How they voted in March

This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of March 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. 

Street hockey

In response to public concerns and council request, a staff report explained how Toronto has permitted street hockey and offered a draft by-law for Hamilton which was adopted by an 11-3 vote of councillors after adding an amendment directing that resident disputes would be referred to the city’s internal mediation process.

At General Issues Committee, March 1 Minutes p3-4, 9 (11-3)

For: Collins, Farr, Ferguson, Green, Jackson, A Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Skelly, VanderBeek, Whitehead

Against: Conley, B Johnson, Pearson

Absent: Eisenberger, Pasuta

At City Council, March 8 Minutes p10

Recorded opposed: Conley, B Johnson, Pearson

 

Insurance renewal

Staff recommended annual renewal of the city’s property and liability insurance at a cost of $4.3 million with the same insurers as previously. They reported that rates have remained flat, but additional buses and other city properties resulted in a 4.5% increase.

At Audit, Finance & Administration Committee, March 6 Minutes p4, 15

Recorded opposed: Ferguson

 

Gender identity protocol

The Audit, Finance and Administration committee adopted a protocol for gender identify and gender expression respecting transgender and gender non-conforming persons. It also decided to include the staff report on the protocol. Both were approved in recorded unanimous votes at city council.

At City Council, March 8 Minutes p10

For both: Collins, Conley, Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, Jackson, A Johnson, B Johnson, Merulla, Pearson, Skelly, Vanderbeek, Whitehead

Against: none

Absent: Partridge, Pasuta

 

Retailing e-cigarettes

In the wake of provincial legislation, staff recommended changes to the Tobacco Retailers schedule to (A) include retailers of e-cigarettes, and (B) create an inspection fee of $60 for such establishments. This was approved by committee.

At Planning Committee, March 21 Minutes p10

Recorded opposed to part (B): B Johnson

 

Free HSR rides for cyclists up and down escarpment

A staff report in response to council query supported the implementation of free HSR rides to cyclists up and down the escarpment to be implemented on May 29 Bike to Work day.

At General Issues Committee, March 23 Minutes p3, 10

Recorded opposed: Partridge

 

Water, wastewater and stormwater staffing

When the water rates budget was approved in December, the addition of six full time staff positions was deferred until a business case was presented. Its recommendation that the positions be at “full time equivalent rate” was then amended to replaced that with two positions at $90,000, one at $120,000 and an extension of a temporary position for 36 months at a cost of $120,000 annually.

At General Issues Committee, March 23 Minutes p4, 10-11

Recorded opposed to both the amendment and the amended motion: Collins

 

Capital budget amendment

A summary of the number and cost of additional staff required by the capital budget was deferred in December. It was amended from $2,034,100 and 13.02 FTEs to $1,027,900 and 2.94 FTEs.

At General Issues Committee, March 23 Minutes p5, 12

Recorded opposed: Partridge

 

Budget: Tourism marketing incentives

budget enhancement (p52) of $200,000 annually was sought to fund market incentives to be used to attract conventions, meetings, sports and other events to Hamilton. This was in addition to $150,000 approved last year. A motion by Merulla to not provide this was defeated 5-7. A subsequent motion by Jackson to approve a $100,000 annual enhancement was approved 8-4.

At General Issues Committee, March 24 Minutes p 5-6 (5-7) (8-4)

For not providing: Collins, Green, A Johnson, B Johnson, Merulla

Against not providing: Conley, Farr, Jackson, Pearson, Skelly, Vanderbeek, Whitehead

Absent: Eisenberger, Ferguson, Partridge, Pasuta

For providing $100,000: Conley, Farr, Jackson, A Johnson, Pearson, Skelly, Vanderbeek, Whitehead

Against providing $100,000: Collins, Green, B Johnson, Merulla

Absent: Eisenberger, Ferguson, Partridge, Pasuta

 

Budget: Arts Week

budget enhancement (p53) of $25,000 to partner with the Hamilton Arts Council in an Arts Week program in the first week of June was approved 9-3.

At General Issues Committee, March 24 Minutes p 7 (9-3)

For: Collins, Farr, Green, Jackson, A Johnson, Merulla, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead

Against: Conley, B Johnson, Skelly

Absent: Eisenberger, Ferguson, Partridge, Pasuta

 

Budget: Extending the spray pad operations

budget enhancement (p57) of $87,300 to extend operation of city spray pads to open at the end of May or when a heat advisory is issued was turned down by committee.

At General Issues Committee, March 24 Minutes p 7

Recorded opposed: Jackson, B Johnson, Whitehead

 

Budget: Fallen fire fighters memorial

A post-budget book enhancement of $125,000 for a fallen fire fighters memorial funded from the unallocated capital budget was approved 10-2.

At General Issues Committee, March 24 Minutes p 8 (10-2)

For: Collins, Conley, Farr, Jackson, A Johnson, Merulla, Pearson, Skelly, Vanderbeek, Whitehead

Against: Green, B Johnson

Absent: Eisenberger, Ferguson, Partridge, Pasuta

 

Budget: Living wage

A motion by Green to increase pay for all part-time city staff to a living wage by July 1, 2018 at an annual cost of $793,000 was defeated 3-9. A subsequent motion to phase in the increase over four years was also defeated.

At General Issues Committee, March 24 Minutes p 8-9 (3-9) (4-8)

For initial motion: Green, Farr, A Johnson

Against: Collins, Conley, Jackson, B Johnson, Merulla, Pearson, Skelly, Vanderbeek, Whitehead

Absent: Eisenberger, Ferguson, Partridge, Pasuta

For subsequent motion: Green, Farr, A Johnson, Whitehead

Against: Collins, Conley, Jackson, B Johnson, Merulla, Pearson, Skelly, Vanderbeek

Absent: Eisenberger, Ferguson, Partridge, Pasuta

 

LRT tabling

Committee heard over 30 delegations on the LRT environmental assessment report before voting to defer this to the April 19 GIC meeting.

At General Issues Committee, March 28 Report p17

Recorded opposed to tabling: Green

 

LRT Bay Street stop

Staff presented an information report on the implications of adding a Bay Street stop to the LRT as proposed by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. A motion to provisionally include the additional stop that could be removed if the project is over budget was defeated 7-8.

At General Issues Committee, March 28 Report p18-19 (7-8)

For: Eisenberger, Green, Farr, Ferguson, A Johnson, Merulla, Whitehead

Against: Collins, Conley, Jackson, B Johnson, Partridge, Pearson, Skelly, Vanderbeek

Absent: Pasuta

 

Aberdeen Avenue traffic calming

Staff recommendations for traffic safety measures on Aberdeen Avenue were presented to the March 20 Public Works Committee and adopted with an amendment that removed a change that would have allowed morning rush hour parking on the north side between Dundurn and Studholme. At City Council a motion by A Johnson reversed this change. An amendment to that amendment by Ferguson directed staff to review the traffic calming measures and report back in eight months. The second amendment was approved 11-3. The combined amendments then were approved 9-5.

At City Council, March 29 Minutes p9-10 (11-3) (9-5)

For requiring an eight month review: Collins, Eisenberger, Green, Farr, Ferguson, Jackson, B Johnson, A Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pearson

Against: Conley, Skelly, Whitehead

Absent: Pasuta, Vanderbeek

For the amended motion: Collins, Eisenberger, Green, Farr, B Johnson, A Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pearson

Against: Conley, Ferguson, Jackson, Skelly, Whitehead

Absent: Pasuta, Vanderbeek

 

Eastwood arena

At the March 21 Planning Committee a motion by Farr was approved to have staff meet with him and the north end community on what potential there is for upgrades to Eastwood Arena “by contemplating a development partnership that may include new housing opportunities and a public parkade”.

At City Council, March 29 Minutes p11

Recorded opposed: Whitehead

Hamilton behind on growth fees

HSR riders left behind