City Council Meeting — Structured Summary

High-level summary - The meeting focused on advancing gender-based violence (GBV) initiatives, community safety and well-being (CSWB) planning, funding to community organizations, and service coordination pilots. Several motions related to GBV funding, data, and policy language were considered, with some passed and others deferred or tabled. The session also covered program extensions and procurement matters impacting residents’ access to services.

Five most important topics (with notes for residents) 1) Gender-Based Violence declared epidemic and CSWB integration (File HSC250004A) - Summary: The city presented GBV and intimate partner violence (IPV) as an epidemic and emphasized integrating GBV prevention into the CSWB Plan, including collaboration with community organizations. - Resident impact: Highlights why residents should expect ongoing GBV prevention efforts, coordination with WAG, and community education initiatives. - Key quotes: - “This report...is one of the ways in which the city is responding to gender-based violence and intimate partner violence within our community.” - “We know that the statistics over the last couple years show us that GBV is on the rise, and I believe over the course of last year we saw just about 12,000 [cases].” - Indigenous women statistic: “Six in 10 Indigenous women report experiencing intimate partner violence in their lifetime…” - File/bylaw: HSC250004A.

2) Funding for Women Abuse Working Group (WAG) and CSWB initiatives (Item discusses annualized funding) - Summary: Consideration of annualized funding to WAG to sustain coordination and actions addressing GBV; emphasizes that “the work of community safety and well-being happens because of the relationships and the work that's already happening in the community.” - Resident impact: Stable funding for frontline coordination can improve local services, training, and prevention efforts. - Key quotes: - “The work of community safety and well-being happens because of the relationships and the work that's already happening in the community.” - File/bylaw: Contextual to HSC250004A section; linked to WAG funding discussions. - Motion status: Pending decision (recommendation presented to council).

3) Use of the term “femicide” in city policy and related advocacy (policy & data implications) - Summary: A set of motions and discussions focused on adopting the term femicide in city policy reporting and communications, plus advocacy for legislative change at higher levels. - Resident impact: Affects how violence against women is categorized, reported, and funded; influences public education and data tracking. - Key quotes: - “That the term femicide be approved for use by the city of Hamilton in policy reporting and communications.” - “There is the Canadian Observatory for femicide and justice that is doing a lot of work around a campaign called Call it Femicide.” - File/bylaw: The sections reference femicide policy work rather than a single file number in every excerpt; one section notes related discussions and national policing data campaigns. - Motion status: - Motion to approve femicide terminology: Pending/under discussion. - Related advocacy (femicide in criminal code): Deferred for further discussion.

4) Gender-based safety audit and YWCA recommendations; CSWB integration - Summary: The 2024 YWCA gender-based safety audit produced recommendations integrated into the revised CSWB plan; ongoing evaluation planned. - Resident impact: Expect improved safety measures, planning around gendered housing and services, and stronger accountability for GBV prevention. - Key quotes: - “We have really wonderful recommendations to consider around safety... as well as some action plans that have also come back to council.” - “We know there are a number of initiatives and recommendations... we will be looking in a future report back to evaluate the success of that work.” - File/bylaw: Not explicitly tied to a single file number in the excerpt, but linked to CSWB plan updates and the YWCA audit. - Motion status: Evaluation and implementation steps discussed; no final motion outcome recorded in this section.

5) Situation Table (Hamilton Cares) expansion and youth-focused service coordination - Summary: Discussion of the Situation Table pilot (Hamilton Cares), its expansion to include older youth (18+), and the need to evaluate success and throughput; emphasis on cross-sector collaboration and trauma-informed approaches. - Resident impact: Could broaden supports for youth at risk, including prevention of gang involvement; potential changes to referral pathways and partner participation. - Key quotes: - “The situation table brings together a variety of different community partners... to rapidly wrap supports around that child and that family.” - “We also heard as part of our building safer communities grant program that a situation table that offered additional supports to youth that are experiencing violence, trying to enter into gangs, was also very important.” - “The action plan will be available in the next 6 months and will identify the investments and way forward.” - File/bylaw: HSC24006A (Community Safety and Well-being Situation Table Pilot Review). - Motion status: - “Strengthen Partnerships with Local Agencies (Recommendation #4)” — No formal motion passed; an action plan to be developed within 6 months. - “Collection of Gender-Based Data” — No formal motion passed; emphasis on data informing policy; next steps to develop the data framework.

Public input opportunities for citizen involvement - Observations: Some sections note ongoing advocacy and partnerships with local agencies as channels for public input, and public education events around GBV prevention. Specific email addresses or direct public input contacts are not provided in the transcripts. - Suggestions for residents: Participate in CSWB-related consultations and community safety summits; engage with WAG and local partners during planned public-facing events or when CSWB plans are updated. Future updates may specify consultation processes and contact points.

Motions: passed, rejected, or deferred (titles and outcomes) - Expansion of GBV Training for City Staff and Council Members - Outcome: Passed; implementation phased through Q4 2026. - Expansion of Supports for Vulnerable Populations - Outcome: Passed; target completion date Q4 2026. - Integration of GBV Prevention into CSWB Plans - Outcome: Passed; target completion date Q2 2026. - Annualized Funding for Community Services (Item 1) - Outcome: Passed; $150,000 annualized funding allocated from existing divisional budget. - Motions related to femicide language and advocacy - Motion to include “femicide” in city policy reporting and communications - Outcome: Pending further discussion. - Strengthen Partnerships with Local Agencies (Recommendation #4) - Outcome: No formal motion passed; an action plan to be developed and presented within 6 months. - Motions to Expand Partnerships Beyond WAG - Outcome: Deferred for further exploration. - Motions to Align Reporting on CSWB Initiatives - Outcome: Passed; annual reporting aligned with priorities. - Motion: Develop a Gender-Based Data Dashboard - Outcome: Generally discussed as ongoing work; not a formal motion with a completed vote in this section. - Notices of Motion (ECS and Barton Street strategies) - Outcome: Tabled for January ECS meeting; deferred to future discussion.

Follow-up actions and next steps (selected) - Finalize and present the WAG funding agreement (annualized) within council timelines. - Continue integrating GBV prevention into the CSWB Plan and monitor progress; report back with updates in future sessions. - Develop and publicize the action plan for strengthening partnerships with local agencies (Recommendation #4) within 6 months. - Advance the data framework (GBV data dashboard) and evaluate the gender-based safety audit recommendations in future reports. - Plan public consultations related to femicide policy discussions and CSWB integration; clarify input channels for residents.

Councillors present (example roster drawn from multiple sections; some attended virtually) - Councillor Alex Wilson (virtual) - Councillor Moren Wilson (virtual) - Councillor Jackson (in chambers) - Councillor Huang (in chambers) - Vice Chair Councillor Clark (in chambers) - Chair Nan (presiding) - Councillor Hang (participated in some sections) - Councillor Wang (mentioned in a later section) - Councillor White (participated in vendor/throughput discussions)

Notes on file numbers and bylaw references - HSC250004A: Gender-Based Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Update (GBV update) - HSC24006A: Community Safety and Well-being Situation Table Pilot Review (Hamilton Cares) - HSC21005A (or HCS 21005A): Standardization of Tenna incontinence products (long-term care) - HSC200039A: Discretionary Benefit System Replacement Project - HSC200039A (service extension/PO increase) related items - Additional references appear throughout to femicide policy discussions and CSWB-related planning, with some sections not consistently listing a file number for every topic.

Follow-up contact or public input contacts - No explicit public email addresses were provided in these transcripts. Residents should monitor council announcements for consultation dates or contact city staff (CSWB, WAG liaison, and Ontario Works/Canada-related program offices) for participating in upcoming public input opportunities.