1. RURAL
ISSUES ADVISORY COMMITTEE – 2006 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2007 WORK PLAN COMITÉ CONSULTATIF SUR LES
QUESTIONS RURALES – RAPPORT ANNUEL DE 2006 ET PLAN DE TRAVAIL 2007 |
That City Council:
a) Receive the 2006 Annual Report of the
Rural Issues Advisory Committee as detailed in Attachment 1; and
b) Approve the objectives contained in the Rural Issues Advisory Committee’s 2007 workplan, as detailed in Attachment 2.
RecommandationS du comité
Que le Conseil municipal:
a) Reçoive le Rapport annuel de 2006 du
Comité consultatif sur les questions rurales, tel que décrit a la pièce
jointe no 1; et
b) Approuve les objectifs qui sont présentés dans le plan de
travail 2007 du Comité consultatif sur les questions rurales, tel que décrit à
la pièce jointe no 2.
DOCUMENTATION
1.
Rural Issues Advisory Committee report dated 13
November 2006 (ACS2007-CCV-RIA-0002)
2.
Extract of Draft Minutes 5, Agriculture and
Rural Affairs meeting of 22 March 2007
.
Report to/Rapport au :
Agriculture
and Rural Affairs Committee
and Council / et au Conseil
Submitted by/Soumis par: Rural Issues
Advisory Committee
Comité consultatif sur les questions rurales
Contact Person/Personne ressource : Marc Desjardins,
Coordinator / Coordonnateur,
Rural
Issues Advisory Committee / Comité consultatif sur les questions rurales
(613)
580-2424 Ext / poste, 28821 / Marc.Desjardins@ottawa.ca
SUBJECT: RURAL ISSUES ADVISORY COMMITTEE – 2006 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2007
WORK PLAN
OBJET: COMITÉ CONSULTATIF SUR LES QUESTIONS RURALES – RAPPORT
ANNUEL DE 2006 ET PLAN DE TRAVAIL 2007
REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That
the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council:
a) Receive the 2006 Annual Report of the Rural Issues Advisory
Committee as detailed in Attachment 1; and
b) Approve the objectives contained in the Rural Issues
Advisory Committee’s 2007 workplan, as detailed in Attachment 2.
Que le Comité de l agriculture et des questions
rurales recommande
que le Conseil :
a) Reçoive le Rapport annuel de 2006 du Comité consultatif sur les questions rurales, tel que décrit a la pièce jointe no 1; et
b) Approuve les objectifs qui sont présentés dans le plan de
travail 2007 du Comité consultatif sur les questions rurales, tel que décrit à
la pièce jointe no 2.
On 26 April 2006, City Council approved the Rural Issues Advisory Committee’s Terms of Reference, which require that the Advisory Committee report annually to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and Council with respect to its Annual Report and its workplan for the following year. The purpose of the Advisory Committee’s workplan is to identify the activities the Committee plans to undertake in the upcoming year and whether or not these have a budgetary impact. Each activity should be identified, a brief description of the project or activity should be provided, and the anticipated timing of the item should be noted.
The Lead Department Representatives are to provide
the Committee with information on the departmental workplan and priorities,
where the Committee’s workplan ties into the Department’s workplan, and where
the Committee can assist the Department.
The Lead Department Representative will also advise on what staff and/or
financial resources are available as part of departmental priorities.
DISCUSSION
At its meeting of 17 October 2006, the Rural Issues Advisory
Committee approved its 2007 workplan for submission to the Agriculture and
Rural Affairs Committee. On the same
date, the Committee also confirmed its 2006 Annual Report.
The mandate of
the Rural Issues Advisory Committee is to provide advice and input to the Agriculture and
Rural Affairs Committee and Ottawa City Council on issues affecting the rural
and farming community, including agricultural organizations and to assist City
Council, through the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, in its efforts
to: protect and preserve the rural area; promote healthy rural communities that
contain living, working and recreational opportunities; and respect the natural
environment and resources of rural areas.
Rural Affairs Office (Lead Department)
The Rural Affairs Office is supportive of this workplan. We are pleased that the committee has identified a number of issues of concern for the rural parts of Ottawa. The prioritization schedule will provide clear direction for items to be placed on upcomming agendas. The Rural Affairs Office looks forward to continuing to work together with RIAC to achieve our common goals.
Planning and Growth Management
The Planning, Transit and the Environment Department is supportive of
the 2007 RIAC workplan. The Department will continue to bring forward to the
Committee's attention projects and policy initiatives affecting the rural areas
for consultation.
Public Works and Services
The Department concurs with the
2007 Workplan and 2006 Annual Report, prepared by the Rural Issues Advisory
Committee, and acknowledges the value provided to the Department in terms of
providing comments and advice from the rural citizen’s perspective on various
projects. Staff would like to add that
the 2007 Workplan is extensive, and details are to be developed. Therefore, staff looks forward to working
with RIAC within the Committee’s mandate, and as staff resources permit.
Community and Protective Services
The Community and Protective Services Department is supportive of
the proposed workplan for 2007. The
Department will work to ensure that all policy recommendation reports having a
unique or significant impact on the rural community are directed to both RIAC
and ARAC for comment and direction.
Corporate Services
Corporate Services will continue to support RIAC and ARAC by
providing information and advice on items in their work plans. In addition, the
Department will ensure that rural issues and concerns are taken into
consideration when developing its own plans and priorities.
There are no financial implications.
Attachment 1 – 2006 Annual Report of the Rural Issues Advisory Committee
Attachment 2 – Proposed 2007 Workplan of the Rural Issues Advisory Committee
Attachment 3 Rural Issues Advisory Committee Terms of Reference (held on file with the City Clerk).
City Clerk’s Branch staff will forward the
recommendations approved by the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee to City
Council for ratification.
RURAL ISSUES Advisory
Committee
2006 Annual Report
The Rural Issues Advisory
Committee (RIAC) was established in June 2006 and held six meetings from June
through October of 2006 – the period of this report.
The Rural Issues Advisory Committee received presentations and updates from City staff pertaining to the following (to which the RIAC provided comments and suggestions):
·
Jock
River Reach 2 and Mud Creek Subwatershed Studies
·
City-wide Right-of-way Lighting Policy
·
Comprehensive
Zoning By-law
·
Light Rail – Rural Implications
·
Hauled Liquid Waste Pricing Strategy
·
Zoning By-law Amendments Related to the Severance of
a Surplus Farm Dwelling
·
Rural
Water and Wastewater Planning
·
North
Gower Community Design Plan
·
Ottawa
Brownfields Redevelopment Strategy
·
A
Strategy to Recognize and Protect the Public Waterfront Recreational Access
Function of Selected Road Allowances on the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers
·
Provincial
Policy Statement Section 2.3, Agriculture
·
Bill
51
·
Lower
Rideau Watershed Strategy
Subject |
Description of project |
Results |
Resolution of Wetlands Concerns |
At its June 6, 2006 meeting, the RIAC received a
presentation from staff with respect to the status of the work program for
the resolution of wetland concerns.
As a result of the presentations and discussions on this matter, the
RIAC made suggestions to amend the staff recommendations going forward to
Standing Committee and Council. |
The RIAC’s proposal resulted in revised
recommendations being presented to and adopted by Standing Committee and
Council. |
|
|
|
Jock River Reach 2 and Mud Creek Subwatershed
Studies |
At its June 20, 2006 meeting, the RIAC received a
presentation from staff on this matter.
|
The RIAC endorsed the proposed studies. |
|
|
|
Rural Recreational Pathways |
At its June 6, 2006 meeting, the RIAC received a
presentation from representatives of the Manotick Community Association with
respect to a proposed plan for rural pathways development. This item was discussed at two subsequent
meetings, culminating in the RIAC forwarding a motion to ARAC. |
At its September 14,
2006 meeting, the ARAC considered a staff report as well as the RIAC
motion. As a result, the RIAC motion
was adopted to supplement the staff recommendation. |
|
|
|
Provincial Policy
Statement Section 2.3, Agriculture |
At its August 15, 2006
meeting, the RIAC received a presentation from staff and discussed this
matter, referred to it by the ARAC as a result of a pending Official Plan
Amendment application. |
At its August 24, 2006 meeting,
the ARAC considered the staff report with respect to the subject Official
Plan Amendment application. RIAC
provided input, resulting in the ARAC overturning the report recommendation. |
|
|
|
Bill 51 |
At its August 15, 2006 meeting, the RIAC received
a presentation from staff and discussed this matter, leading to motions being
forwarded to Standing Committee and Council. |
As a result, the RIAC
motions were presented to and adopted by Standing Committee and Council. |
|
|
|
Public Delegations |
During the period of this report, the RIAC
received sixteen (16) presentations from public delegations and/or community
groups. |
This enables the RIAC to fulfill its mandate to
“provide a forum for citizens to raise issues and concerns.” |
|
|
|
RIAC 2006 Annual Report and 2007 Workplan |
At its October 17, 2006 meeting, the RIAC
finalized and approved its 2006 Annual Report and its 2007 Workplan for
submission to Standing Committee and Council. |
The RIAC’s 2006 Annual Report and 2007 Workplan to
be presented to Standing Committee and Council in November 2006. |
|
|
|
Subject |
Description of project |
Results |
Adoption of a Buy Local Policy |
At its July 18, 2006 meeting, the RIAC received a
presentation from a community representative who submitted a proposal for a
Buy Local Policy for the City’s food services. |
The RIAC received the presentation for
information. The Rural Affairs Office
to review existing policies and obtain a legal opinion on the proposal, for
follow-up at a future RIAC meeting. |
|
|
|
Community-Based Fire Services in Rural Ottawa |
At its September 19, 2006 meeting, the RIAC
received a presentation from one of its members and discussed this matter. |
The RIAC adopted a motion for the creation of a
working group to formulate a proposal for the consideration of the RIAC, the
ARAC and Council. |
|
|
|
City-Wide Right-of-Way Lighting Policy |
At its June 20, 2006 meeting, the RIAC received a
presentation from staff and discussed this matter. |
The RIAC will continue to be involved in the
project as it evolves, providing input and/or making recommendations as
appropriate. |
|
|
|
Comprehensive Zoning By-law |
At its June 20, 2006 and its September 19, 2006
meetings, the RIAC received presentations from staff and discussed this
matter. |
The RIAC will continue to be involved in the
project as it evolves, providing input and/or making recommendations as
appropriate. |
|
|
|
Rural Transit Tax Area “A” |
At its September 19, 2006 meeting, the RIAC
received background information from the Rural Affairs Office and discussed
this matter. |
The RIAC approved a motion to ask that the
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee take the necessary steps to change
the boundaries of Rural Transit Tax Area “A” in time for the 2007 taxes. |
|
|
|
RIAC Sub-Committee Structure |
At its October 17, 2006 meeting, the RIAC created
sub-committees mandated with working on key issues contained in the RIAC’s
2007 Workplan. |
Sub-Committees to work on assigned Workplan issues
and present updates and/or formulate recommendations to the RIAC throughout
the year, as appropriate. |
|
|
|
RURAL ISSUES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
2007 WORK PLAN
RIAC Workplan Preamble
The Rural Issues Advisory
Committee was created as a direct result of the 2005 Rural Summit. The agricultural community wanted to be
involved in policy and program development, particularly where new policies,
by-laws and programs impacted their operations and livelihood. Access to staff and services was complicated
by the demanding seasonal nature of their work and the challenges in knowing
who to turn to for what service.
Establishing an Agricultural Advisory Committee, with rural community
representation, to consider agricultural issues and to make recommendations to
the Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee and Council was seen as a
need. Members outside of the
agricultural community also saw such a Citizens’ Advisory Committee as a means
of reviewing and providing comment on policy matters before they rose to
Council. It was recognized that such a
Committee could assist rural Councillors in making informed decisions and could
potentially result in cost savings.
Rural Summit attendees also felt such a Committee might provide a
mechanism for better overall communications between rural residents and the
City (Council and staff). During the
course of the Summit, attendees put forth initiatives and/or issues to be
addressed. These recorded issues then
moved through the Rural Summit Task Force and many of these are now Work Plan
initiatives of the Rural Office and/or of the RIAC.
To guide its work throughout 2007, the RIAC has
prepared its work plan as follows and will work diligently towards meeting the
objectives stated. However, the
Committee recognizes the heavy workload inherited in part from the Rural Summit
and in part from items rising directly from the rural community and feels
handicapped in meetings its mandate by being limited to one formal meeting per
month.
Workplan
Priority A: MATTERS GOING FORWARD TO sTANDING cOMMITTEE AND COUNCIL
Objective
·
To
provide feedback and comments and to make recommendations on policies, plans
and proposals being submitted to ARAC.
Activities
·
Review
or receive presentations at Committee meetings.
·
Provide
input on how rural and agricultural issues can be incorporated into goals and
objectives in the review of the Official Plan policies.
·
Recommend
to ARAC strategies to improve delivery of municipal services, programs and
information to the rural areas.
·
Recommend
policies to ARAC that would ensure that municipal services remain accessible to
rural residents and how might such services be tailored to meet these
residents’ needs.
· Review matters, and form sub-committees as appropriate in order to make well considered recommendations to Standing Committee on issues whose status is determined worthy. A list of examples to review would include the following: Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review, Official Plan Review (including Rural Development Strategy and PPS Conformity), Rural Broadband, City Wide Right of Way Lighting Policy, Wastewater and Drainage Services, Drinking Water Services, Solid Waste Services, Water Efficiency Protection Program, Population Projection Revisions, Rural Directional Signage System, Wetlands Resolution Process Continuation, Ottawa Cycling Plan, Ottawa Pedestrian Plan, City Wide Truck Route Review (possibly).
·
Make
presentations to Standing Committee, as required.
·
Monitor
recommendations and information given to Standing Committee and Council by
receiving reports from Rural Affairs Officer at each RIAC meeting.
·
Respond
to requests for advice from City Staff and Councillors with a rural perspective
recognizing the known and potential impact on rural citizens, rural business
(including agriculture and agribusiness), the environment, the financial
resources available and to the City as a whole.
·
Maintain
a list of items of interest to rural residents to be reviewed by the Committee.
Timeline
Ongoing
Workplan Priority B: mATTERS aRISING FROM 2005 rURAL sUMMIT
Objective
·
To monitor status of recommendations
arising from the 2005 Rural Summit and to assist in moving issues forward.
Activities
·
Review,
identify and prioritize items identified at the Rural Summit and make
recommendations on items that should be considered in the annual budgets. Identified issues include the following: Rural Transit Tax, Expanding Broadband,
Wetland Resolution Process Continuation, Buy Local Campaign, Rural Community
Centre/Association Support Strategy, Services for Seniors, Volunteer Services,
Creation of Rural Home Based Business Resource Guide, Permits & Pre-engineered
Farm Buildings, Rural Road Signage Program for Farm Gate Sales, Municipal Drain
Preventative Maintenance Program development, Investigation of “Borough Model”
of governance, Greenspace Master Plan, Agriculture Policy concerns of “buffer
zones”, what is “normal farm practice” for Ottawa Area farmers, input to
Proposed Pesticide By-law, Sustainability of Rural Villages, and continued
examination of “one size does not fit all” concept as applied to all proposed
changes affecting rural living.
·
Monitor
items placed by Task Force in “Parking Lot” and bring forward priority items as
deemed necessary.
·
Status
updates of Rural Summit funded recommendations will be
provided by Rural Officer at monthly
RIAC meetings.
·
Establish
subcommittees to research issues further and include outreach back to the
community or community groups as necessary.
Summarize completed items and report successes back to the community and
to rural business.
·
Work with Rural Councillors, the Rural
Affairs Officer and City Staff to determine the timeframe, venue and topics for
the next Rural Summit.
Timeline
Workplan Priority C: MATTERS IDENTIFIED BY COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND/OR RURAL RESIDENTS
AS BEING OF IMPORTANCE AND/OR HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE RURAL COMMUNITY
Objective
·
To
ensure that issues of importance to rural residents and RIAC members are tabled
at RIAC for review, research, and feed back to source and Standing Committee as
required.
Activities
·
Provide a forum for rural residents to
raise issues and concerns with a distinct rural component or with impact on
rural areas.
·
To improve communications between the
City and the rural community and to ensure that information on rural issues is
communicated in a timely and clear manner.
Establish a permanent Communication/Outreach Subcommittee to facilitate
this need.
·
Establish
subcommittees, as needed, to research recommended issues further. Some identified areas of concern include the
following: Rural Pathway Plan, Minimum Level of Service, Community Based Fire
Service, Provincial Policy statement and City’s Official Plan position relative
to prime agricultural land designations, continuation of the Wetlands
Resolutions Policy.
·
Work with the Rural Affairs Officer.
Timeline
Ongoing
Workplan Priority D: RAISE AWARENESS AND PROMOTE BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF THE RURAL COMMUNITY AND ITS ISSUES
Objective
·
To help facilitate the RIAC acting as an
effective vehicle for public participation, public consultation and as a source
of input to staff and Standing Committee on city policies and programs as
relating to rural living.
Activities
·
Continue to have most of the RIAC
meetings rotate in the rural wards.
·
To the extent possible, address items of
local interest at each meeting
·
Establish “open mike” sessions at regular
RIAC meetings. Have audience members
introduce themselves to RIAC committee if numbers permit.
·
Establish a permanent Communication/Outreach Subcommittee
whose mandate (to be determined) shall likely include the following points:
1.
Encourage
effective communications within RIAC itself.
2.
Work
with the Rural Affairs Office and Officer.
3.
Establish
communication lines with other City Advisory Committees for perspectives
relative to rural issues raised. Attend
and report on such meetings.
4.
Increase
cooperation and information exchange between and among RIAC and other rural
interest groups such as RCOC and interested Community Associations.
5.
Disseminate
information as helpful to area media.
6.
Explore
all avenues to increase public participation.
Possibilities include developing lists of concerned citizens on
particular issues for e-mail response/interaction, suggesting topics for the
City of Ottawa Rural Connections Website, forwarding RIAC agendas to interested
parties ahead of scheduled meetings, establishing a column or comment forum in
area printed publications.
7.
Ensure
that all information relating to Council matters, matters arising from the
Rural Summit, matters brought forward from the community and within RIAC are communicated effectively by means of
collaborative two way communications.
Timeline
Ongoing
Extract of
Draft Extrait
de l’Ébauche du
Minutes 5 Procès-verbal
5
march 22,
2007 le
22 mars 2007
RURAL ISSUES ADVISORY
COMMITTEE – 2006 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2007 WORK PLAN
COMITÉ
CONSULTATIF SUR LES QUESTIONS RURALES – RAPPORT ANNUEL DE 2006 ET PLAN DE
TRAVAIL 2007
ACS2007-CCV-RIA-0002
As
the Chair of the Rural Issues Advisory Committee, Mr. R. Fraser, was out of
town, Mr. D. Moodie, Rural Affairs Officer, gave a brief presentation on the
history of the Rural Affairs Advisory Committee and its report. He stated that considering the fact that the
committee had only been established in mid-June 2006, a great deal had been
accomplished as can be seen in the report presented. Mr. Moodie continued with the review of the work plan for 2007 as
presented placing emphasis on the number one priority of providing input on
matters going before the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Standing Committee and
Council.
Councillor
Brooks stated that he appreciated the Rural Issues Advisory Committee and the
assistance they provide to the rural Councillors. He requested that Mr. Moodie review the numbered items on page 10
of the report.
In
response to Councillor Brooks’ question on item 2, work with the Rural Affairs
Office, Mr. Moodie stated that the Rural Affairs Office has the appropriate
staff to deal with the concerns of the rural community. Councillors Brooks and Thompson stated that
Mr. Moodie’s office was doing a fine job.
On
item 3, Mr. Moodie indicated that the Advisory committees do liaise with each
other. For example, on certain issues,
the Rural Issues Advisory Committee may liaise with the Environmental Advisory
Committee on such topics as trapping of pests or to build a dialogue or a
network. This was the same intent with
item 4, to build a network for dialogue with other like-minded associations and
community groups.
Councillor
Brooks inquired on item 5, dealing with the media and communications, how
conflicting views would be handled between the Advisory Committee and the ward
Councillor. Is their main
responsibility not to the Standing Committee?
Mr. Moodie stated that the Advisory Committees have the freedom to
disagree with the views of the Councillor or the Standing Committee. He noted there are various mechanisms
available to have issues raised and he further reiterated that the intent was
to work together to build community awareness.
Mr.
Moodie’s response to Councillor Brooks’ question on bringing partners to a
common ground in item 6 was that it was in their best interest, and in their
mandate, that the Rural Issues Advisory Committee find a common ground on
issues. He further stated that all
associations have a right to bring their views to Standing Committee.
Councillor
El-Chantiry expounded further on the communications issue stating that their
was little media involvement in the Rural Summit and it can be further seen by
the number of media at the Standing Committee meetings. He would like to see more commitment by the
media. Mr. Moodie stated that most
media have been very cooperative in placing the Rural Office’s articles in
their papers with the exception of those in the eastern section of the City,
which would prefer to have their own reporters on site for what they consider a
less biased view.
Councillor
Harder suggested that it might be of some value to have a couple of rural
Councillors sit down with various media as a way of reaching out. She further recommended a conference or
seminar, possibly gathering people from Eastern Ontario, up the valley and down
in the Kingston area; possibly reeves and wardens with a view to meeting in a
place such as Carleton Place. Mr. Moodie confirmed that it is in his plans to
bring people together for such an event.
Councillor
Thompson followed up on Councillor Harder’s idea of engaging local politicians
in Eastern Ontario and whether there had been a report from the Smart Growth
panel on many issues since many items are cross-border issues. Councillor Harder brought up the example of
rural ambulance service as an example.
Councillor
Hunter inquired as to whether the activities of the Advisory Committee had been
vetted through the operating procedures for these committees. His understanding was that Advisory
Committees’ primary purpose is to advise their respective Standing Committees
and to provide the role of advocacy only if asked to do so or after it has been
checked. Mr. Moodie stated that he was
unsure of the written procedures but had assumed that they operating within the
normal parameters. The Chair requested
that this be checked with the City Clerk’s office before next Council meeting.
Councillor
Brooks commented that it is our responsibility to send out the message and
promote our committees, both the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and
the Rural Issues Advisory Committee.
That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council:
a) Receive
the 2006 Annual Report of the Rural Issues Advisory Committee as detailed in
Attachment 1; and
b) Approve the objectives contained in the Rural Issues
Advisory Committee’s 2007 workplan, as detailed in Attachment 2.
CARRIED