Regional Councillor Wendy Stewart's

January 2000

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The majority of urban Ottawa-Carleton taxpayers will see a reduction of $46.00 in their regional property taxes (based on a home valued at $150,000) – which amounts to a decrease in the regional tax requirement of over $9 million. The tax cut was made possible in part by funding provided by the Province of Ontario in its decision to restore 50/50 funding for public health and ambulance costs.

The 2000 Budget also protects and enhances social and health programs. Funds will go to help implement recommendations from the task force on poverty, to assist community agencies, childcare, social housing, public health and ambulance services. The budget also confirms our ongoing debt management strategy and our pay-as-you-go policies, with debt decreasing by $24 million and reserves increasing by $11 million. There will be no increases in the water and sewer rates.

Ottawa-Carleton Police Services budget of $131.9 million (an increase of $5.8 million - operating) was also approved.

The OC Transpo operating budget for 2000 is $198.7 million. It was built on the assumption that ridership will grow by 3% this year, building on the 5% growth in 1999 – consistent with long term ridership growth plans and our desire to provide transit service that will decrease congestion without a massive road rebuilding program.

Para Transpo’s approved budget is $16.4 million, which includes an additional $240,000 that will yield 13,000 more trips over 1999 service. Para Transpo will also complete an eligibility review by summer that should free up some service for customers who cannot use regular buses.

On December 22, 1999, Bill 25 received Royal Assent and has therefore come into force, although none of the companion regulations have been released at this time (separate pieces of legislation may be introduced this year to deal with outstanding matters). I am reporting with some detail due to the importance of this material.

The New City:

The new city comes into existence on January 1, 2001. It will comprise the geographic area that falls under the jurisdiction of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton on December 31, 2000. City Council will be composed of a mayor elected at large and one councillor for each of the 20 city wards. The term of the new Council will begin on January 1, 2001. The new city will stand in the place of the 12 dissolved municipalities for all purposes. Anyone who is an employee of one of the 12 municipalities on December 31, 2000 is entitled to be an employee of the new city on January 1, 2001. The Bill also provides that all assets and liabilities of the existing 12 municipalities on December 31, 2000 become the assets and liabilities of the new city on January 1, 2001.

Bill 25 continues the existence of a Police Services Board under the name "Ottawa Police Services Board" and "Commission des services policiers d’Ottawa", and deems it to have an increase in Board membership to seven members. This continues the current size and composition of the Police Services Board.

All existing public library boards are to be dissolved on January 1, 2001 and replaced by a single public library board for the new city. By-laws and resolutions of the existing library boards will continue to be in force for the area to which they applied on December 31, 2000 until such time as they expire or are amended or repealed by the new board.

The municipal public utility commissions are dissolved on January 1, 2001 with all of their assets and liabilities, registrations, contractual benefits and obligations transferred to the new city. No other statutory direction is offered in Bill 25 with regard to the structuring of a municipal utility under the new city.

Bill 25 also dissolves the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Transit Commission on January 1, 2001. All Commission assets, liabilities, contractual obligations, interests and approvals become those of the new city. Under the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton Act, the existing Transit Commission enjoys an exclusive franchise. Bill 25 does not repeat the exclusive franchise wording found in the RMOC Act, however, the New City will be able to enact a by-law pursuant to paragraph 210 § 104 of the Municipal Act to maintain an exclusive right to operate buses within the municipality. This right is subject to the right of schools and school boards to provide transportation for pupils.

All other local boards are continued as local boards of the new city on January 1, 2001 until such time as they are merged. In particular, the new city will have all of the rights and powers of a Board of Health.

Bill 25 contains a number of provisions relating the financial powers of the new city. Beginning in 2001, City Council designate as a "special service", a service that is not provided throughout the city or is provided at different levels. Subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Bill, the new city shall levy a special local levy on the area receiving the "special service".

Consistent with powers granted under the City of Toronto Act (2), Bill 25 also permits an increase or decrease in tax rates to reflect the assets or liabilities of a municipality on December 31, 2000. Assets are defined as reserves, reserve funds and such other assets as may be prescribed by regulation while liabilities include debts and such other liabilities as may be set out in regulation. The power to pass a by-law under this provision expires at the end of 2008.

In order to finance the supply and distribution of water, fire protection, public transportation, street lighting and the collection and disposal of garbage, the new city may establish one or more municipal service areas and levy one or more special levies. The new city may have different levies in different service areas on whatever basis the city considers relevant. The Provincial Government retains the power, until the end of 2004, to dictate by regulation how and with respect to what services the new city may exercise both its special service and municipal service area taxing powers described above.

The Transition Board will come into existence in accordance with regulations that will be passed and will be dissolved on January 31, 2001 unless the term is extended by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The Regional Corporation is required to pay the expenses of the Transition Board in 2000 (s.28) while the new city must pay the Board’s 2001 expenses. The Transition Board size and membership will also be established by regulation. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing may designate the Board Chair.

The Minister will establish by regulation such Transition Board matters as:

• remuneration and expenses,
• powers and duties,
• deeming the Board to be a municipality, and
• authorizing the Board to issue guidelines.

Bill 25 authorizes the Transition Board to facilitate the transition from the old municipalities. In addition, the Board may hire its own staff, arrange facilities and retain expert services. The Transition Board also has the power to require that an employee of an existing municipality or local board be seconded to work for the Transition Board.

The Transition Board may establish key aspects of the new city’s organizational structure and hire both the municipal officers required by statute and any employees of executive rank deemed necessary. The new city is bound by the employment contract negotiated by the Board.

During the Board’s term it has broad powers to obtain information from any of the existing municipalities. These powers include the right to require reports that:

• identify assets and liabilities,
• name employees, titles, remuneration and terms of employment,
• list entities, including local boards established or funded by the municipality,
• list all entities to which the municipality has the power to make appointments, and
• provide any other information, records or documents deemed relevant to the functions of the Transition Board.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing may make regulations prohibiting any of the exiting 12 municipalities from exercising a power:

• specified in the regulation,
• without first obtaining Transition Board approval, or
• unless done in accordance with the regulation or Transition Board guidelines.

Bill 25 contains broad authority for the Minister to make regulations setting out powers, duties and restrictions for both the Transition Board and the new city. This regulatory power also includes the ability to establish wards and to require a question be submitted to the electors of all or any part of the municipal area.

The information set out above provides only a cursory overview of Bill 25. The legislation includes provisions in such areas as the handling of the 2000 election and collective bargaining before January 1, 2001. If you would like to receive a comparison of Special Advisor Shortliffe’s recommendations with Bill 25, please let me know.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has authorized the disposal, at Fair Market Value, of their property at McCarthy and Cahill (address: part of Lots 4 & 5, Concession 3 Rideau Front, Ottawa). The site is 19 acres and is presently vacant.

If the Board does not receive any offers in 90 days from preferred organizations (other school boards, municipalities etc) it may offer the property at fair market value to any other body or person.

4. Traffic Calming Measures Evaluation Study

The City and Region have implemented a number of traffic calming measures in recent years as pilot projects. A joint evaluation study is being planned to evaluate these measures from a technical, safety, environmental, community, and economic cost/benefit perspective. The results of the evaluation will assist in the development of a traffic calming policy for the new city.

Synectics Consulting Inc., a consulting firm retained for the study, will conduct consultation with a variety of roadway users including cyclists, pedestrians, and commuters in addition to technical agencies such as police and fire departments, ambulance, transit, and roadway operations.

The long awaited Guidelines for Retrofitting Noise Mitigation Along Regional Transportation System has been released and will be considered by Transportation Committee on January 19^th. Please let me know if you would like a copy of the document. Transportation Committee will also consider the changes to Noise Barrier Design Standards at that meeting.

1. Friendship Windmill: Hog’s Back Marina; current status - no application as yet received. (Proposal at this location would require amendments to both City of Ottawa and RMOC Official Plans).
1. Fine’s Flowers/Tubman Funeral Home Proposal: 3600 Riverside Drive (Quinterra); current status - re-zoning before City of Ottawa Planning and Economic Development Committee on January 11, 2000 at 9:15 a.m., staff report in favour of re-zoning to allow funeral home, based on location, compatibility with existing residential uses, traffic and parking. (Regional staff did not raise any objections in commenting on the re-zoning proposal since the area is designated General Urban in the Regional Official Plan and there are no specific policies prohibiting this use.)
1. Redevelopment/Fast Food Restaurant: corner of Fisher and Meadowlands (1530 Fisher); current status - re-zoning before City of Ottawa Planning and Economic Development Committee on January 11, 2000 at 9:15 a.m.; City staff report recommends re-zoning from Residential Area-Medium Density to Shopping Area-Minor Density to permit a commercial plaza, but is opposed to fast food drive-thru component due to traffic, noise, odours, signage and garbage associated with this particular use. Report also recommends a Local Commercial Subzone which would allow a full service or take out restaurant (as opposed to fast-food), and a specific exception to allow for an automated teller and day care uses.
1. Medical Centre/Hyperbaric Chamber: Bank at Vancouver; current status - oxygen tank constructed without proper zoning in place, revised site plan and variance necessary.
1. Central Park/Ashcroft/Clyde Avenue Holdings: Merivale Road; current status -

1. Clyde Avenue Holding Inc. application -- OMB pre-hearing scheduled on February 1^st at Ottawa City Hall
2. Both City & Region approve progress on Stormwater Management Facility (based on agreement to comply with interim and final measures by June 30, 2000 or have Letter of Credit deposited in RMOC account) and lift Inhibiting Order to allow Ashcroft to obtain building permits for up to 500 dwelling units.)

6. Express Hotel/Airport: Hunt Club Road and Royal Route; current status - proposal to construct a 3 story, 84 unit hotel - targeted approval date by Director of Planning, City of Ottawa, February 21, 2000.
1. Botanical Garden: Central Experimental Farm; current status - Ottawa Botanical Garden Society proposal currently before the Friends of the Farm Advisory Group.

It is my intention to give regular updates on these and other planning and development proposals that come to my attention until their eventual resolution. Please let me know if you would like more information on any proposal, or to be notified if a particular item comes up for consideration at the City or Region before I can update this report.