Pedestrian & Cycling Issues Committee Meeting: March 2

The next meeting of the KNA’s Pedestrian and Cycling Issues Meeting is coming up!

March 2, 2009

7:30 pm

Stanley Avenue Baptist Church

For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact the chair of the committe (rather than reply on the site blog, please.)

Membership Meeting: Mar 12, 7 pm

The next membership meeting of the Kirkendall Neighbourhood Association:

Thursday, Mar. 12

7 pm

Stanley Avenue Baptist Church

Agenda will include:

- “Complete Streets” Presentation from Green Venture

- Update on Aberdeen Box Store Development Proposal

Memberships, and T-Shirts, will be available at the meeting!

Feel free to post a notice:

Poster for March Meeting

See you there!

Volunteers needed to keep driving logs

Friends and Participants of Kirkendall Walks:

How can we green our personal transportation?

All of us who are concerned about climate change know that some changes need to be made to the way folks get around. It’s easy to say get rid of cars, but obviously a lot harder to do that, and likely not very practical for most people. So what can be done? To find out, Environment Hamilton is trying to get more detailed information about how people currently use their vehicles – so we can offer practical assistance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We’d like you to help and we want to help you in return.

We’re looking for car owners to briefly keep a record of how and why they use their vehicle. Basically, you simply fill in a chart on your vehicle use over a four week period.

In return we’ll provide some observations and tips, give you a free pedometer (so you can keep track of how far you walk for as long as you want), and enter your name in a draw for two return-trip VIA Rail train tickets to Montreal.  

You can print the attached Vehicle Log (legal size paper) or request one to be mailed to your home.  Thank you in advance for your time and attention to this program.

Jarah and Beatrice
Kirkendall Walks Project
Environment Hamilton
905-549-0900
http://environmenthamilton.org/view/page/kirkendall_walks

Vehicle Log

NIGHT HIKE

For those with a taste for adventure in their own neighbourhood:

NIGHT HIKE  – With Iroquois Bruce Trail hike leader Richard Reble -

Thursday, Feb 26th, 7:00pm

This 1.5 – 2 hr. hike starts at the foot of the escarpment stairs on Dundurn St. S.  We’ll start precisely at 7:00 p.m. Bring a bottle of water and wear boots. If you haven’t yet experienced the blackness of the woods on a moonless night, it’s time you did.  Put aside your fear of the dark. Lighten up. Who knows what bright ideas might take shape in your mind when you are brave enough to step over to the dark side?

Optional pub stop to follow !

Second Annual KNA food drive: May 2

The 2nd Annual Kirkendall Food Drive, ‘Fill a Bus, Feed a Family’, will take place on Saturday,May 2nd . Please mark your calendars. We are beginning to recruit volunteers to distribute flyers and to collect food on the day of the drive. If you think you can help, or for information, call Mary Lou at 905-308-9678 or email mlr.reiman@gmail.com. Our first drive was very successful so please help us to surpass last year’s collection by donating food and volunteering if you can. The need is even greater in this time of economic downturn. Canadian Pharmacy with savings on lipitorCognitive side effects of LipitorLearn how LIPITORWhat you may not have been told on the drug LipitorLipitorFind medical information for LipitorSerious side effects have been reported for LipitorAll about Lipitor. Click here for LIPITOR Prescribing Information. Buy Lipitor How To Use LipitorSome people who have been using LipitorMy husband have been on lipitorGet unbiased reviews for weight loss programs like LipitorWhat is the most important information I should know about Lipitor. Find a lower price and we’ll beat it.  Make it a family affair. It’s a lot of fun and so important. Let’s show that Kirkendall Care 30+ Rogaine Hair Treatment Products Shop, Compare and Save at Pronto. Easy-To-Use, Fast-Drying Foam – Purchase Online And Save Up To 42%. Buy Rogaine 5% Rogaine, Rogaine Direct, Mens Rogain’e, Women’s Rogaine,Rogaine Foam, 4 month Auto Super Saver At Rogaine Direct you can shop privately and at yourA community about rogaine 5 percent. because Rogaine is the one of the few things I’m using and I don’t want toRogaine (5% minoxidil topical solution) For Men Extra Strength Please contact Pharmacia Consumer Healthcare at 1-800-ROGAINE (1-800-764-2463) for Product Insert. s!

Mid-winter report to community on snow clearing

A Message from Councillor McHattie’s Office:

We would like to thank everyone who has been working to keep the snow and ice clear from City sidewalks surrounding their properties this winter. With the amount of snow we have received so far this has become a larger than usual task!  Still, it is an important job – keeping the sidewalks and walkways clear of snow and ice improves the quality of life for all and helps reduce injuries caused by slips and falls.

As you are aware, Parking and By-Law Services has taken a more aggressive position in enforcing the Snow Removal By-law this winter season, providing educational information to the public as well as by making enforcement a high priority. Properties are investigated on a complaints basis, as well as based upon a proactive “hot-list” compiled from a list of locations which have been repeat offenders in the past.

At this time, we want to provide you with a report of the Municipal Law Enforcement Officers’ activity in Ward 1 in regards to enforcement of the Snow Removal By-Law from November 1, 2008 – January 27, 2009:

* investigated 493 addresses
* issued 216 Notices to Comply (First Offence)
* applied 70  Fee For Service costs ($233.00 added to the property taxes). Total = $16,310
* sent Public Works 70 workorders to clear and bill non-compliant properties (costs added to the property taxes)

24 hours after the end of each snowfall Parking & By-Law Services are reassigning 3 Special Enforcement officers to assist the current 4 Environmental officers to work on snow enforcment. In addition they are currently implementing mobile computing for their environmental officers which will enable them to pull complaints off the database and investigate in a more timely fashion.

Despite the increased enforcement and public education about the Snow Removal By-Law, residents continue to face challenges in walking around our neighbourhoods, as well as across the city due to sidewalks remaining unshovelled or slippery with a thick, icy buildup. In an effort to prevent this continuing challenge, in early 2008 Councillor McHattie began exploring the idea of mandating sidewalk snow removal in Ward 1 through the implementation of a contract sidewalk snow removal service, to be paid for by constituents through their property taxes.

As the 2008-2009 snow season approached, the results of this investigation were inconclusive as we were not able to collect the necessary information for contractors to consider. The sense from City staff, who know the local snow removal industry, was that private contractors were already committed to other contracts and would not have capacity (in terms of trackless snow removal machines required for our sidewalks etc.) to undertake the work. Councillor McHattie may revisit the potential of mandated sidewalk snow removal again in April 2009, exploring the possibilities of implementing privately contracted sidewalk snow removal services for the 2009-2010 snow season.

In the meantime, the Snow Angels Program and Helping Hands Program are snow removal services available to residents who are unable to remove ice and snow from the sidewalks on their property. These programs are both provided based on eligibility of the resident. Helping Hands can be reached by phoning 905-546-3057. The Snow Angels Program can be reached at 905-523-1910 or by visiting www.snowangels.ca. So far this winter, the Snow Angels Program has been able to match approximately 75 volunteers to approx 150 homeowners, however, more than 300 residents are still on a waiting list. If you can lend a hand and be a “Snow Angel” please contact the program soon. In addition to this Parking & By-Law Services have been communicating with McMaster Student Union’s Peer to Peer program, to have CRA‘s (Community Resource Assistant) educate occupants at problem addresses and have requested their assistance in finding volunteers to assist neighbours who may be unable to clear the snow and ice.

If you would like more information about the Snow Removal By-Law, please visit Brian’s website at www.brianmchattie.ca.

Walk There! launches great new website

Hi Everyone! Just a heads up that Walk There! has been launched. Walk There! is an online service that helps Hamiltonians find amenities, and shows them how easy it is to walk, ride a bike, or take transit to destinations within 2 km of their homes.

This is how it works: users enter a departure address, choose a type of destination and are then shown a map. Their departure point is at the centre, with a circle showing a 2 km radius.

Just clicking on the spot they would like to visit – perhaps a school, library, church or restaurant – they are shown the time it would take an average walker to get there.

The web tool also comes with a challenge, the Walk There! Challenge. Residents can commit to travel to destinations within 2 km of home by foot, bike or bus, with the goal of reducing vehicle trips by 10 per cent.

Walk There! also includes resources such as links to alternative transportation websites, a list of Environment Hamilton community walking events, and opportunities to take action to make your community more pedestrian friendly. Visit www.environmenthamilton.org/walkthere and sign up!!

 Warmly,

Beatrice and Jarah

905 549 0900

POST CARD: front/ back

Study Completed on Strathcona Neighbourhood-Waterfront Trail Pedestrian Connection

The City of Hamilton has completed the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) process for the Strathcona Neighbourhood – Waterfront Trail Pedestrian Connection. The project was planned under Schedule C of the Municipal Class EA (Municipal Engineers Association, 2000 as amended in 2007) process. The study identified and assessed different locations for an opportunity of a pedestrian connection between the Strathcona Neighbourhood and the Waterfront Trail. In addition, the study assessed alternative designs for the bridge crossing. (see website for study area)

The preferred solution is a bridge connection from the north end of Locke Street, extending over the CN Rail Tracks and connecting to the Waterfront Trail. It is designed to allow for existing uses of the waterfront trail to continue and viewing platforms will be incorporated to provide viewing of the harbour. The composite design of the bridge will reduce obstruction and impact on sight lines for area residents and viewing to and from Dundurn National Historic Site.

*PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD*

The Environmental Study Report documenting the planning process undertaken and conclusions reached will be placed on public record for a minimum 30 calendar day review period in accordance with the Municipal Class EA.* The 31-day public review period will begin on February 6, 2009 and end on March 9, 2009.* The Environmental Study Report is available for public review at the following locations (contact venue for hours):* *

_*Locke Street Library*_
285 Locke Street South
Hamilton, ON L8P 4C2
905-546-3492 _* Central Public Library*_
55 York Blvd
Hamilton, ON L8N 4E4
905-546-3200
_*Office of the City Clerk*_
77 James Street North, Suite 220
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
905-546-CITY(2489) _* City Centre*_
Public Works Department,
77 James Street North, Suite 320
Hamilton, ON L8R 2K3
905-546-CITY(2489)
Subject to comments received as a result of this notice, the City of Hamilton intends to proceed with the implementation of the recommendations included in the Environmental Study Report. If after reading the Environmental Study Report, you have questions or concerns, please contact:

Justin Readman, B.Sc. (Env.)

Project Manager – Environmental Planning

Capital Planning and Implementation Division

Public Works Department, City of Hamilton

77 James Street North, Suite 320

Hamilton, ON L8R2K3

Tel: 905-546-2424 Ext. 2218

Fax: 905-546-4435

Email: eplanning@hamilton.ca

If concerns arise regarding this project, which cannot be resolved in discussion with the City, a person or party may request that the Minister of the Environment make an order for the project to comply with Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act (referred to as a Part II order), which addresses individual environmental assessments. Requests must be received by the Minister of the Environment (address provided below) within the 31-day public review period. A copy of the request must also be sent to the City of Hamilton to the attention of Justin Readman (address provided above).

Minister of the Environment
135 St. Clair Avenue West, 12^th floor
Toronto Ontario
M4V 1P5

Information will be collected in accordance with the/ Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act/. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.

This notice issued on February 6^th and 13^th , 2009 (in the Hamilton Spectator).

Draft KNA Constitution – your comments welcome

Hello Neighbours!

The KNA executive recently decided that the existing constitution of the association needed to be brought a bit more up-to-date, and our committee now has a draft ready for comments from the membership. A formal ratification vote on it will be held at the next General Meeting of the members, but  anyone who wants to chew over it and see if they can improve it is more than welcome to do so.  Comments can be sent to the website for open discussion, or just to me and I’ll bring them to the executive at the next meeting.

Thanks for your input!

Derek Hrynyshyn, Treasurer.

Draft Constitution