Friday, October 19, 2007, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Hunt Club/Riverside Community Centre,
3320 Paul Anka Drive (corner of Paul Anka Drive & McCarthy Road).
Entertainment, Refreshments and Snacks, Door Prizes, Seniors Information Table.
Please call my office at 613-580-2486 by October 15, 2007 to reserve
your FREE ticket(s).
The work consisted of a "micro-surfacing" type upgrade. This involves adding a specially formulated thin layer on the existing surface to fill-in all the cracks and adjust minor surface defects producing a new wearing surface, thus extending the life of the pavement for few more years. It also provides good value when compared to a complete asphalt overlay ( 40 % of the cost of an asphalt overlay) and is designed to provide better skid resistance. The work was carried out over 3 weekends in August and September of this year. In August, the contractor applied the " scratch" coat, and on the second and third phases in September, the final " micro-surfacing " was applied. This approach is a very cost effective method to improve the skid resistance of the driving surface and to seal the cracks to prevent moisture from penetrating the road base.
The City is looking for public input into updated Official Plan, Transportation Master Plan and Infrastructure Master Plan In 2009, the City will update several key long-term planning documents including the Official Plan, Transportation Master Plan, and Infrastructure Master Plan. Council has approved a four-stage plan to obtain public input as part of the updating process.
Stage 1, from April to September 2007, will inform residents and businesses that the reviews were underway. During this time, reports went to Standing Committees; meetings were arranged with Advisory Committees (to be held in September); community-based working groups on rural policy issues developed Discussion Papers; and interest-based mailing lists were established. An e-newsletter will soon be distributed to community associations, the development community, business associations and others. Once final event dates are established, articles will run in local papers.
Stage 2, from September to December 2007, will engage Councillors and the community in debate on the most important issues for which staff needs direction. During this time, revised growth projections will be tabled for public review and Council will finalize them; White Papers identifying issues and options on a variety of key issues will be released for public review and feedback; Background Papers will provide more information; Rural Discussion Papers prepared by the community-based working groups will be available for review; a number of community events will be held; and information will continue to be made available on ottawa.ca and through local media. A new transportation vision is also planned to be submitted to Committee after Council considers the staff report on the Urbandale transit proposal.
Stage 3, from January to September 2008, will see the City propose policy directions based on input received during Stage 2, substantiate the policy directions with background information, and get further input on the proposals. During this time, a public workshop on Future Urban Growth Scenarios will be held; initial recommended directions will be provided on the Urban Development Strategy, Rural Settlement Strategy, Environmental Review, Infrastructure Master Plan and Transportation Vision; ongoing discussions will be held with stakeholder groups; and information will continue to be added to ottawa.ca
Stage 4, from October 2008 to February 2009, will solicit input on a draft Official Plan amendment. During this time, a draft Official Plan Amendment, draft Transportation Master Plan and draft Infrastructure Master Plan will be tabled at Committee and Council; more meetings will be held with stakeholder groups to explain the changes to the plans and receive public input; and Council will adopt the final Official Plan Amendment and updated Transportation Master Plan and Infrastructure Master Plan.
Full details of the program can be found on ottawa.ca.
City Council passed a new Drainage By-law giving the City authority to take remedial action if an alteration or obstruction of drainage on a private property affects neighbouring property, or public health and safety. Implementation of new by-law will be phased in as staff are put in place to implement the by-law. Public education material will be developed outlining the purpose and importance of proper drainage of private property and a homeowner's responsibility for ensuring that it is not affected by landscaping, garden sheds, pools, etc. This information will be made available to new home buyers, real estate agents and lawyers, and landscape and pool installation contractors.
Council has asked City staff to review a proposal submitted by Ottawa land developer Urbandale entitled "An Affordable Solution for Rapid Transit in Ottawa" and report back to a joint meeting of Transportation and Transit Committees in October 2007 on the appropriateness of the corridors, recommendations on modifications of the corridors, and a timetable to undertake any additional or modifications of studies to implement such a network.
After review of the Urbandale proposal, Council will decide which priority transit projects will be implemented in the near future. The City will then also seek funding from both federal and provincial governments for approved projects.
Council has voted to proceed with a number of Environmental Assessment studies, including:
Studies for other transit and transportation projects will be reassessed after the Transportation Master Plan is updated in 2008.
A feasibility/value engineering study will also be undertaken by year-end to determine the most co-effective solution for the Woodroffe to Pinecrest section of the West Transitway extension.
The City launched its latest "waterwise" initiative - the Toilet Replacement Program - that will provide homeowners with a rebate of up to $75 on the purchase of City-approved, water-efficient toilets.
Lists of eligible models and rebate applications are available on the City's Web site at ottawa.ca/waterwise. Funding is limited, and rebates will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Toilet Replacement Program is one of several initiatives approved as part of Council's 10-year Water Efficiency Strategy. In August, the City distributed 2,000 free residential indoor water efficiency kits through its Client Service Centres.
Retrofits are planned for the Ottawa Civic Centre, including the installation of water efficient aerators, showerheads, low-flow toilets, and urinals. Rebates will also be provided for water-efficient retrofits for high-volume industrial, commercial and institutional properties, and residential properties with more than six units. The City's social housing providers will also be provided with 2,500 free indoor water efficiency kits.
For more information on the City's Toilet Replacement Program or its other water efficiency initiatives, please feel free to call my office at 613-580-2486.
As one of its environmental initiatives to improve Ottawa's air quality, the City of Ottawa has officially launched its public education campaign to make drivers aware of the new Idling Control By-law that came into effect on September 1, 2007. The by-law limits idling to three minutes when the temperature is between 5°C and 27°C, including wind chill and humidex. Enforcement begins in January 2008, with a minimum $100 fine.
Reducing idling is one of the measures outlined in the City's Air Quality and Climate Change Action Plan. The plan proposes projects and activities to reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and outlines strategies to deliver on these actions. It also confirms commitments to reduce GHG emissions by 20 per cent from 1990 levels by 2007 for the City as a corporation and by 2012 for Ottawa overall.
Over the next few months, City parking enforcement officers will educate drivers about the new by-law by handing out a fact sheet about the environmental and health-related benefits of stopping idling.
To reduce emissions, residents are encouraged to: