Hamilton's Public Works Committee Addresses Alley Maintenance, Dog Parks, and Capital Delivery

Hamilton's Public Works Committee heard delegations and approved motions on unassumed alley maintenance, a citywide leash-free parks policy review, capital project delivery, community garden soil testing, and several ward-specific public works items.

Topics Discussed

• UNASSUMED ALLEY AND POISON IVY COMPLAINT: Sapphire Singh and Mary Lee raised concerns about an unassumed T-shaped alleyway on Stapleton Avenue between Beach Road and Grenfell Street in Ward 4. Lee said she and her mother both needed urgent care after contact with poison ivy in the alley in 2018, describing "skin irritation that has the potential for much more severe reactions requiring medical care." She said neighbours who back onto the alley or use it as a walking route now feel "scared" and "helpless." Singh said "the municipality has a limited budget to maintain unassumed alleyways and does so on a reactive basis responding to complaints or concerns by its citizens." Director Brian Hollingworth said, "There have been a few cases where we have removed noxious vegetation on unassumed. But once again it is reactive. We do not have a proactive policy or procedure both on assumed and unassumed. It is on a reactive public complaint basis." Mayor Andrea Horwath said the issue is that "this is an unassumed alley" and asked whether the question was how to change it to assumed status. Director of Transportation Vincent Spratza said, "So we would need to have a conversation with legal to determine exactly when we could make that transition."

• LEASH-FREE PARKS POLICY REVIEW: Andrea Jeze of Dog Friendly Hamilton asked the city to update its 2003 leash-free parks policy. She said, "I'm a dog owner and I know countless dog owners around my neighborhood in Ward 4. And through my work with dog friendly Hamilton, I've come to speak with many others across the city as well. And this is the hot topic." Councillor Nrinder Nann said the review should consider "opportunities where we aren't able to meet the current policy and establish dog parks in more creative ways." She added, "We need to ensure that there are safe spaces for dogs to meet their needs," noting that not every ward has a dog park. Councillor Esther Pauls said, "On the mountain there isn't one." Mayor Horwath also said residents want "better support for dog owners and dog friendly spaces." Committee approved the policy review unanimously.

• CAPITAL PROJECT DELIVERY AND INFRASTRUCTURE REPORTING: Committee reviewed the 2026 annual capital infrastructure report. Mayor Horwath said, "the city of Hamilton is challenged to deliver the amount of capital that's that's required. We're not delivering all the capital that we have planned on." Mike Spadafora asked how staff decide when to reduce budgeted capital spending, saying, "we can throw as much money as we want at capital, but at some point we don't have the resources nor are there enough contractors around to complete the work." Councillors also pressed staff on how projects are prioritized and how clearly that is communicated in reports.

• MAJOR PROJECT DELAYS AND LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES: Councillor Brad Clark asked about the Lower Stoney Creek and Glenbrook area sewer trunk, saying, "that sewer trunk is essential. So where are we with the timelines?" Councillor Craig Cassar sharply criticized delays on Garner Road, saying residents are "fed up" and that "the city owes the public a full accounting of what happened." He said transparency is needed "because with going through this and without having a full debrief to understand it, we're not doing our job." Committee members also discussed the city's resurfacing backlog, with one councillor noting the road rehabilitation budget is "a fraction of what's required."

• COMMUNITY GARDENS, PARK AMENITIES, AND WATER SERVICING: Committee approved a motion on soil testing standards for community gardens on city property. Councillor Nann's motion noted that "residents who use community gardens and parks are questioning the safety of the food that they are growing in city parks." Councillor Rob Cooper also moved approval for accessible portable toilets at Inch Park, Cherry Heights, Queenston and Paramount Park, saying, "I will cut to the chase." On First Road East, Councillor Clark described a long-running water servicing arrangement in which four properties were connected through a mushroom farm's pipeline and said the farm owner has been paying the bill and collecting payments from the other properties.

Motions

• PW26051 - Halton Hamilton Source Protection Plan Amendments — approved
• Community gardens on city property soil testing motion (Item 10.1) — approved, as amended to apply to community gardens on city property
• Accessible portable toilets in parks (Motion 10.2) — approved
• Carpenter Park pathway addition - Ward 14 — approved
• Batting cage replacement - Mark Anthony Graham Memorial Olympic Park — approved
• Glen Castle Park shade structure - Ward 5 — approved
• Church Hill Park community garden rental fee subsidy - Ward 1 — approved
• First Road East water servicing feasibility review / expedite investigation — approved with amendments
• Neighborhood Traffic Measures in Riverdale Ward 5 (Item 10.8.8) — approved
• Leash-Free Parks Program Policy Review (citywide) — approved unanimously
• Digital speed signs on Hendershot Road, Ward 11 (Item 9.10) — approved unanimously
• Waste Management Subcommittee minutes from June 2, 2026 — received/approved

Attendees

• Councillor Esther Pauls
• Councillor Brad Clark
• Councillor Nrinder Nann
• Councillor Mike Spadafora
• Councillor Cameron Kroetsch
• Councillor Tom Jackson
• Councillor Tammy Hwang
• Mayor Andrea Horwath