Sound check. 1 2 3. Sun check. 1 2 3. Good afternoon and welcome to the public works committee meeting of June 15, 2026. We have quorum present today in chambers. With me is councelor Bey, councelor Paul's, councelor Cooper, councelor Moren Wilson, councelor McMaken, councelor Cretch, councelor Spataphora, councelor Huang, and councelor Casar. Joining me virtually are councelor Alex Wilson, councelor Jackson, councelor Francis, and then uh joining as a guest to the committee today is councelor Clark. Reminder that um all electronic devices be switched to a non-audible function during committee meetings. Just take that moment right now. Honestly, just make sure that they're off. No sounds, no dings, no bings. Um let's take the moment to make sure your phones are on nonaudible. And that includes everybody in chambers, please. And then we'll move on to approval of the agenda. Could I get a mover and seconder to approve the agenda as presented? Thank you, councelor Hang and councelor Spataphora. Uh any discussion on the agenda? Seeing none, that's a vote by show of hands. All those in favor? That carries. Thank you. On to declarations of interest. Committee members, do you have any? Seeing none, then we'll move on to adoption of our minutes of our previous meeting which was on May 25th, 2026. Mover and seconder in councelor Casar and councelor Hang. Any discussion on our minutes inevitable [laughter] >> inevitable. It just takes I tried I tried to provide all of us the grace. Um it's okay. No problem. >> [laughter] [gasps] >> So, no discussion on the minutes. Uh, show a hand votes. All those in favor, please. >> That carries. Thank you. Onwards to delegations. Before we begin our delegations today, members of the public and count committee are reminded that questions of delegations are for clarification purposes only, not for debate. uh note to our delegates that you have five minutes to complete your delegation. At the four minute mark, you'll hear a little tone. That's just to give you a sense that you've got 16 60 seconds left um to finish up. So on our delegations list today, we have three in attend two in attendance. One was withdrawn. Okay. First up, we have Mary Elizabeth Lee and Sapphire Singh. respecting unassumed alleys and caretaking, including ongoing issues of poison ivy in person. Thank you both for coming today. Welcome and please proceed. >> Thank you so much. Um you can all hear me right? Yes. Wonderful. Um so my name is Sapphire Singh. I'm a property owner in Ward 4's Crown Point neighborhood um on Stapleton Avenue just between Beach Road and Grrenfell Street. Uh today I'm speaking on behalf of my mother Mary Lee uh who is a senior uh the resident of that home and really she is the eyes and the ears of the property as well as the public or shared spaces that surround that property. Uh and of course we really appreciate the opportunity to be heard at today's meeting. So thank you counselors and staff. So, our request um we're here to request that the T-shaped alleyway that runs along the southeast side of the property be changed from its current unassumed uh designation to assumed. We understand that the municipality has a limited budget to maintain unassumed alleyways uh and does so on a reactive basis responding to complaints or concerns by its citizens. Um we ask that you however still consider our request for the following reasons. So, number one, uh, public safety by reducing public exposure to noxious weeds, specifically poison ivy. In this situation, in 2018, we identified poison ivy growing through our alleyway. Um, although we don't know how it was introduced, we have observed it spread aggressively uh through vineife shoots and and woody ryomes from the alleyway into numerous private yards, including our own. Um, unimpeded, um, the poison ivy moves through the alleyway and into each property's backyard. According of course to the government of Ontario's weed control act, poison ivy is a noxious weed. Uh and depending on the individual, simply touching any part of the plant can cause the burn-like dermatitis or skin irritation that has the potential for much more severe reactions requiring medical care. Uh and in our case, both uh my mom and I required medical attention at urgent care um after we first unknowingly came in contact with the plant uh in 2018. So, since that time, uh, Mary Lee has spoken with a number of neighbors, uh, alerting them to the hazard, uh, and these are community members that either back onto the alleyway, um, and therefore now have poison ivy spreading into their yards, uh, or are folks that had previously felt safe using the alleyway just as a walking path through the neighborhood, um, such as she's talked to parents and children, um, dog walkers, etc. Um and after being informed, uh usually um folks in the community feel scared, right? They're sort of fearful and they feel helpless. They don't know what to do about it, right? They feel like they have no no answers and no way to control it. Um number two, um we including the neighbors lack the resources and expertise to effectively eliminate or sometimes even manage poison ivy. Uh the average homeowner or tenant that backs onto the alleyway does not have the capacity to physically remove all the poison ivy safely. Nor do we have the surplus financial resources to invest in ongoing specialized licensed herbicide applications. Um I know I've personally invested hundreds of dollars in um mulch in covering the soil with layers of plastic um sheeting actually vapor barrier. I've tried salt and vinegar. I've even tried Roundup, which is not something I would normally want to use. Um, and this poison ivy still finds its way back into my yard. Um, so I can only imagine others as well. Um, number three, we want to be responsible, engaged community members that take care of our shared alleyway. Neighbors are scared to mow or even pick up waste in the alleyway because they are afraid they will touch the poison ivy. Right. It makes the space of here neglected and derelct. Um, we can't take part in in basic city programs like team up to clean up because we feel like it would be dangerous and irresponsible to invite neighbors into the alleyway knowing they would very likely come in contact with the noxious weed. Um, one neighbor just spoke to my mom last week telling her that he was going to try and mow the weeds behind his rental space um, for the first time in three years because three years ago he broke out in painful soores after he came in contact with the poison ivy. he's been scared for 3 years to go in the back of the property. Um, so please consider the following. Um, change the designation of of our alleyway from unassumed to assumed. Um, direct staff to prepare a poison ivy management plan for the alleyway. That could include considerations such as paving the alley so it becomes a hard top service. Um, that would stop ideally the poison ivy from continuing to spread property to property or perhaps annual pesticide or herbicide applications. Those are just ideas. Um, and third, perhaps direct staff to create a resource for residents with steps for dealing with noxious weeds in public or private spaces. You know, just a a resource to help us know what to do first or where to go next rather than jumping around the city and trying to find the right staff person who will listen. Um, so I've known um this lady for 44 years, my mom, and I can say with confidence that she does not take no for an answer, [laughter] but I just mean that she's determined uh and and vigilant and really does care about the the community. Um uh and I will say that, you know, her her dad, my grandfather, had a saying. Um it was it's really her guiding mission and it's our country right or wrong, when right to be kept right, when wrong to be put right. Um and we asked you work together with our neighbors to put this matter right. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, we have a couple of questions for you. First up is Councelor Hang, >> of course. >> Thank you. Hi, Mary. Hi, Sapphire. I can attest that Mary is absolutely a determined and very uh very great cheerleader for the ward and I'm thankful that you're here. Uh, I think you bring up significant challenges that I would like to just hone in on because I really want to make sure that it gets said in public record because I know Mary has been talking to me, my office, a lot >> um to talk about this and then we've been trying to get a lot of those answers that you're asking for. So, let's just put a finer point on this. Um, the challenge is that this is an unassumed alley there. We don't have a ton of resources that we can put into this alley. So we the one question you're you're really asking is what's the process to change it from an unassumed to an assumed alley? Is that correct? >> Yeah. If there is a way that we can kind of move towards that. Absolutely. Yeah. >> Excellent. Second question then is what happens um when we have something noxious like a poison ivy in on any of our city properties like what is the mitigation plan? What do we have to do? Is that correct? >> Yes. Yeah. I'm curious like uh you know it's like you want to go to my Hamilton or my Hamilton and just type in something and find perhaps a resource and and there didn't seem to be one. That's Yeah. >> Right. Okay. And then the last question is um if we can't find one, should we have or can we have a management plan or something like that for specifically poison ivy and other noxious type uh weeds? Right. >> Ideally, yes. Yeah. if the if they could have if there could be a a way of a process basically a procedure or process that the that citizens can sort of be able to follow right to know that they're doing the best they can. >> Yes. Thank you so much. So I did want to make sure that I got those questions clarified because then after your delegation I'll ask the chair if I can ask questions to staff about those particular questions. But thank you again Mary and Sapphire for coming in. >> Thank you again. Yeah, as well. >> Thank you both. Uh, next up we have councelor Pulse. >> Thank you. Thank you uh Mary and Sapphire. It's nice to have your daughter there speaking on your behalf. I think that's amazing. A family coming together. >> Yeah. And uh it's very interesting because this last week I had uh couple instance on the mountain about uh unassumed alley where the grass is six feet tall and the weeds are going all over the grass on the other side of the fence because I don't know your area. You talk about just about the um poison ivy, but I'm wondering is it also unsafe for people to walk through where there's potholes and people could get injured and the city could be liable. >> Um that's a great question. It is definitely an uneven surface. I think there's one entrance way that a business I don't know if they officially went through the process, but they have paved part of it where their business sort of enters or exits. So that particular space is quite flat. Um, but everything else is certainly bumpy and uneven. Yes. Yes. >> And so you also said people walk through there, right? Do they cut through? Like I don't know your area. >> Where does it end and where does it begin? Like >> Yeah. I mean, as many alleyways are sort of like a quick way to get from one point to another. Um, I'd say my mom is the most likely person to actually see people either walking or driving through. Um but she does make an effort to sort of flag citizens now not in a car necessarily but if they're walking she'll just let them know you know that we've seen poison ivy be aware um and then sometimes they continue and sometimes they turn around. >> [laughter] >> So >> yeah. So I'm just wondering because my incidents on the mountain there's this alley that's has tall grass and all that. So it's an unckempt alley and uh so you talk a lot about the poison but I see other issues beside that uh which is so important. I have a lot of question to ask staff uh what we can do about these uh unassum alley. I know they cost the city money to keep them. Maybe we could sell them. We don't know. So there's a lot of questions, but I really appreciate you coming. Matter of fact, I called my resident and said, "We're going to talk about it on public works." So I thank you for coming and all the best to you. Thank you. >> Thanks. Thanks for your questions. Anyone else? >> Thank you. And that exhausts our speakers list. Thank you both for coming in. >> Thank you again. Thank you. >> Okay. Next up, we have Andrea Jezovvit. Respecting comprehensive review and update of leash free parks program policy citywide. Hi there. Everyone can still hear me. >> You're virtual. Thank you. Yes, [laughter] we can hear you clearly. Please proceed. You >> great. Thank you so much. Uh so my name is Andrea Jeze and I'm here on behalf of dog friendly Hamilton which is a community group I co-founded in partnership with the Hamilton Burlington SPCA and I just really wanted to speak on how important uh this issue of leash free parks is to the community and how grateful we are that uh this has been brought up today. So, uh, I'm a dog owner and, uh, 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. This is the topic that comes up with every dog owner in Hamilton. And it's one of the reasons we formed our community group. So, I'm aware that the way the current policy is written makes it very hard or impossible to create new dog parks. And this is a huge issue in my own ward, ward four for example. I know it's an issue in other wards as well. We have a very high concentration of dog owners uh with no dog parks nearby. And I know suitable space over the years has been identified. I've even talked to residents um who say they've spoken to the city about creating dog parks. Um but nothing has happened. And um I know there's a lot of frustration in the community and it's because accessibility is important and not everyone is lucky enough to have a backyard for their dog to run around in and not everyone has a car that can get them to that far away dog park. And uh people care because they care about their dogs so much. Um I know groups all around the city who unleash their dogs in schoolyards or in parks like Gage Park because of lack of a local dog park. And they're not irresponsible owners. their owners who care about their dogs and know their dogs need exercise and um they often care so much that they'll be out doing this in all kinds of weather, odd hours. Um I remember one example, a dog owner who told me he was upset uh because animal services had stopped him from using his local park to play fetch when he felt he had been doing it very responsibly. He'd been going with his dog every day at 5 or 6 in the morning to ensure they weren't bothering anyone. Um, his dog was well trained. He said they'd never seen a single person and yet they'd been stopped. And he was really upset because who else was going to be using the space at 5 or 6 a.m. And um, other very responsible dog owners choose not to let their dogs off leash due to their dogs personalities, which is another very responsible choice. Um, you would think they don't care about dog parks, but they do as well because they don't want unleashed dogs running at them. and they're aware that with so few designated off leash spaces in Hamilton, uh people will be unleashing their dogs in places they're not supposed to. Um it's not an issue that's going to go away. So dog ownership is growing massively. People care about their dogs like family and it's for very very good reason. Um we know there are mental health and physical health benefits to dog ownership. Dogs prevent loneliness. Uh they create community. Um, I can say personally I didn't really know my neighbors or have friends in Hamilton for my first few years living here until I got a dog. Uh, you might feel safer walking around with your dog than walking alone. Um, and then as more evidence of how much people care, dog friendly Hamilton launched a survey asking Hamilton dog owners for feedback on what needs to be improved in our city. And in just a few months, we've received 110 responses and growing. And for a community group that is still now quite small, I understand this is a significant survey response rate and not that far off from some surveys the city of Hamilton has run in the past. Um so we're thrilled about this motion. Uh wanted to let you know that our group is more than willing to help um even partner with city staff on the engagement process if it would be helpful. We've done our own analysis of dog friendly initiatives in other cities and there's so many great uh concepts Hamilton could look to. Uh, Toronto does pop-up dog parks. New York City has designated off leash hours. Some American cities have private dog parks with small membership fees to maintain them. Uh, I could go on and on, but I will stop for now. Um, thank you so much for your time and for considering this. And again, on a personal note, as someone who moved to Hamilton and found my community here largely because of my dogs, I'm really grateful this is being taken seriously and I know so many other residents are grateful as well. So, thank you. >> Thank you for your delegation, Andrea. Um, please stay on the screen. We do have a few questions for you. First up, Councelor Hang. >> Hi, Andrea. Thank you so much for doing your delegation today. I thought maybe you could just take a couple of seconds or 30 seconds to talk about dog friendly Hamilton perhaps. That's just to give us a little more insight into what that is. >> Sure. Um so we formed this community group last year with myself and uh my my colleague Devin Smith who is head of humane education at the uh Hamilton Burlington SPCA. Um so we um we've just started um but we want to advocate uh for better support for dog owners and dog friendly spaces uh due to the community benefits. Um and we have started by uh running this survey. We want to be running research in the community. We're also pursuing um dog friendly events. Um we applied for and received a city placemaking grant uh where we we will be running a dog friendly picnic this summer. So things uh to raise awareness uh test demand for dog friendly spaces and connect with the local uh community of dog owners to to hear more about um what we need and um you know it can be everything from leashfree um is is one big issue. We know there are big issues around um security for um for renters with their pets um is another big one. um public transit and um yeah, we've seen the benefits um of of integrating dogs into the community. So, um we thought it was a very worthwhile cause. >> Thank you. My second question through your chair is a question around um what other cities have done because I know that previous to you choosing Hamilton, you had been all around. Um, so dog parks or these sort of dog friendly spaces don't necessarily need to be big, right? Can you give us a little more information on that? >> Yeah, I mean it's it's a very uh dramatic difference, but um I lived in London, UK for 12 years. Um, so I'm very aware of um how dogs are integrated into cities in Europe and um you know a city like London, UK, space is at a prime. So dog parks aren't aren't always so big, but a dog will will come into the pub. Um will they'll be able to walk into the store. There's a lot more um dog friendly shops so that you don't have to leave your dog behind and uh they can be more integrated with you when you run errands. So you don't have to tie them up outside or leave them in your car and um and put them in danger. And because uh they're so much more integrated into everyday life, um I noticed and I noticed when I visit uh back there, the dogs are a lot more used to um being in public as well. They're they're very well behaved. Um and um it could even be, you know, um the smallest uh I I remember coming across uh on my last visit to London um a small local park that uh had a community of dog owners who met up there every night um for their dogs to play together um in in busy, crowded London. Um so it doesn't take a lot of space. It's about community and um like I said, people are doing this in Hamilton. Um communities of dog owners who have nowhere else to go are meeting up in their local golf course or their their local uh schoolyard and they're standing there. They're letting their dogs play. They're watching them um responsibly because they don't have anywhere else to do this together that's accessible. >> Thank you. Thank you so much, Andrea, for your delegation. Those are all my questions. >> Thank you. Next up, we have councelor Paul's. >> Thank you. And thank you, Andrea. You're not going to believe this. On Tuesday, I had pulse in the park and my topic was safety. And a lady came with her dog coming uh just before um the the traffic department came and the police officer and talked about the re uh the leash free park that she wanted. And she was saying on the mountain there isn't one. And she kept saying, you know, we really need one. And I said, it's really strange. I think we're going to talk about it at public works and there it is. And it's interesting about 15 people came and all of them had dogs [laughter] and it was so interesting. They were all coming around because I have pulse in the park. So I understand I'd like to learn more about uh our program. Uh and she she was saying there's not on the mountain there on downtown area. So it's very interesting. But I'm wondering when we do have uh like a space for dogs, uh do we need a lot of parking for it as well? >> That's a really good question. I mean, hopefully we wouldn't uh need as much parking because um if we have spaces open up in our local communities that people can walk to, um I think that that would be the dream. I know this is, you know, uh an amazing vision, but uh Calgary designed a lot of their their communities to be to have have walkable dog parks within each community that you can walk to. Uh so so Devon, who I worked with on dog friendly Hamilton, just visited Calgary and came back raving about it. Um so, uh I think in in a city like Hamilton right now because um as far as I'm aware, I don't think dogs are allowed on our transit either. So, uh I'm sure parking spaces would be welcome, but um I know that, uh for example, uh in Delta, if a space opened up in in Gage Park, uh where dog or near where dogs could run around, people would walk from all over to be there, there's that level of concentration in the community. >> Thank you very much. And I'm looking forward to the the update on the leash free parks. Thank you. >> Thank you. through I'll pass the chair over to councelor Casar. Just a couple of questions from me to you Andrea uh through our vice chair. Uh thanks number one for coming to delegate today. I was so excited to see that you were coming. Um, secondarily, um, part of the motivation, I'll speak to it when when we actually get to the motion, is, um, in this time that the Birch Avenue dog park is closed and we're had so many residents using that dog park as well, not having an alternative at this time has posed a bit of an challenge and barrier for a lot of our residents. And one of the conversation points that came up in the community in in discussing this was the need for different types of parks as it relates to the size of the breed that in order to facilitate a safe environment for smaller breed dogs um that smaller parks or smaller footprints of leash-free areas with fences is something that residents are looking for. Can you speak to us a little bit about the need to accommodate different sizes of breeds and how do we do that in a way that is also safe for the those who bark in our parks? Thanks. >> Yeah. Um so we definitely have um as we've been speaking to residents across the city seen a lot of demand um or interest in the idea of um you know um yeah accommodating dogs by size, by breed, by temperament. It's something that people with smaller dogs are definitely concerned about. Um, in a lot of places they do um designate um some smaller spaces for for smaller breeds to have their own um park. However, I've also seen lots of really really creative solutions. I think there are a lot of creative things we could test and and look into that wouldn't necessarily require more space. Um so for example you see that some cities designate um parks to be leash free during certain hours. You could designate uh different breeds or different different types of dogs to to play there during different hours. um some of the amazing um private dog park concepts that I've seen across the US will even have again this this takes resources um I understand but um professionals who monitor the park um [clears throat] like bark rangers um who can be there to help maintain the park and um help make sure everything is safe so that it's okay for more sizes of breeds to mix. Um, and also just um there's a lot more that can be done um with education um which is why we're so excited uh to be partnering with the SPCA. Uh Devon uh who's not here is really the perfect person to be talking to you about this, but um educating people on um how on dog behavior and and socializing their dog and um training and things like that. so that uh it's their their dog is okay. They know how uh to behave around other dogs and and in a park. So there are um that's also something that dog friendly Hamilton is uh keen to look into um initiatives around around education that can help uh different kinds of dogs to share space. Uh so yes, lots of creative things we could do I think. >> Thank you. And then my next question through you chair is um as it relates to managing behavior. So we have a lot of folks in our community who cannot physically be around dogs due to trauma, due to medical reasons, due to health reasons. Um and at the same time there has been a history in our community of dogs not necessarily being well trained in some scenarios and that's caused conflict in our existing parks and it definitely causes conflict out in the community. Can you speak a little bit to that in terms of a community-based subject matter expert? What are some best practices you've seen or heard of in other municipalities to help mitigate this reality? >> Um, so again, investing in education, it's it's a really tough one. Um, like I said, I have found that the communities where dogs are more integrated and more welcome, um, in society, like my experience in London, UK, uh, they have they have tended to be, uh, better behaved because they're they're better socialized. They're they're always there. They're not going to be afraid by, uh, a child running or, um, or, you know, seeing seeing something and suddenly wanting to dart off. um they're um you know they're used to the busyiness of of a city and their owner has has the incentive uh to make sure they behave because they're they're allowed to bring them uh with them at all times. Um there's great um affordable like the work that the SPCA does in making training your dog and education around your dog accessible is is really great. I think there's um more that we we could do to direct people to those resources. Um um because it shouldn't it shouldn't have you know sometimes people think that that these aren't affordable that it's it's expensive to train your dog um and they hesitate but but it's not. There's great resources out there. So, um I'm not aware of a city that that has done this, but um one thing that uh Devon and I have talked about is the this idea of a citycertified dog. There there are farm certified dogs. You can um train your dog and have your dog tested to be uh to say that they they know how to work on a farm. Um, but what about having a city certified dog program uh where your dog has been tested, has learned all the basics, how to, you know, walk alongside on the sidewalk, sit on a patio. Um, so, uh, it's not a problem that's solved, but there is definitely a lot of expertise in this community and, um, and experts we could look to and creative solutions that we could that we could figure out. I really think this community could could figure it out together. >> Thank you so much. No further questions. I'll take back the chair. And there are no other counselors looking to speak. So, thank you again for coming this afternoon for your delegation. Um, okay. So, at this point, I'll need a mover and seconder to receive both delegations. Thank you, councelor Hang. Seconded by Councelor Pauls. Thank you both. Um, show of hand vote to receive the delegations. All those in favor? Thank you. And that carries. On to items for information. Um, nope. My apologies. [clears throat] You did tell me. You did indicate. We'll just take a pause here. Councelor Hang has uh some clarifying questions. My question is, was it on the was it on the >> unassumed alleyways? Thank you. Oh, yes. That >> Thank you. Uh, the first delegation asked a series of questions. So, I was wondering if we can just get on to public record. What is the process to go from an unassumed alleyway to potentially an assumed alleyway? So that's my first question through your chair. >> Uh through the chair, director of transportation Vincent Spratza. So uh as you indicated, the city does maintain assumed alleyways. And an assumed alleyway is an alleyway that has a hard surface ashfeld concrete, but also plays a primary role within the residential and the commercial area. um an unassumed alleyway would have a soft surface gravel or whatnot and may not have the same uh connection or role within the community. So those are usually the two definitions. There's also legal thresholds that determines whether we maintain a certain alleyway. So we would need to have a conversation with legal to determine exactly when we could make that transition. >> Okay. So then uh director if we have those conversations with legal what are what's the process to potentially um I I suppose a threshold or what are the check marks that we might have to look at in order to take an unassumed to be an assumed alleyway if you know that that answer just wanted to share that out loud. Certainly. So, uh again through the chair, there was a report that went to city council in 2019 with respect to alleyways and there was an alleyway classification system um A through E which described the condition and the circumstances surrounding those alleyways. So, we would use that as a reference point in determining if in fact an alleyway can be transitioned from assumed to an unassumed. >> Okay. So, I'll take that offline to actually ask for that. um 2019 report and look for more information that way. My second question through you chair is around >> what do we do about poison ivy and especially if the poison ivy is on city property like an unassumed alleyway what is our process to dealing with it and mitigating that. >> Okay. So through the chair yes uh city staff have a relationship with an external contractor. section contractor that we work with our partners in Hamilton water that uh removes uh noxious vegetation such as uh poison ivy. Um so we normally apply that to assumed alleyways but there have been cases where in fact the public safety um is significantly at risk that we will go into an unassumed alleyway to remove poison ivy. >> Okay. All right. I know that my office has been trying to connect to talk about poison ivy up in that particular alleyway too. My last question is what's the opportunity for a maybe a resource or educational opportunity to give residents a little more information on how they could deal with poison ivy or any of these noxious weeds? Um do we have anything like that? And if not, is that something that we can look at putting out as a community engagement tool? um and through the chair. I'm not aware of any specific communication piece or tool that's used to inform or educate uh the general public with respect to poison ivy, but I would certainly be happy to have that conversation with our corporate strategic communications division to see if in fact there are opportunities. I'm sure we can do it through social media channels um and there might be other communication channels that we could utilize. So, I'd be happy to have that conversation. >> Perfect. Thank you so much, director. Thank you, chair, for giving me the opportunity to ask these questions. >> Thank you. Um, councelor Paul's on the same line of questions around no. Okay, I thought you were first. >> Oh, okay. Thank you. Yes, I saw councelor Bey's name, that's why. Okay. I just want to ask about the unassumed. Um, do we ever cut or fill pots on an assassum? Have we ever done that? or if it's unassumed, we just close our eyes and then that's it. You know, you guys have to look after it. >> Again, through the chair. So, as I mentioned, there have been a few cases where in fact there was uh public safety was significantly at risk or in fact there was um um a risk to the property damage. Again, there's a legal threshold that I would have that conversation with legal to determine exactly if that threshold is maintained or not. But 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 uh policy or procedure both on assumed and unassumed. It is on a reactive public complaint basis. So let's say on my board I had this gentleman I went to his house and there's uh on East 25th and 24th there's an alleyway the grass some fences you know is really high and the weeds and there's ticks and there's all that. How do we tell the the residents there to keep their property nice and neat? Make sure the grass is cut and uh we say well it's too bad. How will they cut that long behind? Let's say one does, the other one doesn't. So, how do we straighten that out? How how do we work that out? >> Um, again, through the chair. So, we handle each ice on a case- by case basis. We don't necessarily um have a standard approach. We'd have to assess each one individually. um unassumed alleyways um again um may be joining a private property um may not have a uh priority or role within the community. So there are there are some situations where we would be engaging going to the person's uh home to explain exactly what responsibilities we provide and responsibilities that they would be obliged to follow. So they would have respons all the houses along there have a responsibility of making sure that alleyway is looked after >> on an unassumed alleyway. That is correct. >> They would have to do it. >> Yes. >> Right. >> On an unassumed alleyway. >> So >> thank you councelor Pauls. I've given tons of leniency in order to facilitate inquiry but I will encourage you to take the remainder of your questions offline and speak with staff directly also. Thank you. >> No problem. >> Appreciate that. Thanks for that. Um okay. So now we move on to item 7.1 uh for items of information. First up is PW26026 public works 2026 annual capital report mover and seconder to put the report on the floor. Uh councelor thank you spat and councelor Wilson Moren Wilson. Um director Hollingworth is going to introduce the report. Right. >> Thank you chair. Uh Brian Hollyworth, director of engineering services in the public works department. Uh I'm very pleased to be here today to introduce the annual capital report. Uh while I'm introducing the report and speaking to it initially, I would recognize all of my fellow directors who collaborated on this report. Uh and they're here to answer questions. Um this report is in response to a motion that was presented at the July 28th, 2025 public works committee. And that that motion specifically directed staff to prepare an annual infrastructure report. So this report which you have before you today uh is intended to inventory major capital work including progress updates, financial information, asset management, performance metrics and completion rates. The report uh which is attached at as appendix A to the staff report uh includes updates on a wide variety of projects again across the different divisions in public works. Uh it includes projects in the planning, design, and construction phases. Uh and we selected projects that are in relatively short-term. So they're either in construction or anticipated to be in construction uh in the next three years. Uh we also um decided on a threshold for what defines a major uh project. Um and we landed on $2 million uh dollars. Um we could have gone lower or higher. uh if we got went lower it would it would um perhaps overwhelm the report with so many projects. So this is not to uh diminish projects that are less than 2 million uh many of which are very very important um but it is intended to focus on those larger projects and within that threshold there's about there is 169 uh projects uh detailed in this report. Uh as noted this this is uh public works's first annual capital report uh following this format and going forward we would anticipate preparing an annual report and I must say that we we we were very pleased to do this and staff were very engaged on on working on this report. Uh we believe the report will serve a number of purposes uh as intended by the original motion. Um specifically the report provides an easy reference for major projects underway. Um there a lot of them are detailed in the budget books but sometimes those can be over overwhelming. So we've extracted out the major projects in this report. Uh it also provides an opportunity to reflect on work done in the past year and over time uh we think will serve to be allow us to monitor progress successes challenges and lessons learned. The report also includes a very high level budget overview uh where money is being spent and allocated and in future iterations uh we intend to provide an even stronger link uh between the asset management uh strategy and and allocated budgets. Uh but this is a starting point. Also included in the report are some highlighted capital projects, major projects. Uh we picked one per one per division uh where we took a deeper dive into the project and and looked at its status and and um ongoing development. Uh don't be offended if your favorite project wasn't selected. Uh we we had to pick some and it was it was hard. Um but I think it it served to highlight some of the work that's being done. Um finally the report provides some com commentary on overcoming challenges of which there are many. Um perhaps most significantly, like many uh municipalities, the city of Hamilton is challenged to deliver the amount of capital that's that's required. Um we're not we're not delivering all all the capital that that we uh have planned on. And there's various reasons for that. Uh some of the factors include increased time for permits, the need to complete studies like archaeology invest in investigations, changing scope uh and and staff capacity. But we are doing things um to over overcome and improve the rate of of capital delivery. Um not just engineering services but all divisions. Uh simple things like clarifying roles and responsibilities so that it's clear who the decision makers are. Uh not changing scope um you know many times as a project progresses through but nailing it on nailing down the scope based on the asset owner's needs. In engineering services specifically, we're also taking steps for example to integrate design and construction teams uh in a more collaborative way so that um knowledge um on design flows through con construction and and vice versa our designers become more versed in in the day-to-day aspects of construction. Another [clears throat] challenge um again not unique to Hamilton is the effort required to tender projects um and and we're working on that uh in in collaboration with our partners in procurement. Uh for example, early in 2026 we established what's what we called a SWAT team, a strategic workforce action team uh for linear infrastructure projects. And essentially that team got together on a on a regular uh routine basis to um bang out uh bang out tenders um and it helped um helped in terms of efficiencies. It it also resulted in a number of process improvements. Um it was successful in getting a lot of tenders out early on in the year and that by the way had some uh positive effects in terms of reducing uh the uh coming in with projects coming in with with favorable buil favorable bids. Another topic highlighted in the report is the the whole tariff by Ontario by Canadian uh uh dynamic environment. Um and that has you know resulted in our need to change uh things like procurement policies and particularly related to buy Ontario and they seem like simple uh concepts but there is a lot of work that had to be done to to uh retool some of our processes and with more to come. uh when it comes to designing and delivering major projects, it's also also worth highlighting that there are major many stakeholders that are involved uh from residents and business businesses to other levels of government, conservation authorities and indigenous partners. All these partners have to be involved at an early stage and on a continuous basis. Um in the past few months there's been some really positive progress on improving relationships with our First Nations uh partners and indigenous communities. Notably, um, we've been working on creating things like umbrella agreements for things like archaeology monitoring. Um, and that, you know, improves the process, improves the relationship and is a real positive thing. We're also u embarking on a pilot project for developing a policy on engagement for natural heritage studies for environmental assessments. Finally, one of the things that we see as a continuous improvement opportunity is related to project communications. Um, this report is a start, but as a department, we have much more work to do in developing things like public dashboards with real-time information where uh counselors and the public can look up a project and see its status. And we also need to do a a much more robust uh effort in terms of dealing with businesses during construction. [gasps] Um, so just in in closing, I would note that this report is it's not intended to be a feel-good report uh or a promotional report. It's intended to be transparent and highlight uh where where we're doing things right um where we're could could improve uh and um how we move forward in the future. So we hope that the report will serve to drive continuous improvement which is essential to meet the growing needs of our city. >> Thank you for that overview director. We do have um counselors starting to populate the speakers list. First up we have councelor Spaphora. Thank you uh Chair Nan and thank you director for that uh that overview. Um there's a lot of great information in that report and I think it's uh beneficial for a counselor but I think it's just beneficial for that information to be public and accessible and um for some people that are interested in that they will uh they will get to uh dive into some good reading. My question is regarding your comments around capacity and I don't want to talk about adding new FTS if that's where you think I'm going. Money. So, we can throw as much money as we want at um capital, but at some point we don't have the resources nor are there enough contractors around to complete the work. So, whose decision is or how does it work between public works and finance to decide when we reduce the amount of money we put in the budget? Cuz we can't meet the number. There's no point putting $200 million in a budget for capital work. If we know we I'm not saying that's the right number, but I I'm trying to understand how we get to a point where we're not asking taxpayers for money on the capital side when we know there's a good chance we can't deliver those projects. Not because we don't want to or we don't have the money, but we don't have the capacity whether it's internally or externally through you chair. >> I I will start out and I may I may look to GM Kennedy for some high level comments as well. Um but yeah, it's it's a complex question. Um we we the when we don't get projects done, the those needs get piled on to future years which which grows the budget. um there's a real reservations not to ask for that amount of of budget because that means projects aren't getting built and you know as as uh council has seen in the asset management plan Michael will tell the number but it's something like a $5.2 billion uh need over the next 10 years. So uh we we need to get stuff done and and I would say it a lot of it comes down to you know figuring out ways to deliver projects uh more effectively and quicker again you know using a similar amount of of resources. Um technology can be a a real tool and we have a team in infrastructure planning that's leveraging technology to help our decision processes. um not revisiting project scope five times um before it's delivered is another way to get stuff done faster. But there's some large projects um some major projects. I'm suspect there will be some questions on some of them uh that that uh you know they're looming out there and need to get done. >> I appreciate uh that answer director and again I think um from my standpoint obviously it's not about reducing the capital output. making sure that if we are going to tax residents um for the capital work, we're able to deliver them and be realistic in that number. I I don't the one thing I don't want to do is is frontload ask money, ask for money, ask for money, not deliver because we're hoping to, you know, bank some of that money for big projects down the road. That's it's a tough sell um to a resident when you ask for money but the projects aren't getting delivered. Sounds like you're looking at every option technology possible to make sure that uh we're delivering as much as we can and asking for as much money as we need, not as much money as we want. So, I appreciate that and I thank you for the report. >> Next up, Councelor Cratch. >> Thanks. I know the city's working on plans for how we look at projects, how they get cued, um how equity factors into those decisions. That's something we're thinking about citywide. When I look at this report, I'm trying to understand how how or when we're going to be applying that thinking to this because I know that in certain I looked at [clears throat] the projects and I looked at projects in war two and outside W 2 and from my analysis and reading there are some that I think oh that that seems like it should be prioritized because of the population it impacts or that should be prioritized because of the use that's here. Um, I guess I say this in part and it may not be specifically related to this, but I think sidewalks are also capital work is that what happens in the in the sidewalk world as an example is that we did start applying at one point here in the storm of council a bit of a analysis to say, well, these sidewalks in this area are getting used heavily, so we should look at whether or not we should replace those more quickly. And then when but when the asset quality gets better, meaning that overall the sidewalks are improved because of investments to happen to improve them, then that amount actually starts going down. So I guess I'm just it's a bit of a roundabout question. I understand that, but I'm guess I'm just asking how we're how we're making these decisions because so far what I'm seeing show up is length of asset, age of asset, condition of asset, right? Those are the primarily things that are being used to determine how we're prioritizing assets. And I don't really personally as a counselor understand what other things we're using to prioritize them. Right? I don't a lot of transparency for me to understand, well, what else is there? Is it that so- and so asked for something first? Is there was a motion put there by by somebody? Is it that um this this project is deteriorating faster than we thought it was? Like I I think that's helpful for me to understand because that's where I get caught honestly is I see some projects advancing, others not. I I just don't know what what the reasons are for that usually >> through the chair and again I'm I'm just speaking for engineering services and would invite other directors who have examples to to u bring them forth um but I I we we are considering it um it's it's slow um many of the major projects were identified you know three four five 10 years ago so there's this queue of projects that may not have gone through an equity lens that that we're doing uh I would say we're getting better at prioritizing individual projects like when we when we are um constrained on funding we actually have a process where equity considerations are are one criteria uh climate change uh is another one um so it's it's built into that kind of project by project prioritization and we are starting to um uh get better at using data to inform equity decisions um you know one example is if you've got two roads that are of the same poor condition and one serves transit HSR buses, um we will pick the the route that has the HSR buses because that has downstream uh benefits for for transit users. Um and I'll I'll leave it at that and feel free to probe. >> Thanks for the invitation, Director Haulingworth. Um I think for me I'm trying to understand I suppose even when we're not this is something I've been saying for years so this nothing nothing about this is a surprise I hope but even when we're not maybe looking at a project from the perspective of is equity applied to it I'm wondering why we're still not foregrounding that in this work meaning if we're not doing it I think we have to say that loudly uh this project was from 10 years ago we didn't do that with this project like red line red you know wording so people No, we understand. Um, so I'm not puzzled perhaps by like why why we aren't or why this doesn't or here are some projects where we did look at that and like there being a section to talk about where just where we're at. I think that the the problem for me or the frustration for me is I just don't know where we're at and when a report comes back I'm kind of copying like hm it's not talked about here emphatically and I don't really have a clear sense of where we are with it. So where are where are we with it? And then I end up asking every time. So I'd rather not have to I'd rather just to sort of as a cornerstone of these reports coming back saying look we know this is a consideration something we talked about many many times in public there have been motions on it we're going to be moving to equity based budgeting so where are we at on this journey with this specific thing would be really helpful for me to know I don't think you can really answer it comprehensively right now and rewrite the report verbally but I guess I'm just saying that out loud so I'm good thanks >> thank you counselor um now over to councelor clerk Thank you, chair. Just just a couple of questions. Um, in the report, it speaks to the lower centennial sewer trunk, which is formerly known as a battlefield trunk sewer twinning. [snorts] While I know that this particular area is not within my ward, the Centennial sewer trunk, upper Centennial sewer trunk, which has now been completed, it's essential that we have the work done down below because that trunk can't be utilized until that work down below is done. So, um, all I see here, chair, is that the project has been delayed with no timelines. Can someone help me out? Thank you. Uh Jackie Kennedy, general manager of public works. Um the Centennial trunk sewer is um falls in an area that is subject to uh approvals by the joint stewardship board. And as such um we have consultation requirements review with the joint stewardship board before we can move it along to the next steps. >> I'm sorry I'm confused. Why does it fall within the the scope of the joint stewardship board which is the Red Hill Valley only? >> There is a section Thank you. I'm happy to clarify that through the chair. There is a section and um perhaps one of the directors that are more closely involved with it at this point may comment on it, but there is a section there that does fall within the boundaries um and meets the criteria for engagement with the joint stewardship board. I would really appreciate more information, chair. I sat on that board for most of my time on council. That joint stewardship project is solely for the geographical boundaries of the Red Hill Valley Parkway. So, I'm trying to understand how a lower Centennial sewer trunk that is essential for future development in Upper Centennial Parkway is being delayed because of that. through the chair. Nick Winters, director for the Hamilton Water Division. Uh to your question, councelor, uh part of this project includes twinning a sewer that runs underneath the Red Hill Valley Parkway uh from the east side of the valley to the west side of the valley. Uh and so that is a necessary component in order to uh create the sewer capacity needed to fully realize um the usage of the upper centennial trunk that you've already spoken about. And so it's that portion of this project that requires consultation with the joint stewardship board running a new pipe underneath the Red Hill Valley from one side to the other. >> And so with then where do we stand? I mean just having the project delayed with no date is in in my humble opinion not acceptable. As you know we have much development that is coming in uh upper Stony Creek and in [snorts] Glennbrook and that sewer trunk is essential. So where are we with the timelines? Has it been presented to the study group? Um I'm not sure that the group here are in the best position to respond to that today. The um I mean the joint stewardship board and the progress on that. I think it's fairly well understood. Um, we are at a point where the project just cannot move forward until we have the next steps of engagement with the joint stewardship board. >> Well, that's frustrating. I'll take that offline, chair. Um, I don't understand that at all. Um, the other question I have, um, and it's not really a question, but I'm grateful for this. Um, regional road 20, I saw it in the report, and the plan is to have regional road 20 from the upper Centennial Parkway to the eastern limits, which is basically uh, Niagara, uh, done in 2027. Um I want to thank the group for especially the engineering services who have been doing the work on this particular project. Um this is a vital trade route uh used by the agricultural community and the Hamilton end of that route is in very poor condition with the upper ashvault actually peeling away in sections. And we get several complaints um monthly uh from drivers who are driving that bumpy road. Um and it's uh really affecting uh the trade route and with people now taking trucks to other routes which cause other problems for other sections of the the upper um Stony Creek area. So thank you for the ongoing work on that and I hope that the construction happens very soon. Um question chair. It says in this report design will be done by 2027. Uh clarification I thought the design work was being done this year with construction in 2027. >> Uh through the chair. Um I would I would note that this report was written a while ago. Uh so since the uh typing of this report uh much work has been done on the design of of 20 and uh like yourself we see this as a as a top priority >> and so is it still con my understanding was construction would start in 2027. Is that still the plan? >> Uh through the chair we're taking all steps to make that happen. >> Thank you. Those are all my questions chair. Thank you for the time. >> Thank you councelor clerk. Next up, we have councelor Wilson. >> Uh, thank you, Chair. As the mover of the motion, let me just say outright that I'm very pleased with this report and I appreciate all the work that went into it. Um, I know you were sort of starting from scratch in terms of the design and the matrix and how much to put in and how much not. Um and I also appreciate the fact that um you state outright in the appendix which was very uh invaluable uh that this is the beginning and um as part of our um lean into continuous improvement we're going to use this and build on it and see how we can further inform and populate it moving forward. Thank you for that. Um I think also uh it's important for us as we seek to lean into our asset management responsibilities um that we have this kind of template. um uh to ensure that we're as transparent as possible and continuously attempting and succeeding many times at coordinating our our efforts and uh that we all publicly gain an appreciation of. For some projects, they're very complex and they have many phases to them and uh sometimes a delivery date is changed as a consequence of new information, new funding, different scopes, uh new partnership, um requirements and opportunities and obligations. I appreciate all of that. Um I I'm wanting to know if I could give you an opportunity uh something I am very interested in and the director of engineering or transportation engineering services uh comment on it. I'm I'm trying to I'm interested in learning how we are going to better inform our budget process and our capital obligations with our asset management requirements and obligations so that when we get to budget time uh we're strictly not looking at a year but we're looking at our requirements and the years out and the years out and the years out is um is that something you could talk a little bit about a little bit more about that opportunity to cross-pollinate and inform on that? Thank you. >> Uh thank you for the question and through the chair. Um yes, we we we are and and need to continue to do that. Um for bridges, it's it's fairly straightforward question. We do OSIM inspections and it's a it's a legislated requirement to keep our bridges up to date and we have an excellent uh forecast. Um also for underground uh we are developing a much more robust profile of the condition of our waters systems, sewer systems uh through inspections uh almost to the point of being able to pinpoint uh block byblock what needs to be be replaced. and that's being built into the the rates budget. Um, and our our teams in in engineering services work very closely with Hamilton in that regard. Uh, with with regard to roads, um, it it's it's a challenge because the city's quite far behind in terms of rehabilitating roads. And if you do the math, um it's it's a the budget for resurfacing roadways compared to the needs is a fraction of what's what's required. So then it comes down to being able to try and prioritize the the the best investment uh possible. Um taking into account all the life cycle of the roadway, some of the things I mentioned about um benefiting multiple multiple users. Um but yes, we we are trying to tie it much more closely and um working with our colleagues in asset management um who are providing some uh amazing data uh to help drive drive the decision processes. >> Thank you. Any any opportunity we have to continuously improve on that relationship, we just cannot afford to let up on the gas on these assets and uh they are disruptive when we are doing them. uh but we have to continue to do them. And I think this kind of report um kind of supports uh our responsibility in in showing what we're doing, showing what we're what we need to do, showing how we're going to pay for it and how we're going to have to pay for it. But um again, I appreciate this report. Thank you. >> Thank you. And that exhausts our speakers list. We did have a mover and seconder already to put the report on the floor. So now it's a show of hand to receive. All in favor? Any opposed? Seeing none, that carries. Thank you again to staff for preparing the annual report and looking forward to them in subsequent years. I'm sure our residents will. Uh 7.2 waste management [clears throat] subcommittee meetings from the June 2nd, 2026 meeting. Mover and seconder. Councelor Francis moves it. Seconder is councelor Spataphora. Uh any discussion on the minutes? Seeing none, then I'll also show a hand vote. All in favor? That carries. On to items for consideration. First up is PW26051, which is our proposed Halton Hamilton source protection plan amendments. May I please have a mover and seconder to put the report on the table. Thank you, Councelor Hang, Councelor Casar. Um, any discussion on the report? Okay, seeing none, Director Winters, you're off the hook. Um, as before committee for an electronic vote, all in favor, please indicate electronically. It's our first e vote of the meeting, so it's loading. I see a very large thumbs up from councelor Jackson. >> It's kind of grayed out. No, it's grayed out. Okay. If you have everybody refreshes their screen, it should work now. You're voting in favor of this one, Council Crutch. Thank you. Did he get councelor McMaken is not in his chair? There we go. Thank you all. That carries on to 9.2 which is amendments to our Obl move and seconder please to approve. Thank you councelor Spaphora. Councelor Quang. Any discussion on the Obl items. Seeing none again electronic vote please. Councelor Jackson big thumbs up. And that carries. Thank you. On to motions. Um, first up is 10.1. So, I'll relinquish the chair over to Chair Kazar. >> Okay. Go ahead, Council N. >> Thank you. It's moved by myself and seconded by Councelor Crutch. did um table a notice a motion in our previous meeting that this was coming. This is uh regarding community garden soil testing in public parks. And so for those who um might be aware, the Powell Park community garden was temporarily closed by the city of Hamilton effective May 5th this year as a precautionary measure to ensure the protection of residents who use community gardens to grow and harvest food. And whereas on August 18th, soil testing was completed at Powell Park as part of the park reconstruction project and the results received in 2026 revealed elevated levels of some contaminants including lead, zinc, antamy, and benzo apyne close to the community garden. And whereas residents who use community gardens and parks are questioning the safety of the food that they are growing in city parks. Therefore, be it resolved that staff be directed to report back to the public works committee with recommendations on the following. One, new municipal standard for soil testing in community gardens in public parks. Two, timelines and priority location for testing at existing community gardens, which would be conducted proactively to establish point in time baseline measurements, including costs for the testing to be considered as part of a future budget process. And finally, how to provide information to residents on how to proactively prepare and test soils on private properties given the impact of industrial fallout and other sources of contamination in urban neighborhoods. And um if I can just quickly speak to it, the warehouses does cover it. Um big thank you to staff in finalizing the motion um language and uh effectively putting together a plan that enables it to be funded as well. Um, honestly, I've heard so much from W three residents out of a place of deep concern. We do have some much used community gardens in JC Beamer Park, um, in Burge Park, Gagege Park, as well as Powell Park all have community gardens within the city parks. And given the current cost of living crisis and food insecurity being experienced by so many Hamiltonians, residents are looking for more safe opportunities to grow their food in their local community and using community parks inside of our city. uh community gardens inside of our city parks for many who don't have backyards um is a great equalizer in our community. So, it's important to ensure that there's public confidence that that food is being grown uh in a safe way, that the product is going to be safe to be consumed. And we [clears throat] know that there's been industry vehicle emission and other sources of contamination from particullet in the air that have settled into the soil across our city. And that includes, of course, our parks and gardens. And without proactive testing, we can't know where those levels are safe or unsafe to grow in. And the need for clear information on soil health in community gardens affects more than just residents using those spaces. It also impacts the neighborhood groups and community partners who help to coordinate and maintain those gardens, often on a volunteer basis or with very limited funding. And so with that, um, I hope I have committee's support in moving this direction and getting this important work done on behalf of our residents. Thank you. Okay. Thanks, Councelor Nan. I don't see anyone. Oh, we do have a speaker. Councelor Bey, go ahead. >> Thank you through the chair. Um, appreciative of the motion coming forward. Just a question as it pertains to the specificity of the language. And what I mean by that is, uh, soil testing in community gardens in public parks. Not all community gardens are in public parks. I have one in my ward that's on a portfolio or sorry on property that's managed by the facilities portfolio. So it's not technically a park. Uh, and I guess I'm just maybe going to ask of staff if it would be understood that we don't need to modify the language to ensure that all parks and or sorry, all gardens in all places are part of this that it's captured or assumed or understood that it would be. Uh, the park in particular uh in the ward was constructed on a former on the side of a former building. So, we tore down a building, we put it in a park. Uh, just want to make sure that it's captured or understood that um it [clears throat] would be part of this. >> Okay. >> Through the chair. >> Understood. Thanks, Council Me. Director Graham. >> Yeah, through the chair. Uh, Cynthia Graham, director of environmental services. Happy to uh reflect that amendment. I would suggest that uh in AI that then be stated as uh community gardens on city property because uh we just understand that there's a lot of community gardens across a lot of different property owners across the city and and our scope would be for the ones that are on city property. >> Okay. If that's agreeable to the mover. >> I'm seeing that as a friendly amendment. So that's good. We'll capture that. Thank you. I'll pause to see if there are any other speakers. Seeing none, we will go to the vote. The vote is up. >> And that carries 13 to nothing. Congratulations. I'll give the chair back to you. >> Thank you, vice chair. And on to our motions list 10.2 accessible portable toilets in Hamilton Parks um W 57 9 and 10. And that is over to councelor Bey to introduce the motion please. >> Thank you chair and through you. It's moved by myself, seconded by W 5 counselor Matt Francis. I will cut to the chase. That the provision of accessible portable toilets be approved in the following park locations. Inch Park, Cherry Heights, Queenston, uh, and, uh, Paramount Park. Um, and that it be funded from the Stony Creek Compensation Royalties landfill uh, account, which is 117036 at an upset limit including contingency not to exceed $10,000. and that the general manager of public works or designate be authorized to approve such in any conditions required in the incillary documents such terms and conditions of form satisfactory to the city solicitor related to the implementation of the temporary accessible toilets in Hamilton parks. Um that's it >> on the motion. So, councelor Spaphora >> chair, you might roll me out of order, but I'll ask the question. You can do that anyway. Um, how long does it take to get the portable toilets put in after motion? Uh, because I know the previous one I moved with the same sort of structure as this motion, I was told by the user groups, they have not seen them yet. So, um, if that's okay, I appreciate it. >> Through the chair, Cynthia Graham, director of environmental services. Usually, it's pretty fast, counselor. So, I will follow up and make sure that they get installed as soon as we can. >> Thank you. Next up, we have councelor Paul. >> Thank you for that. I was going to ask cuz inch park we have uh baseball challengers. They started already and I was there. Paul's in the park and there were no bathrooms. So, I said, "Oh, it should be here. Where is it?" And I looked for it. So, when will we have him? through the chair. Uh this motion here includes it park, so we wouldn't have installed them prior to approval, but uh we will get them in as soon as uh feasible. >> Thank you for that. Cuz I've had motions to do that prior separately. So now we're just doing in this motion. I've always had bathrooms there for the baseball challenge, right? >> Through the chair. Correct. In the in the past, in previous years, uh, there there has been support from the W7 office to have portable washrooms at Inch Park. Um, those are on a year-to-year basis. So, we needed this motion in order to proceed with this year's washroom. >> Thank you, Cynthia. Thank you. >> Okay, that exhausts our speakers list and the motion is before committee for electronic vote. Your thumbs up is registered. Councelor Jackson, that carries. Thank you. On to 10.3, which is improvements to Carpenter Park play structure 145 Eagle Glenn Way and Mark Anthony Graham Memorial Olympic Park at 948 Mohawk Road West in Hamilton, Ward 14. Councelor Spataphor, over to you. Thank you, chair. Moved by myself, second by councelor Tom Jackson. Um, this is just an addition to some of the work that was already approved by this committee at Carpenter Park. Uh, this is an additional uh $50,000 uh to be funded from the Ward 14 capital reinvestment reserve 108064 um and added to an existing project ID 4242609144. It's just to add the pathways that lead the residents to the park. Uh you'll see all the other one is an addition of a batting cage replacement at Mark Anthony Graham Memorial Olympic Park. Uh that'll be approved and funded from the ward area ward 14 area rain discretionary account at an upset limit not to exceed 70,000 that the GMA public works or doesn't be authorized and direct to approve um the following. Thank you. >> Thank you. And there's no speaker, so it's before committee for electronic vote. Let me see your thumb, Councelor Jackson. That carries on to 10.4 Glen Castle Park Shade Structure at 30 Glen Castle Drive in Ward 5. Councelor Francis. >> Thank you, Chair. Therefore be resolved a that staff be directed to proceed with the supply and installation of a shade structure at Glen Castle Park 30 Glen Castle Drive with an upset limit of $200,000 through an approved capital budget ID of 442256109 be approved to be funded from the outdoor recreation development charge reserves 1110316 190,000 and 1110 31710,000 B that the annual operating impacts of,500 00 for the utility cost of maintenance of the new shade structure be included in the 2027 public works department base operating budget submission and C that the general manager of public works or designate be authorized and directed to approve and execute any and all agreed [clears throat] apologies agreements and incillary documents in such terms and conditions of form satisfactory to the city solicitor. So, chair, this is essentially a housekeeping motion. Uh, council already approved the playground uh replacement. Staff are ready to build the shade structure at the same time, but due to restrictions around funding sources, they need council approval to allocate development charge funding to the project. This allows both components to be delivered together efficiently rather than returning later to do the work separately. That is my understanding and uh we'll turn that over to uh uh Cynthia Graham >> if there's any questions. Okay. Uh don't see any at this point and you did mention your seconder was >> apologies. That's councelor Bey. >> Thank you so much. Okay. Uh it's moved and seconded before committee for electronic vote. See your thumb. Councelor Jackson. It's just really far in the corner now. Not center. That carries on to 10.5. Royal Botanical Gardens rental fee for Church Hill Park Community Garden Ward 1. Over to you, Councelor Wilson. >> Thank you, Chair. Um, this was an issue brought to my attention by city staff. Um, the community garden uh at Churchill Park, I think, is one of the oldest in all of Hamilton. But of course, like Churchill Park, all of it, it's owned uh by the RBG. There's a tripartite agreement between the city, the Churchill Park Community Garden folks, and the RBG. My understanding is that the rate was set for the gardeners um uh but the rate on behalf of RBG changed. So rather than at this time uh go back to the gardeners who had already budget budgeted for a certain amount uh for this year only we're going to be um accounting for that difference uh from ward one capital discretionary dollars not to exceed $2,300. Thank you. >> Thank you. And your secondary councelor Wilson uh councelor McMouncen. Thank you. Uh there's no speakers on the list so it's before committee for vote. Councelor Jackson, I see your thumbs up. >> Councelor McMegan, we're assuming you're voting in favor as a seconder. That carries on to 10.6 Six, investigation of municipal assumption of a historic historical private water servicing arrangement at First Road East. Over to you, Councelor Bey. >> Thank you, chair. Uh, happy to bring this forward. Uh, I'm moving this on behalf of councelor Brad Clark, my colleague from Upper Stony Creek, seconded by Councelor Matt Francis, my colleague from Lower Stony Creek. I won't pretend to be able to speak to this motion other than to say it is highly technical uh and a great deal of research and preparation has been put into it by my colleague. So if it would please the committee uh to allow councelor Clark to better introduce it and uh any questions would be best directed to him. Thank you. >> Certainly. Over to you councelor Clark. Um, thank you chair and thank you councelor Bey. It is undoubtedly a complicated mess. Um, so to make it very clear, at some point during the city of Stony Creek days, a pipeline was extended from the Centennial Water Pipe along uh, Mud Street to First Road East and then up First Road East to 167 First Road East, which is um, uh, a mushroom broom farm. Apparently, some point after that um legal connection, that particular farmer met with local residents who live on First Road east north of his property and he decided that they could do lateral connections into that pipeline. So, we have four properties, not including the farm, that have now connected a water service to his pipeline. Those four properties do not have water meters. So, the owner of the farm has been paying the water bill and then getting payments monthly from those four properties. Sometime in the last five to six years, I guess it was, the farm was sold to a new owner. And at some point, there was a lean put on the farm for $40,000 in water payments that have not been made. The new owner was not collecting water payments from those four property owners that had connected to the laterals and so he has been paying for all of their water for the last couple of years. He doesn't want that to continue. We have had um Hamilton Water have met with the residents along First Road who are connected. Three of the homes are connected through a developer who plans to develop that land in the near future. One is um a longtime resident in Upper Stony Creek who who uh is connected. All of them are okay with water meters being put in. The challenge becomes one of authority given to staff. Under our own rules and bylaws, you cannot run an extension from a waterline that is in the urban area into the rural area because it needs to be urbanized first. Um, this was done in the days of Stony Creek. And so now what we're trying to do is make this legal and stop the problem for the farmer um, and not creating problems for staff because they cannot on their own come forward with recommendations that would ignore the bylaws that exist today. Um, so that's the explanation and I do have two suggested changes to the motion when it's appropriate. Chair, >> sorry. Councelor Clark, can you say your last sentence one more time? >> Sorry. I do have um two changes to the motion, suggested changes to the motion. When it's appropriate, you just let me know. Um, okay. Over to you, councelor Moren Wilson. >> Thank you. If my question is an order, um, I I understand uh the motion is setting out all theformational requirements. Is this uh through the chair the similar situation to what uh we had deliberated last May with respect to an extension beyond beyond the urban boundary? Does the director winters recall that? I believe it was um perhaps in W 11, but I'm not sure. Thank you. >> So through the chair uh to the counselor's question, it is a similar situation. uh in that situation which was on 20 road there was a property uh also in the rural area that wanted to connect to a existing water service line that fronted their property. Um and uh in that scenario we brought back a report uh speaking to the implications uh of that for a committee to consider. Uh the difference in this situation is that we have four properties that are already connected. Um they connected uh uh at some point in the past that we aren't fully aware of. Uh what we do know is that there were no permits uh pulled from the city for that. Uh the city did not inspect the work. Uh so we're not sure of the quality of the water service connections. Um some complexities here uh as well. Um none of these properties are presently presenting any risk to the city's drinking water system. So we have verified that they do not have alternative water supplies such as a groundwater well uh that also serves their property or a sistern that also serves their property. Um if that was the case there would be a risk to the water drinking water system and and we would have to take different action under the bylaws. However, in this case um the bylaw does not permit the existence of these services. Uh but if we were to enforce the bylaw uh in a heavy-handed way, these properties would be completely without water service as well. Um hence the motion that's in front of committee today from uh the W9 counselor to uh provide some time for staff to bring back a more thorough analysis of what it would look like and what it would mean uh if these services were to become um legalized under the city's bylaws. >> Uh thank you. My final question then is respectfully you've reviewed the motion and you're confident that everything that has to be assessed and accounted for is enumerated through the chair. >> Through the chair. Yes, we have. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. No further questions. So, back over to you, councelor clerk. You wanted to put forward a couple of suggestions to change in the therefore be it resolved. >> Yes, please. So, in um sorry, let me back up one second. Um in the first uh whereas it says was originally approved by the city solely to service 167 first road east. I believe it was the city of Stony Creek. It was not the city of Hamilton. >> I see nodding heads from the bench. So that would be an accurate um accurate update to the warehouse clause. >> Thank you. And these are friendly amendments. Um, the other one, the therefore be it resolved. It's in the section A. I met with the owner of the farm and his son and we had an excellent conversation and they were they're willing to work with the city of Hamilton, but they don't want to see this drag on for many months because they're paying the water bill for everybody right now. And so what I'm suggesting here is in the section A where it says be directed to investigate, delete the word investigate and insert the words expedite the investigation into the feasibility of the city. >> Okay. Expedite the investigation into >> the feasibility. Got it. And those are the two changes. >> Those are the two changes if they're acceptable to staff um and my uh movers. That would be wonderful. Thank you. >> Okay. I do see nodding heads on all fronts both from the front bench as well as from your seconder at least. And I think your mover of course. Um okay. So slightly amended friendly amendments before committee for vote. No further questions. Oh, councelor Wilson. Is that Yeah. Okay. >> Yep. >> Was it? >> No, no, thank you. Uh, just on that last part, you did acknowledge publicly that there was a nodding head, but in expediting something, you could be moving something else. So, if I could just hear if there's any known consequence of so doing. Um, and I do appreciate the fact that this is having an ongoing financial impact on on properties, but I I do need to practice my diligence and ask what this might mean for your other work plan. Thank you. uh through the chair. Uh moving this file along as quickly as possible has already been considered in our work plan. Um and so we're happy with the wording. >> Now it's before committee for electronic vote. Thumbs up from councelor Jackson. That carries on to 10.7 Gardener Road Sanitary Sewer Project Review Ward 12. Councelor Casar. >> Thank you, Chair Nan. It's moved by me, seconded by councelor Wang. Whereas the Garner Road trunk sanitary sewer project is critical to building capacity for growth in the airport employment growth district and will support businesses, schools, residents, and other community assets. Whereas the project began in February 2024 with an original completion date scheduled for fall of 2024 and is approaching four times the projected duration. Whereas there have been multiple causes for project delays, including but not limited to the contractor having experienced financial difficulties and a subsequent ownership change to construction challenges including excess groundwater in one location between Kitty Murray Lane and Raymond Road. Whereas community access through the corridor between Kitty Murray Lane and Raymond Road has been reduced to one lane, significantly increasing travel time for private vehicles and public transit and having negative impacts on local businesses and residents. Whereas the city has contract language that controls costs and holds the contractor accountable. And despite the delays, the city has to date not incurred additional costs beyond the original contract due to these delays. Whereas the city's new vendor performance management program, which uh is designed to objectively assess and evaluate vendor performance throughout the contract period, has been utilized on this project. And whereas council priorities include responsiveness and transparency. Therefore, be it resolved that staff be directed to prepare a report back, a detailed report back to the public works committee for Q3 2026 with a multi- lens review of the Garner Road sanitary sewer project, including but not limited to one, an analysis of the project timeline, identifying the delays experienced and the root causes and the effectiveness of steps taken to expedite project completion. Two, an analysis of options and tactics available to support local businesses and residents during construction in order to minimize impact. Three, an accounting of lessons learned from this project that can be applied to future projects in the airport employment growth district and throughout the city. And four, a summary of how the city's new vendor management performance system was applied to this project and its outputs. And if I could speak briefly to it, please. So I mentioned in the motion uh the original timeline was fall 2024 for completion that became the end of 2024 and then spring 2025 and then due to the complications I mentioned earlier got pushed to late 2025 then it was substantial completion by December 31st 2025 that didn't happen. Then it was March, April, May of this year. And now we're halfway through uh June. And apparently the work is again almost done. But I've stopped sharing any projected dates because frankly I just don't have confidence in them given the history here. Uh there have been so many issues. Uh it would seem many were unpredictable, but that's part of what this analysis and report back is going to speak to. Uh, I've done my best to keep the community updated via newsletters and social media on a regular basis when I had new information. Uh, that's really all I can do in this situation. When the project is and the budget is approved, staff and the contractor are responsible. As the length of the unfinished road shortened to where it is now, I was able to have two-way access restored with a temporary traffic light. Uh, that's still very frustrating, but that was some improvement. Uh that was more than six months ago and I live in this neighborhood. My family experiences every day just like everyone else who comes through this corridor. Very very frustrating. So the neighborhood and everyone who uses it Garner Road in this area is fed up. They've been more than patient. As the engineers and construction team wrap this up, and I really really hope it's very soon as untold, the city owes the public a full accounting of what happened. that that level of transparency is important to me and it's important to everyone that is affected. We want to know what happened and what's going to be done better in future projects because with going through this and without having a full debrief to understand it, we're not doing our job. So that's the nature of this motion and I sincerely hope everyone around the table here will support it. Thank you Chernand. >> Thank you councelor Casar. Um are there any other speakers on this motion? Seeing none, then it's before committee for vote. I see a thumbs up from councelor Jackson. Councelor McMe. Thumbs up. And that carries. Thank you. On to 10.8, 8 which is installation of neighborhood traffic measures in Riverdale Ward five. Councelor Francis. >> Thank you. That's moved by myself and seconded by councelor Bey. Therefore be it resolved a that the transportation division be authorized and directed to install up to two speed cushions on Bo Valley Drive between Iridge Avenue and Verto as a traffic cal measure and as part of transportation's 2026 speed cushion installation program. B that the transportation division be authorizing direct to install up to two speed cushions on Burkindale Avenue between Federal Street and Roxboro Avenue as a traffic company measure as part of transportation's 2026 speed cushion installation program. C that the transportation division be authorized and directed to install an always stop control at the intersection of Prince Avenue and Vitaro Avenue, including that schedule 5 of the traffic bylaw number 01215 be amended accordingly. D that all costs associated with the installation of traffic coming measures be approved to be funded through the W5 capital reinvestment reserve number 108055 and an upset limit including contingency not to exceed $12,000 and e that the general manager of public works and city clerk be authorized and directed to execute and any required agreements and incillary documents with such terms and conditions in a form satisfactory to the city solicitor. Just wanted to uh end by saying thank you uh to manager Mike Field and director Sarza for for uh putting this uh motion together for me in in such a manner and bundled like this. Thank you. >> Thank you councelor. There's no speakers on the motion so it's before committee for electronic vote. Thumbs up from councelor Jackson. That carries. Thank you. And over to councelor Casar to relinquish the chair to you. >> We [clears throat] are at 10 n comprehensive review and update of leashree parks program policy citywide. Councelor Nan, would you like to introduce your motion? >> Thank you. Through you. Um it's moved by myself and seconded by councelor Huang. Um committee members, you've you've seen the details and the whereas clauses in in essence this is work that's kind of already being recommended by staff. This is a matter of um making sure that that work gets done within uh a reasonable time frame but more importantly get a report back to planning committee in Q4 of this year. Um so that therefore be it resolved is that staff be directed to coordinate an interdisciplinary working group from planning and economic development parks, forestry and recreation to inform an update to the leash free dog park policy and that staff be directed to report to public works committee in Q4 with interimm including a draft policy that aligns with current best practices and recommendations in the recreation master plan and include a robust engagement and consultation strategy including input from community stakeholders. ers, residents and city divisions such as licensing, municipal law enforcement and animal services and see that the general manager of public works are designate be authorized to approve and execute any and all required agreements and incillary documents which I'm kind of surprised to see inside this report or this motion but hey make sure we cover all of our bases. Um so first of all thank you to the residents in ward 3 particularly um this has been a topic of discussion I think throughout my entire term. [laughter] Residents asking counselor uh why isn't it possible for us to have more designated leash free areas throughout existing parks that seem like they have a big enough green footprint to facilitate co-use between our dogs um and our otherwise park users. And unfortunately, the conversation has always been limited by a policy that was established back in 2003. Um, we know that we've also experienced intensification in some of our communities, um, more housing and also more um, pet owners as a result, but we haven't in turn um, facilitated the ability for more dog owners to be able to use their parks with their beloved creatures. Um and then particularly when Birch Avenue Dog Park was closed um as a necessity out of precaution for the health and safety uh reasons of the soil there being contaminated from past uses. Um we need to ensure that there are safe spaces for dogs to meet their needs and also do so in a way that's more publicly accessible, i.e. residents being able to walk to dog parks. And at the moment, not every ward in the city even has a dog park, and most wards only have one if that if they have them at all. And it leaves our residents forced to travel quite a far distance to access a safe space for their dogs to run. And it also means that we see dog owners letting their dogs off leash in places they shouldn't. And uh it's causing safety issues for some of our vulnerable park users. Other municipalities in our scan in the W3 office with our residents who uh advocated for this policy change to be expediated have found inventive ways to balance the need of all park users. In G Ontario, for example, they allow dogs to be off leash on sports fields in the city at all at times that they're not being used. In other cities, they designate specific times where dogs can be off leash when parks are less busy, i.e. during school hours in the fall and in early mornings or later evenings in the summer. And other cities have sanctioned smaller footprint fenced areas in urban parks to help facilitate the needs of smaller dog breeds as well. All this to say, it's time for an update to our policy from 2003. Uh many, many residents across all of our wards have been asking questions about this. Uh I'm very pleased to be able to move this motion with our proud dog owner in Ward 4, Councelor Huang. Um who, you know, brings Riker into our meetings virtually. um who also needs a place to run around. So, thank you to our staff for your policy feedback to date and dialogue with residents who've been inquiring about expanding availability. Uh looking forward to the report back coming in Q4. Thank you. >> Thanks, Councelor Nan. We do have a speakers list. Uh first one is Riker's mom, Councelor Wang. Go ahead. >> Riker specifically asked me to uh really second this motion because he really really believes that we need to update our 2003 policy. Um, but also I think that in Ward 4 we are fortunate to have Globe Park, which is our one and only dog uh dog friendly park area, but it is very tucked away. It's very far away from residents. Um, people do need to drive in order to get there, whereas uh Riker's backyard is Montgomery Park and he asks me all the time, why can't we hang out in Montgomery Park? And I say, yes, but you're on a leash. Anyway, so I'm very excited to support this and I would welcome to see the um updated policies on what we can do here for our four-legged fur children. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next, councelor Bey. >> Thank you, chair. And through you, uh my two dogs didn't offer any comments for me to bring. I have to bring my own comments. Um supportive of the direction of this. It's been a hot topic and w 10 as well. One of the wards that you that the mover identified earlier is not having a functioning dog park. People actually don't just leave the ward, they leave town uh to go to Grimby to find a facility there. Uh I just want to ask a question of staff if I might. Um appreciating the the work that uh has gone on to this and will result from this, but also wanting to make sure that we're not inadvertently delaying or setting anything else back. We've been my office has been in constant contact with environmental services for the creation of award 10 dog park and I just want to make sure that this doesn't have any negative implications in terms of timeline uh or potential uh ramifications that would set back the uh future building of a dog park in W 10. >> Through the chair >> go to director Graham >> through the chair. Uh Cynthia Graham, director of environmental services. So, I don't see a review of the policy um or possible update coming forward impacting um a uh project that's underway. The policy that we have um is uh pretty restrictive when it comes to the ability to implement a dog park that would comply with the policy. So, uh I believe if we have a location in mind that it would still be uh considered a good possible location with any revision to the policy. The policy really um update and review would look at opportunities where uh we aren't able to meet the current policy uh and establish dog parks in more creative ways. So, if I was to summarate, um, the long-term plan of getting a dog park built in W 10, as we have been working together cooperatively with environmental services on, continues, but this could actually expediate other opportunities within the ward uh to uh bring potentially additional dog parks on on stream at the same time. Is that a fair summary? through the chair without predicting the outcome of the policy review. That would be my expectation. >> Okay. Thank you. Happy to support. Okay. Thank you. Seeing no further speakers, we will go to the vote. And that vote is up. And that carries unanimously. Chairs. Back to you, Councilman Nan. >> Um, I think there's one more motion that's to receive the correspondences. >> Need the microphone on. And Elsie Macintosh did warn me about that. So, it's entirely my fault. We do have some correspondence to receive. So, we'll need a mover and secondary to receive the correspondence. Councelor Nan, Council Wang. And that's a show of hands vote. All those in favor? And that carries. Thanks, everybody. >> Thank you, Councelor uh Casar. Next up we have 9.10 installation of digital speed signs on Hendershot Road in W 11. Over to you councelor Bey. >> Thank you chair. Another motion that I'm bringing on behalf of a colleague. Uh this one far less complex. So, I'm going to go to the be it resolved the transportation division be authorized and directed to install two permanent digital display signs, digital speed signs on Hendershot Road between Golf Club Road and Gaia Road in 2026. that all costs associated with the installation of the two permanent digital speed signs be approved and be funded through the W 11 Capital Reinvestment Reserve 4031911611 at an upset limit not to exceed $10,000 and that the general manager of public works and the city clerk be authorized and directed to execute any additional required agreements and incillary documents in such terms and conditions and form satisfactory to the city solicitor. I do not have a seconder. I have a seconder and councelor Wilson. Thank you. >> Okay. What you don't have is any speakers on the list. Um and so we'll move to an electronic vote. That carries. Thank you all. Any notices of motion committee members? Seeing none, then uh big thank you to our legislative team, to public works staff, everybody who played a hand in preparing for today's meeting. Thank you committee members for your due diligence. Uh, today's meeting is adjourned at 3:20