Latest news with #cityhall
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Meet the robots taking care of Richmond city's lawn
Meet the robots taking care of Richmond city's lawn A pair of robots on their trial period mowing the lawn at Richmond city hall have been scrutinized by staff - will they be allowed to stay?
CTV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Windsor adopts new rules for flag raisings
Windsor city council has approved a new policy that changes how requests for ceremonial flag raisings will be handled at city hall. The revised rules mean the city will now largely follow the lead of the federal and provincial governments — only approving flag raisings tied to nationally or provincially recognized days of awareness, or organizations that have a direct partnership or funding agreement with the City of Windsor. Alongside the updated flag policy, council also voted to eliminate the city's proclamation and illumination programs — which allowed residents or groups to request official proclamations or to have city hall lit in specific colours to mark causes or events. The changes were approved Monday, with councillors Kieran McKenzie, Fred Francis, and Angelo Marignani voting against. 'I've participated in many of the flag-raising ceremonies, and the sense of pride that you get and the feeling the residents have that they are part of our team, I think is really important,' said Marignani during the meeting. 'We need to represent the people, and that is 100 per cent of the people.' Francis argued he saw no need to change the current policy. City administration brought forward the updated policy citing the time and effort staff spend reviewing each request — and the reputational risk if one slips through, that later causes controversy. The proposed changes first appeared on council's agenda in May, prompting concerns from members of Windsor's 2SLGBTQIA+ community who feared it could impact the rainbow flag being raised during Windsor-Essex Pride Fest — a city-sponsored event. Derrick Biso, Director of Education and Operations for Trans Wellness Ontario, attended that May meeting, where the matter was ultimately deferred so administration could clarify its intent. When the revised policy came back this week, it made the allowance for special flag requests tied to city-funded organizations or recognized civic events clearer — something Biso acknowledged. 'I do appreciate the change in direction. I don't think [a new policy] is necessary per se. However, I can understand the reasoning, the logic, the rationale that they're going with,' he said. Mayor Drew Dilkens said the new approach adds clarity and brings Windsor in line with other levels of government. 'Recognizing that our city clerk's office — they're not diplomats trained to be working in diplomatic affairs and understanding all of the international relations that our country or province would have,' he said. He added that it also reduces the risk of the city inadvertently making the wrong call. 'I think this is a sensible and appropriate policy change that at least allows us to be in a defensible position and not offside with our nation.' According to city data, 425 requests have been made for flag raisings, proclamations, or illumination since the current policy was first adopted. Of those, 345 were approved, 79 denied and one withdrawn. Going forward, residents wishing to request a flag raising can apply online or pick up a form at city hall.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
European holiday hotspot loved by Brits issues strict rules for tourists - with huge fines if you break them
The Spanish city of Malaga is taking a firm stance on unruly behaviour from tourists this summer by issuing a 10-point guidance plan that encourages appropriate dress, the respecting of local customs and keeping the noise down after hours. The Costa del Sol destination, known for its links to Picasso, beautiful old town and sweeping beaches, has put its Improve your Stay campaign front and centre across the city. The straight-talking ads are aimed at curbing behaviour that has angered locals in recent years, especially during the peak tourist season. Signage across the city spells out expectations, with posters - on buses and billboards, written in English and directly addressing antics often attributed to British holidaymakers. There's also a social media campaign reminding tourists they must follow municipal bylaws or face fines of up to €750 (£655) for violations. In Malaga's city centre, residents have objected to foreigners walking around the city wearing only bikinis or shorts. One of the Improve your Stay city hall signs reads: 'Dress completely. Both on the street and in public places always wear an upper garment out of respect and hygiene.' Billboard posters ask visitors to wear full clothes while in town - demanding they 'dress properly', 'dress appropriately' and 'dress completely'. The campaign, promoted by Malaga's tourism department, highlights four major issues: inappropriate attire, littering, excessive noise, and reckless e-scooter use. Another sign focuses on noise pollution, urging visitors to 'respect the sleeping hours' of residents, including the elderly, students, and essential workers. The sign advises against shouting, singing loudly, or playing music at high volumes in public areas, adding: 'Don't be conspicuous.' Littering is another sore point for locals, with signs asking tourists to 'Keep the city clean' by using rubbish bins and taking care of historical monuments, gardens, and public seating. Meanwhile, scooter riders are reminded that 'pavements are for pedestrians. If you use scooters or bicycles, do so in the legally authorised areas, in compliance with municipal ordinances.' The measure is an attempt to combat visitors who ride indiscriminately in cycle lanes, invade pedestrian areas and have been involved in more than one serious incident. With the summer season now in full swing, overtourism has become a major issue in many European resorts and cities. Italy's Dolomites were compared to Disneyland last week by fed-up locals, as the beauty spot became overloaded by swarms of selfie-snapping tourists and so-called influencers. Images and videos shared on social media shared by furious residents showed crowds of holidaymakers clogging up a cable car station in the Seceda area of the Alpine mountain range, which has become increasingly popular thanks to social media. Another sign focuses on noise pollution, urging visitors to 'respect the sleeping hours' of residents, including the elderly, students, and essential workers Littering is another sore point for locals, with signs asking tourists to 'Keep the city clean' One particular video shows a lengthy queue of visitors at the station over-spilling onto a nearby cafe, while some tourists are seen blocking a staircase as they wait in line. Another clip showed how a hiking trail came to a standstill as it became overwhelmed by tourists trying to reach the cable car. The video, which was shared on an Instagram page, was captioned: 'Something incredible even just to be told. 'Hours in line waiting for your turn to go up the Seceda to admire the meadows, ridges, the most beautiful mountains of the Alto Adige, being careful not to step on each other's feet, not to clash, to take the selfie as 'freely' possible in the presence of other tourists.' Such is the surge in visitors that the operator of the cable car that takes hikers up to the summit of the Seceda mountain has put in a request to triple the capacity of the chairlift, Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera reports. But recent scenes of overcrowding at the UNESCO World Heritage Site has sparked anger among locals and environmentalists who say large crowds could put wildlife at risk.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Mayor cracking down on councillors' disparaging comments that derailed 6-hour meeting
City councillors who cross the line during heated debates are straining relationships and slowing decision-making at city hall. On Tuesday, Mayor Josh Morgan warned councillors that he will crack down on the use of disparaging comments directed at city staff, stakeholders, and each other. '[You] make it sound like something untoward is happening,' a clearly frustrated Morgan said while resolving a dispute over a councillor's choice of words. 'That's what I've talked about before, and I'm going to engage on these things a little more clearly from now on.' The council meeting lasted over six hours. It's the latest council meeting needlessly extended by councillors using politically charged language that triggers an objection from another councillor (formally called a Point of Privilege). Rules that govern council meetings require the mayor to immediately rule on a Point of Privilege and remedy the situation, 'despite other pending business currently before Council.' At the same time members of the public are left waiting in the gallery each time council's progress through the agenda stalls. The mayor suggests that crossing the line can impact relationships with city staff, municipal agencies, and stakeholders. 'We can have lots of debate, but that does not need to be done with charged language or veiled accusations,' Morgan told CTV News after the meeting. 'So I called that out today, and I'm going to continue to do that. I'm going to expect the committee chairs to do the same.' During Tuesday's council meeting, the mayor had to interrupt debate about a funding request from the Old East Village Business Improvement Area (BIA). Coun. David Ferreira expressed concern that he had yet to see an accounting of how the BIA has utilized COVID Relief Funding which expires at the end of 2026. 'When I asked for this transparency from the Old East Village, I got a letter back that gives me a fog. I don't even know how to classify it. And it really actually hurts my confidence even more,' Ferreira said. Coun. Susan Stevenson, who sits on the OEV BIA Board, stood up and called a Point of Privilege, 'Saying your confidence being shaken, I think, is a disservice to the [city] staff who oversee this, to the BIA, and to the councillor that sits on that [board].' Later in the meeting, Coun. Sam Trosow took exception with Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis' comments that presumed the results of a hypothetical appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal before council even voted on a high-rise development on Pack Road. Trosow was later scolded by the mayor for implying that the staff report recommending approval of the Pack Road development was not signed by the planner who wrote it. Morgan interrupted the meeting to allow the Deputy City Manager to confirm that the report was, in fact, recommended by the Director of Planning and Development. 'I'm actually going to ask all councilors, every single one in this room, to assume that staff of the corporation and staff of the BIA's are public service members doing things because they believe it is the right thing to do, [and] are doing things authentically and appropriately,' the mayor added. The councillors accused of making disparaging comments and those raising Points of Privilege tend to change based on the issue being debated. The increasingly common behaviour has involved many, but not all members of council. Council now has a brief period to cool off before committee meetings resume Aug. 11.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
City of Golden, Colorado breaks ground on new city hall, police department building
Wednesday, the City of Golden, Colo., broke ground on a project nearly six years in the making. The municipal building, which will house the city hall and the police department, will be moved from its current location in the center of town on 10th street to a plot on the east end of Golden near the Coors plant. A patch of dirt that will soon become a new symbol of the future of the city. "I was really excited about it because it is, as you put it, the anchor," Golden resident Gerchard Pfau told CBS Colorado. "Golden continues to evolve, but the great thing about the city is it preserves." The move to this plot was part of the city's longtime plan to evolve the Clear Creek corridor to meet the demands of increasing traffic, visitors and residents. Moving the municipal building to the east end of town will put an anchor on an otherwise underdeveloped area of Golden. "This project will start the revitalization of this area of downtown, bring people and more opportunities for the future," said Mayor Laura Weinberg. The move instantly makes the old building one of the most valuable and coveted pieces of real estate in the city, located just off the central corridor of Washington Street and right next to Clear Creek, with access to the area. "When we purchased this property, we launched the Heart of Golden effort; it wasn't just built on this property that's vacant," said Weinberg. "It's about what's going to happen to the rest of the corridor." The city hasn't decided on what to do with it yet, but is asking the community for their input. "The prevailing thoughts have been more green space, more open space, more access to the creek," Weinberg added. Wednesday's groundbreaking was a momentous occasion for a project that started six years ago as the city enters a new phase of its life cycle, continuing to develop but still hoping to retain the same charm that Golden's always had. "Golden reinvents itself," Weinberg concluded. "We have for the last 160-plus years." The project is slated to take around two years to complete, alongside other development, including the Clayworks and other CoorsTek and Colorado School of Mines projects.
