💸 Lansdowne 2.0.
The City’s Auditor General finds that the City is at financial risk over Lansdowne 2.0 but only on the outside chance that the RedBlacks perform poorly, new tariffs are introduced, or construction is delayed.
• Nathalie Gougeon says the plan includes ‘new’ revenue from RedBlacks games – but makes no assumptions about what happens if fans stay away.
• The signed agreement with the builder is a fixed cost bid, but any extra costs incurred because of new tariffs would be borne by the City.
• Similarly, the City is responsible for any cost overuns. – Kate Porter at CBC
↪ The Great Lawn at Lansdowne may be too small for CityFolk after the Lansdown 2.0 renovations, says the organizer. The current TD Arena is mostly under one of the stadium stands but is replacement will be freestanding and take up part of the green space where CityFolk gathers.
↪ The giant stainless steel public art installation ‘Moving Surfaces’ won’t be part of Lansdown 2.0 and the report has recommended ‘decommissioning’ and removing it.
⚖️ Gatineau Park is included in a new land claim by Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg over a large part of western Québec. The $5 billion lawsuit also includes Morris and Kettle Islands. Chief Jean-Guy Whiteduck says the nation never reliquished the lands in the claim. – Liam Baker at CBC
📸 The final Ottawa speed camera photo will be taken November 14, says City. The province has banned the use of speed cameras on public roads by municipalities effective that date. The City reminds drivers that red light cameras will remain in use and fines for previously issued tickets will still need to be paid. – City of Ottawa
🍾 The City is seeking feedback about last summer’s experiment of allowing alcohol in some parks. The pilot project officially ended last Friday, October 31, and resulted in zero complaints to the City.
As usual, THE OTTAWAN likes to opine on how serious it believes that the City is in receiving feedback from the public. For issues where feedback is desired, the City usually creates a dedicated page on Engage Ottawa, complete with survey questions, and it often organizes open houses to converse with City staff.
In this case, the City would like you to email parksfacilitiesbylaw@ottawa.ca if you have anything to say about the topic.
– Ted Raymond at CTV
