Report to the Hunt Club Community Organization
by Wendy Stewart

March 1, 1999

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  1. 1999 Budget Update

It was after careful deliberation and a great deal of hard work that Regional Council was able to hold the line on taxes in the 1999 budget.

You may recall, that after the payment in lieu issue was resolved, this year’s shortfall remained at $32 million (mainly due to costs associated with services downloaded from the provincial government and increases in the cost of providing services due in part to increased compensation of regional employees). While priority was given to administrative and operational efficiencies, Council was also required to endorse some program and service cuts. These cuts will affect 81 jobs throughout the regional corporation.

At the end of the day, important programs initially slated for reductions were restored, including health programs for seniors, environmental health, postpartum services, and day centres for Homes for the Aged. A proposed reduction of $200,000 to the traffic signal budget was also reinstated. The Ottawa Carleton Regional Police Service operating budget was increased by $1.7 million.

Since 1993, RMOC has absorbed almost $100 million in reductions to major transfer payments and municipal support grants. During these years we have endeavoured to adopt the best practices used in the public and private sectors, while remaining mindful that being a public trustee brings distinct responsibility. We have a duty to manage the public assets (worth billions of dollars) not only by providing cost effective service, but also by ensuring that these services are preserved and enhanced over time. Our infrastructure is valued at more than $1 Billion, and its protection must remain a priority. Policy approaches such as "pay as you go" and "just in time and just enough" help to protect these assets at the lowest possible cost.

I am pleased to report that an attempt to "raid" the Capital Works in Progress Account of $600,000 slated for the ramp at Walkley Road and the Airport Parkway was defeated. However, it was a disappointment that Regional Chair Bob Chiarelli failed to support our community on this important issue, especially now that studies have shown this project will have no negative impact on Glebe communities.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the many residents who took time to contact my office with suggestions, comments and direction during the budget process.

2. Review of OC Transpo

OC Transpo will be holding open houses throughout the Region to get input from residents on the comprehensive review of public transit. Hundreds of hours of research, analysis and planning have resulted in a series of proposals designed to help achieve ridership and efficiency targets.

The service proposal package calls for changes to more than 60 routes in the Region. Highlights of Transplan 99 are:

In the Riverside, Hunt Club, Uplands and Mooney’s Bay area, the following changes are proposed:

A brochure describing all of the proposed changes will be distributed on buses beginning on March 8th. 14 Open Houses are scheduled for between March 22 and March 30. One is on Thursday, March 25, at the Jim Durrell Community Centre on Walkley Road, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. If you would like a listing of all the dates and locations please call my office.

  1. Follow-up – Request for Left-turn Lane, Hunt Club & McCarthy

At the December meeting of the HCCO, I was requested to investigate the possibility of installing left turn phases at the intersection of Hunt Club/McCarthy and Hunt Club/Uplands, with particular concern for eastbound movements. The Regional Traffic Operations Branch has completed a review of this request and reported back as follows:

"Many factors are evaluated in determining the need for left turn arrows at an intersection. They include the accident history for the left turn movement, the existence of a left turn lane, traffic volumes, the effect implementation would have on other traffic using the intersection and how well the left turn traffic is currently being serviced. Under normal circumstances, installation of a left turn signal is only considered when all of the following criteria are satisfied.

1. On average, there are more than two vehicles turning left per cycle in the heaviest hour.

2. The left-turning movement experiences an unacceptable level of service, i.e. more than 50% of the turning vehicles wait through more than one red indication to complete their turn.

3. There is sufficient intersection capacity to provide an acceptable level of service for all other movements after the left turn phase is installed.

A review of left turn traffic volumes indicate that most left turn volumes are less than 2 vehicles per cycle. Field surveys indicate that only the westbound left turn vehicles were not completely serviced during three cycles of the PM peak hour at both intersections. This is well below the second warrant listed above.

A review of the accident history does not indicate a hazardous situation.

Implementing any or all left turn phasing under these conditions would only increase delay to all users of the intersection. We therefore, do not recommend any action at this time, however, we will monitor the area since conditions are still changing in the area due to development and changing traffic patterns on Hunt Club Road, Bridle Path / South Keys and the Airport Parkway area."

4. Update – Action on behalf of South Corridor Working Group

As promised, immediately following the last HCCO/SCWG meeting I requested Ted Robinson, Planning Commissioner at the City of Ottawa, defer the Hunt Club Neighbourhood Plan until our new Councillor can bring the community on-side with confidence that their concerns will be addressed. I have since received a letter from Mayor Watson advising that the plan will not be dealt with until after the by-election.

5. Garbage Collection Day Could Change

In mid-March residents in a number of areas will receive notification that their solid waste collection day will be changed. A pamphlet will be delivered by Canada Post to all affected homes. The new schedule for leaf and yard collection (including details on the alternating blue box – glass, metal, plastic containers and black box – fibre material) will be delivered in late March or early April. In mid-April, the distribution of the black boxes, the second recycling container to over 200,000 households will begin and continue until the third week of May, just in advance of the launch of the new collection program.

  1. Airport Parkway & Hunt Club Ramps – Tree Planting

The final phase of the ramps project, planting trees alongside the ramps to provide privacy for residents backing on the area, has gone to tender. Tree planting will take place as soon as the frost is out of the ground and is expected to be completed by June 1st.

  1. Tree Removal at 4160 Riverside Drive

Transport Canada has directed the airport to have some of the trees on 4160 Riverside Drive removed because they pose a danger to those using the North Field. This is to enhance safety only – the site is not being developed at this time.

  1. Community Environmental Project Grants

Once again the RMOC is making funding available to (non-profit) community groups who help meet objectives in the areas of solid waste diversion, water efficiency, wastewater, and the water environment. The HCCO has received an application. The deadline to receive proposals is Thursday, April 1, 1999, 4:00 p.m. For more information please call Kevin Kidney, CEPGP Manager at 560-6088 ext 2358.

  1. Free Income Tax Clinics

For seniors, low income earners, unemployed persons, persons with disabilities, across the Region. Appointments made at the Senior Citizen’s Council – 234-0933, phone to find out the most convenient location.

The South East Ottawa Community Health Centre is holding clinics for people on low income (individual income less than $22,000), till March 15. Phone 737-5115 ext 302 for an appointment.

10. Report on Office Budget – 1998 Fiscal Year

In an effort to be absolutely accountable to constituents, a copy of all my office expenditures is tabled tonight with the HCCO and the Hunt Club Riverside News.