BUDGET WEEK

Note: I was not able to attend this week's committees or the budget meeting, as my father passed away. ​His funeral service was held at the same time as the City Council meeting for the 2019 Budget. 

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

Transportation committee last week approved the draft operating and capital budgets, and sparked many discussions about winter maintenance and traffic calming. A report also came to committee about their pilot project on broadband back-up alarms on snow removal vehicles and equipment. The pilot project was a success, and the City will be installing these alarms on the remainder of the fleet before next winter season. Transportation staff mentioned during the meeting that they would be bringing a report in the spring with new initiatives for traffic.

FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (FEDCO)

At this week’s FEDCO meeting, staff provided members with an update on the Confederation Line of LRT. Transportation General Manager John Manconi delivered the news that although RTG has had significant progress, they will unable to make the March 31^st deadline. RTG will release a new deadline in the near future, but it is expected that LRT will be handed over to the City during Q2.

CITY COUNCIL: 2019 BUDGET

Council voted on the 2019 Budget this week. Although I was not able to attend the budget meeting, I feel it right to provide my residents my perspective on this year’s budget.

From roads, culverts, traffic, and emergency services, I believe the final 2019 Budget has successfully addressed many priorities for Osgoode Ward. The budget dedicates $42.7 million to upgrade Ottawa’s rural infrastructure, including bridges, guiderails and culverts, with $1.7 million targeted for our ward. With the growing frequency of rain events and large snowmelts, these infrastructure items serve as our best defence for flooding, mitigating erosion, and protecting the health of our roadways.

Osgoode Ward will receive $6.5 million to resurface roads including Mitch Owens and River Road, and $1.7 million for new major culverts across most villages. The 2019 winter operations budget is increasing by $2.4 million, for a total of $70.8 million. Osgoode Ward will also see over $830,000 for improvements within Parks and Facilities to replace the roof at Kenmore Community Hall, exterior walls and dehumidifiers at Larry Robinson Arena, and the foundation wall at the Vernon Community Centre; all three much needed improvements to our local community buildings.

I look forward to providing you with more details on projects for this year as the next few months unfold!

Community safety is always a top priority for Osgoode Ward. There will be over $7 million city-wide in the budget to invest in traffic control devices, pedestrian crossovers, the well-known Safer Roads Ottawa program, traffic-calming measures, and more. The traffic-calming budget for each Councillor has risen to $50,000 from $40,000 in this year’s budget, providing more resources for safety initiatives in our communities. There will be $589.7 million for community and protective services, which includes funding for 14 staff for the Ottawa Paramedic Service and 2 emergency response vehicles to maintain the response times to increasing call volumes as approved by Council. The 2019 OPS Budget will add 30 more officers into the Ottawa Police Service this year for traffic enforcement, the guns and gangs unit, and to strengthen community policing. I have been a very vocal advocate for more emergency services throughout my time in office and during my campaign, and I am happy to deliver this improvement of service to my residents through the 2019 Budget!

Council also approved Phase 2 of LRT as part of the budget vote. I would like to start by saying that Osgoode Ward tax dollars will NOT be paying for LRT. The LRT project is funded through a combination of transit tax – which we do not pay in our ward – development charges, and provincial and federal funding. Council’s decision on approving LRT Phase 2 will have no impact on other budgets, like road projects, that would be of higher priority for Osgoode Ward residents.

Staff have assured us that the Phase 2 procurement process has been crafted with lessons learned from Phase 1. There have been environmental assessments, 3^rd party expert assessments, public consultations, and lots of Council approvals over many years getting us to this point. The process has also undergone rigorous oversight by the fairness commissioner, legal experts, financial experts, and procurement experts. Staff have confirmed that even with the increased cost, the project is still within the City’s Long-Range Financial Plan and is affordable under our policies.

With this information in mind, I am choosing to trust the recommendations from our city staff and their experts who have worked diligently on this project for years. I know that the City has had some setbacks with Phase 1, and there have been some worrying media articles about LRT over the last few weeks. Staff have addressed all concerns that arose from these articles and more, including clarifying that the system has been tested for -and does indeed work- in winter conditions. Yes, I do still have many reservations about this project, and will continue to be cautious and question any items as they come up, but I feel the LRT project should go forward. It will not only benefit the City but will also encourage economic development in the south end.

My residents have maintained during my time in office that we need a solution to our traffic issue in the south end. At this time, I believe that LRT can be one of many pieces in addition to other road widening projects that will help deliver that solution, in a double advantage to Osgoode Ward: we could reap the benefits of traffic alleviation from this project and expansion of rural economic development without paying for the system with our tax dollars. LRT Phase 2 is proposed to be a world-class transit system constructed ready-to-go on day-one, will continue to serve generations to come.

AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (ARAC)

At the ARAC meeting this week, there was very short agenda; members approved two zoning By-Law amendments.