January 16, 2024, City Council Meeting
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Alzheimer Society Presentation
Each January, the Alzheimer Society supports and leads Canada's Alzheimer's Awareness Month.
During this month, the Society encourages organizations across Canada and individuals, to learn more about dementia and its stark impact on Canadians.
Anne Radojcic, Board Member of the Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region, presented to Council information on Alzheimer's Disease, their programs and services and their search for new board members.
View the presentation. Learn more about the Board of Directors and apply.
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Niagara Falls Innovation Hub
The Niagara Falls Innovation Hub aims to offer an affordable environment to grow so entrepreneurs can better position themselves to succeed in today’s economy.
Their mission is to create an affordable, all-encompassing, collaborative workspace that provides tailored programming, tech resources, piloting and validation opportunities, and expertise to assist entrepreneurs in Niagara in growing, scaling, creating jobs, and diversifying the economy.
Dan Bordenave, CEO of the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub, and Emma Eldon, Marketing & PR Manager, presented to Council a review of 2023 and a summary of the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub project.
Learn more about The Niagara Falls Innovation Hub.
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Steven deBoer, Mission Pastor, from The Bridge
Steven deBoer, Mission Pastor from The Bridge, presented his new program with the Hotels and Convention Centre (Food Recovery project and partnership with La Tablee Des Chefs) and how the innovative program re-distributes food throughout the City.
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2024 Boards and Commissions, Fee for Service, Grants and Honorariums Recommendations
The City of Niagara Falls has a history of providing financial support to community groups and organizes funding requests into the following categories:
- Boards and Commissions
- Fee for Service Agencies
- Fee for Service Agencies Process
- Grant Agencies
Annually, the City reviews and approves funding for boards and commissions, fees for service, grants, and honorariums.
To share their progress in support of continued funding, the following grant recipient groups presented to Council:
- Birchway Niagara
- Project Share
- YWCA Niagara Region
Council approved that the 2024 funding levels and classifications for Boards and Commissions, Fee for Service, Grants and Honorariums, totalling $8,055,345, of which $7,072,446 will be funded by the tax levy, representing an increase in tax levy funding of $192,119 (0.2% levy impact) from the prior year, be referred to the 2024 budget deliberations scheduled for January 23, 2024.
View the report. View the Project Share presentation. View the YWCA presentation.
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Niagara Falls Public Library - 2024 Operating Budget Presentation
Alicia Subnaik Kilgour, Chief Librarian, presented the Niagara Falls Public Library 2024 Operating Budget to Council.
The Niagara Falls Public Library provides free access to a collection of books, movies, games, programs, and services for our community members.
View the presentation here.
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Social Services Grants
Social Services have increasingly come into focus for the City of Niagara Falls Council and many others across the country, as most municipalities are struggling with homelessness, drug addiction and mental health issues in their community.
City of Niagara Falls CAO Jason Burgess presented to Council, sharing the Staff belief that due to a number of challenges, it is time to re-calibrate our existing programs and look at making even more investments in this area.
The Staff request included that the City of Niagara Falls:
- Continue to support the social services grant but make the process more open and transparent
- Bring forward additional support to further outline investments into affordable housing in the City
- Support Project Level Up, which will look to provide an opportunity for individuals to improve their situations through a supportive employment relationship, with the goal of scaling the program so that other employers can also participate
Council approved supporting the pilot project (Project Elevate) for a maximum of 18 months and directed Staff to report back in a year with an update on the social services plan.
Council deferred recommendations by Staff to change the social services grant funding process, which would start in 2026, and the direction to develop a formal written process and supporting documents based on Council's direction related to the seven (7) grant model characteristics, outlined in the report, until after a Council workshop is held to review the suggestions.
All funding has been included in the current budget, and the pilot project is funded by a special social services reserve.
View the report here.
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Zoning By-law Amendment: 5438 Ferry Street
Council approved the Zoning By-law Amendment for a parcel of land at 5438 Ferry Street to facilitate the development of a 30-storey, mixed-use building containing 456 dwelling units and two at-grade commercial units, subject to modifications and regulations.
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Brown Road Watermain Replacement – Contract Award
Council awarded O’Hara Trucking and Excavating the Brown Road Watermain Replacement Contract 2023-557-21, a project to replace the watermain along Brown Road from Garner Road (south branch) to Montrose Road, in the amount of $2,951,639.00 + HST.
View the report here.
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- Quarter 3 Development and Housing Report and Provincial Reporting
- Council received the Quarter 3 Development and Housing Report that reviews the current development and housing activity status in the City for the third quarter of 2023. This information will be forwarded to the Province.
- 2024 Interim Tax Levy
- Council approved the 2024 Interim Tax Levy calculation and by-law providing for the 2024 Interim Tax Levy.
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Proclamations, Flag-Raising and Illumination Requests
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Proclamation Request | April 11, 2024
World Parkinson's Day
Council approved a proclamation request from The Passion for Parkinson's Foundation to proclaim Thursday, April 11, 2024, as World Parkinson's Day and will arrange for the lighting of City Hall in blue in recognition.
World Parkinson's Day is celebrated every year to raise awareness about Parkinson's Disease, a degenerative neurological disease that currently has no cure.
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Upcoming Proclamations, Flag-Raising and Illuminations
(approved at Previous Council Meetings)
Flag Raising Request | Crime Stoppers Awareness Month (January 2024)
Proclamation Request | Wear Red Canada Day (February 13, 2024)
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Next Council Meeting: Budget Meeting, Tuesday, January 23 at 3:00 pm
The Niagara Falls City Council meeting will focus on the budget, will be open to the public, and will be held on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 3:00 pm. For more information, please visit niagarafalls.ca/council.
The following Niagara Falls City Council meeting will be open to the public and held on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 4:00 pm. For more information, please visit niagarafalls.ca/council.
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