NEWS ARCHIVESFebruary 12, 2009 Council approves $10 million compensation plan Following the February 11 Council meeting, a revised plan to compensate transit users, while respecting property taxes, has been developed. The $10 million incentive plan is comprised of $2.4 million from the Transit Fund and $7.6 million recovered from revenue already collected. Earlier in the week, City Staff suggested that with the incentives the City had originally proposed, the final price tag for the strike would be approximately $13 million, which would have had an impact on your tax bill. The revised incentive plan yields a final price tag of $1.5 million, as incentives have been scaled back. As a result, there should be no impact on your property taxes. In my last column, I indicated Council had approved pushing back interim property taxes until April 16; however, Council has now determined the interim tax due date will be March 30, two weeks after the usual due date. By deciding to alter the due date from April 16 to March 30, the City has saved $850,000. The revised plan includes the following: if you hold a Regular December pass, you can exchange this for a March pass at 60 per cent off. If you take advantage of this offer before the end of February, you can use the discounted March pass for the remainder of February as well. December Express and Rural Express pass holders will receive coupons for discounted passes for April and May. The coupons will allow you to purchase an April and May Express and Rural Express pass at the cost of a Regular pass. Coupons are available from all OC Transpo Client Service Centres, and you must exchange your December pass. If you are interested in receiving a March Regular pass, visit a sales office and exchange your December pass for the discounted March pass; at the same time, you will receive the coupons for April and May. Ecopass deductions are presently stopped, but Ecopasses are still valid on OC Transpo and STO buses. Ecopass holders will receive the same discount and reimbursements that have been offered to other December pass holders. I urge you to contact your Ecopass Administrator for details particular to your situation. I believe the re-imbursement the City provides to transit users should compensate for the loss of service that they had paid for. My concern with above-and-beyond incentive programs is that it would result in taxpayers across the City having to pay off a massive debt in the long run. Should you have any comments, concerns or questions,
please do not hesitate to contact my office. Jackson Trails Park officially named I am pleased to announce Council has unanimously approved the naming of the Jackson Trails Park, located at 1018 Stittsville Main Street. The Park will officially be named “Pioneer Plains Park.” As the Jackson Trails subdivision was named in memory of Jackson Stitt, a founder of Stittsville, the new park name references Stitt as the community’s pioneer, while referring to residents moving into Jackson Trails as pioneers of one of Canada's first energy star communities. Retaining the historical significance and legacy of our
communities for existing and future generations is of critical importance. I
thank the residents of Jackson Trails and the Goulbourn Horticultural Society
who suggested and supported the name. Youth Voice forum wants to hear from you The City of Ottawa, along with the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre, invite the youth of our community to an event geared specifically to them. On February 20 from 3-6pm, youth aged 12-18 years old are encouraged to stop by the Goulbourn Recreation Complex to discuss the planning of youth-oriented activities and programs for their community. This is your opportunity to let City Staff know what is important to you. Prizes and pizza will also be available! For more information, or if you would like to volunteer,
please contact Kyla Helpin, Stittsville Youth Supervisor, at 613-580-2424 ext.
43302. Friends seeking friends The Friends of the Ottawa Public Library (FOPLA) is in search of some new members to join its committee. The FOPLA is an advocate of a strong public library system and participates in the City’s annual budget debate, while bringing focus to the importance libraries play in our community. If you have an interest in volunteering
with the FOPLA, please visit
www.ottawapubliclibraryfriends.ca and contact the
organization directly, or contact my office by phone at 613-580-2476 and I will
put you in touch with a representative. Winterfest coming to town Seasonal favourite Winterfest is just around the corner and you are your family are invited to celebrate the festivities. Hosted by the Stittsville Village Association, Winterfest will be held on February 22 from noon until 4pm at the Ralph Street Park. Broomball, chicken bowling, and ice sculptures
are just some of the entertainment you can expect. I hope to see you and your
family enjoying the outdoor festivities. New ward office hours to serve you better Since moving to my new ward office, located in the Goulbourn Recreation Complex, I have noticed increased traffic during the evenings and weekends. In order to serve you better, I am altering my ward office hours to reflect peak times. My ward office will now be open Mondays 9-2pm,
Wednesdays 3-8pm, Fridays 9-5pm, and Saturday 9-1pm. I will make myself
available on Saturday mornings for you to stop by with your comments and
concerns. If Saturdays conflict with your schedule, please contact my office by
e-mail at Shad.Qadri@ottawa.ca or by phone at 613-580-2476 and we can arrange a
more suitable time. Always listening and acting on your concerns As your Councillor, I always welcome your keen input and ideas on how we can sustain and improve Stittsville. Please contact our office anytime by phone at 613-580-2476 or by e-mail at Shad.Qadri@ottawa.ca. My ward office is located in the Goulbourn Recreation Complex, located at 1500 Shea Road. The hours of operation are Mondays 9-2pm, Wednesdays 3-8pm, Fridays 9-5pm, and Saturday 9-1pm. Please do not hesitate to pay us a visit. Sincerely, |
