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Comments - Minto's plan with Arcadia subdivision has changed... In addition, I checked with Cardel's sales rep, their plan in Richardson Ridge gets delayed to 2011 due to lovely tortoises
That part of land was initially intended to be a natural park, but city sold it to the developer for 2(?) million dollars - shame on them...It is encouraged to submit the newsletter and know what's going on in Kanata North if you live there..
KANATA NORTH NEWS
Marianne Wilkinson
Councillor, Kanata North
Vol. 4, Issue 6 - June, 2010
Ward Council, Monday, June 21st, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Halls B & C, Mlacak Centre, 2500 Campeau Drive
Plan to take part in this month’s Ward Council as there promises to be a great deal of new information on major ward and city issues. Please note the meeting will still be held in the Mlacak Centre, but this month’s meeting is to take place in Halls B and C.
For the first hour, there will be a presentation of the new French Catholic School (to be built on the land next to Walden Park), followed by updates and discussion on the status of development north of the Beaverpond, dealing with hydro lines, the revised plans for the Arcadia subdivision off Huntmar Drive, and Lansdowne Park. All of these are significant issues that currently affect our community, and I look forward to your comments and questions on them.
Cst. Strotmann will also give a brief update on police issues in the community.
Waste Management has just submitted its formal terms of reference (TOR) for expanding the Carp Road landfill. At about 8 p.m., a brief presentation on the TOR will be given, followed by a discussion on how we should respond to their plans. There is a 30-day period in which to respond to the Ministry of the Environment on the TOR. Your comments can be sent in directly or provided to me for consideration in developing a response together with other west-end councillors, to be submitted by the City of Ottawa.
This is normally the last Ward Council meeting until the fall, but with so many major issues going on, there will likely be a need for a summer meeting, so be on the lookout for one announced in this column or on my website.
All residents and guests are welcome at Ward Council and encouraged to participate in the discussions and to pose questions.
BEAVERPOND LANDS
My meeting with NCC CEO Marie LeMay on June 14th was helpful in developing a partnership with the NCC to have the South March Highlands considered as an extension of the Greenbelt. I will be meeting further with NCC staff on this. However, since the Greenbelt study will not be concluded for two years, I am also seeking ways of delaying the proposed development and in looking for a land exchange with City lands to obtain at least part of these lands in the interim. I will be continuing to meet with officials and search for additional solutions so that the endangered species are protected and the lands continue to be available for the public.
FINAL PUBLIC MEETING ON RECREATION COMPLEX
Be sure to attend the final public consultation meeting on the Kanata North Recreation Complex. The final meeting is set to take place Wednesday, June 23rd from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Mlacak Centre and will provide you with the details on the final design and construction of the building, slated for completion and grand opening in 2012. A report to city council on these plans will be brought to city council this summer, to be followed by getting bids for the design and build the facility. This public meeting is your last chance to comment on these plans. For more information, please visit my website to view the plans.
UPDATE ON HYDRO POLE BURIAL
When Bill Teron started Kanata in March Township, he planned a wireless community, paying directly for the burial of all wires on all community roads, including Beaverbrook Road, at a time when other builders put all lines overhead. Later, when the City of Kanata and Kanata Hydro were established, this policy was continued, so roads in Kanata North - like Campeau, Kanata, Shirley’s Brook and Terry Fox were constructed - all of the wiring was underground and was paid for primarily by developers.
Most of you should be aware of the fact that council voted unanimously on May 26th to support the burying of hydro wires along a section of Kanata Avenue, and to add a levy to perform this activity. My proposal to bury hydro lines came in early May, when I proposed to bury the Hydro Ottawa lines along Kanata Avenue where poles had recently been erected on the southern side of the road. When previous sections of Kanata Avenue were constructed by the former City of Kanata, all of the wiring was underground. The City of Ottawa policy allows for overhead lines on arterial roads such as Kanata Avenue, a policy that will be discussed later this year at council. In the meantime, the only method available to bury these lines is to have a special service levy collected through property taxes.
You may have noticed that work appears to continue on overhead wiring. Please be assured this is a temporary measure and a necessary step to get the lines buried. The lines are temporarily being put overhead in this area to allow for blasting so that the hydro lines and other utilities can be buried. I met recently with City staff and staff of Hydro Ottawa to discuss what now needs to happen to get the hydro lines buried; this involves coordinating between the contractor doing work on the road, the various utility companies in burying their services, and making some revisions to the street lighting plan. You can expect to see a great deal of work happening in the area throughout the summer, and anticipate that the hydro lines will be buried next year.
UPDATE ON KANATA NORTH PARKS
Keyrock Park has now been built and is being used by many children in Kanata Estates. The tender for construction of the Briarbrook and Sandhill Parks closes on June 29th with construction starting once the winning bid is selected. I have several people who will help in choosing the play structures for these parks. Please contact my office if you would like to join that group.
ARCADIA SUBDIVISION UPDATE
Minto is moving ahead with the first phase of its subdivision off Huntmar. Plans will be made available at the Ward Council meeting. This development is 600 metres back from the Carp River and outside any flood plain. It includes building Campeau Drive from Huntmar with extension across the Carp River to existing Campeau Drive to follow. I’m pleased that Minto plans to build a ‘green’ subdivision with many environmental features.
FCM CONFERENCE
At the recent meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, I was re-elected to their Board of Directors. This involves four meetings a year where issues of concern to municipalities across the country are dealt with and representations made to the federal government for support on major issues. As well, it provides us the opportunity to work together in a partnership to deal with shared issues from climate change to ending homelessness.
2008-2009 CRIME TRENDS FOR WARD 4
The Ottawa Police Service released their ward-by-ward crime statistics from 2008-2009. This provides us with a snapshot of police activity from Jan. 1, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2009. You can view more detailed information on the Ottawa Police Service’s website, but please find below some of the Ward 4 key crime trends for 2009.
Crimes Against the Person: 126
Crimes Against Property: 682
Other Criminal Code Offences: 31
Total CCC Offences Excl. Traffic: 839
Criminal Code Traffic Offences: 97
Total CCC Offences Incl. Traffic: 936
Over-all, total crimes including traffic decreased over the past year by 3.2 per cent (there were 967 crimes committed last year). Thank you to all who support crime prevention through Neighbourhood Watch groups and by notifying the police when an incident occurs. Thank you for helping to create a safer community in which to live.
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT REMINDER
If you are interested in putting forth comments for next year’s budget, I strongly encourage you to come to Financial Sustainability Summit, which takes place on Tuesday, June 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at City Hall (in the Council Chambers). Over the coming year, the City’s Audit, Budget and Finance Committee and city staff will be hard at work preparing the 2011 budget, and revising the Long Range Financial Plan. This Summit will enable you to ensure your voice is heard, as well as become part an integral part of the budget process. I feel it’s important the public is involved early on in the process in the preparation of these documents.
Please note this presentation will also feature a bilingual moderator who will focus on the questions and answers received prior to the summit date. No new items will be raised at the summit. Information, including the financial documents, can be viewed on Ottawa.ca. Questions and answers will be posted online for review before the summit.
LANSDOWNE PARTNERSHIP PLAN
The month of June is upon us, and for Council, that means debating, discussing and voting on the Lansdowne Partnership Plan. Last week at council, each of us received two hefty binders full of detailed information on the proposals, including plans outlining transportation, finance, parking, heritage status, and market studies. This is a huge project for the city, and one that has created much discussion and controversy. It is not an easy project to deal with, and I anticipate the next few weeks as being challenging, exhausting, and interesting.
On Thursday, June 17th during a special council meeting, city council received the Auditor General’s report on Lansdowne, which has confirmed the financial model. One of my questions was how much the City will gain from the motion I put forward last November to improve the financial picture and was pleased to hear that the City will gain $31 million.
Public delegations will take place on June 24th and 25th, and I urge those interested to speak to Council. City Council will then deal with motions starting on June 28. The massive amount of information can be viewed on the city’s website. I appreciate receiving your views on this matter along with suggestions you have on dealing with the issues.
KANATA NORTH PICNIC
I look forward to welcoming you to the fourth annual Kanata North Picnic to be held on Wednesday, July 28th on the Sandwell Green, located off The Parkway across from the Earl of March High School. The picnic is a time to enjoy the summer with a free barbeque, a petting zoo, children’s bouncies, displays and stage entertainment. The picnic runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the barbeque ending about 7 p.m. (or when our generous supplies run out). Meet your neighbours and enjoy a lovely summer evening on the Green!
LRT FEDERAL FUNDING
Ottawa’s Light Rail Transit plan (LRT), which includes a 3.2 km tunnel, received a $600 million funding boost thanks to the federal government. Federal Transport Minister John Baird announced this last week.
The announcement comes on the heels of the Dec. 18th announcement of $600 million from the provincial government, and brings the total level of senior government funding to $1.2 billion - the highest level of funding ever received in the City of Ottawa’s history.
The city’s treasurer, Marian Simulik, has confirmed that the project remains affordable for Ottawa, with no new property taxes required - the City’s portion is largely from development charges and gas tax funds.
Details on the City’s LRT plan can be found at ottawalightrail.ca <http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/transit_tunnel/index_en.html> and further benefits of the LRT plan’s implementation can be found in the project benefits case document.
TEMPORARY PARKING LOT AT KRC/WALTER BAKER PARK
With the Hazeldean Road widening well underway, a temporary parking lot for sportsfield user groups, community associations, local representatives, and park users has been constructed to compensate for the loss of the original parking lot for the duration of the construction project. All groups and individuals who have used that parking lot in the past are being asked to use this temporary parking lot or the main Kanata Recreation Centre parking lots. Please abide by these instructions and ensure that you are parking in one of these two designated parking areas while construction for this crucial project completes.
UPDATE ON ROAD CONSTRUCTION
March Road is progressing with the new lanes being completed this summer along with Klondike from March to Flamborough. Traffic signals at Klondike and Maxwell Bridge will be installed by fall. Then, work will move to reconstructing the existing part of March Road with completion of all work next summer.
Kanata Avenue will shortly be under construction. Staff have informed me that the road will be closed to traffic for two months from the Goulbourn Forced Road to Stikine and two months from Stikine to the Richardson Side Road so that blasting of rock can occur. The Goulbourn Forced Road will not be reconstructed until next year when Terry Fox is open, as it will need to be closed for blasting as well.
The Richardson Side Road has been closed from Kanata Avenue to Huntmar until October as up to four trucks a minute will be turning at the base of the hill and there are concerns over safety of vehicles going down the hill.
I want to thank you for being patient with the road construction - it is long overdue and will make travel safer throughout the community.
In other road news, you may have noticed that asphalt paving has been completed on Carling Avenue and Herzberg Road, and the final intersection improvements are nearing completion.
FOG TESTING
The City is presently undertaking fog testing in areas of Beaverbrook where flooding occurred last summer. The purpose of this test is to confirm there are no cross-connections between the storm and sanitary sewer systems. The test consists of blowing a harmless, odourless, coloured vapour into the sanitary manholes and observing the points where the fog exits. The fog is expected to exit from manholes and the sewer stack at the top of the house. This test will not cause sewer backups. Fog testing can help locate improper connections where unwanted water could be entering the sanitary sewers. If a problem is found, the City will take appropriate action.
CANADA DAY IN KANATA
If you haven’t experienced Canada Day in Kanata, you’re in for a treat! Organized by community volunteers with all events free except for the Midway and food court, you will surely enjoy the family fun zone, stage entertainment with the feature band David Usher, a tug of war challenge, Hypnotist David Hallett and much more. Seniors are invited to a free breakfast from 9 -11 a.m. and all can enjoy the multi-denominational service at 10 a.m. At 10 p.m., the grounds will be filled with more than 30,000 residents to enjoy a great fireworks display. This year, Canada Day is ‘Going Green’, with bike parking on site, a water dispenser, compostable containers and more. Go to www.canadadayinkanata.com <http://www.canadadayinkanata.com> for program details and then join me at Walter Baker Park (off Terry Fox Drive) for one of the largest and safest community events in Ottawa. Volunteers are still needed to help on the day. You can register on the website or email volunteers@canadadayinkanata.com <mailto:volunteers@canadadayinkanata.com> and help make this event a success.
CANADA DAY SENIORS’ BREAKFASTS
A free breakfast is again being provided for Seniors at Walter Baker Park on Terry Fox Drive. Parking and a shuttle will be available to take you to the breakfast.
The Mayor’s Annual Canada Day Celebration for Seniors, which is held in the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. is another opportunity for breakfast. FREE OC Transpo bus service will be available to all ticket holders on any routes, as well as courtesy parking on site. A limited number of tickets will be available to couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 2010. These tickets are available by calling the city at 613-580-2424 ext. 28064.
For this special breakfast, I do have a limited number of tickets available for seniors in Ward 4, so if you are interested in attending this event, please let me know and my office can arrange for pick up or drop off. Please contact my office at 613-580-2474 or email us at Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca <mailto:Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca> requesting a ticket(s).
SOLAR PARKS APPROVED FOR TRAIL ROAD
At the end of May, city council approved a motion that will see the establishment of two solar parks on the former Nepean landfill site on Trail Road. The two ground-mounted solar photovoltaic fields could potentially provide enough solar energy to power 1,500 homes every year. The City is partnering with Energy Ottawa, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hydro Ottawa. Energy Ottawa will design, construct, operate and maintain both sites.
A partnership with Energy Ottawa is a 20-year agreement that allows Energy Ottawa to lease lands near Trail Road for the solar parks.
GRAFFITI
Across the city, graffiti is not only an eyesore to many residents, but it’s also a nuisance to try and clean off. If you see graffiti happening, it is considered a crime in progress and must be reported to police as quickly as possible. To report existing graffiti on any property (public or private), call 3-1-1.
The City is currently raising awareness of this problem and is working with stakeholders to remove and prevent graffiti year-round through its Graffiti Management Program. Residents are encouraged to help. Prevent it. Report it. Remove it. Studies show that quick removal of graffiti is the best way to discourage it and other acts of vandalism from occurring again.
Private property owners are responsible for the removal of graffiti on their own property. Under the By-law, all property owners are required to keep their property graffiti-free. If your property has been vandalized with graffiti, be sure to file a police report by calling the Ottawa Police Service Call Centre at 613-236-1222, extension 7300 (TTY 613-760-8100) and remove it from your property as soon as possible. Visit ottawa.ca/graffiti or call 3-1-1 to learn more about removal and prevention.
I know in Kanata North there have been sightings of graffiti, and I encourage all of you to report these to the city at 311and be part of an effort to help keep Ottawa beautiful and graffiti-free.
DOWNTOWN TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS THIS SUMMER
For those of you who live in Kanata but commute to your job downtown, you should be aware of some of construction going on downtown as Transitway stops undergo facelifts. Work has already started and will continue until mid-September. Construction will occur at the following five stations: Albert at Bank, Albert at Kent, Slater at Bay, Slater at Kent, Slater at Bank. Temporary bus stops will be relocated nearby for the duration of the construction. The bus lanes will remain the same along Albert and Slater Streets and maintained to minimize any inconvenience. No detours will be necessary.
Traffic lanes on Albert and Slater Streets will be reduced to one bus lane at platforms and one lane for all other vehicles. In some areas, on-street parking will be temporarily prohibited. Wherever possible, additional temporary on-street parking areas will be created to compensate.
This work marks the first of a two-stage project to upgrade the Albert and Slater Street Transitway Stations. Each of the stations will eventually feature new platform waiting areas, more spacious shelters, better grading and drainage, and wiring for future telecommunications needs.
These works are partly funded by the federal and provincial governments from economic stimulus funding. For more information, call 613-741-4390 or visit octranspo.com <http://www.octranspo1.com/splash>.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR KIDS' DAY IN THE PARK
Organizers are still looking for about 38 more volunteers for the Kids' Day in the Park. Kids' Day in the Park is a community event hosted for families by the Kanata Lakes Community Association. It's a day of fun for the whole family and I strongly encourage people to volunteer their time to this great community event. The event is being held next Saturday, June 26th, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Whalen Park. There will be old-fashioned carnival games, a giant air castle, an air slide, pony rides, animal balloons, face painting and much, much more! But volunteers are needed to put on these festivities. Caron Fitzpatrick, one of the organizers of the event, will be holding a free balloon-twisting and face painting workshop this Saturday, June 20th. For more information on the workshop or on volunteer opportunities, please email her at Caron.Fitzpatrick@sympatico.ca. High school students are encouraged to participate.
COMING EVENTS
June 19. Briarbrook-Morgan’s Grant Summer Festival, Bowes Park, from noon to 4 p.m.
June 21. Ward Council, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Senior’s Program Room, Mlacak Centre.
June 22. Financial Sustainability Summit, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., City Hall.
June 23. Kanata North Recreation Complex Meeting, Mlacak Centre, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
June 24 & 25 Public Presentations on Lansdowne Park, City Hall, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
June 26. Kid’s Day in the Park, Whalen Park, noon to 4 p.m.
June 26. St. John’s Anglican Church Lawn Supper, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tickets $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Come for some good country fun, live music, and fun for the whole family. Call 613-592-4747 for more information.
July 1. Canada Day in Kanata, Walter Baker Park, all day, ending with fireworks. (Visit www.canadadayinkanata.com)
July 28. 4th Annual Ward Picnic, Sandwell Green, the Parkway, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
That part of land was initially intended to be a natural park, but city sold it to the developer for 2(?) million dollars - shame on them...It is encouraged to submit the newsletter and know what's going on in Kanata North if you live there..KANATA NORTH NEWS
Marianne Wilkinson
Councillor, Kanata North
Vol. 4, Issue 6 - June, 2010
Ward Council, Monday, June 21st, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Halls B & C, Mlacak Centre, 2500 Campeau Drive
Plan to take part in this month’s Ward Council as there promises to be a great deal of new information on major ward and city issues. Please note the meeting will still be held in the Mlacak Centre, but this month’s meeting is to take place in Halls B and C.
For the first hour, there will be a presentation of the new French Catholic School (to be built on the land next to Walden Park), followed by updates and discussion on the status of development north of the Beaverpond, dealing with hydro lines, the revised plans for the Arcadia subdivision off Huntmar Drive, and Lansdowne Park. All of these are significant issues that currently affect our community, and I look forward to your comments and questions on them.
Cst. Strotmann will also give a brief update on police issues in the community.
Waste Management has just submitted its formal terms of reference (TOR) for expanding the Carp Road landfill. At about 8 p.m., a brief presentation on the TOR will be given, followed by a discussion on how we should respond to their plans. There is a 30-day period in which to respond to the Ministry of the Environment on the TOR. Your comments can be sent in directly or provided to me for consideration in developing a response together with other west-end councillors, to be submitted by the City of Ottawa.
This is normally the last Ward Council meeting until the fall, but with so many major issues going on, there will likely be a need for a summer meeting, so be on the lookout for one announced in this column or on my website.
All residents and guests are welcome at Ward Council and encouraged to participate in the discussions and to pose questions.
BEAVERPOND LANDS
My meeting with NCC CEO Marie LeMay on June 14th was helpful in developing a partnership with the NCC to have the South March Highlands considered as an extension of the Greenbelt. I will be meeting further with NCC staff on this. However, since the Greenbelt study will not be concluded for two years, I am also seeking ways of delaying the proposed development and in looking for a land exchange with City lands to obtain at least part of these lands in the interim. I will be continuing to meet with officials and search for additional solutions so that the endangered species are protected and the lands continue to be available for the public.
FINAL PUBLIC MEETING ON RECREATION COMPLEX
Be sure to attend the final public consultation meeting on the Kanata North Recreation Complex. The final meeting is set to take place Wednesday, June 23rd from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Mlacak Centre and will provide you with the details on the final design and construction of the building, slated for completion and grand opening in 2012. A report to city council on these plans will be brought to city council this summer, to be followed by getting bids for the design and build the facility. This public meeting is your last chance to comment on these plans. For more information, please visit my website to view the plans.
UPDATE ON HYDRO POLE BURIAL
When Bill Teron started Kanata in March Township, he planned a wireless community, paying directly for the burial of all wires on all community roads, including Beaverbrook Road, at a time when other builders put all lines overhead. Later, when the City of Kanata and Kanata Hydro were established, this policy was continued, so roads in Kanata North - like Campeau, Kanata, Shirley’s Brook and Terry Fox were constructed - all of the wiring was underground and was paid for primarily by developers.
Most of you should be aware of the fact that council voted unanimously on May 26th to support the burying of hydro wires along a section of Kanata Avenue, and to add a levy to perform this activity. My proposal to bury hydro lines came in early May, when I proposed to bury the Hydro Ottawa lines along Kanata Avenue where poles had recently been erected on the southern side of the road. When previous sections of Kanata Avenue were constructed by the former City of Kanata, all of the wiring was underground. The City of Ottawa policy allows for overhead lines on arterial roads such as Kanata Avenue, a policy that will be discussed later this year at council. In the meantime, the only method available to bury these lines is to have a special service levy collected through property taxes.
You may have noticed that work appears to continue on overhead wiring. Please be assured this is a temporary measure and a necessary step to get the lines buried. The lines are temporarily being put overhead in this area to allow for blasting so that the hydro lines and other utilities can be buried. I met recently with City staff and staff of Hydro Ottawa to discuss what now needs to happen to get the hydro lines buried; this involves coordinating between the contractor doing work on the road, the various utility companies in burying their services, and making some revisions to the street lighting plan. You can expect to see a great deal of work happening in the area throughout the summer, and anticipate that the hydro lines will be buried next year.
UPDATE ON KANATA NORTH PARKS
Keyrock Park has now been built and is being used by many children in Kanata Estates. The tender for construction of the Briarbrook and Sandhill Parks closes on June 29th with construction starting once the winning bid is selected. I have several people who will help in choosing the play structures for these parks. Please contact my office if you would like to join that group.
ARCADIA SUBDIVISION UPDATE
Minto is moving ahead with the first phase of its subdivision off Huntmar. Plans will be made available at the Ward Council meeting. This development is 600 metres back from the Carp River and outside any flood plain. It includes building Campeau Drive from Huntmar with extension across the Carp River to existing Campeau Drive to follow. I’m pleased that Minto plans to build a ‘green’ subdivision with many environmental features.
FCM CONFERENCE
At the recent meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, I was re-elected to their Board of Directors. This involves four meetings a year where issues of concern to municipalities across the country are dealt with and representations made to the federal government for support on major issues. As well, it provides us the opportunity to work together in a partnership to deal with shared issues from climate change to ending homelessness.
2008-2009 CRIME TRENDS FOR WARD 4
The Ottawa Police Service released their ward-by-ward crime statistics from 2008-2009. This provides us with a snapshot of police activity from Jan. 1, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2009. You can view more detailed information on the Ottawa Police Service’s website, but please find below some of the Ward 4 key crime trends for 2009.
Crimes Against the Person: 126
Crimes Against Property: 682
Other Criminal Code Offences: 31
Total CCC Offences Excl. Traffic: 839
Criminal Code Traffic Offences: 97
Total CCC Offences Incl. Traffic: 936
Over-all, total crimes including traffic decreased over the past year by 3.2 per cent (there were 967 crimes committed last year). Thank you to all who support crime prevention through Neighbourhood Watch groups and by notifying the police when an incident occurs. Thank you for helping to create a safer community in which to live.
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT REMINDER
If you are interested in putting forth comments for next year’s budget, I strongly encourage you to come to Financial Sustainability Summit, which takes place on Tuesday, June 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at City Hall (in the Council Chambers). Over the coming year, the City’s Audit, Budget and Finance Committee and city staff will be hard at work preparing the 2011 budget, and revising the Long Range Financial Plan. This Summit will enable you to ensure your voice is heard, as well as become part an integral part of the budget process. I feel it’s important the public is involved early on in the process in the preparation of these documents.
Please note this presentation will also feature a bilingual moderator who will focus on the questions and answers received prior to the summit date. No new items will be raised at the summit. Information, including the financial documents, can be viewed on Ottawa.ca. Questions and answers will be posted online for review before the summit.
LANSDOWNE PARTNERSHIP PLAN
The month of June is upon us, and for Council, that means debating, discussing and voting on the Lansdowne Partnership Plan. Last week at council, each of us received two hefty binders full of detailed information on the proposals, including plans outlining transportation, finance, parking, heritage status, and market studies. This is a huge project for the city, and one that has created much discussion and controversy. It is not an easy project to deal with, and I anticipate the next few weeks as being challenging, exhausting, and interesting.
On Thursday, June 17th during a special council meeting, city council received the Auditor General’s report on Lansdowne, which has confirmed the financial model. One of my questions was how much the City will gain from the motion I put forward last November to improve the financial picture and was pleased to hear that the City will gain $31 million.
Public delegations will take place on June 24th and 25th, and I urge those interested to speak to Council. City Council will then deal with motions starting on June 28. The massive amount of information can be viewed on the city’s website. I appreciate receiving your views on this matter along with suggestions you have on dealing with the issues.
KANATA NORTH PICNIC
I look forward to welcoming you to the fourth annual Kanata North Picnic to be held on Wednesday, July 28th on the Sandwell Green, located off The Parkway across from the Earl of March High School. The picnic is a time to enjoy the summer with a free barbeque, a petting zoo, children’s bouncies, displays and stage entertainment. The picnic runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the barbeque ending about 7 p.m. (or when our generous supplies run out). Meet your neighbours and enjoy a lovely summer evening on the Green!
LRT FEDERAL FUNDING
Ottawa’s Light Rail Transit plan (LRT), which includes a 3.2 km tunnel, received a $600 million funding boost thanks to the federal government. Federal Transport Minister John Baird announced this last week.
The announcement comes on the heels of the Dec. 18th announcement of $600 million from the provincial government, and brings the total level of senior government funding to $1.2 billion - the highest level of funding ever received in the City of Ottawa’s history.
The city’s treasurer, Marian Simulik, has confirmed that the project remains affordable for Ottawa, with no new property taxes required - the City’s portion is largely from development charges and gas tax funds.
Details on the City’s LRT plan can be found at ottawalightrail.ca <http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/transit_tunnel/index_en.html> and further benefits of the LRT plan’s implementation can be found in the project benefits case document.
TEMPORARY PARKING LOT AT KRC/WALTER BAKER PARK
With the Hazeldean Road widening well underway, a temporary parking lot for sportsfield user groups, community associations, local representatives, and park users has been constructed to compensate for the loss of the original parking lot for the duration of the construction project. All groups and individuals who have used that parking lot in the past are being asked to use this temporary parking lot or the main Kanata Recreation Centre parking lots. Please abide by these instructions and ensure that you are parking in one of these two designated parking areas while construction for this crucial project completes.
UPDATE ON ROAD CONSTRUCTION
March Road is progressing with the new lanes being completed this summer along with Klondike from March to Flamborough. Traffic signals at Klondike and Maxwell Bridge will be installed by fall. Then, work will move to reconstructing the existing part of March Road with completion of all work next summer.
Kanata Avenue will shortly be under construction. Staff have informed me that the road will be closed to traffic for two months from the Goulbourn Forced Road to Stikine and two months from Stikine to the Richardson Side Road so that blasting of rock can occur. The Goulbourn Forced Road will not be reconstructed until next year when Terry Fox is open, as it will need to be closed for blasting as well.
The Richardson Side Road has been closed from Kanata Avenue to Huntmar until October as up to four trucks a minute will be turning at the base of the hill and there are concerns over safety of vehicles going down the hill.
I want to thank you for being patient with the road construction - it is long overdue and will make travel safer throughout the community.
In other road news, you may have noticed that asphalt paving has been completed on Carling Avenue and Herzberg Road, and the final intersection improvements are nearing completion.
FOG TESTING
The City is presently undertaking fog testing in areas of Beaverbrook where flooding occurred last summer. The purpose of this test is to confirm there are no cross-connections between the storm and sanitary sewer systems. The test consists of blowing a harmless, odourless, coloured vapour into the sanitary manholes and observing the points where the fog exits. The fog is expected to exit from manholes and the sewer stack at the top of the house. This test will not cause sewer backups. Fog testing can help locate improper connections where unwanted water could be entering the sanitary sewers. If a problem is found, the City will take appropriate action.
CANADA DAY IN KANATA
If you haven’t experienced Canada Day in Kanata, you’re in for a treat! Organized by community volunteers with all events free except for the Midway and food court, you will surely enjoy the family fun zone, stage entertainment with the feature band David Usher, a tug of war challenge, Hypnotist David Hallett and much more. Seniors are invited to a free breakfast from 9 -11 a.m. and all can enjoy the multi-denominational service at 10 a.m. At 10 p.m., the grounds will be filled with more than 30,000 residents to enjoy a great fireworks display. This year, Canada Day is ‘Going Green’, with bike parking on site, a water dispenser, compostable containers and more. Go to www.canadadayinkanata.com <http://www.canadadayinkanata.com> for program details and then join me at Walter Baker Park (off Terry Fox Drive) for one of the largest and safest community events in Ottawa. Volunteers are still needed to help on the day. You can register on the website or email volunteers@canadadayinkanata.com <mailto:volunteers@canadadayinkanata.com> and help make this event a success.
CANADA DAY SENIORS’ BREAKFASTS
A free breakfast is again being provided for Seniors at Walter Baker Park on Terry Fox Drive. Parking and a shuttle will be available to take you to the breakfast.
The Mayor’s Annual Canada Day Celebration for Seniors, which is held in the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. is another opportunity for breakfast. FREE OC Transpo bus service will be available to all ticket holders on any routes, as well as courtesy parking on site. A limited number of tickets will be available to couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 2010. These tickets are available by calling the city at 613-580-2424 ext. 28064.
For this special breakfast, I do have a limited number of tickets available for seniors in Ward 4, so if you are interested in attending this event, please let me know and my office can arrange for pick up or drop off. Please contact my office at 613-580-2474 or email us at Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca <mailto:Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca> requesting a ticket(s).
SOLAR PARKS APPROVED FOR TRAIL ROAD
At the end of May, city council approved a motion that will see the establishment of two solar parks on the former Nepean landfill site on Trail Road. The two ground-mounted solar photovoltaic fields could potentially provide enough solar energy to power 1,500 homes every year. The City is partnering with Energy Ottawa, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hydro Ottawa. Energy Ottawa will design, construct, operate and maintain both sites.
A partnership with Energy Ottawa is a 20-year agreement that allows Energy Ottawa to lease lands near Trail Road for the solar parks.
GRAFFITI
Across the city, graffiti is not only an eyesore to many residents, but it’s also a nuisance to try and clean off. If you see graffiti happening, it is considered a crime in progress and must be reported to police as quickly as possible. To report existing graffiti on any property (public or private), call 3-1-1.
The City is currently raising awareness of this problem and is working with stakeholders to remove and prevent graffiti year-round through its Graffiti Management Program. Residents are encouraged to help. Prevent it. Report it. Remove it. Studies show that quick removal of graffiti is the best way to discourage it and other acts of vandalism from occurring again.
Private property owners are responsible for the removal of graffiti on their own property. Under the By-law, all property owners are required to keep their property graffiti-free. If your property has been vandalized with graffiti, be sure to file a police report by calling the Ottawa Police Service Call Centre at 613-236-1222, extension 7300 (TTY 613-760-8100) and remove it from your property as soon as possible. Visit ottawa.ca/graffiti or call 3-1-1 to learn more about removal and prevention.
I know in Kanata North there have been sightings of graffiti, and I encourage all of you to report these to the city at 311and be part of an effort to help keep Ottawa beautiful and graffiti-free.
DOWNTOWN TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS THIS SUMMER
For those of you who live in Kanata but commute to your job downtown, you should be aware of some of construction going on downtown as Transitway stops undergo facelifts. Work has already started and will continue until mid-September. Construction will occur at the following five stations: Albert at Bank, Albert at Kent, Slater at Bay, Slater at Kent, Slater at Bank. Temporary bus stops will be relocated nearby for the duration of the construction. The bus lanes will remain the same along Albert and Slater Streets and maintained to minimize any inconvenience. No detours will be necessary.
Traffic lanes on Albert and Slater Streets will be reduced to one bus lane at platforms and one lane for all other vehicles. In some areas, on-street parking will be temporarily prohibited. Wherever possible, additional temporary on-street parking areas will be created to compensate.
This work marks the first of a two-stage project to upgrade the Albert and Slater Street Transitway Stations. Each of the stations will eventually feature new platform waiting areas, more spacious shelters, better grading and drainage, and wiring for future telecommunications needs.
These works are partly funded by the federal and provincial governments from economic stimulus funding. For more information, call 613-741-4390 or visit octranspo.com <http://www.octranspo1.com/splash>.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR KIDS' DAY IN THE PARK
Organizers are still looking for about 38 more volunteers for the Kids' Day in the Park. Kids' Day in the Park is a community event hosted for families by the Kanata Lakes Community Association. It's a day of fun for the whole family and I strongly encourage people to volunteer their time to this great community event. The event is being held next Saturday, June 26th, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Whalen Park. There will be old-fashioned carnival games, a giant air castle, an air slide, pony rides, animal balloons, face painting and much, much more! But volunteers are needed to put on these festivities. Caron Fitzpatrick, one of the organizers of the event, will be holding a free balloon-twisting and face painting workshop this Saturday, June 20th. For more information on the workshop or on volunteer opportunities, please email her at Caron.Fitzpatrick@sympatico.ca. High school students are encouraged to participate.
COMING EVENTS
June 19. Briarbrook-Morgan’s Grant Summer Festival, Bowes Park, from noon to 4 p.m.
June 21. Ward Council, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Senior’s Program Room, Mlacak Centre.
June 22. Financial Sustainability Summit, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., City Hall.
June 23. Kanata North Recreation Complex Meeting, Mlacak Centre, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
June 24 & 25 Public Presentations on Lansdowne Park, City Hall, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
June 26. Kid’s Day in the Park, Whalen Park, noon to 4 p.m.
June 26. St. John’s Anglican Church Lawn Supper, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tickets $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Come for some good country fun, live music, and fun for the whole family. Call 613-592-4747 for more information.
July 1. Canada Day in Kanata, Walter Baker Park, all day, ending with fireworks. (Visit www.canadadayinkanata.com)
July 28. 4th Annual Ward Picnic, Sandwell Green, the Parkway, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
