River Ward City Councillor Maria McRae's Report to Hunt Club Community Organization 10 September 2007

Welcome Back!

I hope everyone took the opportunity to relax and enjoy the wonderful weather we experienced this summer. I look forward to continuing working with you on issues important to the residents of Hunt Club.

Maria McRae's Annual River Ward Family Fun Day and B.B.Q.

I cordially invite you and your family and friends and neighbours to my Annual River Ward Family Fun Day and B.B.Q. in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Ottawa. All funds raised will be used for programs and services in River Ward. The event details are as follows: Date: Thursday, September 13, 2007 Time: 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Place: Mooney's Bay Park (2960 Riverside Drive) Activities: B.B.Q., hot pizza and refreshments, games for all ages, DJ for listening and dancing, Ottawa Fire Service Safety House, explore an ambulance, fire pumper, police cruiser, Ottawa Hydro Conservation Van, great prizes, meet Ottawa Firefighters, Paramedics and Police Officers and more...

As in previous years, the Outback Steakhouse (2212 Bank Street - at South Keys Mall) and Mr. Mozzarella Pizza (Riverside Drive) have stepped up to the plate and will generously provide all food and refreshments for this charitable event. The food and drinks are available at a nominal cost, on a first come - first served basis, as quantities permit.

Thanks to your generous support, we have raised thousands of dollars for the Boys & Girls Club, while enjoying dinner and fun activities in our beautiful park. I hope to see you and your family there!

Fall Cleaning the Capital

Mark your calendars for the official launch of the City's Fall Cleaning the Capital Campaign on: Date: Friday, September 14, 2007 Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Place: Mooney's Bay Park 2960 Riverside Drive

Residents of all ages are invited to participate in the City's 2n Fall Cleaning the Capital campaign between Saturday, September 15 and Monday, October 15, 2007. Fall Cleaning the Capital is a great opportunity for high school students to get a head start on their Community Involvement Program volunteer hours, and for families, friends, schools, neighbourhood groups or organizations and businesses to band together on a community cleanup project to help keep Ottawa clean, green and litter-free.

It's easy to get involved. Pick a cleanup location. For fall, cleanup efforts are encouraged in areas where litter has accumulated over the summer months. It can be a park, a woodlot, ravine, shoreline, bus stop, pathway, schoolyard or any public property requiring tidying up. Suggested spots to target include along fence lines, in open spaces with tall grass, along trails, and around drainage ditches and catch basins. While cleaning up open areas that are maintained and mowed by the City, such as in our parks, please leave the leaves. Leaves will be mulched by City staff to return their nutrients to the soil.

Once you have selected a cleanup location, registration is quick and easy. Register your project online at ottawa.ca/clean or by calling 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401). Register on or before September 14, 2007 for a chance to win early bird prizes. Registration is ongoing until October 15, 2007 - the last day of the campaign.

Cleanup starter kits are available upon request (while quantities last) and include disposable vinyl gloves, garbage bags and leaf-and-yard waste bags to assist your cleanup project. Garbage, recycling and leaf-and-yard waste resulting from your fall cleanup project can be put out on your regularly scheduled collection day.

In 2006, over 65,000 participants completed more than 1,020 cleanup projects as part of both spring and fall Cleaning up the Capital campaigns. The past spring campaign started the year off right with almost 47,000 participants completing over 740 cleanup projects.

Sawmill Creek Constructed Wetland Official Opening

I cordially invite you and your family to the Sawmill Creek Constructed Wetland official opening Date: Thursday, September 27, 2007 Time: 10:30 a.m. Place: Sawmill Creek Stormwater Management Facility, Airport Parkway (Northbound)

Through the hard work and dedication of many stakeholders, I am pleased to announce that the construction of the series of ponds and diversion channels, that will benefit our environment and the community well into the future, is now complete.

Not only is this stormwater facility going to manage the water quality and flow into the Rideau River, it aids in beautifying the community through natural features in addition to enhancing recreational opportunities in the area through the implementation of walking/bike paths.

I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Official Opening Ceremony.

Robert and Linda Poulsen Day

In commemoration of the tremendous contribution of Linda and the late Robert Poulsen to the Hunt Club and Riverside Park communities in a variety of capacities over the past 30 years, I am pleased to announce that the City proclaimed September 8, 2007 as Linda and Robert Poulsen Day. I was pleased to read the proclamation on Saturday, September 8, 2007 at the Annual Hunt Club Community Festival.

Congratulations to Linda and the late Bob Poulsen for their many years of hard work and dedication to our community. They are both true community leaders.

McCarthy Road Update

I am pleased to inform you that both Ottawa Police and City traffic staff have taken the appropriate measures with regard to ensuring the safety of children who walk along McCarthy Road to and from school.

I requested extra Police Presence during the first week of school to help ensure the safety of the children.

City traffic staff are also conducting a safety study of the McCarthy Road curve to help ensure the safety of both pedestrians and motorists travelling along McCarthy Road. The City's traffic staff will perform a 48-hour speed study by means of Automatic Traffic Recording (ATR), assess local signage and prepare a report in the next month to determine safe alternatives for the curve on McCarthy Road.

I will follow up when I receive additional information.

Airport Parkway Lighting - Update

I am happy to report that construction has commenced to install streetlights along the west side of the Airport Parkway from Brookfield Road to Hunt Club Road. The work, beginning with the underground cabling, pole installation and energizing the lights, is expected to be completed by the end of October 2007.

Innes-Walkley-Hunt Club Connection and Hunt Club Road / Highway 417 Interchange

National Capital Engineering Consultants (NCE), on behalf of the City of Ottawa and the Ministry of Transportation, are undertaking an environmental assessment for a new arterial road between Hunt Club Road at Hawthorne Road, and Innes Road and a new interchange on Highway 417.

I hope that you will take the time to attend the final Open House on: September 11, 2007 Jim Durrell Arena EllwoodHall 1265 Walkley Road Ottawa, ON 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

At 7:00 p.m., both nights, there will be a presentation followed by Questions & Answers.

Free CPR Training Sessions

I am pleased to invite you to attend free CPR training offered by the Ottawa Paramedic Service on one of the following dates: Date: Saturday, September 22, 2007 (Register by Wednesday, September 19, 2007) Saturday, September 29, 2007 (Register by Wednesday, September 26, 2007) Time: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Location: Ottawa Paramedic Service H.Q. 2465 Don Reid Drive (off Walkley Road) You must register to participate. Space is limited. Please contact my office at 613-580-2486 to register for one of these seminars.

Maria McRae's Autumn Tea for River Ward Seniors

Date: Friday, October 19, 2007 Time: 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Place: Hunt Club/Riverside Community Centre 3320 Paul Anka Drive (corner of Paul Anka Drive & McCarthy Road). Entertainment, Refreshments and Snacks, Door Prizes, Seniors Information Table

Please call my office at 613-580-2486 by October 15, 2007 to reserve your FREE ticket(s).

Ottawa's One Cent Now! Campaign

The City of Ottawa is joining together with over 30 municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to call on the federal government to give the equivalent of one cent of the goods and services tax (GST) back to Canadian municipalities so they can invest in the prosperity of their communities.

With over 80 per cent of Canadians living in cities, municipalities are the economic engines of the Canadian economy - creating jobs and attracting investment. However, municipalities are constrained by the escalating costs of service delivery and infrastructure needs incurred by expanding municipal roles far in excess of traditional responsibilities. Funding arrangements are outdated - made for a much less urban population - and insufficient for what is now a very urban Canada.

The campaign entitled "One Cent NOW!" would yield $5 billion for Canadian municipalities to invest in infrastructure, key services and programs. One cent of the GST now would mean approximately $140 million each year for Ottawa to help sustain and grow Canada's fourth-largest city.

I encourage you to visit the City of Ottawa Web site and sign the online petition asking the federal government to redirect the equivalent of one cent of the GST to municipalities. Residents can also speak directly to their federal Member of Parliament in support of One Cent NOW! and help the City take the next step in securing the future success of Ottawa.

Currently, cities have limited financial tools to meet the escalating costs in the funding and delivery of programs and services and do not have sustainable long-term funding that grows in relation to the economy. Cities require access to these types of growth revenues to fund services and programs and to maintain and build the infrastructure required to support healthy economies and cities.

Water Efficiency Kit Distribution

Indoor water efficiency kits are now available free-of-charge through the city's Client Service Centres. The kits include: one water efficiency showerhead, two low-flow bathroom aerators, one low-flow kitchen aerator, and a toilet tank bank that displaces water to reduce the volume of water per flush. The kits include easy-to-follow, do-it-yourself installation instructions and will help residents reduce water consumption year-round and save money.

The kits are one component of the City's 2007 Water Wise campaign, which encourages residents to use water more efficiently. Using water wisely reduces waste and the costs associated with processing and distributing safe drinking water, and treating wastewater. It also generates savings for homeowners and the City by prolonging the life of Ottawa's infrastructure.

To receive your free kit, you must visit one of the City's seven Client Service Centres, complete a registration form, and provide a piece of identification confirming your address such as your water or municipal tax bill.

For more information visit Ottawa.ca/waterwise or call my office at 613-580-2486.

Ottawa-Carleton Ultimate Association - Fall Registration

The Ottawa-Carleton Ultimate Association is currently holding registration for their Fall Youth League. If you know of anyone who might be interested in Ultimate Frisbee, they can visit the following website to learn more: http://www.ocua.ca/node/8307.

Fall 2007-Winter 2008 Public Skating Schedule Changes

It is important to note that for the 2007 fall session, the City's weekly hours of public skating remain unchanged from the 2006-07 season. The third week of January, when the canal and outdoor rinks are expected to be in operation, the weekly hours of public skating will decrease based on changes to public skates at the Brewer and McNabb Arenas.

Below is a summary of the changes to the Fall 2007/Winter 2008 Public Skating Schedule affecting skating arenas in our community.

"Public Skating" sessions offered Saturday 7:00 p.m. and Sunday 2:00 p.m. at Brewer Arena, and Monday 4:00 p.m., Friday 4:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:00 p.m. at McNabb Arena, will terminate the second week of January.

Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP)

This summer, the City of Ottawa's Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP), through its Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), emphasized mutual responsibility and respect of traffic laws for all road users - motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. July's emphasis was on pedestrian safety and also focussed on unsafe lane changing. August's emphasis was on cycling safety and also focussed on motorists following vehicles ahead too closely.

In July, STEP, handed out hundreds of information pamphlets titled "A Helping Hand For Pedestrians" at Ottawa's higher-risk intersections for vehicle/pedestrian collisions.

The enforcement component included 20 charges laid against both pedestrians and motorists -pedestrians for disobeying "Don't Walk" signals and failing to use crosswalks and drivers for failing to yield to pedestrians. The second STEP priority for July, unsafe lane changing, resulted in the laying of 106 charges.

This month the emphasis is on motorists who violate school bus traffic controls and fail to stop for red lights.

I will follow up with the results of August's initiative in my October report.