By Community Traffic Safety – Swift Follow-up to Community Concerns
Further to concerns raised by the community about speeding and stop sign running in Central Park, I worked with the Ottawa Police Service to increase the number of proactive police patrols in the neighbourhood. It is important, however, to continue calling the non-emergency phone number at 613-236-1222 to report these concerns. Every call is logged and allows the police to distribute their resources accordingly.
Formal Study Regarding Infill Development Includes River Ward
Further to my previous email, I let you know that I worked closely with the Deputy City Manager of Planning and Infrastructure to ensure that our Ward is included in an upcoming formal study regarding infill. The feedback period has closed, however there will be opportunities for residents of River Ward to participate in public workshops. The study will also look at opportunities for discreet intensification on larger, R1 lots.
The City’s Zoning Consistency Team will organize site visits to conduct individual analysis, now that online feedback has been received. Workshops will be organized with different communities and the architectural community. The Team intends to prepare recommendations for the Planning Committee and City Council for December 2013.
I anticipate that the first public workshop will be held in June 2013 and I will provide you with more information as it becomes available.
Recycling Program Begins at City Parks
As part of an effort to facilitate waste diversion from City property, a recycling program is being implemented at 31 of the City’s largest parks and beaches. Mooney’s Bay Park is one of the locations that will have a recycling containers installed. Keep your eyes open for them!
River Ward Airport Parkway Pedestrian/Cycling Bridge – Anchorage Assembly Piece Installed
Progress continues on the Airport Parkway pedestrian/cycling bridge. The contractor completed the anchorage assembly piece and it was delivered to the work site on May 15, 2013. This piece was then installed to the top of the main tower using a crane.
Now that the anchorage piece is onsite and secured in place, the contractor will complete the steel reinforcement. The contractor will also conduct a critical survey to verify that the anchorage piece is in the correct place prior to the concrete pour. After this survey is completed, crews will close the opening in the formwork and another complete inspection of the formwork will take place to make sure that it is ready to receive the concrete pour.
The pour for the upper tower will occur during the day, during off-peak hours in the coming weeks. You may notice the duration of this pour is much shorter than the duration for the lower tower and City staff have assured me that they will put all measures in place to ensure that traffic is disrupted as minimally as possible.
I continue to closely monitor progress on this project to ensure that this connection is built safely and to the highest quality standards.
Emerald Ash Borer Information Session
Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Time: 4:30 to 9:00 p.m., staff presentation followed by a Q & A session begins at 7:00 PM
Place: Jim Durrell Recreation Complex, Ellwood Hall, 1265 Walkley Road
Accessible by Bus Routes 8 and 1
Imagine the Library you want! Join the discussion!
On May 15, the Ottawa Public Library embarked upon the first phase of consultation related to its Library of the Future Project and the development of a renewed strategic plan. Based on the overarching theme Imagine, the online ideas campaign runs from May 15 to June 15 and solicits opinions and comments from citizens on the vision of the future for the Library in order for it to continue to deliver relevant, efficient and equitable services that meet its customers’ needs. The campaign is based on 5 themes: Learning, Leisure, Community Development, Creation and Celebration. The ideas campaign website is accessible from the Library’s website at: www.BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca or directly at: www.imagine-opl-bpo.ca.
City Council Approves Accountability Framework
City Council approved the remaining pieces of the City’s Accountability Framework, as recommended by the City’s Integrity Commissioner, continuing our commitment to making municipal government more transparent and accountable to our community.
I was particularly pleased that City Council unanimously supported my change to policy to reduce the gifts, benefits and hospitality disclosure from $200 to $30.
The Code of Conduct for Members of Council, Gifts Registry, Council Expense Policy and Community, Fundraising and Special Events Policy, in addition to the existing Public Disclosure of Office Expenses, Integrity Commissioner and Lobbyist Registry, constitute the most comprehensive set of integrity guidelines and practices implemented voluntarily at the municipal level in the Province of Ontario.
The final pieces of the City Council’s Accountability Framework, as approved by City Council, include:
- Code of Conduct for Members of Council: The Code is based on the view that elected officials make decisions with an open mind, with concern for the public good and not personal benefit, and without giving preferential treatment to family, friends and supporters. The Code emphasizes that elected officials should be seen to be open about the manner in which they perform their role as Members of Council, with proactive disclosure being an important tool to increase public trust. The Code will also apply to citizen members of the Transit Commission and Built Heritage Sub-Committee with respect to City business.
- Gifts Registry: Members will disclose all gifts, benefits and hospitality received which individually exceed $30 from one source in a calendar year. Event tickets of a value exceeding $30 will also be disclosed, listing who attended with the Member or, if donated, to whom or to what organization the ticket was donated. Disclosures will be listed quarterly on ottawa.ca.
- Council Expense Policy: Will guide how Members of Council spend their Constituency Services Budgets. It reflects current practices and reinforces the existing rules and restrictions surrounding Corporate/Purchasing Cards, as well as a Member’s personal liability with respect to any budget overages and strengthens accounting practices based on audits in other jurisdictions. It also includes adding public disclosure for all City-related business travel, establishing a 3.5% cap for donations and prohibiting contributions to other City-funded programs and services except by Council motion.
- Community, Fundraising and Special Events Policy: A new, formal policy to govern Member events and Members’ benevolent (charitable) activities. It codifies current accounting practices for specific, sponsored events and prohibits the solicitation or acceptance of donations or sponsorships from a lobbyist, or their clients or employees of the client, with active registrations in the Lobbyist Registry without pre-approval from the Integrity Commissioner. It establishes procedures surrounding third-party organized charitable events sponsored by a Member, and provides additional guidelines for municipal election years, while requiring the annual disclosure of sponsorships and expenses related to some specific Member-organized events.
The framework reflects extensive consultation with every Member of Council and other integrity officials, as well as collaboration with the City Clerk and Solicitor and his staff.
The Code of Conduct and its companion pieces will take effect on July 1, 2013.
Safer Roads Ottawa Program
May Initiatives
The Ottawa Police Service’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) will focus on Motorcycle Safety and Red Light Running as part of its ongoing commitment to keeping Ottawa’s roads safe.
April Results
The Ottawa Police Service’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) focused on distracted driving and cycling safety during the month of April, resulting in 325 charges being laid against road users, 236 for distracted driving and 89 for cycling safety.