Hamilton city councillors look at banning extra large sugary drinks

Hamilton city council will rubber stamp a decision Wednesday night to look at banning super-large sugary drinks from city facilities.

I think the public just kind of got grossed out by that.- Robert Hall, city director of health protection, of people putting their mouths on water fountains

The city's board of health composed of every city councillor endorsed a recommendation on Monday to have public health staff look at restricting portion sizes of sugar-loaded beverages to no more than 500 millilitres (16 ounces).

The move comes after the Heart and Stroke Foundation told councillors Monday that such drinks are damaging to people's health.

On mobile and can't see the live blog? Click here.

Instead, the foundation said, the city should ensure there's drinking water available in public places such as parksand recreation centres.

Coun. Matthew Green of Ward 3 also moved that the city look at bringing back old Hamiltonwater fountains, known as "shorty greens," topublic parks.

The popularity of the fountains plummeted over the years because people believed they were required to put their mouths on the fountains, said Robert Hall, director of health protection.

"I think the public just kind of got grossed out by that," he said.

Here's what else is on the city council agenda:

• There will be friction over potentiallystreaming the final Tragically Hip concert in Gage Park? Matthew Green, Ward 3 councillor, says the city should. Donna Skelly, Ward 7 councillor, says that's not the city's job.
• There's an Art Crawl. There's a Supercrawl. Now Sam Merulla, Ward 4, wants a Beach Crawl to promote the city's Lake Ontario beaches.
• Ratifying a decision to banpeanuts at four city facilities as part of a pilot project.
• Scrapping achange to the pool enclosure bylawthat would have required four-sided fencing around backyard swimming pools, as well as around the yard.
• Looking at expanding the distribution of naloxone, a drug that prevents overdoses from opioids.
• Putting stock epinephrine auto-injectors in recreation centres. Jackson Square guards already carry auto-injectors.
• Looking at building a $535,000 pedestrian bridge over Wentworth Street for people crossing at the escarpment rail trail. It will also look at installing a pedestrian light.
• Talking to potential lessees for Auchmar Mansion, the so-called "Dundurn of the Mountain."

CBC Hamilton reporter Samantha Craggs will tweet live from the meeting. Follow her at @SamCraggsCBC or in the window above.