BRIDLEWOOD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION TO DISCUSS PROPOSAL TO RAISE STONEHAVEN SPEED LIMIT

At its Tuesday November 18 meeting, the Bridlewood Community Association will be discussing a proposal from the City’s Traffic and Parking Operations Branch to raise the speed limit on Stonehaven to 50 km/h. Under this proposal areas around schools would continue to be 40 km/h zones during school hours and enforcement would become much stricter.

I know there are strong views on both sides. When people are driving above the speed limit, the fear is that an increase in the speed limit will cause them to drive even faster.

What is also true is that Stonehaven was designed to allow people to drive at 50 km/h. The argument from Traffic and Parking Operation is that because the current speed limit is below the speed the road is designed to handle, it encourages people to ignore the speed limit. Moving to a 50 km/h with specially designated school zones is seen as a way to high-light where drivers need to be most cautious and allow for increased enforcement near schools.

I would like to thank the Bridlewood Community Association for allowing this discussion to take place. The decision that is reached should be one that reflects the wishes of Bridlewood residents. I hope you will be able to attend. Details of the meeting are:

Tuesday, November 18
7:30 p.m. 
Morgan Room, Eva James Memorial Community Centre
65 Stonehaven Drive

NEXT COFFEE WITH PEGGY NOVEMBER 27

The next Coffee with Peggy will be on Thursday, November 27st from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Food Court at Hazeldean Mall. Please don’t hesitate to stop by and chat about what is happening in our community or specific concerns.

NOVEMBER 28 DEADLINE FOR 2009 CITY OF OTTAWA BUDGET CONSULTATIONS

People have until November 28 this year to provide feedback on the proposals for the 2009 City of Ottawa Budget.

There is a need to ensure that the increase in taxes is as low as possible. However, there are a number of proposals that hurt services that Kanata residents value. Rental fees for sports fields for children’s soccer and baseball will increase 346%. The level of care in Long Term Care Homes and support for child care will be reduced. While cuts to transit are less drastic than in 2004, many Kanata residents will feel the impact.

Often cutting services people value fails to save money. During the 2004 budget council became so focussed on the tax rate that the impact of a number of cuts was not fully considered.  Council ended up restoring service. In addition to the disruption for residents, the costs of cutting and restoring a service can easily offset any savings. When I vote on budget proposals I will be looking at the long term costs as well as the impact in the short term.

Copies of the budget are available online at http://www.ottawa.ca/city_hall/budget/budget_2009. There are also links to feedback forms. Any comments or questions that you have are very much appreciated.

CANADA DAY IN KANATA NEEDS YOUR HELP

Each year thousands of people enjoy Canada Day in Kanata. But your help is needed for it to happen. Canada Day in Kanata needs volunteers to help on the committee that plans the day.  Please consider giving some of your time to make this event a success.

In particular the group is looking for a Treasurer, human resources director, sponsorship coordinator and fundraising coordinator.

If you are interested in helping, please contact Michele Green at 613-831-6681 or michelegreen@sympatico.ca.

WORKING FULL-TIME FOR KANATA SOUTH

I appreciate the chance to hear from you about issues affecting our community. You can reach me at 580-2752 (office), 580-2762 (fax), www.feltmateforkanata.com or peggy.feltmate@ottawa.ca