Council - February 11, 2026

High-level summary

The meeting covered zoning planning actions, budget handling, Indigenous-themed city branding, transit/roadway planning, and temporary policy changes related to major events. Key decisions included referring a zoning amendment back to staff, approving most General Issues Committee budget minutes with some items defeated, adopting an Indigenous themes policy, approving a clerical amendment to a transit corridor expansion, and declaring the 2026 Winter Olympics municipally significant to enable limited liquor-hour extensions.

Five most important topics

1) Zoning Bylaw Amendment for 1725 Stone Church Road East and 140 Mud Street - File numbers/bylaws: Planning Committee Minutes item PLC260002 (26-6-2); zoning amendment to change lands from Prestige Business Park (M3) to District Commercial with Special Exemption #828 and Holding Provision #135. - Discussion: The council discussed the draft zoning bylaw amendment and holding provision 135, including that “no development shall be permitted until… the physical design of the site is consistent with the overall intended character and design vision for neighborhood heritage green lands to the east.” - Public/procedural notes: Mayor warned about potential duplication if the holding is kept; “If the Holding stuck and stayed today and wasn't referred back, they would trigger another process for them, literally starting up another similar application for what they have just submitted to staff.” - Next steps: Referral back to staff for further review; staff timeline of 2-3 weeks to review submitted architectural/urban design guidelines. - Quote: “The draft zoning bylaw amendment proposes new holding provision number 135 which states no development shall be permitted until... the physical design of the site is consistent with the overall intended character and design vision for neighborhood heritage green lands to the east.”

2) General Issues Committee (GIC) Budget Minutes and Separate Votes - File numbers/bylaws: GIC 26-002; items 7.2 (Mayor’s Memorandum on the 2026 Budget) and 7.3 (2026 Tax Budget Overview). - Discussion: Council considered lifting items for separate votes; counselor Clark stated, “In the January 23rd general issues budget meeting, GICB26-002, I'd like to lift for separate vote items 7.2 and 7.3.” - Outcomes: The separate votes for 7.2 and 7.3 were defeated (7-7 tie for 7.2; 6-8 for 7.3). Mayor Horvath noted, “That’s defeated in a tie. 7-7,” and later, “And that’s defeated 6-8.” - Next steps: The remaining GIC budget minutes were approved as a group; those defeated items may be revisited in future meetings. - Quotes: - “In the January 23rd general issues budget meeting, GICB26-002, I’d like to lift for separate vote items 7.2 and 7.3.” - “That’s defeated in a tie. 7-7. Thanks very much.” - “And that’s defeated 6-8.”

3) Indigenous Themes and Logos Policy in City Facilities (Public Engagement and Heritage Context) - File numbers/bylaws: Item 8.1, Planning/Indigenous policy; broader Services Committee branding discussion. - Discussion: The council discussed adopting a policy to use Indigenous themes and logos across municipal facilities, emphasizing community engagement before changes are made. - Public input: Policy includes public consultation; Counselor Jackson highlighted engagement: “This is such a wonderful collaborative, cooperative, cohesive direction that we're moving in for our municipality,” and stressed broad engagement with Indigenous communities first and then citywide. - Heritage note: Renaming example cited—Quadpad Arena renamed to “Leuna 4 Ice Center at Mohawk Sports Park”—as part of balancing Indigenous recognition with funding for maintenance. - Next steps: Implement the policy across municipal properties with ongoing community engagement. - Quotes: - “This is such a wonderful collaborative, cooperative, cohesive direction that we're moving in for our municipality.” - “The HCA earns approximately $400,000 a year in revenue, earned revenue, which is really helpful to the conservation authority.” - “If there is to be an exchange or a displacement... there'll be full engagement within the Indigenous community first and foremost.”

4) Transit-Oriented Corridor Expansion (clerical amendment) - File numbers/bylaws: PLC 25-013, PEED 24173A. - Discussion: A clerical amendment was identified to correct a clerical error in the transit-oriented corridor expansion decision; described as a housekeeping change. - Key remark: Counselor Cretch described the amendment as “housekeeping,” noting the correction of Roman numeral references and removing a specific exception. - Public input: General note that residents can provide input via public hearings; a community meeting was proposed to explain construction timelines. - Next steps: Implement the clerical amendment; no substantive policy change beyond correcting the record. - Quote: - “It is about crossing out Roman numeral 5, including Roman numeral 6, and then including something subsection 4 Roman numeral 4 by removing special exception number 724.” - “We want to give residents an opportunity to really understand what the construction phase is going to look like.”

5) 2026 Winter Olympics – Municipally Significant Event Declaration (Liquor Service Extension) - File numbers/bylaws: Item involves liquor service extensions; no formal file number listed; linked to AGCO process. - Discussion: The council voted to declare the 2026 Winter Olympics a municipally significant event to enable a process with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). The motion was moved by Counselor Francis and seconded by Counselor Jackson. - Outcome: Passed 14-1; approval to notify AGCO and allow participating businesses to apply for permits. - Quote: - “That carries 14 to 1.” - “This motion...gives Hamilton restaurants and pubs the voluntary option to open a few hours earlier during the 2026 Winter Olympics.”

Opportunities for public input

• Public input opportunities vary by item:
  • Indigenous themes policy section notes explicit public engagement processes across the city and Indigenous communities.
  • LRT-related items mention a community meeting (February 26) for residents to understand construction timelines and impacts.
  • Zoning and planning items typically involve public hearings; the materials indicate future opportunities through public consultations.
• Specific contact channels are not provided in these excerpts; residents are typically directed to the city clerk’s office and official meeting announcements for input.

Motions passed, rejected, or deferred (with titles and outcomes)

1) Referral of Draft Zoning Bylaw Amendment for 1725 Stone Church Road East and 140 Mud Street - Outcome: Referred back to staff for further review; next steps: staff to review architectural/urban design guidelines over the next 2-3 weeks.

2) Motion to Receive GIC 2026 Budget Minutes (Items 7.1-7.5) - Outcome: Approved overall; items 7.2 (Mayor’s Memorandum) and 7.3 (2026 Tax Budget Overview) were defeated in separate votes (7-7 and 6-8, respectively).

3) Motion to Approve Public Works Committee Minutes (PWC260002) - Outcome: Approved.

4) Clerical Amendment to Transit-Oriented Corridor Expansion (PLC 25-013, PEED 24173A) - Outcome: Passed unanimously.

5) Declaration of the Olympics as a Municipally Significant Event - Outcome: Passed 14-1; next steps: notify AGCO and proceed with permits for eligible businesses.

Key participants present (councillors)

• Mayor Horvath
• Councillors: Francis, Tatison (Tatis), Jackson, Bey, Clark, Cooper, Casar, Wang, Alex Wilson, Crutch, Moren Wilson (Moriam/Moren), Nan, McMin, Kazar, Tison, Tammy Wang (listed separately in some sections), Tom Jackson, Esther Pauls (online)
• Notes: The excerpts show multiple meeting sections with overlapping rosters; the list above reflects the names that appear across the provided sections as participating councillors or attendees.