“Open Streets Hamilton” seeks volunteers

Open Streets Hamilton has just selected its Lead Coordinator, Kathryn Wrong, for the September 26, 2010 event. We are now we are looking for volunteers to fill the lead roles of Finances, Public Outreach & Promotions, Volunteer Coordinator, Administration & Logistics and Exhibitor & Local Business Outreach. Please find a description of each of these positions in the attached document.

If you are interested in applying for one of these positions, please fill out the application form attached. The same application can also be filled out online  - this method of applying is preferred. Applications are due Monday, August 2 at 4:30pm.
If you have any questions about the application process or would like more information on a position, please feel free to contact me at stdstpla2@hamilton. If you have questions over the weekend, please contact kathryn.wrong@gmail.com.

Erica Barnes
Assistant Transportation Planner
Rapid Transit Team | Strategic Planning
City of Hamilton | Public  Works Department
Contact | stdstpla2@hamilton.ca | 905.546.2424 x6392
Location| 77 James St. N., Suite 320, Hamilton, ON L8R 2K3

City seeking citizen input on Climate Change response

Global climate change is expected to increase the average global temperature of air and oceans, melt glaciers, increase sea levels, and increase the number and intensity of extreme weather events that result in heat waves, droughts, flooding and soil erosion.  These changes have already begun.

 

(For a sobering discussion of the connection to recent Red Hill Valley Flooding, and the failure to take global warming into account in the decisions building it, see the latest update from Citizens at City Hall.)

In 2009, the City undertook an Air Pollutants and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory to keep track of how much pollution is being released by the City. Community emissions were 12,758,652 tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2006, and these emissions rose to 13,131,097 tonnes by 2008, an increase of 2.9%. By 2020, if there are no programs put in place to enhance greenhouse gas emission reductions, the community’s forecasted emissions will rise to 17,349,621 tonnes. This forecast is 36% above the emission levels calculated for 2006 and 56% above target of 20% reductions of 2006 levels by 2020.

The City of Hamilton is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions levels by 10% by 2012, and 20% by 2020 through its Corporate Air Quality and Climate Change Plan.  

The City of Hamilton has recently released a Discussion Paper on greenhouse gas emissions entitled “Taking Stock: Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Hamilton“.

The City would like to get suggestions, ideas and actions from citizens on how we can work together to tackle climate change.   Feedback can be left on this survey.

Note that Councillor Brian McHattie is co-chairing the Community Energy Collaborative; it is doing an energy intensity map towards coming up with plans to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

For more detailed information, visit the city’s Climate Change website.

 

 

Aberdeen 403 Overpass to be replaced this weekend.

Kirkendall

The MTO (Ministry of Transportation of Ontario) has advised that the Aberdeen Avenue Bridge over the 403 will be replaced this weekend using a rapid bridge replacement system to lift the existing bridge out and slide the new bridge in its place. This will result in the closure of the bridge as well as Highway 403 lane reductions.  Access to eastbound Highway 403 from Aberdeen Avenue will be closed during the overnight hours.

Please see the attached notice for more details.

Additional information is also available at http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/engineering/aberdeen/.

Rapid Transit Citizens Advisory Committee – Call for applicants

As part of an ongoing commitment to facilitate an open and consultative planning process, the City of Hamilton is establishing a Rapid Transit Citizens Advisory Committee (RTCAC).  The role of the RTCAC will be to provide advice and feedback to the Rapid Transit team regarding ongoing rapid transit plans for Hamilton. 

The City is seeking up to 25 members for the committee including diverse representation from Hamilton residents, property owners, businesses and other key stakeholders. The commitment to the RTCAC will involve monthly evening meetings, led by City staff, beginning September 2010, as well as attendance at various public events (with a minimum of one year commitment).

If you are interested in this opportunity please submit your application online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RapidTransitCAC or in person at the City of Hamilton, Public Works Department, 77 James Street North, Suite 320.  Applications must be completed and returned by Friday, July 30, 2010.

A one-year rapid transit study funded by Metrolinx is currently ongoing with a focus on the preliminary design for the B-line and the feasibility for the A-line.  It will outline how the rapid transit system will look and function along the B-line, analyze traffic impacts and develop solutions to address challenges.  In addition to the RTCAC, the City will continue to provide traditional community participation opportunities through public meetings, open houses and surveys.  For further information on the RTCAC please visit www.hamilton.ca/rapid-transit.

Thank you for your ongoing interest and support of this initiative.  If you have received this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from the Hamilton Rapid Transit Team regarding the project, please reply to this email with the subject line “Please Remove From List”.

Best Regards,
Hamilton’s Rapid Transit Team
City of Hamilton – Public Works
Location | 77 James St. N. Suite 320, Hamilton Ontario
Contact  | rapidtransit@hamilton.ca | 905-546-2424 x.2553
Web | www.hamilton.ca/rapid-transit

Hamilton Civic League call for volunteers

 

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

 

Hamilton Civic League (HCL) is extending an urgent call for volunteers to participate in a data collection for the Citizens Values and Priorities Survey taking place across all 15 Wards of Hamilton’s communities. The goal of the survey is to learn the values and priorities of Hamilton residents ahead of this October’s municipal election. The data collected will be used to produce an information resource offering a broad overview of issues and policy options which may be accessed by both voters and candidates to inform decisions and dialogue in the upcoming election season.

 

To administer this survey the Civic League needs your help! Dozens of volunteers are required in each ward to solicit responses at houses and apartment buildings and to return completed questionnaires. Volunteer commitments are flexible; ranging from an evening or two of work to as much time as an individual is willing to offer.

 

We invite all interested persons to sign up using the online form at the Hamilton Civic League website www.WeVote.ca or call (905) 523-4444. Those who sign up will be contacted by a Civic League representative at the beginning of July and provided with survey materials and an orientation kit.

 

We look forward to hearing from you!

 

 

 

The Hamilton Civic League

The Hamilton Civic League is a volunteer non-partisan group representing Hamilton community stakeholders.  Our mission is to encourage and inspire our community to become informed about local issues, to raise community involvement in local democracy, and to promote accountability, accessibility and transparency in our municipal government.

 

Our Vision

All eligible Hamiltonians will vote in the next municipal election as informed, empowered and engaged citizens in order to bring about positive change to our city.

 

We welcome you to visit us at www.wevote.ca or attend a weekly Monday evening meeting to learn more.

ASK Program: New Hours

The “Activities for Seniors in Kirkendall” program now has new hours – please see the poster.

For more information, contact Janice

at 905-627-1798

New Online Form for Municipal by-law Enforcement

The City has recently implemented an online by-law complaint form.  Go to http://www.hamilton.ca/bylawcomplaintform.

If you have an urgent complaint regarding private property that is an immediate health and safety concern (e.g. inadequate heat) please call 905-546-2782 during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm) or 905-546-2489 after regular business hours rather than completing the online complaint form. For noise complaints after business hours, please contact Hamilton Police Services at 905-546-4925.

You are reminded to continue to use the online form to report graffiti at http://www.hamilton.ca/ProjectsInitiatives/CleanCityStrategy/GraffitiForm.htm.

A short summary of the Long Grass & Weeds By-Law provided by Municipal Law Enforcement is also available here.

Long Grass and Weeds By-Law summary

Poetry reading at the Hill St. Community Garden

POETRY IN THE GARDEN –  

TUESDAY, JULY 20th, 7PM – DUSK

Join us for an evening of literary abundance in the verdant setting of Hill Street Community Garden. Renowned local poet John Terpstra will be presenting several of his works. Budding poets or poetry lovers are also invited to share their own work or a garden-themed poem from a favourite writer.  

Refreshments will be provided, but please bring a lawn chair.

Anything stolen from your vehicle lately?

On July 1st, 2010, Hamilton Police Service arrested a male suspect for a criminal Breach of Recognizance. The suspect confessed to committing a series of thefts from parked vehicles in the Kirkendall neighbourhood, the area bounded by Queen St South and Longwood Road, south of main St West. Investigators are asking residents, who live in the Kirkendall area, to report all thefts from their vehicles as officers are looking to identify property seized from the suspect.

 

Anyone with information regarding these thefts is asked to contact the Hamilton Police Service or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Summer Playlot Program

The City of Hamilton Recreation department offers FREE drop-in programs for children 5 to 12 years of age at many of our local parks. Playlot leaders (“Supies”) organize games, sports, crafts and special events for your child’s enjoyment

 

The Summer Playlot Program starts July 5.

Playlots in Kirkendall are located at Beulah Park and at Jackson Playground. 

The schedule is Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 12 noon and 1 to 4 pm and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm ( Friday mornings are reserved for staff training).

There will be no program offered on the Civic Holiday Monday, August 2^nd  and staff are not in the park during the lunch hour.

In the event of a Heat Alert issued by the City, parks without a water feature will be closed.  Every attempt will be made to keep open those parks with a Spray Pad or Wading Pool, however, extreme summer weather conditions may cause the closure of all staffed parks.

Information about other playlots, wading pools and splash pads is available here and  Information about outdoor pools is available here.  Note that Coronation Pool is closed this summer for renovations.