River Ward City Councillor Maria McRae's Report to Hunt Club Community Organization 6 March 2006

Walkley Road/Bank Street Eastbound Left-Turn Lane

This summer, the City will be undertaking operational improvements at Bank Street and Walkley Road in order to provide a second, westbound left-turn lane. These works will be accommodated by modifying the size and location of the centre median and traffic islands.

Fireside Chats

In addition to reaching out to constituents by holding community meetings, attending public meetings, and communicating by email, letters and phone, I have scheduled several "Fireside Chats" to give River Ward residents additional opportunities to discuss their concerns with me. My Fireside Chats are taking place as follows:

I invite Hunt Club residents to stop by to chat over a cup of coffee or tea. I will advise you of other dates and locations as more Fireside Chats are scheduled.

Community Safety and Crime Prevention

I would like to remind Hunt Club residents about my Community Safety and Crime Prevention Meetings taking place next month:
Date: Monday, April 3, 2006
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Hunt Club Riverside Community Centre 3320 Paul Anka Drive (at McCarthy)

As reported last month, these Town Hall meetings give residents an opportunity to speak directly with officers from East Division of the Ottawa Police Service. They have always been largely attended in the past and I have always received positive comments about the benefits of these face-to-face forums with the Police. These forums provide an excellent opportunity to ask questions, make suggestions, learn how to enhance the security of our own homes, and more.

Note that I have invited Ottawa Fire Services to join me at this Town Hall meeting to answer any questions regarding the new provincial legislation that requires a smoke detector on each level of our homes that came into on March 1, 2006.

Property Tax Collection Dates

The Interim Tax Bills for 2006 were mailed. The interim tax bill is based on 50% of last year's full-year taxes (before special charges). The payment due date is March 16, 2006. Residents are reminded that payments must be received by the City on the due date. A penalty of 1.25% for late payment is added the day following the due date and the first day of each month thereafter.

Property Assessment

The issue of the property assessment process and fairness remains on my horizon. I know firsthand the effect that it has on property owners whose property has increased in value. In this regard, I have written a letter to the Premier of Ontario, M.P.P. Dalton McGuinty, requesting that, further to the review of the report on MPAC by Ombudsman, he establish a Taskforce to study this important issue. The Taskforce should be comprised of provincial and municipal representatives, MPAC officials and members from the business and residential community.

Civic Appreciation Awards

More than 225,000 volunteers are hard at work in every corner of our city. The City requests your assistance in saying thank you to that special volunteer who has touched your life by nominating him or her for a City of Ottawa Civic Appreciation Award.

Volunteers dedicate their time and expertise to make our community a better place to live. Volunteers have a direct impact on many aspects of our day-to-day life, including health, education, social services, arts and culture, sports and recreation, protective services, literacy services and the environment.

If you know someone in your community whose volunteer efforts should be recognized, please fill in a nomination form and send it back before Friday, March 31, 2006, at 4 p.m.

Any adult, youth or senior who willingly volunteers their time and effort to benefit others in the City of Ottawa is eligible for an award. Perhaps it's the person who coaches your child's sports team, volunteers at our community food bank, or gives of their time to helping seniors.

Awards will be presented in the following categories: Citizen of the Year (Youth, Adult and Senior); the Brian Kilrea Coaching Award; Arts and Culture; Recreation and Sports; Education; Environment; Health; Heritage; Humanitarianism; Rural/Agriculture; and Community Activism (Youth, Adult, Senior, Group).

To find out more about the Civic Appreciation Awards or to get a nomination form, please visit the City's website at ottawa.ca or call and leave a message at 580-2624.

The 2006 Civic Appreciation Awards will be presented at a ceremony by invitation in May. The awards are given to recipients who are selected from nominations sent in by residents.

Intersection Controls in Centralla Community

I am pleased to report the installation of Stop Signs at the following intersections in the Centralla community.

In addition, Yield Signs were installed on Columbia Avenue East and West at both entrances to Annapolis Circle.

Integrated Road Safety Program

During the month of March, Ottawa Police Services will be targeting Unsafe and Heavy Vehicles and Following-too-Close. As you know, during the month of February 2006, the Police targeted Red Light Running and Speeding violations. A statistical report will be provided in a future report to the community association.

Riverside Drive/Ridgewood Avenue Intersection

I received a traffic safety concern about drivers running the red light on Riverside at Ridgewood and speeding on Riverside Drive. The combination of red light running, speeding and the fact that northbound drivers approach this intersection uphill, causes very serious concerns for me for the safety of River Ward residents and other citizens who use this intersection to get to Mooney's Bay. Seniors in particular, along with mothers and caregivers with young children in tow, and all pedestrians, need sufficient time to cross Riverside Drive.

On February 17, 2006,1 requested East Division of the Ottawa Police Service to carry out enforcement of traffic light and speeding violations at this location. I am advised by the Police that they attended this location in the evening hours of February 23, 2006, for the span of two hours. 10 Provincial Offence Notices (PON) were issued, most of which were for speeding. The average speed was 68KM; the highest was 93KM. Another 14 PONs were issued on February 27, 2006.

Draft New Comprehensive Zoning By-Law

The Draft New Comprehensive Zoning By-law will be tabled at Planning and Environment Committee on March 28, 2006. Public Hearings on the Draft Zoning By-law will be held by the Planning and Environment Committee at the end of June.

To accommodate expected public interest, the Draft By-law will be available on the City's website commencing April 3, 2006. Public consultation on the Draft Zoning By-law will take place between March 28, 2006 and the date of the Public Hearings. Staff will be setting up thirteen public open houses. I will advise you in this regard as the information becomes available

Outdoor Rink Program

The official outdoor rink season came to a close on February 28, 2006. While community groups operate and maintain the rinks on the City's behalf between December 15th and Feb. 28th (weather permitting) annually, many of them continue to maintain their rinks in March, if the weather permits. On behalf of the community, I would like to thank everyone involved in the Hunt Club outdoor rink program for providing first class rinks in spite of the changeable weather this year that made rink maintenance challenging. Without these volunteers, we would lose this time-honoured Canadian winter tradition.

The trailers are rented on a monthly basis for December, January, and February. Therefore, the electricity will be unhooked in preparation for their removal the week of March 6th.

Spring/Summer Recreation Guide

The new City of Ottawa Spring/Summer 2006 Recreation Guide is now available. The guide can be picked up at your neighbourhood recreation facility, Client Service Centre, library, or participating retail outlets. The city-wide Recreation Guide provides an impressive selection of recreation programs for all ages at affordable prices and convenient locations. City programs are a great way to get active, meet new people and have fun. It's the only Recreation Guide you need!

Registration for Aquatic programs begins March 7th. Registration for all other programs commences March 9, 2006. For a complete listing of sites where you can pick up your Recreation Guide, please visit the City of Ottawa Web site at ottawa.ca.

March Break OC Transpo Service

OC Transpo will operate a reduced service during the school March Break, from March 13 to 17, in response to the reduced demand for service. All school routes numbered in the 600s and supplementary school trips will be cancelled and arrival times may vary on all routes. Service will be reduced slightly on most express (green) and peak period (red) routes and regular routes 2, 3, 14, 84, 85, 86, 95, 99, 111, 116, 129, 148, 149, 172 and 174. O-Train service will be unchanged.

Call 613-560-1000 plus your four-digit stop number for automated schedule information, 24 hours a day, up to six days in advance. For more information, holiday schedules and travel planning, phone 613-741-4390 or visit octranspo.com.