COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

That Council approve that Mayor Jim Watson, on behalf of City Council, sign the International Charter for Walking as an acknowledgement of the City of Ottawa’s commitment to the rights of people in Ottawa to be able to walk safely and to enjoy public spaces throughout the City of Ottawa.

Recommandation du ComitÉ

Que le Conseil approuve que le maire Jim Watson, au nom du Conseil municipal, signe la Charte internationale de la marche en tant que reconnaissance de l’engagement de la Ville d'Ottawa quant aux droits des personnes à Ottawa de pouvoir marcher en toute sécurité et de jouir des espaces publics partout dans la Ville d’Ottawa.

DOCUMENTATION

1. Transportation Committee report dated 12 October 2011 (ACS2011-CMR-TRC-0022)

Report to/Rapport au :

City Council

Conseil municipal

12 October 2011 / le 12 octobre 2011

Submitted by/Soumis par :Transportation Committee / Comité des transports

Contact Person/Personne resource: Marianne, Wilkinson, Councillor, Ward 4 / Conseillère, Quartier 4

613-580-2474, marianne.wilkinson@ottawa.ca

City Wide / À l'échelle de la Ville

Ref N°:ACS2011-CMR-TRC-0022

SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL CHARTER FOR WALKING

OBJET : CHARTE INTERNATIONALE DE LA MARCHE

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

BACKGROUND

At the Transportation Committee meeting of 5 October 2011, the Transportation Committee approved the following motion, raised as an additional agenda item by Councillor Wilkinson:

WHEREAS on June 29, 2011 Dr. Rodney Tolley of Walk21 made a presentation to the Transportation Committee on the value of a walkable city and informed the Committee about the International Conference on Walking and Liveable Communities in Vancouver from Oct. 3-5, 2011; and

WHEREAS the City of Ottawa Pedestrian Plan approved as part of the Transportation Master Plan in 2008 states that the City “Adopt a Pedestrian Charter that expresses the City’s commitment to enabling, facilitating and promoting pedestrian activity and to developing walkable communities; and

WHEREAS City staff plan to include a local pedestrian charter in the next refresh of the Pedestrian Plan and have expressed support for having Ottawa sign the International Charter for Walking as an articulation of the City’s commitment to pedestrians;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council approve that Mayor Jim Watson, on behalf of City Council, sign the International Charter for Walking as an acknowledgement of the City of Ottawa’s commitment to the rights of people in Ottawa to be able to walk safely and to enjoy public spaces throughout the City of Ottawa.

The committee agreed that it be sent to the October 12, 2011 City Council meeting for approval.

DISCUSSION

Staff will be available at the City Council meeting of 12 October 2011 if comment is required.

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

Staff will be available at the City Council meeting of 12 October 2011 if comment is required.

CONSULTATION

Notice of this meeting was advertised on the City’s website as per Section 77 (1)(b) of the procedure By-law.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

Staff will be available at the City Council meeting of 12 October 2011 if comment is required.

RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

There are no risk management implications associated with the report recommendation.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no direct financial implications.

TECHNOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

Staff will be available at the City Council meeting of 12 October 2011 if comment is required.

CITY STRATEGIC PLAN

This report speaks to the Sustainable, Healthy and Active City Priority identified in the City Strategic Plan

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Document 1 - International Charter for Walking, Walk21

Document 2 - Presentation by Dr. Rodney Tolley, Conference Director for Walk21 and Honorary Research Fellow, Staffordshire University, UK, submitted to Transportation committee on 29 June 2011 (previously distributed and held on file with the City Clerk)

DISPOSITION

Upon Council approval Mayor Watson will sign the International Charter for Walking.