NEWS ARCHIVESNovember 16, 2007 Budget Debate Begins at City Hall Last week the City’s 2008 budget was tabled and the next month is sure to be filled with thoughtful debate and discussion on how Council can make the most of your tax dollars. The tabling of the budget marks the beginning of a four-week public consultation period, which includes meetings in each ward across the City and public delegations to Committee of the Whole. The staff report presented to Council last week outlines three different scenarios including a zero per cent tax increase with $59 million in reductions or revenue increases, a 1.4 per cent tax increase with $45 million in reductions or revenue increases and a 3.4 per cent tax increase with $25 million in reductions or revenue increases. Please note that the above options do not include a 1.4 per cent police budget increase. I will be working with Mayor O’Brien and my Council colleagues to find effective savings within our City and also to ensure our important core services are maintained. As many of you have heard, the Mayor released the Hunter Report, which was prepared by his consultant Gordon J. Hunter. This report identifies $97 million in savings for this year’s budget and I support many of the recommendations that have been made. The Mayor has also released an open letter to community associations saying that he does not agree with targeting frontline services in the City but sees potential in savings from costs associated with internal management. I look forward to working towards trimming the fat at the City of Ottawa to help ease the burden on Ottawa taxpayers. We must identify savings internally and then evaluate other areas where we as a City can spend more wisely. There are a number of ways for you to provide input on the 2008 budget and I encourage you to get involved. On Nov. 27 my west end colleagues and I are hosting a 2008
Budget Meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Ron Maslin Playhouse, located at 1
Ron Maslin Way in Kanata. If you are planning to attend and share your comments with Council please call 613-580-2424, ext. 28625 to register. If you will be making a presentation please ensure that you send an electronic copy to budget@ottawa.ca. If you are unable to attend in person please contact my
office, as it is imperative I hear from residents on what your priorities are to
assist me in representing our community at the Council table. Christmas in Stittsville On Dec. 1 I am hosting a Christmas gathering at my ward office, located at 1532 Stittsville Main Street. This is a great opportunity for members of our community to get together before the busy holiday season begins. Please plan to stop by between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to enjoy refreshments and fun for the kids. My office will be providing coffee, tea and a variety of baked goods and I encourage you to bring some of your own Christmas treats to share with everyone. Also, I will take this opportunity to collect donations
for the Stittsville Food Bank to help families in need this season. For more
information on my Christmas gathering please contact my office at 613-580-2476. Coffee With the Mayor This weekend Ottawa residents will have the opportunity to hear from Mayor Larry O’Brien and engage in informal conversation about the City’s Official Plan. City staff has prepared White Papers to provide background information and encourage discussion on a number of topics including transportation, intensification and the environment. This initiative stems from the City’s Beyond Ottawa 20/20…Planning for the Future that was implemented last month. Beyond 20/20 is a great way for Ottawa residents to comment on the City’s Official Plan and have their say on how the City should manage growth. On Nov. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. City Café, is being held in the Exhibition Hall at Landsdowne Park. Mayor O’Brien is scheduled to address the crowd and Rod Bryden of Plasco Energy Group is the special guest speaker. To view the White Papers please visit my website where you
will find a link for Beyond Ottawa 20/20…Planning for the Future. To register
for City Café please visit
www.ottawa.ca/beyondottawa2020. Winter Parking Winter is fast approaching and with this snowy season comes parking regulations for our City. Overnight on-street parking regulations came into effect on Nov. 15 and will be in place until April 1. In the event of a snowfall, please ensure that you keep your vehicle off the street during all snowfalls over 7 cm. Please keep in mind that snow removal may take place even when snow is not in the forecast. In this case, a temporary no parking sign will be placed in the area and residents are asked to please keep their vehicles off the streets. Please note that parking is permitted on City streets between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. when less than 7 cm of snow is in the forecast. The City is offering a convenient tool to ensure residents are aware of when overnight parking restrictions will be in effect. Also, subscribers will receive emails when parking restrictions continue for more than one night and will be notified when the restriction has been lifted. To subscribe to this free service and for more information please visit www.ottawa.ca/winterparking. Also for updates on when overnight parking restrictions
are in effect please visit the City’s newsroom at ottawa.ca/newsroom or call
3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401). Great Seniors Event On Dec. 6 seniors in our community have the opportunity to view the beautiful Christmas lights at Upper Canada Village. The 55 Plus Club of the Stittsville Legion has made arrangements to travel and view the approximate 20,000 lights that adorn the village and also enjoy dinner at the Harvest Barn. Tickets for this event are $35 and also include your transportation, entrance fee and wagon tour. The highway coach is scheduled to leave Stittsville at 5
p.m. To reserve your tickets before Nov. 20 please contact Marion Gullock at
613-836-5254. “Always Listening and Acting on Y our 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, by email at shad.qadri@ottawa.ca or visit my website at www.shadqadri.com. 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 ] |
