Requests for bylaw services in River Ward increased by 6% in 2005 over 2004. Following are some of the more notable statistics:
| Service Request | Number of Calls |
|---|---|
| Parking | 995 |
| Animals | 559 |
| Noise | 524 |
| Property Standards | 332 |
I am pleased to bring to bring to the attention of Hunt Club residents an upcoming
Household Hazardous Waste Depot, to dispose of any corrosive, flammable or poisonous
waste.
Date: Saturday, May 6,2006
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: The Natural Resources Canada Parking Lot, between 405 Rochester and
550 Booth Street
Waste oil can be brought back to a "Take it Back!" partner retailer. I have left copies of the "Take It Back" brochure at the Hunt Club Riverside Community Centre for your convenience. Please pick one up on your next visit.
As you know, since it inception two years ago, I have strongly supported this annual campaign which aims to reduce traffic fatalities or serious injuries and to raise awareness on road safety. As you know, every month two areas are targeted for concentrated enforcement. In May 2006, the Selected Traffic Enforcement Program is focussing on Stop Sign Violations and Speeding. A supplementary campaign, "Speeding Costs You", targeting speeding on arterial roads, is also being carried out in May 2006. A zero-tolerance enforcement approach being taken on certain roads, such as Hunt Club, Bronson, Bank, Baseline, throughout the City. Temporary signs indicating "Speeding? Zero Tolerance!" and radar trailers will be put in place on these roads the week prior to the scheduled enforcement. I encourage drivers to observe the posted speed limits. Remember that the speed limit on unposted roadways, such as our local residential streets, is 50KM.
To address the high incidence of collisions at this intersection, police enforcement activity will focus on this location over the next several months. To assist in enforcement, the Police have asked the City to adjust the level of the speed limit on Riverside Drive/River Road on the approaches to Hunt Club Road to determine if this change will affect the speed of traffic, particularly in the southbound lanes.
Therefore the 60 km/h speed limit is being extended southerly to a point 450 m north of Limebank Road on a temporary basis over the next several months to determine if this action succeeds in assisting the Police in their enforcement of driver activity and reduces collisions. This will replace the currently posted 80 km/h speed limit on an interim basis. Once the data is analysed, the City will conduct a speed zone review of River Road and Riverside Drive between Limebank Road and the CNR overpass south of Leopolds Drive to determine a speed limit appropriate for this roadway.
The Superintendent of East Division has advised me of the top five neighbourhood concerns identified in the 2006 Public Survey. Please note that these are preliminary figures as the survey results are currently being tabulated and analysed.
My Community Safety and Crime Prevention Meeting held at the Hunt Club Riverside Community Centre on Monday, April 3, 2006 was a great success. Residents tell me that these face-to-face discussions with the Ottawa Police and others involved in keeping our communities safe and secure are worthwhile. I look forward to having more of these types of meetings in the future.
I received positive feedback after the meeting from residents who attended the April 3, 2006 meeting. I am pleased I invited staff from Education and Prevention Services of the Ottawa Fire Department to this meeting. Several residents who were in attendance mentioned to me after the meeting that the presentation and information presented relative to the new smoke alarm legislation was a great reminder for us to think about fire safety in their own homes.
As you may be aware from my Spring 2006 "Green" Report to River Ward residents, I am hosting two free seminars on caring for your lawn using organic methods. I am pleased to invite River Ward residents to attend. Pre-registration is required. Please call my office at 580-2486 to register.
| Date: | Thursday, May 18, 2006 | Tuesday, May 23, 2006 |
| Time: | 7:00-9:00 p.m. | 7:00-9:00 p.m. |
| Location: | Carleton Heights Community Centre | Hunt Club Riverside Community Centre |
| 1665 Apeldoorn Avenue | 3320 Paul Anka Drive |
I am pleased to advise Hunt Club residents that I moved a motion at the Emergency and Protective Services Committee meeting on April 13, 2006, which was carried at the City Council meeting on April 26, 2006. The motion calls on the provincial government to review Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Act to ensure that fire fighters and their families receive fair and timely compensation for illness or disease that is attributable to their work as firefighters.
In spite of advancements in protective gear, firefighters absorb chemicals continually when saturated with water, steam and moisture. Studies have shown that firefighters are 2 to 4 times more at risk of developing cancers compared to the general population. Some provinces have recognized this and amended their Workers Compensation legislation to include a presumption that, for identified types of cancer in firefighters, the disease is attributable to work as a firefighter. I feel strongly that our City of Ottawa firelighters should be covered by like presumptive legislation. Recently, we lost two firelighters to cancer at a young age. Every time they respond to a fire, the men and women in Ottawa Fire Services risk their lives in order to save the life of another.
The new City of Ottawa collection calendar for recycling and garbage is now available. The calendar is currently being delivered to all households through Canada Post and should be in your mailbox by the end of May. The collection calendar lets you know which week to set out your blue box, black box, leaf and yard waste, and Christmas tree, and includes the dates and locations of household hazardous waste one-day depots.
As Chair of OCHC, I was pleased to announce on April 26, 2006 that eight (8) full time and additional part-time Community Safety Officers were hired to patrol and respond to safety and security needs in OCHC communities. These Community Safety Officers were hired after extensive consultation with tenants, community partners, and Ottawa Police Services. They are an important component of the Corporation's Safer Communities Initiative launched by OCHC in spring of 2005, which also includes the establishment of a 24/7 Call Centre and hiring of Community Development Managers to provide support to OCHC communities.
City Council invested in residents' civic pride with a Green Partnership Pilot Program that will see the City partner with the community in the cleaning, greening and beautification of Ottawa. The program will encourage the renewal of existing community group partnerships with the City and forge new partnerships with civic-minded community groups, non-profit agencies, and local businesses.
The funding will assist partners to plan and undertake cleaning and greening projects in their communities and to beautify or help sustain public open spaces. Included in this program is funding for major Hallmark projects to partner with communities to showcase City lands which may involve professional design assistance, community engagement and workshops, and ecological restoration and design that enhances the long term diversity and sustainability of a site.
Grant requests must be matched by equal community contribution on a dollar per dollar basis or through provision of in-kind services. Council approved $1 million for this pilot project during the 2006 budget deliberations. Council adopted a funding framework to ensure sound management for funding allocations.
Council approved the Ottawa Farmers' Market Association pilot project to help develop a "producer based farmers' market" at Lansdowne Park. The Ottawa Farmers' Market will support the marketing and consumption of Ottawa region farm produce and will fulfill a demand by consumers in Ottawa to buy from Ottawa area producers. The Market will be held on Sundays from July 2 to October 29.
On April 26, 2006, City Council approved the development of a policy for street design and right-of-way lighting that will ultimately result in safer, more attractive and increasingly functional streets and neighbourhoods. Council approved the terms of reference for the new policy, which set out a fair and inclusive process for establishing city-wide standards for street lighting and design. Through this process the City will be looking at industry best practices, holding stakeholder and public consultations and taking into consideration the unique characteristics of the city's urban, suburban and rural areas and villages. The development of this new policy will also provide avenues for cost savings through the standardization of equipment and the reduction in the variety of inventory required by the City.
With mosquito season around the corner, the City confirmed its commitment today to continue West Nile virus surveillance, monitoring and protection. Public education will focus on personal protective measures and reduction of mosquito breeding sites. The City will continue to test and apply a biological larvicide as needed on surface waters i.e. ditches, storm water management ponds) as well as chemical larvicide as needed in non-surface waters (i.e., catch basins of roadside storm sewers) and in sewage lagoons. These are the same measures the City has taken over the past four years to prevent this disease.
The Ottawa South Neighbourhood Watch recently provided some home and property safety tips, prepared by the Ottawa South Community Police Centre, which I would like to share with all Hunt Club residents.
Home Safety
It is understandable that during these warmer days, we all want to air out our residences by opening our windows and doors. But, keep in mind that your family's security must come first. Always, keep your windows and doors closed and properly locked when you are not at home and even here the point of entry was through an opened window or door. If you possess a security system for you house, do not rely entirely on it. Criminals have ways to by-pass some alarms and know they have time to quickly break-in, steal property and run out before the alarm company contacts authorities. Money can be better spent on secure doors, windows, locks and proper motion lights. When leaving on holidays, remember to notify your neighbours; have your mail regularly picked-up and ask someone to park in your driveway. Make an effort to join or start up a Neighbourhood Watch in your community. For a free Home Security Inspection and for Neighbourhood Watch information, contact your Community Police Center.
Property Safety
Spring is the time we all bring out the kids' toys, BBQ's and other home/garden gadgets. Remember "Out of Sight, Out of Mind". Educate your children to put away their bicycles, skateboards, sports equipment and toys. Do not leave your garage and/or shed doors open for long periods of time. Hide your ladders, rakes, tools...so they cannot be BBQs... Don't advertise your belongings and lure potential thieves. The same goes for your motor vehicles. To prevent crimes of opportunity, keep any packages, cell phones, briefcases, CD's, loose change out of sight and make sure your car windows and doors are kept closed and locked when unattended. A car alarm is good to have, but a cheaper way to deter vehicle theft is a steering wheel locking device. To protect your valuables, have them engraved with your driver's license or telephone number. To borrow an engraver and receive an Operation Identification police window sticker, attend your Community Police Center.
Children Safety
As we all enjoy the warmer weather, please keep safety in mind. Teach your children the "Buddy System"; never have your children go out alone. Always have them go and play with at least one friend and/or family member. Explain to your children the difference between "Good & Bad Strangers"; a mall store clerk, a security guard, a letter carrier, a police officer...are all good strangers. Educate your children on the proper use of the "9.1.1. System"; it is not a toy to play with; Police often attend 911 prank calls when they could be needed for real serious emergencies. Create a "Family Password" that only your family knows in case someone has to go pick up your child somewhere; the password will confirm that the person is truly acting on behalf of a parent. Change the password often. If you attach your children's names and telephone numbers to their clothing, make sure they are affixed to the inside of their clothing and not seen by the public; children feel safer if they are called by their names and may follow that person. Teach your children about "Road & Bicycle Safety"; encourage them to wear safety equipment including a well-fitted helmet and to obey all rules of the road. All Community Police Centers offer Child Print; a booklet containing your child's fingerprints and all relevant information and description; this booklet is kept by the family to keep in case the child goes missing. It is also a good way for children to interact with the Police.
Personal Safety
With the longer, warmer days, we all enjoy outdoor activities. When walking or jogging, stay in a familiar area; tell someone where you are going, carry a cellular telephone and also use the buddy system. Always be aware of your surroundings. When leaving the house for work or shopping, only carry with you the items you will need; do not carry a large amount of cash and/or credit cards; never carry your birth certificate or your social insurance card; if these are stolen, criminals can easily duplicate your identity and commit fraud under your name. As for your debit cards, regularly change you Personal Identification Number (PIN), never give it to anyone and always cover your hand while you are entering your number at an ATM and/or a debit machine. Following some or all of these safety tips will help you and your family be less of a crime target. For further Crime Prevention information, call or stop into your neighbourhood Community Police Center. Check the red pages in your phonebook and/or click on our website at www.ottawapolice.ca for more information."
Our Community Police Center officers are Constable Len Vaz, telephone 236-1222, Ext.
5842, and Constable Mark Cartwright, telephone 236-1222, Ext. 5843.
Please note the following telephone numbers to report suspicious and criminal activities:
911 Life-threatening emergencies and crimes in progress
230-6211 Other emergencies
236-1222 Police Reports and administrative matters