Council approves city budget with new process
Posted Feb 5, 2010 By Marianne Wilkinson
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Tweet ThisEMC News - As indicated last week, I supported funding for Crime Prevention Ottawa, restoration of funding for bus routes, and a U-pass for post-secondary students (with no tax increase involved).
I have been working with Councillor Desroches to find savings for this year's budget, and we were able to remove $2 million from Lansdowne Park as the funds won't be needed this year, and nearly a million reduction in the Green Bin program.
Additionally, I have a motion looking at ways to save staff costs by reviewing positions where the person is retiring.
This has been referred to committee for evaluation.
The budget process this year - different from previous years - used a budget committee (chaired by the Mayor), which produced a draft budget.
We then worked with staff from the Mayor's office to come up with a list of changes.
A number of other motions were also considered. The end result was a small reduction from the committee's draft budget, resulting in a tax increase of 3.77 per cent.
The budget includes 340 more full time equivalent staff members, largely in protective services (police, fire, paramedics) and transit (bus drivers and mechanics).
At no time did the Mayor recommend or put forward a motion to reduce staff or cut social programs. It is distressing to hear that after voting for the budget and speaking positively about the result, on the next day, he said it was unsatisfactory and it could have been reduced by $20-30 million dollars!
This is puzzling since it was never raised at any of the meetings nor was any motion to do so tabled at the committee or council meetings.
GREENBELT PLAN - RESPOND BY FEB. 18
The National Capital Commission is reviewing the master plan for the Greenbelt.
I attended one of the open houses last week and had particular interest on public use of Greenbelt lands. It appears that other than existing recreational uses, primarily trails, that the plan is not addressing community needs for outdoor recreation.
For example, lands adjacent to the Eagleson Park and Ride are ideally suited for a number of soccer fields and Kanata Soccer is open to developing and operating them.
Yet such uses don't appear on their material. With an increasing obesity rates, particularly with children, there is a need for more outdoor activities.
The NCC will continue to receive feedback until Oct. 18.
You can access the questionnaire on the NCC website. Make your voice heard by contributing your views.
ROAD CONSTRUCTION TIME LINES
March Road utility work is now underway with road construction to start in April.
The northbound lanes - including new storm trunk sewer, new watermain, sidewalks and street lighting - are to be completed by Fall 2010, along with Klondike Road to Halton reconstruction.
Interim traffic signals are to be installed at Klondike Road and Maxwell Bridge by the end of October. The southbound lanes and final traffic signals will be completed by summer 2011 with all construction complete by the end of August 2011.
There has been a minor delay in start of work on Kanata Avenue and the Goulbourn Forced Road.
Closing date for the contract is now March 16 with construction underway in April. Completion remains late in 2010.
ORGANICS PLANT REOPENS
After a month's delay, the plant that will process material from the green bins has received all of its approvals and has started to take materials.
For the first month, material was handled through a contingency plan - at no increase in the cost of the program.
LANSDOWNE PARK - HAVE YOUR SAY
You can participate in the design plan for Lansdowne by answering the following three questions at ottawa.ca/lansdownepartnership.
They are: What would you, your family and friends like to do in a new urban park at Lansdowne?
What elements or features do you think the new urban park should include?
Do you have other comments that could help the designers come up with a plan that would make this urban park a unique and special place within the city?
Responses received by Feb. 12 will be in the summary report provided to design teams.
Later responses will be provided to the design teams.
COMING EVENTS
Feb. 22 - Deadline for student summer jobs, ottawa.ca/careers
Feb. 22 - 7-9 p.m. - Ward Council, Senior's Centre, Mlacak Centre.
Serving the residents and businesses in Kanata North
To receive the Kanata North Newsletter, to deal with a concern or make a suggestion, contact me at 613-580-2474, email Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca or through www.mariannewilkinson.com.
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