Hamilton eyeing nuisance party bylaw
The City of Hamilton is looking to implement a nuisance party bylaw targeting large, unsanctioned parties, including fake homecoming" that has seen thousands descend on streets near McMaster University.
The rowdy street parties have included vehicles being turned over, damage to properties, public urination, arrests and people being hurt. At its peak last October there were an estimated 5,000 partygoers.
If passed, the bylaw doesn't just target those attending or planning parties but also property owners who allow parties to happen. It includes fines for individuals that range from $500 to $10,000 for a first offence, with a maximum fine of $25,000 for subsequent offences. A corporation could face a $50,000 fine for a first offence and $100,000 for any subsequent offence.
The proposed bylaw goes before the city's planning committee Tuesday and includes a recommendation from staff to receive the report and refer it to the 2023 operating budget, where staff will ask for funding for a part-time supervisor position to train bylaw staff and administer the new bylaw. However, the staff report also gives councillors the option to either turn down the bylaw or pass it immediately.
The nuisance party bylaw would provide an additional tool that would help send a strong message to residents in Hamilton that these types of parties will not be tolerated," the report reads.
The bylaw has the support of both Hamilton police and McMaster University, which have been working to combat these large, at times out-of-control parties for years.
In an interview with The Spectator last month, Hamilton police Supt. Dave Hennick said he was optimistic the bylaw could be in place for this October.
Police, city bylaw, McMaster and other stakeholders formed a public safety committee after last year's homecoming and in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day this March, where a large unsanctioned gathering had been advertised. Hennick said they had a robust safety plan, but the large party never came to fruition. Those same safety plans have continued heading into this fall.
That's important because the large, unsanctioned parties are more than just a police issue, he said. They affect the whole community.
At the 2021 fake homecoming, police charged six people for flipping over a car. Hennick noted that some of those charged were not McMaster University students. It's common to see people coming from out of town to attend homecoming parties in cities across Ontario.
According to the city report, Hamilton Paramedic Service spent more than $19,600 for staff and labour in response to the 2021 fake homecoming. The city spent another $1,731 on road maintenance. Police and bylaw did not tally costs.
McMaster University has not hosted a sanctioned homecoming" since 2019, the university said in a statement emailed by spokesperson Andrea Lawson.
Even though there are no homecoming events at the university, Hamilton could still be the focus for some street events which, in the past, have been organized and promoted by people with no connection to the university," the university said.
McMaster does not support these types of activities and actively works with community partners to try and dissuade students from attending street parties which can also attract large numbers of people from outside of the city."
Hamilton is not the only city to face such challenges. Staff looked at other university cities where similar bylaws have been implemented in recent years, including Kingston, Waterloo and London.
McMaster said it's supportive of the city's plans to introduce a nuisance party bylaw and hope to see this in place soon." Once approved the university will help educate students.
In addition to the proposed bylaw McMaster also launched a Good Neighbour campaign at the beginning of August, the university said. This included working with the McMaster Student Union and Westdale BIA to teach students what it means to be a good neighbour.
For many years the university has paid for off-duty police patrol areas around the university. The university's student-led emergency first response team also helps with medical calls.
The proposed bylaw came out of a motion from Ward 1 Coun. Maureen Wilson, who is running for re-election.
The proposed enforcement process includes a nuisance party" being declared by the Chief of Police, or a designate. For that to happen at least four characteristics under the bylaw have to be met including: disorderly conduct, public intoxication, damaged property, blocking roads, unreasonable noise or public urination/defecation. Once declared, police or bylaw issue an order. If that order isn't complied with the party will be dispersed by police and bylaw officers can issue charges.
The city also proposes a university district safety initiative" that would designate the western section of Westdale and Dalewood neighbourhoods a zero-tolerance zone during specific times when large parties are anticipated, including homecoming and St. Patrick's Day.
In addition to possible fines, the city can also seek costs for damages.
Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com