January 12/05 Report – Part 2 of 5

(Continued from Part #1 that ended at Item 6.1 of "Committee Reports" - 6.1 Public Works, Infrastructure and Environment Committee - Report 05-001)

6.2 Planning and Economic Development Committee, Report 05-001, January 6, 2005 (to be distributed)
(Whitehead / Pearson - CARRIED)
(http://www.hamilton.ca/Clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
Planning-Economic-Development/2005/Jan06/MINS%2005-001.pdf)

Mayor DiIanni : "The next report is the Planning and Economic Development Committee, which presents its first report of the year, as well and recommends Item" (hear a glass clink) "#1 - Councillor Morelli." (hear a glass clink) "Councillor Jackson, I've got you -"

COMMENT ON Item #1 - " 1. BIOX Canada Limited (owned by BIOX Corporation) proposed bio-diesel plant project, to be located at 41 Oliver Street, Pier 12, Port of Hamilton
That the City of Hamilton support the application by BIOX Canada Limited to locate at 41 Oliver Street, Pier 12, Port of Hamilton." (http://www.bioxcorp.com/)

Morelli : "Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the opportunity to speak, tonight. And, I want to begin by also saying that I respect very strongly all those that seek to work so hard, including yourself, to attract industry to this community. Certainly the Ec Dev department, the Chamber. God knows how much I work with Neil because of the position I'm in to forward others that come here seeking to develop industrially. So, the fact of the matter is, is that, obviously, I respect that very strongly. But, I'm in a position where I disagree with this particular issue for a number of reasons."

"And, I want to also make it very clear that I understand that we have no jurisdiction. We certainly have no right to approve and we only have a right to comment. But, I don't think it's any - that gives me reason or any of us here the opportunity to back off and we have no need to endorse or support that."

"This particular project did, this project is going to be situated in this community's, one of this community's most valuable assets. We've had very little input. It's a major economic engine in this community. And, in my opinion, my humble opinion, we've had very little input. And, just because there's an agreement in place and we don't have any jurisdiction - and the fact of the matter is, is that I think that we can speak to this on behalf of the citizens as we say we must represent them."

"When somebody talked to me last week, and they mentioned also that this project meets all the criteria, I sort of reflected on that and said, standards, the highest standards set by the Province. We probably would meet the highest standards to probably accommodate Toronto's garbage, too, I guess."

"And I guess, that's the point I want to make that this is a project which I don't believe should be located on our harbour when it need not be there. This is about adding another industrial site on our harbour when we need not to. We are passing up, in my opinion, an opportunity to retrieve property and return it to the public where we can. In my opinion, this is a golden opportunity and we need not pass it up; certainly not support it, even though, again, I recognize we do not have jurisdiction over it."

"You know, and I must share with Council, I have spent a lot of time in the harbour. I did many of the reports for the Federal Government taking a leaf out of my good friend Terry Whitehead's book. But, I spent most of the time doing Federal Government studies when for the 'Harbourgate' - the famous 'Harbourgate' activity went on. And it worked with people like Gail Simmons, involved in the extension of the water lots, worked at Dofasco at the same time. And also listened to people that had a vision for the Harbour. And certainly, when they dumped all that garbage from the Claremont into the Lax property and then listened further on to people like Gail Simmons and then eventually saw what we have today, and reflect on those that saw that, I can tell you that I don't think this is far from that particular situation."

"Interesting enough, we're attempting to achieve a, a project right now with CARASS, which really exploits and takes advantage of this great economic engine, which is our harbour - something that allows us to compete with Toronto and certainly we've recognized that and are using it in that situation."

"We need to start somewhere. We need to start, you know, somewhere to do this. If we recall the Rail Trail Systems, we look at the Beachstrip. Again, I've been through that in terms of watching the West Harbour development, the Beachstrip , as it's gone through a number of cycles, and inevitably, now, it's back in the public's hands."

"Not to be like Toronto, your know, and certainly, I would not be the last to suggest that. But, you know, look at Toronto, they want to knock down their Gardiner Expressway. They are changing their waterfront immensely because they recognize that they can not only use it more effectively and efficiently, they can, they're in essence, exploiting it, because they're returning it to the public. And, it's not economically unfeasible. They just had, they've got the courage and the foresight to see that that's where they need to go."

"This is, for me, not being against industrial development and those that are there. If we look at the breadth of scope, by the way, of industrial development at the harbour, you know, I was driving down there again today. From approximately Wellington Street - if you forget the numbers of piers, I think if we have 1 to 8 which is recreational and then the rest up to 34 is all industrial. But if you just look at it practically, you know, we have industrial development from Wellington right around to the EastPort position just before the Bridge. We need to accommodate those that are there, quite frankly."

"Dofasco was brought up the other day. And I can tell you that I personally have an affection for that organization, for many reasons, as you know. But, I can tell you that I don't see this as a kick at anyone that's there. If fact, maybe down the road, as I understand where industry is going in many instances, down there, this is an attempt to also join with some consolidation," (I think that is the word Councillor Morelli used, but I'm not sure) "which is likely to occur."

"But, I want to make it very clear, I'm not interested in kicking anyone out; I'm looking at co-operating. And I think, if you look at what we've developed down there industrially, if anyone is going to stand up and think that we haven't accommodated industrialization down there, let me just tell you to go and visit EastPort. The EastPort section to see that section of newness. Now, sorry, I just want to make that point."

"I want to also, just for a minute, allude to the process that brought this project about from our perspective - again, recognizing that we don't have any jurisdiction. And, recognizing fully that we're only asked to comment. There was very little consultation with the neighbourhood. And the, there's the City at large. In fact, I'm pleased at least, that we're able and I thank, Mr. Mayor, you and Councillor Kelly, for bringing it forward to the Economic Development Committee, because I think it's had its airing. And, at least it's had its airing and not maybe to the conclusion that I certainly think needs to occur. But, I can tell you that there's been no consultation. And, it just appalls me that our second most important economic engine, you know, was not getting any consultation in terms of what was happening down there."

"I have to also share with you, some comments were made subsequent to us not endorsing this project. Some of it which we clarified at the session at Ec Dev and Planning. But, there was no consultation as illustrated in the documentation from the harbour which said that there was such in May, 2004. It didn't occur until actually, Lee Ann Coveyduck, Ms. Coveyduck again confirmed this until September 24 th when they officially saw - officially, informally saw a site-plan. The consultation they were referring to was really seeking zoning verification, you know. And, we all know around here what consultation is and it didn't occur. Secondly, I can tell you that with the neighbourhood, there was none until I think that it was brought to my attention sometime in September and I went and met with them and looked at the plans and certainly said you need to consult further."

"After the meeting, the other day, I also need to point out that there's reference again to the fact that this will bring 300 jobs to the City of Hamilton. Let me just tell you that there's been all kinds of documentation pushed on this stuff varying from paper articles to whatever. But, it really only will employ approximately 18 people, and maybe as high as 20 and 30 where they reference it as high as 50. But, the 300 people that they're, the spin that they're trying to give it is for the construction of it. And, quite frankly, I certainly am one that has supported construction in this City and will continue to do that.""

Again, I just want to say focused that this is an area where we don't need to put it and we don't need to utilize our harbour and take up our harbour with something new. And so, here we are, we're putting an industry in place that does not need, by the way, water for the transport of its products. It basically will be bringing noise, trucks, and smell - in fact, that down there today, I had one of our Councillor colleagues with me. And I wasn't there to lobby, by the way, I was there just because we happened to be together opening the new recycling facility, Mr. Mayor, on the mountain - which by the way, I think 15 years ago if that had been on this table, we probably would had some that would have went, 'what's that all about' - but having said that, the smell was incredible today. And, it drifts west and east and is obviously another issue. That's the immediate problems that are associated with the situation."

"In conclusion, in moving towards conclusion, I just want to also point out, that I've said to you that from Wellington Street, right around to EastPort we have industry. And, it's been good to this community. It certainly has put food on my table and many other tables and I can tell you it's something that I really respect and appreciate. I'm not interested in going after these people."

"We have a gateway to this City, which probably has millions, millions of people - some of which could establish in Hamilton who drive over the Skyway, each and everyday. And, I can tell you what they're looking at isn't something which would entice them to come in to Hamilton."

"It's interesting to note, Dofasco recognizes that, even with its strong sense of corporate responsibility. It manages to recognize that by virtue of doing some landscaping on its side of the harbour so that it can make it as attractive as it can be. And certainly, they maintain their property to a standard beyond all others."

"The goal, obviously, is to operate an efficient harbour, as well as to provide access for its people. And, we shouldn't add anymore industry where we need not to. And so, when we look at EastPort, I can tell you, we have expanded. So, don't let anyone ever convince you that we haven't been amenable to it. In fact, it's gotten probably away with more down in the EastPort because it's so much more isolated and sometimes doesn't catch our attention. Now, it happened to be going in the neighbourhood. And, obviously, it did catch my attention. So, it's not so isolated."

"And so, this is an opportunity for me to speak up. It think it's an opportunity for you to speak up. Regardless of, you don't need to approve it, but you do not, you do not have jurisdiction over it. You're not involved by virtue of an agreement. But, if you don't believe in it, you don't need to endorse it or support it. You need not nurture industrial development there."

"Let me assure you that some day, we will begin retrieving that harbour. This could be a start. And, I urge you to consider that. I speak not only as the Ward Councillor, but one who has the overall interest of our citizens of this community at stake. And, I know you do too, as well. And, I think that these people - our community - has the right to as much exposure to this harbour. And, I think that in a way that it doesn't interfere with what's already there."

"In fact, I think there's a real potential to integrate; integrate immensely some of the wonderful activities down there, such as the McKeil operation." (McKeil Marine Limited: http://www.mckeilmarine.com/) "I can tell you, there is even some opportunities within some of the major industries, there, to integrate. And, this new operation. And, if you see it in a drawing - and I know the Committee did, with a schematic, it's not what you'd want to look at. And, it's one of the few locations where you can see, actually, open water across to Burlington, which doesn't harbour any industry that I can think of on its harbourfront."

"Nevertheless, thank you, Mr. Chairman. This Council's been more than, more than amenable to listening to me on a number of occasions and I thank you for the opportunity to do so again tonight."

Mayor DiIanni : "Thank you. Councillor Jackson." (hear a glass clink)

Jackson : "Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And, Councillor Morelli has very eloquently stated a position that is an important one for both Council and this community to hear, Mr. Mayor. And the recommendation before us, tonight, for this proposed biodiesel plant project is that the City of Hamilton supports the application."

"I'm going to ask to be recorded as opposed to this recommendation, Mr. Mayor. I support what Councillor Morelli has said. I won't repeat everything. But, he talked about the vision of past Councils and of members of this community. Bayfront Park and Pier 4 park - over 20" (hear a glass clink) "years ago, that was the Lax lands." (hear a glass clink) "And, it was industrial. And, today, we look at it and we just talk so glowingly and praiseworthily of that Bayfront Park - the trail to Cootes Paradise under the McQueston Bridge. And, we're just so pleased and proud of that, Mr. Mayor."

"How about the Beachstrip? We're proud of the expansion of the waterfront trails, Mr. Mayor. And, we have revitalized a community on the Beachstrip that, maybe a decade or two ago, except for some strong political fight and will amongst a few and a few of the residents, there, would have been evaporated; it would have been gone. And, if you walk down there now - and I'm a regular walker on that waterfront trail to the Burlington lift canal bridge, Mr. Mayor, you will see thousands of dollars being spent on old homes being remodelled on old structures being demolished and new ones being put in its place. People, now, want to live by the water."

"We have an opportunity, here, to recapture pieces of land by our waterfront. I was a member of Council. I went down to take a look at this property where BIOX wants to go across on Oliver Street, there. And, you have a view of our harbour on that piece of land; you have a view of the lake. And, it's on Pier 12 where it's proposed. Four piers over, Mr. Mayor - Councillor Morelli alluded to it - we're hoping, praying, we're going to be awarded the Canadian Music Hall of Fame on Pier 8 - just 4 piers over, where we're hoping thousands of tourists are going to come further to our community."

"Mr. Mayor, when we've got opportunities to recapture, I think we should. A former Minister, of our community took a dip at the Bayfront Park a few years ago to demonstrate that we are doing better - we're not where we want to be, in terms of the quality of our water, to swim on our harbourfront, yet. We boat; we recreate; we do a lot of wonderful things there now. But, we're not quite at the point, yet, where we want to swim or swim on a regular basis there. But, that was part and parcel of what we wanted to do to further improve the environment and the waterfront and near the water's edge of our community, which so many cities in North America have done, Mr. Mayor. And, we need to continue down that path."

"Mr. Mayor, later in this agenda under the 'Special Committee of the Whole' Report, you're going to see where this Council, in the last couple of weeks, set priorities for this term of Council and for the future of this community. The top priority set - one of the top priorities set, or at least was listed first - was waterfront development; further development of trails, of our bridges, of our recreational component."

"Mr. Mayor, if I can use an analogy, up in Flamborough there's been a lot of opposition to a potential quarry going in. Well, you know what, I guess many in the community, and many on this Council could make an argument about jobs with the quarry; assessment growth; commercial growth; and other business coming to our community. But, you know what, many Flamborough residents, the Flamborough representatives on this Council - particularly Councillor McCarthy - has said no to it. Why - because of the impact of quality of life and possibly losing a piece of what they have up there, that will never be recaptured again."

"Mr. Mayor, you and this Council have talked about image of our community. We, as elected representatives, are the ones ultimately people will call and go to when things aren't right. Or, when they feel we have not made the best possible effort to do something right in our community."

"The Port Authority - with all due respect to the Port Authority - I bet you if I sent out a questionnaire to my constituents to ask them: name the 7 members of the Port Authority, they'd probably have difficulty naming one or two. And, I'm not being disrespectful to the quality of individuals that are on the Port. All I'm saying is, based on being elected representatives, we're the ones that, ultimately, will be the ones accountable that people will look to as to how this Biodiesel Plant, if approved, got to go into this piece of land on Pier 12."

(Note: the 7-member Board of Directors of the Port Authority are: Walter Mulkewich (Chair), Bob Charters (City of Hamilton appointee), Larry Russell (Federal Appointee), Bob Swenor (Federal Appointee), 3 other Federal appointees - appointment is pending for this term. The Hamilton Port Authority Executive is: Keith Robson (President and CEO), Bob Hart (V.P. Finance and Administration), Jeffrey Brookfield (V.P. Operations) - see website: http://www.hamiltonport.ca/corporate/directors.aspx)

"Mr. Mayor, I think that when we have an opportunity, we should take advantage of it. Please don't tell me that we've got refineries to the left of it near Wentworth Street and we have other industries to the right of it, close to Birch Street. I understand all that. But, 20 years ago we had industry at Bayfront Park. We had a Beachstrip that was almost gone from our lives and our community and our City. And now, it's one of the most destination points to go to. And, Mr. Mayor, this could be another piece in a future visionary puzzle to turn this city around. So, I will not support allowing this Biodiesel Plant here, tonight. Thanks, Mr. Mayor."

Mayor DiIanni : "I do have, now, a growing list of speakers and I want to put myself in the list, as well. And, I've given some latitude to the Mover - at least Councillor Morelli, the Ward Councillor. And, some latitude, there. I'm going to restrict us to the 5 minute rule, however, if you don't mind. Councillor - " (someone says something to Mayor off microphone) "I know. I should have. I did give some latitude. But, I think for the sake of time, 5 minutes is plenty. Councillor Bratina."

Bratina : "Thank you, Mr. Mayor. In all of North America, at the moment, there are 35 working blast furnaces. About 25 years ago, there were about 300 blast furnaces in North America. Now, there are 35. Four of those blast furnaces are in Hamilton, Ontario. And, when a previous speaker talks about the view coming over the Skyway bridge. The view is not, that is, controversial to some people; not to me. It is in fact, the view of those blast furnace facilities."

"The other essential element of the industrial skyline, every 15 minutes, for the last 90 years, a large cloud has come up from the coke oven batteries that provide part of the raw material for the making of iron. I don't think anyone in this room hopes, or wishes to see in our lifetimes, or perhaps our children's lifetimes, those elements disappear. So, to suggest that some other type of industrial application is what's keeping people from moving to Hamilton, I don't think would stand up to that argument."

"We want to see those blast furnaces continue. And, we also are not talking about a pristine piece of, such as the gravel pit location in a rural area. We're talking about heavy industrial zoning. Also, it was very typical of my father and grandfather and the immigrants who came here to get as close as they could to their place of employment, which in most cases was a steel mill or [International] Harvester, one of those facilities. And, I would bet you that many of the residence in that area would be delighted to show up at the personnel office of this new company and receive a job, at that place at very good wages."

"When I talked to people in Clairton, Pennsylvania (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?city=Clairton&state=pa) Homestead, Pennsylvania (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?city=Homestead&state=pa) along the Monongahela River where all the great steel mills were and no longer exist. And, when I tell them in Hamilton, Ontario, we have 4 working blast furnaces, one guy actually started crying."

"So, I'm very proud of our industrial skyline. And, as far as the potential disturbing effects of the materials involved in this - remember that among the most dangerous installations you can have in terms of a product coming out of it, is a hospital. And hospital wastes are terrible and of concern. And, whether, I have not heard the evidence that the noise, the smell and the other issues that have been brought up are any greater than a normal industrial application."

"So, I hope that Council will see that a $30 million, 18 or 30-job -whatever the number is - installation. Plus the product that is created from that, Mr. Mayor, if it's used as a diesel replacement, a diesel fuel replacement in our own City fleet, then our City will be advancing in ecological terms - in environmental terms. So, I hope that most of Council will see the value in this and I certainly support it. Thank you."

Mayor DiIanni : "Thank you and Councillor McHattie."

McHattie : "Thanks, Mr. Mayor. I sit on Planning and Economic Development Committee and I had the benefit of listening to the presentations and Councillor Morelli's comments at Committee. And also, the comments from a resident, also in the area. So, it was a very interesting discussion."

"I guess, for me, this is more an issue of the vision of the City, the future vision of the City. It, I had an opportunity last week to sit in on a United Nations discussion of sustainability indicators and how we actually may, in the future, be able to measure our budget decisions by using sustainability tools. It's a tool that's being developed. And, I'm sitting on that committee on behalf of the City along with councillors from right across Canada and Councillors from Australia, as well - working with the Melbourne Principles of Sustainability. And, there was 2 councillors on that committee, and we had a brief discussion before the teleconference started."

"And, they explained to me that in Vancouver, and in Calgary, they're now operating on a 100-year time frame in terms of the planning that they're doing. They're thinking of the decisions we're making today on a 100-year time frame. And, I found that particularly interesting as I reflected on how I was going to vote tonight on the issue that we're discussing at the moment."

"Certainly, the lands in question are zoned industrial at the moment. And, in the Hamilton Port Authority Master Plan, they're identified for industrial development. There's no question about that and Councillor Morelli has indicated that the Port Authority through the process we're following, does not need our approval per se, around this table."

"But I, even though that's the case today, and we are, it is an operating port, and it has been for many decades into the past in Hamilton. And, Hamiltonians, of course, have benefited from that. I reflect back a 100-120 years ago when there were 14 streams moving through the middle of Hamilton, through the City of Hamilton - the old City of Hamilton - and into wetlands that went into the east side of the bay - the area in question and the area where Stelco / Dofasco is. So, at that point in time, there was actually the largest commercial fishery in the Great Lakes - at that time was here in Hamilton Harbour, or the Bay. And, it was an entirely different place at that time."

"Now, things have changed clearly to a great extent. All those wetlands have been filled in on that side of the Bay and we no longer have the fishery that we did, once upon a time. And, the vision starting in the early 1900s, carrying through to now, was an industrial vision for that part of the harbour. Well, I'd like to suggest, looking forward, or thinking forward to the 100-year vision that our counterparts in Vancouver and Calgary are considering and are operating on that kind of basis. We need to think whether this land, while it my seem important as this point in time for the number of jobs that are outlined by BIOX; it may seem important as an industrial land at this point - as it is designated."

"We know that in very recent history the Bay has started coming back as an ecological system. And, we now do have different bird species using the Bay for breeding, and through migratory bird time. There are a number of different fish species coming back in the Bay. The water quality is improving, not to mention the recreational benefits that we're seeing in the west end of the harbour, and, as Councillor Jackson indicated, not too far away from this particular location."

"So, I'd like to suggest that it may be time for us, now, to think not only, you know, in terms of the past and what was there. We can reflect on the wetlands that were once there. We can think about Vision 2020 and the vision that we hold for this city into that period of time. But, also think 100 years in the future. We make this decision today; jobs come into the community. But, perhaps even 60-80 years from now our children and grandchildren may wish that we would have made a different, and we would have followed the vision being suggested by Councillor Morelli - which is quite a large vision. He didn't speak to it in any great detail tonight. He did at the Committee that really we're looking at a different vision for a larger part of the harbour, which is a significant comment and a significant observation."

"So, I'd like to support that vision. And, I'll certainly be voting that way tonight, Mr. Mayor."

Mayor DiIanni : "Thank you. Councillor Kelly."

Kelly : "Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And, thanks to my colleagues, too for their passion and they're comments this evening on this particular issue. We heard those comments, of course, last week at the Planning and Ec Dev meeting."

"I guess, then, I'm going to take a different tack than a couple of the previous speakers, Mr. Mayor. And, I don't necessarily know if it does a whole lot of good to call on some of the demons of past planning mistakes, because I think we've learned from those mistakes. And, I don't think this particular application has anything to do with quarries; it has nothing to do with the Lax property - that's something that Council was undecided" (not sure if this was the word Councillor Kelly used) "to fix years ago. So, we have learned from mistakes."

"Part of that, Mr. Mayor - and I was on Council at the time - was a rather heated discussion - which by the way, was the result of a lawsuit between the City and the Federal Government - between the Harbours and how this land was actually going to be developed over the course of time. And, we did come to an agreement, finally. Some of us were on Council at the time - Councillor Whitehead wasn't, but I know he was deeply involved in it from the administrative level. And, I know Terry [Whitehead] knows an awful lot about some of things that went on, there. And, Mr. Mayor, the result of that was that we were saying, yes we do want to recapture a great deal of the waterfront; we do want recreation; we do want residential down there. But, we also understand that the harbour and the Port is also a key economic driver for this community."

"No, you don't see a whole lot of that in Burlington; you don't see any of it in Burlington. They don't have ports in the water in Burlington. But, good heavens, Mr. Mayor, if we had the Queen Elizabeth Way, the 401 and the 407 highway for industrial growth here, we probably wouldn't need the Port for industrial growth, either. But, we don't. We have a jewel. We have something that many other cities would love to have - and that's a port . " (tape stopped, sorry) " . transportation. We have to attract industries to industrially-zoned lands. Well, Mr. Mayor, now we have an applicant who comes forward and says, I want to take you guys up on that. I've got $30 million that I'm going to invest in your community. I'm going to bring jobs."

"We're long-past, Mr. Mayor, the days of factories coming where there's going to be 3,000-4,000 jobs. We all know, that the technology, these days, that usually doesn't happen. Even if this is only 18 jobs or 30 jobs, it's 18 or 30 jobs more than we have right now. And, this community, Mr. Mayor, needs employment."

"We've identified employment lands. We've worked very, very hard to try to attract people to those employment lands. Now, we have somebody who's coming here to make a huge investment which, by the way, may only be the first step. He's already told us that as this starts to develop and other parts of this business start to flourish in other parts of the world, Hamilton could actually be the linchpin for this, where an awful lot of this work is going to be done. So, there could, in fact, be more jobs in the future."

"We have to grasp at this, Mr. Mayor, we have to look at this. We've already started budget discussions. And, we already know the predicament that we're in, financially, in this particular community. And, we know that one of the best ways for us to try to rectify that is to try to promote economic growth. We have economic growth in front of us, right now."

"We can't say one thing, Mr. Mayor, and when somebody else comes along and says, 'ya, we want to participate. We're going to try to help your community and grow our business at the same time' and say, well, we're kidding. We don't really want it."

"We have already made that designation, Mr. Mayor, where we want to go. We do have recreation; we do have residential growth. But, we also must have economic growth in the Port. And, for that reason, Mr. Mayor, I would please urge my colleagues to support this Motion, tonight. Thank you."

Mayor DiIanni : "Thank you. Councillor Merulla."

Merulla : "Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Let me just start off by saying, firstly, that I think that the intent of the proposal is obviously one that is, can be considered quite positive. However, I'm looking at the actual decision, itself. And, we always talk about looking at global decisions, long-term, how it has an impact on our community. And this particular proposal - and I have to honestly say, that I was going to reluctantly support it. But then, I have to honestly also say that Councillor Morelli made a brilliant point and one that has been understated."

"When we're looking at this particular situation, we can look at it from a short-sighted point of view - where we're looking at 18 jobs. Eighteen jobs, in a community of half a million is, can be considered significant. And, I don't think anyone around this table wants to prevent 18 jobs from existing in this community. Having said that though, this element of, or this type of business on the waterfront which doesn't need the waterways in order to exist, is a vision, not of the future, but that of the past."

"And, I want to tag to a number of the issues that have been brought forward. When we look at the waterfront - you look at any progressive city in North America over the last 20 years - and you look at this type of industry coming forward, I can assure you that Pittsburgh or Cleveland or anyone that is in our situation, where we're trying to gain control of our waterfront and provide greenspace and make it a destination spot for the majority of our residents, I don't believe it would have considered this type of project."

"Now, we compare ourselves to Cleveland and the Pittsburghs of the world. And, we try to emphasize the fact that they're progressiver [ sic ] and we want to be just like them. But then, we make decisions that are reflective of how we were rather than how we want to be. And, that's the problem that we're faced with here, today. And, as Councillor McHattie had mentioned, a 100 years from now, when people look back, do we want to be part of a Council that, at this time, is a reflection of the past, or a reflection of where we want to be 100 years from now, and have them look back on us and say, 'look at the vision that they had with Setting Sail.' And, I realize we have no jurisdiction over it, but we still can lobby for it to extend that Setting Sail type of initiative to this area."

"I personally want to be part of that type of initiative, rather than 100 years from now, those 18 jobs - which are going to exist in Southern Ontario anyway, and a number of our residents can apply for it - rather than looking back and saying, for those 18 jobs, we just continued looking at the past rather than the future. And I just, for the life of me, can't understand how some people can claim to want to protect certain environmental treasures, but yet, not want to create an environmental treasure in the future. And, from my perspective, it's just simply hypocritical."

"And," (hear a glass clink) "I simply want to say one thing in all of this, is that, their primary objective in any company - well in the private sector - its primary objective is to make money. And, I think the article in the Hamilton Spectator dated Wed, November 24, 2004 sums it all up. It reads: 'Renewable fuels firm is going to go where we make the most money.' And you know what, God Bless them. I expect them to want to make money. But, not at the expense of where we want to be in the future. Thank you, Mr. Mayor."

Mayor DiIanni : "Thank you. Councillor Collins."

Collins : "Mr. Mayor, this is not the first time our Council's been forced to make a decision in regards to our port lands. And as someone who represents the East End, my area is home to the beachstrip - the thriving beachstrip that Councillor Jackson noted earlier - and home to Eastport Drive, which Councillor Morelli alluded to earlier, as well. And, in my time in office I've had to deal with the conflicting existence of both the residential community and the industrial community."

"And, before us, before us here around the table, the old City of Hamilton, we dealt with the clean soils issue, where we had contaminated soil that was burned in a, some kind of a machine on Eastport Drive and the effects of that spread across the east end over top of the residential neighbourhood. Those residents filled the Council Chambers and we had a discussion with the Harbour Commission reps at the time and talks about, is this the best use of this land along the QEW, where thousands of people are traveling along that stretch each and everyday. And, we decided collectively that, you know what, no it wasn't. And, the Harbour Commission collectively decided, that no it wasn't. And so, the lease was terminated with that company. They pack up their 6 or 8 jobs, or whatever it was, for the acreage that they took up along Eastport Drive and they're no longer operating. There not operating here, there not operating anywhere because there's no other community in North America that's willing to take them."

"We dealt with, as you remember, 2 terms ago, the jet fuel situation on Eastport Drive, where the former Harbour Commission thought that it was in Hamilton's best economic sense to attract jet fuel tanks to supply Pearson Airport their jet fuel from Hamilton to Toronto and they decided again that the most travelled highway in North America - one of the most travelled highways in North America - the QEW, in our municipality would make a great home for the jet fuel tanks. And, thankfully, with the intervention of Federal reps, this Council and the former Harbour Commission, they decided that in fact, 'you know what, that's not a good fit for Hamilton.' It's not a good fit for a city who has an image problem."

"Several years later we dealt with - and it wasn't too long ago - asphalt tanks on Eastport Drive. And this Council, unanimously - and I understand the Council's changed slightly in it's composition - this Council was unanimous in its opposition to the asphalt plant on Eastport Drive - the Bitumar facility" (see Item 8.1 Council Agenda, Jan. 22, 2003 - http://www.hamilton.ca/Clerk/archives/council/2003/Jan22/Agenda.pdf and Item 21, committee of the Whole March 18, 2003 - http://www.hamilton.ca/Clerk/archives/committee-of-the-whole/
2003/Mar18/Minutes.pdf) "because we recognized - and I don't know how many debates we've had around this in regards to our city's image, and what we're going to try to do to improve it - but, we decided that an asphalt plant, 6, 8, 10, 12 asphalt tanks along, again, one of the most travelled roads in North America through our community, was not the kind of image that we wanted to portray to - not just Hamiltonians, but people who were travelling by our municipality."

"And so, when I look at this, this is no different than many that we've had before us in the past. And this is not about turning our backs on our industrial heritage. We've used and in some cases abused our lands for 100 years. And, we have thousands of people who are currently employed in the industrial sector because of the industry that we have, north of Burlington Street. And, I don't think that there's anyone here that would turn back the clock and say we'd do things any different."

"But, over the last couple of decades, the standards have changed. And, we're not saying that we don't want industry. In fact, it's part of our economic development plan to attract more industry. But, we're trying to attract industries with jobs; industries that have a better image than the industries that we've attracted in the past. And so, when you look at the industrial lands from here to Toronto, and you look at everything that's on the side of the QEW, you're not going to find asphalt tanks. You won't find gravel piles; you won't find piles of sand; you won't find a lot of the uses that you find on Eastport Drive through Councillor Merulla's area and through Councillor Morelli and into Councillor Bratina's area because other communities are saying, 'you know what, the lands along the QEW are too valuable.' They would rather have head offices; they would rather have industrial operations that have less of an impact on community."

"And I don't know why every time we deal with development - not just here at the City - but at the Port, especially, we lower our standards for development. We're willing to take anything as long as someone signs a lease and is willing to put up a building. And, as someone who lives in the East End, I don't agree with that. I think that we should have the same standards, if not better standards than other communities. So, why Burlington has higher standards than we do, I think because collectively they have an image in Burlington they want to protect, while at the same time ensuring that they are moving their economy forward."

"And so this, I think, accomplishes one thing, it in part moves our economy forward. It does absolutely nothing to improve the image of this city. And, we have a report later here that talks about improving the downtown, investing in the waterfront, investing in the airport. You won't see this operation up at the airport because I think the airport people have more smarts than the people who are operating the port. They recognize that there are industries you can attract to Hamilton that will provide jobs, while at the same time contributing to the image of this community. And, I don't think it does this. The other ones I referenced earlier didn't do that. That's why we opposed it. And that's why, Mr. Mayor, I'm going to oppose it here, this evening."

Mayor DiIanni : "Councillor Whitehead. Thank you."

Whitehead : "Thank you, Mr. Mayor. First of all, when this originally came to the Committee, I supported the Ward Councillor, because I wanted to also send the message that the Port has to do better relative to the type of industry they try to attract to the Port."

"Having said that, in the early 1800s, we went - we, the City of Hamilton - approached the Federal Government and asked them to set up a Port Authority, or a Harbour Commission in our harbour for shipping and navigation purposes. Then we embarked on a lawsuit, a breach of contract with the Port Authority - at least that was the position the City of Hamilton had - to reclaim lands that were not being used, or utilized for shipping and navigation purposes. And, in those negotiations, there was give and take. And, in those negotiations, for example, we, rendering plants are out. They can't, cannot put a rendering plant down on the harbour period. So, there was lengthy discussions in those negotiations. And, what resulted from those negotiations is what you see now. And, when Councillor Jackson talks about the walkway and the recovery of Pier 8, that was through those negotiations. And, I think that was the right thing to do. But, we also have to recognize the other side of the coin, that we basically have acknowledged, for the next number of years, that the Port Authority's in charge for business for the remaining parcels of land."

"Now, we also asked to have at least some process in respect to site plan approval and we do that. Councillor Morelli raised the fact that this process could've been better. And, there's no question. There's absolutely no question that the consultation, the dialogue and discussion should've took place earlier. They should've been more comprehensive. But, I've been told that, there was, the Harbour, a master plan. I was told there was open houses and there was these sessions where the general public was invited as well as councillors and very few councillors, actually, attended these particular functions."

"I, the reason I'm supporting this particular proposal in front of us today is because: 1) we can be on the side of the angels - and I agree with you. We can be visionaries and I believe that at some point it'd be nice. It'd be really nice to get a lot of that industry out of there and open it up to the public. But now, I'm going to be realistic. The reality is, is that currently we have Lakeport Brewers on one side; we've got Canamera on the other that just made a significant investment - long-term leases on both sides."

"So you've got industry on the left; you've got industry on the right. We have proper zoning in the middle. We had a recycling plant there. That recycling plant has been cleaned up. The reason why you can see the water is because they've got cement - an exorbitant amount of money to clean it up so they can prepare for this development. If you take a look at this development and the site plans, we're talking landscaping, we're talk - I'm not saying it's ideal, especially that close to a residential area. But, we're talking about one that's being sensitive relative to the planning around it, the traffic, keeping it off Oliver Street. We're talking about burms, we're talking about plantings, we're talking about as esthetically pleasing as they could possibly could make an industrial site be."

"I mean, I don't expect the Federal Government to tie the hands of the City on issues. And, the Port Authority's been charged with the responsibility. They're running a business on the harbour. There's no question. They're there to make money. And, the last thing I, the last report I saw the gross national product - or the gross product from the harbour was significant in regards to the volume and the dollars that it brings and puts out. That's significant, that's significant."

"So, in respect to this particular development, I, all the speakers that spoke today are right. We need to be visionaries. We were, we captured a good chunk of the harbour. And there's no question that we should continue having that dialogue with the Federal Government. Let's not forget, by the way, the Federal Government not only endorses this particular project, but supplied dollars for this particular project and to be located here in Hamilton in respect to Pier 12. So, the very government that is charged with the Port Authorities, the one that we need to negotiate in respect to recovering lands are the ones endorsing this particular project."

"So, we can have a feel good exercise, sit back and say, 'you know what, we're going to be visionaries.' We're going to say, 'we want to start reclaiming the lands, open it up to the general public.' But, on the other side of that coin is, it's not possible. We don't have the authority, period. We have long-term leases on either side. It's not going to happen - not in the short term. And certainly, not in the term in the lease of this particular development."

"And, the last piece I wanted to talk about quickly is, that there is potential for head offi - I mean Councillor Morelli spun it as 18 jobs. I mean, I heard 30 jobs and then I heard 18 jobs mentioned once in the process. Plus there's construction jobs. Plus, the potential that Councillor Kelly alluded to in respect to the real international interest in the vessel and in the whole development and the export of this type of development. And those manufacturing jobs come to this city."

"So, I think those are all relevant and all important. And, I would just urge this Council to support, because to do a feel good exercise is not going to get us any further ahead. Thank you."

See Part #3
Starting with Item #6.2 - "Committee Reports" Planning and Economic Development Committee cont'd.