January 28, 2009

City Council Meeting Highlights

Tax due date delayed by four weeks

Interim property taxes won’t be due until April 16 to give ratepayers some relief from the effects of the transit strike. Interim taxes would normally have been due on March 19.

Because many residents and businesses have been affected adversely by the strike, Council decided to postpone the due date by four weeks.

The delay will cost the City $1.3 million in lost interest revenue, which Council decided will be partly offset by any savings from the transit strike.

City plans to work on bilingualism

Council adopted the recommendations of the French Language Services Advisory Committee based on a consultant’s study of the implementation of the Bilingualism Policy at the City of Ottawa.

The study evaluated the implementation of this policy for the first time since it was adopted in May 2001 after municipal amalgamation. The advisory committee identified the following actions to improve delivery of French-language services:

• an employee awareness campaign, including information to targeted managers
• actions to enable the development of a corporate culture change to incorporate French into the work environment
• more resources for coordinating French-language services
• work plans to be developed in City departments
• ongoing designation of bilingual positions in a proactive fashion
• improving the French-language services of municipal boards.

The French Language Services Division will work closely with City departments to implement the recommendations.

Council backs new plan for St. Joseph Boulevard in Orléans

St. Joseph Boulevard, in the heart of Orléans, is poised to get a facelift.

Council adopted the St. Joseph Boulevard Community Improvement Plan, which has been in development since December 2007. The plan, which aims to bolster economic activity on the east end main street, was drafted in consultation with a project advisory committee, including representatives from the Heart of Orléans Business Improvement Area, the Orléans Chamber of Commerce, Team Ottawa-Orléans and representatives from the offices of Councillors Monette and Bloess.

The plan will assist in reinforcing St. Joseph Boulevard as a central focus for the community – strengthening it as a live-work-play destination, providing employment opportunities through intensification of commercial and office uses, and encouraging infill and mixed-use development.

The plan also aims to assist in achieving improved building architecture, site design and site landscaping, as well as helping to providing an attractive, safe and pedestrian friendly environment.

Up to $1,000,000 worth of grant-based incentives will be offered to landowners to help achieve these goals. The grants will partially offset a range of typical development costs.

The plan project area stretches approximately 4 km along St. Joseph Boulevard, approximately from Youville Drive in the west to Prestone Drive in the east. The plan also includes properties on Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard, Place d’Orléans Drive and portions of the Cumberland Town Centre.

Rural Issues

Two new roads in rural west end

Council approved names for two new service roads in Rideau-Goulbourn Ward, created as part of Phase 2 of the Highway 7 expansion.

The south service road from Dwyer Hill Road easterly to just east of the Canadian Golf and Country Club will be named Golf Club Way. The south service road from Ashton Station easterly to a cul-de-sac near Overpass Road will be named West End Way.

Last September, Council approved accepting the transfer of several service roads that are being created by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation as part of widening Highway 7 between Highway 417 and Ashton Station Road.

Other items of interest

Mayor Larry O’Brien declared February 2009 as Heart Month in the City of Ottawa. He presented a framed proclamation to Ms. Melanie Fulop, Event Coordinator for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ottawa. “Heart disease touches us all. It is a leading cause of death,” said Mayor O’Brien.

A moment of silent remembrance was held for Kathy Nihei, who founded and ran the Wild Bird Care Centre. Ms. Nihei died on January 22, 2009 at the age of 65 after a battle with cancer. Councillors Harder, Chiarelli and Legendre each shared their fond memories of Ms. Nihei and her dedication to bird welfare.

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