Aug. 24, 2016

Community
 
What's open, what's not on Labour Day


City Hall and some other City of St. Catharines facilities will be closed for Labour Day on Monday, Sept. 5.
  
City offices return to regular business hours Tuesday, Sept. 6.
 
Learn more
Recreation program registration
 
Sign-up for recreation programs opens Aug. 30


Click here to check out the fall and winter Leisure Guide. Online registration for St. Catharines residents opens opens Tuesday, Aug. 30.
 
Walk-in registration opens Wednesday, Aug. 31 and will be available during regular business hours at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre, Citizens First at City Hall and the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre.
 
Live outside St. Catharines? No problem - non-resident registration opens Thursday, Sept. 1.
 
Learn more
Newborn calf Serafina at Happy Rolph_s Animal Farm
 
New calf born at Happy Rolph's


Everyday this summer, two-year-old Serafina Sherman has brought smiles to City park workers at Happy Rolph's Animal Farm when she comes dancing in for her morning visit. On Monday, Aug. 22, there was a surprise waiting for Serafina - City workers had named a new baby calf after her.


Serafina, the new calf, was born Friday, Aug. 19 around 8:40 p.m. Both newborn and mother, Emma, are doing well, with the calf feeding and exploring her surroundings within an hour after birth.
 
Read more
Back to school


Watch out for crossing guards
 
It's time for back to school and that means more youngsters will be on City streets around the same time you may be heading to and from work.
 
The City is committed to keeping its streets safe for everyone, including children as they learn to follow the rules of the road. The City has more than 90 crossing guards helping children get to and from class safely at elementary schools across St. Catharines.
 
Crossing guards have the authority to stop traffic to help pedestrians cross the street. Pedestrians and motorists must respect directions from crossing guards. Also, pedestrians have the right-of-way when crossing the street legally.
  
Recent changes to Ontario law requires motorists to wait until pedestrians and crossing guards have cleared the crosswalk before proceeding. That means motorists can longer turn left, right or drive through the clear section of the road.
 
More tips:
Parents, remind children to
  • Walk on sidewalks.
  • Cross roads with a crossing guard.
  • Cross only at intersections when safe.
Drivers, you must
  • Respect directions from crossing guards.
  • Look for School Zone signage and slow down.
  • Be aware: children don't always look for traffic.
 
Learn more     


City collecting school supplies
 
The City of St. Catharines is helping Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold send children back to school with the things they need.
 
The City will collect new school supplies, including shoes, backpacks, crayons, pencils and healthy snacks, for boys and girls from kindergarten to Grade 12 at City Hall, the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre and outdoor pools and community centres. 
 
Call 905.688.5600 for more information.
 
Learn more    
Dowload our free Pingstreet app


Plan your bus trip with the City's free app
 
Plan your trip on St. Catharines Transit with Pingstreet, the City's free smartphone and tablet app.
 
Use Pingstreet to access bus route information and learn which buses to ride to which stops to get to where you want to go. The app also links to transit's website for more information, including, travel times, fares and riding tips.
 
Search "Pingstreet" in your app store to download for free.
 
Learn more    
Things to do


Enjoy the final splashes of summer
 
Enjoy the final splashes of summer at Lion Dunc Schooley Pool in Merritton next weekend. The Labour Day long weekend serves as the end of season for the City's outdoor pools.
 
Port Dalhousie Pool and the Lincoln Park Small Pool close Sunday, Aug. 28.
  
Lion Dunc Schooley Pool closes for the season at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5.
 
Learn more about City pools and splash pads     
Dancing in Montebello Park

Dancing in Montebello Park
 
Get your dancing shoes ready: David the Crooner takes the stage at Montebello Park Sunday, Aug. 28.



Dancing begins at 7 p.m. and takes place rain or shine. The performance takes place in the bandshell; dancing takes place in the pavilion.
 
Learn More


Moonlight Flicks


Brave rescheduled for Aug. 30
 
Moonlight Movies continues next week with Brave set to be screened at Lakeside Tuesday, Aug. 30.
 
The free outdoor movie was rescheduled because of bad weather earlier this month. The show starts at dusk (9 p.m.).
 
Washrooms are available onsite. Free parking is available. Bring your own lawn chairs, blankets, snacks and drinks.



 
Learn more    


Enjoy a "spirited' walk this September


Take a trip back in time to 100 years ago and discover the stories and familiar music of the First World War at the Victoria Lawn Cemetery this September.
 
The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre presents its Guided Spirit Walk  with a new theme this year: Keep the Home Fires Burning: Stories and Music from the First World War. The walks feature local actors who bring a collection of war-time stories of notable St. Catharines personalities to life.
 
Guides will lead walks at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sept. 9-10 and Sept. 16-17. Tickets are $10 per person. 
 
Learn more     


A Report from

Mayor Walter Sendzik
Mayor Walter Sendzik
With the Rio Olympics now closed, congratulations to St. Catharines' own Team Canada athletes who competed at the games: Eric Woelfl (rowing) and Mohammed Ahmed (who came in 4th in the 5,000 metre run).
 
St. Catharines is proud of both of you!  Congratulations once again to both of you on this great achievement.
 
For those who haven't heard by now, I'm still sporting my new beard thanks to a donation from Tom Rankin to the Walker Family Cancer Centre in honour of Gord Downie. This weekend's celebration of the Tragically Hip was a great one. Thanks to everyone who came out to the Meridian Centre to join communities all across Canada for the screening of the concert and made a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society.
 
It was a very special night to honour a very special Canadian.  Through donations at this event, the community raised more than $7,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. Thank you St. Catharines for your generosity.
Council Highlights
Plan for tallest downtown building OKed
 
Downtown housing is soaring to new heights.
 
Council made changes to the City's zoning by-law to allow the 19-storey mixed-use development. Taller than any other downtown building, planned for 57 Carlisle St. (behind the former Leonard Hotel). Developers propose retail and office space, 64 hotel rooms and 144 apartments. The plan also calls for three floors of underground parking.
 
Council also declared a laneway between the site and the Garden Park/Carlisle Street Parking Garage surplus with the intention to sell the piece of land. Developers are interested in extending its underground parking under the laneway.
Fire to partner with police for backup dispatch, radios
 
Council approved relocating the City fire department's temporary back up dispatch operations to the new Niagara Regional Police Service headquarters as well as merging Fire's two-way radio system with the police's radio system.
 
Council also directed the fire chief to continue negotiating with its Niagara Region partner fire departments to also integrate with police's radio system.




City keeping Morningstar Mill heritage site
 
The City is going to keep its stake in the Morningstar Mill.
 
Council had requested staff develop a plan to transfer ownership of Morningstar Mill, but upon further review of the plan, council directed staff to maintain ownership and operation of the heritage site in cooperation with the Friends of the Morningstar Mill volunteers.


Traffic items


Parking changes
Council banned parking on the following streets:
  • east side of Harcove Street from Scott Street to Millward Avenue

     
  •  north side of Sandown Street from Carlton Street to Rolls Avenue
All-way stop
Council directed staff to install an all-way stop at the intersection of Lakeside Drive and Bromley Drive.
 
Right-of-way changes
Council converted the following intersections from right-of-way to stop control:
  • Tunis Street at Hillview Road

     
  •  McKay Street at Hillview Road

     
  •  Galbraith Street at Hillview Road

     
  •  Hillview Road at Kent Street.




Other items


Capital budget
Council approved the 2016 capital budget, the city's spending plan for things like construction, tree removal, snow removal and equipment purchases.


Council also directed staff to report to the City's budget committee about a five-year plan to address a $5 million deficit regarding parks and park improvements.


Outdoor Aquatic Taskforce
Couns. Bill Phillips and Jennie Stevens were appointed to the Outdoor Aquatics Facilities Task Force, a committee charged with reviewing and making recommendations about the location, features and long-term feasibility of splash pads and a destination themed outdoor aquatic facility.


More SCCIP funding
Council invested $203,500 in nine local organizations through the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program.


Ontario 150 grant programs
Council authorized the City to submit applications for funding to provincial grant programs to celebrate 150th anniversaries of Ontario and Canada to support the following intiatives:
  • HVAC replacement at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre;
  • One-Five-Oh! Celebrating our City events, including a museum exhibit and enhanced Canada Day activities, to be staged throughout 2017

     
  • The Celebration of Nations showcase of music, performances, visual arts, food and more at the FirstOntarion Performing Arts Centre Sept. 8-10, 2017.
373 Glendale Ave
Council declared a triangular piece of land it owns at 373 Glendale Ave as surplus.
 
The City received a written inquiry into the property from an abutting property owner. City staff will report back to council with a recommendation to sell the land.


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.

 

Click here for City of St. Catharines council meeting agendas and minutes.
 
Digital versions of the Garden City Current are available. Click here to read past issues.



Upcoming meetings
Sept. 12
City Council
6:30 p.m., City Hall



Click here to learn about other upcoming meetings.


 

Click here to learn about construction projects happening in the City.

City of St. Catharines | [email protected] | http://www.stcatharines.ca

50 Church St

St. Catharines, L2R 7C2



City of St. Catharines | 50 Church St | St. Catharines | Ontario | L2R 7C2 | Canada