Built Environment and Infrastructure

Understanding the Housing Crisis with Business Cases

Understanding Use of Land and Rental Market in connection with the University for costing solutions to the housing crisis.

Project Description:

The Fall 2022 SIR focused on the housing crisis, in which student teams looked at the currently unhealthy housing continuum, from transitional housing to market ownership. This project will develop multiple business cases that articulate the evidence-based reasoning and benefits to issues brought forth in the work of the Fall 2022 SIR students. The intended audience for these business cases is Hamilton politicians, as well as community advocates, activists, and organizers, and may be distributed to organizations like the Hamilton Encampment Support Network (HESN), or ACORN Hamilton (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now).

In Scope:

Create business cases with evidence-based research to help inform Hamilton housing stakeholders on potential solutions. In doing so, the group will present a mid-term progress presentation and business case. 

The following areas of focus include:

  • The Student Body of McMaster University

  • Unaffordable rent

  • Effectiveness of Land Usage 

  • Tenancy Rights

Background Research:

The group will conduct a thorough review and in-depth analysis of previous reports on the housing crisis provided by previous SIR students as well as all other reports found within the drive. This is found in the CityLAB SIR Fall 2022 Final Report Package. 

Student Team: Asmaa Rakik, Claire Kim, Halle Gibson, Johanna Fernanades, Marisa Chrysanthou, Michelle Lucas

Faculty & Course: Dr. Emily Scherzinger, IBH 4AB6B Social Entrepreneurship Capstone

City Staff: Al Fletcher, Manager, Investment in Affordable Housing/Neighbourhood Development, City Of Hamilton

Project Agreement

Climate Change Campaign

The City of Hamilton declared a Climate Change Emergency and has developed a Climate Action Strategy. We need everyone involved in the actions and to start we need everyone aware of the existing and future problems and impacts of climate change.

Project Overview:

This project aims to create a detailed educational campaign strategy which includes up to three campaigns on communicating the risks associated with climate change (e.x., health impacts, property damage and other financial costs, climate justice, etc.).  

In Scope:

At a minimum the Education Campaign Strategy will include up to three campaigns on applicable climes risks (e.x health impacts, property/infrastructure damage, climate justice etc.). The students throughout the project will need to:

  • Conduct extensive research and engage appropriate subject matter experts to inform the content;

  • Ongoing City-wide efforts to identify synergy and collaboration;

  • Best practices and case studies from other Cities;

  • Create detailed recommendations for education campaigns including social and other media outlets, in-person activities etc.; and

  • Develop approximate budget associated with different recommendations for education campaigns.

 Background Research:

In order to best inform the Education Awareness Strategy the student should conduct research including:

  • Best practices and case studies from other cities, governments and organizations on applicable climate risks;

  • 1:1 or group stakeholder meetings/interviews from subject matter experts;

  • Research on most up-to-date science of climate change and vulnerability/risk assessments completed both locally, regionally and nationally.

Student Team: Leah Albi, Celine Do, Dima Ignjatovic, David Melko, Tristan Smid, Matea Tettmann

Faculty & Course: Emily Scherzinger, PHD, McMaster University, Social Entrepreneurship Capstone - IBH 4AB6

City Staff: Trevor Imhoff, Senior Project Manager and Head of Air Quality & Climate Change at the City Of Hamilton

Project Agreement 

Greening Hamilton's Fleet

What is next for fleet greening beyond the current 2024 Green Fleet strategy?

Project Description:

The City of Hamilton’s Public Works Energy Fleet and Facilities division has developed a thorough Action Plan and taken steps towards greening and updating the fleet of city vehicles to decrease the City’s climate impact. This focus has included upgrading vehicles, retrofitting with aftermarket modifications, implementing the use of bio diesel and more. Much of this focus has been on improving the light vehicle weight class. Public Works is seeking a student team to conduct research on the next wave of fleet greening innovation, by looking at leading countries and regions (ex: Europe) in these practices and understanding the future of fleet innovation.

Students will seek to answer the following questions:

  • What is next beyond light duty vehicle upgrades, beyond the current strategy?

  • What is on the global forefront for electrification and greening of medium and heavy duty vehicles?

  • Other areas of consideration are examining the use of hydrogen, which is not readily or widely available for use in Canada. What could be the steps necessary for expanding the use of this in the Canadian market.

From these findings the student team will recommend program and policy development to enhance the implementation of the Green Fleet Strategy, with consideration to climate change, economics, and stakeholder consultations.

Objective: To identify, research, and evaluate upcoming technologies and innovations in fleet greening from leading regions around the world, with specific consideration to feasibility in Hamilton regarding fueling infrastructure, weather, access, with policy options for advancing the greening of the fleet.

Deliverables: Recommendations report based on literature review, Policy paper (Technology development around the globe, comparative policy analysis from other jurisdictions)

Background Research: Technology development around the globe, comparative policy analysis from other jurisdictions

Where the work will go and what it will be used for: From these findings the student team will recommend program and policy development to enhance the implementation of the Green Fleet Strategy, with consideration to climate change, economics, and stakeholder consultations.

City staff: Lesley Parker, Superintendent Fleet Capital Planning & Contract Management, Public Works

Faculty & Course: William Docherty, Environmental Capstone Project, Mohawk College

Students: Sandi Ouk, Hetalben Chavadia, Vhien Forbes

Project Agreement

Final Report

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS CHALLENGE BY WATCHING OUR MATCHMAKER SESSION WITH LESLEY PARKER AND TOM KAGIANIS

Developing a Data Protection Policy for the City of Hamilton

Building Hamilton's Digital Transformation Infrastructure

Project Description:

A Data Protection Policy (DPP) is a security policy dedicated to standardizing the use, monitoring, and management of data. The main goal of this policy is to protect and secure all data consumed, managed, and stored by the organization. A DPP has been requested to be written for the City of Hamilton.

Currently, the City of Hamilton does not have a DPP. By drafting a DPP, we will demonstrate our city’s commitment to ensuring the protection and privacy of consumer data. For example:

  • If the City of Hamilton is subjected to compliance audits, or experiences a data breach, the data protection policy can be presented as an evidence demonstrating the city’s commitment to data protection principles.

  • A DPP could help to complement IT policies as well as demonstrate The City of Hamilton’s leadership in the area of Data Protection.

Phase 1: Background Research

  • Research other municipalities and/or organizations using Data Protection Policies (DPP).

  • Develop a matrix of your findings depicting the subject and the items they have included in their DPP.

  • Develop/recommend a list of requirements (i.e. data protection standards and regulations) necessary for a proper Data Protection Policy.

    • Cross reference this list with the requirements for joining the Cities Coalition for Digital Rights to ensure their priorities are captured in the DPP.

    • Review these requirements with the Project Sponsor for approval before moving to write a DPP.

Phase 2: Draft the DPP

  • Develop a draft City of Hamilton Data Protection Policy (DPP) as a starting point for discussion and consultations within the City of Hamilton

  • The Background Research and Draft DPP will be submitted to PUBPOL 701 as the final research assignment in lieu of the “Case Analysis and Policy Brief.”

Phase 3: Integrate Project Feedback

  • Integrate feedback from City partners faculty

Deliverables: Data Protection Policy, background research report

Where the work will go and what it will be used for:

A well written Data Protection Policy (DPP) can help the City of Hamilton comply with data protection standards and regulations. The City of Hamilton plays an important role in development of proactive and holistic policies to ensure that technology is used to increase both freedom and security and that the benefits of digital technology are experienced by all. The Cities Coalition for Digital Rights supports just that and promotes and defends digital rights of citizens, residents and visitors in cities and urban environments to ensure fair, inclusive, accessible and affordable non-discriminatory digital environments. The DPP is one of the requirements to join The Cities Coalition for Digital Rights.

City staff: Kelly Austen, Senior Project Manager, Digital Innovation Office

Faculty & Course: Dr. Adrienne Davidson, McMaster University, PUBPOL 701 (Public Policy Foundations I: Legislative, Regulatory and Judicial Dynamics)

Students: John Halligan and Sanchita Rajvanshi

Project Agreement

The Dundas of Tomorrow

How can we engage a more diverse and representative sample of the community in the creation of the historical context statements while being mindful of the restrictions and barriers with COVID-19 and beyond?

Project Description:

Hamilton is a city of communities (Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Glanbrook, Hamilton, and Stoney Creek). The Built Heritage Inventory Strategy involves the study of historic neighbourhoods, settlement areas, and communities across the City, and the identification of buildings that embody what makes those places special. This work involves historical research, property surveying, architectural evaluation, and community engagement. The City of Hamilton’s Tourism and Culture Division is looking for assistance in its proactive heritage inventory and evaluation work to help document and conserve Hamilton’s historic buildings

Challenge Summary:

The current challenge with community engagement in the creation of the historical context statements is that they do not seem to be representative of everyone in the community. Only people who are highly interested in the built heritage of their communities seem to come out and share their perspectives in public engagement events. How can we engage a more diverse and representative sample of the community while being mindful of the restrictions and barriers with COVID-19 and beyond?

Goals:

Interview and collaborate with CityLAB SIR alum, current CityLAB Hamilton Students, OPIRG, City of Hamilton staff, other McMaster Faculty, Vancouver CityStudio, and the Student Mentorship Initiative Fellowship to develop a framework and network of support that future independent projects can utilize.

Where the work will go and what it will be used for:

This work will be used by the City of Hamilton in the engagement of Dundas residents in the development of a Historic Context Statement for the area as part of the Downtown Dundas Built Heritage Inventory project.

Faculty, Course & Students: Shahad Al-Saqqar & Jen Pearson, McMaster University, Course: HTHSCI 4D06, 4D09, 4D12

City Staff: Alissa Golden, Heritage Project Specialist, City of Hamilton

Project Agreement

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS CHALLENGE BY WATCHING OUR MATCHMAKER SESSION WITH ALISSA GOLDEN