ith a
sense of humour and community spirit second to none Pansy Avenue residents and
neighbours celebrated their sixth annual Fire and Ice Festival, January 29.
ith a
sense of humour and community spirit second to none Pansy Avenue residents and
neighbours celebrated their sixth annual Fire and Ice Festival, January 29.
With a street parade, winter games, a day long fire to warm themselves and many pots of chile, stew, mulled wine and hot dogs, they welcomed February. What fun it was to take part in "Stone Soup" their on-street play, but best of all to watch with amazement, the Polar Bear Dip.
These folks really know how to thumb their nose at winter! Even the sun stayed out just a little longer to take in all the fun. Congratulations and thanks to Pansy Avenue residents, neighbours, friends, and our local band "Neighbourhood Noise."
An application for a car wash at Bank and Cameron was turned down by City Council in December. I supported the community and OSCA's unanimous opposition to this project which would have created heavy traffic congestion in that area, threatened an adjacent heritage home, and the residential quality of the neighbourhood. The project was not recommended in the staff report as it contravened Ottawa's official plan, our zoning by-law, and presented serious environmental issues.
At OSCA's January meeting, many concerns about traffic were discussed, including speeding, on Riverdale. Regional Police and City Traffic Department staff attended. Though police said that their monitoring had not detected excessive speeding, they agreed to step up enforcement as much as possible. City staff will be monitoring Riverdale and looking at possible options for calming traffic. Recently they have set up a large portable speed monitoring device on Riverdale which tells oncoming motorists how fast they are travelling. Also discussed at the meeting was the ability of residents to park along Riverdale, thus narrowing the roadway and causing traffic to slow down.
City and Regional staff are also seeking public input in an evaluation of traffic calming devices. For information or a questionnaire call John Smit at 244-5300 - 1 - 3866.
On January 17, City Council approved a year 2000 budget that keeps the City of Ottawa tax rate at the 1999 level. While adding no tax increase, we were able to move an additional $100,000 into Recreation Self Help grants, just over $100,000 to additional gritting of Ottawa sidewalks, and further monies to develop essential environmental initiatives. Though the two capital priorities, Plant Pool and Glebe Community Centre did not go ahead, their reserve funds were increased by $1M and $500,000 respectively.
On January 26, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister, Tony Clement appointed the Transition Board which will "ensure a smooth, seamless transition toward fewer politicians and lower taxes for the new "City of Ottawa".
Chaired by former MPP Claude Bennett, board members include former Osgoode Twp. Mayor Albert Bouwers, former Citizens' Panel on Restructuring member Camille Guilbault, chartered accountant David Muir, former Ottawa councillor Edward Mulkins, Nepean Hydro Commission chair Kathy Greiner and Gloucester city manager Pierre Tessier. I look forward to working with constituents, elected representatives and the board to see that our best interests are served, after they begin their work in February.
Many community groups and individuals have taken part in this study examining City programs and facilities in the last year. Many have concerns, and expressed needs regarding current and future programs and facilities. City staff have provided an information report on the recent Phase III of the study, and will bring recommendations to committee and council in late February. To get a copy of the information report please call my office at 244-5367.
The report confirms that transition to a single city will govern decisions on the future of many facilities and programs, however staff will move to identify and resolve the issues that aren't likely to be impacted by amalgamation.
Please send me your nominations for outstanding Capital Ward volunteers who you feel deserve a Whitton Award. The deadline is March 31. Categories are Arts & Culture, Community Activism, Sports & Recreation, Business & Commercial and Environment. There is also a category for long-term voluntarism which may not fit the other categories. Submit the nominee's name, full address and contact numbers (as well as your own), a description of their work and why you nominated them.
Winterlude takes place over three weekends, Fri Feb 4 and ends Sun Feb 20. Access and parking at Dow's Lake will be restricted as usual.
The QE Driveway will be closed Saturdays 10:30 am-10:30 pm and Sun Feb 6 & 20, 10:30 am-5:30 pm and Sun Feb 13, 9:30 am-5:30 pm. During these times, the Sno-Bus operate on the Driveway.
The Dow's Lake Ice Dream snow sculpting event, sponsored by the City of Ottawa and Giant Tiger, will be judged February 12. A People's Choice contest sponsored by the Ottawa Sun takes place Feb 13. Register your vote on site, send in a ballot from the Sun or vote on-line at www.leroux.ca/icedream.
I look forward to seeing you at OSCA's Winter Carnival in Windsor Park on February 6th and at their upcoming Volunteer Appreciation dinner at the Old Firehall.
Inez Berg, City Councillor
111 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ont, K1N 5A1
Tel: 244-5367 Fax: 244-5373
E-mail: bergi@city.ottawa.on.ca