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1. RURAL ISSUES ADVISORY
COMMITTEE - COMITÉ CONSULTATIF SUR LES
QUESTIONS RURALES - |
Committee
Recommendations
That Council:
1. Receive the 2007 Annual Report of the
Rural Issues Advisory Committee as detailed in Document 1; and
2. Approve the objectives contained in the
Rural Issues Advisory Committee’s 2008 workplan, as detailed in Document 2.
Recommandations
du comité
Que le Conseil :
1. Reçoive le Rapport annuel de 2007 du
Comité consultatif sur les questions rurales, tel que décrit a la pièce
jointe no 1; et
2. Approuve les objectifs qui sont présentés dans le plan
de travail 2008 du Comité consultatif sur les questions rurales, tel que décrit
à la pièce jointe no 2.
Documentation
1. Rural Issues
Advisory Committee’s report dated 2 April
2008 (ACS2008-CCV-RIA-0001).
2. Extract of
Draft Minute, 10 April 2008.
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
|
City-wide/à
l’échelle de la ville Ref
N°: ACS2008-CCV-RIA-0001 |
SUBJECT: RURAL ISSUES ADVISORY COMMITTEE -
2007 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2008 WORK PLAN
OBJET : COMITÉ
CONSULTATIF SUR LES QUESTIONS RURALES -
RAPPORT ANNUEL DE 2007 ET PLAN DE TRAVAIL 2008
REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That
the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council:
1. Receive the 2007 Annual Report of the Rural Issues Advisory
Committee as detailed in Document 1; and
2. Approve the objectives contained in the Rural Issues
Advisory Committee’s 2008 workplan, as detailed in Document 2.
Que le Comité de l agriculture et des questions
rurales recommande
que le Conseil :
1. Reçoive le Rapport annuel de 2007 du Comité consultatif sur les questions rurales, tel que décrit a la pièce jointe no 1; et
2. Approuve les objectifs qui sont présentés dans le plan de
travail 2008 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 18 March 2008, the Rural Issues Advisory
Committee approved its 2008 workplan for submission to the Agriculture and
Rural Affairs Committee. On the same
date, the Committee also confirmed its 2007 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 upcoming agendas. The Rural Affairs Office looks forward to continuing to work together with RIAC to achieve our common goals. Further, the Rural Affairs Office will look to RIAC as a key resource in developing the implementation plan for options raised through Rural Summit II ~ Building on Success.
Planning, Transit and the
Environment
The Planning, Transit and the
Environment Department is supportive of the 2008 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
2008 Workplan and 2007 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 2008 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 (CPS) Department appreciates the
advice and support provided by the Rural Issues Advisory Committee (RIAC) in
2007, including input on the Rural Health Program, the Community Project
Funding Allocations Committee process/outcomes, and the acquisition of
Dickenson Squares, among others. CPS
supports the RIAC 2008 workplan (affixed as Document 2) dedicated to assisting
City Council in protecting and preserving the rural area; promoting healthy
rural communities that contain living, working and recreational opportunities;
and respecting the natural environment and resources of rural areas. The Department will work to ensure that all
its CPS policy recommendation reports having a unique or significant impact on
the rural community are directed to both RIAC and ARAC for comment and
direction.
Business Transformation Services
Business Transformation Services will continue to support RIAC by providing information and advise on items in their work plan and ensuring that rural issues are taken into consideration when developing the individual work plans within our branches. We will continue to ensure that corporate performance documents, such as the City's Annual Report, report on the City's progress in achieving the key goals and objectives of initiatives of importance and having impact on the rural community.
Our staff will work closely with the Rural Affairs Office following the 2008 Rural Summit to determine the most effective approach to addressing identified rural priorities that impact Business Transformation Services. We would like to add that although no financial implications have been identified for this work plan, any enhancements or additions to existing services would likely have financial implications. Financial implications will be identified separately, as individual projects come forward.
There are no financial implications.
Document 1 - 2007 Annual Report of the Rural Issues Advisory Committee
Document 2 - Proposed 2008 Workplan of the Rural Issues Advisory Committee
Document 3 - Committee Terms of Reference (on file with the City Clerk)
The Advisory
Committee will work to complete the workplan tasks approved by City Council.
DOCUMENT 1
RURAL ISSUES Advisory Committee
2007 Annual Report
INTRODUCTION
The
Rural Issues Advisory Committee (RIAC) established in June 2006, ran its second
term from January to December 2007, holding 10 meetings.
PRESENTATIONS/STAFF
UPDATES
The
Rural Issues Advisory Committee received presentations and updates from City
Staff pertaining to the following (to which the RIAC provided comments and
suggestions)
MEMBER LEAD OR COMMUNITY SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS
·
Poverty
Issues Committee Activity report
Jan./07
April/07
May/07
June/07
July/07
Aug./07
·
Received
Staff presentation on Municipal Drains. Motion made & passed re: the timing
and funding of Environmental studies required & that these comply with
Section 6(1) of the Drainage Act.
Committee Coordinator to forward RIAC motion to City Staff &
Councillors for their consideration.
Mr. Lambert McCarthy also spoke regarding his problems with damns on his
property.
Sept./07 Joint RIAC, OFGAC Meeting
Oct./07
Nov./07
Three motions made and two
carried with regard to this development proposal. RIAC committee coordinator
will circulate memorandum of decisions to ARAC before their meeting dealing
with this on Jan. 24/08.
B: Matters arising from 2005 Rural Summit
Monthly
updates given verbally by the Rural Affairs Office. Discussion, questions, suggestions from RIAC followed.
Jan./07
Mar./07
May/07
Sept./07 Joint RIAC, OFGAC meeting
Oct./07
C: Matters Identified by Committee Members
and/or rural residents as being of Importance and/or having an impact
on the rural community
Jan./07
April/07
May/07
·
Utilizing new
RIAC members, Membership of the RIAC
Sub-committees was confirmed for the established subcommittees and one new
Subcommittee initiated.
·
The Committee
passed a motion to be sent to ARAC regarding Rural Clean Water Program,
Urban Wells and Septic Systems, requesting that urban dwellers be eligible
for funding programs.
June/07
·
Member reported on the Community Funding Allocations Committee he had
recently served on, on behalf of RIAC.
July/07
·
Community Based Fire Services
Subcommittee - members would
like more alignment between the rural volunteer service and the Ottawa
Professional Firefighter’s Association and recommend that the Deputy Chief for
Rural Services attend a RIAC meeting.
·
Wetlands Subcommittee - Stakeholders have met and are part way
through their list of issues and recommendations.
·
Communication Outreach and Rural
Summit Subcommittees -
Suggestions were tabled for a more formal communications strategy, additional
meetings to improve internal communications within the group, and a means to
improve communications with the public and community associations.
Aug./07
·
Osgoode
Ward resident spoke to the mike about the Belmeade Road and the history of the state of this
road. Councillor Thompson added
information to this subject and motion was made and carried by RIAC that the
City of Ottawa evaluate with Township of North Dundas the fair cost to make the
road serviceable with completion date of Dec. 31, 2010. Motion to be forwarded
to Staff & Councillors for their consideration.
·
Chair brought
forward Management of Drainage on Private Property.
Motion made & passed by RIAC about consultation process and request
for deferral by ARAC. Committee
Coordinator to forward RIAC motion to Staff & Councillors for their
consideration.
Sept./07 Joint RIAC, OFGAC meeting
Oct./07
Nov./07
D: Raise Awareness and Promote Better
Understanding of the Rural Community and its Issues
Jan/07
April/07
June/07
Aug./07
·
Community Based Fire Services subcommittee closed until
further notice.
·
The RIAC’s contact for PIAC’s Working Poor subcommittee met with
this subcommittee to exchange information and to add content to their work from
the rural perspective.
Nov./07
·
Communication/Outreach subcommittee prepared &
distributed a listing of points for RIAC to consider implementation of in order
to improve the overall function of RIAC.
DOCUMENT
2
RURAL
ISSUES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
2008
WORK PLAN
RIAC Work Plan Preamble
The Rural Issues
Advisory Committee (RIAC) was created as a direct result of the 2005 Rural
Summit. Following that Rural Summit’s
Task Force recommendations, the Rural Issues Advisory Committee developed its
initial Work Plan in which it set priorities for reporting and feed back to
Standing Committee and Council. To
facilitate acting as a source of recommendations for policies, plans and
proposals being put forward to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
(ARAC), the Rural Issues Advisory Committee worked to increase public
participation at its meetings. This was
encouraged by rotating meetings through the rural wards, attempting to table
topics of ward interest for these meetings, forwarding meeting agendas to local
community associations and inviting guest
attendees to speak to the committee.
Public consultation will be increased further by way
of the upcoming 2008 Rural Summit (April 5th).
Work Plan Priority A: MATTERS GOING FORWARD TO
STANDING COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL
Objective
Activities
Timeline
Ongoing
Work Plan Priority B: SUPPORT
2008 rURAL sUMMIT
DEVELOPMENT and ITS OUTCOMES
Objectives
·
Work with the Rural Affairs
Officer/Office, Rural Councillors and City Staff to plan, promote and implement
the 2008 Rural Summit.
·
To monitor status of recommendations
arising from this 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
·
Status
updates of Rural Summit planning and the Rural Affairs
Officer will provide outcomes at monthly RIAC meetings.
·
Establish
subcommittees to research 2008 Rural Summit 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.
Timeline
Work Plan
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 subcommittees,
as needed, to research recommended issues further. Some identified areas of concern include the following: Rural
Settlement Strategy (including Hydrogeology and Terrain
Analysis Guidelines, Rural Village Secondary Plan Development), Rural
Drainage Issues, Wetland Compensation Process Continuation, Land Class Designation
changes, Property Rights, Forest By-law, Para Transportation Rural
Fares & Delivery Model, Urban Well and Septic Issues, Rural Well &
Septic Standards/Inspections, Decommissioning of Abandoned Wells, Road
Maintenance Practices and Source Water Protection, Definition of Farmers’
Market re: Health Regulations, Waste Strategy (where will next landfill site
be, Plasco effort), Wind Farm Study
initiative, Infrastructure Fund Allocation.
·
Implement a mechanism with established time lines to ensure RIAC
obtains follow-up on recommendations made to staff. Provide written comments as warranted after staff presentations.
·
Work with the Rural Affairs Officer.
Timeline
Ongoing
Work Plan 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.
·
Forward RIAC agendas to interested
parties ahead of scheduled meetings.
·
Promote “open mike” opportunity.
·
When RIAC meetings are in the rural
setting, request that the home ward Councillor attend the meeting in his/her
ward.
·
Encourage
effective communications within RIAC itself.
·
Work
with the Rural Affairs Office and Officer.
·
Establish
communication lines with other City Advisory Committees for perspectives
relative to rural issues raised. Attend
and report on such meetings.
·
Increase
cooperation and information exchange between and among RIAC and other rural
interest groups such as the Rural Council of Ottawa Carleton (RCOC) and
interested Community Associations.
·
Explore
all avenues to increase public participation.
·
Ensure
that all information relating to Council matters, matters arising from any
Rural Summit, matters brought forward from the community and within RIAC are
communicated effectively by means of collaborative two-way communications.
·
Disseminate
information as helpful to area media.
Timeline
Ongoing
RURAL ISSUES ADVISORY COMMITTEE -
2007 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2008 WORKPLAN
COMITÉ
CONSULTATIF SUR LES QUESTIONS RURALES -
RAPPORT ANNUEL 2007 ET PLAN DE TRAVAIL DE 2008
ACS2008-CCV-RIA-0001 CITY WIDE / À L'ÉCHELLE DE LA VILLE
Mr. Richard Fraser, Chair of the Rural Issues Advisory Committee, stated that the report before the Committee was fairly straightforward
but stated that RIAC would very much appreciate being consulted on any reports
coming from staff with regard to Transportation or Transit, especially
concerning a rural tax levy. Chair
Jellett agreed and asked staff to take this as direction.
Councillor El-Chantiry commented that it seemed very difficult to
acquire members for RIAC from the east end of the City and asked if it would
not be more advantageous for all meetings to take place at a central location
such as City Hall, rather than having people from the east end travel to
Fitzroy Harbour, etc. Mr. Fraser stated
that there was convenience in having meetings in a central location but that
there was great value in having some meetings in the rural wards in order to
have representation from the rural residents.
It is hoped that City staff could be more sensitive to plan their
Committee consultations based on where the meetings are to take place so that
they would pertain to that particular region of the City; i.e., a drainage
issue in Cumberland should not be on an agenda for a meeting in Kinburn.
Chair Jellett thanked Mr. Fraser for addressing the Committee and asked
that he pass along his thanks as well as thanks from the Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Committee to the members of RIAC for their hard work and efforts.
That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council:
1. Receive
the 2007 Annual Report of the Rural Issues Advisory Committee as detailed in
Document 1; and
2. Approve
the objectives contained in the Rural Issues Advisory Committee’s 2008
workplan, as detailed in Document 2.
CARRIED