2016 operating and capital budgets Investing In Hamilton

NRU
Feb. 3, 2016
Leah Wong

For the last five years the City of Hamilton has exceed $1-billion annually in building permit values, as the redevelopment of the city continues. In order to guide future growth the planning and economic development department is updating its planning policies, finding ways to incentivize revitalization and grow the assessment base.

Hamilton planning and economic development general manager Jason Thorne has requested council approve a $28.756-millon net operating budget for 2016, which is a 2.7 per cent increase year-over-year. His proposed staff complement has a net decrease of one full-time equivalent position.

The budget increase is largely attributed to employee-related expenses, though this change will be partially offset by increased revenues from parking lots and development fees, as well as provincial grants to support the Small Business Enterprise Centre.

With another wave of development expected in Hamilton, Thorne told committee that his team is planning ahead through its review of the policies and guidelines that will shape the city’s growth.

To meet the goals of council’s Open for Business initiative the department has been working to encourage the submission of better quality applications and refine the approval process. This is being achieved through increased staff training and technology upgrades. The department is working to create an online portal for digital submissions so that by early 2017 applications can be tracked online throughout the development cycle from site plan to construction stages.

The department has a number of major projects underway including the Waterfront/West Harbour development and the Metrolinx-funded light rail transit line. Thorne says the major LRT milestones that will be achieved in 2016 include the environmental assessment for project design, creation of an agreement to shape the request for proposal and the start of community engagement.

There have been minor changes to the department’s organization since last year. The department has added an LRT office, will Paul Johnson now serving as director of LRT coordination. The building division is seeking to add one position to its complement as a result of an increased need for zoning verification. Growth management and parking and bylaw services each lose one position as pilot programs wrap up.

On the economic development side, the city is focusing on growing its non-residential assessment base. Thorne said an updated economic development strategy will be finalized within a few months, which will guide the city’s eff orts in coming years.

“One of the pillars of that strategy will be workforce development,” said Thorne. “It’s something we’re hearing again and again from some of the employers—that we need a concerted effort to invest in workforce development. That’s one of the barriers we have to the growth of some of the companies we have in the city.”

Thorne’s team will continue to support Mayor Fred Eisenberger’s blue ribbon taskforce on workforce development, which was launched in June. It brings together city staff, postsecondary institutions and employers to discuss the city’s medium-to-long-term workforce needs.

Arts and culture will be another focus of the strategy as it continues to be one of the city’s drivers of economic growth. This was demonstrated in 2015 with the Juno Awards being hosted in Hamilton—which had a $12-million economic impact—and the $8.5-million in direct spending from the film industry.

Hamilton council approved the department’s $12.404-million capital budget in January, with money allocated to planning services, growth management, tourism and culture, urban renewal, parking and by-law services and the general manager’s office.

In 2016 planning services, which is responsible for $3.264-million of the 2016 capital budget, will continue work on the city’s comprehensive zoning by-law. Last year new rural zones were completed, while the remaining zones—commercial/mixed-use, residential and remnant properties—will be brought forward to council within the next three years. Also in the work plan for 2016 is the implementation of the Barton-Tiff any urban design study, an update of the site plan guidelines and development of parkland dedication official plan policies and by-laws.

Growth management is responsible for $3-million of the capital budget—which will support the city’s share of servicing required for new subdivisions.

Tourism and culture’s 2016 capital program is worth $2.45-million. Its work plan includes two Canada 150 projects—the rehab of St. Mark’s Church and the expansion of the Griffin House national historic site—and restoration of the Dundurn national historic site.

Urban renewal is responsible for $2.21-million of the capital budget. In 2016 it will implement the Gore Master Plan and the Barton/Kenilworth commercial corridor study. Its budget also allocates grant money that businesses can access for façade and property improvements, as well as a wayfinding program.

The city has $56.87-million allocated to the department’s 10-year capital program, though there is an additional $60.305-million of proposed projects that have yet to be factored into the program. Capital projects that have yet to be funded include the implementation strategy for the James St. North mobility hub and the woodland protection strategy.