AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (ARAC)

On Friday, February 22, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee held the first meeting of the Term of Council. The Committee approved its draft budget for 2019, which includes $7.2 million to renew rural infrastructure. This includes roads, bridges, and guiderails across rural wards. The Committee also approved changes to the Site Plan Control process to improve efficiency, which involves a new fee structure and a streamlined process for applications. The changes reduce the number of small-scale developments requiring Site Plan Control, freeing up staff time to focus on complex applications, and reflect the real cost of work associated with applications.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

The City’s Audit Committee approved the draft budget for audit work by the Auditor General in 2019. The Committee received the audit plan from Ernst & Young for the audit of 2018 financial statements. Ernst & Young is the City’s external auditor on a five-year term ending in 2023. The audit plan sets out the work to complete the audit report that confirms that the City’s 2018 financial statements are in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards.

CITY COUNCIL

Council approved a work plan for the development of a new Official Plan for Ottawa. The work plan lays out a public consultation process and timelines starting early this year, to produce a new Official Plan by the end of 2021. Other items on the Agenda included appointments to Board of Directors, and approving changes to the Site Plan Control process from ARAC.

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING: LRT PHASE 2

City Council, sitting as Committee as a Whole asked questions of staff and heard from 18 members of the public on the procurement of LRT Phase 2. Staff provided a presentation to members on costs, stations, and information on the preferred proponents. East-West Connectors is the recommended private-sector partner to design, build and finance the Confederation Line extension, which would add 12.5 kilometres of rail and 5 stations in the east and 15 kilometres of rail and 11 stations in the west. TransitNEXT is the preferred proponent to design, build, finance and maintain the Trillium Line extension, which would add 16 kilometres of rail and 8 stations in the south. Council will vote on the item at the City Council Meeting of March 6th 2019.