This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of February 2017. The first line of each entry identifies the issue, followed by a brief description. This is followed by the location of the vote. Multiple votes on the same issue are reported together. Absentees are only listed where reported in the minutes and where the missing councillors are members of that committee or decision-making body. Links are provided to source documents. Note that the vast majority of council decisions are unanimous and the votes are not officially recorded. Changes to the city’s website mean it is no longer possible to provide direct links to motions and staff reports.
Ward boundaries
After more than a year of study and public consultation, a final report of the consultants offered three options for new ward boundaries. It recommended options 2 and 3. A motion by Green to approve option 3 was defeated 4-10. A subsequent motion to approve option 1 (the existing boundaries as modified by suggestions of the councillors) was approved 11-3. A letter from absent councillor Pasuta urged support for option 1.
At General Issues Committee, February 1 Minutes p2, 11-12 (4-10) (11-3)
For option 3: Eisenberger, Farr, Green, A Johnson
Against: Collins, Ferguson, Jackson, B Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pearson, Skelly, VanderBeek, Whitehead
Absent: Conley, Pasuta
For option 1: Collins, Eisenberger, Ferguson, Jackson, B Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pearson, Skelly, VanderBeek, Whitehead
Against: Farr, Green, A Johnson
Absent: Conley, Pasuta
At City Council, February 8 Minutes p6-7 (12-3)
For option 1: Collins, Conley, Eisenberger, Ferguson, Jackson, B Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pearson, Skelly, VanderBeek, Whitehead
Against: Farr, Green, A Johnson
Absent: Pasuta
At City Council, February 22 Minutes p8-9
Recorded opposed: Green
Greenbelt removal
After hearing a delegation from the owners at planning committee in January, a motion by Pearson was approved to again ask the provincial government to remove from the Greenbelt a parcel of land at the corner of Fifty Road and Barton Street. This was ratified at city council.
At City Council, February 8 Minutes p4
Recorded opposed: Green, B Johnson
Stoney Creek apartment
At the January 31 planning committee staff recommended approval of a proposed 19-storey apartment building at 860 Queenston Road in Stoney Creek. Committee heard from several delegations and received written submissions before voting to deny the application. At city council, A Johnson moved an amendment to authorize retention of outside expert witnesses should there be an OMB appeal at a cost of $150,000 to $220,000. The amended motion was approved.
At City Council, February 8 Minutes p5-6
Recorded opposed: Eisenberger, Whitehead
Ward boundary guidelines
A motion by A Johnson asking the province for updated guidelines for ward boundary reviews and “to create an independent body to conduct the reviews” was approved 13-1.
At City Council, February 8 Minutes p10 (13-1)
For: Collins, Conley, Eisenberger, Farr, Green, Jackson, A Johnson, B Johnson, Merulla, Pearson, Skelly, VanderBeek, Whitehead
Against: Ferguson
Absent: Partridge, Pasuta
Licensing rental housing
A motion by Whitehead directed staff to (a) investigate the feasibility of a pilot rental housing program in the old city of Hamilton, and (b) refer this to the rental housing sub-committee.
At City Council, February 8 Minutes p11
Recorded opposed to part (b): Ferguson, B Johnson
Police investigation
A motion was introduced by Conley to ask for a full investigation of the alleged racial remarks against a member of the Police Services Board (by another member of that board) and Conley also moved to waive the rules to allow debate on the motion which was approved with one objection. On a motion by Collins councillors voted 8-2 to table the motion.
At City Council, February 8 Minutes p12-13, 15-16 (8-2)
Recorded opposed to waiving the rules: Ferguson
For tabling: Collins, Farr, Jackson, A Johnson, B Johnson, Pearson, Skelly, VanderBeek
Against: Conley, Green
Absent: Eisenberger, Ferguson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta, Whitehead
Golf clubhouse options
Staff presented a Land Development Task Force Work Plan. Merulla moved a motion directing them to “explore various opportunities for public/private partnerships and new developments to generate new revenue at the municipally-owned golf clubhouses.” It was approved.
At General Issues Committee, February 15 Minutes p6-7
Recorded opposed to the Merulla motion: Ferguson, B Johnson, Partridge, Skelly, VanderBeek
Councillor Partridge asked to be recorded opposed to the work plan project on First Ontario Centre.
A-Line bus rapid transit update
Staff were prepared to provide an update on the A-Line bus rapid transit provincial proposal but committee voted to table this to a special meeting in March.
At General Issues Committee, February 15 Minutes p7
Recorded opposed to tabling: Eisenberger, Skelly
Special meetings on LRT
A motion was approved to hold special monthly meetings of the General Issues Committee on the LRT limited to binding agreements, any project related items requiring funding from the city, and the environmental assessment of the project.
At General Issues Committee, February 15 Minutes p6-7
For: Conley, Eisenberger, Farr, Jackson, A Johnson, B Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pearson, Skelly, VanderBeek, Whitehead
Against: Green, Ferguson
Absent: Collins, Pasuta
Bay Street LRT stop
At general issues committee a motion to add a Bay Street stop to the LRT was defeated 6-9. However at the subsequent city council meeting, this matter was deferred to the special LRT meeting on March 28 by an 8-7 vote.
At General Issues Committee, February 15 Minutes p7-8 (6-9)
For: Eisenberger, Farr, Green, A Johnson, Merulla, Whitehead
Against: Collins, Conley, Ferguson, Jackson, B Johnson, Partridge, Pearson, Skelly, VanderBeek,
Absent: Pasuta
At City Council, February 22 Minutes p6 (8-7)
For deferral: Eisenberger, Farr, Green, Jackson, A Johnson, Merulla, Pearson, Whitehead
Against: Collins, Conley, Ferguson, B Johnson, Partridge, Skelly, VanderBeek,
Absent: Pasuta
Naloxone distribution
A staff recommendation to expand distribution of Naloxone by adding 32 hours of staffing time at a cost of $69,080 was tabled until confirmation of funding from federal and provincial governments is received.
At General Issues Committee, February 17 Minutes p2-3
Recorded opposed to tabling: Green