Summer call centre hours in effect
Citizens First, the City of St. Catharines' customer service department, has changed its call centre hours for the summer.
Citizens First will be available to answer phone calls and emails about everything from pothole repairs to tax payments Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In person service will still be available at City Hall Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Next City Council meeting starts at 5 p.m.
The regular City Council meeting scheduled for Monday, July 31 will begin at 5 p.m. instead of the usual start time of 6:30 p.m.
Only public meetings, required under
the Planning Act, will be on the agenda. City Council will consider all other business at its regular meeting set for Monday, Aug. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
City Council meetings take place in Council Chambers on the third floor of City Hall at 50 Church St. The public is welcome to attend. For those unable to attend, the meeting will also be livestreamed and broadcast on TVCogeco.
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Washroom, playground and Carousel open in Lakeside Park
The Lakeside Park Carousel is open for the summer. The first rides of 2017 took place on Canada Day, and the carousel is now open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. until Labour Day. Still only 5 cents a ride.
The park's new accessible playground also made its debut on Canada Day. The playground is located beside the carousel, making it the perfect spot to bring the kids for a fun day in the park.
Finally, just last weekend the new washrooms in Lakeside Park also opened to the public. The washrooms are located in the same area of the park as before, but they've been updated with new accessibility features and given a fresh makeover.
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Summer Concerts in the Park
Live music is back in Montebello Park!
The Summer Concerts in the Park series takes place select Wednesday nights in July and August in Montebello Park. Visit www.stcatharines.ca/SummerConcerts for a full line up of shows and artists.
The season wraps up Wednesday, Aug. 30 with Amanda Marshall, Michelle Treacy and Mélanie Brulée performing a free concert as part of the ONtour concert series.
Summer Concerts in the Park take place rain or shine but may be cancelled due to severe weather.
Food and drink will be available for purchase. Bring your own lawn chair or blankets for seating. There are washrooms on site and free parking is available after 6 p.m.
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Pools closed at St. Catharines
Kiwanis Aquatics Centre
Both pools at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre are closed until further notice while crews make repairs to the ceiling and lighting fixtures in the pool area.
Paneling from the ceiling and light fixtures fell onto the deck on Tuesday, July 4 around 7 a.m. There were no injuries.
Information on when the pools will reopen will be shared as soon as possible.
The Dr. Huq Family Library Branch and community rooms inside the
St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre are open.
All three of the City's outdoor pools are open for the summer, along with both of the City's splash pads. Visit
www.stcatharines.ca/outdoorpools or
www.stcatharines.ca/splashpads for locations and schedules.
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Take part in our Transportation Master Plan
It's been a while since the City created a transportation plan (1965, to be exact),
which is why City staff are hard at work creating a new Transportation Master Plan to shape the future of walking, driving, cycling and commuting in St. Catharines.
The public can give input on the transportation needs of the city by taking part in MetroQuest, an interactive, online activity that guides residents through questions and scenarios related to cars, transit and cycling.
Additional public feedback opportunities will be available in the fall, including a series of open houses and an online survey.
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Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial Task Force now accepting donations online
A long-awaited memorial to honour 137 workers who lost their lives building the fourth Welland Canal through Niagara is seeking your support.
A Community Fundraising Campaign has now begun to raise $50,000 for the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial, which will be installed beside Lock 3 at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre.
For more information on the memorial or to make a donation, visit www.stcatharines.ca/donate or call 1.800.305.5134 (between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.)
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Nominate a local green thumb
Nominations for the 2017 City of St. Catharines Trillium Awards are open.
The Trillium Awards honour the green thumbs who liven up streets and neighbourhoods across the city.
You can nominate your property or other properties that have caught your eye. Entry is free. Nominations are due by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 21.
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Let us know where you see graffiti
Have you seen graffiti anywhere in the city? Use Pingstreet, our free smart phone and tablet app, to report it.
The City of St. Catharines is committed to keeping neighbourhoods clean by reducing and eliminating graffiti as soon as possible. Residents can use Pingstreet to send pictures and locations of graffiti straight to the City. Search "Pingstreet" in your device's app store to download.
You can also report graffiti on public property by calling 905.688.5600 or emailing [email protected].
If you catch someone in the act of graffiti call 9-1-1.
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A report from Walter Sendzik
I hope you're enjoying the best of the summer so far in St. Catharines. From fresh local produce at the farmers market, to summer concerts in the park, there is a lot to enjoy in #OurHomeSTC this season.
This week City Council approved plans for a new 128-unit development in the downtown, with 20 units eligible for the Niagara Regional Housing Allowance Program. This comes after the groundbreaking for a new Niagara Regional Housing apartment building on Carlton St. just a few weeks ago.
These two new buildings will help fill the need for affordable housing in our community, but we know that the need is growing. Through the Housing Action Plan we will work together with developers, housing providers and the development community to create more affordable housing in the city.
Another critical priority is improving transit. On Monday night Council appointed myself and Coun. Siscoe to the Transit Steering Committee which will oversee the integration of St. Catharines' transit services with Niagara Falls, Welland and Niagara Region. The focus is to create an integrated, user-friendly transit service for all of Niagara.
The City has also launched a new Transportation Master Plan and is seeking your input on our roads, pathways, transit and active transportation networks. Learn more at www.stcatharines.ca/TMP
I look forward to connecting with you at the supper markets, summer concerts or in our parks. Enjoy the summer!
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New development
approved for Church Street
Council approved an amendment to the Official Plan and Zoning By-Law to allow for the development of an eight-storey, mixed-use building with 128 units and a day care to be built at 111 Church St.
The developer has proposed the following lease arrangements for housing units in the development:
- All rents are to be at or below average market rent for
St. Catharines, as set by Niagara Regional Housing (NRH)
- 20 units will be eligible for the NRH Housing Allowance Program
- Additional 30 to 50 units at 80 per cent of average market rent
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Inter-municipal transit keeps on moving
Mayor Sendzik and Coun. Siscoe were appointed to the Inter-Municipal Transit Steering Committee.
Other members of the steering committee will include:
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The Regional Chair (or designate)
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Three members of Regional Council
- The Mayors of Niagara Falls and Welland (or designates)
- One councillor from each of the Niagara Falls and Welland city councils
A working group of staff from each of the 12 Niagara municipalities is also being created.
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Other business
Parking and stop sign changes
Council approved the following changes:
Facer Street Festival
Council approved the closure of Facer Street between Currie Street and Brighton Avenue
on Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, from 8 a.m. to
11:30 p.m. for the
Facer Street European Festival.
Ad-Hoc CAO Recruitment Task Force
Councillors Matt Harris and Bill Phillips were appointed to the Ad-Hoc CAO Recruitment Task Force. The task force, comprised of Mayor Sendzik, Coun. Harris, Coun. Phillips and City staff, will lead the City's efforts to recruit a new Chief Administrative Officer.
The new CAO will be approved by City Council prior to being awarded the job.
Future of Facer Street
Council received the Future of Facer Street Recommendations report and approved the Community Vision for
a European design for the street.
Council also referred the report to the Cultural Sustainability Committee to prioritize the recommendations for a future report to the Budget Standing Committee.
The recommendation for Historical Plaques on Facer Street was referred to the Heritage Committee for research and implementation.
The Façade Grant recommendation was referred to Planning and Building Services staff for comment.
The Branding Strategy recommendation was referred to staff in Economic Development and Communications for comment.
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Road construction
tenders awarded
The contract for sewer and water work on Barnes Road, Brighton Avenue and Lailey Street (Project #
P17-002) was awarded to Nexterra Substructures Inc. for $2,085,702.50 plus HST.
The contract for sewer, water and road work on Churchill Street (Project #P16-062) was awarded to O'Hara Trucking & Excavating Inc. for $1,101,441 plus HST.
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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
5 p.m., City Hall
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St. Paul Street between Carlisle and James streets and part of Carlisle from St. Paul to Race streets will be closed for
road work from now until the fall.
Businesses will be open and pedestrian access will be maintained.
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Click here to learn about construction projects happening in the City.
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