Update from Councillor Cathy Curry
Coyotes in the Area – I have had a number of disturbing and upsetting emails regarding residents’ observations and experiences with the wild coyotes that seem to be coming, more and more, into residential areas. The City has been working with Coyote Watch to help the City and residents learn how to deal with coyote behaviour. There is more information at Coyotes | City of Ottawa to help residents learn how to keep themselves and their pets safe.
Snow Clearing – We have had a high number of residents reach out to let us know that their streets and sidewalks were not cleared or were only cleared once during/after the first snow. Well, here is why. We understand that the weather was reported to warm up right away. Staff determined that it would be very costly to do all of the streets and all of the sidewalks if Mother Nature was going to melt it all away within hours. Main roads, collectors and other major streets were plowed and salted. The highways were done, but some smaller streets and some sidewalks were not. Indeed, some snow did melt, but not all of it. The weather did not cooperate as predicted. Rest assured, this is not a reflection of what to expect going forward.
Tree Cutting – I had a number of emails and calls regarding trees that residents noticed were being cut down. No one likes to see this, but sometimes there are very good reasons for a tree to be cut down. It is important to remember that the City of Ottawa does have a number of bylaws that govern when trees can be cut down or must be cut down or trimmed. If you are concerned about activity regarding trees being cut down in a park, please contact 311 and they can get you more information about that tree. If you see a tree being cut down on private property and you don’t believe there has been a permit taken out, please also contact 311. When 311 receives a number of calls, they do prioritize the concern. With the closure of the Kanata Lakes Golf Course, our Forestry staff have put the whole area on a higher priority given the concern expressed by residents regarding the lack of communication regarding any plans a new owner may have. If you want to look at the City’s by-law that governs tree cutting, please go to Tree Protection By-law. I have also included some more information on how the City manages our tree coverage canopy on the Kanata North website at KanataNorth.ca.
On that note, a Forestry staff member attended the Kanata Lakes Golf Course to investigate a report of unauthorized tree removal. No active tree felling operations were observed during the site visit. A few small brush piles were noted along a pathway, consisting of trees under 10 cm in diameter, which are not protected under the Tree Protection By-law.
Parking Options for EoM – I received a few emails asking me if I had suggestions for good places for parents to drop off and pick up their Earl of March Students. As the City does not manage school board-related issues, the best place to get suggestions is the school principal. Her email address is christine.siwy@ocdsb.ca .
The following is what the EoM principal sent out to parents:
Please encourage your students to walk to school or use OC Transpo for travel to school. If you are driving your student to school, please use Teron Rd to The Parkway to access the front of the school to drop off. The Mlacak Centre parking lots and roads are not to be used for parking, drop off or pick up. I would also encourage you to drop off your students a block or two away from the school for the students to walk a block or two to school.
Morgan’s Grant Dog Park – I have received a number of emails with residents asking if the dog park could be opened in the winter when the ground freezes. I thought that made a lot of sense. We met with staff who also thought it was a good idea until they read the contract between the City and the subcontractor in charge of the Dog Park’s grass planting. It seems that if there is anything that the City does that interferes with their planting and establishment of the grass, the contractor is no longer responsible for the grass establishment. Staff felt that opening it during the colder weather may hurt its establishment when there are thaws and muddy times. I was disappointed to get this response, but it is understandable. I have asked staff to ensure that there is a concerted effort to get the Dog Park open as early as possible in the spring. I am so disappointed that this project has taken so long.
Insmill Park – I have had a number of people write to me asking about what is going on in Insmill Park along that pathway. The City and Hydro Ottawa are replacing the lights along the path that will ensure that they are energy efficient and provide better lighting along that pathway. When I walked on the path while reviewing the condition of our pathways, I noted that the path was in very bad shape. It is crumbling and slanted and almost impassable for anyone with any mobility aides. I asked if the path could be replaced at the same time as the lighting project. There wasn’t any funding at the time. And, staff reassured me that one project did not directly impact the other. However, I want the community to know that that path is high on the list of pathways that need to be redone.