From Regional Councillor Wendy Stewart

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Further to my last report on the replacement of the 46 year old Alta Vista elevated storage tank, suggestions have been received by the public and agencies which are now being reviewed by the Steering Committee. Hydraulic modelling is underway, and together with the revised criteria, this will lead to a ranking of the 10 sites that are now being considered for this structure.

One site being considered is the vacant land on McCarthy Road currently owned by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. The City has informed us that it is zoned I1-Minor Institutional, which includes a utility installation as a permitted use. However, the site is designated Residential Area on the City’s Official Plan, Schedule A. The tank would be a non-residential use in a residential area and would therefore be subject to appropriate screening, buffering, physical separation and design measures to reduce any adverse impacts generated by this use on adjacent residential uses.

Additionally, a new site is being studied in the vicinity of Hunt Club Road and Uplands Drive, in the City of Gloucester.

Public open houses are being planned for:

5:00 to 8:00 p.m. both locations

Community associations and residents are invited to submit comments to my office or Mr. Ziad Ghadban, Project Manager, Water Division, RMOC, 951 Clyde Avenue, Ottawa K1Z 5A6. Watch local and daily newspapers for more information on meetings.

Transportation Department staff have prepared a revised report that describes how truck traffic affects various communities in the Walkley Road area. The following consultation is now underway:

• a bilingual form letter briefly explaining the issues sent to each merchant on Bank Street between Heron and Hunt Club - and asking for comment
• a copy of the report and brief explanatory letter sent to each community association that may be impacted, including Heron Road and Hunt Club Road areas, in addition to Walkley/Riverside.
• a copy of the report and explanatory letter to the trucking associations

As soon as feedback is in from these groups, a date will be set for another public meeting at RMOC’s Transportation Committee.

Several complaints have reached my office regarding the use of vehicle retarders (also known as ‘engine brakes’). Vehicle retarders are used to reduce brake wear, which is economically beneficial for the truck owner, but cause increased noise for residential communities adjacent to regional truck routes.

The Transportation Department is currently designing a bilingual sign that requests truck operators to refrain from using engine brakes. These signs will be placed in appropriate locations along Hunt Club Road.

Insofar as enforcement is concerned, there are no provisions in the Highway Traffic Act to prohibit the use of these devices. The only enforcement alternative is to use the applicable area municipality noise by-law, which would have to be enforced by a police officer.

The Region is interested in exploring the concept of land trusts and a public meeting to discuss this issue is scheduled for November 3^rd, 7:30 p.m., in the Colonel By Room at Regional Headquarters.

Land trusts are community-based, non-profit organizations dedicated to finding creative ways to preserve natural features and open space. The new Regional Official Plan, based on Ottawa-Carleton’s community vision, includes the statement "that Ottawa-Carleton will be a model region in preserving, protecting and enhancing a green, lean and healthy natural environment. Policies were incorporated into the Plan that recognize natural environment areas, urban open space, waterfront open space, recreation areas, and the ongoing need to identify areas that are significant to municipalities and residents.

Please let me know if you would like to become involved or require more information on land trusts.

In mid-October, RMOC extended an open invitation for residents to sign up for a tree – and thousands graciously accepted. Homeowners had the opportunity to choose one of five species - sugar maple, red oak, hackberry, Japanese lilac and serviceberry - all they have to do is commit to plant and maintain it. The trees, to be delivered in the spring will be one inch in diameter, approximately 3 metres tall.

Plant for Tomorrow is a three-phase initiative of the RMOC designed to promote a greener region and restore the damage caused by last winter’s ice storm. Phase 1 focussed on a residential tree campaign. Phase 2 will promote forest restoration within the nearly 60 rural communities located throughout Ottawa-Carleton. Phase 3 is designed for our urban communities.

It is still possible for community groups or schools to propose a project and get involved. Volunteers must be prepared to do the work with Regional assistance. Deadline for these groups is December 1^st. Please call my office for more information.

Regional Council has accelerated the introduction of more standard and articulated low-floor buses, a move that will make regular bus service for the disabled and elderly of Ottawa-Carleton more accessible. Low-floor buses accommodate wheelchairs and make it much easier for elderly residents to board, offering those who have previously had to rely on the overburdened Para Transpo, the advantage of regularly scheduled service for the first time.

2. Attendant Card Approved for Para Transpo

OC Transpo’s Attendant Card program has been expanded so that more customers can enjoy the benefits of conventional transit. Previously, Attendant Cards were only accepted on three Communibus routes, but now the Attendant Card will be valid on all OC Transpo routes. Customers who can travel with assistance will have improved flexibility and choices. For more information or to obtain a card call 741-4390.

3. OC Transpo Wins Top Marketing Award

OC Transpo won top honours for its Deep Discount Fare program, which promoted deep-discounted tickets as the fare payment method of choice for occasional riders. The campaign targeted niche markets to encourage existing occasional riders to take the bus more often, and to attract new customers to transit.

The Deep Discount campaign has been very successful to date. This summer, ticket ridership went up by 73 percent year-over-year and overall cash and ticket ridership increased by 2.4 percent.

The 1997 Annual Monitoring Report, the Leachate Treatment and Disposal Option Study, and the Trail Road Landfill Asset Management and Landfill Optimization Study have been recently released

The 1997 Annual Monitoring Report assesses how the Region is managing the two landfill sites. It deals with the operational issues and is submitted to the Ministry of the Environment for review.

The second report deals with our options for managing leachate – an issue of immediate concern for Ottawa-Carleton. Leachate is produced by decaying garbage and rainwater that falls on to the site. In the past year, the Region has undertaken a study of leachate management options including on-site treatment, off-site treatment at the local wastewater treatment plant with shipping whether via truck, or through a specially designed pipeline. The technical review of on-site treatment is now available.

Longer term issues are addressed in the landfill optimization study. This preliminary feasibility study recognized that the Trail Road landfill site is an asset, and that with continued sound management, could serve community needs for many more years.

Current garbage generation rates, along with the operational improvements and waste diversion programs (already implemented) indicate that the Trail Road site could serve residents until the year 2009. There are significant potential advantages from both environmental and financial perspectives to extending the expected life span of the existing site. The study suggests that the Region consider design options such as landfill reclamation, increasing the height over sections of the existing site or increasing the footprint of the existing site. Public consultation on options is underway.

Things appear to be looking up! The Building Owners & Managers Association of Ottawa-Carleton has advised that despite concerns over the dollar, the Asian crisis, the trials and tribulations south of the border, the office market in our region has been perking along at a healthy pace. The overall vacancy rate has declined to just over 8%, down from 15% just two years ago.

According to the Conference Board of Canada, The Ottawa-Hull Region is on the economic comeback trail and poised to overtake booming Calgary and Edmonton in growth as the millennium hits. The National Capital Region suffered a setback in January’s ice storm which shaved 0.2% off its real growth in gross domestic product, but should still manage 3.9% this year after inflation. This translates into 18,000 new jobs, with dramatic growth in the high-tech and communications sector driving the Region’s economic engine. The public sector, which accounts for 40% of the Region’s economy, is also beginning to rebound from severe cutbacks.

The Ontario Provincial Planning Institute has awarded its Outstanding Planning Award in the category of Planning Studies/Report to the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton for its 1997 Official Plan.

10. New Fish Discovered in the Rideau River

The first field season for the Rideau River Biodiversity Project is winding down, but has already made an exciting new discovery in the fish inventory.

A freshwater drum was netted from the depths of the Rideau near the Bank Street bridge in August. The drum is the only freshwater species of a primarily saltwater family of fish. These bottom feeders eat clams, snails and zebra mussels.

This brings the number of known species of fish in the Rideau to 51, but other surprises could come over the three year sampling period. For more information or to become involved in this worthwhile project, please call Claude Renaud at 364-4069.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have questions, comments or direction on these or any other issues that are before Regional Council.