River Ward City Councillor Maria McRae's Report to Hunt Club Community Organization 10 January 2010

Happy New Year! It is an honour and a privilege to continue to be your strong voice at City Hall. This term, in addition to City Council, I am serving as Chair of the City's new Environment Committee and will represent you on the newly formed Finance and Economic Development Committee, the new Ottawa Board of Health and the Hydro Ottawa Holdings Inc. Board of Directors. I look forward to continue working with Hunt Club residents and the HCCO to make our community a great place to live.

Airport Parkway Pedestrian and Cycling Bridge: Detailed Design Proceeding Smoothly

The detailed design of the Airport Parkway Pedestrian and Cycling Bridge to link the Hunt Club community to the South-East Transitway is well under way. I was pleased to host a Public Open House on December 7, 2010 to allow you and your neighbours the opportunity to review the design. I am confident that we will create a unique focal point, which will be a spectacular entry to our Nation's Capital. The impressive design is well balanced with safety and mobility in mind, creating a safe pedestrian and cycling friendly connection.

Construction is scheduled to start in the spring of 2011, with completion expected in the fall of 2011, barring any unforeseen circumstances. Thank you to Alan Asselstine who is a member of the Public Working Group. I look forward to continuing working with the HCCO and residents of Hunt Club as we move closer to completing this important project.

New Sidewalk on Riverside Drive

A new sidewalk will be constructed on the east side of Riverside Drive between Hunt Club Road and Uplands Drive. This new sidewalk will increase walkability for residents of Hunt Club and Quinterra-Riverwood by providing pedestrian access to commercial developments along Hunt Club Road. Staff anticipate that construction will begin in June of 2011 and that the sidewalk will be completed by the fall of 2011.

Low-Income Energy Assistance Program

The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is a new year-round, province-wide program available to low-income consumers experiencing difficulty paying their electricity bills. In Ottawa, LEAP is funded by Hydro Ottawa and is administered by the United Way/Centraide in conjunction with the Salvation Army Booth Centre and a network of community in-take agencies. For more information on this program, please contact the Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre at 613-241-1573.

City Rinks Open for the Season

Many of the City of Ottawa's outdoor rinks are now open for use. The City of Ottawa operates rinks at the following locations in Hunt Club: McCarthy Park - 3320 Paul Anka Drive; Owl Park - 185 Owl Drive. Additional City of Ottawa rink locations can be found on the City's website at www.ottawa.ca.

2011 Budget Process

The 2011 budget process will soon be underway. As part of the process, City staff have organized five multi-ward, bilingual consultations across the city. Senior City staff from key departments will be participating and will be available to answer residents' questions. I encourage residents to participate in this important process to help shape the 2012 budget. You are Cordially Invited to Maria McRae's First River Ward Family Day Skate
Family Day - Monday, February 21, 2011: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Jim Durrell Recreation Complex 1264 Walkley Road
Bus Route: 8

This Family Day, please join me, your friends and neighbours for an afternoon of fun filled with plenty of skating, music, delightful snacks, hot drinks and more to make this an enjoyable and memorable event. Skates are optional but smiles are required! Please visit your local community centre to pick up your complimentary ticket(s). As space is limited, tickets are first come, first served.

Snow Go and Snow Go Assist: Helping Seniors and Persons with Disabilities

We all know that Ottawa winters are tricky, messy and cold. On average we receive 235 cm of snow and an increasing amount of rain and freezing rain. Keeping our private driveway and walkways clear of snow and ice is challenging for all of us. The City of Ottawa's Snow Go Program provides a matching service for seniors and persons with disabilities who are looking to hire an individual or contractor to clear snow from private driveways and walkways. Through the Snow Go Assist Program, low-income seniors and persons with disabilities are eligible to apply for financial assistance. If you are interested in these programs, please call my office at 613-580-2486.

Green Bin Program

In less than one year, Ottawa residents helped divert 32,000 tonnes of organic waste from the landfill through the Green Bin Program. To make using your green bin easier this winter, here are some cold weather tips to help prevent material from freezing in the green bin: Over the winter months green bin collection takes place every two weeks. Weekly green bin collection will begin again in April 2011.

City Seeks Public Input for Review of Residential Waste Collection

The City's Environmental Services Department is reviewing residential garbage and recycling collection services and is seeking public input on the different options being considered. The Solid Waste Service Level Review (SLR) is focused on the blue and black box, the Green Bin, as well as garbage (residual waste) collection. The City's Yellow Bag Program for small businesses, Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and the Take it Back! program will also be examined.

This review will determine if any changes to waste collection programs are needed. As Chair of the City's Environment Committee, I encourage you to complete the questionnaire at www.ottawa.ca/wastereview and attend one of the public consultations. Your input and feedback is important and will inform how the city will collect your garbage, recycling and green bin.

Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP)

November Results: Red light running was the-dominant charge laid in the City's Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) in November - accounting for 353 of the 407 total charges laid. The other two focus areas resulted in a total of 52 charges - 18 for the improper use of Reserved Transit Lanes and 36 for travelling the wrong way on roadways.

December Initiative: Impaired driving and speeding were on the City's Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) radar in December. The Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP) teamed up with the CAA North & East Ontario to deliver additional R.I.D.E. checkpoints during the festive season.

In 2009, 381 impaired driving-related collisions occurred on Ottawa roads - resulting in nine deaths and 175 injuries, 22 of them serious. Of the motorists who were charged with impaired driving, 84 per cent were male and 36 per cent were between the ages of 17 and 25. Speeding is also a serious issue on Ottawa roads. In 2009, speeding or driving too fast for road and weather conditions resulted in 3,454 reportable collisions. These collisions resulted in 15 deaths and 1,002 injuries - including 43 serious injuries. The speeding initiative is part of a larger IRSP public awareness and enforcement campaign entitled "Speeding Costs You."

January Initiative: The City of Ottawa's Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) is ringing in the New Year with a crackdown on tailgaters and stop sign runners. In 2009, tailgating caused 4,973 rear-end collisions - the most frequent type of collision accounting for one-third of Ottawa's total collisions. These collisions resulted in one death and 1,373 injuries - 17 of them life-threatening. Disobeying stop signs - including rolling stops - is also a serious issue on Ottawa roads. In 2009, 1,667 collisions at stop sign-controlled intersections resulted in one death and 462 injuries - 17 of them life-threatening.