Councillor’s Message
I hope everyone had a great long weekend. We’re still in the middle of spring but has it ever felt like summer lately! The warmth and sunshine have arrived just in time for city crews to cut the fields, groom the baseball diamonds, and turn on those splash pads.
Speaking of parks, I am particularly excited to announce the process has begun for the long-awaited François Dupuis District Park! Many of you may recall that former Councillor Blais initiated consultations on this project years ago, but funding remained a hurdle. I am thrilled to let you know that we now have the necessary funds secured, and I have reinitiated the consultation process on the preferred design for the expansion. This is a crucial moment to gather your input and ensure that the park reflects the amenities our community desires.
The 2018 plan (pictured above), was based on recreation needs at the time and included amenities like a skateboard park, BMX track and toboggan hill, among others. The City is now ready to update the plan based on current recreational needs. This consultation is the first of multiple consultations; it is aimed at providing an opportunity to provide updated comments on the types of amenities that are being proposed in the park and to collect suggestions for other potential amenities. Subsequent consultations will present updated layout concepts and then focus on the more specific details of the proposed park features. Please have your say here: https://ow.ly/ZuAX50RRpYW. The survey is open until June 12.
On a somber note, we mourn the loss of former City Councillor Diane Deans, who passed away last week after a courageous five-year battle with ovarian cancer. Diane was a trailblazer for women in leadership, and her legacy will inspire generations to come. My heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends and former constituents. I will be attending her celebration of life tomorrow alongside my council colleagues to honour her remarkable contributions to our city.
As well, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the community for your swift action last week when a large quantity of prescription pills were discovered along Rolling Meadow near Navan Road. Your quick responses were instrumental in securing the scene and ensuring the safety of our pets and children. Please continue to stay alert and report any suspicious activity to Ottawa Police.
Finally, a big congrats to the Navan Grads for a remarkable season! There’s so much to be proud of, including being 2024 Bogart Cup Champs and a birth to the National Championship! I’m already looking forward to next season.
Construction starting on Tenth Line Pumping Station upgrades
Crews will begin work in June on upgrades to the Tenth Line Road pumping station. The station is located on Tenth Line between Décoeur Drive and Sweetvalley Drive. These critical upgrades are required to add capacity to the pumping station due to upcoming new housing developments and replacing aging equipment.
All proposed upgrades will be installed within the station property itself, however, some piping within the Hepatica Way right of way beside the station will be required.
Residents should be aware that work will cause noise and vibrations related to excavating, drilling, and temporary generators. To address these concerns, I have requested vibration monitoring throughout the project site, and homes in close proximity to the site will have been offered a pre-construction survey. Contractors will also need to access the site via Hepatica but will need to adhere to relevant parking bylaws. A lane on Tenth Line may also be impacted at times due to construction activity but will not occur during peak commuting hours.
A public meeting was held last year to advise residents of what they could expect during construction. I appreciate that this work will be a disturbance and your patience and understanding is appreciated while these upgrades are made. Anticipated completion is slated for spring 2026.
For any questions, concerns, or feedback, please reach out to both the City’s Project Manager, Jeff de Laat at jeff.delaat@ottawa.ca and the Contractor, Michael Denham, Senior Project Manager, Doran Contractors Limited at mdenham@doran.ca.
Bradley Estates Community Association AGM
I had the pleasure of attending the Bradley Estates Community Association (BECA) annual general meeting last Thursday, to hear more about this past year’s accomplishments and proposed projects for 2024-25, including BECA’s work to include accessibility elements through a minor capital grant at Tulip Tree Park. BECA is a proven leader in the community reviewing development files, advocating for transportation solutions, and keeping the community informed.
I’m looking forward to joining the team for their annual Family Fun Day on August 17, so please mark your calendars.
Congratulations to the executive board on their re-election and a huge thank you to all the volunteers who contribute to the many activities of the community association
Ward 19 in-person public consultation on rural water rate review
The City is reviewing how it recovers costs to deliver water services, and they want to hear from you. Staff are consulting on the development of a rate structure that considers impervious space as the basis for calculating stormwater fees.
Along with the survey which you can take here, staff will be hosting public consultation events in rural wards to provide more information on the review and gather your input. Our in-person public consultation for Orléans South-Navan is on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, from 7-8:30 pm at Navan Arena (1295 Colonial Rd). I hope to see you there.
A reminder that no decision has been made on any potential change of fees. As your councillor, I continue to gather information myself and am in discussion with my fellow rural councillors about mutual concerns we have with what’s been put forward by staff.
2024 Wild Parsnip Program is anticipated to start on May 27
The goal is to reduce the growth of wild parsnip in highly infested areas while ensuring that environmentally sensitive areas and public safety are not adversely impacted.
The 2024 Wild Parsnip Strategy will allow staff to:
Continue and expand the application of Clearview and Navius FLEX herbicides to highly infested areas;
Continue mowing operations, adjusting frequency and timing to best coincide with herbicide applications
Re-map infestation areas and levels
Staff anticipate wild parsnip spraying in City parklands will begin June 3, 2024, weather permitting. Approximately 1200 lane kilometres of roadsides/pathways and over 200 locations of parkland will be treated this year.
To notify the public of the herbicide application, a Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) approved “Notice of Herbicide Use” advertisement will appear in local newspapers one week prior to the start of spraying. However, given the large number of public access points for parks, signs will continue to be posted every 100 metres.
Orléans Business After 5 Event
Join The Ottawa Board of Trade for their Business After 5 in Orléans on Thursday, May 30.
Keep the day’s momentum going with an after-business hours networking experience in a casual setting that’s sure to engage.
Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres as you interact with your peers, establish new working relationships, and get a better understanding of the challenges facing businesses in Ottawa.
For more information and ticket details, click here.
Please respect dog on leash designation in parks
Recently, multiple residents have brought forward concerns about dogs being off leash in areas where it is not permitted. For the safety of all people who use City parks, we ask you to respect all "Dogs on Leash" designations, which permits dog handlers to bring only leashed dogs into a park. The dogs must be always under control.
We want all users of our public spaces, including our beloved four-legged friends, to be able to enjoy themselves and feel safe. Please also remember to pick up after your pet.
For more information, please visit https://ow.ly/V8iF50OZh8N
Sarsfield Plant Swap
Join Sarsfield Community Association for their plant swap on Saturday, May 25 from 9-10 am at the Sarsfield Community Centre (3585 Sarsfield Road).
Leave your surplus seeds, indoor and outdoor plans and take what you need.
Grand opening of Mantha Park!
Although ward boundaries have changed and Mantha Park is no longer a part of ward 19, Join Councillor Matt Luloff and I as we host an exciting grand opening celebration for the brand-new Mantha Park in Cardinal Creek Village on June 2nd!
Bring your family, friends and neighbours, and indulge in a complimentary BBQ, live music, and explore the fantastic new park amenities.
Event Details:
Time: 11:30am - 1:30pm
Location: Mantha Park, 525, Famille-Laporte Ave
Activities: Free BBQ, games for kids, ribbon-cutting ceremony, live music, and more!
Cumberland Farmers’ Market season opening & annual spring market
Join the community for the opening of the 2024 season for the Cumberland Farmers’ Market, including the annual spring market on Saturday, June 1 from 9 am-3 pm!
The market is located at 1115 Dunning Road in Cumberland.
I encourage you to take in this fantastic opportunity to support our small businesses and of course, stock up on some amazing local goods!
Reminder to get your well tested!
If you have a private well, be sure to get it tested every spring, summer and fall; even if it looks, tastes and smells fine.
More info: OttawaPublicHealth.ca/WellWater
Traffic disruptions during Ottawa Race Weekend
The running event starts and ends at Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West, and involves intermittent lane reductions and closures on Saturday, from as early as 11 am until 9 pm, and on Sunday, from as early as 5 am until 2 pm.
Major roads impacted at various times by the event include:
Laurier Avenue
Elgin Street
O’Connor Street
Wellington Street
Bronson Avenue
Colonel By Drive
Pretoria Bridge
Queen Elizabeth Drive
Preston Street
Carling Avenue
Gladstone Avenue
Kichi Zībī Mīkan Parkway
Booth Street
Rideau Street
MacKenzie Avenue
Sussex Drive
Sir George Étienne Cartier Parkway
A full listing of the lane reductions, road closures and times are located on the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend website. For updates on construction and roadwork across Ottawa, or for information about traffic and travel planning, visit the City’s traffic map or follow the City’s traffic account on Twitter.
As well, events to keep in mind include the Great Glebe Garage Sale on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Parks Maintenance Spring Update
Crews cut grass in our parks every seven to 14 days. Issues that could affect level of service include weather, grass growth rate, soil conditions, staffing or vehicle levels, emergency responses and park designation. Regular mowing is good for the health of the turf making it denser, discouraging weeds. Staff aim to keep grass height in our parks between 60 and 75 and never more than 100 millimetres unless the area is in a designated naturalization area.
Crews maintain the turfgrass in our 529 sports fields and 328 ball diamonds every three to seven days. The same issues listed above can affect schedules for sports fields as well. Sport fields also have designations based on the events and activities they usually attract. Regular mowing creates safer playing conditions on our fields. Staff aim to keep our sports fields’ grass at a height of 60 millimetres with a maximum height of 80 to 90 millimetres.
Designated naturalized areas reduce the amount of turf they mow in various City parks and other green spaces. The City typically mows naturalized areas one to two times a year to control invasive species and other vegetation control. These bio-diverse habitats slow and help to filter surface water run-off while creating homes for birds, butterflies and other wildlife. It also helps us improve the maintenance of the areas we do mow. Mowing in naturalized areas still occurs along vehicular, cycling or pedestrian corridors to define sight lines.
Crews cut grass along our roadsides between five to eight times a year. This is to maintain safe sightlines along roads, paths and sidewalks. Many of our roadsides have seen a first pass. Residents are reminded of requirements of Use and Care of Roads By-Law, particularly the section which covers residents’ responsibility for cutting the grass and weeds on the boulevard abutting the owner’s land.
Meet the Fleet at the Public Works Big Wheels Expo!
This is a great event for truck-obsessed kiddos! The City’s public works vehicles are a common sight on city streets. Together, these machines help us protect the City’s infrastructure assets as well as our precious green spaces.
Last year, residents got the chance to see these machines up close at the first annual Public Works Big Wheels Expo.
Come down to the Ottawa Stadium on Sunday, June 2 between 9:30 am and 2 pm to enjoy this free event. Some of the vehicles that will be on site include a garbage truck, rock truck, road painting truck, traffic signal display, sidewalk sweeper, snowplow, log truck, and much more. Please note that the event will open at 9 am for a 30-minute period to offer a sensory-friendly time for those who benefit from lighter crowds.
For those wishing to stay after the event to watch some baseball, there will be an Ottawa Titans game starting at 1 pm. From noon onwards, 100 people will receive free tickets to attend the game.
Date: Sunday, June 2
Time: 9:30 am to 2 pm
Location: Ottawa Stadium, 300 Coventry Road
Cost: FREE
Thefts of vehicles continue in Ottawa; Stay safe and know how to protect your vehicle
The Ottawa Police would like to remind residents to remain vigilant, stay safe, and safeguard their vehicles to avoid being a victim of vehicle theft.
Thefts of late model luxury SUVs and light trucks continue in Ottawa however, the vehicle theft trend is not limited to Lexus/Toyota products. Newer models of the Rav4 , Honda CRV, Jeep Grand Cherokee as well as Ford F-Series trucks (higher trim level) and all makes and models of vehicles that are equipped with a proximity key (i.e., push-button start), have also been targeted by thieves. Vehicle thefts have also increased in the province of Quebec and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
If you see someone attempting to steal your car, please call 911. For your own safety, DO NOT engage the thief.
Vehicle owners are encouraged to consider the following prevention methods:
Park inside a garage if you can
Block your vehicle in tightly in front of a second less sought after vehicle
Install an after-market vehicle immobilizer
Use a steering wheel lock (i.e. “Club”)
Install after-market tracking devices, GPS or air tags
Install an Engine Control Module (ECM) port-lock
Install motion detection lights and exterior surveillance cameras
Report any suspicious activity immediately to police at 613-236-1222
When parking your vehicle at shopping malls or sporting events, always lock your doors and activate any security features.
For more information, visit ottawapolice.ca
REMINDER: Open Air Fire Safety and Regulations
Ottawa Fire Service is reminding everyone setting up a new or existing fire pit that a permit is required to light a fire on private property, including a backyard fire or using a large fire pit.
Those with a permit will be allowed to light a campfire or an outdoor fireplace; as well, permit larger burn piles of untreated wood, tree limbs and branches during daylight hours. A permit is not necessary for outdoor natural gas, propane, or ethanol fireplaces.
Everyone is also reminded to always check if there is an open-air fire ban in place prior to lighting a fire, and failing to adhere to the ban could result in fines.
For more details and to apply for a fire permit, please visit ottawa.ca/burnpermit.
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