KEY ISSUES DISCUSSED AT 5 MAY 97 MEETING

ATTENDEES

• Fred McLennan, President
• Alan Asselstine, Vice-President, Treasurer
• Peter Vasdi, Memberships
• Art Miskew, Director
• Nancy Seaby, Director
• Gisèle Loiselle-Branch, Director
• Wendy Stewart, RMOC councillor
• Karin Howard, City Ward 0T8 councillor
  

KEY ISSUES

The following summarizes the issues discussed at the 5 May 97 meeting of the Hunt Club Community Organization (HCCO) at the Hunt Club Riverside Community Centre (HCRCC).

• Regional Councillor, Wendy Stewart, reported on the following:

• - Art exhibit at regional HQ. The exhibit, called "Rebel icons" was found unsuitable for display at HQ and was removed on 30 Apr after 2 days exposure. Region will be reviewing its policy to ensure that future exhibits are checked before installation and display.
• - Citizen's panel on council renumeration. A panel of 3 has been selected from the general public (based on those who replied to the newpaper ad) to review the operations of 1st directly elected regional council including compensation. Panel will conduct a hearing open to the general public in Council chambers at 7pm on Tue 13 May. Will report on recommendations by 30 May. Changes to be implemented by time new council is sworn in on 1 Dec 97.
• - Kidney Foundation of Canada plans to raise funds by offering the following free car towing service to those who want to get rid of unsightly vehicles on their property: a free tow, an income tax receipt for value of scrap or auction. Result will be a cleaner neighborhood and funding for patients suffering from kidney diseases. Call The Kidney Car Program for information.
• - 33 new regional police officers sworn in: 20 new recruits and 13 with previous police experience.
• - 4160 Riverside Drive referred to the OMB. Because of noise levels, Airport Authority urges Region to find this land unsuitable for residential use.
• - Public meeting on Airport Parkway ramps (see below).
• - New lawn sign campaign for pesticide use (see below).
• - Who does what between Province and Region (see below).
• - Clarification of roles and responsibilities re protection of southern corridor (see below).
• Call Wendy's office for more information.
• City Ward 0T8 Councillor, Karin Howard, reported on the following:
  • - May and June 1997 property tax payments to City to be combined into one payment due 30 May 97. Karin finds that notifications advertised in papers on 29 Jan, 25 Apr, and 2 May, plus mail notification was not emphatic enough to warn citizens and recommends reducing the interest rate for late payments from 15% to 6% for those who submit this request in writing to the City treasurer. HCCO supports this recommendation.
  • - National Capital air show will close River Road between Limebank and Hunt Club Road on Sat-Sun 10-11 May between 11am and 4:45pm.
  • - Claridge to complete a children's play area at Kimberwick Cr. (in new development NW of Riverside/Hunt Club Rd.) by 31 Jul 97. Park name to be decided in 1999 based on participation of those using the park and living around it. Claridge Homes is setting aside $3000 for the cost of the sign.
  • - City to develop business plans for several facilities including Carlington Park J. Alph Dulude Complex, Jim Durrell Arena, and Clifford Bowey Pool. These plans will help the City analyze its operations.
  • - Mooney's Bay Park redevelopment plan. Phase 1 of the park redevelopment plan to be completed for Council consideration by fall 97. Plan is part of Riverside Park's neighborhood study and has as objective to maximize user enjoyment of park.
  • - Permanent posts - outdoor rinks. Community Services wishes to leave temporary skating rink posts in all year round in order to reduce operational costs. 3 posts are involved at Owl Park. Contact Bryan Tyrer with questions.
  • - Ottawa Public Library in Bell Canada phone book is not listed under "O", but under "Public Libraries". Listing of all libraries and services is available from community centers and from library branches.
  • - Young Canada Works Heritage Canada Institutions Program for 1997 (launched in 1996) is offering up to 800 jobs from 8-12 weeks in duration for young Canadians to work in museums, libraries, archives, and other cultural and heritage organizations.
  • - RMOC levy due dates (city resolution). Several documents are available discussing tax reductions/increases due to changing government structure (actual and proposed). Contact Mona Monkman, City Treasurer for more information.
  • - Mooney's Bay ward council (see below).
  • - Natural and Open Spaces Study (NOSS) (see below)
• For city-related issues, call Karin's office.
• Airport Parkway ramps:
  • -Tradeoff between local residents' concerns and siphoning north-south traffic off local roads and onto the Parkway.
  • - Residents backing onto Parkway met with Region at 30 Apr meeting (2nd public meeting re the Parkway ramps). Residents did not oppose the ramps, but expressed concern about noise and increased traffic, and wondered what the Region can do to minimize these effects.
  • - A report on these concerns will be presented to Regional Transportation Committee on 7 May.
  • - Public meeting to be held in 4 weeks to discuss what the Region can do.
  • - HCCO will send Region an official memo reaffirming their support for the access ramps and for implementing suitable privacy and noise attenuation measures.
• Call project manager Neil Stout for more information.
• Region has new lawn sign campaign for pesticide use:
  • - Aimed at local residents who use pesticides and herbicides in their garden.
  • - Region has banned herbicide use on regional lands; however, the benefit of this can be counteracted by private owners, especially those who allow chemical lawn care companies to spray lawns with Killex (2, 4-D), which harms pets and children and causes breathing problems in adults.
  • - Statistics are available that show that the likelihood of contracting leukemia and breast cancer in homes using pesticides is 6 times greater than in homes without.
  • - Region is working on a demo project at 111 Lisgar St., displaying alternative turf management techniques for both sunny and shaded locations.
  • - You can get a lawn sign by donating $3 to the Breast Cancer Action (BCA) Resource Centre. Donations are accepted at Arbour Environmental Shoppe (800 Bank), Mother Tongue Books (1067 Bank), Bonnie's Natural Food Shop (1500 Bank - Blue Heron Mall), BCA (Billings Bridge).
• For more information, contact the RMOC Health Dept or call the BCA
• Who does what between Province and Region:
  • - Province has accepted most of the recommendations proposed by the Association of Ontario Municipalities (AMO), mainly: has kept social assistance, long-term care.
  • - Region takes over responsibility for social housing.
  • - Region takes only 1/2 of the cost of schooling (total amount $4-5B); however, Province plans to reduce their half of the cost by about $1B. Concern about this reduction having an impact on the quality of education.
  • - Further analysis is required to iron out the details regarding farm tax rebate, rods, bridges, policing, northern communities, etc.
• Call Wendy's office for more information.
• Clarification of roles and responsibilities re protection of southern green corridor:
  • - There has been some confusion as to who is responsible for what regarding development vs. protection of our green spaces.
  • - The land corridor between the Rideau River and the Airport Parkway, which is now physically green and empty of development, is owned by NCC in part, by Hydro, and by CN.
  • - It is the City (not the Region) that has zoned this land (under the existing bylaw) partly light industrial and partly for public use - the new Z2020 bylaw may change this zoning.
  • - The Regional Plan looks at all areas administered and not protected by the City as one category: "general urban area".
  • - Motivated by pending population increase, the Regional Plan therefore notifies the community that the development required to house this population increase must go into areas already zoned for development. The southern corridor (open area), because of its current City zoning, falls into this category.
  • - If the City wants to protect this land from development, then the City must change the current zoning.
  • - Because of the environmental significant of McCarthy Woods, the Region, has nevertheless separated the Woods from the "general urban area" designation, and protected it from development.
  • - The NCC also, in spite of the fact that it owns the land and could legally develop it at any time, has proposed to preserve a green strip for recreational purposes to link the Rideau River to McCarthy Woods.
• Call Wendy's office for more information.
• Mooney's Bay ward council:
  • - Inaugural meeting 4 Mar 97 attended by reps from community associations and interested residents.
  • - 2nd meeting held 1 Apr, which established the mandate. Paul Greer elected as chairperson, Mary Sardelis as secretary (temporary).
  • - Next meeting scheduled for 7:30pm on 27 May at the Carleton Heights Community Centre at 1665 Apeldoorn Ave.
  • - Ward council is to form nucleus of an official body under a potential one-tier government.
• Call Karin Howard for more information.
• Natural and Open Spaces Study (NOSS):
  • - NOSS in final stages of its program.
  • - Study has identified 351 candidate areas for protection, and 19 potential green corridors.
  • - Have developed criteria for evaluation.
• Call Deborah Irwin or Sue Costello for more information.
• Region has $40,000 total available to grant out to people interested in environmental efforts in the community:
  • - Great opportunity for an energetic person to enhance our community by creating gardens and planting trees.
  • - Applications must be made by 6 Jun 97.
• Victoria Day gala and fireworks:
  • - To be held at from 5:30pm in Pauline Vanier Park, 1025 Harkness Ave (north off Walkley between Bank and Riverside).
  • - Refreshments, games, petting farm, steel band, skateboard and bike demonstrations, karate, mime, drama, dogs, martial arts ballet, fire truck, crime prevention lock display, and fireworks.
  • - Donations accepted and important.
• Call Jill Hopkins or Gloria for more information.
• Other issues:
  • - OC Transpo bus routes to change by end of Jun 97.
  • - Federal election all-candidates' meeting - either HCCO or The News can host this.
  • - Regional Official Plan available on CD ROM - lots of hard work and information encapsulated in colorful easy-to-view-and-topic-jump online document. Sets guidelines for our regional future.
  • - Next Public Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting for Hunt Club Neighborhood Plan to meet at City Hall at 5:30pm on Wed 14 May in Guigue Room. Call Christine Creighton for more info.

Next HCCO meeting to be held Mon 2 Jun 97 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hunt Club Riverside Community Centre at the corner of Paul Anka and McCarthy. Anyone is welcome.

Call Fred McLennan for more information.