Uncategorized

SERVICE DISRUPTION – CYBERSECURITY INCIDENT

The City of Hamilton has been experiencing a cyber incident since Sunday, February 25, 2024, that has disabled some of our IT systems.

The following notice has been provided through the Emergency Operation Centre. Ward 9 will continue to post these updates.

The City has engaged with cyber security experts, insurers, legal counsel, and relevant authorities and has taken swift action to investigate, protect systems, and minimize the impact, which are key priorities as the City continues to contain the breach.

Presently, it is too early to identify what type of information has been accessed.

Critical services such as transit, water and wastewater treatment and emergency services are operational.

NOTE: The Customer Contact Centre is operational and able to take phone calls from residents, 905-546-2489 (CITY). As their team is on a reduced capacity, we ask for the public’s patience while the team triages phone calls.

Systems used for online payment are affected. Where possible, City staff are processing routine transactions manually and/or accepting cash.

As the investigation and response to this situation is ongoing, the City must be sensitive about what information is shared. The City will proactively provide updates as they become available.

Overview of City services and their status

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Property Taxes:

• Taxpayers should make payments at their financial institution (at their branch or through online banking) or by mail.
• The City’s Municipal Service Centres are open, however with some service restrictions.
• For taxpayers enrolled in the City’s pre-authorized payment plans, scheduled withdrawals may be delayed.
• Lawyers requiring tax certificates for closings will need to plan to readjust after closing once the disruption has been resolved.

The following online tools for tax are offline:

• eBilling Portal
• Property Inquiry Tool
• Tax.Hamilton.ca

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Ontario Works and Special Supports:

Ontario Works offices, including the Special Supports program, remain open to the public.

• Monthly payments will be issued.
• Communications for both programs either through phone and/or MyBenefits are impacted.
• In-person meetings are cancelled,

For assistance with funeral benefits, please visit the office in person at 1550 Upper James St, Unit 14A.

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Accounts Payable Information for City Vendors:

Staff are currently  unable to access the system to process Accounts Payable payments to vendors.

• Vendors are requested to continue sending invoices to the City of Hamilton using your normal process.
• Payment processing will resume after systems are restored.

If you have any questions, please contact genap@hamilton.ca

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Transfer Stations / Community Recycling Centres:

Software applications and systems used at the Transfer Stations/Community Recycling Centers are not available. Cash is the only payment method accepted at this time.

The following online tools for waste and recycling are offline:

• Replacement Green Bin or Blue Box Online Application
• Bulk Pickup Request
• Waste Special Consideration Request
• Ordering Additional Trash Tags Request

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Red Hill Family Centre:

The Red Hill Family Centre is fully operational aside from phone lines being down. Please contact the onsite Supervisor directly should you need assistance.

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Child Care Fee Subsidy:

Offices are closed, though staff remain available to support clients.

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Child Care Referrals:

Therapeutic referral for child care intake cannot receive faxed forms at this time. Please send therapeutic referrals by email to cctc@hamilton.ca.

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Telephone Lines:

All City telephone lines except for the Customer Contact Centre 905-546-2489 (CITY) are currently down. People calling the Customer Contact Centre will experience extended wait times as capacity is limited.

Includes:

• City Councillor phone lines
• Direct lines to program areas

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Transit:

• The HSR now app is offline. PDF bus schedules are available on the City’s website.
• HSR’s email and phone lines are not operational at this time.
• Bus Operators will be driving without the aid of the computerized onboard schedule, so your understanding and patience is appreciated.
• The bus stop annunciators are not operational at this time. Please ask your Bus Operator if you require assistance.
• The myRide app for on demand transit in Waterdown is available for booking online.
• DARTS service is operating normally. DARTS can be reached by phone at 905-539-1717.
• PRESTO payments are not affected by this outage.

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Hamilton Water:

The City’s water and wastewater systems are unaffected by cyber incident and there will be no disruption to those services. Customer service programs are impacted and delays should be expected.

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Municipal Service Centres and Citizen Service Centre (City Hall):

Centres are open with service restrictions. Property tax payments can made via your financial institution.

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Provincial Offences Administration Office:

Provincial Offences Office is open and courts are running as scheduled.

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GIS Systems (City mapping): 

All GIS systems are down which means the City’s mappings on the website, are unable to be viewed.

Includes access to:

• Interactive Zoning Mapping
• Find My Ward

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Recreation/Senior Centres, Arenas, Golf Courses:

Are fully operational aside from phone lines being down. Should you need assistance, please visit a recreation facility directly. At this point, there are no anticipated impacts to Spring Program registration.

• The Senior Centre Without Walls program is cancelled during the outage as it uses our phone system.
• The pool at Kanétskare Recreation Centre is closed due the emergency phone line that is currently not operational. The facility is still open and there are no impacts to gym and land programs.

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Long-term Care Homes:

Macassa and Wentworth lodges are unable to receive phone calls. Residents, families and all others are asked to please contact either:

• Macassa Lodge reception at businessoffice.macassalodge@hamilton.ca or call 905-973-3954 (Monday through Friday) 8 am to 4 pm
• Wentworth Lodge reception at businessoffice.wentworthlodge@hamilton.ca or call 289-442-6253 (Monday through Friday) 8:40 am to 4:30 pm

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Council & Committee Meetings:

All Committee meetings scheduled for the week of February 26 to March 1 have been cancelled due to ongoing system outage issues.
Please note that there is no internet access in Council Chambers.

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Online City Services:

Impacts to online payment processing for the following Online Services:

• Fire Prevention Service Request (inspections, file search, education, etc)
• Open Air Burn Permits
• Dog Licensing (new & renew)
• Animal Services Donations
• Business Licensing/Permit Payments

Online Systems Down

• ePLANS – Online Building Permits
• Online Zoning Verification/Property Report Application
• Job Applications Portal
• Marriage License Online Application
• Public Health Inspection Results (Food Safety, Public Pools & Spas, Personal Services etc.)

Websites

• Hamilton Public Library Website & Catalogue
• Red Book of Hamilton: Directory of Community Services
• Hamilton Farmers’ Market
• Food Access Guide – Hamilton

Date 2024-02-28 12:40

Please note that the Case Management Conference identifies the parties, the participants, the issues, the startig date of the hearing, the duration of the hearing, any motions etc. If any resident wishes to be a participant or a party to the hearing they should review the above document and contact the OLT case co-ordinator. The Case Management Conference will be held virtually on March 26th at 10am.

Please see the link below for more information. A full overview of the Case Management Conference begins on page 12

Click to access Hearings-Guide.pdf

Re:  Development Proposal for subject property at 1065 Paramount Drive

There will be a non-statutory public meeting on as part of the Planning Committee Meeting

February 6th, 2024 beginning at 9:30 am

City Hall, 71 Main Street West, Hamilton, Council Chambers, 2nd Floor.

If you wish to delegate in person, submit a video comment or submit a written comment please contact the City of Hamilton Clerk’s office at clerk@hamilton.ca

Here is a synopsis of where we are today.

On January 3, 2024 at 9:45am, I received the following email message from our planning staff, “This email is (sic) to let you know that we have a report recommending denial for the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications at 1065 Paramount Drive which will be before the Planning Committee on January 16^th.  The notice of public meeting is expected to go out on January 9^th to those who wrote in, those who are within the required notification distance and will be posted in the Hamilton Spectator.”

Coincidently, on January 3, 2024 @ 12:12pm, I was advised by the developer’s planner that after being briefed by city planning staff on their concerns and their recommendation to deny the application, the developer filed an OLT appeal for a non-decision, 411 days after the original submission. As a result of this OLT appeal, the public is denied an opportunity to delegate to the committee as part of a planning hearing. After being advised of this situation, I worked with staff to request a very rare non-statutory meeting which provides the opportunity for residents to be formally heard at the planning Committee on February 6, 2024. These presentations will help our planning staff understand the level of concern on this project. These concerns will be considered as part of Council and staff’s deliberations to prepare our response to the appeal at the OLT.

At the Council meeting on  January  24, 2024, I successfully argued for the following amendment, “That staff prepare an information report in order to provide the public with the process staff followed with respect to the Urban Hamilton Official Plan Amendment Application UHOPA-23-005 and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZAC-23-006 for Lands Located at 1065 Paramount Drive, Stoney Creek, including the rational for staff’s position on the matter and the history of the activities between the developer and the Planner.”

You can find that discussion by using this link, https://www.youtube.com/live/DIQ6CNmYXO4?si=7EtnfyudddeIu70d&t=2811

I would be remiss if I did not indicate that I am proud of the amount and quality of work completed by Senior Planner James Van Rooi. His prompt responses to my office and residents’ queries was appreciated by all. I am grateful that his comprehensive review of this application resulted in an intended recommendation to deny the OPA and rezoning.

For any resident wishing to speak in person or virtually at the non-statutory public meeting, you can file your request through this form: https://www.hamilton.ca/city-council/council-committee/council-committee-meetings/request-speak-committee-council

Members of the public who cannot attend in person or virtually you can provide comments in writing via mail or email in advance of the meeting on February 6, 2024. Comments can be submitted by emailing clerk@hamilton.ca or by mailing the Legislative Coordinator of the respective Committee, City of Hamilton, 71 Main Street West, 1st Floor, Hamilton, Ontario, L8P 4Y5. Comments must be received by noon the day before the meeting. Any written comments received after the deadline will be included on the next Council agenda.

Comments can also be placed in the drop box which is located at the back of the 1st Floor of City Hall, 71 Main Street West. All comments received by noon two business days before the meeting will be included in the agenda.

I hope this information is helpful for those wishing to be heard on this file.

On January 3, 2024 @ 9:45AM, I received the following email from Mr. James Van Rooi, Senior Planner (East Team), City of Hamilton, ^{“This email is to let you know that we have a report recommending denial for the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications at 1065 Paramount Drive which will be before the Planning Committee on January 16th.  The notice of public meeting is expected to go out on January 9th to those who wrote in, those who are within the required notification distance and will be posted in the Hamilton Spectator.”}

On the same day at 12:12PM, I received an email from Mr. John Ariens. Here is an exact quote from the email, ^{“Just prior to the holiday break we met with Planning Staff and discussed the remaining planning issues regarding this development project. We thought that our 2nd submission had addressed all of the remaining technical and design issues and we were disappointed to learn that Planning Staff were still not supportive. Primarily due to concerns raised by the neighborhood rather than any technical concerns ( traffic, servicing, etc).. We subsequently met with our client and discussed the public concerns and issues and a decision was made to refer the matter to the OLT due to a non-decision. In all likelihood this is where the matter will ultimately end up anyway given the public opposition and hence our client made this decision. We hope that we can continue liaison with City Planners and that the Hearing can be scoped to deal  with the outstanding issues only. I think we all agree that this is an ideal location for intensification and that only height and density are in debate.”}

I advised Mr. Ariens that I cannot express how profoundly disappointed I am with their decision to appeal based on a non-decision. I recalled their commitment to hold two public meetings and see this process through to the planning committee hearing.

The irony is not lost on me that it has been 411 days since their application was filed. Only after being advised that city planners would recommend denial on January 16, 2024, (the city’s decision point) did the Planner file an appeal on behalf of his client to the Ontario Lands Tribunal for a “non-decision”, which could have been filed 120 days after their first application.

What does their decision mean to residents?

The decision to appeal to the OLT “for a non-decision” circumvents the legislated planning committee process whereby the city planners would present their recommendation, the applicant would respond, and residents would have an opportunity to provide comments both written and verbally. Under Ontario planning law, residents who participate in the planning committee hearing reserves their right to participate in any OLT appeal of the decision.

Request for a Non-statutory Public Meeting

Council approved a new policy setting out procedures for OLT appeals on February 28, 2018. This policy makes it possible to hold a non-statutory public meeting to give residents the opportunity to present their concerns about the impacts caused by the development whether negative or positive. At such a meeting, it is possible to hear from our planning staff and the rationale why they were going to recommend denial of the zoning change.

Based on this policy, I drafted a motion with assistance from city staff to request a non-statutory meeting. I asked Councillor JP Danko to sponsor my motion at the planning committee. I am pleased to report that my motion passed unanimously at committee on January 16, 2024. This recommendation from the planning committee will be on the agenda for ratification at Council on January 24, 2024.

I have been advised that the non-statutory public meeting regarding the proposed application for 1065 Paramount Drive will be held by the planning committee at Hamilton city hall on February 6, 2024. At Council, I will also be asking my colleagues to direct planning staff to release their report to the public to give residents an opportunity to review their assessment and recommendations.

At Council, I will also be asking my colleagues to direct planning staff to release their report to the public to give residents an opportunity to review their assessment and recommendations.

MOTION: Request for a Non-statutory Public Meeting for 1065 Paramount Drive

Whereas Urban Hamilton Official Plan Amendment Application UHOPA-23-005 and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZAC-23-006 for Lands Located at 1065 Paramount Drive, Stoney Creek were received on November 18, 2022 and were deemed to be complete on December 13, 2022;

And whereas an appeal of these applications by the proponent for non-decision was received by the City Clerk’s Office on January 3, 2024, 411 days after the receipt of the applications;

And whereas the City of Hamilton adopted Council’s Procedures for Appeals on February 28, 2018;

(i) Where an appellant has agreed to postpone the scheduling of any hearing event until such time as Planning Committee has had an opportunity to consider the matter and that agreement has been communicated to the Ontario Municipal Board or its successor, that Planning staff be directed to process those matters accordingly and bring those matters to Planning Committee at a non-statutory public meeting for consideration and for direction to be given to the City Solicitor;

(ii) Where an appellant does not agree as described in (i), that Planning and Legal Services be directed to report back on the specific matter for further instructions or direction;

(iii) That the City Solicitor be instructed to oppose these appeals until such time as further instruction is given on any specific appeal.

Now therefore it be resolved: That staff be directed to schedule a non-statutory public meeting and give notice in accordance with the notice requirements of the Planning Act for Urban Hamilton Official Plan Amendment Application UHOPA-23-005 and Zoning By-law Amendment Application ZAC-23-006 for Lands Located at 1065 Paramount Drive, Stoney Creek.