KANATA NORTH NEWS Marianne Wilkinson Councillor, Kanata North CAMPEAU DRIVE

The Environmental Assessment (EA) for widening Campeau Drive from Didsbury to March has now been completed and is available in both Kanata libraries and the Client Service Centre for review. You can make written comments on the proposal to the consultant and to the City of Ottawa as detailed in the proposal (or contact my office for details). If concerns cannot be resolved with the City you can request that the Minister of the Environment make a Part II Order, which requests that a more detailed evaluation be undertaken. The Minister must receive such a request by July 21. If no Part II Order requests are received the project will proceed, providing that funding is available, with design and construction as shown in the EA. As funding for roadwork is tight Ive been told that the first sectioned widened will be from Kanata Ave. to Didsbury with the remainder not proceeding for some time. The Transportation Master Plan that is presently being reviewed as part of the Official Plan will present the priorities for construction for the next 20 years (updated every 5 years). When it is approved in 2009 we will have more information on the timing of this widening as well as timing for construction of other roads such as completion of Terry Fox and the Goulbourn Forced Road.

REDUCING FUEL AND GREENHOUSE GASES

I became very concerned over the increasing cost of fuel and the impact on the City budget and felt that action had to be taken quickly. For example, every onecent increase in diesel costs results in an additional $400,000 in costs for OC Transpo alone. With present costs the City could face a $10 million deficit by year-end (equal to a 1% increase in your taxes). If fuel costs continue to rise they would cause an even greater impact. So I drafted a motion to move towards a more fuel-efficient City operation. Council approved my motion to have an Eco-Driving policy prepared that will result in the most fuel effective uses of City vehicles. It is to include items such as type of vehicle, planning the route, using air conditioning sparingly, proper tire inflation, avoiding idling, driving within speed limits, eliminating jackrabbit starts and hard braking. Until the policy is finalized, staff are to be encouraged to use such fuel efficiency practises. The motion also directed staff to include in the 2009 budget ongoing measures to improve on fuel savings and reduce CO2 emissions.

The third part of the motion was referred to the City Manager to work with all 33 branches to immediately undertake measures to reduce usage of fuel and other petroleum based products with an overall goal to reduce usage by at least 25%. He will be reporting back on a quarterly basis on the fuel savings that have been achieved and on those that will be implemented in the next quarter.

KANATA NORTH WARD PICNIC

Come out for a lot of fun, entertainment, free food and childrens activities on July 22 from 4 to 8 pm at Sandwell Green Park between Leacock Drive and the Parkway. Parking is available at Earl of March HS. Ive ordered another fine day but even if my forecast is wrong the picnic will go on.

Serving the residents and businesses in Kanata North

To receive the Kanata North Newsletter, to deal with a concern or make a suggestion contact me at 613-580-2474, email Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca or through www.mariannewilkinson.com.