Report to the Hunt Club Community Organization

January 4, 1999

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  1. Update – Bowesville Road

A turning circle has been constructed to Provincial standard and has been landscaped, fenced and surfaced. Pedestrians and cyclists have simple access in accordance with Council’s requirement and this has been indicated through signage.

Very large fire trucks appear to experience some difficulty with the curvilinear nature of the path and this may require some further adjustment in the spring of 1999. Some minor changes have already been made to facilitate their access (i.e. adjustment of post spacing to almost 3.4 m at either end).

  1. Update – Left Turn Arrow at Hunt Club & McCarthy

Further to the request at the last meeting of the HCCO, a request has been made for a left turn arrow to allow safe turning onto McCarthy (eastbound). A staff report should be available by mid-January.

  1. Update – OC Transpo

The third report from the OC Transpo Comprehensive Review is now available. This draft document, titled "The Way Ahead, Becoming the Best of the Best", presents the tentative conclusions of the study for comment and reaction. It contains both long and short term strategies to meet objectives laid out in the new Regional Official Plan.

Please contact my office for a hard copy of the Executive Summary or download from the RMOC site at www.rmoc.on.ca.

  1. Update – Truck Noise on Hunt Club Road

Further to my November report, a work order has been issued to erect signage directing truckers to refrain from using their engine brakes on a residential section of Hunt Club Road. Bilingual signs reading "No Engine Brakes, Please" will be installed facing eastbound traffic on Hunt Club Road at a point 300m west of Uplands Drive and facing westbound traffic 300 m east of Uplands Drive. The effectiveness of these signs will be monitored.

 

  1. 1999 Regional Budget – Revised Timetable and Open House

An Executive Summary of the 1999 Draft Operating and Capital Estimates, developed by RMOC Departments to reflect the estimated net costs of delivering existing programs at existing service levels, is tabled tonight and is available by calling my office.

The major budgetary issues that result in an increased funding requirement in 1999 are described in the following sections:

1. Provincial Download-

      1. Loss of Provincial subsidy (MCOR Funding)
      2. Additional Costs of Highway Transfers
      3. Additional Costs of Land Ambulance
      4. Reduction in Costs of Social Housing
      5. Additional Costs of Assessment
    1. Compensation - Contractual Increases
    2. Police - OPP Phase-in
    3. Police Debt Charges
    4. Genesis Project (Council approved enterprise management system across RMOC, Police & OC Transpo will replace all current financial systems, plant and vehicle maintenance and human resource/payroll systems.)
    5. Other Operational Issues

This budget shortfall will need to be met with some combination of provincial funding assistance, program spending reductions or increased taxation. There are no increases in water and sewer rates proposed by the tabled draft estimates. Annex A (appended) outlines the Base Case (pre Bill 79) and two Scenarios depending upon the outcome of Bill 79’s "capping" provision (as explained in my December report).

I have also appended a schedule listing by municipality, the annual cost to the average homeowner of the major tax supported programs along with the average annual cost of regional water & sewer services billed to a resident. A per month cost calculation is also provided. These are based on the residential tax rates adopted by Council on August 12, 1998 (1998 Budget deliberation) and applied to a home with a current value assessment of $150,000. Water and sewer service is based on the average consumption of 1 cubic metre of water per day billed at the adopted rates for water of 49.5 cents per cubic metre and a sewer surcharge of 100%.

Residents of River Ward are invited to attend a public meeting to discuss the 1999 Regional Budget. Staff from the Finance Department will be making a presentation to help stakeholders understand current programs, service levels and funding requirements.

Budget Open House

Monday, January 18, 1999

7:30 p.m.

Riverside United Church

3191 Riverside Drive (near Walkley)