How they voted in April

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

Coliseum upgrade

In response to a privately funded study on the First Ontario Centre (formerly Copps Coliseum) that offered renewal options of either $68 million or $252 million, staff recommended receiving the report and conduct further investigation. An amendment by Eisenberger directed staff to “prepare a terms of reference” for the further investigation and report back to the general issues committee.

At General Issues Committee, April 6 Minutes p17-18

Opposed to the amendments: Collins, Green, Merulla, Partridge

 

Poverty reduction plan

A motion by Collins to establish a ten-year $50 million poverty reduction reserve fund was unanimously approved after an amendment by Green. The amendment directed that $1 million a year be invested “toward Indigenous-led poverty reduction and affordable housing”. The funding will come from delaying payback of city loans from the Future Fund and using $3 million a year from utilities dividends. At city council a motion by Collins to table Green’s amendment was approved.

At General Issues Committee, April 6 Minutes p19-20 (14-0)

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

Against: none

Absent: B Johnson, Pasuta

At City Council, April 12 Minutes p5

Recorded opposed to tabling: Green, A Johnson

 

Transitional living program

In response to a delegation from the YWCA on the Transitional Living Program, a motion by Green directed staff to meet with the YWCA and report back on “what meetings took place between staff and the YWCA during the last year, who attended those meetings, what was discussed at those meetings and what, if any, results came from those meetings”. A second part of the motion asked about available funds for the program.

At Emergency and Community Services Committee April 10 Minutes p3, 7-8

Recorded opposed to first part of the motion: Whitehead

 

Safe injection sites

Council received a letter from MP David Sweet raising concerns about a federal bill on safe injection sites that would allow placement “without consultation” with the city. A staff recommendation that the letter be referred to the Medical Officer of Health was approved.

At City Council, April 12 Minutes p5

Recorded opposed: Green

 

Budget approval

The 2017 operating budget was formally approved by council but the following items were opposed by individual councillors.

At City Council, April 12 Minutes p10-11

Police Services budget

Recorded opposed: Green

Living wage rejection

Recorded opposed: Green, A Johnson, Whitehead

Transit budget

Recorded opposed: Green

Tourism strategy funding of $100,000 annually

Recorded opposed: Green, B Johnson

Arts week implementation funding of $25,000

Recorded opposed: B Johnson

 

Music on patios

Staff recommended a temporary use by-law to permit live or recorded music on patios in downtown Hamilton and Dundas and some additional locations. Committee heard from several delegations and amended the recommendation respecting specific locations before approval. Further amendments were made at council.

At Planning and Economic Development Committee, April 18 Minutes p3-5, 10-13

Recorded opposed: Collins, B Johnson, Pearson

At City Council, April 26 Minutes p5-8

Recorded opposed: Pearson

 

LRT environmental project report

After hearing from 470 delegations and receiving 245 pieces of correspondence (187 for the LRT and 68 opposed), councillors referred a decision on the LRT environmental report to city council by a vote of 8-7. At council, the environmental report was approved for submission to the province by a vote of 10-5.

At General Issues Committee, April 19 Minutes p8-19 (8-7)

For referral:  Collins, Conley, Jackson, Partridge, Pearson, Skelly, VanderBeek, Whitehead

Against: Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, A Johnson, B Johnson, Merulla

Absent: Pasuta

At City Council, April 26 Minutes p5-8

For approval:  Collins, Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, Jackson, A Johnson, Merulla, VanderBeek, Whitehead

Against: Conley, B Johnson, Partridge, Pearson, Skelly

Absent: Pasuta 

Endangered species and spaces

City abandons pipeline fight