COUNCILLOR MARIA MCRAE’S REORT TO
HUNT CLUB COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEETING MAY 2, 2005
Uplands Park is home to both Pre-School and School-Age playstructures. I am pleased to report that City Council approved $35,000 under the 2005 Playstructure Replacement Program to replace the school-age (5-15 years old) playstructure at Uplands Park. The work will involve dismantling and removing the existing playstructure and installing new components. Additional funds were allocated to enhance the Pre-School components and provide new paving around the play area. Congratulations and thanks to Sarah McCormack and all the Hunt Club residents who volunteered their time and ideas to help with planning of new playstructure.
It’s springtime
in the Capital and OC Transpo will be adjusting service to reflect the lower
seasonal demand. Minor reductions mainly affect peak period service and service
to colleges and universities to coincide with the end of their regular school
year.
Effective
Sunday, April 24 new schedules go into effect on most routes. New printed
timetables are now available at OC Transpo Sales and Information Centres,
through the mail by calling 741-4390, and at www.octranspo.com. Customers may also call (613) 560-1000 plus their
four-digit stop number for automated schedule information, 24 hours a day, up
to six days in advance.
Rack & Roll
returns for another season. Cyclists can bring their bikes on any OC Transpo
bus equipped with a bike rack. Racks are available on more than 200 buses and
ten designated routes.
OC
Transpo’s new Travel Planner provides customers with their own personalized
travel plan, complete with routes, schedules, maps and walking distances. The
Travel Planner is available 24/7 at www.octranspo.com.
For
more information, holiday schedules and travel planning, phone (613) 741-4390
or visit www.octranspo.com.
Seniors of River Ward are invited to my Second Annual Strawberry Social scheduled for late June. Please contact my office at 580-2486 to reserve your ticket and to confirm details. I hope all seniors of Central Park will join me and guest servers for a friendly chat over a bowl of fresh, local strawberries and ice cream.
Residential protective
plumbing program enhanced
City Council approved an expansion of the current subsidy program for
the installation of protective plumbing that reduces risks of basement or
cellar flooding from City sewer backups for residential units. The previous
program's eligibility area, which was limited to the boundaries of the former
City of Ottawa, has now been expanded to include all the former municipalities
with the post-amalgamation city limits.
The subsidy level has also been increased under the new program. The new subsidy level will be applied retroactive to 9
September 2004 for residents who have already participated under the former
subsidy program.
A copy of the report is attached for information.
May 1 to 7 is Compost Awareness Week and it’s the perfect time to buy quality compost to enrich your soil. Compost has many uses and can be used as an outdoor soil conditioner to establish flowerbeds and vegetables, and as a top dressing for lawns and for planting trees and shrubs.
Between now and November 26, 2005 (while supplies last), the City of Ottawa is selling compost produced from residential yard and leaf waste collection at the Trail Waste Facility. Bring a shovel and container to load your own compost, and wear the appropriate footwear to protect your feet. The price for compost is:
· $5.15 to fill a container in a car
· $15.45 to fill a pick-up truck or utility trailer
· $10.30 bulk rate per tonne (1000 kg)
Compost enthusiasts are encouraged to participate in the Plant a Row - Grow a Row national program and donate some of their produce to their local food bank. For more information on this program, visit the Composting Council of Canada Web site at www.compost.org or call 1-877-571-GROW (4769).
The Trail Road Landfill Site is located at 4475 Trail Rd., off Moodie Drive, south of Fallowfield Road. The facility is open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except for statutory holidays). For more information on municipal compost and creating healthy lawns, trees and gardens - naturally, visit ottawa.ca or call 613-580-2400.
The City of Ottawa is hosting a
one-day household hazardous waste collection depot from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on
Saturday, May 7 at the Trail Waste Facility, 4475 Trail Road, off Moodie Drive,
south of Fallowfield Road.
This depot provides a convenient
way to help keep the environment free of hazardous household waste. Attendants
will unload the hazardous material from your car and dispose of it safely.
Some examples of household
hazardous waste include turpentine, aerosol containers, fire extinguishers,
pool chemicals, insecticides, stains, wood preservatives, barbecue starters,
propane tanks, oven cleaners, disinfectants, herbicides, fungicides, furniture stripper,
gasoline and window cleaner.
The following are tips residents
should follow when transporting hazardous waste:
·
Ensure the waste is tightly
contained.
·
Ensure each container is
labeled.
·
Carry the waste in the trunk
of your car to avoid fumes and spills.
·
Never mix products together.
·
Only household amounts
accepted.
·
No commercial waste accepted.
Following the recent tragic fires in our City, Ottawa Fire Services
wants to remind residents of the value of working smoke alarms and a home
escape plan.
Working smoke
alarms are your first line of defence in protecting your family and possessions
from the danger of fire. Early warning and a home escape plan will help you to
take advantage of precious time to safely evacuate your home. Early detection
will also result in prompt notification of
Ottawa Fire Services and ultimately reduce the potential risk to human life and
damage to property.
Statistics show
that out of 621 structural fires in Ottawa last year, 150 dwellings (24
percent) involved in the fires did not have working smoke alarms.
Provincial
statistics show that out of 42,255 fires between 1995 and 2002:
·
Smoke alarms operated in only 46 percent of fires.
·
In 23 percent of fires, it was confirmed that smoke alarms
did not operate: in 10 percent of fires, the operation of the smoke alarm was
unknown.
·
In 21 percent of fires, there were no smoke alarms present.
Under
the Ontario Fire Code:
·
All residential property owners are
responsible for installing and maintaining smoke alarms. In rental properties,
it is the responsibility of the landlord to install and maintain smoke alarms.
·
Smoke alarms must remain operable at
all times and it is prohibited to intentionally disable a smoke alarm;
including removing the battery or disconnecting the electrical supply.
With
mosquito season around the corner, the City has confirmed its commitment to
continue West Nile Virus surveillance, monitoring and protection. Public education
will focus on personal protective measures and reduction of mosquito breeding
sites. The City will continue to test and apply a biological larvicide as
needed on surface waters (i.e. ditches, storm water management ponds) as well
as a chemical larvicide as needed in non-surface waters (i.e. catch basins of
roadside storm sewers) and in sewage lagoons. These are the same measures the
City has taken over the past three years to work to prevent this disease.
Part
of assessing the risk will also include surveillance of crows, ravens and blue
jays, and people. Residents are encouraged to call the City at 613-580-2424
(extension 26138) to report any sightings of these birds as they are
particularly susceptible to the virus.