COMMUNITY BULLETIN: Sexual Assault in Community

You may have heard that there have been two reports of sexual assault occuring in the last 24 hours in the Alta Vista area. You may have seen a news story like this one.

The Hume Team has spoken with Constable Gary McCoy, our Community Police Officer. He asked us to share his contact information with our residents.

If you have specific information relating to these assaults, please call the downtown police department at 613-236-1222. But if you are a resident of the area and would like to speak with Constable McCoy regarding general safety concerns, or with questions relating to keeping safe, you may contact him directly. He is happy to chat with anyone who may be feeling worried or nervous.

Constable Gary McCoy
Community Police Officer
613-816-0631
mccoyg@ottawapolice.ca

The Ottawa Planning Summit: Developing Our City

THE OTTAWA PLANNING SUMMIT: THE FIRST STEP



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This week, the City of Ottawa is holding a major planning summit. This isn’t news to most of you, as the media and citizens alike have taken a serious interest in this event. It’s great to see so many people taking an interest in planning matters and their communities’ development, and I see this summit as a great first step.

It’s important to view the summit as just that: a starting point. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and likewise, Ottawa can’t be planned in a day. Our goal with this summit is to launch a new era of planning for our city. By looking 10-15 years ahead, we can start to envision our city as we truly wish to see it. And of course, by looking back we can identify, retrospectively, where we have stumbled in the past. This summit is the first step in lighting the path so that the future steps in development will proceed more smoothly.

A CHALLENGING HISTORY: OTTAWA'S PAST DECADE

Over the past decade, we have been focused on the issue of the urban boundary, often to the exclusion of all else. Amalgamation brought together such a wide variety of people and communities that it was an achievement just to ‘hold the line’. The impacts of amalgamation were still fresh in people's minds, and Council was still finding its way. Issues beyond the urban boundary, such as tall building policies, farming support, and even suburban tree planting regulations were left by the wayside. There was no policy in place that encouraged innovation like mixed-use development or other ‘outside the box’ ideas. Right now—this summit, this moment in time—is the first real opportunity to set the stage for new development concepts in Ottawa.



History aplenty: the Centre Block on Parliament Hill under
construction in 1863. source



READY FOR CHANGE: A MATURE CITY

From the shaky aftermath of the amalgamation, though, emerges a City that is mature enough now to embark on these discussions in a cohesive and unified fashion. The gathering of minds that will occur in Ottawa this week should be the start of discussions on all these types of issues; and over the following 18 months leading up to the Official Plan Review, we shall then press these discussions towards action.

A GROWING CITY AND A GROWING LIST OF QUESTIONS

I have many questions that I hope to have addressed during the next 18 months of review. Why are we still so focused on intensification as a concept only for the city core, for example? Why have we allowed utility companies to monopolize suburban front yards, limiting the availability of viable tree planting space? Are CDP’s actually valuable and tenable? How are we planning to support our local farmlands, and where are we going to grow in rural areas? How can we get infrastructure out to the suburbs in a timely fashion? What strategies do we envision for the development of low, medium, and tall buildings? How can we incentivize mixed-use development?

How do we encourage balanced growth and stop reaching just for the low-hanging fruit?



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ONE STEP AT A TIME

This summit is not a day that will somehow provide a solution at the end of eight hours. It is but the first step in many to frame policies within the Official Plan. It is time for a series of discussions and strategy meetings on growth, development, and policy. We begin with a single step this week, and begin to work towards a big-picture solution. The City of Ottawa is poised for a new approach to growth. It is time to examine previous errors, learn from our scars, and get back on our feet.

I look forward to the summit as the first step we take together.

-Peter

FOR MORE ON THE SUMMIT:

You can follow the summit live as it is webcast. Head to ottawa.ca/planningsummit starting at 9am.

Follow the Hume Twitter feed for live tweeting.

You can also follow the hashtags #ottplan to see live tweeting from the Hume twitter feed (and others).

Also, updates are regularly posted on the Hume Facebook Page.

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Trash 2 Cash: Week Two Update

We are wrapping up Week One of the Trash 2 Cash challenge, and starting on Week Two. And wow, we have had some really great entries!

We have 145 challengers continuing on to Week Two, and they are doing great!

We also had the opportunity to offer an extra incentive for all our participants: the makers of CompostGenie heard about the contest, and contacted the Hume office; they offered to provide their product, free of charge, to all participants in the challenge...and the winner will also receive a year’s supply! CompostGenie is made in nearby Vankleek Hill, and they describe their product as such:

“Compostgenie is an organic and probiotic deodorizer for your kitchen container, whether you use a green bin or have your own garden composter. Compostgenie goes to work the moment you sprinkle a handful in your kitchen compost container. The beneficial microbes go to work and right away, you’ll have an odorless kitchen container or green bin!”        

You can learn more about it on the CompostGenie website. We’re happy to have a local business supporting our challenge!

Enough chatter; let’s show you some of the photographic highlights from Week One:
Click on any of them to see them larger.

The Ahuja household, getting creative!

The Allo Family proudly shows their bins.

The Baines family shows their eco-pride...and their Sens pride.

The O'Donoghue-Givens are showing their stuff!

The Nagasawas have a gorgeous little spokesperson!

The Beachams even got their stuffed animals involved!



The McKenzies wowed us with this one.



The Henderson household proudly represents!

The Bouchards have the happiest green bin.

The Lafortunes display their eco-friendliness!



The Hook household won our hearts with their pup!



The Hendry hound looks excited about waste diversion!

 There are so many more photos to show you, but we'll have to space them out. You can follow the Hume Facebook Page and the Hume Twitter Feed for more photos, too.

On to Week Two! Week Two is a regular garbage week, but we're pretty sure we're going to have lots of participants with no regular garbage to put out. Let's find out...

Oh, one more photo set, by the Matheson household; it's a three-parter, and we LOVED it:

Emerald Ash Borer: Update & Grasshopper Park

Example of EAB damage: the tree shows illness
at the 'crown' first, leaving the tree looking
healthy to passers-by on the ground level. (image source)

The Emerald Ash Borer continues to eat its way through our city, and Alta Vista ward is definitely one of the worst hit. Ottawa’s Forestry department has been studying the Ward 18 area, and many of our streets are lined with well over 50% ash trees. It’s the sad reality of the situation that we will indeed be losing many trees in our neighbourhood. There is an injection that is being used on a trial basis, but it is still in the testing phase, and it can be expensive. Unfortunately, the only other solution is removal and disposal of the infected trees, in an attempt to slow the beetle’s spread.

Grasshopper Park, here in Alta Vista ward, is one of the badly hit areas. Tree removal continued right through the winter months, and many residents were upset by this activity. We’ve asked David Barkley, Manager of Forestry Services of the City of Ottawa, to share some of his knowledge with us.

“We had to remove many trees [in Grasshopper Park] this winter, as they had the potential to fall and cause damage if they came down on their own,” explained Barkley, “This is a liability that the City has to manage.”

How is the decision made about what trees need to come down and which can stay up? “The Forestry Staff continue to work closely with a number of specialists, both internal and external. We are working on management strategies for these sites; we know that all strategies will have affects on residents, animals, other plants, and even water quality. To keep everyone aware and to seek public comment, the City’s Emerald Ash Borer Strategy is a public document and has been brought to Committee for public comment several times.”

“We’re very conscientious of the timing of removals,” shares Barkley. “We take into consideration the birthing season and feeding, and the winter nesting season. We review these factors around each tree; we take into account which nests are active versus inactive storage caches.” In the end, of course, the risk management assessment must be taken very seriously: leaving a dead or hazardous tree could pose a threat to people and wildlife alike. The Emerald Ash Borer is infamous for its insidious practice of eating the trees from the inside-out, leaving a normal-looking—but brittle and dangerous—tree standing where a healthy tree once was.

What’s the next step? Barkley explains that first, they plan to complete the public Open House meetings (the final one is on April 23^rd, from 4-8pm at the Jim Durrell Centre, in Ellwood Hall), then seeking further consultation once they’ve completed the drafts of various woodlot management scenarios.

Councillor Hume has met with Barkley and has reviewed the area studies. The entire Hume Team strives to keep well-informed and educated on the matter of the EAB. Councillor Hume and Forestry continue to meet and discuss ways to reduce the negative impact of the EAB containment tactics in Ward 18, and together they continue to explore the most effective treatment, removal, and interplanting strategies.

For further questions, we recommend you attend the EAB info session on April 23rd; you can also call 3-1-1, check out Ottawa.ca, or stay tuned to the Hume Blog.

Trash 2 Cash Update: On Your Marks, Get Set...Go!

The T2C challenge is officially underway. Over 160 residents of the Alta Vista area are participating, and approximately 35 of those folks had already submitted their weekly survey by Tuesday afternoon. We are really impressed with everyone! We’ll give you a rundown on the survey answers at the end of the week when we’ve gathered all the surveys; in the meantime, we’re enjoying seeing the photos filter in...you are all sending great regular shots of your bins...

Submitted by Mike S and Celine L

But we're also LOVING the creative shots, like this one: 

Submitted by Erin O-G

And the REALLY imaginative bonus shots, like this one:

Lint ball caterpillar, by Jennifer D

 Stay tuned for more great photos and lots of interesting results from the surveys! Keep up the good work, challengers!

Community Notice: Watermain Replacement, Saunderson Rd

As early as next week, construction will begin on Saunderson Drive, between Smyth and Haig, to replace watermains. This is a crucial step in rejuvenating our failing infrastructure, and the benefits in the long term will far outweigh the inconveniences of the short term.

The public notice that you may have already read states:

The work will include the following:

●Installation of temporary water services;

●Replacement of the existing watermain;

●Replacement of all water services from the watermain to the property line;

●Installation of a new fire hydrant at the corner of Saunderson Drive and Haig Drive;

●Installation of a new fire hydrant at the Hutton Park entrance;

●Replacement and relocation of the existing fire hydrant located at the south corner of 1793

Saunderson Drive to the south corner of 1803 Saunderson Drive;

●Replacement of catch basins impacted by the watermain replacement;

●Replacement of four storm manholes riser, cover and frame; and Road resurfacing.

The city encourages you to consider your own pipes at this time: houses that were built prior to 1958 may have been constructed using lead pipe. There are different ways to coordinate the replacement of your own pipes with the timing of the public pipe replacement. You can call 3-1-1 for more information.

The City also warns that some of your property may be disturbed, as a small portion of your lawn or laneway may be dug up to access the pipes and watermain. Rest assured, any disruption of your property caused by the City’s contractor will be repaired at the end of construction. However, if you have an underground lawn irrigation system, you’ll want to give the project manager a call before the work starts.

People with special assistance needs, such as mobility issues or visual impairment, should contact the project manager as well, so that arrangements can be made.

If you have any questions, we suggest you contact:

Josée Vallée, P. Engineer

Design and Construction Municipal East Branch

josee.vallee@ottawa.ca

613-580-2424 x21805

News Bites: Community Papers

Here's a look at the Hume News pages that are running in the Riverview Park Review and the Vistas this month. Want a closer look? Grab a hard copy in your neighbourhood! Copies are available at your local Recreation Centre in Ward 18.

The Vistas, April 2012 edition

The Riverview Park Review, April 2012 edition

Trash 2 Cash Update: Registration is Rockin'

Well, it’s been a week since we announced the 

Trash 2 Cash challenge, and we’ve had great response!

Over 125 households have registered within the Alta Vista community, and that number is still rising daily. Registration remains open until Friday afternoon, so keep those emails coming (email us at the contest line: peterhumeottawa@gmail.com with your phone number and full address).

We’ve received lots of positive feedback on the challenge, and we’re looking forward to reading everyone’s survey answers.

Many of you have told us that using your green bin is not hard at all; that’s great to hear, but if you're going to really reduce your garbage, it's time to also revist how much you use your blue and black bins! Here are some really interesting facts that may inspire you in your efforts to reduce your garbage bin and feed your coloured bins:

Some Facts About Recycling from Guelph, Ontario

It only takes 25 two-litre plastic bottles to make one adult size fleece jacket. In 2010, Guelph recycled almost 761 tonnes of plastic — enough to make almost 670,000 adult size fleece jackets.

It only takes 120 pounds of recycled newspaper to save one tree. In 2010, Guelph recycled over 3,890 tonnes of newspaper — enough to save over 71,000 trees.

A modern glass bottle would take 4,000 years to more to decompose in a landfill.  Recycled container glass is used to create new bottles and jars, fibreglass, and can be used as aggregate material in roads and sidewalks.  In 2010, Guelph recycled 1,055 tonnes of glass.

Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours.

Canadians take home over 55 MILLION plastic bags EVERY WEEK. Recycling plastics saves 90% of the energy used to make new ones. Finding alternatives is even better. Watch for plastic bag take-back programs at local retailers.

Source: http://guelph.ca/living.cfm?itemid=73844&smocid=1488 

Now, those numbers are specific to Guelph—a city that has been using a sorted waste collection program for several years. But their population is tiny: around 127,000 people according to Google. Just imagine what Ottawa can do with our 91,7550 residents!

More updates to come on the Trash 2 Cash challenge…and don’t forget, you still have time to register!

Emerald Ash Borer: Public Info Sessions

Residents,

source: Cdn Food Inspection Agency

Here is the official announcement of the public meetings to be held about the Emerald Ash Borer. We hope you'll find these sessions helpful and informative.

City of Ottawa Public Service Announcement:

For immediate release:
April 4 2012

Residents invited to attend emerald ash borer information sessions

Ottawa – The City of Ottawa and River Ward Councillor Maria McRae, Chair of the City’s Environment Committee, are hosting two public information sessions on the emerald ash borer in April.

Since 2008, this invasive insect has been spreading across Ottawa, killing ash trees. The presence of emerald ash borer (EAB) poses a serious threat to 25 per cent of the City’s forest cover located on both public and private properties. 

By attending these sessions, residents can learn more about what the City is doing to prevent the spread of EAB and what they can do to help mitigate the impact this insect is having on our ash trees. 

The information sessions are scheduled for:

Date:                April 12, 2012

Time:               4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Location:          Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive, Andrew S. Haydon Hall

Date:                April 23, 2012

Time:               4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Location:          Jim Durrell Complex, 1264 Walkley Road, Ellwood Hall

For more information, please visit ottawa.ca/eab or call 3-1-1.

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For more information:
Media contact
613-580-2450

Public inquiries
3-1-1

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Trash 2 Cash Challenge Begins!

Residents of Alta Vista Ward, I am pleased to announce the launch of our Trash 2 Cash Challenge!

 

WHAT IS THE TRASH 2 CASH CHALLENGE?

Residents of Alta Vista Ward are invited to participate in a garbage-reducing challenge for 5 weeks, starting April 16. Everyone who completes the challenge will be entered into a draw for a major grand prize: $1000 off their property tax!

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?

Here are the steps.

1. Register. Email us at our challenge-specific email address, peterhumeottawa@gmail.com to let us know you’re registering. Include your full name, address, and phone number.

2. Starting the week of April 16^th, switch to bi-weekly garbage pick-up. Simply use your green, black, and blue bins to deal with your week’s waste and spare the garbage bag. Over the course of the 5 week challenge, you will need to show us that you were garbage-free for 3 of them.

3. Each week, fill out the survey we’ll email to you, and include a photo. Once you register, you will receive a weekly email with a link to a survey. The survey will ask you about how the challenge is going for you. We will also request a photo of your bins at the curbside, as proof that you’re participating in the challenge. We encourage participants to be creative with their photos, as we’ll be using some of them on our blog and website.

HOW DOES THE DRAW WORK?

If at first you don’t succeed, try try again. We know this will be a stretch for you, and that some weeks you may struggle. Thus, the draw is set up as follows:

-Participants must complete 5 surveys, regardless of how well they did, to be entered into draw.

Updated: Participants who complete minimum of 4 weeks will be entered into the draw. 

WHY THIS CHALLENGE?

In November, the City of Ottawa will be switching to biweekly garbage pick-up. Many residents are nervous of this changeover, but we hope that by participating in this challenge, Ottawans may discover that it’s not so hard, after all, to use a bin instead of a bag. Your survey answers will be invaluable for us to get feedback on how the experience plays out.

QUESTIONS?

Any questions can be directed to our email specific to this challenge: peterhumeottawa@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing all your photos and surveys!