By Dear Central Park Residents:
Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication throughout this last year. I am privileged to work with you in an effort to continue improving our community. Your participation is greatly appreciated, and I look forward to continue fostering our relationship into the New Year.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
City of Ottawa Agrees to Waste Disposal Deal with Plasco
On Wednesday, December 14, 2011, City Council approved a 20 year deal with Plasco Energy Group to convert the City’s waste into energy using a “plasma gasification process”. Council approved the deal by an overwhelming majority of 22-1, making Ottawa the first city in Canada to adopt plasma gasification technology on a commercial scale. The Plasco deal embraces the City of Ottawa’s goal to both foster new technology and encourage sustainability.
Heron Road Bridge Rehabilitation
Construction on the north side of the Heron Road Bridge began on April 11, 2011 and is now complete. Traffic on both sides of the bridge was recently restored to pre-construction conditions for the 2011/2012 winter season; however, there will be minor finishing work done on the bridge periodically throughout the winter. Construction on the south side of the bridge will begin in the spring of 2012.
OC Transpo to Offer Free Service on New Year’s Eve
OC Transpo will provide free transit service to all New Year’s Eve travellers after 11 p.m.
New Standard in Place for Employees with Disabilities
Beginning January 1, 2012, the Integrated Accessibility Standard requires that employees with permanent or temporary disabilities have access to emergency information for their workplace and have a plan in place for emergencies, if required.
The City is proud to implement a process to provide Individual Workplace Emergency Response Information Plans (IWERI) for all employees with disabilities who request such a plan. Employees may also request the emergency information in an accessible format or with a communication support, if required.
Updating Ottawa’s Smoke-Free By-Laws
Ottawa Public Health is conducting public consultations on the expansion of the City of Ottawa’s smoke-free by-laws. OPH has developed a comprehensive consultation plan which will run until January 20, 2012. The objective of the consultations is to ensure residents, businesses and other community representatives have an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed expansion of the City’s smoke-free by-laws to include all public beaches and parks, all municipal properties, all outdoor patios and terraces, and new regulations relating to the use of water-pipes in public establishments.
There is an online consultation form available until January 20, 2012 at: http://ottawa.ca/health_safety/living/dat/tobacco/pub_consultation_en.html
Bronson Avenue Renewal Project
The City of Ottawa is undertaking a detail design of Bronson Avenue. The project will involve the replacement of aging underground infrastructure, reconstruction of the roadway, improvements to pedestrian corridors and revitalization of the street through landscaping initiatives. On November 24, 2011, the City hosted a Public Open House to share design plans and discuss the project in a casual environment. I will ensure that your feedback is received by staff.
City Council Approves 2012 Budget
On November 30, 2011, City Council approved the budget for 2012. Budget 2012 will allow the City to proceed with much needed city-building infrastructure projects. Ottawa on the Move will see roadwork and bridge repair, sidewalk upgrades, sewer and culvert improvements and cycling infrastructure investment across the length and breadth of Ottawa. The plan will advance the work by many years and help prepare the City to host Canada’s sesquicentennial.
Planning 101 Seminar
On Tuesday November 29 at the Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Centre, John Smit, Manager of Development Review in the Urban Services Branch, delivered a seminar outlining the city structure, planning, and growth management department, municipal planning, development/planning applications, and the development review process. The session was well attended and received.
Mercer Survey Says Ottawa is Among the Best Cities in the World
Ottawa has placed among the Top 15 Cities in the world for quality of life out of a field of 221 in the most recent 2011 Mercer Quality of Living survey. The annual report looks at living conditions in 221 cities worldwide and ranks them against New York as a base city on 39 items in 10 categories such as socio-cultural environment, health services, public transport, the economy, politics, education, housing and recreation. Ottawa was lauded for its high-tech sector, federal agencies, foreign embassies, and having the most highly educated workforce in the country. While a high quality of life is often associated with a high cost of living, as in most cities on the list, Ottawa defied that trend, being crowned this year as the least expensive Canadian city in which to live.
False House Calls Prompt Warning From City
The City of Ottawa has today received reports of unknown salespeople approaching the homes of residents and identifying themselves as City employees. They claim the city requires access to the home to perform water quality tests. The City does not currently have staff or anyone representing the City going door-to-door making such calls or checking for material build-up on water meters. Any visits by City staff that may require access to homes or businesses are scheduled in advance unless an emergency situation exists. Residents are also provided with advance notice of projects that might impact them. Residents are reminded that all employees requesting access must show City-issued photo identification. Residents who are directly contacted by persons claiming to be City employees for City business are asked to check identification, and, if concerns remain, contact 3-1-1 before allowing access. Residents are also asked to report any suspicious phone calls or visits to police.
Integrated Road Safety Program
December Initiatives
Impaired driving and speeding are on the City’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) radar in December. Enforcement will be further bolstered by teaming up with the CAA North and East Ontario to deliver additional R.I.D.E. checkpoints.
Ottawa saw 372 impaired driving-related collisions in 2010 – which injured 161 (22 serious injuries) and killed five. Eighty percent of the impaired drivers were male and 30 percent were between the ages of 16 and 24.
Speeding or not slowing down for road and weather conditions also took its toll on Ottawa roads last year. It was attributed to 2,833 reportable collisions – taking 20 lives and injuring 863 (63 were serious).
October Results
Police charged 487 motorists for running stop signs and failing to buckle up or comply with child car seat requirements as part of the City’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) in October. Stop sign running accounted for 277 charges being laid, while 210 motorists were caught failing to buckle up properly.