Special council meeting for residential infill
May 1
As part of the Residential Infill and Intensification Development review, City Council will hold a special meeting to consider proposed changes to the City's Official Plan and Comprehensive Zoning By-law, as well as related changes to development review procedures and practices.
The meeting is set for
Monday, May 1 at
6:30 p.m. and takes place in Council Chambers at City Hall. The public can attend the City Council meeting in person, watch the livestream of the meeting on the City of St. Catharines' website or watch the broadcast on TVCogeco.
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Seed money for community gardens
Are you part of an incorporated charity or non-profit group looking to start or expand a community garden? The City now offers funding to help more community gardens take root in St. Catharines.
Groups looking to start or expand community gardens can apply for funding from the City to cover up to half of eligible start-up costs, including materials and equipment.
Applications are due by Friday, May 5 at 4 p.m. Preference may be given to projects that can be completed by Oct. 31, 2017.
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City cleaning up the streets
It's that time of year again - spring street cleaning.
Street cleaning crews are working their way through St. Catharines. Find out what neighbourhoods they are doing next on the City's
Facebook and
Twitter pages, or on the
City's website.
If you can, avoid parking on the road when we are in your neighbourhood. It will help the street cleaners do a better job.
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Put yard waste in its place
Cleaning up the mess of leaves, twigs, branches and other yard waste winter has left behind?
Branches and yard waste should not be dumped in ravines or creeks because they could be carried downstream, create a blockage and cause water levels to rise.
Can't get the mess cleaned up in time? Branches and grass clippings can be dropped off at landfills anytime free of charge.
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A city where everyone can play
Investing in St. Catharines parks and public spaces enhances community pride and promotes healthy lifestyles.
We are revitalizing Centennial Gardens with trail improvements, a covered picnic area, staircase reconstruction and tree maintenance with support from Canada 150 and the Niagara Region.
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Students, be your own boss
The St. Catharines Enterprise Centre is giving students between the ages of 15 and 29 the chance to be their own boss this summer and earn valuable experience by starting up their own small business.
Summer Company offers students grants up to $3,000, business training, hands-on experience and guidance from mentors as they learn the ropes of entrepreneurship. Students must be returning to school in the fall to be eligible.
Call 905.688.5601 ext. 1767. Applications are now open. Deadline for submissions is mid-May. Spaces are limited.
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Garden City Golf Course open
Tee off your golf season at Garden City Golf Course.
The City's par-60 executive golf course, located at 37 Lincoln Ave., features a licensed pro shop and patio, putting and chipping green and practice driving cages.
The weekday rate for nine holes of golf is $11.25 a round while 18-holes is $21.50. Green fees on weekends and holidays are $14.50 for nine holes and $22.50 for 18. Prices include HST. Spring rates in effect until June 1.
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Arts Awards nominees revealed
The nominees are in for the 2017 St. Catharines Arts Awards, set to celebrate the most talented and creative minds in the community at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre on Monday, June 5.
In total, there are 21 nominees for awards in five categories: Emerging Artist, Established Artist, Arts in Education, Making a Difference and Patron of the Arts.
Advance tickets are $12.52 plus HST and fees and are available now at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre box office, by phone at 905.688.0722 or at www.firstontariopac.ca. Tickets will be $17.52 plus HST and fees the day of the event.
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New exhibit on display at the PAC
Seventy years of the Niagara Symphony Orchestra (NSO) is on display at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.
An exhibit of photographs and materials, On the Down Beat celebrates the orchestra from its roots as a community ensemble to a professional regional orchestra. This local display is part of a larger project to document the NSO's history in a comprehensive digital exhibit on the Virtual Museum of Canada's website.
This exhibit is presented by the Niagara Symphony Orchestra and City of St. Catharines.
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Learn more about how to stage
a Culture Days activity
Interested in hosting a Culture Days activity? Want to learn more about resources available for activity organizers? Come out to the Culture Days Roundtable, a great chance for Culture Days newcomers to learn from those who have done it before.
The roundtable takes place Saturday, May 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre
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Work for the City
Are you great at customer service and looking for part-time work?
The City is looking for a recreation assistant to work at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre. Apply by May 4.
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An easier way to pay City bills
Have property tax bill payments paid automatically from your bank account and never miss a payment again.
Pre-authorized payments are the fastest and easiest way to pay property taxes and offer the convenience of automatic withdrawals from your bank account. Complete this form to enroll and enjoy the flexibility of making property tax bill payments in four instalments or 10 instalments and have peace of mind knowing your payments will be paid on time.
New for 2017, property tax instalment due dates have changed to the last business day of installment months.
Remaining 2017 instalment dates:
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A report from Walter Sendzik
April is Volunteer Month and I'd like to say thank you to all of the volunteers who share their time and talent to help make
St. Catharines such a great place to live.
As Mayor, I get to meet with community groups and volunteers who recognize the value in giving back. Volunteering is an important part of our culture and helps us build a caring and compassionate community. Thank you to all of the volunteers who work hard every day.
The Mayor's Report gives me the opportunity to share news about community events and celebrations - which rely on volunteers to bring these events to life. This week, I'd offer congratulations to the Niagara Symphony on its 70th anniversary, welcome new downtown businesses Café Luxe and the Niagara Food Company, and say congratulations to the Arts Awards nominees. I'm also looking forward to the ninth annual In the Soil Arts Festival this weekend and hope to see you there.
As always, feel free to email your thoughts on this and other issues with me.
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City to give free saplings to residents
The City will give away free trees for residents to plant in 2017.
City Council will spend $35,000, or 10 per cent of the City's tree planting budget, to buy tree saplings to give to residents for free.
Council also directed staff to refer to the Million Tree Challenge offered in London, Ont., for best practice and to report back on participation rates and make recommendations for 2018.
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Federal funding for transit
The St. Catharines Transit Commission will use $8.7 million in federal funding to buy new buses and pay for infrastructure upgrades.
The funding comes from the Federal Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and will cover half of the City's costs for a number of projects intended to, among other things, add buses to the fleet, expand paratransit services and make bus stops fully accessible.
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Port markets for all seasons
Seasonal markets will be popping up in Hogan's Alley in Port Dalhousie over seven weekends from May to December.
City Council approved the request by 2497118 Ontario Limited to hold the Port Dalhousie markets.The City will temporarily close Hogan's Alley from Main Street to the Lakeside Park parking lot for market organizers to set up shop.
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New stage added to Lock 1 improvements
An outdoor stage and performance area with seating for about 100 spectators will be added to a Kiwanis Club of
St. Catharines project to spruce up the historic former canal lock in Port Dalhousie, if a third-party organization steps forward to run it.
The Kiwanis Club is working with the City on improvements to the area of Lock 1 of the Second Welland Canal, such as repairing wrought iron fences, adding a seating area and installing a public art display. City
Council's approval is conditional upon a third party or private vendor agreeing to take over operating costs and creating a performance schedule for the stage.
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Province asked to mediate Brock land dispute
City Council is encouraging Brock University and the Niagara Escarpment Commission to settle boundary issues on a forested piece of land the university owns and wants to develop on Lockhart Drive.
City Council requested the province meet with the Niagara Escarpment Commission, the Niagara Region, the City and Brock University to discuss the issue in an open and transparent manner.
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Other news
Vote scanners
The City will lease vote tabulating equipment through Elections Ontario for the next municipal election.
Downtown BIA
City Council directed staff to begin the process of expanding the
St. Catharines' Business Improvement Area's boundaries.
New homes
City Council approved a draft plan of vacant land condominium allowing developers to build 14 new homes at 168 and 170 Lakeshore Rd.
Environmental concerns
City Council directed staff to work with the Niagara Sustainability Initiative (NSI) to meet the requirements of the Covenant/Compact of Mayors Program in 2017.
Credit guarantee
City Council approved a request from the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival for a two-year extension in the line of credit guarantee from the City.
Graffiti removal
City Council approved a request from Mainstream: An Unsheltered Workshop to provide graffiti removal services in 2017 and 2018.
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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.
City Council meeting agendas and minutes are available online.
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City Council
6:30 p.m., City Hall
Click here to learn about other upcoming meetings.
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In the Soil Festival
this weekend
James Street from King Street to St. Paul Street and part of Summer Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic from 5 a.m. Friday, April 28 to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 30 for the In the Soil Festival. Please use alternate routes.
Carlton Street
bridge open
Construction on the Carlton Street bridge over the Welland Canal is complete and the bridge has reopened.
Check the status of canal bridge availability in Niagara online.
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Click here to learn about construction projects happening in the City.
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