August 9, 2022 City Council Meeting
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Niagara River Parkway Act of Bravery
Deputy Fire Chief Ken Henry presented the Fire Chief's Coin to Maggie Letourneau, for demonstrating an act of bravery on July 13, 2022. Maggie alerted the occupant of a house on the Niagara River Parkway that it was on fire, assisted the person to evacuate, made neighbours aware of the fire, and called 911 for assistance.
Your City is proud of you Maggie!
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New City Initiated Employment Policies to be included in the Official Plan and Zoning By-laws 395 and 79-200
Kelly Martel, from Dillon Consulting, will gave a brief presentation to Council on new Employment Policies for the Official Plan and Zoning By-laws 395 and 79-200.
City Council received the Niagara Falls Employment Lands Strategy, Phase 3 Report for information at their meeting of December 7, 2021. Council also directed Staff to prepare draft Official Plan and Zoning amendments for employment policies for additional stakeholder consultation and for consideration and adoption.
The City’s Consultants for the Employment Lands Strategy, Watson & Associates and Dillon Consulting, in cooperation with City Staff, prepared draft amending documents to implement the Strategy. Final changes to the draft documents resulting from relevant input received have been incorporated into the draft amendments.
View the report, or presentation, to learn more about the City initiated amendments.
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Housing Policies - Statutory Public Meeting Report - Official Plan Amendment 149
Kelly Martel, from Dillon Consulting, gave a brief presentation to introduce an amendment to deliver a Housing Strategy which provides a range of affordable housing options throughout the City, including housing need and supply analysis, strategy development and policies to support strategic actions.
Average rents in Niagara Falls continue to rise and are not affordable to many households, particularly those earning less than $45,000 annually. There is also a lack of available vacant rental supply in the primary rental market. The average selling price for market dwellings is increasing year over year. Very few ownership housing options are affordable to households earning less than $85,000 annually.
Report findings recommend the preparation of a Housing Strategy to address identified gaps and needs with a focus on:
- Supporting and permitting higher density housing types
- Supporting and permitting alternate forms of housing
- Strengthening the City’s secondary suite policy framework
- Strengthening rental demolition and conversion policies
- Establishing targets for affordability
- Aligning local housing policies with Regional housing policies as set out in the New Region of Niagara Official Plan
Staff will consider the input received at the meeting, and bring forward Official Plan Amendment 149: Housing Policies to a future meeting of Council for adoption.
View the presentation here.
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New Hotel/Residential Apartments Approved for 6880 Stanley Avenue (Former Loretto Building)
Council approved the development of 6880 Stanley Avenue (former Loretto Building,) to include:
- a podium with a height of 3-5 storeys and 24 metres for tourist commercial uses
- a building with a height of 45 storeys and 190 metres with 254 dwelling units and 250 hotel rooms
- and a building with a height of 60 storeys and 225 metres with 362 dwelling units and 258 hotel rooms
- a building with a height of 39 storeys and 145 metres with 404 apartment dwelling units
- all apartment dwelling units may permit vacation rental units on the subject lands
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Establishment of Common Fare Structure & Policy for Transit
Council approved the work to harmonize fare products and policies between regional transit partners in Report TS-2019-22 dated July 16, 2019.The Intermunicipal Transit Working Group (IMTWG) work to implement a common farebox and a common fare strategy has been underway since.
Now, a final preferred fare strategy that balances customer focus, cost and impact to riders across all systems has been approved by the Niagara Transit Commission (NTC), through their Report NTC 07-2022, to become effective January 1, 2023 when they assume transit provision across the Region.
The common fare strategy will be implemented with the support of a preferred fare-payment technology, also approved on the Tuesday night agenda.
View the report here.
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Free Bus Fare for Voters Going to Polls
To ensure accessibility for voters on advanced voting dates and on Election Day for the October 24, 2022 Municipal and School Boards, City Council approved the opportunity for voters to show their Voter Notification Card in lieu of payment to travel via Niagara Transit to and from their polling location.
View the report.
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City of Niagara Falls Community Benefit Charge Strategy
At a Public Meeting on July 12, 2022, Hemson Consulting presented the proposed Community Benefit Charges (CBC) Strategy to Council. Council received the presentation, CBC strategy, associated staff report, public consultation comments, and draft by-law for information. Based on Council direction, Staff has done additional research on comparable municipalities and consulted the local developers for additional feedback to inform their decision regarding implementing a CBC for the City of Niagara Falls. In this regard, Staff compared what other municipalities are offering developers in terms of credits or exemptions, and also met with residential developers to get their feedback on July 27, 2022.
Council approved the CBC Strategy and the creation of a dedicated Reserve Fund. The final CBC By-Law be referred to a special council meeting in August for approval.
View the report here.
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New Adopt A Hydrant Program
The Adopt A Hydrant program is sourcing volunteers to clear a 1 meter (3 foot) area around the hydrant on all sides as well as a path to the street closest to the hydrant, when snowfall exceed 15 centimeters (6 inches).
Within the municipal water distribution network there are approximately 3080 fire hydrants that Water & Wastewater staff maintain to ensure their functionality for fire fighting as well as to be used for water quality flushing points. Significant winter storms often hide fire hydrants under the snow. If fire hydrants aren’t visible, then firefighters have to locate and shovel them out before hooking up, losing precious time that could have been spent saving lives and containing a fire.
By adopting a hydrant it is a promise to keep the hydrant clear of snow and in non-winter seasons to keep clear of leaves, debris and trash. Stay tuned for your chance to participate!
View the report here.
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Tennis and Basketball Courts Improvements Happening this Summer/Fall!
The 2022 Tennis and Basketball Courts Improvements project implements the approved recommendations of the 2017 City of Niagara Falls Tennis and Basketball Service Delivery Review and the 2021 City of Niagara Falls Recreation, Culture and Park Plan.
This project will see the refurbishment and/or conversion of 4 tennis courts and 5 multipurpose basketball courts at 6 City parks.
The proposed work is as follows;
- A.G. Bridge Park (6706 Culp Street), 2 tennis courts with pickleball lines and 1 multi-purpose basketball court
- A.J. McKinley Park (4868 Crysler Avenue), 1 tennis court with pickleball lines
- Alpine Park (7830 Alpine Drive), 1 multi-purpose basketball court
- Glenview Park (4521 Leader Lane), 1 tennis court with pickleball lines and 1 multi-purpose basketball court
- Preakness Park (7857 Preakness Street), 1 multi-purpose basketball court
- Westfield Park (6983 Warden Avenue), 1 multi-purpose basketball court
Read the report to learn more about the tennis and basketball court improvement plan.
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2022 Sports Wall of Fame Inductees
Council approved the following Sports Wall of Fame Inductees:
- Kevin Dallman, Athlete, Hockey
- Chris "Scoot" Johnstone, Builder, Hockey
- Felix "Gus" Mancuso, Athlete, Hockey
- Deborah Toth, Builder, Martial Arts
- Christina Marie Formica-Matesa, Athlete, Soccer
- Niagara Falls Anglicans 1935-36 Women's Basketball, Team, Basketball
Congratulations!
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2022 Arts & Culture Wall of Fame Inductee
Wendy Leard has been selected as the 2022 Arts & Culture Wall of Fame Inductee.
Though she was born in Halifax, Wendy Leard was raised in Niagara Falls and began her dancing career at Miss Helen’s Dance Studio on Queen Street. Her talent took her to Toronto where she became General Manager of 4 studios owned by the Roland and Romaine Dance Company. Her accomplishments include touring Canada with the Ford Canada Industrial Show and being a member of ‘Rich Blend’, a singing group that travelled the U.S.A and Canada with a stage show, but according to Wendy her greatest accomplishment remains her dance studio.
The Wendy Leard School of Dance opened in 1980 on Queen Street, just down the road from the former Miss Helen’s where Wendy first learned to dance, and for 37 years they have focused on Fun, Friendship and Fabulous classes with a show-stopping end of year Showcase. Ms. Leard’s studio regularly participates in community events and activities to ensure that the studio is part of the community of Niagara Falls.
Congratulations, Wendy!
View the report here.
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2019-2022 Strategic Priorities
At the August 9, 2022 meeting, Niagara Falls City Council was provided with an update to 2019-2022 Strategic Priorities, outlining the accomplishments during this term.
View the 2019-2022 Strategic Priorities update here.
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Two Special Council Meetings Planned
Two (2) special meetings of Council take place after August 9, 2022 but before September 18, 2022. The by-laws anticipated to be passed at these meetings will enable the City to implement and collect on growth funding mechanisms available under the Planning Act, to take advantage of the opportunities presented in the community, and to comply with the limitations and deadlines provided in the Planning Act for doing so.
View the report here.
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Vacation Rental Units (VRUs) – A Strategy to Enforce Bylaws related to Illegal VRUs
Gerald Spencer, Manager of Municipal Enforcement Services, provided Council with a brief presentation pertaining to the City’s strategy to enforce by-laws related to illegal Vacation Rental Units (VRUs) in Niagara Falls. A public relations/education campaign is being created around operating vacation rentals without a licence.
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Agri-Tourism Recreational Resort - 8656 Mountain Road and Lands on the South-West Corner of Mountain Road and Kalar Road
The lands are proposed to be used for a golf course, a resort including a hotel with 50 rooms and 24 villas, restaurant, spa facilities, equestrian facilities, assembly hall and a vineyard that may include a winery. Natural features on the property, including woodlands, locally significant wetlands and watercourses, are to be retained and protected. Council supported the request for a resolution for a Minister’s Zoning Order for the lands subject to conditions.
Read the report to learn more about the proposal and the Minister’s Zoning Order.
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- Mixed Use Development Revised at 5528 Ferry Street
- Council permitted a new mixed-use development with Building A at a height of 16 storeys and 57 metres providing 168 apartment dwelling units and Building B at a height of 14 storeys and 48 metres providing 286 apartment dwelling units; no changes are proposed for Building C.
- View Report
- View Presentation
- Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Application North-east corner of McLeod Road and Kalar Road
- Council approved Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments to permit 2 buildings– one 13 storey apartment building and one 12 storey apartment building with a total of 483 dwelling units and protect Significant Woodland and Provincially Significant Wetlands.
- View Report
- View Presentation
- Zoning By-law Amendment and Draft Plan of Vacant Land Condominium Approved for 5610, & 5630 Dorchester Road
- Council approved a Zoning By-law amendment application to rezone the lands to a site specific Residential Low Density, Grouped Multiple Dwellings (R4), to permit 80 townhouse dwelling units.
- View report
- View presentation
- Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Application Approved on Bailey Avenue, at the eastern terminus of Avery Boulevard
- Council approved the Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment to apply a Special Policy Area designation to a portion of this property on Bailey Avenue and to zone a portion of the lands a site specific Rural zone under Zoning By-law No. 395, 1966 (Willoughby), subject to the regulations outlined in the report, to permit the severance of three 0.5 hectares parcels of land.
- View report
- View presentation
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Proclamations, Flag-Raising and Illumination Requests
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Flag Raising Request | August 15, 2022
India's Independence Day
Raul Dudnic, resident, requested the City of Niagara Falls to raise the India's flag on Monday, August 15th, 2022 to celebrate India's Independence Day.
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Flag Raising | August 24-29, 2022
Ukrainian Flag
As per the request by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the City of Niagara Falls will raise the Ukrainian Flag on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 to show solidarity and will keep it raised until Monday, August 29, 2022.
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Flag Raising Request | September 2, 2022
Childhood Cancer Awareness
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The Canadian Cancer Society designates September as Childhood Cancer Awareness month, a time to educate the public about pediatric cancers. A request for flag raising on September 2nd was received.
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Proclamation & Flag Raising Request | September 4, 2022
National Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Awareness Day
The Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Foundation is requested the City of Niagara Falls to proclaim Sunday, September 4, 2022 as National Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Awareness Day and raise the "End PKD" flag in support.
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Flag Raising | September 20 - October 4, 2022
United Way Niagara
United Way Niagara requested a flag-raising ceremony on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 for a period of 2 weeks to kick-off their annual fundraising campaign. Each year, the United Way strives to raise millions of dollars to help local people out of poverty.
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Proclamation Request | October 9-15, 2022
Fire Prevention Week
This year is the 100th Anniversary of Fire Prevention Week and the 2022 Fire Prevention theme for this period is “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.”
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Proclamation Request | October 18, 2022
Child Care Worker & Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day 2022
City Council was requested to proclaim and participate in Child Care Worker & Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. This day recognizes the commitment, hard work and dedication of Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) and staff who work with children. View celebration tips here.
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Proclamation Request | November 2022
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
The Canadian Lung Cancer Screening Initiative is requested the City of Niagara Falls to proclaim November 2022 as Lung Cancer Awareness Month to raise awareness for lung cancer and lung cancer screening.
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Upcoming Proclamations. Flag-Raising and Illuminations
(approved at Previous Council Meetings)
Proclamation | 230th Anniversary- Black Loyalist Exodus (2022)
Proclamation | Never Give Up Day (August 18, 2022)
Proclamation | Rail Safety Week (September 19-25, 2022)
Proclamation | Niagara Gives - Giving Tuesday (November 29, 2022)
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Next Council Meeting: November 22, 2022
The next Niagara Falls City Council meeting will be held on November 22, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. For more information, please visit niagarafalls.ca/council.
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