River Ward City Councillor Maria McRae’s Report to the Central Park Community, January 19 2011

Happy New Year! It is an honour and a privilege to continue to be your strong voice at City Hall. This term, in addition to City Council, I am serving as Chair of the City’s new Environment Committee and will represent you on the newly formed Finance and Economic Development Committee, the new Ottawa Board of Health and the Hydro Ottawa Holdings Inc. Board of Directors. I look forward to continue working with Central Park residents and the CPCA to make our community a great place to live.

Laurentian Place: Walmart Grand Opening

Walmart is officially opening on Friday, January 28, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. Thank you for your input and patience during the design and construction of this new development.

Scout Street to Baseline Road Pedestrian Pathway

The pedestrian pathway connecting Scout Street to Baseline Road is now open. Thank you for your patience during construction.

Low-Income Energy Assistance Program

The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is a new year-round, province-wide program available to low-income consumers experiencing difficulty paying their electricity bills. In Ottawa, LEAP is funded by Hydro Ottawa and is administered by the United Way/Centraide in conjunction with the Salvation Army Booth Centre and a network of community in-take agencies. For more information on this program, please contact the Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre at 613-241-1573.

City Rinks Open for the Season

Many of the City of Ottawa’s outdoor rinks are now open for use. The City of Ottawa operates a rink at:

Celebration Park – 200 Central Park Drive
Bellevue Manor – 1520 Caldwell Avenue

Additional City of Ottawa rink locations can be found on the City`s website at www.ottawa.ca.

2011 Budget Process

The 2011 budget process is underway. As part of the process, City staff have organized five multi-ward, bilingual consultations across the city. Senior City staff from key departments will be participating and will be available to answer residents’ questions. I encourage residents to participate in this important process to help shape the 2012 budget. Meeting details are as follows:

Dates and locations:

You are Cordially Invited to…
Maria McRae’s First
River Ward Family Day Skate

Date: Family Day – Monday, February 21, 2011
Time: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Place: Jim Durrell Recreation Complex
1264 Walkley Road
Bus Route: 8

This Family Day, please join me, your friends and neighbours for an afternoon of fun filled with plenty of skating, music, delightful snacks, hot drinks and more to make this an enjoyable and memorable event. Skates are optional but smiles are required!

Please visit your local community centre to pick up your complimentary ticket(s). As space is limited, tickets are first come, first served.

Alexander Community Centre
960 Silver Street

Carleton Heights Community Centre
1665 Apeldoorn Avenue

Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Centre
3320 Paul Anka Drive

Ashcroft Merivale Road Development

Thank you to Central Park residents who attended the Public Meeting on December 13, 2010 to review the concept plan for the redevelopment of the west side of Merivale Road between Central Park Drive South and the shopping plaza near Central Park Drive North. The concept plan features a mixed-use development incorporating residential, retail and office space in the design. Spectacular landscaping, a pedestrian/cycling friendly pathway network and new sidewalks away from Merivale Road and within the new development were part of the focus. Overall, feedback from the community was very positive.

The next steps are as follows:

1. Ashcroft’s team will review comments from the community, the Design Review Panel and City staff prior to finalizing their zoning application. They are expected to file an application with the City of Ottawa early this year.
2. The zoning application will be circulated via mail within 120 metres of the development as per requirements under the Planning Act. I will also let you know about the application via e-mail and direct you to the City’s website once the documents are posted.
3. City of Ottawa staff will write a report about the application and the report will appear at the City’s Planning Committee for consideration and then to full City Council.

I will keep you advised about any updates regarding this redevelopment.

Snow Go and Snow Go Assist: Helping Seniors and Persons with Disabilities

We all know that Ottawa winters are tricky, messy and cold. On average we receive 235 cm of snow and an increasing amount of rain and freezing rain. Keeping our private driveway and walkways clear of snow and ice is challenging for all of us.

The City of Ottawa’s Snow Go Program provides a matching service for seniors and persons with disabilities who are looking to hire an individual or contractor to clear snow from private driveways and walkways. Through the Snow Go Assist Program, low-income seniors and persons with disabilities are eligible to apply for financial assistance.

If you are interested in these programs, please call my office at 613-580-2486.

Green Bin Program

In less than one year, Ottawa residents helped divert 53,000 tonnes of organic waste from the
landfill through the Green Bin Program.
To make using your green bin easier this winter, here are some cold weather tips to help prevent
material from freezing in the green bin:

• If possible, store your green bin in the garage during the winter months
• Crumpled newspaper in the bottom of the bin will help prevent contents from freezing inside
• Spray the bottom of your green bin with cooking oil to prevent freezing
• Set out your green bin the morning of collection day (before 7 a.m.) rather than the night before
• Wrap wet food waste (e.g. meat, fish, fruit and vegetables) in old newspapers, used paper towels or cereal boxes or try used popcorn, sugar, flour or potato paper bags to hold your material

• Put your liquid food waste, such as cooking oil and bacon grease, in a milk carton
• Use leaf and yard waste paper bags to line your green bin

Over the winter months green bin collection takes place every two weeks. Weekly green bin collection will begin again in April 2011.