City into major decisions
Bike lanes may be improved
June 15, 2020
During the pandemic, city decisions and debates have been limited to special meetings of city council, but starting this week, there is a return to meetings of the standing committees and a somewhat increased opportunity for the public input that has been severely restricted over the past three months. Some items on the agendas this coming week include cycling lanes, transit cutbacks, sewage releases, backyard chickens, Uber fees, more homeless relief and the ongoing public health response to the pandemic.
Citizen participation is limited to written submissions. The meetings will continue to be digital, not in-person, so attendance is not possible, although the live video of the meetings remains available through the city website. For some planning matters, staff are recommending that residents be allowed to submit video presentations on some matters instead of just written comments.
Changes to fees levied on ride-sharing companies like Uber are on the agenda of Tuesday’s planning committee meeting. Staff are recommending a per ride charge that has been introduced in other cities. The meeting will also receive and may or may not debate two citizen requests to allow backyard chickens in Dundas that argue the pandemic lockdown is another reason to get rid of the current city ban.
On Tuesday afternoon the Board of Health meeting looks at how over 300 Public Health staff have responded to the pandemic. This will include a report on how the city has distributed nearly $6 million to various community organizations. The funds have mainly been provided by the federal and provincial governments.
It’s the turn of the Public Works Committee on Wednesday with a string of controversial issues before it. One is a proposal to once again put off promised improvements to the HSR. Staff are recommending postponement of planned purchases of new buses and expansion of services that were approved in March and originally promised as part of the ten-year transit strategy. If this delay is approved, the strategy will be now take at least twelve years to complete.
The same meeting will unveil multiple measures to inform the public about expected and on-going release of sewage into streams and the harbour being implemented in response to the public outrage dubbed the sewergate scandal. Later this month, if approved, the city website will include “a live combined sewer overflow and wastewater treatment plan bypass monitoring map.” The new protocol will include “pre-storm media releases”, more use of social media, and signage at sewer outfalls.
Cycling and pedestrian enhancements are also on Wednesday’s agenda as Hamilton joins every other large city in Canada with steps to make it easier and safer to get around without a car. The proposals include four new bike lanes – all in the lower city – and “enhanced physical separations” on half a dozen existing bike lanes. Where agreeable to ward councillors, there will be“temporary traffic calming measures and signage on select residential streets that have been identified in the Cycling Master Plan as signed bike routes.”
Other parts of this “COVID-19 Recovery Phased Mobility Plan” offer to “remove the rush hour restrictions and/or no parking restrictions in order to provide for additional on-street parking capacity and pick-up/delivery capacity to support local businesses”. Adding more parking and “short-term pick-up and delivery zones” to assist businesses are also being proposed.
Ending off the week on Friday the Emergency and Community Services Committee will consider plans to continue emergency housing and enhanced drop-in services as well as some shelter renovations for Hamilton’s homeless. Federal and provincial grants of $9.5 million for these purposes are expected to be exhausted by August, and the city will seek at least another $6.5 million to cover costs to the end of June 2021.
