Feb. 1, 2017
Community

Pay for parking by smart phone
at some downtown spots and lots
                       
Planning a visit to City Hall or the farmers market downtown at Market Square? Try digging into your pockets for your smart phone instead of loose change to pay for parking.
 
Last week, Mayor Walter Sendzik and Honk CEO Michael Back launched a pilot of Honk, a mobile payment app. Honk is now available in various on and off-street parking locations in Downtown St. Catharines, including the City Hall and Market Square parking lots.
 
Learn more
2017 Arts Awards
 Arts Awards nominations due Feb. 5
 
Help us honour St. Catharines artists, residents and businesses by nominating them for an Arts Award in the following categories:
  • Arts in Education Award
  • Emerging Artist Award (2 recipients are chosen)
  • Established Artist Award
  • Making A Difference Award
  • Patron of the Arts Award
Submit your nomination by midnight on Sunday, Feb. 5.
 
Learn more
Double Duty Council Meeting Feb. 6
City Council to consider double duty Feb. 6
 
City Council will hold a special meeting Monday, Feb. 6 to discuss the double duty model of council representation.
 
The council meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. inside Council Chambers. Following speaking delegations about double duty, City Council will then vote on the motion to change the composition of Regional Council.
 
Residents looking to speak at the meeting can register with the Office of the City Clerk by calling 905.688.5601 ext. 1501 or emailing clerks@stcatharines.ca.
 
The public can attend the meeting in person, watch it on TV Cogeco or stream it online at www.stcatharines.ca/livestream.
 
For those unable to attend the meeting, feedback can be given by using an online form, available at www.stcatharines.ca/DoubleDuty. Feedback received through the form will be included as part of a staff report to City Council about double duty. Comments can be submitted using the online form until midnight on Friday, Feb. 3.
 
Under the double duty model there would still be 12 members of St. Catharines City Council, with each ward represented by two councillors. One councillor per ward would sit on City Council and one councillor per ward would sit on both City Council and Regional Council.
                                                                                                          
More information on the proposed double duty model is available at www.stcatharines.ca/DoubleDuty.
 
Learn more
Beach volleyball
 
Beach volleyball, anyone?
 
Who digs the idea of playing volleyball at Sunset Beach?
 
There's a proposal to develop 12 beach volleyball courts at the City beach on Lombardy Avenue. Residents can learn more and discuss the proposal with City staff during a public meeting Wednesday, Feb. 8 at the Port Weller Community Centre. The meeting runs from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
 
Email Kristen Sullivan for more information.
 
Learn more
Community Garden at Centennial Gardens
 
Have a say on Centennial Gardens designs
 
Designs will soon be developed for a new picnic area, stairway reconstruction and other upgrades to Centennial Gardens and we want your input.
 
Discuss the planned enhancements for the Oakdale Avenue park with City staff and offer feedback at a public information meeting Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the Garden City Arena Complex (enter off Riordon Street near Division Street). The meeting runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
 
Email Kristen Sullivan for more information.
 
Learn more
_NiagaraAreYouIn
 
Are you in?
 
Show your support for Niagara's bid to host the 2021 Canada Summer Games. Visit www.niagara2021.com to show your support and help Niagara win the bid.
 
The organizing committee submitted its bid this week. The winning bid will be announced end of March. Show your support for the Niagara's bid on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the hastag #NiagaraAreYouIn and mentioning @Niagara2012 and @CanadaGames.
 
Tell why you want Niagara to host the Games in posts with photos and videos between now and March 30, when the final decision will be made.
 
Learn more

Black History Month at the St. Catharines Museum
 
Follow the North Star at the museum
 
Celebrate Black History Month in February with special guided tours of the award-winning Follow the North Star exhibit at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre.
 
Trace the journey to freedom through a history of slavery and emancipation, racism and prejudice, while exploring the lives of St. Catharines' first African-Canadian settlers.
 
Tours take place Tuesdays in February at 2 p.m. and Thursdays at 10 a.m.. Admission is by donation.
 
Learn more
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
 
Coming up at the FirstOntario PAC
 
Hear! Here! Niagara Music Series with The Mark Lalama Trio
Sunday, Feb. 12. 
This organic series of songs feature jazzy singer-songwriter Coco Love Alcorn and St. Catharines favourite troubadour and spot John Lennon impressionist, Mike Wainwright.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Friday, Feb. 17
This South African acapella group rose to international fame after singing on Paul Simon's seminal album Graceland.
   
The Film House
During February the Film House will be screening Oscar-nominated and critically-acclaimed films, such as Moonlight, Hacksaw Ridge and Manchester by the Sea. Full schedule is available online.

Learn more
A Report from
Mayor Walter Sendzik
Mayor Walter Sendzik
I am deeply saddened by the tragic news out of Quebec City, where innocent lives were taken during prayers on the evening of Jan. 29.
 
On behalf of the City of St. Catharines, we offer our condolences to the family and friends of the victims and our thoughts and prayers to the Canadian Muslim community.
 
As we confront fear and division, we must continue to work together to strive for equality for every individual, now, and in the future. We are striving to build a culture of compassion and inclusivity in St. Catharines and will not tolerate hate crimes.
 
This is why compassion is so valuable. Compassion is about accepting and embracing individuals for who they are. It's about understanding, caring for one another and standing together to take action by providing support and resources to people in need. It is also about celebrating our differences and cultural diversity. Our diversity give us strength and vitality.
 
Our cultural communities and centres are open and welcoming community spaces to share and learn together.  I encourage you not to retreat, but to connect with neighbours, demonstrate care and compassion through the day-to-day actions which help make a city a safe, and welcoming home.
 
To learn more about community news and events in #OurHomeSTC watch this video message.
Council Highlights
Councillors want more notice about upcoming developments
 
City councillors want to be more up-to-date about significant developments that are coming to their wards.
 
City Council directed staff to keep them in the loop about developments characterized by significant size or economic value, or that may have potential economic or societal impacts that come to the attention of City staff and are not confidential.
Ranked ballots coming next municipal election?

Thinking about running for mayor or city council in 2018? Mark May 1 on your calendar.
 
Thanks to recent updates by the province to the Municipal Elections Act, May 1 is now the first day candidates can sign up to run for council. Previously, nominations opened the first business day of the election year, usually Jan. 2.
 
Nomination Day, or the final day someone can file their paperwork to run for office is now set for the fourth Friday of July, which is July 27 in 2018.
 
A new way of voting for mayor and council could also be coming voters' way in 2018. The n
ew provincial rules allow municipalities to use a new voting systems in 2018, such as ranked ballots. In the past, mayors and councilors were elected with a first-past-the-post system, where residents vote for their preferred candidate and the candidate with the most votes win. A ranked ballot systems allows residents to vote for candidates in order of preference. 

City staff will provide more information on ranked ballots and other alternative voting methods in an additional report.

No parking on Macbeth during school days
 
City Council banned parking on the south side of Macbeth Boulevard between Marsdale Drive and Masterson Drive on school days from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
School crossing guard locations tweaked 
 
City Council directed staff to remove school crossing guards from the following intersections:
  • Lake Street and Crescentwood Road
  • Church Street and King Street
  • Ontario Street and Ziraldo Road

 

Council invests remainder of 2016 SCCIP funds

Council invested more than $64,000 in 11 local organizations through the final round of the 2016 St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program.
Other news
 
Transit meeting
A special meeting to discuss inter-municipal transit is now set for Wednesday, Feb. 22, starting at 5:30 p.m.
 
VegFest
City council declared VegFest 2017 an event of municipal significiance in order for organizaers to obtain liquor permits. VegFest 2017 is set for June 4 at Market Square.
 
Traffic signals
City staff will work with Niagara Region Transportation Services to explore an open, transparent and fair bidding process for traffic signal maintenance contracts before renewing a shared service agreement for traffic signal services with Niagara Region.
More council online

 

Council Highlights offers informal summaries of some of the recent decisions and business discussed during St. Catharines City Council meetings.

 

The Office of the City Clerk provides a full recap of decisions and motions in its official minutes, available on the Friday after every St. Catharines City Council meeting.

 

Click here for City of St. Catharines council meeting agendas and minutes.
 
Digital versions of the Garden City Current are available. Click here to read past issues.

Upcoming meetings
Feb. 6
Special Council Meeting
6:30 p.m., City Hall
 
Feb. 13
City Council
6:30 p.m., City Hall

Click here to learn about other upcoming meetings.

 

Click here to learn about construction projects happening in the City.

City of St. Catharines | communications@stcatharines.ca | http://www.stcatharines.ca
50 Church St
St. Catharines, L2R 7C2