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Final weeks for candidates to submit nomination papers
Candidates have until Friday, July 27 at 2 p.m. to submit their nomination papers to run for Mayor, City Council, Regional Chair, Regional Council or as a School Board Trustee.
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Are you on the voter's list
With just over 100 days until the 2018 Municipal and School Board Election, voters are encouraged to visit www.voterlookup.ca to ensure they're on the voter's list and that their information appears correctly.
Those without Internet access are encouraged to phone the Office of the City Clerk at 905.688.5601 ext.1517.
Voter notification cards for the election will be mailed out in September.
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Apply to Work the 2018 Election
Applications are now being accepted for the 2018 election. Positions include Deputy Returning Officer, Ballot Handler, Vote Tabulator Operator and Greeter.
Applying is easy. Download our application form and bring it to St. Catharines City Hall (3rd Floor - Legal and Clerks Services) by Aug. 20.
An interview will be done when you drop off your application form, so plan to be at City Hall for up to 30 minutes.
Training will be provided for all successful applicants.
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Rotary Park improvements help create a city where everyone can play
Parks and trails add to the quality of life the community enjoys here in St. Catharines and recent improvements at Rotary Park continues the City's work creating places everyone can enjoy.
Recently, Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, Mayor Walter Sendzik, members of City Council and members of the Rotary Club of St. Catharines celebrated $100,000 in improvements at Rotary Park, including a picnic shelter, washroom shelter and an enhanced bus drop-off area.
The Rotary Club of St. Catharines contributed $25,000 towards the improvements. The City of St. Catharines invested $25,000.
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Bright lights and energy savings
from LED upgrade
The City's investment in LED street lights has paid off with brighter roads and improved energy consumption.
The LED conversion project started in November 2015 and wrapped up May 2018, seven months ahead of schedule. Out of the 14,791 street lights in St. Catharines, 13,823 are now LED, or roughly 93 per cent of all street lights in St. Catharines.
The City has already experienced a reduction in its annual energy and maintenance costs as a result of the LED upgrade. Staff initially expected an annual energy cost avoidance of $720,000, but in 2017 the savings totaled $726,000, with the City's energy costs dropping from over $2 million in 2015 to approximately $1.19 million in 2017. In terms of maintenance, staff projected savings of $350,000, but in 2017 the actual savings were over $398,000.
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Construction to begin on Church and Niagara streets in downtown St. Catharines
Heads up drivers: Niagara Region and the City of St.
Catharines
are set to start road construction along Church and Niagara streets that will complete the City's two-way conversion and help improve traffic flow and
wayfinding
through a busy, five-point intersection downtown
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The first phase begins this summer and includes:
- Church Street from Niagara Street to King Street to be rebuilt and converted to two-way traffic
- Adjacent portions of Geneva Street and Niagara Street rebuilt or rehabilitated
Businesses will remain open during construction. Though temporary sidewalk closures may happen from time-to-time pedestrian access to business will be maintained at all times. The roads will be open during construction. However, there will be temporary lane restrictions which will cause delays. Residents can avoid delays by using alternate routes.
During road reconstruction, on-street parking on Niagara Street may be temporarily unavailable at times. On street parking will still be available on Niagara Street in the area of Church Street.
The second phase takes place in 2019 and includes intersection improvement at Geneva, St. Paul, Queenston and Niagara streets; and will also include reconstruction of adjacent portions of those streets.
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Apply to use City tickets for IceDogs games
Registered charities, incorporated non-profit organizations and minor not-for-profit sports associations can apply to the Meridian Centre Community Use Program for the City's club seat tickets to take children and youth to Niagara IceDogs home game during the 2018 / 2019 season.
The City also offers its Community Suite for IceDogs home games to a organizations for fundraising auctions, raffles and other activities to raise money for their causes.
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Bogart Street Park Splash Pad is open
All City
splash pads at Lester B. Pearson Park, Catherine Street Park, West Park, and Bogart Street Park are open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free.
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Sign up for swimming lessons
Parents, it's not too late to register your child for swimming lessons! Your little ones can learn basic swimming skills this summer and will enjoy themselves more in the water as their confidence grows.
Sign up online or in-person at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre, the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre and Citizens First at City Hall.
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Music and dancing at Montebello Park
Bring your lawn chair and dancing shoes to Montebello Park for free live music on Sunday and Wednesday nights this summer.
Dancing in the Park kicks off this weekend with a free concert by the Jimmy Marando Swing Band on Sunday, July 15. The free events at Montebello Park run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. rain or shine and continue throughout July and August.
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City to take over Port Dalhousie Piers
City Council directed staff to advise the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Small Craft Harbours the City is willing to accept ownership of the Port Dalhousie Piers and Harbour assets once they've been rehabilitated and a mutually acceptable divestiture agreement has been negotiated.
Council also directed staff to negotiate an appropriate restrictive covenant to be included in the transfer of the surface lands, that will ensure that the lands shall continue to be for public use and enjoyment as park, harbour, open space, and associated uses.
Council also endorsed the establishment of a reserve fund for future maintenance and rehabilitation works or improvements and that $100,000 a year be considered for funding the reserve.
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Drinking water flows for free at City facilities
Council voted in favour of removing water sold in plastic water bottles from vending machines and concessions at most City facilities.
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Council supports more affordable housing downtown
City Council declared its property at 6-8 Academy St. as surplus and directed staff to develop a request for proposal to designate the land for affordable housing.
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Other business
116 Glenridge Ave.
City Council approved an application to amend the City's zoning by-law to allow St. George and St. Mercurius Coptic Orthodox Church to expand its facility at 116 Glenridge Ave.
50 Herrick Ave. and
40 Woodburn Ave.
City Council received an information report regarding a planning application to allow a proposed development for three five-storey apartment buildings, an access driveway and 16 parking spaces at 50 Herrick Ave. and 40 Woodburn Ave.
Council will consider approving the application at a future meeting.
SCCIP funding
The City invested more than $23,500 to local arts and cultural organizations through the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program's Culture Builds Community and Culture Days Activity streams.
77 Yates St.
City Council authorized an agreement with the owners of 77 Yates St. to permit the encroachment of 16 helical piles a maximum of 14.3 metres under Yates Street.
Employment lands
City Council received a report regarding employment lands in St. Catharines and directed staff to analyze other land use types to determine the feasibility of converting some employment area lands to other land uses, thus providing information for the Niagara Region's municipal comprehensive review.
Council also directed that the mixed-use designation be included in the review and reported on specifically.
New tax class
City Council requested the Niagara Region to consider establishing a new tax class for small format commercial properties in the 2019 tax policy.
Council also directed staff to report on options to consider in the 2019 operating budget for waiving City permit and application fees for the redevelopment of small format commercial properties to support small, local businesses as a financial relief to property tax increases.
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
City Council approved of establishing a board to oversee the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and appointed the following members of Council to the new board for the remainder of the current term:
- Coun. Carlos Garcia
- Coun. Mat Siscoe
- Coun. Bill Phillips
Council also directed staff to take all necessary steps and actions to transition the business of the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre to the board.
Other appointments
City Council appointed Adam Smith, the City's manager of accounting and payroll, as deputy treasurer.
City Council appointed Coun. Mike Britton as its representative to the Niagara Folk Arts Council for the duration of the term of Council.
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More City 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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Click here to learn about construction projects happening in the City.
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