General Issues Committee

That the agenda for the February 26, 2025 General Issues Committee meeting, be approved, as presented.

That the following minutes of the General Issues Committee and General Issues Committee (Budget), be adopted, as presented: 5.1 February 5, 2025 5.2 (a) January 23, 2025 (b) January 28, 2025 (c) January 29, 2025 (d) January 30, 2025 (e) January 31, 2025 (f) February 7, 2025

That the delegation from Tim Potocic, Supercrawl Productions and Sonic Unyon Records, respecting an update on Supercrawl's and Because Beer Craft Beer Festival's audience data and economic impact, and speaking to City support, be received.

That the delegation from Tenysha Graham respecting the GFL Stoney Creek Landfill Motions (Items 9.2 and 9.3), be received.

That the following items be moved up on the agenda and considered at this time: 9.2 Explore Area Rating or Tax Relief for Residents Within 3km of the GFL Landfill (a) Correspondence respecting the GFL Stoney Creek Landfill motions (Items 9.2 and 9.3) 9.3 Section 447.1 Against GFL Stoney Creek Regional Facility Result: MOTION,

WHEREAS, residents living in Upper Stoney Creek within 3km of the GFL Stoney Creek Regional Facility (landfill) have been experiencing horrific odours since April 2023; General Issues Committee February 26, 2025 Minutes – GIC 25-003 Page 4 of 36 WHEREAS, residents have not had daily reasonable use and enjoyment of homes, property, community spaces and workplaces, especially pertaining to outdoor lived experiences; WHEREAS, residents have experienced inconvenience, discomfort and loss of amenity caused by odours being emitted from the landfill; WHEREAS, residents have regularly complained about the odour seeping into their homes; and, WHEREAS, GFL and the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks have not been successful in stopping the odours; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the taxes and finance divisions review the possibility of providing area rating relief or any other tax relief to mitigate the financial burden on residents living within 3km of the GFL Stoney Creek Regional Facility (landfill) and report back to the General Issues Committee by the end of Q2 of 2025 with all costs to be funded through the GFL royalties. Result: MOTION,

That the following Correspondence respecting the GFL Stoney Creek Landfill Motions (Items 9.2 and 9.3), be received: General Issues Committee February 26, 2025 Minutes – GIC 25-003 Page 5 of 36 (a) Paul Supers (b) Sharon Moran (c) O'Neil Graham (d) Carol Sebben (e) Jumana Dajani (f) Izabela Wozniak (g) Chris Mitton (h) Michele Bertothy (i) Kathie Farraway (j) Raymond Mattar (k) Dana Kennedy (l) Sabrina Davidson (m) Ray Menard (n) Krista Clarke (o) Navdeep Sandhar (p) Tatyana Graham (q) Helen Louise Thompson (r) J Van Caulart (s) Sean Esfarayeni (t) Sylvia Rankin (u) Trisha McGhie (v) Sudarshan Vinjamuri (w) Stephanie Isaak (x) Mary Martens (y) Chandana Basnayake (z) Nelson Faria (aa) Leah Gould (ab) Victoria Moral (ac) Sara Cino (ad) Tatiana Raigoza & Barry Raposo (ae) Josie McLeod (af) Vineeth Bharadwaj (ag) Margaret Graham (ah) Inna Grover (ai) Nigel Lobo (aj) Diana Lobo (ak) Jan Wynne (al) Fhinel Lee (am) Robin Daniel (an) Ashima Saraf (ao) Susan Chapman (ap) Mary Chedumbarum-Ramasamy (aq) Kathleen Taylor (ar) Lance Orr (as) Selena Visser (at) Liz Roediger General Issues Committee February 26, 2025 Minutes – GIC 25-003 Page 6 of 36 (au) Karen Taylor (av) Suraj Vijayakumar

WHEREAS, residents living in Upper Stoney Creek within 3km of the GFL Stoney Creek Regional Facility (landfill) have been experiencing horrific odours since April 2023; WHEREAS, residents have not had daily reasonable use and enjoyment of homes, property, community spaces and workplaces, especially pertaining to outdoor lived experiences; WHEREAS, residents have experienced inconvenience, discomfort and loss of amenity caused by odours being emitted from the landfill; WHEREAS, residents have regularly complained about the odour seeping into their homes; WHEREAS, GFL and the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks have not been successful in stopping or abating these odours; WHEREAS, the community group known as STAND for Stoney Creek (Stand) has had discussions with their lawyers from Ross and McBride; and, WHEREAS, their research found the following case wherein Section 447.1 of the Ontario Municipal Act, 2001 was applied Newmarket (Town) v. Halton Recycling Ltd. 2006 CarswellOnt 5920 (S.C.J.); THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That Legal Services be directed to review all legal options available to the City, including Section 447.1 of the Ontario Municipal Act, to address the concerns raised by residents and report back to the General Issues Committee by the end of Q2 of 2025. Result: MOTION,

That Report HSC23029(a), dated February 26, 2025, respecting 2023 Access to Housing Centralized Waitlist Update, be received.

That consideration of Report HSC23016(a), dated February 26, 2025, respecting 2023 Social Housing Annual Update, be

That Report PED25050, dated February 26, 2025, respecting Revitalizing Hamilton Tax Increment Grant Program Application - 206 King Street West, Hamilton (Ward 2), be received, and the following recommendations be approved: (a) That a Revitalizing Hamilton Tax Increment Grant Program Application submitted by Radio Arts G.P. Inc. (King Stuart Developments Inc., Innisbrook Management Corporation, Tsurt Holdings Inc.), for the property at 206 King Street West, Hamilton, estimated to total $646,555 over a maximum of four years based on the incremental tax increase attributable to the redevelopment of 206 King Street West, Hamilton, be authorized and approved in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Revitalizing Hamilton Tax Increment Grant Program; (b) That the General Manager of the Planning and Economic Development Department be authorized and directed to execute a Grant Agreement together with any ancillary documentation required, to give effect to the Revitalizing Hamilton Tax Increment Grant for Radio Arts G.P. Inc. (King Stuart Developments Inc., Innisbrook Management Corporation, Tsurt Holdings Inc.) for the property at 206 King Street West, Hamilton, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor; (c) That the General Manager of the Planning and Economic Development Department be authorized and directed to administer the Grant and Grant Agreement including, but not limited to, deciding on actions to take in respect of events of default and executing any Grant Amend

That Report HSC25020, dated February 26, 2025, respecting Encampment Response - Provincial Funding (City Wide), be received, and the following recommendations be approved: (a) That the City to enter into the Encampment Response Initiative Transfer Payment Agreement dated January 1, 2025 attached as Appendix “A” to Report HSC25020 in the amount of $586,970 regarding the Homelessness Prevention Program with the Province of Ontario and any ancillary agreements, amending agreements, or extensions to agreements and that the General Manager of the Healthy and Safe Communities Department or designate BE AUTORIZED AND DIRECTED to: (i) Execute the aforesaid agreements, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor; and, (ii) Execute any ancillary agreements, and documents required to give effect thereto or for the provision of additional funding from the Province of Ontario under the Homelessness Prevention Program, on such terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor; General Issues Committee February 26, 2025 Minutes – GIC 25-003 Page 10 of 36 (b) That the General Manager of the Healthy and Safe Communities Department or designate BE AUTHORIZED to deliver and administer the Encampment Response Initiative effective as of January 1, 2025, including without limitation: (i) The provision of funding from the Homelessness Prevention Program to service providers and that the City; and, (ii) That in order to deliver the Encampment

That Report CM23025(b), respecting the Volunteer Advisory Committee Review (City Wide), be amended, by adding an additional sub-section (f), as follows: (f) That staff be directed to review and evaluate the new structure and report back to the Audit, Finance & Administration Committee in the fifth year. Result: AMENDMENT,

That the General Issues Committee recess for 34 minutes until 1:00 p.m.

That Report HSC25003, dated February 26, 2025, respecting Service Manager Consent for Victoria Park Community Homes Inc. Redevelopment of 525 Stonechurch Road East (Ward 7), be received, and the following recommendations be approved: (a) That Council acting as Service Manager under the Housing Services Act CONSENT to Victoria Park Community Home Inc. to demolish 8 existing townhouse units at 525 Stonechurch Road East for the purpose of redeveloping and intensify a portion of the existing social housing site into multi-unit mixed income midrise subject to the following: General Issues Committee February 26, 2025 Minutes – GIC 25-003 Page 17 of 36 (i) Approval of a tenant relocation plan; (ii) Approval of any and all required Planning Act, Rental Protection By-Law, and Zoning By-Law amendment approvals; (iii) Securing project financing; and, (iv) On the condition that the consent does not fetter Council’s discretion regarding its consideration of any Planning Act applications in respect of Victoria Park Community Homes Inc. redevelopment of 525 Stonechurch Road East; (b) That Council acting as Service Manager under the Housing Services Act CONSENT to Victoria Park Community Homes Inc. for the project at 525 Stonechurch Road East to redevelop and intensify a portion of the existing social housing site, turning 8 existing town house units into a 105 multi midrise building containing a mix of 53 deeply affordable units, and 52 market units, subject to the following: (i) Approval o

That consideration of the following reports, be

That consideration of Report FCS25015, respecting Strengthening Local Procurement and Resilience Amid U.S. Tariff Threats (City Wide), be

That consideration of Report PED25083, respecting Coordinated Encampment Response Post-protocol (City Wide), be

WHEREAS, the City of Hamilton is experiencing a housing crisis, with increasing demand for affordable and supportive housing outpacing available supply; General Issues Committee February 26, 2025 Minutes – GIC 25-003 Page 22 of 36 WHEREAS, the City of Hamilton continues to make significant investments in housing, including a gross allocation of $192 million in the proposed 2025 Tax budget to address housing affordability and housing supports; WHEREAS, the City of Hamilton provides a suite of mandatory and discretionary housing enabling exemptions from Development Charges, Community Benefits Charges and Parkland Dedication Fees to stimulate the construction of affordable and supportive housing; WHEREAS, there may be barriers that prevent or delay the construction of affordable and supportive housing; WHEREAS, innovative approaches and reforms, including alternative financing mechanisms aimed at lowering housing costs, have been successfully implemented in other jurisdictions to support the development of affordable and supportive rental housing while maintaining municipal revenue streams; and WHEREAS, a jurisdictional scan to explore best practices aimed at diversifying, incentivizing and expanding Hamilton’s rental housing stock while ensuring continued investment in critical infrastructure may assist the City of Hamilton in getting more homes built. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: (a) That the Housing Secretariat, in collaboration with other city divisions be directed to conduct

WHEREAS, in 2023, the City of Hamilton declared intimate partnership violence a crisis; WHEREAS, the Flamborough Women’s Resource Centre, located in Waterdown, has focused on reducing gender violence and providing counselling support, group programs and legal advocacy; WHEREAS, the Flamborough Women’s Resource Centre, a satellite program of Interval House, has provided the only Outreach program for Flamborough women experiencing domestic violence and in need of safety and support services; WHEREAS, rural women experience intimate partner violence at rates 5 times higher than rural men and 75% higher than rural women (CWF, 2022); WHEREAS, the Waterdown area is one of the fastest growing population centres in Hamilton and, to date, not received any sustainable increased funding for the FWRC since 2009; WHEREAS, the goal of the FWRC is to create an accessible hub in the core of Waterdown to expand services to those experiencing domestic violence; WHEREAS, additional resources are required to help reach and respond to rural women in crisis, through the provision of occasional mobile services; WHEREAS, the Ward 15 community Council has reviewed the request for assistance and, like the City of Hamilton, understands the urgency of a response capability; and, WHEREAS, this grant will assist the Flamborough Women’s Resource Centre/Interval House to secure a larger service location needed to provide no charge counselling, safety planning, housing assistance, income navigation, employme

That staff be directed to provide information to Council through the General Issues Committee (Budget) on how the City could operate with an inflation rate (2.5%) increase for 2026. Result: MOTION,

WHERAS, there has been an exponential growth in new FTEs over the last 4 years with a total of 731 new hires: 73 new FTEs in 2022, 242 new FTEs in 2023, 196 new FTEs in 2024, 220 new FTEs in 2025; WHEREAS, the total number of employees in city of Hamilton has now exceeded 8,000; and WHEREAS, Outcome Number 1 under Priority Number 1 under Sustainable Economic and Ecological Development in the approved 2022-2026 Council Priorities was “Reduce the Burden on City Tax Payers” THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That starting in 2026 the City Manager be directed to conduct a Functional Improvement Process/Program or a Business Process Improvement plan which will be defined as a management exercise to assess city procedures to identify areas that can be improved to be more efficient and/or effective to be financed out of the tax stabilization reserve with semi-annual report backs to General Issues Committee. (ii) The following friendly amendment was accepted by the mover and seconder of the Motion. That the Motion be amended to read as follows: WHEREAS, Outcome Number 1 under Priority Number 1 under Sustainable Economic and Ecological Development in the approved 2022-2026 Council Priorities was “Reduce the Burden on City Tax Payers”; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the City Manager report back to the General Issues Committee with a recommended scope of work prior to any issuance of a RFP on a Functional Improvement Process/Program or a Business Process General Issues Committee February 26, 2

WHEREAS, the Marr-Phillipo house, a circa 1850 two storey rubble stone building currently located at 398 Wilson Street East in Ancaster, is designated under section IV of the Ontario Heritage Act and plays an important role in defining the unique heritage character of the Ancaster Village; WHEREAS, there is a current Planning Act application for an 8-storey 118 unit mixed use development and an associated heritage permit for 392-412 Wilson St. E. and 15 Lorne Ave. that proposes moving the Marr-Phillipo house to the rear of the site where it would be used as amenity space for the proposed residents, would not be visible from Wilson Street and would not be accessible to the public; WHEREAS, staff continue working with the proponent through the development approvals and heritage permit processes recommending that the Marr-Phillipo house remain in its current location or remain on the site in a General Issues Committee February 26, 2025 Minutes – GIC 25-003 Page 27 of 36 location addressing Wilson Street recognizing that environmental concerns affect the development of site; WHEREAS, the developer of the site has agreed to cover the cost of relocating the house to a location within the Ancaster Village BIA; WHEREAS, the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre grounds facing Wilson Street may provide a location for the relocated house that would maintain its historic relationship with Wilson Street, visibility to the public, and its role in contributing to the unique historic character of t

That the Closed Session minutes of the February 5, 2025 General Issues Committee meeting, be adopted and remain confidential.

That the General Issues Committee meeting of February 26, 2025, be permitted to extend past the 5:30 p.m. curfew, up to 6:30 p.m. Result: MOTION,

(a) That Chief Frank Bergen, Doris Ciardullo, Paul Hamilton, and Duncan Robertson from Hamilton Police Service, be permitted to attend the Closed Session portion of the General Issues Committee Meeting respecting Item 11.3; and, (b) That Lise Patry from LXM, be permitted to attend the Closed Session portion of the General Issues Committee Meeting respecting Items 11.4 & 11.5. Result: MOTION,

That Committee move into Closed Session for Items 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, and 11.6 at 5:13 p.m. pursuant to Section 9.3, Sub-Sections (b), (c), (e), (f), (g) and (k) of the City's Procedural By-law 21-021, as amended, and Section 239(2), Sub-sections (b), (c), (e), (f), (g) and (k) of the Ontario Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, as the subject matter pertains to personal matters about an identifiable individual, including City or local board employees; a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land for City purposes or a local board; litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the City or a local board; advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose; a matter in respect of which Council or a Committee may hold a closed meeting under an Act other than the Municipal Act, 2001;and, a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the City or a local board. Result: MOTION,

WHEREAS, Committee during Closed Session did not consider the Confidential Appendix “C” to Report HSC23016(a), respecting 2023 Social Housing Annual Update. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That consideration of Report HSC23016(a), and Confidential Appendix “C” to Report HSC23016(a), respecting 2023 Social Housing Annual Update (City Wide), be

That Report PED25010, dated February 26, 2025, respecting Relocation of Hamilton Police Service Marine Unit (Wards 2 and 5), be received, and the following recommendations be approved: (a) That the directions provided to staff in Closed Session, respecting Report PED25010, Relocation of Hamilton Police Service Marine Unit, be approved and remain confidential until completion of Agreements respecting the relocation of Hamilton Police Services Marine Unit; and, (b) That the balance of Report PED25010, Relocation of Hamilton Police Service Marine Unit, remain confidential and not be released as a public document with the exception of Appendix “A” to Report PED25010 - Map and Appendix “B” to Report PED25010 - Summary of Memorandum of Understanding-Relocation of Hamilton Police Service Marine Unit, which are to be released publicly after the execution of the Memorandum of Understanding. Result: MOTION,

That Confidential Memo CM24004(c), respecting Additional information to Report Cybersecurity Incident Impact Update (CM24004(b)), be received and remain confidential. Result: MOTION,

That Report CM24004(b), dated January 15, 2025, respecting Cybersecurity Incident Impact Update (City Wide), be received, and the following recommendations be approved: (a) That the directions provided to staff in closed session respecting CM24004(b), Cybersecurity Incident Impact Update, be approved and remain confidential; and, (b) That Report CM24004(b), Cybersecurity Incident Impact Update, remain confidential. Result: MOTION,

That Report LS25001, dated February 26, 2025, respecting Aggregate Resource Tax Legal Update (City Wide), be received and remain confidential. Result: MOTION,