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Happy holidays from the City of St. Catharines
City Hall, the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre and most other City facilities will be closed Monday, Dec. 25, Tuesday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan 1.
A full listing of fun holiday activities, such as free public skating and holiday drop-in programs, facility closures, emergency contacts and more is available at www.stcatharines.ca.
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Free afternoon downtown parking in December
Downtown visitors will have a little more jingle in their pockets this month thanks to free afternoon parking at select City spots and lots.
The City is offering up to three hours of free parking downtown between noon and 6 p.m. every weekday until Friday, Dec. 29 at City-owned on-street metered spots and City-owned parking lots with pay machines.
Visitors taking advantage of free afternoon parking are still subject to the City's three-hour time limit for parking in the downtown.
Free afternoon parking does not apply to special event parking fees at the Head Street, Race Street, Garden Park and IceDogs Way parking lots during events at the Meridian Centre and the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.
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Museum collecting warm woolly donations
The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre continues to
collect warm woolly mittens, hats, scarves, socks and other gently used winter clothing for adults and children in need until Jan. 7 through its annual Mitten Tree.
All winter clothing donations will go to local adults and children through Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold and Out of the Cold.
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Tell us what you think of the downtown
There've been a number of changes to Downtown St. Cathrines over the last few years. Now, we're taking the pulse of downtown and want to know what you think.
Complete our
online survey and tell us how the downtown is doing. We want to know what brings you to the downtown, how you get there and how easily you can find your way around. We also want to hear from residents who don't visit the downtown regularly about why they don't go and what would motivate them to visit more often.
The
online survey is available until Dec. 31.
Results from the survey will be used as part of the first annual report on Downtown St. Catharines, expected to be available in early 2018.
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Register now for winter swimming and recreation programs
Online registration for winter swimming lessons and recreation programs is available for St. Catharines residents.
Walk-in registration is also available at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre, Citizens First at City Hall and the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre.
Online and walk-in registration opens Thursday, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. for anyone living outside of St. Catharines.
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Grants available for community projects at Centennial Gardens
Do you have a project that will enhance Centennial Gardens? It may be eligible for funding from the City of St. Catharines.
Service clubs, community groups, park users and the business community are invited to
apply for matching grants through the City's Centennial Gardens Partnership Fund for new projects that will enhance the park.
Applications are due by Friday, Jan. 26. The City will announce grant recipients in the spring of 2018.
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Apply now to have special event fees waived
Organizations and event planners with special events taking place in St. Catharines in 2018 can apply to have their City fees waived.
Organizations and event planners with events taking place between January and June 30, 2018 can
apply now to have up to 50 per cent of the City fees associated with running single or multi-day events waived. Applications must be submitted by Sunday, Dec. 31.
Fees eligible to be waived include items managed or operated by the City of St. Catharines, such as park permits and rental fees. Items like liability insurance, damage deposits and non-City fees are not eligible under the program.
Community groups with events taking place in the second half of 2018 will be able to apply early next year.
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Fresh coat of paint at Russell Avenue Community Centre
The Russell Avenue Community Centre is temporarily closed until Saturday, Dec. 23 while the City freshens up the facility with a new coat of paint.
Drop-in programs at Russell Avenue Community Centre, such as table tennis and euchre, have been relocated to the Port Weller Community Centre during the closure.
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Coming up at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
Holiday performances
include: John McDermott, Next Generation Leahy, Emilie-Claire Barlow, the Underwater Bubble Show, Sing-A-Long Grease and a co-presentation of the Music of A Charlie Brown Christmas with the TD Niagara Jazz Festival.
Holiday film screenings at
the Film House
include
A
Christmas Story,
The Wiz and The Muppet Movie.
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A report from Mayor Walter Sendzik
It's been a busy week at City Hall with two meetings of City Council, holiday events and the Great Holiday Food Drive. Thank you to everyone in the community who came out for the food drive last Friday and for the Civic Christmas Carol Concert earlier this week in support of Community Care. Altogether, the community raised more than $280,000 in food, toys and cash donations - a record amount. Thank you for your generosity. We really do live in a caring and compassionate community.
Council will meet again on Monday, Dec. 18 to approve the 2018 budget. The draft budget is now available online to review. I'm proud of the work by the Budget Standing Committee and Chair Mat Siscoe to prepare a budget that balances the challenges of increasing costs with strategic opportunities to invest in our city. This budget is aligned with our strategic plan and it is a continuation of Council's efforts to bring the budget in line with inflation at 1.62 per cent.
As always, I welcome your feedback on the City budget and your ideas to help make
St. Catharines one of the most dynamic, innovative, sustainable and livable cities in North America - that's our vision for the future.
Watch for more updates on the 2018 budget in next week's Garden City Current.
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New summer baseball team coming to
St. Catharines?
A new summer baseball league for southern Ontario featuring top collegiate players in North America is in the works and St. Catharines could have a team if the league moves forward.
City Council authorized the City to enter into an agreement with Laker Baseball Properties to work together to bring a team to St. Catharines, playing out of George Taylor Field.
Council also directed staff to work with Laker Baseball on the potential proposal, to include key stakeholders, ward councillors and residents in the process and to report back on the progress of the partnership.
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Budget night is Dec. 18
City Council will review and consider the City's proposed 2018 operating budget on Monday, Dec. 18 and, if needed, Tuesday, Dec. 19
at City Hall. The meeting(s) start at 6:30 p.m.
Residents can attend in person, stream the meeting online or watch it on YourTV Niagara.
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More ethnocultural groups eligible for grant program
City Council approved a change to the eligibility requirements for the ethnocultural transitional grant program to allow non-profit organizations as well as registered charities to apply for grants.
Council also directed that $3,200 from the Civic Project Fund be used for additional funds required for this grant program for 2017.
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City will help NOTL with water, ice rescues
City Council authorized an automatic aid agreement between
St. Catharines Fire and Emergency Services and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake for ice and water rescue services.
Council also directed staff to enter into similar agreements with other neighbouring municipalities.
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City sets targets for community emission reduction
City Council endorsed the following annual per capita greenhouse gas emission reduction targets:
- 9.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2020
Council also directed the City to apply for federal and provincial grants to address climate change.
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Other news
Appointments
City Council appointed John Smith, Sarah Sheddon and Shane Johnston to the Museum Advisory Committee and Susan Ashukian to the Public Art Advisory Committee.
Council also appointed Couns.Mike Britton, Carlos Garcia and Mat Siscoe as its representatives on the City's Organizational Effectiveness Task Force.
Traffic calming
City Council directed staff to work with residents on Wood Street and Linden Street to implement any needed traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures after the Niagara Region moves forward with banning left-hand turns from Geneva Street onto Carlton Street.
Women's shelter
City Council called on the federal and provincial governments to increase funding to women's shelters for victims of violence to support the prevention of gender-based violence. Council also directed the City to share its motion with Niagara Region.
Youth committee
City Council created a St. Catharines Youth Committee and directed staff to work on establishing the new committee in 2018. Council also directed that one youth committee member sit on all City advisory committees.
NPCA legal fees
City Council requested that the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority board disclose the total amount it incurred in legal costs during its various lawsuits against a citizen.
2018 Election
City Council adopted a corporate policy prohibiting sitting members and candidates from using City resources for election purposes.
The 2018 Municipal and School Board Election is Monday, Oct. 22, 2018. The upcoming election will mark the first time Niagara residents will cast a ballot to elect the Niagara Regional Chair.
In other election news, individuals looking to run in the next election are advised the nomination period will open on May 1, not Jan. 1 like it has previous years.
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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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2018 Budget Meeting
6:30 p.m., City Hall
Dec. 19 (if necessary)
2018 Budget Meeting
6:30 p.m., City Hall
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Click here to learn about construction projects happening in the City.
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