CHNA Public Meeting on November 2nd

CHNA Treasurer Amanda Farris chaired the public meeting on November 2^ndand provided a report on some of the CHNA activities that have taken place since the last meeting.

Recap of events this year

Capital clean up in April: This was our 2^nd year and we added a 3^rd park as Ev Tremblay is now part of CHNA. We had a great turnout and great weather. The event occurred just a few days after the microburst wind storm that took down the staging at Bluesfest so there were lots of branches, sticks and debris that needed to be cleaned up. Thank you to everyone who participated in that event. It really seems to be making a difference in the safety and appearance of our parks. We look forward to the event again in 2012.

June was the Parks and Rec BBQ: Despite bad weather many folks came out for food, fun, the bouncy house and the bike polo demonstration.

October was the first annual Pumpkins in thePark event: A huge thanks goes out to our platinum sponsors Susan Chell (ReMax) and the Hampton Dental Centre. There was a fantastic turnout of over 400 parents, grandparents and children. We gave out 190 pumpkins.The kids played games, decorated pumpkins and got their face painted. Thank you to our volunteers. The event was so successful we are already making plans for next year.

Upcoming AGM: Reminder that the AGM and election of officers will be held in January of 2012. The date has not been set yet but will likely be at the end of the month. If anyone is interested in volunteering for an elected position or to chair a committee,please send an email to CHNA4U@gmail.com More detailed to following the coming weeks.

Amanda also introduced the CHNA executive and the guest speakers from Ottawa Hydro and the Ottawa Police.

Guest speakers

Mary Beth and Rebecca from Hydro Ottawa made a presentation on the Time of Use Meters. You can go to the following URL for more information on time of userates: http://www.hydroottawa.com/timeofuse/index.cfm?lang=e&template_id=326

Sergeant Milton, our neighbourhood Ottawa Police representative provided information on recent incidents related to children in our area. He said that the term“predator” was not an appropriate term for what we’ve seen. The incidents that occurred at Devonshire Public School appear to have been a miscommunication. The incident at Fisher Park happened after school. The boy involved had taken a course on how to deal with this type of encounter and followed the necessary steps to ensure his safety. No further incidents have been reported at this location nor has anyone matching the description of the reported individual been linked to any other incidents. Officer Milton was not able to give us much information on the incident reported near Riverside as that is not his jurisdiction but he did confirm there was an incident of some sort and the description did not match that of the person at Fisher Park. Officer Milton also provided statistical information on crimes in our area as well as traffic accidents and intersections involved, including the following information:

-There were 14 break and enters in the CHNA catchment area in 2009 and 21 in2011.

-The top three intersections with accidents from 2009 until now were:

-Parkdale and Inglewood (356)

-Fairmount and Fuller (192)

-Carling and Parkdale (108)

Planningand Development Committee Report

Katherine Steinhoff, CHNA Vice President and co-chair of the planning and development committee,reported.

Community Design Plan: This issue has not advanced much since our last report in April. The City is doing a study to prepare for a Community Design Plan (CDP) along the Light Rail Train (LRT) corridor from Carling Avenue to Bayview. It has established a Public Advisory Committee (PAC) to assist and provide guidance during this study and the CHNA sits on this committee. This Public Advisory Committee has been looking at the Bayview station district and will be looking at the Carling station district next. The Carling portion of the CDP includes “underutilized” lands that fall within the CHNA catchment area. The City is preparing their presentation for the Carling area. Staff said they will be notifying CHNA about a meeting soon. There will also be an online open house for the Bayview area. You can get more information on the CHNA blog.If you’re interested, go to the March postings.

Civic campus parking expansion and development: The Civic Campus of The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) has plans to expand parking that could affect the neighbourhood. Earlier this year, Senior Vice President of the Hospital,Cameron Love, issued a memo to the Community Advisory Committee stating that there are plans for the Civic campus that“include expanding the onsite existing parking garage as well as a potential underground development of the Ruskin lot. ”The memo also indicated that the first phase of the parking expansion would be incorporated into the expansion plans for the Heart Institute. The Institute is adding a new wing.Constructions is expected to start in 2014 and take up to five years. CHNA Treasurer Amanda Farris and Vice President Katherine Steinhoff have a meeting with hospital officials later this month to find out more.

Developments near O-Train: Construction has not started on developments near the Carling O-Train stop, although it looks like100Champagne is revving up.

We know that residents are wondering what is going to happen with the former Humane Society property. The association was originally told that this property had been sold to Mastercraft Starwood. Apparently, this information was not correct. Councillor Hobb’s office says the property has been purchased or optioned by Ashcroft. Ashcroft has not yet submitted a proposal for the site.

500 Preston: While the proposed Soho Italia development at 500 Preston lies just outside the boundaries of the CHNA,it is very close and will undoubtedly affect our neighbourhood. The CHNA provided comments to the City on 500 Preston in August. Our comments are on the blog. We supported the Dalhousie Community Association (DCA) position that having a 350 foot wall rising straight up from the sidewalk is not good main street development. We also stated, that, like the Dalhousie Community Association, we do not think it makes sense to engage in ad hoc rezoning at the behest of developers and that the City should follow rational plans based on input from the citizens and taxpayers of Ottawa.

As well,the association raised traffic concerns and encouraged the City to obtain funding from Mastercraft Starwood for a traffic study of the area if the development at 500 Preston Street proceeds. Mastercraft Starwood has decided to revise its plans. They bought an adjoining lot and now the podium is lower,broader and theoretically less bulky.The height has gone from 36 to 29 floors.And there are fewer apartments because there is less height. CHNA will keep you posted as this proposal proceeds.

Vice President’s Report

CHNA governance: The CHNA has been looking at the way it works and is considering making changes to its constitution and other aspects of the association. The association has posted a document on the CHNA blog thatoutlines a variety of issues and makes suggestions for:

1) clarifying the association’s structure,

2) fine-tuning its decision-making processes

3) and ensuring that the CHNA speaks clearly on issues of concern to the neighbourhood.

We’d like members to take a look at the document and let us know what you think. The blog posting is titled“CHNA goverance” and it was posted in September. In the months to come, we will be following up on this work by posting proposed changes to the CHNA constitution. The changes will be discussed and voted on at an Annual General Meeting.

Traffic Committee Report

Peter Eady, chair of the traffic committee could not make the meeting. Marshall Perrin, executive member-at-large and member of the traffic committee gave Peter’s report in his absence. As a result of last year’s CHNA Annual General Meeting, a renewed Traffic Committee was formed. New members signed up and a first meeting was convened.

At that meeting, hosted by a 3^rd party facilitator, neighbourhood traffic and parking issues were brought forward by those in attendance. These issues were carefully discussed and prioritized according to what people cared about most, what they though could be achieved (winnability), and what efforts would be required (do-ability).

The top 3 priorities identified were:

1. Traffic Calming and Diversion Measures to encourage use of Carling Avenue and to lessen impact of through traffic on residential streets

2. Establishing a 40Km enforced speed limit throughout the area

3. Getting a commitment from the City to fund an independent traffic study in light of recent development and intensification

That does not mean there are not other issues. It just means that these generally affect everybody in the area and will be the focus of the Committee’s resources with an aim towards achieving them in12 – 36 months.

Other issues are ones that are still important but are more localized and will be worked on but have a longer time line of 12 – 60 months.

As the priorities are achieved in part or in whole, the other issues move up the list. Obviously, it is important to reassess and re-focus priorities as new issues are identified and crises develop. This would be done once a year at a meeting of the full Committee.

On the top 3 priorities there are some encouraging signs. CHNA had a commitment early on from Councillor Hobbs to support our goal of a 40km enforced speed limit throughout the area. We have already requested a follow up meeting to discuss this and other matters.

Further,$30,000 from a developer was set aside and is to be allocated to a larger area traffic study or used on another measure in the next year or so, if another measure is deemed more worthwhile than a study. As many of you are aware, traffic and parking concerns are increasing on all our streets and affect each of us directly whether it be noise, cut through traffic,volumes, and so forth. Traffic studies can cost up to $100K to do and Councillor Hobbs said she would try and pool other requests and funds for other studies into a larger one for the area. We will raise the issue at our next meeting with her.

The Committee decided that it would be based on “issue reps” and that individuals could take on issues important to them and be the point person for that action item (eg. Higher Queensway sound barriers on south side, improving cycling routes and safety in the area, street parking and permits, etc.).

Given how busy we all are with work, family and other social commitments, the goal is to break down the work into small and achievable tasks that the average person can easily manage. That is why we are still trying to grow the membership of the Committee. Many hands make light work as they say. We would really like it if any of you couldjoin the Committee and give us a hand even if it’s only an hour of your time a month.

Report from CAC Liaison

Gisele Microys, one of CHNA’s liaisons on the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) of the Ottawa Hospital, made a report on CAC and its activities.

Information about the CAC: Wide variety of representation: Ottawa Public Health, OH Spiritual Care

-Several community associations, the Council on Aging of Ottawa, Ottawa Chamber of Commerce,Community Care Access Centre, and others.

-Monthlymeetings alternate between the Civic and General Hospitals

-Thepurpose of the CAC is to provide advice and feedback to the Board on itsdirections, policies, and services as they affect the community.

-GiseleMicroys/Keith Hobbs represent CHNA

Topics/presentations in the pastyear: Traffic/parkingissues specifically around Civic Campus/Ruskin lot. There are proposed changesbut no definite plans have been revealed.

- Expansionof Heart Institute details pending

- TheOttawa Hospital (TOH) Occupancy rate is too high at 103%. It was as 95% 10years ago; Alternate Level Carepatients create challenges; difficulty in placing patients who no longer needacute care; leads to staff stress, increase of in-hospital infections &cancellations of surgery; tertiary hospital care not always best for theelderly (65% of patients 65+ yrs.); solutions to patient flow, especiallyoutflow to be addressed by all.

- Wait timesin Emergency Department. Increased patient load a problem.

- TOHwebsite redesign, major improvement

- March2011, implementation of professional staff attire (white coats)

- Sexualassault patient care. Improved staff training & patient care

- TOHvision/mission is to deliver world class care and become a top 10% performer inquality/safety in North America

- Innovativeoptions for health care/electronic integration etc.

- Implementationof interprofessional model of patient care by December 2011

- ‘You’rein my care’ to reinforce TOH mission and others

CHAPaRC Report

The CivicHospital Area Parks and Recreation Committee (CHAPaRC) is better known as theParks Committee and is a separate organization from CHNA. However, our associationworks closely with this group. This is why the Park’s report may soundfamiliar.

CHAPaRC has had a great year sofar. All 3 parks have been busy placeswith lots of people out enjoying the space. Ev Tremblay is always rocking withthe bike polo people. Fairmont Parkwrapped up another successful winter rink season which only happens as a resultof the work of a whole group of dedicated volunteers. Capital Clean Up wasApril 30. All 3 parks participated andall 3 parks had a good turn-out of volunteers. The scouts came out and lent a hand at Reid Park. The weather was perfect and all the parkslooked fantastic by the end of the day. If you participated in the clean-up and you’re now looking for your raketo pick up leaves – CHAPaRC has a small collection of orphans – saranixonottawa@gmail.com. Thesecond annual Community BBQ was held at Reid Park on June 25. A tricky day – a bit of rain. But no one seemed to care. Everyone contributed food. The scouts brought their BBQ and did thecooking. The kids loved the Bouncy Housesponsored partly by the City of Ottawa and partly by our friends at DovercourtCommunity Centre. Even with the rain,there was a good turn-out and not surprisingly, with a scout troop in the crowd– there was no food left at the end of the day. Thank you to everyone who cameout to these events and participated. This is what makes a good neighbourhood. We will no doubt, try to organize events over the winter. The Dog Dudes Christmas Party is usually heldat the crack of dawn at Reid Park, just before Christmas. If you would like to help, or have suggestions,send us a message at saranixonottawa@gmail.com.