March 22/05 Report
1:34 pm to 2:35 pm

Member Attendance:

Bruckler (Chair), Jackson , Samson , Mitchell, McCarthy (out 3X, missed 8 min), Morelli (in 1:41 pm , out 1X, missed 17 min), Whitehead (in 1:47 pm -missed 13 min)

Other Councillor Attendance: Bratina (in for 41 min)

Staff : JoeAnn Priel (Manager, Social and Public Health), Jim Kay (Manager, Emergency Services), Bill Fenwick (Director, Culture and Recreation), G. Makins (Operations and Special Programs), Stephanie Pararella (Clerk).

Press : Eric McGuinness (Spectator), C. E. Babb (CATCH)

Agenda:
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
community-services/2005/Mar22/Agenda%2005-002.pdf

(Note: The material below is prepared to the best ability of the writer and editor; there may be errors or omissions or both as what is provided is paraphrasing.)

Changes to the Agenda:

The Clerk noted that there were two added items of correspondence in support of agenda items 7.2 and 8.1. The agenda was approved.

Adoption of the Minutes:

Jackson moved a clarification of the minutes (of Feb 22/05) regarding the long debate over the discontinuation of the Aquafest funding, that instead of funds being allocated to the tax levy that it was replaced by the matter being deferred to the Committee of the Whole for budget deliberations. The Community Services Committee did not make a recommendation in February. CARRIED

Delegation Requests

Bruckler said there was a request for a delegation (Rick Gagnon) on ASHL, refereeing at the Hamilton Quad Pad Arena
(http://www.hamilton.ca/Clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
community-services/2005/Mar22/Delegation%20-%20
Gagnon%20RE%20ASHL%20Refereeing.pdf) and that we could listen to his concerns and that it refers to his having been suspended and his wish to appear before us with respect to the zero tolerance policy. He says that because it's a personnel matter they would go in camera. McCarthy said it takes quite a bit for the city to act and she would be reluctant to have him come forward and make his submission to this committee and that the staff has dealt with the matter appropriately. Samson was in agreement (apparently with Gagnon's request to appear) and stated that he wanted Gagnon to understand that the Quad Pad arena is the same as any other arena or city-owned facility and asked staff if this had been clearly pointed out to him. Fenwick said that Gagnon was concerned as to whether the facility was owned by the city and that even though Ellis-Don is shown (on registry files) the arena is owed by the city. Jackson was supportive of staff and wanted to be recorded as being in favour of Gagnon appearing. Samson wanted a copy of what Gagnon is going to say to committee and had a problem with someone coming in and maligning staff. There was further discussion on this matter and a motion to approve Gagnon's request to appear. CARRIED . McCarthy wanted to be recorded as opposing.

7.1 Hockey Game at Ivor Wynne Stadium - Verbal Update by Bill Fenwick:
(No Staff report)

Fenwick referred to this as "our game to give" which will be on Saturday Apr 2/05 at 7 pm hosted by Sutherland and Associates and promoted by FBC Good Media with proceeds to go to The Canadian Red Cross for tsunami relief and Camp Trillium and sponsored by Westjet, Brick Brewery, and BMO. CCM will showcase their new equipment. $35 per ticket, with 16,000 tickets already sold for this expected 30,000-attendance event. The city will receive a rental fee plus costs incurred by the city. Whitehead asked if there were city capital costs, with the reply that Simcoe Ice and Arena Products are handling the construction and later dismantling. Jackson wondered if the weather would be favourable with the reply that the ice making would work and that if there were rain, they would continue on.

7.2 Thunderbirds Baseball - Verbal Update by Bill Fenwick (Staff report not posted.)

Correspondence from David Adames, Tourism Hamilton, respecting an economic impact overview in support of the Hamilton Thunderbirds:
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
community-services/2005/Mar22/added%20Item%207.2.pdf

Fenwick referred to the report plus a handout from Tourism Hamilton and said that there's a launching of Thunderbirds entering the Inter-County Baseball League and a successor to the Hamilton Cardinals, led by Mel Oswald and Drew Brady, to play at Bernie Arbour Stadium. The Thunderbirds will host the Sandlot and the US national tournament in 2005, a qualifying event for the "world series" in 2006. Bernie Arbour Stadium needs renovations & repairs, such as a transformer. Substantial repairs will need to be done by the city in partnership with the Thunderbirds. Tourism Hamilton provides a report. City staff will report back. Jackson commended those involved as being wonderful. Mitchell wanted to know about any list of improvements and costs to which Fenwick replied that staff was looking into the list of short-term and long-term things to do and that there have not been promises. Staff will report back in future.

8.1 Sun Shelter at Turner Park Sports Complex
Staff report: http://www.hamilton.ca/Clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
community-services/2005/Mar22/Sun%20Shelter%20Report%20
Final%20March%2022.pdf

Correspondence from Mr. Steve Miller, Public Relations Chairperson, Hamilton`Firefighters Association respecting the Sun Shelter at Turner Park Sports Complex: http://www.hamilton.ca/Clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
community-services/2005/Mar22/added%20Item%208.1.pdf

Whitehead said the staff report was self-explanatory and that we have a deal in front of us. Fenwick indicated that staff was given clear direction that this was a good thing and met with the Hamilton Professional Fire Fighters Association. Nine conditions were to be met, including $15,000 to be loaned by the city for the project, with this to be repaid. Morelli expressed praise for the late Ron Bowman, former president of the Association. This matter CARRIED .

8.2 Review of Outstanding Business List Dates
(See pages 4 and 5 of the agenda:
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
community-services/2005/Mar22/Agenda%2005-002.pdf.)

A revised due date of April 12/05 was agreed upon for the staff report deadline on outstanding item 'E' - Skateboard Park Locations Selections. June 28/05 was agreed upon as the due date for the report on item 'J'- Surplus Funds from Renovation Projects. Regarding outstanding item 'K' - Outdoor Skating Pad at Dundas Driving Park, a letter is being received today (Mar 22/05) and will be dealt with later. Regarding item 'K' Renaming of North Central Park, this was referred to the Naming Committee so it will no longer appear on the outstanding list. Item 'K' - Renaming of North Central Park, and item 'L' - Sun Shelter at Turner Park were removed from the list.

Jackson wanted to know if an inventory report from a capital standpoint is still going to hit the 2005 budget. Fenwick said he'd bring the report back prior to June for consideration in the 2006 budget. Whitehead noted that his understanding was that assessments have been done on the arenas and parks and facilities are being dealt with. Fenwick said we are talking about not just arenas, but as well overall facilities and a strategy for replacement and retrofit. And, the inventory report is destined for both Community Services and Public Works Committees. Whitehead wanted to know if development charges are going to be included in the overall strategy, with the reply that this would be looked into.

Whitehead was also concerned about another issue - the need for a family room at the McNab community centre - and said he didn't want to see this fall off the radar and so wanted it to be added to the outstanding items list. Fenwick said he gave information to the councillor and said he would put this in the 2006 budget. Whitehead was concerned that this matter be reckoned with and moved that staff do a report. This was seconded and CARRIED .

8.3 Appointment of Member to the Facility Naming Sub-Committee

Samson was recommended to be on this committee.

Sub-Committee Reports

Seniors Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes, February 4, 2005: http://www.hamilton.ca/Clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
community-services/2005/Mar22/Minutes%20-%20Feb%
204%2005%20-%20Seniors%20Advisory.pdf

Items Referred from Council

10.1 Correspondence from the Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club respecting an outdoor skating pad in the cove area of Dundas Driving Park: http://www.hamilton.ca/Clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
community-services/2005/Mar22/Item%2010.1.pdf

Samson said a meeting was convened and the concern was whether this project was doable with a capital cost about $300,000 to come from the community and the responsibility of the Rotary Club plus others. Future funding might come from the Trillium Fund (max: $75,000), with the projected opening of Dec 2006. Dundas wants an answer by the summer 2005.

General Information

Whitehead said that a Kiwanis group was looking to opening up a boys/girls club on the mountain not for organized sport but rather for drop in activities, like basketball, table tennis and he wanted to be sure the city can provide assistance - information, real estate, a good location. He is asking staff to work with the Kiwanis to make this happen.

Mitchell said there is a massive amount of development in Winona , with the resulting development charges ($) coming into the new City of Hamilton , and there is incredible need for arenas, and parks. He says that the Winona Men's Club has $100,000 that they would put into community buildings.

Private and Confidential:

14.1 Hamilton Mohawk Four-Pad Arena (no copy). A staff member indicated that negotiations were still ongoing and a resolution had not yet been reached, so there wasn't anything to report and that there was no interim feedback. This matter was not discussed further.

Meeting adjourned at 2:35 pm.