In ancipation of the answers forthcoming from Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr, here is the list of questions compiled from the six neighbourhood associations.
General, Ward-wide
1) Hamilton's major east-west one-way streets seem nothing less than inner-city highways. The message they convey is clear: downtown Hamilton residents and businesses don't matter. When is this insulting and destructive arrangement going to be fixed?
2) Why aren’t cyclists licensed, insured and regulated (in respect to the rules of the road)?
3) Given that crime is an important Hamilton issue, could you comment as to more effort being placed against the roots of crime, chief among these, poverty?
4) Given the costs associated with the onerous requirements placed on building owners by the City, necessitating specialized workmanship, are there Heritage Tax Relief or further grants in the offing?
5) Is it my imagination, or are downtown house and condo property taxes too high?
6) As you seem not to regularly issue notices of meetings, crime, closures, when will you start?
7) Could we possibly have a town hall, meeting or workshop with a guest speaker focusing on tax reform, or how to best utilize the system?
8) Is there any chance of an ‘Executive Committee’ or ‘Board of Control’ returning to City Hall?
9) How would you use tax policy and bylaws to force the removal of derelict buildings? (For example, the building across from the LCBO on Dundurn?)
10) Please comment on panhandlers. Especially as seen in Hess Village.
11) How do we balance the goal of higher-end commercial businesses with not wanting our streets to turn into thoroughfares? And is this where LRT enters into the equation?
12) With the amount of rubbish that’s being dumped in alleyways, is there a program that could be instituted regarding how people can more conveniently dispose of such items? Can we hope for more encompassing pickups by the City?
13) Do you have any comment regarding the notion of the sustainable greening of the city?
14) Is there anything to be done about the discrepancy of property taxes paid by apartment-dwellers versus homeowners?
15) Do you agree that police budget secrecy is unreasonable? And if so, should any future requests for funds be refused until books are opened somewhat?
16) Why is the City Hall sign blocking the CF Hall of Fame sign?
17) Why are we still adding flouride to our water?
18) Wouldn’t Ward 2 benefit enormously from 24-hour transit?
19) Would you advocate for changes in HSR rates for families and fixed-income residents?
20) As creative-sector employment has grown by 42% in the past year, does the City have a firm strategy...not one-off projects...to support this sector?
Beasley Neighbourhood Association:
1) How can the community work with you to look at ways to calm Cannon St. and make it safer for pedestrians, especially children?
2) How can we work toward installing traffic lights/stop signs/push button crossings at the following problem intersections: Robert and John, Mary and Wilson, Mary and Cannon?
3) Garbage has been dumped in Beasley park and in the alleyways for the past few months. This garbage has been full of needles provided by Public Health and strewn all over the park, in front of the school. Can you please outline the strategies you have been working on to address the issue and how the BNA can help? And can we schedule another Town Hall with Beasley residents, Public Health and the Police to raise awareness and work toward solving this issue?
4) What can we do to improve the terrible state and security of the alleyways in Beasley?
Central Neighbourhood Association:
1) Since Hamilton City Hall has shown skill and commitment with respect to wrecking buildings and creating parking lots, are there any plans for the overdue demolition or re-purposing of Jackson Square?
2) The improving economic health of James St North corridor is encouraging. A Go Transit terminal on James N is a probability. However, this will inevitably lead to interest by developers in adjacent areas. Does the city plan to preserve and protect the character of these neighbourhoods? If so, how? If not, will developers be given free reign to tear down century houses and build high-rise residential buildings?
3) In light of the plywood-covered storefronts on James Street North, does the City have by-laws addressing land use and appearance of downtown commercial buildings?
4) There are seven halfway homes in Ward 2. As this adds to the perception that the downtown core should be avoided, that people generally do not feel safe downtown, what is your plan to bring businesses and people back?
5) The quality of Christmas in Gore Park has been steadily declining over the years and because of that, it has been attracting fewer and fewer families. Can you please tell us what you've done in regards to the 2011 Gore Park Christmas event to make it an enjoyable experience like it once was.
Corktown Neighbourhood Association:
1) Is there any progress being made for the installation of a pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Augusta and John?
2) What is happening with the Linwood/Charlton residence application?
3) Does the city have a plan to help alleviate the southbound traffic jams during rush hour on John St. south?
4) Is there anything the city can do about the derelict abandoned building on the corner of Augusta and Walnut Streets?
5) 253 Charlton Avenue East. (From Wayne.)
Durand Neighbourhood Association:
1) a-What’s the status of St. Mark’s Church? b-What can be done to preserve it? c-Is it possible to maintain the historical facade while community use is being housed?
2) What can be done to make the intersection of Caroline and Herkimer safer and more user-friendly for all?
3) Is there merit to there being a James Street South BIA?
4) Is Durand destined to be the home of more lodging homes?
5) Moreover, what is being done to improve the quality of life of those residing in domicilliary hostels in Durand?
6) Regarding the Board of Education building: a-Can its demolition be stopped, and b-What are you doing to keep the 400 jobs downtown?
7) With 165 Queen South firmly in mind, is better enforcement of ‘No garbage at curbside before 7pm the evening prior to pick-up’ possible?
8) Do you have any thoughts or visions about improving walkability and general pedestrian comfort on James Street South?
9) Can we get a 30Km/h school zone at Bay and Hunter, around Central Public School?
North End Neighbours:
1) How can NAs better communicate with the City and receive information proactively?
2) Is there any way we can adaptively re-use the buildings on the Barton-Tiffany lands, especially the Rheem building? Ideas floated included re-using it as a food-depot for farmers...
3) Can we please see a dog-park in the neighbourhood?
4) Why are the traffic signals on Bay Street North being re-timed currently?
5) Is the City wanting to change the Parks classification for Eastwood Park?
Stinson Community Association:
1) The walk home through the underpasses from Queen Victoria School is a little concerning for children's safety and general comfort. What is being done to address these areas?
2) Residents and non-residents receive their methadone at Rexall Pharmacy versus an actual methadone clinic. These are the most vulnerable of methadone patients who are yet to earn their carryouts to take home. They should be in a supportive environment not experiencing health related issues with absolutely no concern for their privacy or the concerns of parents who now be explaining inappropriate overheard conversations to a small child. What can you, as our city Councillor do to ensure their needs are respected while also making the safety of the community a priority?
3) It seems as if the city has completely overlooked our area for the gold box recycling program. Some Stinson homes have been on the list for as long as several years now and religiously recycle every week without fail, yet friends and family from all over the city have received gold boxes without even signing up for the program or barely recycle. Recently a resident participated in a parenting conference held at Cathedral High School. There was a rep from the city's waste management department. When asked her about this area and the gold box program she responded with "That area has a lot of renters, right?" and that summed it up for her. The resident was confused; do renters not recycle? Are there no home owners living in this area that recycle? Can you comment and investigate?
4) Can we get more lighting for Bishop Park?
5) There a many beautiful homes in the Stinson Neighbourhood, and many that could be once again beautiful, however it is a costly endeavour. Are there any City Grant programs that would help in the ‘renovation’ of the community?
6) Graffiti is an ongoing concern in our community, but the removal is hit and miss. Some areas cleaned immediately, others untouched for months. What is the procedure and how does it apply to public vs private property?
7) As Ward 2 Councillor, and hopefully knowing something about our community, what is the one thing you would like the residents of the Stinson area to remember you for that benefited our neighbourhood?
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