WHETHER WHOLE COMMUNITY BENEFITS MUST BE CONSIDERED IN USER FEE DEBATE  

In the 2009 budget it is proposed that sports field rental fees for soccer, baseball or football be increased by 346% for children’s and teen’s sports. It is proposed the cost for arena rental for children’s and teen’s hockey increase by 51%. In both cases the reason for the increase is that the rental cost should cover the operating costs.

What these increases don’t allow for is that it is more than just children and teens involved in sports programs and their families who benefit.

One of the reasons municipalities have funded recreation activities is to encourage young people to develop positive interests – in other words we want them playing baseball instead of destroying other people’s property. No one would argue that recreation programs eliminate problems like vandalism or noise in parks, but they do encourage more young people to find better ways to spend their time.

We also benefit from programs that help young people get active. If obesity among children grows, we will all be paying for it through increased health care costs.

When people are less likely to know their neighbours, there is also a benefit in the community networks that get built through activities like children's sports. When the community has to respond to problems, the links parents build up through children’s sports often is a key starting point.

All of us benefit from measures that reduce the amount of vandalism or strengthen our community. That should be reflected when we set fees for things like sports field or arena rentals. 

REDUCING TRANSPORTATION COSTS BY $40 MILLION

The adoption of a motion I put forward by Joint Transportation and Transit Committee will hopefully be the first step to reducing the cost of the Transportation Master Plan by $40 million. In the draft Transportation Master Plan it is proposed that a $40 million bridge be built over the Rideau River at Hurdman to be used by buses when the transitway is being converted to light rail.

Spending $40 million on a bridge that is only needed while light rail is being built does not make sense. My motion asked staff to look at temporary bus lanes as a cheaper alternative.

Now all we have to do is get council to agree to a phasing-in of the plan that will ensure the most serious problems get addressed first.

KANATA SOUTH BUSINESS PARK CONTINUING TO GROW

In the last few weeks I have attended two business openings in the Kanata South Business Park - The Wedding Jewellers Co. and Fast Forward French. These openings are a reminder that the Kanata South Business Park is continuing to grow.

This is good news for more than just the businesses in the park. When employers are able to locate close to residential areas it makes it easier for people to live close to where they work reducing their commuting time and the City’s transportation infrastructure costs.

WINTER PARKING RULES IN EFFECT

In the winter when more than seven centimetres of snow are forecast parking is prohibited on the street between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. to allow snow ploughs to clear the street properly. Vehicles parking on the street when more than seven centimetres of snow is forecast can be ticketed.

To make it easy for people to know when parking restrictions are in place, e-mail alerts are sent out, the information is posted on the City website and people can find out by calling 311. To sign up for e-mail alerts go to ottawa.ca/winterparking.

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