River Ward City Councillor Maria Mcrae's Report to Hunt Club Community Organization April 2, 2007

Community Safety/Streetracing Project

I am pleased to report that I have partnered with Ottawa Police Services East Division on an initiative to address streetracing in the south end of our city. This project follows on the three blitzes the Ottawa Police carried out last year to address this community issue. I participated in the first blitz and witnessed first hand the racing issues, safety and security issues, noise and the process of enforcement.

The first meeting of the streetracing project brought together stakeholders from the residential and business community, Ottawa Police, the RCMP, city traffic and bylaw and the National Capital Commission.

The group identified a number of problems associated with the racing circuits used by motorcyclists, such as safety, noise, and nuisance.

We will be meeting again shortly to work together on solutions to the problem. I will report further on this initiative in my next report.

Spring Cleaning the Capital 2007

This month, the City of Ottawa is launching our 14th annual Spring Cleaning the Capital campaign. This program encourages our residents to show their community pride and join the City's cleanup efforts by conducting clean up and beautification projects in their neighbourhoods. In 2006, over 53,000 pitched in to complete a record 750 registered cleanup projects.

Entire communities, including schools, neighbourhood organizations, businesses, families and individuals are encouraged to take up Spring Cleaning the Capital 2007. Register your cleanup project now, receive your starter kit, and qualify for the Early bird registration, which ends of April 13, 2007. Registration continues until Tuesday, May 15, 2007.

As Chair of the Transportation Committee, I will be officially launching the 2007 spring Cleaning the Capital campaign at City Hall on Tuesday, April 10, 2007.

Saturday, April 28, 2007 is Capital Cleanup Day. Spring Cleaning the Capital 2007 sponsors will be patrolling the city and handing out prizes to participants who are carrying out cleanup projects.

Please let me know when you will be doing your Spring Cleaning the Capital event. I would be pleased to join your group for the cleanup.

Mark your calendars now for the 2007 Fall Cleaning the Capital. This cleanup event will take place between Saturday, September 15 and Monday, October 15, 2007.

Environment Grant Program

With environment and climate-change concerns growing globally, the City reminds non-profit and community groups that funding is available for them to make a difference, beginning in our own environment - through the Community Environment Projects Grants Program (CEPGP).

CEPGP has $50,000 in total funding available for community-based initiatives and non-profit organizations interested in improving and preserving the environment in such areas as solid waste diversion, water efficiency, wastewater management, water environment protection, sustainable development, and broader climate issues. The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 25, 2007.

Interested participants can find the application online at ottawa.ca. The proposal must be original, feasible and realistic. It should demonstrate innovative ways to assist City environment goals, state clear objectives and goals, and include an evaluation plan, detailed budget, and photos of the project site - if applicable.

In addition, eligible applicants must be based in Ottawa and adhere to non-profit principles -which excludes individuals, organizations with political affiliations, projects that benefit profit-based companies, and other levels of government.

For more information on CEPGP and eligibility requirements, please visit ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1.

Green Partnership Pilot Program

Funding is still available under the Green Partnership Pilot Program for innovative one-time projects that further clean and green our great city. Examples of projects include:

For more information, please visit ottawa.ca. Open the Spring Cleaning the Capital link and click on the Green Partnership program to download the application form. Applications will be accepted until Friday June 15, 2007 at 4:30 p.m. Projects will only be considered so long as there are funds remaining to be awarded. Funding is provided to cover project costs until December 31,2007.

Graffiti Management Strategy

In June 2006, the Emergency and Protective Services Committee directed staff to investigate and enhance the City's current Graffiti Management Strategy so as to incorporate best practices from other Canadian Cities, address gaps in the current program, set out performance standards and to develop a network to help both property owners and businesses deal with the associated costs of graffiti removal.

The Surface Operations Branch, By-law & Regulatory Services Branch and the Ottawa Police Service are preparing a complementary report anticipated to be before Committee and Council in May.

The report will be based on the City of Ottawa's current Graffiti Management Strategy, which follows the "4E's" model (Eradication, Empowerment, Education, and Enforcement). This industry best practice model clearly recognizes that graffiti is not a one-dimensional issue and must be addressed with a variety of proactive and reactive approaches. It encourages the development of a comprehensive program through partnerships that bridge governments, police services, private sector businesses, as well as community and homeowner associations.

The report is being developed using extensive research from across North America, and includes:

Consultations are being held with the following stakeholders throughout March to gather feedback into the revised Strategy:

If you have any questions regarding the Graffiti Management Strategy, please contact Leslie Vanclief at 580-2424, ext. 27945.

Rapid Transit Expansion Study (RTES)

The update to the 2003 Rapid Transit Expansion Study (RTES) will start this year and coincide with the updating of the growth forecasts, the review and update of the Official Plan and Transportation Master Plan - to be completed by end of 2008.

There are many issues to consider for the update of RTES and the public will be engaged at every stage. Major tasks include revisiting the vision for rapid transit in the city, confirming the modal split target, identifying the characteristics of an effective urban transit system, assessing the downtown capacity, identifying technology choice, assessing the need for conversion of the Transitway, updating the transit network, setting project priorities, identifying costs and assessing affordability.

Please keep a look out for upcoming notices on public consultation events. Your attention and involvement will help the City identify solutions that meet the transit needs of our communities, now and in the future.

Integrated Road Safety Program Monthly Program

Each month since 2004, STEP has been profiling and enforcing two initiatives that target specific traffic safety priorities. These initiatives support larger IRSP public awareness and enforcement campaigns.

In February 2007, the City of Ottawa's Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP), through its Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), laid 550 charges for improper lane changes and stop sign violations. Changing lanes unsafely resulted in 148 offences notices while the additional 402 tickets were issued to drivers for failing to stop at stop signs.

In March 2007, the Police focussed on Improper Lane Changing and Stop Sign Violations. I will provide the stats for these initiatives in a future report.

This month, the Police are targeting Unsafe and Heavy Vehicles and Vehicle Occupant Restraints.

Integrated Road Safety Program 2006 Report

As reported on previous occasions, the Integrated Road Safety Program's overall goal is to reduce collision-related fatalities or serious injuries by 30 per cent by 2010. To obtain this goal, benchmarks were established by averaging the figures from the 1998-2002 period, before the inception of the Integrated Road Safety Program.

In comparing the 2006 results to those benchmarks, collision-related fatalities have dropped by 19 per cent. The average between 1998 and 2002 was 31 fatalities per year. In 2006, 25 fatalities were recorded. For serious injuries, the 1998-2002 average was 192 per year. In 2006, 184 serious injuries occurred on Ottawa's roadways.

When conducting a one-year comparison, the 28 fatalities recorded in 2005 dropped to 25 in 2006. Serious injuries rose to 184 in 2006 from the 164 recorded in 2005. However, the total number of collisions decreased by 200 in 2006 (14,570 in 2005 and 14,370 in 2006).

Despite the rising number of licensed drivers and registered vehicles, the overall statistics indicate that we are making positive progress in meeting our 2010 road safety goal through our efforts in Education, Engineering and Enforcement.

Ottawa Police Service 2006 Activity Report

On Monday, March 26, 2007, Ottawa Police released the Ottawa Police Service 2006 Activity Report to the Police Services Board. The publication provides an overview of police activities and initiatives, as well as preliminary crime statistics for the past year. A full report on crime and other statistics will be published mid-2007 following validation by the Canadian Center for Justice Statistics.

Preliminary statistical highlights for 2006 include:

Organizational highlights for 2006 include:

The 2006 Activity Report which provides a snapshot of police activities, major initiatives and preliminary crime statistics for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2006 is available online at ottawapolice.ca

Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) Strategy

Last summer, Council directed staff to carry out an Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) Strategy involving stakeholders, within a period of one year. The purpose of the Strategy is to identify how the City can influence, facilitate or direct increased diversion of IC&I waste from landfill. In carrying out this work, consideration will be given to how technologies can contribute to improved management of IC&I waste.

Recently, Council approved a report on the Scoping of the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional 3R Strategy. This report summarizes the results of consultations, outlines the proposed scope of work for the IC&I 3R (reuse, recycle and reduce) Strategy, and obtain Council approval to proceed with the project as proposed.

The City is working to establish IC&I diversion goals and identify measures through which the City can achieve them. In addition, Council requested that the Mayor write a letter to the Premier and Minister of the Environment urging the Provincial Government to enforce its current legislation regarding reduction of waste in the IC&I sector. Council also requested that the Mayor call for provincial legislation similar to Quebec's and Nova Scotia's that will deliver an integrated bottle and can recycling requirement for the producers and users of these products.

As the primary responsibility for IC&I waste lies with the Provincial Government, Council has requested that the Mayor write to the Provincial Government on behalf of Council to request-that the-Ministry of the Environment participate in the City's Industrial Commercial and Institutional 3R Strategy Study through direct participation and funding support.

OC Transpo Security

I am pleased to provide you with information on several initiatives and programs employed by the city to address safety and security issues on our public transit property. Transit-secure Program

Special Constable

The Transit Special Constables will work in cooperation with Ottawa Police Service to safeguard transit customers, employees and property. In addition, they will preserve the peace, prevent crime and offences, promote public safety and awareness and help persons in need of assistance.

As one of North America's safest transit systems, safety and peace of mind are always a top priority at OC Transpo. As well as working with Ottawa Police Services, Transit Special Constables also work in cooperation with other groups such as Crime Stoppers, local school boards and community groups. Safety is a team effort and Transit Special Constables form part of a Transit Law Enforcement team that also includes Transit Fare Enforcement Officers who check fares, and Communications Officers who monitor surveillance cameras, answer emergency calls and dispatch assistance. The Transit Law Enforcement team receives more than 10,000 calls a year.

Ongoing Programs and Key Components

As part of OC Transpo's focus on crime prevention and protection, safety blitzes are also carried out on a regular basis in transit stations.

Cat and Dog Registration and License Renewal

Cat and dog registration and renewal is due by April 30, 2007. To register dogs or cats, please print and complete the application form from the City's Web site and forward it to the City, along with any required proof of micro-chipping and sterilization as well as the registration fee. Owners can also complete the registration or renewal at any of the City's Client Service Centres. For a complete list of fees and information on where to send in your renewal/registration, please visit ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1.