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New Edinburgh News
December
2005
Beechwood Community Design Plan - Update
What was to be the last public meeting on this subject took place
on Wednesday October 5th at the former Vanier City Hall. The
meeting was well attended which speaks to a very wide interest on
the part of residents in the vicinity of Beechwood and users of
Beechwood as a transportation corridor or as a community-shopping
destination. That evening was supposed to include a presentation
of the transportation aspects of the corridor, both as they
currently exist and what they could be assuming the growth that
can be expected over the next ten years. The presentation was to
include a computer generated visualization of all traffic modes in
the corridor. Although that presentation never occurred, it was
very evident that there was a lot of interest precisely in that
aspect of the Design Plan. As a result, another public meeting has
been scheduled. It will be held on January 19th starting at 7:00
p.m. at MacKay United Church (corner of Dufferin & MacKay).
Residents of New Edinburgh, as frequent corridor users, should be
interested in this study, and especially in its transportation
vision. I remind everyone that the study is intended to guide
planning and transportation decisions over the next decade.
Property Assessment & Property Taxes
Once again, the property assessment system has caused controversy
in Ottawa and indeed in the province as a whole. As you know, the
system is supposed to apportion everyone’s share of the City’s
budget needs in a transparent, fair and stable manner. The problem
has been that the system appears to lack all of these
characteristics. Finally, Ontario’s ombudsman, as a result of many
complaints received directly from property tax payers and from
municipal authorities (including Ottawa City Council) has decided
to investigate. He will make his recommendations to the provincial
government in 4 to 6 months.
As your representative, I have received many complaints, and not
just recently, regarding the inadequacies of the current system. I
have communicated my views to many over the years. In an attempt
to be as informative as possible, I have now created an
information package on this topic on your ward web site at
www.rideau-rockcliffe.com . It includes a copy of the staff
presentation to Council’s Corporate Services & Economic
Development Committee on October 3rd - providing an overview of
the most recent reassessments on a city-wide basis, a copy of a
staff-prepared list of FAQs on property assessments as well as a
copy of my own views on the subject of assessments and taxes
prepared and disseminated at the time of the last municipal
election.
2006 City Budget
This issue of the ‘News’ is arriving too late to invite you to
this year’s ward consultation on the proposed 2006 City Budget,
which occurred on November 24th at the Overbrook Community Centre.
It may not be too late for you to address Council on your views
regarding the Budget. Council is meeting in
‘Committee-of-the-Whole’ on December 5th, 6th and 7th. There are
evening sessions on the 5th and 7th and the possibility of further
sittings is possible should the demand warrant. You should call
the City at 580-2424, ext. 28617 to reserve a time slot if you
want to have your say to all of Council.
Jacques Legendre
Councillor, Rideau-Rockcliffe
You can communicate with me at (please include a telephone
number):
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa ON K1P 1J1
Tel: 580-2483, Fax: 580-2523
E-mail:
jacques.legendre@ottawa.ca
Web Site:
www.rideau-rockcliffe.com
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