MAY 2014
BEACH COMMUNITY EDITION
LOSS OF DOOR TO DOOR MAIL SERVICE
Canada Post and the Federal Government recently announced a country wide plan to eliminate door to door mail service. The plan seeks to provide "community mail boxes" in lieu of the current home delivery model, I have received many calls from local residents who are opposed to the proposed loss of service. In response, I presented the following motion to City Council.
That the City of Hamilton advise Canada Post that it opposes the discontinuation of door to door mail delivery service;
That should Canada Post discontinue door to door mail delivery, Canada Post and the Federal Government be requested to fund the installation of any new Community Mailboxes;
That Canada Post and the Federal Government ensure that the new Community Mailbox sites be fully accessible for the disabled, and well lit;
That Canada Post and the Federal Government ensure that the new Community Mailbox sites take into account the existing parking requirements, future parking requirements, the impact of added traffic on select streets, the requirement for winter maintenance activities and other associated impacts;
That Canada Post and the Federal Government take responsibility for the new Community Mailbox site selection process (including cost), and ensure the appropriate public consultation occurs with their customers/constituents, including but not limited to consultation with neighbourhood associations, condominium boards, BIAs and other entities. That this motion be forwarded to the Board of Directors of Canada Post, all local Members of Parliament, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the Minister of Transport responsible for Canada Post.
I'm pleased to advise that the motion was unanimously approved and has been forwarded to our local Members of Parliament. Unfortunately, the service cut was approved without any public consultation or dialogue. As such, I've initiated an online petition for area residents to voice their concerns. Please visit the ward website at www.chadcollins.ca to sign your name in support of retaining door to door mail delivery service. All responses will be forwarded to Canada Post and the Federal Minister of Transport.
NEW OR REPLACEMENT BLUE BOXES
If you require a new blue box to increase your household recycling activities or to replace lost or damaged boxes, please contact my office and I will personally deliver one (or more) to your home.
2014 ROAD & SIDEWALK SCHEDULE
The 2014 Road & Sidewalk budget was approved in December and includes a number of infrastructure improvements for Ward 5 Phase 2 of the Barton Street (between Nash Rd N & Centennial Parkway) water main installation project is underway The work will involve lane reductions and temporary road closures for a portion of the spring and summer months. Centennial Parkway, between King St. E and Barton Street is also scheduled for road and sidewalk replacement over the next two construction seasons. Centennial Parkway between King Street and Queenston will be replaced in 2014, while Centennial between Queenston and Barton will be replaced in 2015. Other streets scheduled for work include Cochrane Road, Brookstream Court and Aberfoyle Avenue.
SALE OF VACANT LOTS
The City of Hamilton continues to make good progress with the sale of the vacant lots that were originally purchased by the City in the 1970s and 80s. Since 2002 we've sold over 100 lots, over 70 of which have been sold for residential purposes. It's estimated to take another 2 years to sell the remaining lots on the bayside of Beach Boulevard. As we near the end of the sale process, we're now planning for the reconstruction of Beach Boulevard from Van Wagner's Beach Road to Eastport Drive. The road is tentatively scheduled for replacement in 2018, however that timeline is likely to change for the better by a year or two.
DOGS OFF LEASH
I have received a number of complaints from area residents about 'dogs off leash' along the waterfront trail. Pet owners are reminded that the City's bylaw prohibits dogs running at large except in designated leash free parks. Contravention of the bylaw carries a minimum penalty of $125 to a maximum of $10,000. In response to these concerns I've contacted the City's Animal Control Department for enforcement of the waterfront trail area as well as Confederation Park.
COMMUNITY CLEAN UP EVENTS
With the arrival of the Spring season, individuals and community groups are already in the process of organizing neighbourhood cleanup events. I currently host and/or help organize four cleanup days including events in the following neighbourhoods. Riverdale, Rosedale, Beach and the Greenhill area. The City of Hamilton provides waste and recycling bags, as well as gloves to volunteers and event organizers. If you're interested in organizing an event in your area, or would like supplies to collect at your convenience, please contact my office and I will make arrangements to deliver to your home.
WARD 5 AREA RATING PROJECTS
Hamilton's area rating program was revised in 2011 to address the tax rate inequities that existed after the amalgamation of the former municipalities (Dundas, Flamborough, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Glanbrook and Hamilton). The new tax policies provide the former City of Hamilton wards annual capital resources for infrastructure related projects. For your information, I've included a list of Ward 5 area rating projects on my website.
CENTENNIAL RAIL BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
Contractors are busy preparing the area around the Centennial Parkway railway bridge for the start of construction later this year A temporary detour road will be constructed by the start of July, and will facilitate four lanes of traffic and pedestrian access on the east side. As noted in a previous report, the bridge is nearly 80 years old, and is part of a $12 million project that is anticipated to last nearly 2 years.
2014-2015 WASTE TAGS
Residents should have already received their 2014 waste tags. Every household received 12 tags in the mail in March along with the City's 2014 Garbage & Recycling Guide. Each household can also request 14 more trash tags once per year. If you require the additional tags, please contact my office and they will be mailed or delivered to your home.
GRAFTON AVE PUMPING STATION
I'm pleased to announce that the new pumping station on Grafton Avenue is complete and operational. The facility was constructed to pump groundwater and storm water from bayside side streets, under the QEW and into the harbour Thank you to those residents who assisted with the project over the past 10 years.
AROUND THE WARD....
There are a number of other projects underway in Ward 5. September updates include: planned upgrades at Sam Manson Park, Rosedale Pool update, Pedestrian Priority signal on Barton and much more. Visit the Ward 5 website at www.chadcollins.ca for more information.
QUESTION, COMMENTS, QUERIES...
For the past number of years I have distributed newsletters and community reports to neighbourhoods across Ward 5. If you have questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me at City Hall (546-2716), my home (545-3737) or by email: (ccollins@hamilton.ca).
BEACH COMMUNITY EDITION
LOSS OF DOOR TO DOOR MAIL SERVICE
Canada Post and the Federal Government recently announced a country wide plan to eliminate door to door mail service. The plan seeks to provide "community mail boxes" in lieu of the current home delivery model, I have received many calls from local residents who are opposed to the proposed loss of service. In response, I presented the following motion to City Council.
That the City of Hamilton advise Canada Post that it opposes the discontinuation of door to door mail delivery service;
That should Canada Post discontinue door to door mail delivery, Canada Post and the Federal Government be requested to fund the installation of any new Community Mailboxes;
That Canada Post and the Federal Government ensure that the new Community Mailbox sites be fully accessible for the disabled, and well lit;
That Canada Post and the Federal Government ensure that the new Community Mailbox sites take into account the existing parking requirements, future parking requirements, the impact of added traffic on select streets, the requirement for winter maintenance activities and other associated impacts;
That Canada Post and the Federal Government take responsibility for the new Community Mailbox site selection process (including cost), and ensure the appropriate public consultation occurs with their customers/constituents, including but not limited to consultation with neighbourhood associations, condominium boards, BIAs and other entities. That this motion be forwarded to the Board of Directors of Canada Post, all local Members of Parliament, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the Minister of Transport responsible for Canada Post.
I'm pleased to advise that the motion was unanimously approved and has been forwarded to our local Members of Parliament. Unfortunately, the service cut was approved without any public consultation or dialogue. As such, I've initiated an online petition for area residents to voice their concerns. Please visit the ward website at www.chadcollins.ca to sign your name in support of retaining door to door mail delivery service. All responses will be forwarded to Canada Post and the Federal Minister of Transport.
NEW OR REPLACEMENT BLUE BOXES
If you require a new blue box to increase your household recycling activities or to replace lost or damaged boxes, please contact my office and I will personally deliver one (or more) to your home.
2014 ROAD & SIDEWALK SCHEDULE
The 2014 Road & Sidewalk budget was approved in December and includes a number of infrastructure improvements for Ward 5 Phase 2 of the Barton Street (between Nash Rd N & Centennial Parkway) water main installation project is underway The work will involve lane reductions and temporary road closures for a portion of the spring and summer months. Centennial Parkway, between King St. E and Barton Street is also scheduled for road and sidewalk replacement over the next two construction seasons. Centennial Parkway between King Street and Queenston will be replaced in 2014, while Centennial between Queenston and Barton will be replaced in 2015. Other streets scheduled for work include Cochrane Road, Brookstream Court and Aberfoyle Avenue.
SALE OF VACANT LOTS
The City of Hamilton continues to make good progress with the sale of the vacant lots that were originally purchased by the City in the 1970s and 80s. Since 2002 we've sold over 100 lots, over 70 of which have been sold for residential purposes. It's estimated to take another 2 years to sell the remaining lots on the bayside of Beach Boulevard. As we near the end of the sale process, we're now planning for the reconstruction of Beach Boulevard from Van Wagner's Beach Road to Eastport Drive. The road is tentatively scheduled for replacement in 2018, however that timeline is likely to change for the better by a year or two.
DOGS OFF LEASH
I have received a number of complaints from area residents about 'dogs off leash' along the waterfront trail. Pet owners are reminded that the City's bylaw prohibits dogs running at large except in designated leash free parks. Contravention of the bylaw carries a minimum penalty of $125 to a maximum of $10,000. In response to these concerns I've contacted the City's Animal Control Department for enforcement of the waterfront trail area as well as Confederation Park.
COMMUNITY CLEAN UP EVENTS
With the arrival of the Spring season, individuals and community groups are already in the process of organizing neighbourhood cleanup events. I currently host and/or help organize four cleanup days including events in the following neighbourhoods. Riverdale, Rosedale, Beach and the Greenhill area. The City of Hamilton provides waste and recycling bags, as well as gloves to volunteers and event organizers. If you're interested in organizing an event in your area, or would like supplies to collect at your convenience, please contact my office and I will make arrangements to deliver to your home.
WARD 5 AREA RATING PROJECTS
Hamilton's area rating program was revised in 2011 to address the tax rate inequities that existed after the amalgamation of the former municipalities (Dundas, Flamborough, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Glanbrook and Hamilton). The new tax policies provide the former City of Hamilton wards annual capital resources for infrastructure related projects. For your information, I've included a list of Ward 5 area rating projects on my website.
CENTENNIAL RAIL BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
Contractors are busy preparing the area around the Centennial Parkway railway bridge for the start of construction later this year A temporary detour road will be constructed by the start of July, and will facilitate four lanes of traffic and pedestrian access on the east side. As noted in a previous report, the bridge is nearly 80 years old, and is part of a $12 million project that is anticipated to last nearly 2 years.
2014-2015 WASTE TAGS
Residents should have already received their 2014 waste tags. Every household received 12 tags in the mail in March along with the City's 2014 Garbage & Recycling Guide. Each household can also request 14 more trash tags once per year. If you require the additional tags, please contact my office and they will be mailed or delivered to your home.
GRAFTON AVE PUMPING STATION
I'm pleased to announce that the new pumping station on Grafton Avenue is complete and operational. The facility was constructed to pump groundwater and storm water from bayside side streets, under the QEW and into the harbour Thank you to those residents who assisted with the project over the past 10 years.
AROUND THE WARD....
There are a number of other projects underway in Ward 5. September updates include: planned upgrades at Sam Manson Park, Rosedale Pool update, Pedestrian Priority signal on Barton and much more. Visit the Ward 5 website at www.chadcollins.ca for more information.
QUESTION, COMMENTS, QUERIES...
For the past number of years I have distributed newsletters and community reports to neighbourhoods across Ward 5. If you have questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me at City Hall (546-2716), my home (545-3737) or by email: (ccollins@hamilton.ca).