October 23 Newsletter 2020

October 23, 2020 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.

COVID-19 Update

The Province has advised that:

“Given the high transmission of COVID-19 in the modified Stage 2 public health unit regions of Ottawa, Peel, Toronto and York Region, traditional door-to-door trick or treating is not recommended and people should consider alternative ways to celebrate. This can include, but is not limited to:

• Encouraging kids to dress up and participate in virtual activities and parties;
• Organizing a Halloween candy hunt with people living in their own household;
• Carving pumpkins;
• Having a movie night or sharing scary stories; and,
• Decorating front lawns.

To have a safer and happy Halloween, Ontarians should follow some simple steps:

• Avoid gatherings with people outside of your household;
• Stay home if you are feeling ill, even if you have mild symptoms, or if you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19;
• If you live outside the modified Stage 2 public health unit regions and are going to go out to trick or treat:
  • Only go out with members of your household;
  • Only trick or treat outside;
  • Both trick or treaters and people handing out candy should wear a face covering. A costume mask is not a substitute for a face covering and should not be worn over a face covering as it may make it difficult to breathe;
  • Do not congregate or linger at doorsteps and remember to line up two metres apart if waiting. Avoid high-touch surfaces and objects;
  • Whether collecting or handing out treats, wash your hands often and thoroughly, or use hand sanitizer; and
  • Do not leave treats in a bucket or bowl for children to grab and consider using tongs or other similar tools to hand out treats.”

You can find additional guidance on the Province’s Halloween Briefing.  

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is actively investigating several situations where transmission of COVID-19 has occurred in relation to organized team sports.  

In these situations, OPH is following up with all individuals who test positive, as well as their close contacts. We are working closely with local sports organizations to inform them of the situation and to provide further guidance on the importance of taking preventative measures while participating in team sports. 

Based on case management investigations, transmission may have occurred in a variety of ways including during team play, during the use of locker rooms, during carpooling with members outside a player’s household, eating together among teammates, parents, coaches and other children, team staff members who are involved in more than one team and individuals not wearing masks. 

We recognize the important role that staying active plays in our overall health and well-being. In light of these events, it’s important to remind all families about being COVID Wise while participating in organized team sports. 

OPH reminds residents that although training is still permitted, team sports and activities are still considered high risk. COVID does not distinguish between a game or a practice, so it is important to use the same core principles of mask wearing, physical distancing, handwashing, and staying home when sick to reduce transmission of the virus.

New Official Plan Engagement Opportunity

The City started to develop the new Official Plan around the 5 Big Moves of: growth, mobility, urban design, resilience and economic development in 2019. Community engagement occurred across the city to discuss these key concepts. You may have seen our team at one of over 70 events across the City. This feedback was incorporated into the Preliminary Policy Directions presented to Council in December 2019.

Through the discussions so far, the City has had over 50,000 engagements with residents and will continue our equity and inclusion informed outreach into 2021.  This discussion is helping the city develop new ideas for the plan. One of the key cornerstones of the New Official Plan is the Transect approach, which means the City will plan by context. The Transect approach will focus on “form and function” by planning for the appropriate shape of new buildings, their relationship with public space, and how they function to be informed based on which Transect you live in.

Planning by Transect will allow the City of Ottawa to recognize the different contexts of the City’s varied geography and provide guidance as to how each area is to evolve. There will be 5 public presentations. These presentations will help residents learn what this new planning approach will propose for their neighbourhood.

To sign up for the presentation relevant to Ward 13, visit this link.  

A Strategic Plan for Interprovincial Crossings and Sustainable Transportation for Canada’s Capital Region

The NCC is leading the development of the Long-Term Integrated Interprovincial Crossings Plan in collaboration with its provincial and municipal partners. This Plan will recommend the best way to manage congestion across the Ottawa River, from now to 2050. This Plan is particularly important now as more and more people and goods are expected to cross back and forth between Ottawa and Gatineau. Finding solutions for how people and goods travel more easily and efficiently across the Ottawa River is critical to the long-term wellbeing of Canada’s Capital Region - environmentally, socially, and economically. The NCC is looking for feedback to help develop the plan. Participate in an online questionnaire to share your thoughts.

Ottawa Public Library Engagement Opportunity

The Ottawa Public Library-Library and Archives Canada Joint Facility’s project team is offering a new way for Indigenous peoples in the Ottawa-Gatineau area and across Canada to provide ideas, suggestions and input into the joint facility.

On behalf of the project team, an online Indigenous engagement survey is being conducted by NVision Insight Group, an Indigenous consulting company in Ottawa.

Survey topics include the design of the indoor and outdoor spaces as well as the types of activities, programs, collections and services.

The survey will provide key insights to the project team on how the facility can be more reflective and inclusive of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation visitors.

The survey will remain online until November 30, 2020. 

Answers can also be provided over the phone or a print copy mailed for those interested in participating via an alternative method by sending an email to [email protected]. For contact information, details regarding previous Indigenous engagement activities or for more information about the Ottawa Public Library-Library and Archives Canada Joint Facility, visit the project website Inspire555.ca.

Weather Update from our Roads and Parking Team

In the coming weeks, our team will transition from summer activities like sidewalk repairs, ironworks, rural ditching and mowing to our winter operations of snow clearing and removal. Our Roads and Parking Services team transitions over a two-week period in November to ensure we are ready for an early snowfall.  You may see our snow plows and snow clearing equipment out on the road ahead of the first snowfall as our operators complete their annual training ahead of the winter season. 

Help Us To Keep our Staff Safe

This year, we are taking additional precautions to keep our team healthy so they can continue their critical work of keeping our roads and sidewalks safe for residents.  We are asking residents to observe COVID-19 precautions while interacting with our staff.  Please, wear a mask and observe physical distancing measures while speaking to our Roads and Parking team.

Clearing Catch Basins

This week is going to be a rainy one.  We’re asking residents to clear their local catch basin of leaves and debris.  A clear catch basin allows water to drain off the road, making it safer for resident travel.  As temperatures drop, water that is left on the road may freeze causing dangerous conditions.  Small steps taken now to keep catch basins clear will help prevent water pooling on our roads.

Traffic Impacts

• Highway 417 – The following Highway 417 off-ramps will be closed for paving:
  • Westbound off-ramp at Vanier Parkway will be closed from Thursday, October 22 at 11 pm until Friday, October 23 at 6 am.
  • Eastbound off-ramp at St. Laurent Boulevard will be closed from Thursday, October 22 at 11 pm until Friday, October 23 at 6 am.
• St Laurent from Donald to Montreal Rd
  • All paving is complete
  • Landscaping on going and should be completed in the next 2 week weather permitting
• Donald St from St Laurent to Alesther St
  • All concrete  and iron work completed.
  • Looking for a weather opportunity to complete the 1 night of paving remaining
  • Pavement markings and landscaping to follow and should only take 1-2 weeks