >> 7.1. Okay. Sure. So just going to look around here to make sure there's no separate votes. I want to collect those up first so clerks have time to prepare them. >> Yep. Thank you. >> Not seeing any. So we'll go to you councelor Moren Wilson on 7.1. Take it away. >> Thank you. Um for those who um 7.1 is review of a potential development charge exemption for fourth uh residential units. Um just a series of questions. Again I apologize. I was absent uh last week. Um my first question through the chair to staff is could I just please receive a definition? Uh I I know this seems weird, but a definition of what a forplex is. >> Good morning uh through the chairback, acting director of planning and chief planner. Um, I'm trying to pull up the zoning definition, but uh I I would say that a forplex um would be a unit or a building containing four units. Okay, thank you. Um my second question is in our recent changes to um zoning in low density neighborhoods are forplexes as of right in the city of Hamilton. Thank you through the chair. >> Through the chair to the counselor. Um staff have been working over the last couple of years to bring all of the properties into zoning by 05200. So uh the majority of the properties of lowdensity properties within the city do permit forplexes. However, there are small areas within some of the former municipalities that staff are working on uh bringing forward >> to ensure that um all of the permissions are consistent across the city. >> Thank you. uh through the chair. Um in so doing, what goals uh did the city identify this would achieve um in in allowing for forplex in relation to housing and planning and the like. Thank you. >> Through the chair to the councelor. Um the permissions for forplexes and the expanded permissions across lowdensity residential zones um in general uh helped to expand the types of housing that could be permitted within the lowdensity residential zones and increase the opportunity for a variety of housing options and also supported the city's commitment to a firm urban boundary. >> Thank you. Uh for me that last point is important. Um, may I ask, do we uh have any sense of how many forplexes have um uh received permission to build or perhaps a building permit? I'm not sure what we use as an indicator for um inventorying the the number of forplexes in a particular year through the chair >> through the chair to the councelor. Um one uh source of data would be building permit. Um we don't have that information available but um we're working on uh pulling it together and we can certainly share it with members of council. >> Okay. Thank you. If I could ask through the chair um it was an information report and staff were asked for information. Um so because we don't know the number of forplexes. Is it fair to say through the chair that we wouldn't have known? We don't know what the the the financial impact of um exempting forplexes would be even for the the 2-year period that we're doing in other ways and means through the chair >> through through the chair Mike Garrick general manager of finance corporate services. Uh that is uh a fair >> voicemail >> sorry sorry through the chair uh it is fair to that's a fair comment in that a estimate of development charge exemptions would be based on the potential uh uptake and interest as it relates to those developments. I will note that exclusive of development charge exemptions that the city does have a number of other funding uh avenues with respect to these types of developments including affordable housing capital funding, our community improvement plan, grants and rebates and the housing accelerator fund initiatives as well. >> Thank you uh through the chair. Um I hope my question is in scope but is there anyone present who could speak to um any knowledge we have of the accelerator fund's future continuing because it was referenced as a potential source. I don't know. I don't want to put words in Jim Ziggar's um his statement, but I I'm just trying to look at the the long-term uh opportunity of these um other initiatives being available. >> Uh through the chair, Grace Mater, general manager, healthy and safe communities. Um through the chair to councelor Wilson, the um future of the housing accelerator fund is is up in the air to be very honest. We know that this year will be challenging for us to meet our um targets as are every community across the country for that matter and what we're hearing. Um so but we've received no indication about what the next steps on that would look like at all. >> Okay. Thank you. My last question if I have time through the chair could I just understand the rationale when the exemption was applied if I if I understood the report and I did read it a few times for three plexes. What was the rationale for not extending the same um curtain if you will of exemption to forplexes through the chair? >> Through the chair um staff identified firstly uh we continue to be guided by the principle that growth should pay for growth. Uh in addition, staff identified that uh there would be some financial impact understanding that the ability to estimate that financial impact exclusive of a strong sense of what the uptake and interest would be with respect to these developments. Uh staff weren't able to definitively determine the value of that uh exemption. staff also identified those alternative funding programs that are available uh as it relates to these forms of development uh with respect to development charge exemptions uh staff uh as it relates to forplexes. staff did do a a uh scan of other municipalities and identified that it was not common practice to exempt these forms of development but rather to provide support through grant programs and there are examples of municipalities that provide such financial support through grant programs rather than development charge exemptions. >> Thank you. Um my last question if if I am able uh through the chair to GM Zagaric do we have an account of the rate of growth of uh DC's uh as a funding source since their full perhaps usage and I'm not sure when that pin in the map starts um probably post 2000 but I'm I'm not sure and happy to be educated about Sorry through the chair if if uh the counselor could repeat the question. >> I I'm just trying to understand um I I know there is a variety of strong opinions about DCS. Um increasingly my concern uh through the chair and to my colleagues is that uh yes growth should pay for growth. uh these forms of development are well within the urban boundary and are an accessible form of housing for many uh residents now and future. Um they're using exist existing services. I'm trying to understand um in passing on a form of taxation onto future renters andor home owners that is a cost that we are applying to to a unit to a shelter. I'm trying to understand if we could today or at some point in the future have a better picture of how our reliance on DCs has either grown, changed or remained the same over the last say 10 or 15 years. Do we know the rate of of of that profile through the chair? through the chair. Uh happy to take that away. Uh but uh able to share that in 2025 our forecasted development charge exemptions uh is approximately $75 million. >> Uh 80% of that represents statutory exemptions. So these are uh exemptions that the province of Ontario requires city of Hamilton and all municipalities to provide. the balance uh represents uh council approved discretionary DC exemptions. Uh but happy to take that away in the context of future financial reporting. Uh a bit of a time series as it relates to where development charge exemptions are trending. Uh I I can say confidently statutory development charges are trending upward because of provincial uh legislative changes requiring municipalities to provide a broader array of development charge exemptions. Uh unfortunately those development charge exemptions are not offset through funding from senior levels of government. They are borne by uh by local taxpayers and rateayers. Thank you. >> No uh thank you. I I appreciate the the latitude. Um I'll certainly work uh through the appropriate channels to make that request formal. Um I do think this is an important discussion um uh that any future local council has to have um we're getting hammered for not meeting our housing objectives yet. We're not being provided sufficient funding in my opinion for infrastructure. uh but the consequences of that for future and new and uh other homeowners and renters is also significant. Thank you for uh the opportunity to speak to this information item. >> Thank you, Councelor Wilson. Now, Councelor Clark is wanting to speak on a different item. So, before we go to the item 7.1, anybody else want to speak on 7.1? Not seeing anyone. Councelor Clark on 9.1. Go ahead. Uh, thank you, Deputy Mayor, and it's fatuitous that you're in the chair because you might be able to help me understand. Um, in the motion speaking to the lighting at Ferguson Station, it speaks about advocating for the improvement and activation of Ferguson Station. So, um, what events are planned for or currently used at the Ferguson station? >> Since I'm on the board and the board counselor, I'll do my best to answer quickly. I don't think staff here have the list. It's in my brain. We just had a 50th anniversary celebration there in the weekend. Village Pride events are being planned for the rest of the summer. There's often times um other people will book the space for other events. I'm not aware of what those are, but the PIA has a series of events over the summer months, fall months. They activate it as well as they can. And we're trying to do more there. And right now, one of the issues we face is inadequate lighting. We disinstalled steel doors last year. So, we had uh the pull down manual style and we installed the steel with the automatic option because it was creating a health and safety risk for people because the doors were too heavy to open and close and they weren't operating well. So, this is in a series of improvements so we can get more activation and use it more often. So, it's a bit of a chicken and egg to answer the question is yes, there are a bunch of events planned. We want to plan more. >> Um, thank you. Can can I inquire further for those events at Ferguson Station? Is it the city that approves the use of the station? >> I'm not 100% sure. I'm just going to look over to the bench. I'm pretty sure the answer is yes. There's an application process that the BIA works at the city and doing it's not owned by the BA. It's not a BIA asset. It's a city asset. Just looking for a non from anyone. >> Uh, thank you. Dan Smith, director of licensing, vital services and acting GM of planning and economic development today. Sorry, council. Could you just repeat that question? I missed it. >> Uh the Ferguson station itself, the the the physicality. Um who approves use of that station? Is it the city? >> Uh through the chair, it is the city. It would be through um public works environmental services division. >> Thank you. One last question. Um, I had been recently informed that a church group who was using Ferguson Station to distribute hot meals to the poor were told that they had to move. They couldn't use that facility anymore. Is that correct? Did the city tell them that they can't do that? >> I'll turn to GM Mater who's leading that discussion. >> Uh, through the chair to the counselor. Um, yes, we've been working with the group that distributes meals there. They they are have been doing that for a number of years. It is it is outside of the bylaw though and what is allowed for that location. So we've been working with them for an alternative spot to uh to provide that service. >> But so far they haven't found an alternative spot and they're just being told they can't use the Ferguson station anymore. Can I get clarity >> through the chair? No, we have offered them an alternative spot and been working with them. We've done we've done a very similar approach to them as we did with the group that was at Gore Park that are now distributing at city hall on Saturdays. So, we've been doing the exact same thing and offering the same types of um supports and supplies um to address some of their concerns. >> So, just trying to clarify it. The city has denied them the use of Ferguson station >> through the cherry. It is against the bylaw actually what they've been providing there. >> So the city has told people who are distributing food to the poor they can't do it there. >> We have told them that they cannot use that location and are providing them with an alternative location very like basically across the street. >> The city continues to amaze me. How disappointing. Councelor McMe. Thanks. I I'll be brief. How many years has this group been using that vocation? >> Through the chair, I believe it is about nine, eight or nine years if I'm not mistaken. >> Okay. So, um without making a judgment, I I've had been as like councelor Clark uh have had some recent communication from the group. I understand there are meetings scheduled to uh try to support this. So finding a finding a place to actually continue the service >> through the chair. We've been meeting with the group for over a year. >> Are you optimistic that we'll find a resolution? No. >> I am very hopeful. I think we're trying to do whatever we can within the realm of possibilities and realities of what we can provide for them. Um we do know that there are been many concerns that have come from the surrounding businesses with regards to the challenges that uh the food distribution program has has uh um incurred. >> Okay. I'd like to keep uh informed about progress and uh would be pleased to attend any meeting that's set up. Thanks. >> Thanks. I'll pass the chair to councelor Casar. As the board counselor for downtown where this is an issue, I've attended several meetings, hopefully not to anyone's surprise, on the subject. And what JMater said is completely correct. This is exactly the same situation that occurred at Gore Park. Gore Park was not set up for that use. It caused massive kinds of problems with extra rats, um, issues with snow clearing, you name it, because of all the food that was in the park. And the people who were there agreed that there were limitations and problems as well. So over the course of, I believe, two years, I worked with staff to move them, maybe it was a year to move them to city hall with their consent. We set it up, we tried it out, it worked great, and then we modified it to make sure it suited their needs. and I visit there at least once a month to say hi to folks. People are thrilled with the relocation. This is a similar situation at Ferguson Station. The original group that was coming there years ago was a small group of individuals and it was one group of individuals coming to serving food. That is not the case anymore. Sometimes there are three to 400 people in this tiny area and it is no longer designed for the capacity of this activity. Period. It's also totally part of a program the city is to doing to correct from during COVID when this huge explosion of folks showed up. We weren't enforcing that bylaw during CO and that's when this need presented itself because we were busy doing other things as you all know. And so part of this term of council has been correcting or you weren't doing that enforcement. If anyone wants to meet about this and discuss it in detail, I'm happy to do so. This is not coming out of the blue. People were not told they must leave and have no place to go. Um, and I just ask that if this comes up or you get mentioned it again, reach out to me as the word counselor, I'm very involved in this and I've had many discussions with the folks at the church at the folks who are doing this. One of the unintended impacts of what they're doing is that when they go there, then other people also show up and it's very very difficult for bylaw for folks in the area to isolate and differentiate people. So one group of folks might be doing things that seem fine. This is good. Other group shows up afterwards and does other things that make things not so good. So, we're trying to have food services where there are food being handed out in public spaces done in a more controlled manner that's that's better monitored, that's safer, and that's right size for the space. If you don't know this space, I encourage you to visit 3 to 400 people in that tiny space is not a good thing. And it's going to be difficult. There's going to be transitions. The major concern that folks have is that they're worried about the wind in the winter months. So, we're working with them on making sure. Just so you know, we didn't just ask the people at Gore Park to just move over here and do your best. The city provided them with a storage container. It provided them with canopies. It provided them with all manner of things. And I can't tell you the amount of support we had from parking staff and other divisions and departments across the city to make it work so staff people could park there and they had the suitability. Same thing here. This is being done in a parking lot where there's adequate parking for everybody, where there's adequate space for everybody. In fact, more than adequate space. And as you can imagine, dealing with this issue is difficult because no matter where a service like this is, there are going to be impacts. In fact, the location we're moving it to is the effort is proposing to anyways is the upper trust parking lot where we have the Ontario Works program because it's a large parking lot and the city is a lease hold there. We couldn't find a piece of city property nearby that we could move folks to though. We certainly did talk about other city property they could go to. They wanted to remain in that area. So, the only piece of city property we could feasibly do this at that made sense for the size of the operation was that piece of property. It's not going to be easy. It's going to be a difficult transition. I've asked the group simply to just weather the storm a little bit, move over. We'll adjust things to make it work for them. But I wanted to clarify for the record that's what's going on. If you need more information, I'm happy to speak to anybody about it. Thank you. I'll take the chair back. >> Yeah. Thanks, Council Gretch. Back to you. >> Not seeing any other speakers on this item and not seeing any other speakers on any item in this report. So, we're going to go to the vote for the GIC minutes. Pardon me, AFA minutes. My apologies. I briefly went back in time and no one needs that. And that vote is up. And that carries 140 with one. Oh, pardon me. It's just 140. I just couldn't see that that zero was actually zero, not a one. Apologies. I need reading glasses. Emergency and community services committee meeting ECS 26004 is our next item. And to that, sorry, I'm just pulling up. Councelor Jackson, I believe you want to speak to it there, but we first need to move over in a second. One second. Sorry, folks. I need to scroll. So, you're gonna wait for me to scroll. I've scrolled sufficiently. Councelor Clark, could you please present your motion and let us know who your secondary will be? >> Uh, thank you, Deputy Mayor Cretch. It's moved by myself and seconded by W 8 counselor Robert Cooper. that ECS26-00004 being in the minutes of the emergency community services committee from Thursday May 28th 20126 item 7.5 be received and the recommendations contained therein be approved >> thank you very much is there anybody who'd like to vote on an item separately seeing no separate votes and I'm seeing councelor Jackson wants to speak to an item so please identify the item councelor Jackson go ahead >> thanks so much deputy mayor crutch item 7.2 to the Ontario Work Service Plan. Look, I'm not here to regurgitate a lot of what we've heard recently at ECS over the last few months and recently last week. Um, but I'm now hearing from a few more small-time landlords who have had difficulty in terms of OW payments for renters and other ancillary issues as well. and the ones I know and some from my ward who live in my ward but have rental properties across the city have appealed to me. And so if I could through you deputy mayor Cretch to general manager Mater andor director um Stu Bamer but I'll start with the general manager. I have two basic questions. General Manager Mater, you and I have discussed this and with the $57 million of claims that is been reported that the city should be doing its best to secure, I'll give you what I'm hearing and what my antenna is telling me, general manager, that for some reason the perception is our city and our department is soft on trying to get that hardearned taxpayer money back. Can you further please elaborate and ensure especially if there's fraudulent claims if there's repetitive fraudulent claims because it seems that the messaging that's coming out of the corporation is counselor these are people the 13,000 roughly every month on OW are at the bottom of their lives I get that I want to help them as much as possible but if there's fraudulent issues isues occurring and if there's opportunities that maybe because of our compassion we're holding back on pursuing what we should be pursuing where there's dereliction where there's obvious fraud where there's repetitive fraud the perception's becoming that we're soft on that area that's my first question deputy mayor crutch through you please to the general >> question is whether or not we are >> please to the general manager I think will understand the essence of my question please >> thank you so before the general general manager speaks. I just want to let folks know who weren't at ECNS that there's going to be a report coming forward based on a bunch of questions we asked then. So some of the questions you may hear today or that we asked at ECNS are going to come forward at a report and the general manager will have answers then. But I'm sure you can answer in the interim something to respond to councelor Jackson's question. >> Thank you deputy mayor for allowing that. Thank you. >> You're very welcome. >> Through through the chair Grace Mater you already said that. Okay. Through the chair um to the counselor. Um absolutely councelor Jackson. You know, the last thing we want to do is to be seen as soft on this. We are absolute stewards of the money that we that we receive to um provide for assistance to those most in need. We are also ensuring though that the money that comes both from the province and from the city is handled in the most diligent way. when we have any reports of overpayments or um any fraudulent nature, there's a number of steps that that the staff go through and I will turn it over to Director Booer to to work through that. I just also want to say though that for those landlords, if there are any concerns, if there are anyone that wants to report something, absolutely they can do that. We want to hear, we want to hear people. We don't like the rhetoric that is out in the community that we are giving away money and not caring about it because that is absolutely not the truth. The staff are very committed to both of the good service that they provide to their clients but also to ensure that we're being good stewards of the of the finances as well. We also, you know, the excuse me, there was a number of other components that uh came forward and as u uh councelor Cretch has indicated, we will be coming back >> just on the 57 million that's out there and about how um Hamilton is the worst in the province and that that is absolutely not true. The 57 million represents a historic overpayment amount dating back many many many years and we will be coming back with comparators as well in that report for other communities. We're also doing this under the guise that that is provincial money. The any dollars that we collect back on our overp payments goes automatically back to the province of Ontario. We do not keep that money. we are doing it on their behalf and they are the ones that have the responsibility and the ability to look at through CRA through garnishment those types of things. But with that I I will turn it over to rec to director Boomer and he can talk about what those steps are internally when it comes to how cases are reviewed if there is any reports of fraud. I'll tell you what, general manager Mater and in deference to the deputy mayor that graciously allowed me the question in spite of the report coming back. I don't need to hear from Director Bamer. Director Bamer, appreciate very much your presence and attendance in case I did. But general manager Mater, your very forceful answer has raised my comfort level. And I think in light of all the media attention recently, Deputy Mayor Crutch, I think it was important in spite of the report forthcoming that in the interim we heard from the general manager today to say exactly where she stands and from their her perspective. And so my second question as a followup is simply on the employment rate. Our employment rate in my humble opinion at 5% of the 13,000 a month on OW getting employment in my humble opinion is small is puny and is not where I would like to see it through you two general manager Mater are we putting as much resources as we can to get people off OW get them trained get them meaningful employment or even in the interim getting them two or three part-time jobs that may help their self-esteem in life. That's my last question. Deputy Mayor Crutch, through you. >> So, our gracious time may continue. Councelor Jackson, GM Mater, >> I know you I know you like the banter between the deputy mayor and myself, GM, but back to my serious question, please. >> Through the chair, it's Chip and Dale. Um so in followup um just as a reminder too though that a number of years ago the province made a decision to outsource the employment component from Ontario Works as they did with the majority of municipalities throughout the province. I will turn it over to Stu um Director Boomer to explain exactly how we are approaching addressing that concern in the target. >> Perfect. Uh thank you and through the chair to the councelor Stu Boomer, director of Ontario Works in the Healthy and Safe Communities Department. So thank you council for your question related to employment outcomes. Uh first and foremost, as the general manager outlined in 2021, responsibility for the delivery of employment services was removed from the local Ontario Works program and was integrated within the broader employment Ontario network. And at that time, the province established a local employment services manager. It's FedCap Canada locally for the Hamilton Niagara area. We work jointly with FedCap Canada and various employment Ontario agencies to try to refer folks over from the Ontario Works programs to receive services through their system. Uh the success of our folks in that system is largely based on the success of those employment Ontario providers to work with them. We don't receive direct funding for employment benefits or services uh or supports. So we do rely on that system to offer those. Um however in the area of um that joint case management as well as in partnership with the ministry we have been doing some work um in the last quarter to review outcomes on cases that terminate to make sure that we have the case closure reason accurately reflected in the system. There are a number of circumstances where we might know that someone is working and then they stop reporting that those income earnings to us. We suspend and close the case. However, we um we don't always go back to uh modify the closure reason to be that of being employed. Um and when we have good evidence to suggest that someone is indeed working uh then and and now has not provided information moving forward, we are reviewing those outcomes to adjust them to be more accurate of the of the circumstance. And we're doing that in partnership with the province and with the local uh employment service managers so that our outcomes reflect accurately those those circumstances. But I would say uh first and foremost, responsibility for employment services doesn't rest with us locally, but we work in partnership to try to make it work as best we can with for our clients. >> Thank you, Director Bummer. Deputy Mayor Cretch, I'm closing by saying both the GM and director have are raising my comfort level, but I will work with them as well individually to see what we can do to imp inc imp improve the 5% employment rate, getting people in a greater number off OW. Thanks so much, Deputy Mayor Cretch. >> Okay. And councelor Clark, are you on the same item? Okay, go ahead. >> Uh, thank you, Deputy Mayor. So, just some clarification, Ontario Works came into being in 1997. So, as I understand it, the $57 million that is in collections, uh, does that not go back to 1997 >> through the chair? Um, yes, councelor, you are correct on that. We are uncertain if it if it predates that as well and that we've been seeking some clarification. >> Yeah, it would be helpful to have that clarification, but so far all I've been able to find in my research is 1997. Um, can I just clarify? The province has assumed several functions as it is related to the administration of Ontario Works. Can I get clarification what those functions and roles are that have been assumed by the province >> through the chair? I'm going to defer that to uh director Boomer to respond. >> Thank you. And through the chair to uh to the councelor. Um the first is uh the first item where the province has taken on responsibilities or perhaps better uh put reassigned responsibilities is in the area of employment services. So as I mentioned we were in the first phase of that um employment services uh transformation. Um that was in 2001 when the delivery of employment services and the associated benefits were removed from the local Ontario works program and reassigned to the local um employment service system manager. Um associated with that was a 22% reduction in funding and a and a and a reduction in workforce locally of approximately 40 employees. Um following that the the biggest area where the province has played an increasing role has been in the area of centralizing the intake process. So the the intake process first started by being centralized through a provincial uh online portal as well as provincial phone line. Uh and then the sub subsequent step of that has been to um uh have the province take on the author be provided with the authority and take on responsibility for making the initial eligibility decision. So they now uh either through an automated process will approve the initial application or if if it's required provincial staff will intervene to clarify information and make that initial eligibility decision. Um once that decision is made, the case is then transferred to the um local municipality for ongoing case management and followup. The final area where there have been some changes and this is more recent have been in the area of overpayment collection on inactive cases or closed cases. So, as of October 1st, 2024, cases that close with an overpayment, um we then uh two months following the case closure, uh refer the overpayment amount to the financial services unit of the ministry for a followup in terms of and responsibility for ongoing overpayment collection. um cases that closed prior to October 1st, 2024 with an overpayment continue uh to be subject to local collection activities. Those are the three main areas where changes have happened. Um funding hasn't noticeably changed in the program other than with the exception of 2025 when we did have some increased uh funding provided related to uh significant case load growth. I hope that helps uh you understand changes that have happened over the last uh >> clarify a couple things. Deputy mayor, if I may. The initial assessment for Ontario Works payments, I was under the impression that it was done online through a provincial portal and as long as you ticked all the right boxes, you were immediately assessed and provided funding for your family. Is that correct? >> Through the chair, to the counselor. Um that is partially correct. The preferred application method by the province is the online application. There is phone the ability to apply over the phone and there are uh dedicated service Ontario employees who would take that phone application and then be um involved in inputting it into the system so that it could be assessed by the central intake unit at the province. Um the the the intake process will involve assessing the person's responses but also putting the application through a series of checks against third-party information sources to determine if uh if there the eligibility um if if the person is eligible. Um of course the responses will indicate elements of eligibility related to how much money may be in a bank account or whether or not they have other assets that are non-exempt. Um but also if their answers flag against various uh in information sources and there are uh questions that emerge as a result the application would be um would come out of that automated process and a provincial staff would intervene to try to clarify and collect more information before confirming the decision. So then what's the role of the city in reassessing authorized payments that the the province has has indicated will proceed >> through the chair. The system will trust answers if there's no other reason uh for uh you know to question those at the time of application. However, in some circumstances such as uh a person may be perhaps um indicating um certain assets, uh the system may flag for uh us to collect actual documentation to verify that response. Um so it's a riskbased model uh that will sometimes allow an application to proceed but may flag it for uh verification with documentation at the local level once it's received locally. How do you define a riskbased model? >> The riskbased application model is determined by the ministry. Uh and so uh they will determine um the third party information sharing arrangements that are in place in terms of how that information and answers are assessed against those. So I don't have indepth technical knowledge of the riskbased model but I can tell you that there are information sources that are checked such as Equifax credit history, CRA records, Ministry of Transportation driving records, um uh certain uh IRCC uh immigration records uh as well as um records related to um um uh to um uh their previous uh time on assistance if the case closed for for a reason related to eligibility. >> Thank you very much. And chair, I I wanted to ask those questions because I think it's important that the public have a more wholesome uh understanding of of what this report says and it's a shared responsibility between the city and the province and the province has changed significant uh rules and policies with regards to Ontario works. Um, I can tell the committee that uh as chair of this committee, I am still in discussions with GM Mater um and Director Boomer uh to come back with a wholesome report um to the the ECS uh committee and and to answer some of the questions that we are getting from um landlords and others who are concerned about what they are determined detmining to be rampant fraud and and u misuse and so we're trying to get to the bottom of it. Finally, um deputy mayor, I want to state that the auditor general is also reviewing um Ontario Works and the role that the city plays and trying to determine the efficacy and value for money of that particular program. So, there are a couple of reports coming back um and we await those reports and we'll have those discussions at that time. Thank you. >> Thank you very much, Councelor Clark. And on that, we don't have any further speakers, any further items on the emergency and community services committee report 26004. We'll go to the electronic vote. The vote is up. Council McMaken's in favor. Thank you. And that carries 14 2. There are no items for consideration. We do have some motions 9.1 through 9.4 now. Um because there some have been moved notices of motion. The first one is 9.1 intergovernmental requests. Councelor Wilson, could you please present your motion in advise of your seconder? Go ahead when you're ready. >> Thank you, Chair. It's moved by myself and it is seconded by councelor Craig Casar that staff be directed to report back with a complete account of all intergovernmental requests that have been issued by this term of council including information respecting the status of each request, how each request is being advanced and how these requests are are being prioritized. Uh first let me say what this motion is not. This motion is not at all a uh uh criticism of uh the tremendous work that is being exercised by our intergovernmental relations uh team at the city. Uh this is not a criticism of the um in my opinion the most advanced uh um and diligent work being done at FCM and AMO that this um municipality has ever um enjoyed in the form of councelor Nan and councelor Wang. nor is it a criticism of the um mayor's participation and leadership in the urban mayor's caucus for Ontario. Um however, uh I would like the information if this motion passes to to report back in September or early October of this year with the intent that this inventory can be presented to any uh to a new council uh whatever that looks like. uh so that they enjoy um an inventory of all the asks. Um I would um it's just my own opinion that if everything is a priority, nothing is a priority. And I understand we need to be nimble um and respond quickly and have the information available in the event uh senior orders of government put out um program funding availability. um and set priorities. However, I I do think it is important for us to be transparent in all the things that we uh are saying that we're going to seek money for and why. Um and uh how that aligns with what this community has stated as a priority and what we have stated in a priority um in for example our recreational master plan. So uh thank you. Happy to uh engage in any questions. My only slight amendment is to add a report back date of Q3 of this year. Thank you. >> Thank you. And now what to councelor Clark. Go ahead. >> I I think I understand the request. Deputy mayor. Um, but I am a little bit concerned about the request there includes in as I understand it and the clerk can tell me if I'm wrong under MFIPA where the city is in negotiations with the federal government or the provincial government that that information can remain confidential. In some cases, it must remain confidential. Can I get clarification please? uh through the chair. Uh that's correct. In certain circumstances for records that can be requested uh if there were a request for disclosure uh where there is ongoing negotiation, we would seek the third party consultation of the ministry or other body before any disclosure was made. And so while I understand the desire to have transparency in government relations work or intergovernmental uh requests um the status of these requests and what is being discussed um with the minister and the deputy minister because the advocacy within the city of Hamilton is not simply through the mayor's office. The advocacy also occurs um directly through Mr. Phillips in the governmental relations department and the city manager to deputy um u ministers uh in both levels of government. So I'm a little bit concerned because it's speaking to the status and how each request is being advanced. Those discussions that we are having with senior levels of government candidly is confidential. They don't want those discussions in public. They're working through the process with the council until the decision is made. When the decision is made, that becomes public. As a matter of fact, deputy mayor, they usually embargo the decisions until they can hold the press conference u that will be highlighted by that particular senior levels of of government. Um, so I I'm very lerary of this motion. I think it is a mistake to go down this road and for those reasons I'll be opposing it. Thank you. >> Thanks. Just to clarify factually, what would happen I presume procedurally is if there was a motion that came forward and there was some need for there to be confident confidentiality around something that would come to council in a confidential close session. Does the clerk elaborate on that? That what we do or in those situations I presume? Are you debating? >> No, I'm asking the clerk if that's what will happen when the report comes back. If there's confidential information, will it come to a close session? That's what I'm asking. >> So, uh, yes, Deputy Mayor, we'd have to look at what the details are and what the situation is, but if we were reporting back on anything to that effect, it would have to come in close session if that exemption applied. >> Okay, thanks. >> Oh, councelor Clark wants to speak again, so I need a mover and second to make that happen. actually respond to something. >> You still want to speak again. So, we still need a motion. Councelor Chison, Councelor Jackson, all those in favor of granting Councelor Clark a chance to go ahead. Thanks, Councelor Clark. >> I continue to have challenges with chairs debating individuals who are speaking. If they wish to debate it, they should get the floor and debate it themselves and not use the authority of the chair to try and sway the question in one way or the other. Regardless of how you spin it, doing this work will become known by the government and they will be lerary of it. We don't want them being lerary of any discussions with the city of Hamilton. We want their full participation. So this is not the way to do this. If we want to have a better understanding as counselors, then you meet with the mayor, you meet with the city manager and find out exactly the status of any of the invest the the negotiations. Thank you. Okay, this is encourages second time speaker and councelor Morin Wilson moved by councelor Kasar, seconded by councelor Alex Wilson. All those in favor of permitting councelor Morin Wilson to speak a second time. So permitted. Take it away councelor Morin Wilson. >> Thank you chair. Um no I always appreciate the thoughtful com um comments and I certainly um uh wouldn't want anything to be done inadvertently which would uh put the city's interest at risk. So if if uh I can ask councelor Clark if he would have a an amendment, very happy to entertain it. Um my thrust was all of these requests um to my understanding uh have to have had the support of of council. So just an enumeration of those requests um and uh so that the new council um can quickly be brought up to speed on what those are and if there is any status report. But if if the counselor has um an an amendment that would make um ease his um concerns, very happy to receive it. Thank you. I don't see an amendment and and frankly crafting one on the floor probably wouldn't really work out well, but um I'm not seeing an amendment coming forward. So, I'll leave it at that. We'll go to the vote. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> The vote is up. That carries 12 to two. Thank you everyone and we're now on to item 9.2 which is an amendment to the council decision from April 22nd respecting a specific minute item about food security. Councelor McMin, can you please present your motion and let us know who your secondary is? >> Yes. >> Yes indeed. Thanks uh chair. Uh it's basically a housekeeping motion. It's moved by myself, seconded by my friend Council Spataphora. Uh it has to do with uh how a previously approved allocation from the non- tax revenue account where the check gets sent and is to the social planning council which uh serves as the conduit for the taste buds program. >> Thank you. Councelor McKim was a sole speaker on that issue. We'll go to the vote and it's up. That carries 14 to zero. We're now on to what is listed on the agenda as 9.5 as 9.3 and 9.4 have been moved to notices and we'll stay notices. 9.5 Stony Creek business improvement area beautifification assistance for 2026 season. Councelor Francis, please present your motion in advise of your seconder. >> Thank you, Chair. And uh this is moved by myself, seconded by councelor Bey. Therefore, be it resolved that the purchase of all plant materials and maintenance costs to support the Stony Creek BIA beautifification be funded from the GFL royalties reserve number 117036 at an upset limit, including contingency and HST, not to exceed $5,000. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone want to speak on this besides councelor Francis? Not seeing anyone. We'll go to the vote. And that vote is up. Fo carries 14 to zero. Now we're on to 9.6 funding for the reenactment of the Battle of Stony Creek Fireworks at Battlefield House Museum and Park. Councelor Francis, you can move by myself and once again moved by C or seconded by councelor Bey. Therefore be resolved. Oh, there we go. I'm back. Uh, aid at the additional funds required to present a drone, light show, and fireworks display in the 2026 um, reenactment be funded from the W 5 capital discretionary account number 330230950 and at an upset limit including contingency not to exceed $10,000 and transferred to the event department ID 720 7. We're having microphone issues. uh that the mayor and city clerk be authorized and directed to execute in um any required agreements and incillary documents which such terms and conditions in a form satisfactory to the city solicitor. So I I just um this is the second year doing this. Uh last year we had a uh a drone show um that was covered through a grant by the federal government this year and that was just for it's a onetime grant. You can't reapply for that. Uh so this is why there's a shortfall in funding and and after the event I must say um yeah it was I I got a lot of feedback from residents. They loved having both. They thought it was a a fantastic event. Um it's first time I actually had seen a drone show live and it was pretty cool. And then to cap it off the fireworks um it it drives a lot of people to our our BIA and to our downtown core spending uh money in our businesses staying at our hotels. Uh it's it's a spectacular event. I encourage everybody to come this weekend. Now, I don't have to say that during member statements. >> Thank you for that, Grace. Councelor Francis, on this motion, we have a speaker list starting with councelor Clark. >> Uh, thank you, Deputy Mayor, and I I support the counselor in this motion. Uh, the Battle of Stony Creek is an iconic event that has been improved many times over the years. Um we through work with the indigenous communities we ended up creating the public art display of four eagles um which um draws so many people and is a very popular section of the park during uh battlefield weekend. Um the event also uh draws reenactors from across southern and southwestern Ontario and um they're volunteers. They do this of their own time to come out and teach people about the history of the Battle of Stony Creek. Uh they do a remarkable job. Uh at times it is quite loud. Um um I understand the good counselor will be firing off one of the C cannons. Um I'm I'm hoping to be neutral and stand to the side of the cannon just to make sure that it's not loaded. Um but the event draws such a huge crowd. Um if the weather is good, people come from all over. Um and uh this is another one of those improvements. So thank you counselor for doing this. >> Next on the list, councelor Hang. Go ahead. >> Thank you. I wonder if we can just put the motion on the screen because it's not in our escribe and it's also not on the public um thing. >> Yes, it's not there. It's going to be uploaded later. It was just an an sorry, a website error with getting it up there, but it will be uploaded. Yes. >> Did you need to see the whereas clauses? >> I just wanted it up so then that way it's like part of the public record because I know it's going to be put up later, but I just like while we're here just to have it up now. But I'm in support. Thank you. >> Okay, I think it's been sufficiently scrolled through. Thank you. Next up, Councelor Moren Wilson. >> Go ahead. And you can take that down. Thanks. >> Uh um I'm sorry, Chair. I I have not indicated to speak to the matter. >> That's okay. Sometimes the uh screen lies and it lied this time. So, thank you so much and we'll take you on. >> The the robots are conspiring. Thank you. >> Glitchy microphones, faulty speakers list. It's okay. These things happen. So, we're going to go to the vote. That carries 140. We're now on to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, AMO, attendance of their 2026 annual conference. It's been moved by councelor Cooper, seconded by myself. And you want to just maybe list out the names of folks that are going? Go ahead. >> Thank you, chair. And uh the list of the names uh going to AMO would be uh Mayor Horvath um councelor Wang uh councelor Bey Councelor Gasar Councelor Crutch and councelor Spedaphora. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Any speakers on this? Councelor Clark. >> Thank you Deputy Mayor. So it indicates in item B that the eligible cost for attending for the ward counselors would be charged to the general legislative budget. Can I hear from GM Zagaric how that will be accounted for in the public? >> GM Zagaric? I'm sorry. Could you clarify your question? What do you mean by accounted for in the public? Sorry. >> Where is it going to show up? >> Oh, I see. So, where will it which report will it be evidenced in in the future? The costs >> through the chair through the uh variance reports. Typically, the city produces two variance reports in a calendar fiscal year. and the variance report it does not show up in the ward counselor's budgets. Correct? >> Through the chair, not through the ward counselor's budget as this is a pulled fund. >> Thank you. Um I'm not supporting this deputy mayor. I think it's fine that the the individual counselors want to attend. Um but the policy has always been two people go. Um, and I don't really see the need for many, many more people to go to AMO. Uh, so that's been my position over the years and I'll continue to do that. Thank you very much. >> Okay, I'm not seeing further speakers. We'll go to the vote. That carries 13 with one opposed. We're now on to notices of motion and uh councelor Francis has indicated he's needing to speak to them. Those are 10.1 and 10.2. Now they've just been moved from being 9.3 and 9.4 and those will stay as notices. And now we're into statements by members. I only pause here because someone has indicated they wish to speak and so I'll turn to that one speaker at this time. Oh no, that speaker has said they don't need to speak any longer. Any statements by members or shall we or should we gallop on to private and confidential? Okay, I see two. I'll start with >> member statements. >> Statements by members or member statements, but here statements by members. Tom Brad, >> go ahead. >> Thank you, Deputy. I'm not sure what I'm doing. Um, so all joking aside, um, the residents in Ward 9 have experienced this past week what the reduction in the budget of 12 grass cutings to nine cutings actually meant. When you're looking at the right ofways and you're looking at the boulevards in Ward 9, they were overgrown with grass up to my knee. I took photographs myself and shared it with the general public. I was frustrated initially because when I spoke with staff they reminded me that the budget reduced the cutings from 12 until 9. I also reminded staff yes but we were assured in that meeting that staff had the discretion to add cutings if necessary and they indicated that the reduction in grass cutings would occur in the fall late summer when the grass is dormant and not growing. Unfortunately, it happened in the spring since they missed many of these boulevards and I raised it with u the director and uh the managers and they acted to fix it after having discussions amongst themselves. Uh they have now been cutting the boulevards to catch up. The challenge now is that whoever the contractor is has done a very poor job of cutting the grass. There are lines of uncut grass. There are clumps of hay throughout the area. Um, and quite frankly, it it looks awful. So, I continue to be frustrated. I know I know Councelor Jackson and I did our very best to put it back to 12 cutings only because Deputy Mayor, we've experienced this in the past. There's lots of things you can try and cut out of a budget. Every time they reduce grass cutting, it becomes a huge fight for residents because they spend so much time and money in manicuring their own properties. They hate to bring residents and family members and visitors to their home when beside their property the grass is a foot long. So, we've experienced it. I hope it doesn't happen again to the residents in Upper Stonia Creek. I'm sorry it happened. This has been um an anxietyfilled week with very angry comments in social media and by email. Um but we believe at this moment, Deputy Mayor, that we are back on track with the cycles and they're working to clean up the grass cutings that occurred in the manner that it did. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address that issue. >> Okay, up next, Councelor Jackson for your statement. uh plural with us. Thank you, Deputy Mayor Cretch. I will stay within my five minutes. Two public service announcements and two farewells. The public service announcement since you recognize one of the cultural groups, the Filipino Heritage Month. They're having their flag raising ceremony here at city hall on Monday, June the 8th at 9:30 a.m., one of the cherished, revered members of our multicultural community, the Filipinos. and uh I'll be proud to join them this Monday, June 8th at 9:30 a.m. here in the city hall forcourt. Also on Wednesday, June 17th at Michelangelo's banquet hall, Sackville Hill is having their seniors volunteer appreciation lunchon. Can't thank the volunteers of Sackville enough for all they do raising money, putting on programs, and assisting seniors that are less mobile to enjoy all the amenities at Sackville Hill. That's on Wednesday, June 17th from noon to 3 at Michelangelo's. Two farewells. And I don't say this about every single member of our bureaucracy, but when I feel people have just exuded and have conveyed and have done their extraordinary best with all the talents they have to serve the public and our corporation and city council. I go out of my way to thank them. First one is Dave McCullik, senior real estate consultant with special projects. Last 10 years he's been with our city overall 40 years in the real estate industry. His retirement party is on Wednesday, June the 10th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Listister Block in the Tourism Visitors Center. Senior project manager David McCullik. Going to personally and politically miss you very much. uh you've been just a a tremendous available accessible asset to the W 6 office whenever required, but overall your diligence in putting together many real estate transactions across the city. You've left a wonderful legacy and I congratulate your years of service and wish you nothing but great health in your retirement wherever that may lead you. And secondly, our acting general manager, Norm Schlehan, although I understand he will continue to serve and provide whatever is required of him by the senior leadership team, but his actual retirement party, Deputy Mayor Cretch, is on Thursday, June 18th from 5 to 8:00 p.m. at the McMaster Innovation Park, which he was a proud member of, and I was on the council back then that provided $5 million of seed money to help the McMaster Innovation Park launch uh its incubator and programs that have brought many, many important investments to that location off Longwood Road. So 35 years of amazing public service by acting general manager Norm Schlehan both in regional days with Hamilton Wentworth and amalgamated city of Hamilton. Again personally politically going to miss him enormously when he's officially gone at the end of this month and wish him nothing but health, happiness, and great success in his future endeavors. Thank you, Deputy Mayor Cretch. And I think I stayed within my five minutes. Appreciate it. >> You have 1 minute and 57 seconds left. if you'd like to edify the rest of us with any more comments. Oh, you're okay. All right. Councelor Tennison, you're next because I read this backwards. So, go ahead. Um, thank you. I was greatly honored last night to participate as the reviewing officer at the 779 Black Knight Squadron AirCadet annual ceremonial review. Um, it was at the War Plane Heritage Museum in Mount Hope last night. Fabulous, fabulous event. Um the cadets practice such diverse skills as air crew survival, basic flight and gliding, marching drills, instrumental and band music, marksmanship, bialon, and effective public speaking and debating which makes the opportunities provided by the cadetses unique and uh and they're wonderful, wonderful kids. Um I've got a couple mark in the parks coming up, Copperfield Park. Uh that's going to be Tuesday, June 16th from 5:00 to 7:30. And then I've got Glenn Brook Sports Field uh June 24th, same times. Uh we have something coming up. It's an environmental assessment re review notice uh for Ward 11. One second while my basically this is a PIC that's looking at bringing truck route connectivity from the upper red hill expressway to Upper James and Highway 6 bypass. So that study commencement and public information center. Uh you can join us at the Glen Brook Municipal Center and I don't have my date here. Sorry. Okay. I'll I'll I'll put that out online. Um, next one. This week, uh, June 1st to the 5th is school crossing guard appreciation week. And as a former principal, I only know too well how important it is to get kids safely to school and back. And, uh, it's a huge concern for staff and parents and crossing guards help greatly with that. So, we thank them and honor them. Um, also as a sitting member of ACPD, I would be remiss if I didn't announce that this week from May 31st to June 6th has been National Accessibility Week. Um, also in honor of some of my friends and my parents, this week is this month is also seniors month. So, thank a senior for all the things they've contributed. Uh last and not least, Bimbrook United Church marks its 200th year anniversary. Um there will be special guest musicians, uh messages, catered lunch, community celebrations, and that's Sunday, June 7th. Um please arrive by 10:30 if you're going to attend. Thank you. That's out from W 11. >> Thank you very much. And now we'll turn to councelor McMaken. Go ahead. >> Uh thanks uh chair. Um few things I want to uh mention uh happening in uh in the community I'm privileged to represent. Uh uh first of all the upcoming Terry Fox um run which is a pivotal event to raise money for cancer research and the volunteers involved in that uh in all of our communities I suspect but it's a big event in in Waterdown. Uh secondly, tonight Indwell, which I have publicly described in a different capacity, is the best provider of purpose-built housing in the province, is having its annual dinner this evening, will be well attended, and we'll get an update on some of their their great work, and I thank them uh for that. Um I want to make reference specifically to two local issues that continue to be prominent in my community. one of the CS issue of food security. Uh even though we are statistically the second wealthiest uh per capita ward in the city, um many still struggle to uh to get by. There's a the taste buds program which we recently passed an amending motion to is helping with high school lunch program and we're through the community council active supporters of two vocal food banks and that uh is important. I don't know what the statistics are in Hamilton, but in Toronto, I read a report recently that 62% of all those uh attending and uh and picking up food at food banks have a university degree, which kind of surprised me. You we usually or often will make the the mistake of uh of thinking it's a different category of people, but seniors and students in particular of my way are struggling. Um, lastly, I want to compliment um the engineering and traffic teams here at the city. We've had some particular particularly difficult uh challenges in our community. Water down road, which uh widening uh which is a joint project between Halton and Hamilton, it's been on the books since 2013 finally is taking place and slowing traffic down. not not terribly problematically but somewhat. Um in addition to that the bridge work on Dundas Street has been uh uh presented all kinds of frustrations. Uh initially the plan was only to send traffic east for the first year and west for the second year. We had a community meeting and uh attended by almost 300 people said no that's not going to work. Let's do a 12-h hour out and a 12-hour in. And uh that's happening. The bridge is now closing completely on Dundas Street, the major highway uh access ex and exit from uh the the watered down community um for 4 days. And uh here's where the compliment part comes in. The pylons have been removed from the uh the diversion allowing neighbor neighbors to get back to their their urban urban doicile. And also the the fire uh fire chief a fire chief has arranged temporarily to have a an engine uh um situated east of the bridge so that any emergency uh that takes place where the the fire units cannot cross the bridge can be responded to. Uh the HSR has also made accommodations with respect to the ondemand busing service uh at my request. I appreciate both actions and want to compliment uh those responsible for those for um first of all listening to the concerns of of my community, not so much the counselor but my community and responding in such a positive and helpful way. Thank you. >> Next up for a statement, councelor Spaphora. >> Thank you, Chair. Um, looking forward to some uh important events coming up this week. I'll be attending the uh Hamilton Police Service Spring Badge Ceremony in War 10 this Thursday uh to welcome those sworn in civilian members who are going to be joining HPS or have been recently promoted. So, looking forward to that as well as Saturday throwing out the first pitch to open up the season for the West Mountain Baseball Association. might not be the Hamilton Cardinals like uh the W six counselor, but very important big uh big community event. Looking forward to that and hopefully try not to embarrass myself. Um but I think uh I think that's probably going to happen. Uh reminder on June 20th, um you have an opportunity to come to Carpenter Park, have your say in, uh what the uh new park's going to look like. I've uh I'm pretty happy about the work we've been able to do over the last uh 3 and 1/2 years uh with parks in Ward 14. I think this will be the fifth fourth or fifth park that we've been able to uh redevelop. So uh from 11 to 1 on June 20th at Carpenter Park, uh please come on and have uh have your say in what uh our park will look like in the future. And um I think that's it, Chair. I'm going to keep it brief unless you want me to just keep going and talking. I could do that if you'd like. >> I appreciate the brevity more than you know. >> So So we're I'm done. >> Up to up to you. You've got >> I'll I'll end now. Thank you. >> Okay. Thanks so much, Councelor Spataphora. And our last speaker today for statements by members is councelor Bey. Take it away. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. And I I think I indicated earlier that I wasn't going to and then I changed my mind because I was so inspired by the words of councelor Spataphora. So, I'll I'll follow on that vein and and look forward to uh um maybe bumping into the good counselor. You're welcome in W 10 any time. By the way, uh yesterday, very similar to councelor Tatson, I had the good fortune to participate in the ceremonial review for the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corp Triumph. Um and it's always so inspiring. This is my third ceremonial review, first time for the Cadets. I've done two already with the Thunderbolt uh squadron. uh the 713 aircadets in Stony Creek as well. To see the discipline, to see the training, to see the respect uh that those young people put forward, very very encouraging uh for for somebody that uh is always looking for those nuggets in our in our young people uh to ensure that um that people are on the right track and they are and and what a fantastic opportunity that was. Also want to give a very special congratulations. I had the privilege of attending last week the retirement of a 31-year veteran with our volunteer firefighter in the Winona area, Captain Ed Kierce from Station 16. And uh for those that don't have a volunteer fire service in your community, they really really play such an important and intricral role. And you get to reflect over the career of a 31-year-old veteran. How many birthday parties missed? how many hours of sleep miss because the pager goes off in the middle of the night and off they go and the dedication that our volunteers provide is uh really really exceptional. Um I will briefly echo the concerns uh from W 9 when it comes to grass cutting and w experiencing some similar uh difficulties. uh we've got a lot of intersectionality where we have urban and rural cut schedules um that overlap and actually they're not overlapping and that's the problem and we've got areas uh that one side of the road is urban, one side of the road is rural. It's really confusing and looking forward to to working through that with staff in the next few years to try to get a little more consistency and perhaps a better delivery of that of that service. And a reminder of course that each and every Friday you'll find the W 10 team at Stony Creek City Hall from 10:00 to 3 open door day at our office there. Uh I'm there unless I'm here. I'm there and looking forward to anybody dropping by and saying hi. No appointment is necessary, but you're welcome to make an appointment in advance if you'd like to. And with that, I'll turn it back to you, Deputy Mayor. >> Thank you. And before we go to lunch, which we're going to have to do because we're not going to be able to get into private and confidential and get out in time for 1:00, uh, quickly want to address councelor Clark's question to I believe that would be um, Anita, you can introduce yourself specific to what the process is, what's happening with the AI data center discussion that's happening public and how that relates to the work that we're actually doing here and the committee of adjustment and so on. if you could briefly just give us a synopsis of that >> through the chair to the councelor. Anita Fayback, acting director of planning and chief planner. Just wanting to confirm that the there is an application in front of the committee of adjustment. It will be heard on tomorrow's uh agenda. Um the application is to sever the parcel the existing parcel into two and to establish easements. So just uh clarifying that the proposal is not to establish a data center. It is just for the creation of uh an additional parcel of land and that should there be a potential data center proposed there would be separate planning applications that would be required for example site plan where there would be more uh detailed uh technical review occurring. Thanks. And it's also to let people know who we're not. Planning committee councelor Nan and I are bringing forward a motion to ask for staff to report back formally on all the steps, the things that we need, the considerations that we have because these are new creatures of the federal government, provincial government, municipal government, and we don't have wholesome planning instruments to address all the eventualities. And so, councelor Nan has got a motion coming forward in June 16th that we'll have staff come back and give us a detailed analysis of that. Okay, thank you very much for that overview on that. We'll be off to lunch till 12:30. See you back then. Thanks, folks. And we're back. We have quorum returning from our lunch break and we're now going to move into our private and confidential session. So I first want a motion from a mover and second to go into the closed session. Moved by councelor Hang, seconded by councelor Casar. And I'm going to read out what I've got here in terms of why we're moving into a closed session to consider item 12.5 respecting the acquisition of property in the city of Hamilton pursuant to section 9.3 subsections B and C of the city's procedural bylaw 21-021 as amended and section 2392 subsections B and C of the Ontario Municipal Act as amended as the subject of matter pertains to a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land for city or local board purposes. And item 12.6 Six. Respecting a staffing update as the subject matter pertains to personal matters about identifiable individual including municipal or local board employees. On this question, I'll need a show of hands to go into our close session. All those in favor? That's it. We're going. Members of the public, if you're still here, the meeting will continue following the close session portion of the meeting when you can see the members rejoin the meeting. Council will wait up to 5 minutes upon reconvening in open session before proceeding with the meeting to provide members of the public an immediate time to return. We will now transform into a close session. And if you're here publicly, virtually, or otherwise, please exit the chamber. and we're back. Welcome back to the council meeting for June 3rd. Still your chair, W 2 counselor Cameron Crutch. We're now moving to items arising from our close session. And so I'll turn the chair over to councelor Kazar because the first one in open session is from me. >> Okay. This is 12.5 motion respecting acquisition of property in city of Hamilton. Moved by councelor Cret. Seconded by who's councelor. Okay. Uh so we need a motion to uh specifically >> I move that we approve the direction to staff and maintain the confidentiality of the matter. >> Thank you for helping out with the words. Great. Got to be electronic vote. And that carries 12th to one. Chairs, back to you. >> Thanks very much. Now we're on to 12.6 CM26013 conferential staffing update. I have a motion to receive the staffing update and to maintain the confidential the matter see councelor spat and councelor Alex Wilson. This is a show of hands vote. All those in favor. That would be it everybody. It carries. Now we're on to the bylaws. Councelor Casar. May I have the motion on the bills and the seconder of your choosing? >> It's moved by me, seconded by councelor Alex Wilson that bills numbers 26095 to 26-102 be passed and the corporate seal be a fixed there too and that the bylaws be numbered be signed by the mayor and the city of clerk to read as listed in the agenda. >> I don't see discussions on this. We're gonna go to the electronic code. Electronic code is up. >> We have various thumbs up. >> Okay, that's 130. Being there's no further business for today's council meeting. is adjourned at 1:52 p.m.