Downtown Sub-Committee

That the agenda for the July 24, 2025 Downtown Sub-Committee, be approved, as presented.

That the Minutes of the April 1, 2025, meeting of the Cleanliness and Security in the Downtown Core Task Force be adopted, as presented.

WHEREAS flyers and posters are routinely placed on City infrastructure including light standards, traffic signals, and other poles in the downtown core; WHEREAS flyers and posters are routinely left up after they are no longer relevant; WHEREAS flyers and posters were being routinely removed from City infrastructure where they were not authorized to be placed; and WHEREAS section 5.8 of the Sign By-law (10-197) states there is a “maximum display period of 21 days and not more than 3 days after the event or other activity the Poster advertises”. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: General Issues Committee – September 10, 2025 Downtown Sub-Committee July 24, 2025 Minutes DSCC 25-002 Page 3 of 9 (a) That City staff report through a Recommendation Report to the Downtown Sub-Committee at its next meeting on the following: (i) A review of the historical programs and policies that were in place to address compliance with the Sign By-law with respect to flyers and posters. (ii) A review and analysis of the current practice of gaining compliance with the Sign By-law with respect to flyers and posters. (iii) Recommendations for how to improve the City’s practices with gaining compliance with the Sign By-law with respect to flyers and posters including: (iv) whether or not this work can be conducted by the Downtown Hamilton Clean Team; (v) the potential to install postering kiosks around the downtown core for all flyers and posters as opposed to permitting them on other City infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, it has been publicly reported that security cameras, including those in the downtown core, have not been functional since 2021 and are not being monitored; and WHEREAS, according to that public reporting, this was done partly in response to the City announcing its Digital Transformation and Smart City initiative in 2019. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: (a) That City staff report back through an Information Report to the Downtown Sub-Committee at its next meeting on the following: General Issues Committee – September 10, 2025 Downtown Sub-Committee July 24, 2025 Minutes DSCC 25-002 Page 4 of 9 (i) Reasons security cameras in the downtown core that were no longer functional were not replaced in 2021 including: (1) Whether or not there were other reasons for not replacing cameras apart from the City’s Digital Transformation and Smart City initiative in 2019; (2) The number of security cameras that were active on or before 2021; (3) When security cameras were installed and why they all reached end of life in 2021; and (4) Who was responsible for monitoring the cameras, who owned them, and who controlled them. (ii) Reasons monitoring of the security cameras in the downtown core stopped and when monitoring stopped (whether in 2021 or before).

WHEREAS, the City established Ferguson Station in order to conduct programming and otherwise activate the area of Ferguson Avenue and King Street East in the International Village; WHEREAS, the International Village BIA has regularly programmed and activated this space; WHEREAS, there is an active outreach group who provide meals and other support services to as many as 300 to 400 people at Ferguson Station on Wednesdays and have been doing so for approximately 8 years; WHEREAS, the City is actively working to assist this group, and others like it, to obtain a permit to provide these services in an area that is safe to do so and has the appropriate capacity and space requirements; WHEREAS, the International Village BIA regularly reaches out to the City, including the Hamilton Police Service, to ask for assistance with respect to cleanups, repainting, repairs, graffiti remediation, and housing outreach at Ferguson Station; and WHEREAS, it is not sustainable for the International Village BIA to maintain the City’s assets, like Ferguson Station. General Issues Committee – September 10, 2025 Downtown Sub-Committee July 24, 2025 Minutes DSCC 25-002 Page 5 of 9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: (a) That City staff report through a Memo or Information Report to the Downtown Sub-Committee at its next meeting on the following: (i) Timing for the installation of new gates at Ferguson Station to make it easier to access its central structure for events and other programming; (ii) Timing for pr

WHEREAS, noise complaints, especially related to street performance, are common in the downtown core; WHEREAS, the City has increased the level of service for noise complaints as of April 1, 2025; WHEREAS, there is a gap in the way the City currently tracks and reports on noise complaints in the downtown core; and WHEREAS, there is an effort to promote street performance in the City. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: (a) That City staff report through a Recommendation Report to the Downtown Sub-Committee at its next meeting on the following: General Issues Committee – September 10, 2025 Downtown Sub-Committee July 24, 2025 Minutes DSCC 25-002 Page 6 of 9 (i) A review and analysis of the current manner in which noise complaints are tracked by the City; (ii) A review and analysis of the City’s current efforts to promote street performance; (iii) Aggregate data on all noise complaints received, their locations, time of day, and other information, since the increase to the level of service for noise complaints was implemented by the City on April 1, 2025; and (iv) Recommendations for how to improve the City’s practices for tracking and reporting on noise complaints including what resources would be required to conduct this work and report back on it annually to the Downtown Sub-Committee.

WHEREAS, the intersection of King Street East and Walnut Street is not safe for pedestrians as it currently lacks four ladder crosswalks to safely connect the adjacent sidewalks; WHEREAS, the dogleg at this intersection makes it difficult for vehicle traffic; WHEREAS, the timing of the lights and pedestrian signals should be reviewed to ensure compliance with the City’s Complete Streets Design Manual; WHEREAS, this intersection would benefit from a complete safety review to determine the best way to ensure all road users are as safe as possible, especially those most vulnerable to injury or death; WHEREAS, this intersection will be impacted by the construction of Light Rail Transit along King Street East; and WHEREAS, the safety issues at this intersection should be addressed before the construction of Light Rail Transit. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: (a) That City staff report through a Recommendation Report to the Downtown Sub-Committee at its November 26, 2025 meeting on the following: General Issues Committee – September 10, 2025 Downtown Sub-Committee July 24, 2025 Minutes DSCC 25-002 Page 7 of 9 (i) A safety review and analysis of the intersection of King Street East and Walnut Street; and (ii) Recommendations for how to address safety concerns at this intersection including any budgetary requirements needed to make improvements in time for the 2026 budget process.

WHEREAS, several street lights, light bases, and other pole bases are in disrepair in the downtown core including missing pieces or sections of metal; WHEREAS, some street lights bases have exposed electrical wiring; WHEREAS, not all street lighting is functioning and some street lights may not be bright enough to ensure safety; WHEREAS, there are a number of damaged or otherwise unused banner arms throughout the downtown core; and WHEREAS, the street light near King Street East and Ferguson Avenue (236 King Street East) is in poor condition and may be a hazard. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: (a) That City staff report through a Recommendation Report to the Downtown Sub-Committee at its next meeting on the following: (i) A review and analysis of all street lights, banner arms, and light bases in the downtown core including their current operational status and any needed improvements; and (ii) Recommendations, including a schedule, for the repair and replacement of all street lights, banner arms, and light bases in the downtown core with costing implications to be submitted to the 2026 budget process.

WHEREAS, the population has risen in the downtown core and it has become more dense due to residential development over the last 10 years; General Issues Committee – September 10, 2025 Downtown Sub-Committee July 24, 2025 Minutes DSCC 25-002 Page 8 of 9 WHEREAS, as the downtown core becomes denser there will be more pedestrians who wish to deposit waste conveniently in the City’s waste receptacles, including those who need to dispose of pet waste; WHEREAS, the City initiated a pilot project in 2024 with respect to pet waste; and WHEREAS, the Ward 2 City Councillor has worked with City staff to increase the number of waste receptacles in the downtown core in this term of Council. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: (a) That City staff report through a Memo or Information Report to the Downtown Sub-Committee at its next meeting on the following: (i) A review and analysis of the 2024 pet waste pilot including whether or not the pilot will continue and how it will do so; and (ii) The number of new waste receptacles added in the downtown core in this term of Council and plans for future additions, including in parks.

That the Chair and City Manager be directed to correspond with the Hamilton Police Service to formally invite a representative in a leadership role from Division One to attend the Downtown Sub-Committee to answer questions related to policing.