Winter Response Readiness

Posted on by lyndzeefreeman

Exposure to cold weather can be harmful to your health. Wind always makes it feel colder, and increases the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. During extreme cold weather conditions, please call, visit, or check on vulnerable family, friends, and neighbours. 

The City of Hamilton has notified community agencies who work with people who are vulnerable and experiencing homelessness. City of Hamilton Recreation Centres and Hamilton Public Library branches are available as warming spaces during regular business hours. For more information visit www.hamilton.ca/cold.  

The City of Hamilton has launched an enhanced Winter Response Strategy to support unhoused and vulnerable residents, which will be in effect daily from December 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. For more information visit www.hamilton.ca/WinterResponse. 

The best place for you during a Cold Weather Alert is indoors. If you must be outside:

  • Dress in layers of clothing. Keep inner layers dry. Wet clothing increases the risk of cold injury.
  • Protect your face, ears and hands with a scarf, hat, and gloves.
  • To protect your feet, socks must be dry. Wool is a good material to keep your feet dry.
  • Drink warm fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
  • Avoid strenuous exercise.

Key Winter Operations Facts: 

  • Preparedness: All storage facilities are continually stocked to ensure salt and sand is always available. The City typically uses 65,000 tons of salt annually, with 37,000 tons of storage, restocked when used. 
  • Fleet & Staffing: The City has 115 in-house and 49 contracted combination plows, supported by an additional 177 pieces of winter equipment, including graders, loaders, and skid steers.  These resources are on standby and ready to respond to the event. 
  • De-Icing Materials: The City primarily uses brine to anti-ice roadways when conditions allow and treat the roads with rock salt prior, during and after events.  When temperatures drop and salt becomes more ineffective, we switch to a salt/sand mix to provide traction. 
  • Plowing Activation: We actively have combination plows stationed on escarpment accesses and priority routes prior to precipitation. Staff apply material and plow as required in order to meet Council approved Levels of Service.  

Key Reminders for Residents: 

  • Park in driveways when possible, to allow plows to clear streets more effectively. 
  • Avoid unnecessary travel, and drive cautiously, giving snowplows and salt trucks plenty of space. 
  • Carry an emergency kit in vehicles and allow extra travel time. 
  • It is an offense under the Highway Traffic Act (Section 181) to deposit snow onto roadways. 
  • Report hazardous road conditions by calling (905) 546-CITY (2489). 

Valley Park Play Your Way Survey

Posted on by lyndzeefreeman

Help Us Improve Your Playground!

In Winter of 2025, the City is offering an online survey to the public as an opportunity to gain insight into the features that the community would like to have included in the replacement playground design. We want to hear from you! Take just a few minutes to fill out our survey and share your thoughts on what features and equipment you’d like to see in the new playground.

Your input is important in creating a fun, safe space for everyone to enjoy. Click here to take the survey.

Thank you for your feedback!

Auto Theft Prevention Tips

Posted on by lyndzeefreeman

Auto car insurance concept on a smartphone screen with a car in the background

Auto Theft Prevention: Tips to Protect Your Vehicle

Within the first three weeks of 2025, over 50 cars were stolen in Hamilton. While certain vehicles may be more attractive to thieves, no car is immune to theft. By taking a few precautions, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of your vehicle becoming a target.

  • Lock your car: Always lock your vehicle, even if you’re just stepping away for a moment. Never leave your vehicle running unattended.
  • Hide valuables: Thieves are often attracted to items left in plain sight. Don’t leave electronics, bags, or even loose change visible inside your car.
  • Park securely: Choose well-lit, busy areas or secure parking lots, and consider parking in a garage or behind a locked gate when possible.
  • Consider anti-theft devices: Steering wheel locks, tire locks, or an automatic engine shut-off can deter thieves and make it harder to drive off with your car.
  • Install an immobilizer: A vehicle immobilizer will prevent the engine from starting without the proper key or code.
  • Block signals: Store your car key fob in a Faraday bag or box to prevent relay attacks, where thieves amplify the signal to unlock and start your car remotely.
  • Use a GPS tracking system: Install a GPS tracking device to help track and recover your vehicle if stolen.

By staying vigilant and taking these precautions, you can greatly reduce the chances of your car being stolen.

If your vehicle is stolen, report it to Hamilton Police via the non-emergency line at 905-546-4925. Have the following vehicle information ready:

  • Make, model, year, and colour of the vehicle
  • Plate number, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and insurance company and policy number
  • List of contents stolen from the vehicle
  • List of any identifying features, such as dents, scratches, or markings.

If you notice any suspicious activity in your neighborhood, contact your area Crime Manager. Alternatively, you can call the Hamilton Police non-emergency line at 905-546-4925. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 905-522-8477.

More information:

Warm-up thefts: https://www.facebook.com/HamiltonPolice/videos/1144747043866722

Protecting yourself and your property: https://hamiltonpolice.on.ca/prevention/protecting-yourself-and-your-property

Ontario Land Tribunal Allows 1065 Paramount Development to Proceed

Posted on by Councillor Brad Clark

The City has just received the OLT decision regarding 1065 Paramount. (see attached decision below).

The January 7 2025, decision permits the development to proceed with an eight-story apartment building with 191 units, and 123 stacked townhouse units with one level of underground parking and a total of 409 parking spaces.

The tribunal finds that “the Revised Proposal has regard to the applicable matters of provincial interest pursuant to s. 2 of the Act and is consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement 2024. It is located within a settlement area with transit service within convenient walking distance, and provides for intensification, higher densities, an efficient use of land and infrastructure, and a range and mix of housing types. Further, the Revised Proposal conforms to the UHOP, represents good land use planning and is in the public interest.”

Can an OLT Decision be Appealed ?

Ontario Land Tribunal decisions can be appealed through two possible options. A review can be requested of the Chair of the Ontario Lands Tribunal or through an application for a Judicial Review at the Ontario Divisional Court. An application for judicial review of an administrative decision (OLT) must be brought within thirty days of the decision being made, as set out in s. 5(1) of the Judicial Review Procedure Act.

In both cases, the application must provide any legal errors or a question of law, alleged to have been made by the decisionmaker. https://www.ontariocourts.ca/scj/files/pubs/guide-div-ct-judicial-review-EN.pdf

Councillor Brad Clark’s Comments

I am more than disappointed in this decision by the OLT. It is clear that the OLT is taking the recently revised provincial policy statement as aparmount in its decision. The revised policy has eliminated any opportunity for the city to successfully argue that the development is not within the character of the existing community. This change in provincial policy is specifically highlighted by the OLT in their decision to permit this development wherein the OLT stated, “the Revised Proposal has regard to the applicable matters of provincial interest pursuant to s. 2 of the Act and is consistent with the PPS 2024.”

I am equally disappointed that the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board chose not to participate in the hearing rather they indicated a willingness with the proponent to relocate the south pen to mitigate any impact from the loss of sunlight. The OLT wrote, “[54] Further, as a review agency, the School Board did not submit comments of concern to the City on the Applications, was notably absent from the merit hearing and did not seek Party or Participant status in the appeals. As discussed earlier, the School Board appears willing to consider the relocation of the south Pen. The Tribunal finds this to be a mitigating factor to any potential shadow impacts.

I am drafting a motion directing city staff to review the decision and provide any opportunities for the city to appeal this decision.

OLT Decision 1065 Paramount Development

Please click the download button below.

OLT-24-000051-JAN-07-2025Download