City of Ottawa

[J.OT13]

I was listening to the Planning Committee while they were discussing three different amendments at the same time; the stacked cycling amendment, the Barrhaven flood plain and something else. They were jumping between the two subjects, Councillors were asking questions on the flood plain, then a speaker spoke about the bike parking before coming back to the flood plain. Very confusing and disorganized. Deal with one thing at a time please.

EDIT: so it's an omibus with a bunch of 🞵🞵🞵🞵 stacked on. Still no reason they can't discuss one thing at a time.

Side note, Gower seemed very frustrated and shaken by the whole Jan Harder thing. He seemed to have a short-fuse the entire meeting.

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I was listening to the Planning Committee while they were discussing three different amendments at the same time; the stacked cycling amendment, the Barrhaven flood plain and something else. They were jumping between the two subjects, Councillors were asking questions on the flood plain, then a speaker spoke about the bike parking before coming back to the flood plain. Very confusing and disorganized. Deal with one thing at a time please.

EDIT: so it's an omibus with a bunch of 🞵🞵🞵🞵 stacked on. Still no reason they can't discuss one thing at a time.

Side note, Gower seemed very frustrated and shaken by the whole Jan Harder thing. He seemed to have a short-fuse the entire meeting.

People actually watch these things

I've found Gower to be respectful, level headed and intelligent in the past. I know some people think he is a suburban bobble head but I'd rather have him steering the ship than Jan. Jenna Sudds would be another good one. You know that Watson isn't going to pick one of the inner city cabel. Maybe as an outside one, Rawlson King

[Lakeofthewood]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Her contempt and sense of entitlement is disgusting.

Never even admitted to any wrongdoing, and Watson wouldn't go on the record on if he thought she did anything wrong. It's long been time for the whole Watson Club to get ushered out, but this is the cherry on top.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

People actually watch these things

I've found Gower to be respectful, level headed and intelligent in the past. I know some people think he is a suburban bobble head but I'd rather have him steering the ship than Jan. Jenna Sudds would be another good one. You know that Watson isn't going to pick one of the inner city cabel. Maybe as an outside one, Rawlson King

Gower is pretty good. He understands that intensification means the suburbs have to take some on as well and he tries to come up with compromises. Sudds is also not bad, being the one who added the reprimand to Watson's weak motion of "Harder was amazing, and that's why she's stepping down". Even at the debate on burying hydro lines on Hawthorne, she seemed to understand why Kanata 10 years ago is not Old Ottawa East today, though she still voted for the tax levy she proposed (I might be getting some details wrong).

I would still define them as Watson Club, but still have free-will to a certain extent.

The Harders, Hubleys, El-Chantiries and Darouzes of the world are just terrible all around. Bullies through and through. No movement on their positions no matter how much you try to reason with them.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by Lakeofthewood

Never even admitted to any wrongdoing, and Watson wouldn't go on the record on if he thought she did anything wrong. It's long been time for the whole Watson Club to get ushered out, but this is the cherry on top.

Only politicians who are confident of re-election can be this contemptuous.

That says a lot about the electorate.

[J.OT13]

So last year we were promised the cops would not receive a budget increase for 2021, and now we're giving them a 3% increase and let them try to not use it.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

So last year we were promised the cops would not receive a budget increase for 2021, and now we're giving them a 3% increase and let them try to not use it.

Yeah that seems likely. I, sure they give it back. The defund argument is complicated but unlike the US we pay police very well so have better argument to demand more from the budget.

[J.OT13]

Finance committee hears calls to curb police budget in approving 3% tax increase, endorses Lansdowne 'revitalization'

Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Jul 06, 2021 • 4 minutes ago • 4 minute read

Council’s de-facto cabinet is recommending that property taxes increase by three per cent in 2022, but several deputations on Tuesday urged the mayor and councillors to avoid delivering an increased cut of the property tax revenue to the Ottawa Police Service.

Municipal budgeting is a two-step approach in Ottawa, starting with council deciding how much tax revenue should be collected from landowners to pay for services over the next calendar year. City finance staff and executives then work with Mayor Jim Watson to develop a draft budget.

The finance and economic development committee, chaired by Watson and made up almost entirely of deputy mayors and other committee chairs, voted unanimously in favour of the three per cent tax increase in 2022. Council will consider the recommendation on July 21.

Where the annual budget directions don’t usually draw a large numbers of public delegates to the committee meeting, it was a different story on Tuesday, when 19 people signed up to address members, largely on the subject of the police budget.

Some had lengthy presentations for the committee, like university Prof. Irvin Waller, who offered an alternative approach to budgeting for community safety.

Other delegates offered quick advice to council members.

In his short deputation, Emerson Harkin observed that “no one is really clamouring for another increase in the police budget.”

The police force, the police services board and city council are under public pressure to freeze the police budget and place more resources into mental health programs.

Council ultimately approves the annual police budget, but the real legwork happens by the arm’s-length police services board to make sure the estimates will provide the “adequate and effective police services” required by the provincial Police Act.

Coun. Diane Deans, chair of the police services board, said the police force and board members were determined to find savings and reduce budget requirements in 2022. Deans said the larger city budget should also be scrutinized for possible savings.

City manager Steve Kanellakos said the city faced huge financial challenges in 2022. It’s not a new problem in municipal budgeting, but the COVID-19 pandemic has doubled the annual fiscal pressure. There are also important initiatives created during the pandemic that the city might continue, like respite centres, Kanellakos said.

Watson says council members who call for a tax increase of more than three per cent should consider the impact of the pandemic on the financial health of small businesses and many residents.

“I would strongly encourage people to look very closely at ways you want to spend dollars and (create) new programs and ways you want to save money so that you can pay for increased programs,” Watson told councillors.

While council will set the 2022 property tax increase and budget directions this month, the draft budget won’t be tabled until Nov. 3 with a final approval scheduled for Dec. 8.

The budget directions include a recommended 2.5 per cent increase to OC Transpo fares and 4.86 per cent increase to water and sewer bills.

--SNIP--

[email protected]
twitter.com/JonathanWilling

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-new...crease-endorses-lansdowne-revitalization

[J.OT13]

🞵🞵🞵🞵 and blow at the same time:

“I would strongly encourage people to look very closely at ways you want to spend dollars and (create) new programs and ways you want to save money so that you can pay for increased programs,” Watson told councillors.

The budget directions include a recommended 4.86 per cent increase to water and sewer bills.

So why is it not ok to increase property taxes by more than 3% but increasing water and sewers by well over 3% is fine? I get that property tax increases have an overall higher impact numbers wise, but those are only for property owners. Many renters, who generally have less money and may have been impacted by Covid at a higher level, pay for water.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

So why is it not ok to increase property taxes by more than 3% but increasing water and sewers by well over 3% is fine? I get that property tax increases have an overall higher impact numbers wise, but those are only for property owners. Many renters, who generally have less money and may have been impacted by Covid at a higher level, pay for water.

Unlike taxes, arguably you have some control over your water bill, as it is partially based on usage. It's a tough one, as obviously water is a necessity, but higher rates do have an impact on conservation.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by phil235

Unlike taxes, arguably you have some control over your water bill, as it is partially based on usage. It's a tough one, as obviously water is a necessity, but higher rates do have an impact on conservation.

Yeah but this conservation is a vicious cycle. We obviously have nearly unlimited water. We waste a bit of chlorine but if I run my two all day without contaminating it then it goes back to the river it came from. The cost of our water system is mostly fixed.

The tax number is the headline so they want to keep that lower which is understandable politically. The transit portion will become increasingly an issue with the commitments we have made.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

The tax number is the headline so they want to keep that lower which is understandable politically. The transit portion will become increasingly an issue with the commitments we have made.

That's how I see it. Easier to increase "side" charges than property taxes which is the big focus from the media and residents.

Fact is, Ottawa has done tons for water conservation over the last 30 years. Not much else we can do. At this point, we're just slowly pricing people out of a clean, accessible water supply.

Compare that to Gatineau that often has boil water advisories and bans on watering lawns, yet does not charge for water consumption. Gatineau is miles ahead of Ottawa on many environmental fronts, yet so far behind on water conservation (maybe it's a provincial thing )

[Williamoforange]

Ottawa policy when it comes to water is that the bills pay for both the processing and the infrastructure.

Which in the case of Ottawa means replacing old pipes, upgrading the treatment plants and dealing with the combined storm/septic system.

[rocketphish]

Menard only councillor seeking vacant spot on planning committee
Opening created when Coun. Jan Harder stepped down following damning report

Joseph Tunney · CBC News
Posted: Jul 19, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 4 hours ago

Only one Ottawa city councillor has put his name forward to fill a vacancy on the city's powerful planning committee, one created when Coun. Jan Harder stepped down as chair following a damning report by the integrity commissioner.

Although Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard is the sole councillor seeking Harder's seat, he's not guaranteed the position.

Menard, who ran for council in part on a platform that included reigning in developer influence, will need to be voted in by a majority of council at Wednesday's meeting.

Menard had expressed his interest in being part of the committee back in 2018, when he marked it as his first choice after he was elected.

"The recent revelations about Councillor Harder by an integrity official in Ottawa have only reinforced the need to see change to the planning process in Ottawa, and the close relationships developers have fostered for years with decision makers deciding on development projects worth billions over our four-year term," Menard said by email.

The report by integrity commissioner Robert Marleau detailed the relationship between Harder, planning consultant Jack Stirling and Stirling's daughter Alison Clarke.

It suggested that hiring the registered lobbyist and his daughter to work for Harder's office created a perceived conflict of interest.

While the report recommended Harder's removal, the long-time councillor announced she'd be stepping down as chair before that could take place.

While Menard is the sole councillor seeking Harder's spot at the committee table, councillors Glen Gower, Jeff Leiper and Scott Moffatt all hope to fill her role as chair.

Back in 2019, Menard recommended breaking the planning committee in two, in hopes of creating more representative decision-making.

If appointed, the councillor said he hopes to bring more "discussion, debate and needed constructive criticism" to the committee.

"It could use fairer representation based on geographic representation and where development applications occur," Menard told CBC Saturday night.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/vacant-planning-committee-ottawa-menard-1.6107504

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Menard only councillor seeking vacant spot on planning committee
Opening created when Coun. Jan Harder stepped down following damning report

Joseph Tunney · CBC News
Posted: Jul 19, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 4 hours ago

Only one Ottawa city councillor has put his name forward to fill a vacancy on the city's powerful planning committee, one created when Coun. Jan Harder stepped down as chair following a damning report by the integrity commissioner.

Although Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard is the sole councillor seeking Harder's seat, he's not guaranteed the position.

Menard, who ran for council in part on a platform that included reigning in developer influence, will need to be voted in by a majority of council at Wednesday's meeting.

Menard had expressed his interest in being part of the committee back in 2018, when he marked it as his first choice after he was elected.

"The recent revelations about Councillor Harder by an integrity official in Ottawa have only reinforced the need to see change to the planning process in Ottawa, and the close relationships developers have fostered for years with decision makers deciding on development projects worth billions over our four-year term," Menard said by email.

The report by integrity commissioner Robert Marleau detailed the relationship between Harder, planning consultant Jack Stirling and Stirling's daughter Alison Clarke.

It suggested that hiring the registered lobbyist and his daughter to work for Harder's office created a perceived conflict of interest.

While the report recommended Harder's removal, the long-time councillor announced she'd be stepping down as chair before that could take place.

While Menard is the sole councillor seeking Harder's spot at the committee table, councillors Glen Gower, Jeff Leiper and Scott Moffatt all hope to fill her role as chair.

Back in 2019, Menard recommended breaking the planning committee in two, in hopes of creating more representative decision-making.

If appointed, the councillor said he hopes to bring more "discussion, debate and needed constructive criticism" to the committee.

"It could use fairer representation based on geographic representation and where development applications occur," Menard told CBC Saturday night.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/vacant-planning-committee-ottawa-menard-1.6107504

I wouldn't be surprised if the number of Councillors on Planning Committee just gets reduced by 1. Lots of back room discussions I'm sure.

The Chairperson will be someone who the Mayor gets along with all of the time and who has been around a while. Draw your own conclusions.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

I wouldn't be surprised if the number of Councillors on Planning Committee just gets reduced by 1. Lots of back room discussions I'm sure.

The Chairperson will be someone who the Mayor gets along with all of the time and who has been around a while. Draw your own conclusions.

I predict Moffatt will get the Chair. Watson was praising him non-stop the day Harder stepped down.

As for the vacant seat, I suspect the same; they will just eliminate it out-right. That, or a Watson supporter will be parachuted in at the last minute.

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I predict Moffatt will get the Chair. Watson was praising him non-stop the day Harder stepped down.

As for the vacant seat, I suspect the same; they will just eliminate it out-right. That, or a Watson supporter will be parachuted in at the last minute.

Someone I know 'on the inside' told me about the Moffatt appointment. I'm surprised that nobody else 'outside looking in' wanted to be on Planning Committee although Menard is the one wanting the position the most. Planning Committee meetings may be longer...but as people have indicated on Reddit, building consensus is not his strong suit. Many staff members find him very difficult to deal with.

[J.OT13]

Nothing surprising here. Hubley proposed we have two co-chairs for the Planning Committee so that they wouldn't have to choose between Moffatt and Gower.


https://twitter.com/KatePorterCBC/status/1417861436966162437

Shockingly, they did allow Menard on the Committee.

[J.OT13]

One surprise is that Brockington edged-out Hubley on the Ottawa Community Lands Development Corp.


https://twitter.com/KatePorterCBC/status/1417879081874563076

[J.OT13]

SHERRING: A look at who might jump into mayoral race if Watson decides not to run

Susan Sherring, Ottawa Sun
July 26, 2021

"It's actually a pretty long list."

Is Mayor Jim Watson running for mayor yet again?

He’s not saying. And while I’d love to know, it makes sense for him to keep quiet about his plans at this point. No sense alerting your potential opponents.

If he says he’s not running, the race will be on, with councillors vying for attention. That could mean a bit of chaos at council, with any number of councillors fighting each other around the council table.

So who is on the list of people who might enter the fray for mayor if Watson, who many believe has outstayed his welcome, decides his time is done? It’s actually a pretty long list.

I’m not convinced he’s going to leave. He’s still a young man, with plenty of ambition. He’s been open about being lonely at times, so unless he gets some sort of appointment, which doesn’t seem likely, he’ll need a job to occupy him. And when I say not likely, I only mean nothing has materialized yet.

So who is sitting in the wings hoping desperately that he leaves? To be clear, if Watson doesn’t run, the floodgates will open wide.

There are any number of candidates on council who would love to sit in the mayor’s chair.

First on the list is Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Diane Deans, who’s had her eye on the job for years, but the timing has never been right. Have to believe that, regardless of what Watson does, she’ll be applying for the job with the voters deciding.

Other potential candidates on the ballot? There would definitely be at least someone on the left of council, with Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney leading the pack. The really interesting thing about McKenney is that she worked inside the bureaucracy before venturing into city politics. Hard to imagine the beauty of someone who actually understands the inner workings of the city sitting at the head of council. Not sure that’s happened before. She certainly has the smarts and the ambition, which is always a good thing.

More visibly ambitious is Capital Coun. Shawn Menard. He’s a guy who won’t be happy with being a councillor for too long. That’s a compliment. He has a lot to offer. The problem is, of course, that the voting public on the on the left is limited. If both he and McKenney run, the left vote will be split.

Gloucester-South Nepean Coun. Carol Anne Meehan, a first-time councillor who has never expressed an interest in the mayor’s chair, would have a big head start in the race. People actually know her from her days sitting with beloved TV personality Max Keeping, and they like her. Name recognition is huge in a political race.

Rideau-Goulbourn Coun. Scott Moffatt has always been a favourite of mine. Being from the rural area, his base isn’t as large, but he’s incredibly bright, informed and likeable. Whether the family man has any interest in running for mayor at this point will be interesting to determine. A bit impossible to think he’d consider running against Watson, but if Watson steps aside, watch for him to appear on the ballot.

Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury has been relatively public about his desire to run for mayor. He’s been meeting with the movers and shakers in the city, but he has a long way to go to raise his profile outside the downtown core. That being said, if Watson doesn’t run, look for the affable councillor to run.

https://ottawasun.com/opinion/columnists...ayoral-race-if-watson-decides-not-to-run