At these public meetings, you will be presented with information and exhibits that describe the key elements of the LPP. City staff and other subject matter experts in green space development, parking and traffic management, finance, and so on, will also be available to receive input from residents and answer any specific questions. You are encouraged to voice your opinions, comments and questions, all of which will be recorded by City staff and incorporated into the final report on the consultations. In so doing, the final consultation report produced will include information and input from all the consultations.
As Chair of the City's Transportation Committee, working with the Chair of the Transit Committee, I have scheduled a Special Joint Meeting of Transportation Committee and Transit Committee Meeting on October 8, 2009 to address Lansdowne Park Partnership Transportation and Transit Strategy. In addition, on October 6, 2009 the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee will meet to address the financial aspects of the Plan.
From September 28 to October 11, 2009, you are encouraged to participate in e-consultations hosted by Nanos Research. You can access e-consultation information and discussion on www.ottawa.ca
For the first time, preliminary budgets will be released to the public in advance of Standing Committee meetings. A budget briefing will be held for Councillors, the media and the public the same day the budget is released. Throughout October and November 2009, Standing Committees will review strategic direction and challenge preliminary budget pressures within their respective operating and capital budgets. In addition, Standing Committees will have an opportunity to:
On November 17, 2009, the Audit, Budget and Finance Committee will review Standing Committee budgets, hear public delegations and table a draft Budget with Council on December 9, 2009. On January 25, 2010, Council will meet as the Committee of the Whole to hear public delegations, debate and finalize the 2010 Budget.
As Chair of the City's Transportation Committee, I am working closely with my committee colleagues to review and challenge the budgets for the departments under my responsibility, with the goal of finding savings for the taxpayer. I am also the Chair of the Audit, Budget and Finance Sub-Committee of the Ottawa Police Services Board, which will allow me the opportunity to work closely with staff from the Ottawa Police Service to find cost saving opportunities.
The Ottawa Police Services Board and Ottawa Public Library Board will undergo separate budget reviews and will present their budgets to Council on December 9, 2009.
Aside from garden and yard waste, the green bin will take all food-related waste, including meat, bones, diary, cooking oils, used kleenex, food-soiled paper products like greasy, cheesy pizza boxes, and more. In fact it can be as simple as replacing the garbage can in your kitchen with the organics kitchen container as kitchen scraps will amount to mostly organic waste.
In order to promote awareness about the Green Bin Program The City has also established a Ground Crew who will knock on each door and help answer any questions that you may have about the program. For more information, please visit www.greenbinottawa.ca.
There will be sufficient vaccine for everyone who wishes to be immunized. The vaccine will initially be distributed to those people with existing health conditions and seniors since they are at greater risk of developing complications from the H1N1 virus.
Ottawa Public Health will launch 9 free seasonal flu clinics over a four-week period for seniors 65 years of age and older. The free clinics start on October 10, 2009. Seniors are asked to bring their Ontario Health card to receive the flu shot.