Author: Councillor Brad Clark

Declaration of Emergency for the City of Hamilton

HAMILTON, ON – The Provincial Government declared a State of Emergency on March 17, 2020, to stop the spread of COVID-19. By virtue of the provincial order, the City of Hamilton was also in a State of Emergency.

On April 16, the Province issued an emergency order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) to provide municipalities with the flexibility to deploy certain staff to where they are needed most. Provincial Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark, has informed all heads of council of this order and has requested all municipalities to sign a Declaration of Emergency. (See Minister Clark’s letter to Councils below)

This order is a temporary measure and provides municipalities the authority to take any reasonable measure necessary to respond to COVID-19 with respect to internal work deployment. 

City council met March 20, 2020, and provided delegated authority to staff in order to manage the COVID-19 emergency situation and to maintain vital city services that keep our community healthy and safe.

To exercise this authority as requested by the Province, I am declaring an emergency in the City of Hamilton under section 4 of the EMCPA concurrent with this order.

The declaration of an emergency by the City is a technical matter solely for the purpose of allowing us to redeploy staff and to use volunteers, if needed. There is no additional cause for concern by the people of Hamilton.

The action we are taking today is purely technical in response to a request by the Province that aligns us with a recent emergency order concerning emergency work.

We will continue to monitor and respond to this rapidly evolving situation to ensure we are providing the best support possible to the community as we work together to find our way through this challenging time.

Please continue to follow the advice of our public health teams to prevent the spread of the virus. For City of Hamilton COVID-19 updates, please visit www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus and www.hamilton.ca/covidclosures or call Public Health Services’ COVID-19 Hotline at 905-974-9848 or email phscovid19@hamilton.ca.

Visit www.ontario.ca/coronavirus to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

Temporary Leaf and Yard Collection Program

The City of Hamilton will start a temporary leaf and yard waste curbside collection program on Monday, April 20, 2020.

The City will collect leaf and yard waste bi-weekly, in alternating parts of the City. Beginning the week of April 20, with the communities of Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Glanbrook and Stoney Creek. Beginning the week of April 27, yard waste will be collected from homes on the Hamilton mountain and across the lower city.

The bi-weekly rotation will continue until late June, or longer if required.

Residents should ensure their leaf and yard waste is at the curb by 7 a.m. on Monday morning during the week of their pick up. City crews will pick up the bags or containers by the weekend.

This program change will help the City to manage reduced staffing levels resulting from the COVID-19 emergency. Residents are asked to please be patient with crews as we work to ensure leaf and yard waste collection can continue.

The City is continuing to pursue options for more waste collections staff, includingtraining staff from other divisions.

Please note that there is no change to the collection of garbage, recycling, green cart or bulk pick up.

The Heritage Green Community Trust Leash Free Dog Park has been closed as a result of the COVID-19 Provincial Order. The City has locked the gates and placed a closure sign on the fence.

Our staff, who have been monitoring our parks and playgrounds noticed that dog owners were congregating in close proximity to each other contrary to the provincial order prohibiting gatherings of five or more people. Accordingly, the City had to close the park until further notice.

When you are (“out and about”… it’s true, Canadians do say it) walking your dog, please give a wide birth to anyone that you meet along your way. Keep yourself and your family safe by practising physical distancing.

Stay safe – keep your distance.

Heritage Green Community Sports Park is located at 355 First Road West in Ward 9. The 32.57 hectare (80.5 acre) master planned sports park includes a number of high-quality soccer fields and ball diamonds. Park amenities include: 2 baseball diamonds, 4 natural and 1 artificial turf soccer pitches, a playground, spray pad, field house, walking pathways, multiple gravel parking lots. The park is also located next to the Heritage Green Community Trust dog park and walkways.

Over the past two decades, this park has undergone master plan consultation to create the current framework for the multi-phased implementation process.

In 2020, phase 7 of the master plan implementation will occur. The existing driveway and walkways will be extended to the intersection of Echovalley Drive and Stockbridge Gardens and will include:

• Installation of a 6m wide gravel driveway from the existing driveway, south to Echovalley Drive.
• Install a 3m wide screening pathway, connecting to the sidewalk at Echovalley Drive
• Add a paved driveway entrance at Echovalley Drive
• Add an access gate at the new entrance
• Relocation of one park light pole along the existing driveway
• Relocation of existing armour stones as required
• Restoration seeding

Progress

• Summer 2020 – Construction start anticipated July-August
• Spring 2020 – Project to be tendered in April-May
• 2019 – Detailed design using approved Master Plan as framework

http://www.hamilton.ca/heritagegreen

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Needed

The City of Hamilton is accepting donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) to provide much-needed resources for the city-wide response to COVID-19. The equipment will be provided to frontline workers, emergency responders and other healthcare professionals.

The City is accepting:

• surgical masks
• N95 masks
• impervious gowns
• gloves
• face shields
• swabs
• sanitizer

We are requesting these items from local businesses such as: healthcare providers, pest control, hospitality providers, nail salons, contractors and construction companies. Unfortunately, homemade equipment cannot be accepted.

To donate, please email ppe@hamilton.ca or call 905-546-2424 ext. 2257

I urge you to please consider checking your supplies and donating to assist in providing this crucial equipment to our frontline workers.

I remain gratefully yours,