Hill Backs Police, Better Sidewalks
This is an excerpt from Barrhaven West Councillor David Hill’s newsletter:
I continued my neighbourhood visits, this week down in Stonebridge, and very much appreciate the discussions.? As a recap of some of the main topics of discussion – the 416 interchange at Barnsdale was approved about 9 months ago and is in the process of detailed design.
Regarding community safety, the concern about vehicle theft is very real and I will continue my engagements with OPS and other stakeholders to ensure that the police budget is protected and that sentencing considerations in the Highway Traffic Act and criminal code are re-evaluated.
I also heard loud and clear about the dissatisfaction with the temporary asphalt sidewalk fills.? Know that I will be working with all of the community associations over the winter to exhaustively document all of the sidewalk damage (and road repair requirements as well).? From there I will do the best that I can to advocate that the budget prioritization year over year addresses these most significant areas of default.? I know there are concerns with the aesthetics and how that impacts property values and understand that.? The city perspective is that it is safer for those most vulnerable (picture a senior citizen with a walker) to have cracks filled with asphalt as those areas are ultimately prioritized for the final rebuild.
This newsletter excerpt is courtesy of the city-wide community group Your Applewood Acres (And Beyond) Neighbours
For You:
Take Consultations Away From Happy Town News
Leiper’s Part Of LRT Problem: BENN
Are Councillors Gutless On Budget? MULVIHILL
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– The Bulldog – News Feed Enter 
I am a suburban homeowner, and it is time to raise our property taxes so suburbanites pay the true cost of service delivery to our car dependent dwellings. Until we do, you can expect a lot of asphalt covering our sidewalks, along with all sorts of austerity. Thinking we can continue to expand our city the way we have, and solve any of our problems is burying our heads in the sand.
M – The City cannot raise taxes selectively, they can only raise the mill rate. Given that taxes are based on the mill rate x property value and have nothing to do with the draw on services, raising the taxes in the suburbs will raise taxes on everyone. That may be your intent, but I just wanted to clarity.
According to our councillor’s community liason staff, the reason that the city repairs concrete sidewalks with asphalt is one of expediency. It is easier/faster to direct an asphalt crew to effect a repair than to schedule a concrete repair crew. That makes sense, but only as it relates to timeliness. The city lacks a follow up plan. One that involves a permanent fix to replace the temporary one that will not handle the wear and tear of sidewalk snow removal.
This leads to a related problem: the decision to not scrape the snow and ice completely off of sidewalks. To do so creates wear and tear on the snow removal equipment (blades being worn down) and the hard surface (concrete, asphalt, metal plates). The end result is to leave in place hazardous conditions to those who use the sidewalks. From a city that claims to be promoting active transportation methods, such as walking to the bus stop.
This isn’t a case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing. This is a case of the thumb on the right hand not knowing what the index finger of the right hand is doing.
Google the Ottawa pedestrian plan. Fear it. It will add dozens and dozens of new sidewalks to areas of Ottawa which through prior zoning approvals only had sidewalks on one side of the road. The standard is now two. Probably over $100 million worth of sidewalks to be put in but no money set aside to repair the existing sidewalks. When I asked the planner about it, the answer was the new sidewalks costs will be rolled up into a 30-year bond with other capital projects therefore the $3 million sidewalk there becomes the $6 million sidewalk after interest payments. And the old sidewalks which are deteriorating? Their lumped under the extra money required by the city to repair infrastructure. It’s literally insane. And no we don’t need higher taxes, we need common sense in the allocation of resources to repair existing sidewalks and not build new ones where they are not needed. Only to meet a policy which can be changed