Hi folks:
My apologies for
having to cancel
last night's Bay
Ward Community
Council meeting
- unfortunately
Transit
Committee (of
which I am the
Chair) went on
past 8 pm last
night (we
started at 1:30
pm!) as we were
dealing with the
Downtown Ottawa
Transit Tunnel
(here is the
link to the
report, for
those interested
http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/tc/2009/05-06/ACS2009-ICS-PLA-0069.htm
- our
recommendation
to Council was
to approve the
proposed
downtown tunnel
alignment and
station
locations - this
will go to City
Council on May
27).
Our next Bay
Ward Council
meeting will be
on Wednesday
June 3 and we
will get caught
up on
neighbourhood
and City Hall
issues then.
However, I had
hoped to report
to you on the
NCC Greenbelt
Master Plan
Study and the
latest on the
Emerald Ash
Borer and the
Swine Flu
pandemic.
-
NCC
Greenbelt
Master Plan
Study:
The initial
meeting of
the Study's
Public
Advisory
Committee
was held
last April 4
at NCC
headquarters,
where a
presentation
was given on
the study's
scope and
workplan (see
attached).
In short the
NCC
consultants
are
examining
existing
conditions
affecting
the
Greenbelt
(including
fragmentation,
pressures
for growth,
etc.). In
the fall
they will
focus on the
vision for
the
Greenbelt,
including a
national
workshop on
this, plus a
public open
house ("what
the
Greenbelt
will look
like in 50
years"). In
the
winter/spring
of 2010 the
study will
move from
vision to
land use
concepts
(guiding
principles,
strategic
objectives),
which would
lead to
sector plans
(i.e.
Shirley's
Bay, etc.)
for the fall
of
2010/spring
of 2011.
Each step
will involve
meetings
with the
Public
Advisory
Committee (I
am an
observer
here) and
public open
houses.
In the
lead-up to
the next
phase of
this study
(the
visioning
exercise in
the fall) I
will be
seeking
involvement/support
from our
community to
ensure that
our
community
values
regarding
preserving
the
Greenbelt as
public
greenspace
is developed
and
expressed.
-
The
Emerald Ash
Borer
is a pest
that is
destroying
Ash trees
throughout
North
America -
for more
information
about this
(and about
restrictions
in moving
wood here in
Ottawa) here
is the link:
http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/healthy_lawns/forestry/eab/index_en.html
-
The
Human Swine
Flu
(H1N1)
pandemic is
occupying
the
attention of
the City's
Public
Health
Department,
as to date
we have 2
cases of it
here in
Ottawa. To
learn more
about this
go to
http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/health/conditions/swine_influenza_en.html.
There are
simple
precautions
to take to
avoid the
spread of
this illness
- wash your
hands
frequently;
do not
sneeze into
your hands
(use your
sleeve or a
handkerchief),
and if you
are ill stay
home.
At our June Bay
Ward Council
meeting I will
have updates
regarding a
number of
Environmental
Assessments
affecting our
community - for
the West
Transitway from
Lincoln Fields
(Southwest
Transitway) to
Pinecrest Road,
the West
Transitway from
Bayshore to
Moodie Drive,
and the Rapid
Transit Network
West Corridor
(Dominion
Station to
Lincoln Fields).
As well, White
Papers
(discussion
papers) on the
City's Parks &
Recreation
Master Plan
(facilities,
programs, fees)
will be out for
public
discussion
(expected
release May 14)
and we will have
a presentation
on this.
And lastly - I
hope to see you
at the Byron
Recreational
Pathway
Extension
GRAND OPENING
this Saturday
May 9 at 10 am,
at New Orchard
Ave. and Byron
Ave. - let's
celebrate this
new feature for
our community!
Alex Cullen
Councillor, Bay
Ward
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Ave.
W.
Ottawa K1P 1J1
(613) 580-2477
fax: (613)
580-2517
e-mail:
alex.cullen@ottawa.ca
www.alexcullen.ca
