I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the HCCO Board on a successful year in serving the Hunt Club Community. It is always a pleasure to work with the Board as they do such a wonderful job in representing the Hunt Club community. I look forward to working with you in the next year and wish you the best of luck.
Street lighting:
All the primary power supplies were completed on November 2, 2007.
An application was made to have the provincial electrical inspection
performed by the ESA during the week of November 5, 2007.
Now that the primary cable is installed, an application was made with
Hydro Ottawa on November 7, 2007 to have the padmounts connected to
their grid and energized. This was completed by the end of the third
week of November, 2007.
The commencement of the installation of the 89 poles and fixtures
began the week of Nov 19, 2007 and are scheduled to be fully installed
and operational by December 14, 2007.
Resurfacing:
During the late summer months of 2007 you may have noticed some roadwork
being carried out on the Airport Parkway between Lester Road and
Brookfield Road. This work is part of the City's annual road rehab
program. I ensured that this section of the Airport Parkway was
identified as a priority in the 2007 budget and was included in the
annual road rehabilitation budget.
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 to 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.
Enforcement:
In response to the ongoing construction on the Airport Parkway from
Brookfield Road to the Hunt Club Road ramps, the speed limit has
temporarily decreased from 80 km/h to
60 km/h. To address concerns regarding speeding and aggressive driving,
I requested proactive speeding enforcement.
I am pleased to inform you that as a result of my work with East Division Superintendent Charles Bordeleau, a total of 24 charges were laid on the 3rd, 11th and 30th of October. The Airport Parkway will continue to be monitored for aggressive drivers and other dangerous driving infractions.
I am pleased to announce that the installation of lighting along the = Pattermead pathway is now complete.
The matter of the boundary for the McCarthy Woods Urban Natural Feature (UNA144) was finalized based on an additional study of the ecological relationship between the woodland habitat in McCarthy Woods and the meadow to the west. The two 2006 studies, one commissioned by the City and a second by the NCC recognized that a corridor for wildlife is needed along the railway tracks to the north. The Urban Natural Features Strategy, which sets out the City's intentions for protecting a number of natural areas in the urban area, was approved by City Council on May 9, 2007.
The City endeavors to clarify the greenspace role of undeveloped, publicly owned lands by initiating planning studies on the future use of such lands. In respect of the Southern Corridor, the NCC has been invited by the City to work with us on a planning study for their land west of the Woods. The community will be a partner in the study.
The NCC still has an appeal on the designation of the meadow west of McCarthy Woods. The date of the next OMB pre-hearing on this appeal is December 6, 2007. It is my strong belief that the future of this treasured area should not be determined by an outside body and I will continue to work hard to find a local solution to this local issue
I am pleased to announce that my hard work over the past four years to secure funding to expand the Hunt Club Riverside Community Centre has paid off. $3.415 million has been allocated for expansion of the Centre, and planning is proceeding toward this end. I am collecting suggestions from seniors as to how the new space could be used either for programming or social opportunities for them.
It is with pride, that I announce the long-awaited completion of the Sawmill Creek Constructed Wetland, officially opened on September 27, 2007 with many Hunt Club residents in attendance. This innovative stormwater management facility is over two kilometres in length and serves a catchment area of 1,418 hectares.
The Sawmill Creek Constructed Wetland was built in two phases over three years. It is designed to collect and treat stormwater runoff from three main sources, Sawmill Creek, Cahill Creek and the Plante Drive storm sewer, before it flows into the Rideau River.
The site is designed in three separate pond cells. Each pond has varying depths, shallow as 30cm in areas to foster wetland plants and deep as two meters in other areas. In the wetland section over 1,000 aquatic plants such as cattails, willows and sagebrush have been planted. As stormwater runoff flows through the facility, the sediments and pollutants have a chance to settle out. The treated water is then discharged back into Sawmill Creek. During heavy rains, the constructed wetland can hold up to 190,000 cubic meters of water, enough to fill about 75 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Over the past few weeks and in the coming months I will be working with city staff to plan pedestrian and cyclist pathways and connections to this site in addition to safe access to the site itself.
In February 2007 I met with East Division Supt. Charles Bordeleau to initiate a plan to search for solutions to the annual problem of vehicles, including motorcycles driving at excessive speeds in Ottawa South, including the Heron Road loop and the Confederation Heights area. Given the fact that this activity was affecting the quality of life for Hunt Club residents as well creating safety concerns for pedestrians and other drivers, I strongly endorsed any endeavour to address the problem. Enforcement alone was not solving the issue.
This project involved a series of meetings that included community residents, the RCMP, the NCC, City of Ottawa and local businesses. The workshop group examined the issue and strategized on mechanisms to augment the enforcement component of addressing the problem. I will provide a copy of this report when it is finalized.
On it's meeting of November 28, 2007, City Council passed a motion to allocate any transit funding from either the Provincial or Federal governments, including the recently announced Building Canada Plan, to the following four major transit priorities:
The commencement of these projects is dependent on the completion of associated Environmental Assessments and funding partner concurrence. Over the next few weeks, the City of Ottawa will communicate these priority projects to upper levels of Government. I will provide you with an update as I receive additional information on this topic.
The 2008 Draft City Budget was tabled at the November 14, 2007 City Council Meeting. In addition to the tabling of the budget, I was pleased to co-host a budget consultation to receive input towards the 2008 budget from residents living in River Ward on Thursday, November 15, 2007. I encourage you to review the 2008 Budget, available online at www.ottawa.ca, and provide me with your input. If you wish to address Council, sitting as Committee of the Whole, I encourage you to contact Dawn Whelan by phone, 613-580-2486 x. 21837, or by e-mail, Dawn.Whelan@ottawa.ca, to register.
In 2003, two City departments - Public Works and Services and Ottawa Public Health - and the Ottawa Police Service developed a program that strengthens, and provides a comprehensive approach to promote road safety - the Integrated Road Safety Program. The program goal is to reduce traffic fatalities or serious injuries by 30 per cent by 2010.
Each month since 2004, STEP has been profiling and enforcing two initiatives that target specific traffic safety priorities. These initiatives support larger IRSP public awareness and enforcement campaigns.
I am a strong supporter of this program that targets aggressive drivers who create safety concerns for pedestrians and other drivers due to excessive speeding, red light running, improper lane changes, stop sign violations and other traffic infractions. For example, in 2006, exceeding speed limits or driving too fast for conditions accounted for 2,891 reportable collisions on Ottawa's roads. These collisions caused 916 injuries, 66 of them serious, and 13 deaths.
The monthly step programs are complemented throughout the year by special campaigns. As Chair of the City's Transportation Committee, I kicked off STOP! Spare a Moment. Spare a Life. - a stop sign safety campaign targeting various intersections throughout the City. This campaign used both public education and enforcement to remind motorists and cyclists of proper stop sign practices: stop completely, make eye contact with other intersection users, and proceed safely.
Following the success of Motorcycle Racing Blitzes in 2006, Ottawa
Police carried out several blitzes in 2007 in the south end of the city
with the following results:
y 2, 2007 blitz:
As you may be aware, the province recently passed the new racing and stunt-driving legislation under section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act. This legislation makes it easier for the police to charge persons suspected of engaging in racing or stunt driving (such as speeding more than 50 km/hour above the speed limit, weaving in and out of traffic or motorcycles doing wheelies) and includes the authority to seize the vehicles being driven and suspend drivers licenses at the time of the offence.
Between November 15 and April 1, overnight on-street parking regulations are in effect throughout the city to ensure that in the event of snowfall, City crews are able to keep our streets clear for the safety of motorists, public transit, pedestrians and cyclists.
Between November 15 and April 1, parking is permitted on all Ottawa streets between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m., except when a snowfall of 7 cm or more is forecast by Environment Canada. This includes any forecast for a range of snow more than 7 cm, for example a forecast of 5 to 10 cm of snowfall. Vehicle owners who have a municipal on-street parking permit are exempt from winter overnight parking restrictions.
You can sign up for the City's Winter Parking e-Alerts to receive e-mails each time an overnight parking restriction is in effect. You'll also receive an e-mail if the parking restriction continues over more than one night and when the restriction has been lifted. The service is free and you can unsubscribe at anytime. You can sign up for winter e-Alerts by visiting the following web link ottawa.ca/winterparking. You can also find out if an overnight parking restriction is in effect by checking the City's newsroom at ottawa.ca/newsroom or by calling 3-1-1.
Residents should also keep in mind that snow may be removed from city streets even when no snow is forecast. When daytime or nighttime snow removal operations are planned, temporary "no parking" snow removal signs will be posted before snow removal begins. Vehicle owners are reminded not to park on streets where temporary "no parking" snow removal signs are placed. Vehicles parked during planned snow removal will be ticketed and towed to a nearby street. This restriction applies to all vehicles, including those with on-street parking permits.
The City of Ottawa was chosen to host the 2008 Ontario Summer Games, Ontario's premier multi-sport event and a training ground for future Canada Games participants and Olympians.
The Ontario Summer Games have been held across the province since 1970, providing sports competition for youth between the ages of 11 and 22. The 2008 Ontario Summer Games will involve approximately 3,500 participants (athletes, coaches and officials) from across the province. The Games feature competition in a number of sports including archery, baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, canoeing and kayaking, cycling, field hockey, lacrosse, lawn bowls, rowing, rugby, sailing, shooting, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball, and water skiing.
I hope all residents will join me in extending a warm welcome to all participants, help in showcasing our city's attractions and, while they are here, extend to them our warm and generous River Ward hospitality.
As Chair of the Transportation Committee, I was pleased to launch our 14th Annual Spring Cleaning the Capital Campaign on April 10 this year. As you know, this program encourages our residents to show their community pride and join the City's cleanup efforts by conducting clean up and beautification projects in their neighbourhoods.
Approximately 740 clean-up projects were carried out by 46,247 registered participants! Thanks to everyone in Hunt Club who contributed to this year's successful Spring Cleaning campaign! The 2008 Spring Cleaning the Capital Campaign will take place between April 15 and May 15, 2008.
I also kicked off the 2007 Fall Cleaning the Capital Campaign on September 14, 2007. The Fall campaign was launched at the jewel of Riverside Park - our beautiful Mooney's Bay Beach! This campaign ran from September 15 to October 15, 2007. The numbers are still being tabulated. I will report on the success of this campaign when the results are available.
On October 11, 2007, City Council gave the green light to curbside organics collection. Beginning in March 2009, Ottawa residents will be able to set out green bins on collection day alongside their blue and black boxes and regular garbage. The new Green Bin Program will compost about 100,000 tonnes per year of residential kitchen scraps and other organic materials currently sent to local landfills. The City of Ottawa awarded the contract to Orgaworld Canada Ltd. to process and sell the City's organics.
Items that will go into the green bin include food scraps, meat and dairy products, soiled paper and cardboard, fireplace ash, kitty litter, woodchips, sawdust, and leaf and yard waste. In early 2008, City staff will bring forward a detailed implementation plan with more information about the Green Bin Program. This program benefits the environment and municipal taxpayers by helping delay the need for more landfill capacity, and reducing odour and greenhouse gas emissions from local landfills. Startup costs for the program will be $16.8 million and $13 million per year to operate the program, which equates to $34 per household per year (or $0.65 per week).
Once collected, the organic materials will be taken to a processing plant that will be built just north of the Trail Road Landfill. The plant will be owned and operated by Orgaworld Canada Ltd.
The second city-wide Give-Away Day was held on October 13, 2007 and in some locations carried on into October 14, 2007. This new one-day program, which lets residents place their unwanted household goods at the curb for their neighbours to pick-up for free has proven to be a success. Thank you to Hunt Club residents who helped keep unnecessary items away from our landfills.
The City has taken a leadership role in preventing electronic waste from being discharged into the garbage stream. Two electronic waste depots, held in October 2007, collected electronic equipment that was sent to a non-profit organization where teens and young adults dismantle the equipment, 90% of which is recycled within Canada.
The City of Ottawa wants you to contribute your expertise to one of the City's advisory committees or boards. As a volunteer member, you will provide advice to City Council and staff, and contribute to the development of policies, programs and initiatives that enhance our quality of life.
There are positions available on 16 advisory committees and five boards. So whatever your area of interest - accessibility, arts, heritage and culture, business, local architectural conservation, environmental issues, equity and diversity, French language services, health and social services, local architectural conservation, forests and greenspace, parks and recreation, pedestrian and transit, poverty issues, seniors, roads and cycling, rural issues, and taxi - there is a committee that would benefit from your input. As well, the City is looking for citizens to sit on five boards - Cumberland Heritage Village Museum Board, Ottawa Municipal Campsite Authority, Pineview Municipal Golf Club Board of Management, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and Property Standards.
The City will be holding the following open houses, within close proximity to Hunt Club, between December 4, 2007 and January 9, 2008 where city staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide more information.