KANATA NORTH NEWS Marianne Wilkinson Councillor, Kanata North 2012 BUDGET
The City Budget documents, including budgets from the Library, Police and Health Boards, were tabled at Council last week. These are the budgets that will set your level of property taxation for 2012. I am pleased that this budget respects Councils directive to keep to a tax increase of no more than 2.5%. As presented, it would result in a tax increase of 2.39%, lower than last years increase of 2.45%. Additionally, due to efficiencies that have been developed over the past few years, there will be a reduction in the number of City employees. This is happening even as some areas required additional staff to be hired to look after new recreation facilities, new parks and new roads. As Chair of the Transportation Committee, I was particularly pleased that the budget has recognized the need to maintain our existing infrastructure, including roads, sidewalks, cycling routes and buildings. With the end of the federal, provincial, and municipal infrastructure programs, moving forward on maintenance work will provide continuing employment at a reasonable cost. Doing maintenance in a timely fashion, results in large cost reductions for the City. For example, if a major road is not resurfaced when it starts to deteriorate it will require reconstruction at five times the cost within a few years. Hence, the City is borrowing some of the funds needed, since interest costs are very low now and bringing the work forward will save far more than the cost of paying that money back. Over the next month you can provide your view on the budget in a number of ways. The Kanata public meeting is prior to the publication date of this paper but you can go to the meeting at City Hall on Nov. 4 from 4 to 6 pm. You can also attend any one of meetings of the Standing Committees, starting on Nov. 7th. The Transportation Committee is on Nov. 10th and the Transit Commission on Nov. 16th for example. You can also email me, or the Mayor, with your comments and suggestions. Council as a whole will deliberate the budget on Nov. 30th. Passing the budget prior to the start of the year means that staff can move forward on work identified in the budget throughout the year.
YEAR ONE ACHIEVEMENTS
It is just a year since this municipal Council was elected. This Council has worked together smoothly and a lot has been accomplished. Im particularly
pleased with having the light rail project (LRT) move forward, with changes that will reduce the cost and allow us to proceed within the amounts approved. I was pleased to join the Mayor and Councillor Deans for the announcement of the three consortiums that will submit bids on the final design, construction, maintenance and financing of the LRT project. Submissions are to be made by next July. Each group will spend approximately $10 million in preparing these bids. The winning bid will start construction by early 2013. The other bidders will each receive $2 million in return for the City obtaining rights to all of the work theyve done. The City can then use the best ideas from all three proposals on this vitally important project.
PLASCO AND WASTE
Plasco has received final approval from the province for the pilot plant it operates in Ottawa. The City can finalize the agreement with Plasco to process all residential waste that is not recycled or composted. These additional facilities will be built at Plascos cost. The rate the City will pay remains the same as it presently costs to use landfills. The Plasco system is environmentally friendly and results in the production of electricity. I look forward to this project becoming a reality.
CONSTRUCTION REMINDERS
Hydro Ottawa has requested permission to trench and place a hydro line through Monk Meadow Park (off Penfield). Goulbourn Forced Road will open by the end of November, with some work being completed in the spring. The sod turning for the Kanata North Recreation Centre will take place later this year. The sidewalk along Campeau is underway and is expected to mainly be complete by winter. Construction on the widening of the 417 and repair of the bridges will probably start in the spring. Mintos Klondike Crossing development off Klondike, at Flamborough, will start this winter.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Mon. Nov. 7, 6:00 p.m. Opening of the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame, City Hall
Wed. Nov 9, 4-8 pm Waste Management Open House, Kanata Recreation Complex Sat. Nov. 12, 10 am, Kanatas Santa Claus Parade starting at Terry Fox and Castlefrank and ending at the Hazeldean Mall. Mon. Nov 21, 7-9 pm, Ward Council, Program Room, Kanata Seniors Centre Thurs. Nov. 24, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Public meeting on changes to the smoking bylaw to ban smoking on beaches, playgrounds and certain hours on patios, Kanata Recreation Centre, Walter Baker Park. Contact me at 613-580-2474, email Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca, or visit www.mariannewilkinson.com to keep up to date on community matters.
