City Council Update

City Council Meeting Highlights
Ottawa's Rural Summit
The City of Ottawa is Canada's largest rural city. Nearly 90% of Ottawa's
land mass is rural, and its many villages and hamlets are vibrant
communities with rich and distinct histories and characteristics.
Today, City Council endorsed Ottawa's Rural Summit to identify specific ways
in which the City can improve how it delivers services to rural communities,
and to promote greater understanding between rural and urban citizens. The
agenda for the Summit will be developed by the community from issues that
are identified through public consultations with rural residents and groups
such as the Ontario Rural Council and the Ottawa Rural Council. The Summit
is expected to take place in the fall of 2005.
One of the goals of Ottawa's Rural Summit is to develop practical solutions
and action plans for the major issues identified by the community. There are
many ways for the public to provide input into the Summit -- through rural
Councillors' offices, direct consultations with community leaders and
interested individuals, and feedback forms. Residents and businesses can
contact their Councillor directly or visit ottawa.ca/ruralsummit
<http://ottawa.ca/ruralsummit>; to find the public consultation nearest them
or to fill in a feedback form online. Comments and ideas can also be
submitted directly to the Rural Summit Project Manager,
ruralsummit@ottawa.ca <mailto:ruralsummit@ottawa.ca> or 613-580-2424, ext.
13360, TTY: 613-580-2401. The City will be accepting feedback from the
community until Friday, July 8, 2005.

Recommended Queensway modifications
Ontario's Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is currently holding public
consultations on its recommended modifications to the Queensway between the
Highway 416 and Anderson Road interchanges. These modifications include lane
widening and changes to ramps at a number of interchanges along the route.
Today, Council requested that MTO's proposed Island Park Drive off-ramp and
roundabout be deleted from proposed plans. The updated MTO report reflecting
recent public input is expected to be submitted to Committee and Council
later in 2005 as part of the Environmental Assessment process.
MTO's plans can be viewed online at
<http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/engineering/417ea/>;, where details of
upcoming public consultations can also be found.

Transit fare increases
Council approved a number of transit management policies, with two notable
items of public interest.
Council requested that Transit Services establish and maintain an all-day
base route network, to provide service seven days a week within an 800-metre
walk of the home locations of at least 95 percent of residents of the urban
transit service area, and a peak period base route network, to provide
service during peak periods from Monday to Friday within a 400-metre walk of
the home locations of at least 95 percent of residents in the urban transit
service area.
A presentation was made to show that some transit operating costs -- such as
fuel costs, parts and maintenance costs, and pension costs -- have increased
in recent years well beyond the rate of inflation. Additional costs like
these must be handled by either increased fares for users, or by increasing
taxes for all residents. Council voted to support increased fares to cover
these additional costs and to ensure that the City remains on target for
meeting its Official Plan targets.

Reduced-fare pass for people with disabilities
Subject to 2006 budget approval, Council voted to implement a reduced-fare
transit pass for low-income people with disabilities as a pilot project from
July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. Passes will be priced at the Seniors' pass
rate (currently $25.75) and will have the same conditions of use on OC
Transpo conventional transit and Para Transpo. The reduced-price pass will
replace the free service on regular transit for wheelchair, scooter and
walker users.

Laurier bridge closures during Bluesfest
Council decided today to allow the weekday reduction to two lanes - one in
each direction - on the Laurier Avenue bridge between Nicholas and Elgin
during Bluesfest 2005 from the end of the day's events until 6 pm. When
Bluesfest activities are underway after 6 p.m. on weekdays and at all times
on weekends, the bridge will be closed to traffic except for one lane that
will be kept open for emergency vehicle access. The bridge will be open to
pedestrians and cyclists at all times. Information on bridge closure dates
and times will be posted on the City's Web site at Ottawa.ca and the
Bluesfest Web site at ottawa-bluesfest.ca.

    Roadside sale of produce
The Province of Ontario requires the City to harmonize all of the by-laws
from former municipalities into a single set of Ottawa by-laws by the end of
2005. Today, Council passed a newly harmonized by-law governing the sale of
farmers' produce at the side of the road.
The new harmonized "Vending on a Highway" by-law did not change the previous
practice under the former Regional Regulatory Code and most former municipal
by-laws. The by-law strives to ensure that vendors are a safe distance from
the road to ensure their own safety and the safety of customers and passing
drivers.
The current practice of farmers selling their produce at their gates and off
the road will continue. No licenses are required to sell produce in this
way. The City will generally enforce the by-law if complaints are received.

Riverside South Community Design Plan
City Council today approved the Riverside South Community Design Plan. The
Plan was established with input from residents, businesses and community
associations, and sets an overall vision for the completed community that
establishes the ways that land will be used in the community in the future.
It is used to guide the preparation and approval of building permits.
Riverside South will be the first new community in Ottawa to fully adopt
"Smart Growth" principles, which encourage a pedestrian-friendly approach
and place a high priority on transit. Smart Growth communities place a lot
of attention on green spaces and bring all the services residents need on a
day-to-day basis right into the community to make them easier to access.
Council's decision also emphasized the need for both affordable and social
housing, voting that the social housing component of the Riverside South
Community Design Plan be at least 7% of residential units (i.e. affordable
to the 20% of households in Ottawa that are lower income), subject to
federal/provincial funding.

Orléans Arts Facility and Town Centre
    Approval was given to proceed with the development of the Orléans
Arts Facility on Centrum Boulevard, as well as the completion of the
surrounding Orléans Town Centre under a Public-Private Partnership (P3).
    The project will provide a stronger focal point to the Orléans
community by adding more residential density around the Town Centre site,
attracting businesses into the site's new business complexes, and attracting
visitors who could be accommodated at the proposed hotel.
    The Orléans Arts Facility will include a 500-seat performing arts
hall, 100-seat black box studio, municipal art gallery, theatre studios,
pottery studios, visual arts studios, new media arts studios, dance studio,
and accompanying administrative spaces. It will deliver a unique cultural
hub to east-end residents in their own community, with a full range of
English and French visual and performing arts with a range of programs for
children and adults.
    Once completed by private-sector partners, the Orléans Town Centre
lands could also provide the community with enhanced government client
services centre, two office buildings, a seniors' residence, a hotel, a
number of stacked residential townhomes, six apartment buildings, and a
future transit station.
Both the specially designed arts facility and enhanced Town Centre respond
to the needs of the east-end community with creative ways of generating new
economic activity in the area.

    Other items of interest
    Acknowledgement - Ottawa Public Library Mascot
    "BOPL", Ottawa Public Library's Fire-reading dragon mascot, was
introduced today in Council Chambers. Councillor Rick Chiarelli acknowledged
BOPL's work as a volunteer with the Friends of the Ottawa Library. BOPL
works to promote this year's summer reading program for children, and
attends various library events throughout the year.

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