NEWS ARCHIVESMarch 14, 2008 Potential increase to Stittsville Transit Tax The Town Transit Area (TTA) taxation rate has been discussed in the media recently, and was raised in my column last week. There is a recommendation being put forth at Transit Committee to move Stittsville from the TTA to the Urban Transit Area (UTA), which would see an increase in your taxes, as well as an increase in transit service levels in our community. When the TTA was introduced in 2005, it was decided that the program would be reviewed after three years. The review and consultation was originally scheduled for the fall of 2008. The Transit Levy Policy Review Report can be obtained through my website at www.shadqadri.com or by visiting the City’s website at www.ottawa.ca and following the string: City Council and Committee Agenda and Minutes, Transit Committee March 19, Agenda 18 and clicking the link Response to Council Budget Direction – Transit Levy Policy Review. I encourage you to attend the Transit Committee meeting and speak to this item. The meeting will be held on March 19 starting at 1:30 p.m. in the Champlain Room (2nd Floor, Heritage Building, City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave. W). To register to speak and provide comments to the Transit Committee, please contact the committee coordinator, Anne-Marie Leung, at 613-580-2424 ext. 21385 or via e-mail at Anne-Marie.Leung@ottawa.ca. It is always important to hear your feedback on transit
issues in our community. I encourage you to contact my office at 613-590-2476 or
shad.qadri@ottawa.ca to voice your
opinions. Councillor Report Card Thank you to all the residents who took the time to fill out my annual Councillor Report Card. It was a pleasure to read your thoughts and concerns regarding our community and it is critical that this kind of information comes in on a routine basis. Based on the results, the most pressing issue for our residents is planning and development. Residents want to ensure the development that occurs in our community respects the rich heritage of our village. Following that, the three most pertinent issues in order are: growth, solid waste and taxes. These issues need to be brought to the forefront of discussion in our community, as each shape the way Sitttsville-Kanata West grows. It is important you bring your concerns on these, and other issues, to my attention. I am pleased to report that based on the report cards that were submitted, 57.2 per cent of respondents were very satisfied with my performance as your City Hall representative. It is a great honour to have this kind of response from the community. Twenty-eight per cent of residents who responded said they are satisfied with my performance. The remaining respondents felt my performance ranked from unsatisfied (6.4 per cent), very unsatisfied (5 per cent) to not available (3.9 per cent). It is important I hear your feedback, positive or negative, to ensure I can do the best possible job representing your needs at City Hall. I encourage you to contact my office and voice your opinions. Once again, thank you for taking the time to respond. Fairwinds West public meeting The applicant has submitted a plan of subdivision and zoning by-law amendment for their residential development located at 33 Johnwoods Street in Kanata West on the east side of Johnwoods Street and south of Maple Grove Road in the Mattamy development known as 'Fairwinds West'. It is being proposed to change the current zoning of Rural
(RU) to Residential Type 1 exception zone (R1-XX) to permit townhomes,
single-detached homes and an elementary school. The plan of subdivision is
proposing 329 residential dwelling units. For more information please contact my office and the City
Planner, Sally Switzer at 613-580-2424 x27597 or
Sally.Switzer@ottawa.ca. Grant from the FOPLA to libraries The money was used to fund the purchase of three microfilm readers, one of which was installed at the Stittsville branch, located at 1637 Stittsville Main St. The readers allow us to access backdated issues of newspaper articles not accessible elsewhere within in the OPL. This is a tremendous research and learning tool and I am very proud the Stittsville branch was selected to house one of the readers. I encourage everyone to take advantage of the microfilm
reader and discover a little bit more about our community’s rich history through
decades of archived newsprint. Apply for Green Partnership Program funding There is still time for community groups and residents to take advantage of the City’s Green Partnership Program, and help make the Stittsville-Kanata West Ward a little greener. The City has committed $1 million to fund sustainable community development projects that will be completed by the end of the year. Projects such as improving neighbourhood parks or preventing and removing graffiti are eligible. I encourage everyone interested to visit www.ottawa.ca/green or any Client Service Centre to pick up an application form. The funding application deadline is April 15. Applications are reviewed as received with funding awarded on an ongoing basis. Approved projects must be completed by Dec. 31. This is a fantastic way to make our community more
environmentally friendly, and an even greater place to live, work and play. Easter Weekend schedule changes As we prepare to hop into the Easter Weekend, please be advised of some schedule changes for March 21 and March 24. City Hall and the six Client Service Centres will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday. There will be no curbside garbage pick-up and OC Transpo will be running a revised schedule. All recreation facilities will remain open, but they will be operating on a revised schedule. Public libraries will be closed Friday, Sunday and Monday of Easter Weekend. Please visit my website at www.shadqadri.com for complete information. From our office to your family, Happy Easter, and enjoy
hunting for those eggs! “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-Kanata West. Please contact our office anytime by phone at 613-580-2476 or by email at shad.qadri@ottawa.ca. To view the Transit Levy Policy Review Report tabled at Transit Committee, please visit www.shadqadri.com. There will also be a chance to vote on the proposed recommendation on my website. Please note that you can also contact my ward office every Monday and Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and every Wednesday from 1 p.m.-8 p.m. at 613-580-2424 ext. 33440 or 33442. Also, feel free to stop by anytime at 1532 Stittsville Main Street. Sincerely, [ close window ] |
