Author: Councillor Brad Clark

With the recent Ontario government announcement of provincial parks reopening for passive use, and after consultation with the City of Hamilton’s Emergency Operations Centre, HCA will begin preparations to re-open its conservation areas. On Wednesday, May 13, Hamilton Conservation Authority conservation areas will be accessible for passive recreation only, such as hiking, biking and bird-watching. All on-site facilities (including washroom buildings, pavilions, Trail Centre and gatehouses, etc.) will remain closed. 

Waterfall and escarpment areas, including Dundas Peak, Spencer Gorge, Devil’s Punchbowl and Tiffany Falls are not included in this opening due to their limited size and capacity to physical distance. Camping and marina operations will resume at a later date following provincial directions and waterfall and escarpment areas will reopen last.

The areas opening on May 13 include:

• Christie Lake
• Dundas Valley
• Eramosa Karst – (Ward 9)
• Fifty Point
• Fletcher Creek
• Valens Lake and Westfield Heritage Village.

All visitors must follow emergency measures and guidelines to allow these areas to remain open safely. Such measures will be posted onsite and include:

• Practice physical distancing by staying 2 metres (6 feet) apart from other users.
• Do not gather or arrange to meet friends or other groups. 
• Pets must be leashed at all times. 
• Pack out what you pack in.
• Use of picnic tables or pavilions is not permitted

Trail etiquette is always important, and responsible public use will allow us to safely operate these areas.

The areas that will remain closed include:

• Crooks Hollow
• Spencer Gorge
• Dundas Peak
• Tew Falls
• Webster Falls
• Tiffany Falls
• Devil’s Punchbowl (Ward 9)
• Borer’s Falls
• Spencer Adventure Trail

Off-season admission fees will apply. Most Hamilton Conservation Authority areas are accessible by auto-gates and can be accessed with our membership pass or electronic methods of payment. Membership pass sales and renewals will continue to be processed online through https://conservationhamilton.ca/product-category/hca-membership/ and sent out to purchasers by mail.

HCA members who require immediate renewals due to an expired pass may call 905-525-2181 or email nature@conservationhamilton.ca to make an appointment for curbside pick-up at the reception area of the main office at 838 Mineral Springs Road, Ancaster. Appointments can be made Monday through Wednesday, 9 AM to noon and Thursdays and Fridays from 1 PM to 4 PM.

This morning I participated in a virtual consultation with Provincial Government Officials and business owners organized by MPP Donna Skelly.  The feedback through the “Economic Impacts of COVID-19: A Virtual Discussion with MPP Donna Skelly” will be forwarded to the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee.

We heard from several business leaders, BIAs, charities,
not-for-profits, and NGOs expressing their concerns and the impacts on their businesses as a result of the lock down. Some spoke to the reopening of the economy and the inequities in the current phasing. There were questions as to why some retail operations are permitted to open while other retail stores are ordered to remain closed. Concerns were raised about the hospitality industry and the impact of social distancing orders. Others spoke to the banquet and convention operations and the impacts of minimizing gatherings to just five people. I have heard that this is a real challenge for couples planning to marry. There were also issues regarding what is deemed essential and non-essential in the construction industry.

Candidly, my observations are that the reopening of the economy through a phased approach to protect the public health is likely more complicated than the original shut down. Surely, we can put in place health and safety rules for the industries and sectors of the economy to operate while protecting their employees and costumers.

My hope is that we can restart the economy while effectively protecting the
public health through the inevitable second wave. Unfortunately, that may mean the use of enforceable quarantine orders on confirmed cases and their households rather than the sequestering of the entire population to their homes.

Closing the economy down again could prove to be disastrous for many businesses and their employees.

If your business or organization operates in Ward 9 and I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to call my office at 905 546-2703, my private cell 905 977-0679, or email me at brad.clark@hamilton.ca 

We worked together to protect our families from COVID-19, now lets work together to restart the Ontario Economy. 

Highland Green Park or Pond #64 is a wet pond with both the forebay and main cell requiring clean out in 2020 to remove accumulated sediments and restore the functionality of providing water quality treatment of surface storm runoff originating from the surrounding developed lands.

This storm water management pond is within a regulated area of the Eramosa Karst Provincial Earth Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. Accordingly, the City of Hamilton has secured a permit from the Hamilton Conservation Authority for the work to proceed.

Contractors will gain access from Shadetree Crescent with a mud mat installed at the entrance. The laydown and storage area will be located in the space between the site entrance and the main cell, with light-duty fiber barrier surrounding this area.

The Karst features to the north will be protected from any unintentional sendiment flow by light-duty fiber barriers.

The work will involve the following steps:

• The construction site will be protected with construction fence to prevent access. The fence will be installed on the south side to prevent access along the path from Fairhaven Drive and the path into the facility on the northwest side along Richdale Drive. 
• Sediment Sampling – will be done by a qualified professional to determine the chemical composition of the accumulated sediment, and to determine the best method for disposal or beneficial re-use.  No dredging works will be allowed to proceed until the Engineer’s recommendations have been provided to the City.
• Fish & Wildlife Rescue – The Contractor will not be authorized to proceed with any work, including pumping activities, until the qualified Biologist has: (1) evaluated the site; (2) provided documentation to the City that no fish rescue is required; or (3) carried out a fish rescue. Once the City has confirmed the receipt of the Biologist’s documentation, the City Project Manager will provide the Contractor with written authorization to proceed.
• Pump By-Pass – The Contractor will set up a dam and pump to by-pass any incoming flows to the facility from the street and routed around the west side of the main cell into the outlet structure. The pump suction head intake will be protected with fine mesh screen.
• Sediment Removal – Prior to removing sediment, the Contractor is to de-water the work area.  All de-watering activities are to discharge to sediment bags, for filtering purposes which will be located on the north-east side of the main cell, above the top of bank.  Sediment within the facility will then be stockpiled within the sloped area of the facility and be allowed to de-water.  Once the sediment has sufficiently de-watered, it will be put into dump trucks and transported off-site to a suitable disposal location. 
• Erosion and Sediment Control – Silt sacks will be used within the street catch basins to capture any free sediment that may become mobilized during hauling of material off-site.  The grating of the outlet structure of the facility is to be covered with filter cloth, to prevent sediment from leaving the work area. Heavy duty silt fence barrier (OPSD 219.130) will be installed on the north side top of bank of the main cell. Additional preventative measures, such as silt socks or coir rolls, maybe be required and will be stored on-site.
• All disturbed areas will be restored using the OSC Early Succession Wet Meadow mix for restoration areas within the facility, sourced from Ontario Seed Company.

A quick drive through Ward 9 reveals thoughtful expressions of thanks to our essential workers.

If you have pics of other signs or addresses that I should visit, please share at brad.clark@hamilton.ca

Modified delivery of some City of Hamilton services

Many City services have continued throughout the pandemic including essential services, support services to those essential services, and services that can be accessed by the public online.

The Emergency Operations Centre announced the restart of some City services. There are some services we can restart on a modified basis in a way that ensures we continue to adhere to the provincial orders and the health and safety of our staff and the community.

As part of this restart, we will be implementing physical distancing practices, staggering hours and increasing cleaning practices. Restarting these modified services is critical to maintaining our facilities as the seasons change. Generally, the services include:

• Grass cutting
• Waste and litter collection in parks and in the right-of-ways
• Asset safety inspections
• Critical park maintenance
• Burials in City cemeteries
• Some work at Gage Park Greenhouse
• Some pre-work for the fall Mum Show
• Annual road maintenance programs will operate at reduced staffing levels due reduction of student resources and full-time staff will be redeployed to fill those duties
• Cleanup of all escarpment crossings
• Enhanced by-law enforcement related to property standards calls
• Parking maintenance staff will do spring maintenance on surface lots including pothole filling, line painting and minor repairs.
• Parking labourers will also be assisting with garbage and litter pick-up in areas surrounding downtown parking facilities

For more information about the modified delivery of these services, visit: https://www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus/affected-city-services.

Ongoing enforcement of physical distancing and gatherings

City of Hamilton By-law Officers continue to use a progressive and education enforcement approach to help residents understand the City’s Physical Distancing by-law that prohibits certain activities and regulates physical distancing during the COVID-19 emergency. While no charges have been laid under this by-law to date, it continues to be in effect and the fine for individuals is $500, which could increase to $10,000 for a serious offence and up to $25,000 for repeat offences. Corporations may receive a fine of up to $50,000 for a first serious offence and up to $100,000 for repeat offences.

To help media and the public keep track of charges laid under the both the City’s Physical Distancing by-law and under the Emergency Measures and Civil Protection, stats have been added to the City’s website: https://www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus/faq-about-enforcement Numbers on this page will be updated daily.

Supports for community agencies and our vulnerable residents

The City will be allocating provincial funding to local social service providers and community organizations for COVID-19 services that support the ultimate goal of reducing community spread. The funding need has to have been generated by COVID-19 and would be needed by the requesting organization to continue to deliver critical services, hire additional staff and find ways to promote physical distancing and self-isolation to keep people safe and healthy.

For more information about criteria and to access the application, visit www.hamilton.ca/CovidFinancialSupports and click on Learn more about Funding for Social Service Providers and Community Organizations.

The First Ontario Centre continues to operate as an emergency overflow shelter. Currently, 50 residents are staying at the shelter.

Important HSR transit reminders

The City is reminding residents that public transit is for essential travel only. The public is asked to please not take public transit to pass some time during the day, transit is for essential trips only, such as going to work or a medical appointment. The public is also reminded to adhere to physical distancing measures and not sit in seats that have been blocked off to promote physical distancing.

Any residents experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or going to an assessment centre for testing should not use public transit. They are asked to contact the Public Health hotline for more information on appropriate transportation to the testing sites: 905-974-9848 or phscovid19@hamilton.ca.