NEWS ARCHIVESSeptember 19, 2011 Pool Creek Update A public forum is being organized for the first week in October in an effort to address the numerous public concerns received by my office, the Mississippi Valley Conservation and City of Ottawa about the conditions of the Poole Creek Wetland. To date Mississippi Valley Conservation planning and regulatory staff have completed a site inspection of the wetland along the Trans Canada Trail and also inspected upstream areas and noted the low to no water conditions. MVC staff indicate that weather conditions have been warmer and drier than normal over the summer which has increased evaporation and reduced recharge to streams and wetlands across the watershed resulting in exceptionally low water levels in many areas. These conditions have been highlighted in the watershed conditions bulletins issued by the conservation authority throughout the summer (http://www.mvc.on.ca/water-management/fforcasting/advisories). Wetlands consist of organic soil and are seasonally inundated with water. Water levels may fluctuate depending on several factors. Wetlands can provide flood mitigation and sustain flows during dry weather. Generally, precipitation and snow melt will replenish water levels to help re-establish the water regime in the wetland. Existing pools within the wetland along the TransCanada Trail have dried up resulting in loss of local habitat for a variety of species Along with its involvement in the public form, MVC encourages cooperation between the authority, City of Ottawa staff, community action groups and individuals to monitor water levels in the wetland to ensure that the ecological function of the wetland is maintained. Further information about this monitoring initiative will be discussed at the public forum. The official date for the forum will be decided on and posted shortly. Increased Transit Service in Stittsville I was advised by Transit Design Staff that at the January 2012 service change the service levels on Routes 261 and 263 will be increasing. Each route will increase from the current 8 trips a day to 10 trips a day (or 5 trips in each peak period). In the morning, Route 263 trips currently depart from Fallowfield and Kimini at 06:09, 06:39, 07:09, and 07:39. In January 2012, trips will depart at 06:02, 06:27, 06:50, 07:10, and 07:39. In the afternoon, Route 263 trips currently depart from Hurdman at 15:35, 16:05, 16:35, and 17:15. In January, trips will depart at 15:35, 16:05, 16:20, 16:40, and 17:15. This increase will provide more transit options to more patrons in rural areas so please be advised of these future additions. Carp River Bridge Update I wanted to share an update with you regarding the work progression on the Carp River Bridge on Hazeldean Road. Work resumed on Monday September 12th on the construction of the Hazeldean Bridge. The waterproofing and paving of the bridge deck are still to be finished as well as constructing barrier walls, railings and sidewalks. Following a complete analysis by engineers it has been determined that additional supports will be built below the bridge’s deck to address deck deflection observed during the construction. The bridge is scheduled to be opened by October 31, 2011. Looking to Get Involved? Watch for Upcoming Events! Are you looking to get involved locally? There are several upcoming events taking place in Stittsville that you can volunteer at. The Youth Connexion group has provided a list of upcoming events that I have made available on my website http://www.shadqadri.com/document/youth%20involved.pdf. Full contact information and descriptions of the events are listed here. As always, if you have any questions regarding these listings please feel free to contact my office. Reminder about Fire Safety Although the summer is coming to a close, I would still like to share some information about fire safety and restrictions. Some residents may be unaware of the ‘fire restrictions’ in the area and that Ottawa in general is a ‘fire free zone.’ Fires can only be started with a fire permit otherwise a $100 fine applies. For the complete ‘Open Air Fire’ By-law citation please consult this City of Ottawa website link: http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/bylaw/a_z/open_air/index_en.html. To apply for a permit, you can submit queries to the Fire Chief and ask for special permission in a detailed explanation. Have Some Used Books? Used Book Sale Supporting Ottawa Public Libraries The Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association (FOPLA) cordially invite you to attend their first mini-Mammoth used book sale on Saturday September 24th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Central Archives and Ottawa Public Library Materials Centre (100 Tallwood Drive). In an effort to cut costs, while still offering the large selection of books community members expect from them, FOPLA will hold a mini-Mammoth book sale one Saturday each month during the school year. These sales will give people the opportunity to give back to Ottawa’s libraries while getting some great books at remarkable prices. At their first sale they will sell 10 books for $1, or shoppers can bring their own bags and fill them with books for a dollar a bag. Monetary donations are also welcome. Parking and admission are free so FOPLA is hoping to see residents from across the city make their way to the sale to support our public libraries and save a bundle. The Mammoth Used Book Sale has consistently been FOPLA’s biggest fundraising event of the year, so they have high hopes for their mini-Mammoth sales. Help make the mini-Mammoth successful and support the Ottawa Public Library. 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 situated in the Goulbourn Recreation Complex, located at 1500 Shea Road. Please note the summer hours of operation are Mondays 9-2pm, Wednesdays 3-8pm, Fridays 9-5pm, and Saturday 9am-1pm. Please do not hesitate to pay us a visit. I welcome your call or email to arrange an appointment. If you are not part of my electronic outreach list and would like to be added, please contact my office to ensure you receive pertinent information concerning our community. Further information about any of these articles can be found on my website or you can contact my office to obtain details.
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