Statement from Terry Whitehead, just issued from @cityofhamilton email.
#HamOnt #yhmcc “For the past 19 years of my life, I have had the humbling responsibility of representing Ward 14 (and formerly Ward 8). Throughout this time, I’ve done my utmost to represent the concerns of residents here and across the city;

**LRT discussion underway - watch live**
Ward 5 Councillor Chad Collins bringing a walk-on motion to ask Provincial agency Metrolinx and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to come to Council to discuss Light Rail Transit plan.
Mayor Eisenberger: "feel free to pass a motion, I have already drafted a letter, I believe it has already gone"
says he welcomes the Ministry and Metrolinx coming to a future Council GIC to update on LRT.

City of Hamilton COVID briefing underway, watch live on YouTube here: Mayor Eisenberger opens by acknowledging the ongoing issues with the City of Hamilton COVID vaccine hotline for those over the age of 85.
Says the City is trying to expand phone lines, says everyone will get an appointment, and to keep trying over the coming days.

Good morning, City Council is underway on time.
Clr Maria Pearson in the Chair as Deputy Mayor.
Watch live on YouTube, my tweets to follow. #yhmcc #HamOnt Ward 1 Clr Maureen Wilson is having technical difficulties and her microphone cannot be heard.
Ward 2 Clr Jason Farr had similar difficulty, and is now being heard.

Good morning, Hamilton City Council was scheduled to start at 9:30am.
They are running a bit late.
Live Video is here:
My tweets to follow. There are no reports from the Integrity Comissioner.
The IC is now years behind on their "reports", the City continues to pay them regardless of this lack of completion of tasks.

It's now past 12noon, and #HamOnt Council is not starting on time. Now Council is beginning. And thus my tweeting begins.
The @cityofhamilton warns you their meetings are webcast live on the City website. (This is the Joey Coleman warning)
Council is underway, @Chad_Collins5 has left his mic on, cutting in.

.@NrinderWard3 says Council discussed in closed session the cost of storing the Sobi bikes.
She asks staff to provide that in public, compared to the cost of keeping system going.
Staff say storage is "not insignificant" "non-trivial" #yhmcc #HamOnt Nann's questions are getting to a fiscal argument in favour of her motion as bridge funding ($400K) until new operator bids; that this cost is not much different than cleanup of removing all bikes and stations, and paying to store the great.