NEWS ARCHIVESFebruary 20, 2009 Progress made at Coyote Park It has been a long and exhaustive process, but there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel for Coyote Park. My office has been provided with a signed agreement for
completion of the Park. The agreement states that by May 31, 2009, the grading
for the soccer field will be complete, as will the topsoil spread and seeding. A
gravel base for the pathways and parking lot will be installed, and the
basketball court and playground will be excavated. The next steps will entail the City having the tendering
completed for the playground equipment. There will be consultation in the future
with residents on the equipment selection and installation timelines. I have requested a construction timeline from the assigned contractors to determine when work will start on the site. They have stated to me they wish to start work soon, as the peat removal process is easier in the winter. The winter weather conditions should not affect the work proceeding, unless there are extreme cold temperatures. I am happy to see the park drawing closer to completion, and I remain hopeful that by the summertime, children from the neighbourhood will have a safe and clean park space. I thank the community for their ongoing patience. Your support and persistence has moved this project forward. I will continue to keep you informed as developments are made. I have provided a copy of the signed agreement to those in
the Coyote Park neighbourhood. If you wish to obtain a copy of the document,
please contact my office. City set to discuss stadium proposals Two stadium proposals are set to go head to head at a Special Council Meeting on March 25. I encourage you to feed your comments on the Canadian Football League and Major League Soccer proposals into my office. I recently had an opportunity to sit down with the proponents behind the MLS bid to learn why they feel soccer and the accompanying west-end stadium is what the City should invest in. The soccer-specific - not exclusive - stadium would be located on a parcel of City-owned property adjacent to Scotiabank Place, and would include several public soccer fields. In addition, a massive $500 million mixed-use development project accompanies the bid, though that portion of the project is not entirely contingent on a successful MLS bid, but it certainly helps the cause. The proponents are seeking a cost-sharing agreement between all three levels of government for funding of the estimated $110 million stadium. The Federal and Provincial government would each kick in one-third of the overall cost, and the City and the Senators Sports and Entertainment (SSE) group would split the remaining one-third. Included in the City’s part of the investment would be the donation of the land, which is valued at approximately $10 million. I truly believe this project has merit, and the SSE group has put together a sound business case with minimal financial investment on the part of the City and its taxpayers in contrast to the proposal to revitalize Lansdowne Park. The existing fanbase for soccer, as well as the level of participation in the sport, translates to a built-in, captive audience. Much like the Ottawa Senators, legions of fans will develop over time, but the sport starts with a solid base of supporters. I still intend on meeting with the proponents behind the
Lansdowne Live bid to have questions answered, specifically on the financial
commitment the City would be required to make. Lansdowne Park is one of the
City’s biggest assets, and it is, admittedly, a white elephant. The City must do
something to resurrect this property. The question then comes to whether a
revitalized Lansdowne Park must include an outdoor stadium, and if so, at what
cost? Reimbursement plan for public transit users On Thursday my office issued an update to the community on the City's reimbursement plan for transit users. Information that was previously distributed and available on OC Transpo's website was adjusted following the February 11 Council meeting. Many Ecopass users in the community have inquired about how they will be reimbursed for the loss of service, as deductions were made for December and January. If you work for the Federal government and have a Regular Ecopass, your deductions will resume on May 1. If you work for the Federal Government and have either an Express or Rural Express Ecopass, your deductions will resume June 1. For everyone else who has an Ecopass, you are asked to speak with your Ecopass administrator as reimbursements will be tailored to your specific organization and when your pay periods occur. Express and Rural Express pass holders can purchase a March pass at a 60 per cent discount, and can purchase an April and May pass at the cost of a Regular pass. Those with Regular December passes can purchase a March pass, beginning February 23, at a 60 per cent discount. If you purchase the March pass before the end of February, you will be allowed to use the March pass to access buses for the remainder of February. If you did not receive the update and would like to be
added to my contact list, please contact my office by phone at 613-580-2476 or
by e-mail at Shad.Qadri@ottawa.ca to
register. Please refer to my website at
www.shadqadri.com for further information relating to the reimbursement
plan. Public Meeting to discuss Official Plan Review On March 10 I will be holding a public meeting to discuss the proposed amendments to the Official Plan, which were recently released. The meeting will take place at the Pretty Street Community Centre from 7-9pm. Staff is recommending the City add 850 hectares to the urban boundary in a variety of locations. With the inclusion of 850 hectares, the City’s gross hectare size would be 36,115. There is a set criteria that must be met for lands to be included in the urban boundary. There are four areas of land abutting Stittsville being reviewed for inclusion to the urban boundary: land north of Jackson Trails and Echowoods subdivisions; land west of Timbermere subdivision; lands located within the Fernbank Community Design Plan; and, lands south and east of Upcountry and West Winds subdivision. The date for the adoption of the Official Plan amendment by City Council will be determined following the meeting on March 31. City Council will consider the recommendations of PEC and decide whether to accept or make changes to the proposed amendments. Once City Council adopts the Official Plan amendments, it is submitted to the Provincial Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval. Staff expects a decision from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing before the end of 2009. Further information on the Official Plan can be found on
the City’s website at
www.ottawa.ca/beyondottawa2020. 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, |
