St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre is open
Jump and make a splash at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre -- the pools are open and regular drop-in aquatics programs, including leisure swimming, aquafit and lane swimming, have resumed.
Enjoy a free day of swimming and other activities this Saturday at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre. Swimming is free all day, and from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. children can enjoy the City's Pop-up Play Tent, crafts, games and prizes.
Registered fall aquatic programs will begin Monday, Oct. 2.
|
Culture Days this weekend
Local artists and cultural organizations encourage residents to get creative and try something new with free activities this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Culture Days.
The City is partnering with local artists and cultural organizations from across St. Catharines so residents can enjoy a variety of free activities and discover the joy of participating in arts and culture.
|
Fire Prevention Week Open House Sept. 30
Every Second Counts: Plan Two Ways Out is the theme for this year's Fire Prevention Week, taking place Oct. 8 to 14.
Residents are invited to kick off Fire Prevention Week this Saturday and discuss home escape plans, smoke alarms and other home fire safety topics at the Fire Prevention Week Open House.
The free event takes place at Fire Station 1 (
64 Geneva St.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features fun family activities, including fire hall tours, contests, children's activities, a free barbecue and more.
|
West Park enhancements promote healthy, active lifestyles
With a new splash pad, accessible playground and a collection of outdoor fitness equipment, the community has even more ways to enjoy West Park.
St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik joined Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre in unveiling more than $1.1 million in enhancements at West Park. Other new features at West Park include new accessible washrooms and a sun shelter.
The Government of Canada contributed up to $500,000 towards the West Park improvements through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
Enhancing parks with new features and improved accessibility is part of the City's plan to promote healthy lifestyles and ensure St. Catharines is a place where everyone can play. The City also received $11,697 in funding from the Ontario Tire Stewardship's 2017 Community Renewal Fund grant program for its enhancements at West Park thanks to the project's creative use of recycled tire materials. The equivalent of approximately 1,100 recycled tires were used in the revitalized space.
|
|
Final weekend for City splash pads
City splash pads at Pearson Park, Catherine Street Park and West Park are open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
City splash pads close for the season at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1.
|
|
City's first pedestrian crossover on St. Paul Street
Have you seen the new pedestrian crossover at St. Paul Street and Garden Park? Do you know what to do?
A pedestrian crossover is a type of crossing that requires vehicles to stop and allow pedestrians to cross the road. Pedestrians have the right of way.
Pedestrians must press the button at the crossover to activate the flashing lights and must wait for lights to flash and traffic to stop before crossing.
Drivers and cyclists must stop behind the yield line and wait until the pedestrian completely crosses the road before proceeding.
|
|
Final property tax payment due Friday
Property owners and business owners must make payments to City Hall or through banks, financial institutions or online banking by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29.
Property owners and business owners who make their tax payments through their banks, financial institutions or online banking by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29 will not be subject to a late fee.
Payments received after 4:30 p.m. on instalment due dates are subject to a 1.25 per cent late payment charge on the first day of default (Monday, Oct. 2) and the first day of each calendar month until paid.
Property tax payments can be made in person at City Hall, 50 Church St., Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Payments can be made with cash, cheque or debit card. Cheques can also be deposited in the City Hall deposit box at the James Street entrance. Do not deposit cash.
Mail cheques for property tax payments to: City of St. Catharines; Citizens First, CSS Department; PO Box 3012 Stn. Main; St. Catharines, ON, L2R 7C2. Do not mail cash.
The City also offers a 10-month preauthorized payment plan for those who prefer to budget monthly payments. It spreads tax payments over 10 months, with the months of November and December free of payments.
Failure to receive a tax notice does not excuse the responsibility for payment of taxes and penalties. Final residential and commercial property tax bills where mailed back in June. Residents who didn't receive their final tax bill can call Citizens First at 905.688.5600.
|
|
HOT TICKET season set to kick off
The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre's remarkable third HOT TICKET season opens with Jann Arden on Oct. 3-4 and will feature some of the best artists from around the globe and from Niagara's backyard.
Olivia Newton-John, Tom Cochrane and Red Rider, Tower of Power, The Peking Acrobats, Roseanne Barr, Louie Anderson and Brat Pack actress turned jazz vocalist Molly Ringwald are among the more than 100 HOT TICKET performers this seasons.
Culture Days
The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre's Culture Days open house and collaborative event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 will showcase a variety of creative professionals and community groups from Niagara and beyond. Culture Days is packed with free interactive activities, immersive workshops, creative discoveries, guided tours and more.
|
|
Zombies at the museum Oct. 6
Ring in the 'zombie apocalypse' at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre's next after-hours event.
The St. Catharines Museum hosts Night of the Walking Dead Friday, Oct. 6 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Part of the Museums of Niagara Association's First Fridays series of events, Night of the Walking Dead features live music by DJ Tanner, eats from the Smokin' Buddha food truck, museum exhibits and more.
Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door and available online at firstfridaysniagara.ca or by calling the museum at 905.984.8880. This event is for those 19 years old and over.
|
|  Have a say on the 2018 budget
The Budget Standing Committee and City staff are hosting three days of public engagement to gather opinions and ideas from residents on the 2018 operating budget.
Mayor Walter Sendzik, Coun. Mat Siscoe, chair of the Budget Standing Committee, and City staff will answer questions about the 2018 operating budget during a telephone town hall on Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Now in its fourth year, the telephone town hall operates similar to a radio call-in show, except instead of individuals calling in, 30,000 residents will be called at home and asked to participate. Residents will be randomly called to participate, but anyone who wants to guarantee their participation can register in advance by calling 905.688.5600 or visiting www.stcatharines.ca/budgettalk. Advance registration closes Tuesday, Oct. 24 at noon.
Want to give feedback in person? Open houses will be held Tuesday, Oct. 24 at the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre and Thursday, Oct. 26 at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre. The Budget Standing Committee and City staff will be on hand to answer questions from the audience about the budget. Both open houses will run from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. No RSVP is required.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
A report from Mayor Walter Sendzik
City Council considered some important plans and policies this week. First, City Council approved a new economic development strategy which will help attract new business investment and jobs. St. Catharines is competing to attract and retain local, national and global business and the new strategy will help us achieve this.
Over the last couple of weeks we have been talking a lot about residential rentals. This week City Council unanimously agreed to consider a by-law to license and regulate residential rental housing. This comes after years of discussion about the issue.
At the same time, the City will continue to work with Brock University to address the need for student housing and concerns about conduct off-campus. We will continue to work with the Niagara Regional Police to enforce by-laws and respond to parties and disturbances.
This by-law is about safety and ensuring that all residents who live and invest in St. Catharines can enjoy a decent quality of life. Public input will be an important part of the by-law review process and your feedback is welcome.
|
City exploring how to better deal with rental housing issues
In an effort to deal with issues related to rental housing, City Council directed staff to prepare a report and draft by-law regulating and licensing rental housing. The by-law will be based on the City of Oshawa's residential rental housing license and Student Accommodation Strategy.
Staff will also consult with the City of Thorold to develop consistent by-laws, fines and enforcement standards and to consider adding the term Rooming and/or Boarding Houses into the by-law.
New committee
City Council also established a task force to deal with issues related to St. Patrick's Day and other large, problematic events.
The task force will include representatives from Niagara Regional Police, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission, Brock University and Niagara College, as well as its student associations, City staff, the chair of the Town and Gown Committee and landlord representation. The task force will be chaired by the St. Andrew's ward councillors.
|
New Economic Development Strategy for
St. Catharines
City Council approved the City's 2017-2022 Economic Development Strategy and directed staff to implement the strategy through annual departmental work plans and actions supporting the plan.
City Council also requested bi-annual progress reports and directed staff to forward the plan to a number of key stakeholders.
|
City to buy new fire truck
City Council approved the purchase of a new fire truck for $752,215 plus HST from Safetek Emergency Vehicles and referred a request to allocate an additional $50,000 a year to a reserve fund for firefighting equipment for the next 10 years to the Budget Standing Committee.
City Council also requested reports on a cost and benefit analysis of restructuring fire station bays to fit standard fire trucks as well as the feasibility of donating used fire trucks to First Nations' fire departments or those in other remote areas.
|
Other news
Yates Street
City Council stopped up, closed and declared part of Yates Street in the area of the Seasons Retirement Communities project surplus for the purpose of selling the land to the developer.
Playground equipment
City Council approved of buying playground equipment for Roehampon Park and Wise Guys Park from Play Power LT Canada for $143,319, including HST.
Cushman Road Park
City Council directed staff to begin the process of renaming Cushman Road Park.
Residential Infill
City Council adopted Urban Design Guidelines for Low-Rise Infill Housing for the City to use as a tool for evaluating proposed residential development, redevelopment and lot creations in residential neighbourhoods.
Mackenzie King Avenue
City Council approved an application for draft plan of vacant land condominium allowing a 21-home development slated for 54 Mackenzie King Ave. to move ahead.
Vansickle Road North
City Council approved an application for draft plan of standard condominium allowing a five-storey, 70-unit apartment building development slated for Vansickle Road North.
Russell Avenue
City Council approved an application for draft plan of vacant land condominium allowing a 16-unit townhouse development planned for 177 Russell Ave. to move ahead.
|
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.
|
City Council
6:30 p.m., City Hall
|
| Oakdale Avenue from Westchester
Crescent to Lincoln Avenue will be under construction from summer 2017 to spring 2018.
Construction continues on
Queenston Street until the end of the year. Rolling road blocks will be in place weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. between Page Street and Eastchester Avenue. One lane of traffic will be open on evenings and weekends.
|
Click here to learn about construction projects happening in the City.
|
|
|
|
|
