June 25, 2003

Your guide to what happened at City Hall

City Council Meeting Highlights

City commits $25 million towards expanded Ottawa Congress Centre

City Council will be contributing $25 million towards the expansion of the Congress Centre, in partnership with contributions from the provincial and federal governments and the private sector. This project will allow the Congress Centre to triple its meeting and exhibition space. The City's investment will be funded through a debenture that will be re-paid by the incremental tax revenues generated by the expansion. In order to protect Ottawa's property taxpayers, the City's financial commitment is conditional upon Provincial Cabinet confirming its sole ownership of the Ottawa Congress Centre, and has full and sole financial responsibility for any cost overruns, budgetary shortfalls and any and all other financial obligations relating to the Ottawa Congress Centre.

City Council will monitor health and environmental impacts of proposed Sarsfield hog farm

City Council has agreed to implement a five-year monitoring program that will assess the proposed Sarsfield Hog Farm's impacts on surface and ground water. The City will undertake a five-year survey of the health of area residents, if the hog farm is developed. The study would begin before the farm begins production. As well, Council asked the City to have environmental and agricultural expertise on its core staff dedicated to agriculture policy and development, and that a comprehensive agricultural policy be developed in consultation with the agricultural community to address conflicts between agricultural and rural residential land uses.

In a related issue, City Council also asked that staff give the notification required by the Planning Act and Ottawa's Official Plan to allow for a zoning by-law that would enable the City to impose a separation distance of 3 kilometres between Intensive Hog Farms and a 3 kilometre buffer zone around residential areas, and allow for the imposition of a cap on the number of animals at Intensive Hog Farms. These issues will be brought forward for Planning and Development Committee's consideration on July 24, 2003. Should these initiatives pass, they would be brought forward to City Council for debate at the August 27, 2003 meeting.

New vision set for future development of St. Joseph Boulevard

Over the last 30 years, St. Joseph Boulevard has evolved from a rural roadway to a significant urban artery. Combined with rapid growth in Orléans, this important corridor is faced with a number of challenges, including a substantial increase in traffic (it now carries about 20,000 vehicles per day), a drop in business investment and a decline in the area's attractiveness. In response, City Council today approved the St. Joseph Boulevard Corridor Study, a community design plan that will provide a long-term vision for the street's development. The implementation of the study's recommendations and urban design guidelines will make St. Joseph Boulevard a vibrant centre of activity for the residents of east Ottawa. With a broader mix of land uses, enhancements to the streetscape, improvements to pedestrian rights-of-way and development of urban gateway sites, the City hopes to change the image of St. Joseph from that of a suburban arterial to a more traditional "main street."

Mike Nemesvary given Keys to the City for major contributions to spinal cord injury research and rehabilitation

Mayor Bob Chiarelli presented the Keys to the City to athlete-turned-activist, Mike Nemesvary. The award recognizes this Ottawa native's ongoing efforts to raise $10 million for spinal cord injury (SCI) research and rehabilitation. Mr. Nemesvary was praised by Mayor Chiarelli for his outstanding leadership within the community and around the world to raise awareness of the 35,000 Canadians affected by SCIs. In 2001, he and his team completed a seven-month "'Round the World Challenge" tour, covering more than 42,000 kilometers in a specially equipped vehicle. The Tour visited rehabilitation and research centers, schools and other landmarks in four continents, 18 countries, and more than 100 major cities. Mr. Nemesvary thanked his family, partner and friends and reinforced the importance of mobility for all.

Other items of interest

• Sale Of Denis Coolican Building - 495 Richmond Road
  
  Council approved the sale of the land and building known as the Denis Coolican Building at 495 Richmond Road, to Canderel Realties Inc. for the amount of $9,000,000 plus GST, 15% higher than the average appraised value. This is one of four major City office buildings put up for sale after Council approved the City's lease/purchase of 100 Constellation Crescent as its office accommodation solution on May 14. The others are 580 Terry Fox Drive (former Kanata City Hall), 1595 Telesat Court (former Gloucester City Hall), and 150 Elgin Street (which is being disposed of through an RFP process).
  
  
• $1.77 M From Sale Of Land At 5309 Bank Street To Go To Fund For Purchase Of Environmentally-sensitive Areas
  
  Council approved the sale of the land located at 5309 Street, referred to R. W. Tomlinson Limited, for $1,770,000.00. The funds from the sale of land will be directed to the Environmental Resources Area Acquisition Reserve Fund for the future purchase of land deemed environmentally sensitive. Tomlinson will also complete a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement to the satisfaction of the City and the Province, to identify potential environmental impacts to the satisfaction of applicable governmental agencies ("the Environmental Impact Statement"). Tomlinson further covenants to develop and incorporate mitigation, compensation and rehabilitation measures into any site development scenarios that are compatible with the contemplated use of the subject property prior to re-zoning approval.
  
  
• Infrastructure Master Plan Looks At Future Growth Of Water
  
  The City has a new Infrastructure Master Plan that provides strategic directions, policies and implementation steps that will provide for a continued high quality of service and value in the provision of water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure services in Ottawa. The Master Plan is a supporting document to the City's Official Plan. It is a comprehensive statement of the City's policies related to the provision of water, wastewater and stormwater public works. Through those policies, the Master Plan provides the criteria by which the City will assess the need for new infrastructure or the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure. The policies also indicate the direction of the City in undertaking systems management initiatives. These initiatives are generally to minimize the capital and operating costs of all infrastructure, ensure reliability and level of service and to recognize the environmental impacts of public works systems.
  
  
• City To Prepare A Report Card On Federal/provincial/municipal Initiatives To Protect Air Quality
  
  City Council asked the City's Medical Officer of Health work with the Corporate Green Team to prepare a report card that reviews the initiatives all levels of governments have taken to protect our air quality.
  
  
• Commemorative Park Naming - Stuemer Park
  
  City Council approved today the commemorative naming of Stuemer Park - located at Petrie Island at the north end of Trim Road (Orléans, Ward 1). Between 1997 and 2001, Diane Stuemer, her husband Herbert, and their three children, fulfilled a dream by spending four years traveling around the world in a sailboat entitled. In February 2003, Mrs. Stuemer's battle with cancer resumed and she passed away in March 2003. The journey of The Northern Magic began and ended at Petrie Island, and commemoration of Diane Stuemer at this location will continue to inspire and motivate others, and serve as a legacy to the Stuemer family dream. The Commemorative Naming Policy, approved by City Council on July 24, 2002, honours these individuals through the naming of municipal streets, parks and facilities.

Intro