Regional Councillor Wendy Stewart's

November 1, 1999

As requested, representatives from the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Police Service are in attendance this evening to answer your questions on problems with traffic, youth, break and enters, and assaults in the area.

A warm welcome to OCRPS new Superintendent for East Division, Lynda Smith, as well as Inspector Terry Friday from District 33 and Staff Sergeant Gary Shortell. There will be a short presentation on the new District Policing model and then an opportunity to address community concerns.

The Friendship Windmill Corporation is holding a public meeting on November 15^th at the Riverside United Church (3191 Riverside Drive) at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the proposed location at Hog’s Back Marina.

Please plan on attending if you have questions or concerns regarding this site for the 10 story structure.

The HCCO made an inquiry at the last meeting on the status of the 87 acre site on the Rideau River adjacent to the Ottawa International Airport. This land was recently purchased by the Region to protect future 24 hour airport operations (by eliminating the residential development component).

The preliminary review of the environmental significance of this site has been completed, but a more in depth analysis is underway. At the time it was purchased, the development proposal identified approximately 22 acres as open space essentially located along the Rideau River and ravines which extend into the property from the river. Rolling topography does not lend itself to industrial and commercial uses and so we expect there will be a reduction in development area as a result of that fact.

RMOC has retained the services of an independent planning consultant to provide advice on both environmental issues/opportunities and a land use possibilities. The condition of the woodlands on this property will represent a significant environmental opportunity and a significant development challenge. Re-zoning and amendments to both City and Regional Official Plans will be required. This property will not be marketed until well into the year 2000.

3. Routine Maintenance - Southern Corridor Lands (behind (Southmore Drive)

My office was recently contacted about work that was underway in the vacant lands known as the Southern Corridor, between the Railway Tracks and the Ontario Hydro right-of-way (behind Southmore Drive). On October 28^th bulldozers were reported to be on the site, removing trees and other undergrowth at a rapid pace. Contact was immediately made with staff of the RMOC Environment & Transportation Department and Ontario Hydro.

A permit was obtained to access these lands currently in the ownership of the NCC for the purpose of re-establishing the hydro right-of-way. It has been many years since any trimming of trees or other related work has been carried out by Ontario Hydro in connection with their lines that go through this property. The undergrowth was such that it was impossible to bring trucks or machinery onto the site to carry out any maintenance work. It was for this reason that it was necessary to bring bulldozers onto the site to clear a path to allow vehicles onto the site for regular maintenance of the right-of-way which will be carried out on a more frequent basis in the future. If anyone has further questions, Mr. David Gee of Ontario Hydro would be pleased to hear from you. He can be reached at 794-1875.

On Friday, October 22^nd, the Region of Ottawa-Carleton submitted a written documentation to the Special Advisor on Restructuring, Mr. Glen Shortliffe, entitled, "Building the Best of All Worlds, A New Capital City with Boroughs". The submission provides details on the Capital City With Boroughs model and clearly outlines how each one of the Advisor’s restructuring goals will be met.

The New Capital City would achieve tax savings of $20 million during the first year, $40 million during the second year and $60 million in the third year of the first term of the new Council. One directly elected Council would serve all Ottawa-Carleton residents, eliminating the current confusion over which Councillors are responsible for what services. The number of local politicians would be reduced by at least 65%, depending on the final ward structure selected. In addition, bureaucracy would be reduced by eliminating an initial 500 to 600 positions from duplicated service areas.

A copy of The Capital City Model is available for perusal this evening or can be obtained by contacting my office.

After the community forum in River Ward wrapped up rather lengthy public consultation on this issue, my office also sent in a letter to Mr. Shortliffe supporting one city, accountability, accessibility, efficiency and simplicity.

My letter called his attention to the most recent comprehensive analysis of public priorities (Regional Official Plan Review 1997) in Ottawa-Carleton, which revealed the preservation/restoration of natural systems, protection of greenspace, air and water quality ranked as the single highest value for our residents. In my experience, the overlap and duplication and "turf wars" between our 12 local governments has had a detrimental influence on environmental issues. I asked him to consider, as he deliberates on our governance structure, how much more effectively natural resources can be managed and regulated in a one city structure (in cooperation, of course, with our partners in provincial ministries, conservation authorities and local communities).

In response to a request for assistance in improving landscaping along the west side of Riverside Drive between Hunt Club Road and Nelligan Drive, the Regional Forester, Mr. Craig Huff, has carried out a site inspection in consultation with representatives of the Quinterra community and the City Arborist.

The deciduous trees along Riverside Drive appear to have been planted in accordance with regional guidelines (20 metres apart) and any further plantings would need to be done in a partnership with the community and/or Cognos. In this regard, the mandate of the Region’s Forest Renewal Program is to improve and enhance the existing greenspace in Ottawa-Carleton. Funding is available to community groups with an emphasis on organizations who are prepared to match funding and/or willing to provide in-kind services, such as volunteer labour (watering and maintenance).

All applicants must submit a conceptual design and a project proposal including information as outlined in the "Project Approval Guidelines". Over 16 community associations, condo associations and/or schools have partnered to date with the Region to plant trees across Ottawa-Carleton.

With respect to the Cognos Site Plan and the tree preservation aspects of the proposal, the Regional Forester, Craig Huff, is awaiting receipt of the plans for redevelopment. He has been contacted by the landscape architect for the developer and a site meeting is being planned for the near future. The possibility of retaining any trees on the site will be pursued as well as transplanting existing trees.

Ridership results for the 1^st half of this year (January through June) showed an increase of 3.56 % over the same period of time last year. Between June and September, further growth of 7 % was experienced. (From the summer through September we carried up to 550,000 more riders each month than in 1998.)

This increase is due to growth in the student market and the strongly marketed fare initiatives that have been adopted this year. A major Marketing and Communications program offset ridership loss caused by an unprecedented number of route changes introduced in September.

A warm welcome to the new General Manager of OC Transpo, Mr. Gordon Diamond, who brings with him over eighteen years of experience in aerospace and international transportation operations, mostly in the military, but more recently in the private sector.

7. Big Truck Safety

Truck traffic on Hunt Club Road and Riverside Drive continues to be a matter of concern to area residents, and they are not alone. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement truck traffic in this country is projected to double by the year 2015. Canada-wide statistics are appalling – every 44 minutes someone is injured, and every 15 hours someone is killed, in a big truck collision.

Canadians for Responsible and Safe Highways (CRASH) is the national association that represents public concerns with trucking. Their recently published "Report Card on Big Truck Safety by Province", reports that Ontario allows single semitrailer trucks to carry a heavier load, at a higher risk of rollover, than any other province. Ontario also has an above average safety defect problem, although the provincial government has recently increased resources to deal with this issue.

I am pleased to report that in October Regional Council passed a resolution aimed at improving government trucking policies that negatively affect municipal infrastructure and safety. Specific recommendations include the phase-out of heavy tractor-trailers that do not conform to national safety performance standards, resisting truck industry pressure for longer trucks and increased hours of work for truck drivers, programs to combat truck driver fatigue, and increased truck safety enforcement to protect citizens. We also reminded federal and provincial representatives of their own agreement in 1988 to implement a National Safety Code for trucks.

Residents may have noticed a new pilot project between RMOC and CFRA News Talk Radio to bring you up-to-the-minute reports on traffic tie-ups on area roadways.

The Region’s Traffic Control Centre, where we monitor "real-time" video cameras located at 18 major intersections as well as the 860 signalized intersections located throughout Ottawa-Carleton, has provided these live on-air reports since early October. Two on-air updates are supplied during the morning rush hour, supplemented by off-air information throughout the day.

This project will enable us to give residents immediate up-dates of current traffic conditions in Ottawa-Carleton, and will be expanded to other media in the future.

In order to beautify the entrance to the Nation’s Capital RMOC has planted thirty thousand tulip bulbs for the Spring 2000 bloom. These will naturalize and provide a burst of colour every year in the vicinity of the Brookfield off-ramp.

Want to get involved? Canadian Tulip Festival, Ottawa 2000 and partners will provide individuals and organizations/businesses the opportunity to register their pledge to plant tulip bulbs in the fall of 1999 and 2000 and be eligible to receive a free trip to anywhere in Canada by being placed in the ECO2000 Register. Phone 567-6216.

10. Drop by for a Chat

In an effort to be accessible to as many residents as possible, I have set up another opportunity to talk with residents at the Chapters bookstore in the South Keys Mall (centre aisle area).

If you would like to discuss any concerns or just drop by for a chat, I hope to see you on Monday, November 22^nd, between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.