CITY COUNCILLOR'S COLUMN

BY COUNCILLOR INEZ BERG

WHITTON AWARDS

n Wednesday, May 31, I look forward again to hosting the Whitton Awards Ceremony in the Assembly Hall at Lansdowne Park beginning at 7pm. I invite you, your family and friends to join me in honoring outstanding Capital Ward volunteers. Our communities would not be what they are today without their extraordinary and dedicated efforts in arts and culture, sport and recreation, environment, business and community activism.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Hopewell Public School band led by Allison Woyiwada.. Food and refreshments, courtesy of local businesses, will be served following the ceremonies.

WINDSOR WARD YARD REHABILITATION

Good news for Old Ottawa South! On May 4, the Ward Yard shed was demolished. I am pleased my efforts to have the entire ward yard, including asphalt and fence, cleared at City expense have succeeded. I thank Mayor Watson for giving critical last minute support to the community's request for removal of asphalt and fencing. When the shed debris is cleared, they too will be removed later in May. Special thanks to Pat Kealey who lobbied hard to have this done.

The City will also replace topsoil and re-seed the area with grass. This too is welcome news as it relieves OSCA and the Windsor Yard Committee of a great burden. They can now concentrate on planting and landscaping plans for the site. I have donated $500 to assist the committee's work and will continue to do all I can to help the community reclaim this area as a park.

WINDSOR PLAY STRUCTURE

Bravo to OSCA and the Windsor Park Play Structure committee, coordinated by Georgina Hunter and Anne Marie Corbett. They have matched the City's $7,500 self-help grant and further raised almost the full amount for the pre-school structure. They recently discovered they will need to raise additional funds for the foundation. To assist their committee's work I have provided $500.

BELLWOOD ST. HOCKEY TOURNAMENT

Many thanks to Richard Cleroux, his wife Arlene and their neighbourhood helpers of all ages for creating another successful Bellwood Street Hockey Tournament, April 16.

It was great to "drop the puck" for a few friendly games and to help serve the Hot Dog lunch. I accidentally served Pizza too. I dropped a hot dog and Richard's beagle, a veteran of these tournaments named (you guessed it...) Pizza, was strategically placed below. We are now on a first name basis.

BOB ADAMYK RECEIVES ROD BRYDEN TROPHY

On April 15, the Ottawa Centre Minor Hockey Association held its annual awards banquet, honouring many deserving players, coaches and volunteers. It was my pleasure to present the Rod Bryden Trophy to Bob Adamyk, a long serving coach and volunteer. Congratulations Bob for yet another job well done.

SPRING CLEANING THE CAPITAL

Thanks to everyone who signed up for Capital Clean-up Day, Spring Cleaning the Capital, our Graffiti Paint-over Campaign, Adopt-a-Park, and other Community Pride programs. I look forward to working with them this month and all year long. Anyone wishing to join any of these programs please call my office 244-5367 or 244-5300-1-3363.

LOCAL HEROES

On April 29, Brewer Park received its first Spring Cleaning of the year thanks to a keen group of Carleton students. Members and friends of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity first took on the park's beautification as part of the City's Adopt-a-Park program, introduced in 1998 and haven't looked back since.

TULIP FESTIVAL

The Canadian Tulip Festival's Tulips 2000 - A Capital Celebration will feature many great concerts and attractions over its 11 day run. (Ticket & event information 567-4447). The usual traffic restrictions and enforcement will be in place in the Glebe and Dow's Lake area.

ULTIMATE OTTAWA BIKE GUIDE

If you have not received your free copy (delivered April 2-4 in The Citizen) of the Ultimate Ottawa Bike Guide, call the City's Client Service Centre at 244-5300. This helpful booklet, jointly funded by the City, RMOC and produced with help from cycling advisory groups, contains information on cycling laws, routes, bike parking facilities, safety tips, tours, clubs, committees, awards and events.

GUIDE TO HERITAGE STRUCTURES

Photos by Malak Karsh grace the covers of Ottawa: A Guide to Heritage Structures, now available for $9.95. The City of Ottawa's Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) created this book, (with City staff and volunteers) to mark the millennium and their 25th Anniversary.

It is an attractive, easily carried paperback, filled with well organized information and photos of the City of Ottawa's heritage districts and its heritage designated structures. Copies are available at the Billings Estate Museum, at Smithbooks, and Coles at Billings Bridge, Leishman Books at Westgate, the City's Client Services Centre and other outlets. This heritage guide will be well read and appreciated for many years to come. Thanks to LACAC members and everyone who helped create this gem.

SALE OF SURPLUS CITY PROPERTY

Recent media reports alleged irregularities in procedures for the sale of City surplus properties prevented fair opportunity for prospective buyers to have their bids on such properties considered. As one property in question, 1145 Bronson Place, is in my ward, I raised an inquiry at Policy, Priorities and Budgeting Committee.

The facts revealed City staff had dealt in a fully open and fair manner with all parties. It was also subsequently made clear the two parties alleged to have had offers passed over, had not in fact submitted bids

As a result of questions I had raised in February regarding procedures for disposal of another City property, a report will be brought for consideration by PP&B committee in May. Until a revised policy is approved all new sales of City properties have been frozen. Also, approval was given to my motion to ensure the report include the City's policy stipulate that City property no longer required by the corporation be first declared surplus, then clearly advertised as surplus before the City entertains offers from prospective bidders.

CAN I HELP?

Inez Berg, City Councillor

111 Sussex Drive

Ottawa, Ont, K1N 5A1

Tel: 244-5367     Fax: 244-5373

E-mail: bergi@city.ottawa.on.ca