27 September, 2006

City Council Meeting Highlights

Cancer Survivors Park

Council approved, in principle, a partnership framework between the City and a proposed local foundation to develop a Cancer Survivors Park at 1480 Alta Vista Drive, a City-owned property bounded by Riverside Drive, Industrial Avenue and Alta Vista Drive.

The framework will see an “Ottawa Cancer Survivors Park Foundation” incorporated to assume the lead and responsibility for all aspects of project and facility management: planning, financing, fundraising, design, construction, maintenance, operations and lifecycle investment. The City of Ottawa would lease the site to the local Foundation for a $1/year in perpetuity and provide project support with a $1,000,000 capital loan (to be repaid through fundraising, within four years of the date of park dedication), basic park maintenance and remote site security monitoring. The R. A. Bloch Cancer Foundation has made this park development possible with charitable donation of $1,000,000.

A second report, detailing the partnership framework and agreements, will be brought forward to City Council for approval in early 2007.

City of Ottawa reports on its service performance

City Council received its first quarterly report providing performance information on a dozen City services. This report highlights areas where the City is doing well, and areas that need improvement. The information will help City staff provide better service over time. Sharing performance information supports the City’s efforts to spend dollars wisely and improve how programs are delivered.

Areas where performance information was given in this first report include police and fire services, transit, solid waste (garbage and recycling), client services, parks and recreation, by-law services, fleet, Public Health, Ottawa Public Library, Employment and Financial Assistance, and housing. Future reports will contain information on other areas such as surface operations (maintenance of parks, roads and sidewalks) and Paramedics.

The full report can be found at ottawa.ca

Completing broadband coverage in rural Ottawa

City Council has approved a $1 million funding contribution to speed up the delivery of broadband access to all parts of rural Ottawa. The City will move forward with a Public-Private Partnership (P3) to develop the broadband infrastructure needed to reach every rural home, farm and business by fall 2007.

With full access to broadband, rural residents will benefit from on-line learning, distance medicine, telecommuting and much more. In addition, broadband has proven economic benefits for farms and businesses, allowing them to make better marketing decisions, access on-line production records and do research before making new purchases..

Before 2003, broadband was only available to about 2% of rural residents and businesses in the Ottawa area. Great progress has been made as a result of grass-roots community efforts sponsored by the Ottawa Rural Communities Network (ORCnet), an organization supported by the City and devoted to expanding broadband service in rural areas.

To date, about 60% of rural Ottawa has access to broadband Internet service. This includes most of the villages and communities where service providers could more easily provide the necessary infrastructure. With further investment through an innovative P3 approach, the necessary service delivery program and communications towers can be put in place to fill all the gaps currently not serviced. The project is expected to cost up to $3 million, with the City contributing up to $1 million and the private-sector partner contributing the remaining capital investment.

Transit SmartCard to be introduced in 2008

By 2008, OC Transpo may have a SmartCard fare system. Council has approved a project that will take Ottawans along the path of changing the way we pay our transit fares. The system concept is based on wallet-sized SmartCards that will act as a bus pass or bus tickets, depending on each individual’s choice.

Transit riders will pass their card in front of a reader as they board. These “contactless” card readers are widely used in the transit industry because they allow rapid boarding and, with no moving parts in the readers, have low maintenance costs.

The system will be used on buses and, when it is introduced in early 2010, on the Light Rail Transit system. The timetable for smartcard implementation will see the introduction of smartcards configurable as any form of pre-paid pass (monthly, semester, annual, Ecopass, etc.) in 2008, followed by the implementation of the ‘purse’ or electronic tickets in 2009. Cash will continue to be accepted for the foreseeable future, although pre-paid fares will be encouraged through discounts as they are today.

The new system will help reduce the incidence of fraud, and will cover its own costs in five to six years. It is projected to save the City more than $6 million over its first ten years.

Council supports 2008 Ontario Summer Games bid

Ottawa has just finished hosting the 2006 Ontario Summer Games, which were held August 9-12 at many venues and sites throughout the city. By all accounts, the Games were an overwhelming success. Council is now supporting a new bid to host the 2008 Ontario Summer Games.

The Ontario Summer Games is a showcase for amateur sport and is the Province of Ontario's largest multi-sport event. Held every two years since 1970, the Games bring together more than 3,100 participants, including athletes, coaches and officials for four days of competition in 20 different sports. The Games offer an ideal means to encourage sport participation, develop amateur athletes, and stimulate local communities.

This year’s Games in Ottawa saw more than 3,100 people participating, including athletes, coaches and officials. Volunteer interest exceeded expectations with 850 volunteers providing their support, and the total economic impact of the Games on the local economy exceeded $3 million. In addition, significant legacies were created that will benefit local sport development and future Ontario Games.

The Games were run on budget and are expected to generate a small surplus, 100% of which will be reinvested in local sport. This year’s experience enhanced Ottawa's reputation and ability to attract and host future world-class sporting and cultural events.

The host city for the 2008 Summer Games will be announced on October 31, 2006.

New snow clearing programs to be introduced next winter

Council has approved, for consideration during the 2007 budget process, two new programs designed to help seniors and persons with disabilities with snow clearing at their homes.

The first is an enhanced program called Snow-Go Program, which was offered by the former City of Ottawa. Snow-Go is a snow removal coordination assistance program that links seniors and persons with disabilities with individuals and contractors willing to clear snow from private driveways and walkways. Residents using the program will make payments directly to the individual or contractor who removes snow. The program will provide no direct financial subsidy to residents.

The second is a three-year pilot program to provide qualifying seniors and persons with disabilities with financial assistance to remove snow windrows – the snow and ice left at the end of driveways after the snowplow has gone by. The financial assistance will be capped at a total value of $60,000 per year, and will be administered by the City's Snow-Go Program partner agencies. With this program, residents will have a great deal of flexibility to apply the subsidy in the way that best suits their needs (i.e. as needed or scheduled, windrow only, walkway to sidewalk, within 12 hours, etc.) using resources identified through Snow-Go or independently.

When the programs are launched, residents will be informed through advertising in local papers.

Home Dialysis Annual Rebate Program to be considered during 2007 budget

Council approved that, in cooperation with the City’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, the City of Ottawa develop an annual rebate program for home dialysis patients to offset the increased costs associated with home dialysis. The program will be considered as part of the 2007 budget.

Transportation Impact Assessment Guidelines updated

New consolidated Transportation Impact Assessment (TIA) Guidelines have been approved to make it easier for developers and staff to prepare and review TIA reports submitted as supporting documentation for Planning Act applications. The new Guidelines reflect current transportation polices and objectives and the wider mandate of the City. They replace the previous version of the Transportation Impact Study Guidelines, which were developed by the former Region of Ottawa-Carleton in 1995. City staff will be preparing a City-approved list of pre-qualified traffic consultants for use by the development industry, and the new Guidelines will be available by the end of October from Development Information Officers at all City Client Service Centres.

Beechwood Community Design Plan approved

Council has approved a Community Design Plan for Beechwood Avenue, which is designated as a “Traditional Mainstreet” in the City Council-approved Official Plan. The goal of the Community Design Plan is to guide the efforts of developers by providing a broad and integrated 20-year vision for the revitalization of the street. The Plan was prepared in consultation with property owners, businesses and the surrounding community, and helps guide development of new streets, residential and commercial buildings, traffic flows and green spaces. Many specific development opportunities have been identified, including public improvements such as the entry to Genest Park, a roundabout by the Beechwood Cemetery, and the “Waterfront Project” that includes a small pavilion that will allow people to sit by the water during summer months and enjoy the view.

Other items of interest

City of Ottawa launches its United Way campaign

The City of Ottawa officially launched its United Way Employee Campaign today. Last year, the City raised over $474,000 for the United Way through employee donations and special events, which made it the largest community campaign for the third consecutive year. This year’s campaign goal is $500,000.

A presentation will be made at City Council early in the new year to announce the results of the City’s campaign. The United Way funds more than 200 programs and partnerships throughout Ottawa that help residents in need. This year, the Ottawa-wide United Way campaign goal is $27.2 million.

Glebe traffic restrictions come into effect

After public consultations with area residents and community associations that showed support for turn restrictions, Council voted to implement turn restrictions in the Glebe area to restrict northbound Bronson Avenue traffic from turning right onto Queen Elizabeth Driveway during the morning rush hour to head west toward Carling Avenue. Right-hand turns from Torrington Place onto Queen Elizabeth Driveway will be prohibited during the morning rush hour. Turns from Broadway onto the Driveway and from Bronson to Madawaska will also be affected. Left turns onto Queen Elizabeth Driveway for traffic heading downtown are not affected. The intent of these restrictions is to reduce the high traffic volumes that currently use Findlay Avenue, Broadway Avenue and Torrington Place, the residential Glebe streets that provide the connection between Bronson and the Queen Elizabeth Driveway.

The turn restrictions will become effective as soon as signs can be posted (bicycles and emergency vehicles are exempt).

New funds added to Rideau Street Heritage Facade Restoration Program

Council is reallocating $40,000 from a previously approved Rideau Street Community Design Plan/Urban Design Study to a Rideau Street Heritage Facade Restoration Program. This grant program is designed to assist property owners on Rideau Street with the restoration of designated heritage buildings on Rideau Street. The Downtown Rideau Business Improvement Association would complement this grant program with one of their own to assist with the further enhancement of the facade through signage and lighting as well as heritage restoration.

Property owners interested in applying for a grant can find more information on ottawa.ca under the Heritage Grant Program. Two exceptions are being made to the guidelines for this program -- there would not be a ceiling on the heritage grant amount, and one owner can apply for more than one building.

For more information: City of Ottawa Corporate Communications 613-580-2450

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