This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of December 2018. 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.
Rental housing pilot project
The rental housing sub-committee recommended a pilot licencing of rental operators in wards 1 and 8. Planning committee modified this to ask staff to bring forward a draft bylaw that would (A) “contemplate” such a pilot and (B) include education for landlords and tenants and possible financial help if this led to higher rents. A part (C) amendment required a “review of all affordable housing issues related to” such a project.
At Planning Committee, December 11 Minutes p14-15 (5-0) (4-1)
For parts A and B: Collins, Danko, Farr, Whitehead, Wilson
Against: none
Absent: Clark, Johnson, Partridge, Pearson
For Part C: Collins, Danko, Farr, Whitehead
Against: Wilson
Absent: Clark, Johnson, Partridge, Pearson
Condo conversion 115 Main East
Staff recommended approval of an application to convert the apartment building at 115 Main East to condominiums. This was approved by the planning committee and subsequently ratified by city council
At City Council, December 19 Minutes p11
Recorded opposed: Nann
Condo conversion 220 Dundurn South
Staff recommended approval of an application to convert the apartment building at 115 Main East to condominiums. This was approved by the planning committee and subsequently ratified by city council
At City Council, December 19 Minutes p11
Recorded opposed: Nann
User fees
Staff recommended approval of changes to user fees including a 10 cent increase in transit fares, and committee agreed.
At General Issues Committee December 18 Minutes p9
At City Council, December 19 Minutes p11-12
Recorded opposed: Danko, Wilson
Composting facility
In closed session general issues committee discussed and agreed to receive a “regulatory update” respecting the central composting facility. The staff report was not made public.
At General Issues Committee December 18 Minutes p20
Opposed to going into closed session: Clark
Opposed to “subsection (b): Clark
At City Council, December 19 Minutes p11-12
Recorded opposed: Clark, Danko
Commercial relationship
The audit, finance and administration committee considered “the commercial relationship between the City of Hamilton and Century Group Inc” in camera and unanimously decided to keep the staff report secret but release the decision publicly after city council approval. However at city council, an amendment was approved to defer this matter to the January meeting of the committee “to provide the proponent with an opportunity to be a delegation”.
At City Council, December 19 Minutes p12
Recorded opposed to the amendment: Ferguson
Cannabis retail sales
Staff recommended that cannabis retail stores be permitted to operate in Hamilton. An initial motion to refer the matter to a January meeting was defeated 6-7 and the recommendation itself was defeated by a similar 6-7 motion. A subsequent motion by Merulla to permit the retail stores resulted in the matter being referred to a special council meeting on January 14. At city council further amendments were made that demanded revenue sharing by the province and seeking a staff report on “projected economic uplift” to Hamilton if the stores are approved.
At General Issues Committee, December 18 Minutes p1-12 (6-7) (6-7) (7-6)
For referral (first vote): Clark, Eisenberger, Farr, Pauls, Vanderbeek, Whitehead
Against: Collins, Danko, Ferguson, Jackson, Merulla, Pearson, Wilson
Absent: Johnson, Nann, Partridge
For the recommendation (first vote): Clark, Eisenberger, Farr, Vanderbeek, Whitehead, Wilson
Against: Collins, Danko, Ferguson, Jackson, Merulla, Pauls, Pearson
Absent: Johnson, Nann, Partridge
For referral (second vote): Clark, Eisenberger, Farr, Pauls, Vanderbeek, Whitehead, Wilson
Against: Collins, Danko, Ferguson, Jackson, Merulla, Pearson
Absent: Johnson, Nann, Partridge
At City Council, December 19 Minutes p13-16
Recorded opposed to the amended motion: Collins, Partridge