Follow the signs to parking

June 2013
Follow the signs to parking
More than 1,000 parking spots in downtown St. Catharines
Finding open parking spots downtown
will soon be a little easier.
The City is installing more than
80 green and white parking signs
throughout downtown to direct motorists
to parking lots and garages so they can
easily find an open spot.
There’s a misconception there isn’t
enough parking available downtown. In
fact, Kris Jacobson, the City’s manager
of Transportation Services, says there
are more than 1,000 City parking
spots within a five-minute walk to most
of downtown, including City Hall on
Church Street, shopping on James
Street and dining on St. Paul Street.
“If you look around, there is parking to
be found,” said Jacobson. “Go a street
over in any direction and you’ll usually
find on-street parking still only minutes
away from where you are going.”
Only about 50 per cent of metered
spots downtown are being used during
the day, so there are hundreds of spots
available on the street and in City lots.
The City’s parking garages at Garden
Park/Carlisle Street and Ontario Street
are another option. The garages are
close to everything downtown and
there’s no fear of an expired meter.
“It can be more convenient to pay on
your way out and there is no risk of
getting a ticket,” said Tracey Miller, the
City’s manager of Parking Services.
Another myth the City often hears:
parking downtown is expensive. In
fact, the City’s rate of $1.50 per hour
is very reasonable compared to other
municipalities and privately operated
local lots. A three-hour visit downtown
costs less than $5 to park in any City
spot.
The City offers short-term and longterm parking, with most on-street spots
and some lots operating with a threehour maximum. Full day parking is
offered at select lots and the parking
garages.
Rates apply from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
with parking in any City spot free after
hours and on weekends. Motorists
should be mindful of posted time limits
and restrictions: The City prohibits
overnight on-street parking but
encourages overnight parking in longterm lots and garages. This ensures onstreet parking is available for
short-term visits and assists with
garbage collection and snow removal
activities.
For more information, search
“Parking Lots and Garages” at www.
stcatharines.ca, and be sure to look for
our new parking signs.
Park like a pro
• Parking peaks between 11 a.m.
and 2 p.m. If you’re in a hurry,
plan your visit downtown outside
of these hours.
• If downtown parking is costing
you $20 a week you’re paying
too much. Visit our website or
call 905.688.5601 ext. 1416
for information on monthly parking permits.
• Free bicycle parking is available
throughout the downtown, with
racks located at most City facilities, including City Hall/Market
Square, the St. Catharines Public
Library, the Ontario Street Parking Garage and the Garden
Park/Carlisle Street Parking
Garage.
• Free parking is available at City
parking lots, garages and meters
from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.
On-street parking is prohibited
from 3 a.m. until 6 a.m. daily.
City crews keeping water safe
Water quality testing at the City’s
three beaches has begun to ensure
it’s safe for residents to cool off in the
lake.
All summer long, water samples
from Lakeside Park, Municipal Beach
and Jones Beach will be analyzed
for rising levels of E. coli, a bacteria
known to cause skin rashes and ear,
nose and throat infections. When E.
coli levels spike to unsafe levels, red
warning signs are posted at beaches
advising against entering the water.
When levels return to normal, green
signs are posted declaring it’s safe to
make a splash.
The City reports beach conditions
on Facebook and Twitter, or residents
can call 905.935.2722 for the beach
report.
A leading cause for beach water
being declared unsafe is heavy
rainfall washing pollutants into
watercourses, which then empty into
the lake. While a dry summer is bad
for your lawn, it’s great for the water
quality at beaches.
Last year was a good year for St.
Catharines beaches, with Lakeside
Park and Municipal Beach safe for
swimming 80 per cent of the time.
Jones Beach was closed about
90 per cent of the time, but faces
unique challenges due to its size and
location. Jones Beach is sheltered in a
small inlet created by the entrance to
the Welland Canal, so water doesn’t
move as rapidly as it does at the other
beaches. When bacteria washes into
the shoreline at Jones Beach, it takes
longer to wash away.
The City’s beaches have been safe
for swimming since the 1990s and
water quality continues to improve
with time and investment. The City
continues to modernize its sewer
system to reduce the amount of water
that reaches the lake untreated. The
City will also study samples from
waterbodies throughout the city to find
out where pollution is coming from
and what can be done to reduce it.
Learn more by searching “Beach
Conditions” at www.stcatharines.ca
Residents can enjoy summer activities, like kite boarding
at Jones Beach, thanks to the City’s water quality testing.
Use the washroom
Don’t use soaps or
to do your business.
shampoos in the lake
Fecal matter can lead or other watercourses.
to harmful levels of E. coli in the lake.
Use and dispose of
hazardous chemicals
properly.
Residential tax bills will be mailed to
homeowners on June 21, 2013. Your
third property tax instalment for 2013
is due Friday, July 12. To avoid late
charges, please ensure payment is
received at City Hall on or before the
due date.
Payments can be made in person at
City Hall or most financial institutions,
as well as through Internet banking,
telephone banking and regular mail.
Payments can also be deposited in the
mail slot at the James Street entrance of
City Hall. Please include tax stubs with
payments.
Please don’t send cash in the mail.
Pre-authorized payments
Pre-authorized debit payment plans
are available for your tax bill as well as
your water/wastewater bill.
Pre-authorized payment plans
provide the convenience of automatic
withdrawals from your bank account
monthly or by instalment/due date,
giving peace of mind your bills will
be paid on time. For more information
and application forms, search “PreAuthorized Debit” at www.stcatharines.
ca or call 905.688.5601 ext. 1416.
Save barrels of money
with a rain barrel
Five ways to help keep our beaches clean
Don’t feed birds or
other wildlife near
the shoreline or other
watercourses. Always
clean up after your
pet.
Final 2013
tax bills
Place garbage and recycling in proper
bins or take them
home with you.
Remember how hot it was last summer? Remember how
much you had to water the garden last year? Want to
cut watering costs this summer? Think about using a rain
barrel.
The City is selling rain barrels, designed to catch and
store rainwater for reuse, Saturday, June 8 at the SeymourHannah Sports and Entertainment Centre. The one-day sale
runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until sold out. Barrels cost
only $40 each, cash only. Proof of St. Catharines residency
is required at time of sale.
Free of chlorine and other chemicals, rain water is
ideal for helping plants thrive. Plus, reusing rainwater for
gardening cuts down on municipal water usage, saving
you money. It also helps reduce the amount of runoff
that washes pollutants into the sewer system and local
waterways.
Rainwater is not just for the garden. Use it for washing
the car, mopping the floor and doing laundry to save even
more money.
Get the Garden City Current in your inbox. Sign up at www.stcatharines.ca
The Garden City Current
Page 2
Mayor
From the desk of
Merritton
Brian McMullan
Coun. Jeff
Burch
Mayor Brian
McMullan
With the unanimous support of
Council, Bird Construction Group
will now help the City of St.
Catharines take centre stage as the
company has been awarded the
contract to build our new Performing
Arts Centre.
The decision to delay construction
of the Performing Arts Centre was
the right choice as it provided our
team an opportunity to re-examine
the design and its features to ensure
the project remains within budget.
Bird Construction’s base bid came
in at $36.9 million. To keep costs
low, the project team eliminated
some features which we can now
include in the final design, which
will come in below $42 million – our
original, approved, construction
budget.
This centre will be a state-of-the-art
facility where we can showcase
local talent, further support the arts,
attract visitors to our community
and enhance quality of life for our
residents.
We are confident our centre will be
the venue of choice and attract some
class acts.
We’re excited that Bird
Construction, one of four prequalifying contractors, has been
awarded this tender as the company
is also building Brock University’s
Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and
Performing Arts. The school of arts
is being relocated to our downtown
and will complement the City’s
project.
As a Council, we recognize there
is potential for growth in the arts,
culture and entertainment sector. This
new facility will provide the venue to
help spur that growth.
Once our new Performing Arts
Centre officially opens, we will see
an influx of students and professors
during the day using this facility and
supporting local businesses.
In the evenings, the PAC will
bring residents and visitors to the
downtown, breathing new life into
the heart of our city.
The centre, along with the other
components of our revitalization
plans – the new Spectator Facility,
Carlisle Street parking garage, twoway traffic downtown – will redefine
our city’s core.
Change takes time. As a Council,
we had to remain united in our
approach, and invest in our
community now and into the future.
Soon, however, we will see our
shared vision become a reality.
While it is too early to predict the
economic spinoff, we’re confident
these investments in our downtown
will support existing local businesses,
encourage expansion and new
private growth in our community.
Our business community has
been supportive of our direction
as it reaffirms the message that St.
Catharines is open for business.
The spotlight will be shining on St.
Catharines when the curtain rises
in 2015. Together we can ensure a
bright and prosperous tomorrow.
- Mayor Brian McMullan
Contact
the Mayor
[email protected]
905.688.5601 ext. 1540
Coun. Jennie
Stevens
Merritton Ward residents will have
multiple opportunities to enjoy parks
and facilities maintained by the City
of St. Catharines as warmer weather
approaches.
The outdoor pool and small wading
pool at the corner of Seymour and
Park avenues, located in Community
Park, opens near the end of June,
just in time for summer activities.
A newly installed playground was
constructed next to the pool and saw
lots of activity during its first year of
operation. All baseball and soccer
parks in Merritton are open. The
Garden City Golf course off Lincoln
Avenue is open until October.
The City will be holding its annual
rain barrel sale at 8 a.m. on June 8
at the Seymour-Hannah Sports and
Entertainment Centre. Rain barrels
will be available for purchase for
$40 each. A green gardening
fact sheet is also available on the
City’s website. Search “Gardening
factsheet” at www.stcatharines.ca.
St. patrick’s
Coun. mark
Elliott
Coun. Mathew
Siscoe
The planning, designing and
development of a vibrant Downtown
is a complex task. St. Catharines,
recognizing the need to revitalize
the Downtown Core, formed the
Downtown Development and
Revitalization Committee in 2006.
The Committee, with the support of
the City’s Economic Development
and Planning Staff and Urban
Design Consultants, developed the
Downtown Creative Cluster Master
Plan in 2008.
Many of the components of
that plan, aimed at creating an
environment in which people will
want to live, work and play in
the Downtown, have been either
implemented, or are in the midst
of being realized. The Performing
Arts Centre, the Marilyn I. Walker
School of Fine and Performing Arts,
the Carlisle Street Parking Garage,
the new Spectator Facility, twoway traffic conversion, rerouting of
the Wine Route and infrastructure
improvements are all components
that we have read about.
The Downtown Creative Cluster
Master Plan was honoured recently
when a division of the London Times
St. george’s
Coun. Peter
Secord
Coun. Greg
Washuta
With the snow long gone and the
summer upon us, we can see the litter that has accumulated throughout
the fall and winter months. Pitch In
Day was held on Saturday, April 17.
A total of 263 volunteers collected
279 bags of litter from approximately 20 locations throughout the City.
Some groups collected 20 or more
bags. In addition to bagged litter,
several large items were collected,
including couches, road pylons,
fencing, construction material and
shopping carts. The most common
litter items collected were take-out
containers and cigarette butts.
The largest amount collected was
70 bags from the Moffat St./Glory
Hill area. Two large piles of litter,
made up of mostly household items,
were collected during the downtown
A pedestrian crosswalk signal is
operational at the end of Rockwood
Avenue, allowing safe access to the
Canal Parkway as well as the St.
Catharines Museum for both walkers
and cyclists.
At the museum, there is an exhibit
highlighting events pertaining to the
War of 1812. This exhibit will be
open to the public until August 18,
2013.
For anyone planning an event, the
Merritton Town Hall is renovated,
accessible, air conditioned, roomy
and inexpensive. For availability,
contact St. Catharines Recreation
and Community Services at
905.688.5601 ext. 1927.
Labour Day Fireworks occur
because of the generosity of donors
in Merritton. This year’s committee
is once again seeking donations
so that this much-appreciated event
can continue. All donations are tax
deductible. To make a donation
simply contact Jennie Stevens or Jeff
Burch. Your donation will be picked
up and a tax receipt issued.
A meeting has been scheduled for
the middle of July between the two
Ward Councillors and purchasers of
the general Hospital site to discuss
future plans and developments. This
is a priority issue in the Merritton
Ward.
- Jeff Burch & Jennie Stevens
named St. Catharines as the seventh
best city of its size for investment in
North, South and Central America.
This plan for the Downtown formed
the basis for their decision.
The most difficult component of
the plan for the City to influence is
the creation of new housing and
increased density within the Core.
The City’s plan envisions a vibrant
environment for new residents that
includes enhanced walkability, rich
cultural activity, lively public spaces
and diverse housing choices. The
City has worked with developers
in creative ways to entice new
housing development. We recognize
that more people of diverse
demographics, living in and around
the Downtown Core, is the key to a
Downtown renaissance. Currently
there are housing developments,
in varying stages, slated for Yates
Street, the former Hotel Dieu
Hospital site, the corner of James
and Raymond streets, the corner of
Lake and Wellington streets and on
Wellington Street itself.
The Downtown Creative Cluster
Master Plan is clearly working,
even as many of the components
are being completed. It is a tightly
interwoven plan in which each of
the elements are providing support
to, and complement, the next
element. It is reinforced by and
in conformity with all other City,
Regional and Provincial plans. A
complex plan that is demonstrating
such amazing signs of success,
should not be foolishly altered or
dismissed on a whim.
– Mark Elliott
clean up behind St. Paul Street. In
the St. George’s ward area, clean
ups were undertaken in the Lancaster Park area and on McCalla Drive.
The Clean City Committee operates a phone-in Litter Alert hotline.
Reports can be made about specific
areas that require attention because
of garbage or litter. Messages left
will be retrieved by a Clean City
Committee member, who will then
contact the individual who reported
the situation within a week, visit the
location indicated, and, wherever
possible, initiate a volunteer clean
up. The individual who reports
the location will be encouraged to
participate in any clean-up efforts.
The Litter Alert hotline is available at
905.688.5601 ext. 1630
We would encourage residents to
make Pitch In Day every day. Also,
please remember to keep employing
the principles of reduce, re-use and
recycle. The proliferation of garbage
and litter leaves a negative impression of our city on residents and
visitors.
We would like to thank the volunteers who took the time to help clean
up our city on Pitch In Day to make it
a better place to live for everyone.
- Peter Secord & Greg Washuta
June 2013
Port Dalhousie
Coun. len
stack
Coun. bruce
williamson
I would like to take this opportunity
to wish everyone a safe, happy and
fun filled summer season. I encourage you to take advantage of the
beautiful Lakeside Park, the refreshing beach with all the activities it has
to offer, walks along our scenic pier,
and popping in and out of our few
but interesting shops and boutiques.
Oh yes, and an absolute “must
do” is to take a ride on our historic carousel, which offers fun and
amusement for the entire family at
the unbelievable price of five cents
a ride.
As far as private investment in Port
Dalhousie, the Port Place development appears to be at a standstill but
my last update indicated that things
are moving along smoothly and the
developer is looking at an early fall
construction start. It certainly would
be a positive sign for all the struggling businesses in Port.
Along with that development it
St. Andrew’s
looks like the Rockwell development
on Dalhousie will also be commencing now that the OMB has cleared
the way for construction. There
are a few other possibilities being
considered by other developers so
hopefully we will witness some much
needed private investment in Port
Dalhousie so that we can bring it
back to a prosperous and economically secure place of destination.
Along with this private investment
will come the opportunities to invest
in the many heritage aspects in and
around Port Dalhousie. Please keep
in mind that none of this development takes away from the natural
assets of our area. We will always
have the pier, the beach, Lakeside
Park, the Carousel, the historic Jail
House and all other City-owned and
protected assets.
The village scape will take on a
transformation but one that will
accentuate our natural assets and
enhance the beauty of our lakeside
property. In time, Port Dalhousie will
again become a sought after place
of destination that will be aesthetically pleasing, prosperous and will
offer a little something for everyone.
Once again, I wish everyone a
wonderful summer and I look forward to meeting you in downtown
Port Dalhousie.
Respectfully,
- Len Stack
focus on the homes that look like
rural Wainfleet rather than south St.
Catharines. Sorry Wainfleet, but
cattle aren’t allowed to graze within
city limits.
We need to re-examine our bylaws
and enforcement to see if they work.
If they don’t work, fix them. I suggest
when it comes to weeds, tall grass
and garbage we become proactive
like cities like Guelph. Guelph does
not rely solely on complaints but is
proactively searching for violations
and fining immediately. Trust me,
once an absentee landlord gets
nailed with a few fines the lawn
mower will be a hummin’ and the
beer bottles will be in the recycling
bin.
Here’s a thought: by being
proactive we may actually generate
money to cover the Bylaw Officers’
salaries. Who knows, maybe there
are other ways to generate income
municipally. That will be in my next
article!
Enough about weeds, let’s talk
about banners. I am pleased to
report that council unanimously
supported a motion to display a
banner of Warrant Officer Dennis
Brown. I want to thank Dennis’s
widow Mishelle Brown for reaching
out to the community so this could
happen. Enjoy your summer, the
weather, friends, family. But, make
sure you cut your lawns and clean
up your garbage!
- Matt Harris
F
Coun. MATT
Harris
Coun. Joe
Kushner
Weeds, tall grass and garbage. I
remember when I was just a young
pup, growing up in St. Catharines.
It was a time when there seemed to
be an abundance of civic pride. A
civic pride in which the majority of
residents along with the City took
pride in maintaining their gardens,
lawns and properties.
Now, I am not one to complain,
oh wait yes I am, but with the
summer fast approaching I feel it
is time to turn up the heat on the
neglect shown by some property
owners. This includes the City. First,
the City needs to be proactive and
not reactive in maintaining their
gardens, medians and any other
properties.
I thank Jim “garbage video man”
Finley, but why does it take a
concerned citizen like Jim to create
some noise to get things done? We
pay taxes and we deserve a level
of service that should be given, not
asked for. Once the City begins
to lead by example, we can then
Grantham
Coun. dawn
Dodge
Coun. Bill
Phillips
Recently, five new inductees were
placed in the St. Catharines Sports
Hall of Fame, bringing the total
number of inductees to 147 since
its inception in 1990. This year’s
inductees include Bill Fitzgerald,
Keith Murphy, Liz Earley, Ron Roy
and Larry Miller. They are to be
congratulated for their past athletic
achievements.
The present Sports Hall of Fame is
located at the St. Catharines Museum, where some sports memorabilia
of local significance is displayed
along with biographies of each inductee. It is located in the same general area as the Ontario Lacrosse
Hall of Fame.
Last year, a Wall of Fame was
constructed at The Seymour-Hannah
Sports and Entertainment Centre.
Each inductee has a plaque mounted
on the wall near the entrance commemorating the date of induction.
This display was constructed so that
it could be relocated if a permanent
Hall of Fame was established.
With the construction of the new
Spectator Facility plans are underway to construct a 1,000 sq. ft.
St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame
within the facility. With the help of
our Museum staff and staff from
Recreation and Community Services,
research into design and logistical
features has commenced and discussions with the contractor, Ball/
Rankin, have begun. Various other
municipalities (Oshawa, Windsor,
etc.) will be visited to ensure that
“best practices” are followed. The
aim is to have a hands-on, interactive and educational site. The Wall
of Fame will be relocated to the new
site.
Within the last month, the St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame launched
its new website. This exciting feature
displays all the biographies of the
inductees, a brief history of the Hall
and a form that can be downloaded
for future application for induction
consideration. Check it out and enjoy the sporting history of St. Catharines. The new website address is
www.scshof.com.
- Dawn Dodge & Bill Phillips
Contact your Councillor
Merritton
St. andrew’s
st. George’s
st. patrick’s
grantham
port dalhousie
Coun. BURCH
[email protected]
905.327.5153
Coun. harris
[email protected]
905.329.6802
Coun. secord
[email protected]
905.327.9854
Coun. Elliott
[email protected]
905.327.1763
Coun. dodge
[email protected]
905.327.9704
Coun. stack
[email protected]
905.327.5235
Coun. STEVENS
[email protected]
905.328.6722
Coun. kushner
[email protected]
905.327.9638 or
905.685.1817
Coun. washuta
[email protected]
905.327.9905
Coun. Siscoe
[email protected]
905.329.8162
Coun. phillips
[email protected]
905.327.5363
Coun. williamson
[email protected]
905.934.2787
Page 3
The Garden City Current
June 2013
Building a deck? Let’s talk
Consult the City before you start your home renovation projects
So, you’re finally about to create your
backyard oasis by adding a deck to the
back of your house. The question is, do
you need a building permit?
It’s a question a lot of DIYers ask
themselves when they’re starting to
plan small construction projects for their
home.
The City has the answer and wants to
help you through the process, so don’t
hesitate to call Building Services at
905.688.5601 ext. 1660.
Generally, building permits are
required for material or structural
alterations on your property. If you
are planning a project where you are
tearing down walls, building a deck,
installing a furnace, or building a shed,
you should consult the City before you
begin, and for a lot of good reasons.
For starters, the City wants to make
sure your proposed project will be safe.
A building permit ensures your project
will meet the minimum standards set
out in the Ontario Building Code. In the
case of the backyard covered deck, it
ensures it’s structurally sound and won’t
collapse on a windy day or when you
are entertaining.
One of the biggest responsibilities for
the City is to protect public safety. For
homeowners, that means protecting
themselves and future occupants.
The City also needs to ensure the
project conforms to various regulations.
You don’t want to build your shed in a
wetland or too close to you neighbour’s
house, as it may cause some heartache
down the road.
The proposed project and site must
comply with the City’s official plan and
zoning bylaw, as well as regulations
set out by the Niagara Conservation
Authority, the Ministry of Transportation
and/or other applicable governing
bodies. In cases where you don’t need
a building permit for your project, you
still have to comply with these zoning
bylaw requirements. It’s always best to
check with the City first.
Obtaining a building permit can
be quick and easy. Applications are
available online, just search “Building
Permits” at www.stcatharines.ca. Some
permits can even be issued sameday for select small projects if all the
paperwork is in order and if there are
no issues regarding zoning or other
regulations.
Remember, whether you are doing
the work yourself or you’ve hired a
contractor, it is always the homeowners
responsibility to ensure, when
necessary, that a building permit
is obtained before beginning any
construction or demolition.
Great feedback
for zoning bylaw
Do you have something to say about the City’s
draft of the new zoning bylaw? You have one
last chance to offer your input in person before
the City planners working on the project begin
reviewing the feedback they’ve received and
make a few tweaks over the summer.
Residents are invited to meet the planners
working on the new zoning bylaw June 12 at
Market Square from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6:30 to
8:30 p.m.
The feedback City planners have received
so far has been positive and constructive, and
will likely result in some revisions to the draft
new bylaw. The discussions the City is having
with residents is leading to an even better new
zoning by-law because its given planners a
better understanding of the different issues each
neighbourhood faces.
Residents have also used the opportunity to
learn more about what the draft new zoning
bylaw will mean for their properties.
Currently, the City has 11 separate zoning
bylaws, with more than 1,300 site specific
exemptions. The new draft bylaw simplifies that
into one by-law applied across the City that will
be easier to understand and apply.
City planners will take their final draft of the
zoning bylaw for more public consultation in
September before submitting a final draft for
council approval in November.
A Building Permit ensures your home project
meets the minimum standards set out in the
Ontario Building Code.
Fresh look for City website
Check out what’s new at www.stcatharines.ca
It’s been a few years since we’ve
refreshed our website, so in midMay we launched a redesigned
homepage along with other online
enhancements.
Homepage
Our homepage has been changed
to make it easier for you to find
what you’re looking for. The search
bar has been enlarged and moved
so it is easier to find. In fact, the
search bar, powered by Google, is
the best way to find information on
our website. Simply type in what
you’re looking for.
Also new is the “I’d Like To ...”
drop down menu, which lists some
of the most commonly used City
programs and services. This menu
will be adjusted throughout the
year to mark changing trends.
The new homepage also features
text links and rotating banners
linking to more information about
timely programs and services, as
s
well as buttons along the bottom
of the page linking to some of the
most visited webpages on our site.
Font size on our homepage is now
also adjustable.
Water meter readings
You can now submit water
meter readings using an online
form. Search “Meter Reading
Submission” at www.stcatharines.
ca and simply follow the
instructions inside the PDF.
Make the process as easy as
possible by having your water
meter card or bill ready before you
begin.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is required
to submit the form, and can be
downloaded from the City’s
website. Water meter readings will
continue to be accepted by fax,
mail, phone and in person.
Construction map
The City’s construction projects
are now listed on an easy-to-use
Google map. Just click on a road
or bubble to learn more about a
project.
Find the map by clicking the
button near the bottom of our
homepage. Watch for a similar
map regarding parking to come
online soon.
Stay safe this BBQ season
Graffiti
removal
program
Have you seen graffiti on public or private
property anywhere in the city? Tell us where we want to know.
The City of St. Catharines is committed
to reducing and eliminating graffiti in our
neighbourhoods. Prompt reporting and
removal of graffiti is essential in keeping
neighbourhoods clean.
To report graffiti in progress, call 9-1-1.
You can report graffiti on public and private
property by:
Phone - 905.688.5601 ext. 3138
Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @St_Catharines
Facebook - /cityofstcatharines
Once the City is aware of graffiti on public
property, every effort will be made to remove
it within 48 hours (24 hours in the case of
obscene or discriminatory graffiti). The City
will also notify private property owners when
they have been tagged with graffiti and will
require removal within seven days.
Property owners who have been tagged
can apply for financial assistance to cover
50 per cent of the removal cost (up to $500)
through the City’s Graffiti Removal Program.
Find the application form online by searching
“Graffiti Removal” at www.stcatharines.ca.
Barbecue season, one of the best things
about summer, is here again. There really is
nothing quite like grilling up some grub over
an open flame.
But, mixing food with fire, fuel, metal and
the distractions of entertaining guests can
be a recipe for disaster.
Follow these seven tips to stay safe this
barbecue season:
• Always follow the manufacturer’s
instructions for the safe maintenance
and use of your barbecue.
• At the start of the season, make sure
burner ports and orifices are clear of
rust, dust and cobwebs.
• Check for leaks by brushing a 50/50
mix of liquid soap and water onto all
cylinder connections and hoses. Rising
bubbles when you turn on the valve
indicates a leak. Tighten connections
or repair the hose until there are no
bubbles.
• When lighting the grill, always have
•
•
•
the lid open. Open the valve at the
cylinder, then turn on the barbecue
controls and light the burner using the
ignition button. If there is no igniter,
insert flame from a long match or
barbecue lighter through the side
burner hole. Light the match before you
turn on the gas at the grill controls.
Transport a propane cylinder safely
by placing it in a secure, upright
position with the safety valve on top. It
is preferable to transport it on the floor
of the passenger compartment. Make
sure the windows of the vehicle are
open.
Never use or store a propane
barbecue indoors or in any enclosed
space, including a garage.
Have your propane cylinder inspected
and requalified or replaced every 10
years.
In the event of prolonged hot and dry
weather conditions, Fire Services may order
a fire ban, as fire can quickly burn out of
control if it spreads to nearby grass and
plants. Barbecues are still permitted under
the ban, but Fire Services advises residents
to exercise caution when cooking.
If Fire Services issues a fire ban notice
it will be posted at www.stcatharines.ca.
Residents who do not comply with the fire
ban will be charged and could face fines up
to $50,000.
Fire Services also reminds residents the
Ontario Fire Code prohibits open air
burning in St. Catharines, as well as bon
fires, outdoor fireplaces and chimenias. For
more information call the Fire Prevention
Office at 905.688.5601 ext. 4224.
Five ways to minimize the risks for fire and burns
Attend public fireworks
displays instead of hosting your own.
Never leave a campfire
unattended. Don’t start a
campfire with a flammable liquid.
Crush cigarette butts
thoroughly to extinguish.
Never discard a burning
cigarette in brush or from
a moving vehicle.
Leave the lid open when
lighting your BBQ. Use
the igniter, a long match
or BBQ lighter.
Comply with any fire
bans or restrictions issued
by Fire Services.
The Garden City Current
Page 4
Happening in
St. Catharines
June is Recreation and Parks Month as well
as Older Adults Month, so we’re taking the
opportunity to highlight some of the facilities
and activities available to residents.
A full listing of activities is available online
at www.stcatharines.ca and will be posted
at City recreational facilities, but here a few
highlights:
Skate 4 Eight
June 8, 1 p.m.
5 p.m.
to
A free event organized
by the Mayor’s Youth
Advisory Committee
to promote active,
healthy lifestyles, safe
skateboarding practices
and local recreational
facilities. Features live
entertainment. SeymourHannah Sports and Entertainment Centre,
240 St. Paul St. W. 905.688.5601 ext.
1556.
St. Catharines Arts Awards
June 8, 7 p.m.
Help celebrate the best in local theatre,
music, literature, film and art. Tickets are $10.
Reserve your ticket by calling 905.688.5601
ext. 5229. St. Catharines Museum and
Welland Canals Centre, 1932 Welland
Canals Pkwy. Search “Arts Awards” at
www.stcatharines.ca for more information.
50+ Indoor Model Plane
Flying
June 11, 9 a.m.
to noon
Enjoy flying model
airplanes? Come try doing
it inside with models of
all shapes and sizes,
learn more about indoor
aviation and make new
friends. Port Weller Community Centre, 1
Bogart St., 905.937.6232.
Free Outdoor Walks
June 13, 20
and
27
Explore your community,
get active, learn about
our green spaces and
connect with new
people. Walks are
weather permitting.
Hosted by the Friends
of Malcolmson Park and the Walkers Creek
Neighbourhood Association. For more info
and meeting points call 905.688.5601
ext. 1912 or visit www.wcna.ca or www.
malcolmsonecopark.com.
50+ Public Skate
June 19, 26, 9:15 a.m.
Cool off at the rink with
a public skate at the
Seymour-Hannah Sports
and Entertainment Centre.
Search “50 Plus Skate”
at www.stcatharines.ca
or call 905.688.5601
ext. 1927 for more
information.
Tall Ships® 1812 Tour
June 29
to
July 1
Celebrate the return of
the tall ships to St.
Catharines. The
ships will be
docked at
Lockhart Point
Park from June
28-30, departing
before noon July 1
and sailing through
the Welland Canal and passing by the St.
Catharines Museum. Search “St. Catharines
Tall Ships” at www.stcatharines.ca or phone
905.984.8880 for more information.
June 2013
Five things to do for free (or nearly nothing)
The Garden City: it’s a moniker
that speaks to the glorious
benefits nature has offered to
our community. Some of the best
things to do in St. Catharines
are outdoors. And best of all,
they’re free of charge, or very
close to it.
Roast a weenie
There’s nothing quite like sitting
around the campfire on a nice
summer night.
We provide the drinks,
marshmallows and roasting
sticks, you bring your own lawn
chairs, blankets, hot dogs and
other snacks. Don’t forget your
refillable water bottle.
The night includes games,
crafts, face painting and, of
course, roasting and singing.
Great for families with
children ranging in age from
preschoolers up to 12-years-old.
What: Campfire Sing-a-Longs
Where: Burgoyne Woods Park
When: June 18, July 23, Aug.
20; 6 to 8 p.m.
Search “Burgoyne Woods” at
www.stcatharines.ca
Music in the park
Enjoy live music at the Pavilion
performed by local bands and
musicians. Each night features
a different genre, including big
band, jazz, top 40, country,
rock and hits from the ‘50s
to the ‘80s. Bring your own
blanket, lawn chair, drinks
and snacks. Don’t forget your
dancing shoes. Fun for all ages.
What: Summer Band Concert
Series
Where: Montebello Park
When: Every Sunday and
Tuesday in June and August;
7 to 9 p.m.
Search “Summer Band Concert
Series” at www.stcatharines.ca
Meet the farmers
Enjoy perusing nearly two
dozen vendors at Market
Square three days a week.
While shopping for fresh
produce straight from the local
farmers’ fields isn’t free, the
people watching is, and so is
the live music every Thursday
from noon until 2 p.m. and
every Saturday from 11:30
a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
There’s also a free discovery
table on Saturdays from 9 to
11 a.m. where youngsters can
enjoy hands-on experiences like
making butter, tasting honey
and creating art.
What: St. Catharines Farmers’
Market
Where: Market Square
When: Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Saturdays; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Search “Farmers’ Market” at
www.stcatharines.ca
Ride the Looff Lion
Take a spin on the Lakeside
Park Carousel and experience
a century-old tradition in Port
Dalhousie. The carousel is
a Charles I.D. Looff original
carved sometime near the turn
of the 20th century. It features
68 hand-carved animals,
including one of only five Looff
lions in North America. While
admission is not free, at a mere
5 cents a ride, it’s pretty close.
What: Lakeside Park Carousel
Where: Lakeside Park
When: Daily from June 10 to
Sept. 1; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Search “Carousel” at www.
stcatharines.ca
Watch ships in the canal
See ships from all over the
world climb up the escarpment
as they navigate Lock 3 of
the Welland Canal. Climb the
platform for an even closer look
at how Lock 3 works.
Enjoy a picnic or play with the
young’uns in the nearby park.
Walk, run, cycle or ‘blade the
path that follows the length of
the canal. Learn more about
the history of the Welland
Canal and St. Catharines inside
the museum. Admission by
donation.
What: The Welland Canal
Where: The St. Catharines
Museum and Welland Canals
Centre
When: Ships transit the canal
from April until December;
museum open daily from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
Search “Welland Canal
Museum” at www.stcatharines.
ca
Spectators welcome at Spectator Facility info session
Did you provide input into the design of
the new Spectator Facility currently under
construction in downtown St. Catharines?
Ever wonder how it was incorporated into
the final drawings for the project?
The City will hold a public information
session within the next few months to
share which design elements it was able
to capture from public input for the new
facility and the reasons behind why those
decisions were made.
It’s been about a year since residents
were invited to participate in two public
consultation sessions seeking input for
Spectator Facility design. Feedback from
that meeting as well as input from all
stakeholders were reviewed, considered
and, where feasible, incorporated into the
design brief document issued to the prequalified project bidders as requirements to
be included in their proposals.
Ball-Rankin Construction was the successful
bidder and was retained to design
and build the Spectator Facility for the
guaranteed maximum price of $45 million.
The date, time and location for the
upcoming information session will be
advertised at www.stcatharines.ca. If
An artists’ rendering shows what downtown St. Catharines will look like from Hwy. 406
once the Spectator Facility (left) and the Performing Arts Centre (right) are complete.
you would like a direct invitation to the
information session, please send an e-mail
to [email protected] with the
subject line “Public Information Session.”
Visit www.stcatharines.ca and search
“Downtown Spectator Facility” for more
information about the project and to check
out the webcam streaming live video from
the site.
Make a splash this summer
City pools open for the season
The Port Dalhousie Pool opens for
weekend swims June 7, while the
City’s other outdoor pools open for
daily programing June 29.
The City offers a wide range of
aquatic programs, including leisure
swims, aquafit and swimming lessons
for all ages and skills.
Hours of operation are subject to
change based on weather conditions.
As a reminder, you should always
swim with a friend, and children
should swim under adult supervision.
Most pools close for the season Aug.
25. Lion Dunc Schooley Pool and
Lancaster Pool will close for the season
Sept. 2.
Search “Pools and Splash Pads” at
www.stcatharines.ca to learn more.
• Arthur Street Pool
92 Arthur St.
• Burgoyne Woods Pool
30 Edgedale Rd.
• Lancaster Pool
30 Wood St.
• Lincoln Park Pool
63 Chetwood St.
• Lion Dunc Schooley Pool
32 Seymour Ave.
• Port Dalhousie Pool
205 Main St.
City splash pads:
• Catherine Street Park Splash Pad
64 Catherine St.
• Pearson Park Splash Pad
352 Niagara St.
It’s quiet now, but soon the Port Dalhousie Pool will
be packed with happy swimmers.
Construction coming to a street near you
Watermain replacement and storm sewer work
started in May and lasting for eight weeks:
•Glencairn Drive from Linwell Road to Clover Street
•Mckenzie Street between Niagara and Clover streets
•Abraham Drive
•Cherie Road from Cindy Drive to Samuel Court
•Cherie Road from Halene Court to Cindy Drive
•Samuel Court from Cherie Road to the cul-de-sac
Road resurfacing and spot curb repairs beginning
and ending this summer:
•Monarch Park Drive from Agar Drive to Graham Avenue
•Linwell Road from Geneva Street to Mcdermid Road
•Caroline Street from Marlene Drive to Glendale Avenue
•Caroline Street from Marlene Drive to its north limit
•Crown Street
•Clayburn Avenue from Queenston Street to Westchester
Crescent
•Clark Street from Welland Avenue to Church Street
Watermain, sanitary sewer and storm sewer
construction and road and sidewalk work started
in January and ending in July:
•Lake Street from Welland Avenue to Beach Street
Storm sewer construction beginning in the Spring
and lasting eight weeks:
•Harcove Street from Scott Street to Rabuka
Avenue
•Rabuka Avenue between Harcove and
White streets
•Thompson Avenue between Harcove and White streets
•Youngblut Avenue between Harcove
and White streets
Watermain and sanitary sewer
replacement work starting in the
summer and lasting eight weeks:
•Plymouth Avenue between Grantham and Elmwood
avenues
Semi urban road resurfacing starting and ending
this summer:
•Dieppe Road from about 100 meters east of Neilson
Avenue to Cushman Road
•Cushman Road from Queenston Street to Dieppe Road
•Emmett Road from Queenston Street to its south limit
Road resurfacing and spot curb repairs starting
and ending in July:
•St. Paul Street between William and Court streets.
City-wide asphalt roadway crack sealing, concrete roadway
repairs and sidewalk repairs will start and end this summer.
City facilities
• Victoria Lawn Cemetery: driveway rehabilitation and
•
expansion, new sewer installation and road resurfacing
is starting in the summer and ending in the fall.
Construction of the new Merritton Fire Hall (427 Merritt
Rd.) is ending this summer.
Help our crews work safely
Slow down in construction zones and obey posted speed
limits. Follow the instructions of road attendants and treat
temporary stop lights the same way you would a regular stop
light. Thanks for your co-operation.
Dates and schedules subject to change. Durations listed
are for each project and not the individual road sections.