5 important issues from Fred Eisenberger's state of the city address
Transit, infrastructure, the arts and more top of mind at Liuna Station Thursday
Mayor Fred Eisenberger gave his "state of the city" address Thursday at the Chamber of Commerce's mayor's breakfast – and he had plenty to say about what's happening in Hamilton.
Chief among his concerns was transit – and his hope for an LRT funding announcement in Thursday's provincial budget announcement.
But the mayor also touched on several other issues during his speech and a Q&A session with chamber CEO Keanin Loomis. Here are five of them:
1. Randle Reef cleanup
According to the mayor, the city and the federal government, construction to cap Canada's largest coal tar contaminated site should start this year.
"There's an expectation the shovels will hit the water sometime later this year," Eisenberger said.
To get the project under budget, some "cost saving design efficiencies" have been suggested. That includes shrinking the project from 7.5 hectares to 6.2 hectares, which would leave more of the contaminated coal tar outside of the structure than originally intended.
The rest would be capped using sand and other materials, something like the Windemere Basin. Though no contractor has been awarded the project yet, all parties seem confident work will start this year.
"Work is expected to begin in the harbour in the fall of 2015 with the reconstruction of the Pier 15 wall," Environment Canada spokesperson Mélanie Quesnel said in a statement.
2. Stadium delays
Eisenberger didn't mince words on the chronically delayed Tim Hortons field. "Every time I talk about the stadium, I feel like I need to go into therapy," the mayor told the crowd.
The city now estimates contractors won't have the stadium finished until mid may, which has forced the cancellation of a cancer fundraiser, a test event for the Pan Am Games and more.
"Pan Am is looming," Eisenberger said, and the $145 million stadium need to be finished for the games in July. The mayor said he recently toured the stadium, and said crowds should expect a "top notch" facility.
3. Arts funding
Eisenberger trumpeted city council's decision to give a $500,000 boost to arts funding as a boon for Hamilton.
"The arts is about the economy. It's about jobs," Eisenberger said. "What has transformed James Street North and Locke Street is the arts.
Council's vote actually means another $800,000 more in arts grants in Hamilton. The Hamilton Community Foundation also pledged another $300,000 if councillors voted in favour of the increase.
4. Infrastructure investment is crucial
The mayor conceded that the city is "in a bit of an infrastructure bind."
The city has $885 million in long term infrastructure debt, which "sounds ominous" Eisenberger said, but the city's accountants are managing and our credit rating is classified as "good."
A 0.5 per cent increase in this year's capital budget for infrastructure will help address the problem, he said, but other levels of government also need to step in and help ease the burden.
5. Waterfront development on the move
Eisenberger was also keen to talk about all the work happening on the waterfront. "We're moving from vision to actual reality," he said.
Work on Piers 7 and 8 as well as the pipeline relocation in that area and the Barton/Tiffany lands were all signs that Eisenberger pointed to as positives.
"I want to live on Pier 8. My wife may not agree with me just yet, but that's where I want to live."