Mayor Andrea Horwath thanked the club and Rotary for all the great work they do both locally and afar. She emphasized that Hamilton is gaining positive momentum with investment, jobs and innovation. The federal and provincial governments have increased funding by 40% over the past few years and she continues to build closer relationships with those levels of government.
The city has 640 000 residents and she considers it her job to make city hall more responsive to their needs. Housing, youth crime, infrastructure and homelessness are some key issues. The LRT is progressing. The cybersecurity issue caused her and council to rethink how to make change. Things are happening and some staff have moved on.
Members had questions. Concerns about conservation land being repurposed for housing. Response: the city has plenty of serviced land for housing and amalgamating conservation boards is a bad idea. What would happen to tiny cabins. Response: the site was originally planned as temporary and not expected to be permanent. Other locations are being considered for the future. The federal government has agreed to pay part of the cost overrun for the tiny houses.
Wondering about the Jamesville property. Response: The Jamesville houses have been razed and a Ministerial Zoning Order has okayed construction on the site. CN has given the green light. Now it is just waiting for the downturn in new construction to reverse.
The city has 640 000 residents and she considers it her job to make city hall more responsive to their needs. Housing, youth crime, infrastructure and homelessness are some key issues. The LRT is progressing. The cybersecurity issue caused her and council to rethink how to make change. Things are happening and some staff have moved on.
Members had questions. Concerns about conservation land being repurposed for housing. Response: the city has plenty of serviced land for housing and amalgamating conservation boards is a bad idea. What would happen to tiny cabins. Response: the site was originally planned as temporary and not expected to be permanent. Other locations are being considered for the future. The federal government has agreed to pay part of the cost overrun for the tiny houses.
Wondering about the Jamesville property. Response: The Jamesville houses have been razed and a Ministerial Zoning Order has okayed construction on the site. CN has given the green light. Now it is just waiting for the downturn in new construction to reverse.