Possible ideas

To get the creative juices flowing, here are some ideas on possible initiatives for members to consider. Others are invited to pitch in, adding their own ideas, dismissing ideas presented by others or simply giving a sense of priority to ideas which have been floated.

a) Press Mayor Watson on his borough council idea: We could invite the Mayor to speak about his concept; we could write a paper ourselves to present to members of Council; we could take initiative to ensure that the idea does not disappear into the "too hard basket" never to appear again.

b) Open discussion on the zoning by-law: In the election campaign Councillor Hume floated an idea of "pre-zoning"; we could invite him to explain his concept. We could work with Council to look at the zoning by-law more generally -- we have gone on record as questioning spot rezoning -- can we see how Community Design Plan exercises or zoning studies might address some of the city's zoning disagreements.

c) Establish a community challenge fund: It has been suggested that a fund be established for challenges before the Ontario Municipal Board. When appropriate, money from such a fund could be provided to support associations' appearance before the OMB.

d) Tightening language in the Official Plan: Examine the OP as updated to identify the language which seems to render CDPs, secondary plans and zoning meaningless. Press for amendment.

e) Explore ties with Gatineau: Examine possibilities of opening dialogue with like community groups in Gatineau, particularly on questions of interprovincial transportation, either bridges or transit.

f) Examine community associations' relationship with the City: Each association seems to have a different relationship with the city, whether it is availability of meeting rooms or insurance coverage. We could draw up an inventory of the various relationships and, if appropriate, launch discussion with the city to clarify matters.

g) Pool experience about running a community association: Members are structured differently and have differing scope of activity. Perhaps an event (a weekend workshop) or an inventory of by-laws etc. would be useful.

h) Focus on transportation issues: We held a weekend workshop on transportation but much of the time FCA has relied on City Centre Coalition on transportation questions. The CCC emphasis is on transit in the core whereas some members have other issues and are outside the geographic area of interest to CCC. Rural transportation or a new interprovincial bridge are examples. Is a more active FCA presence needed on these issues?

i) Intensification: Do we need to have further discussion about what the push for intensification really means for our communities? Should we be tracking intensification targets and measures? How is to be co-ordinated?

j) City Budget: It seems that the new Mayor and Council intend to give much attention to budgets. Should the FCA promote community involvement in budget questions and, if so, how is this best done? Is there sufficient common thinking among community groups for FCA to make an intervention in the budget discussions?

That makes ten ideas.....no doubt there are more....and some of the above may not be worth pursuing.

Becoming proactive in 2011

This new blog is to stimulate discussion about the activities and objectives of the FCA [Federation of Citizens' Associations of Ottawa-Carleton]. According to the FCA by-laws, the objectives of the Federation are:
(1) To encourage citizen participation in the planning and development of the community and the conduct of community affairs in Ottawa and the national capital region;
(2) To encourage collective action and effort on matters of more than personal interest and when so empowered by Members, to act on their collective behalf:
(3) To serve as a clearing house for information between member organizations, levels of government and their agencies and news media;
(4) To serve as a conduit of information between and among member organizations.

At the Nov. 29 meeting held in Old Ottawa East, it was agreed that there would be a discussion at the January meeting (now confirmed for Jan. 13) to plan FCA activity for 2011. Please use this blog to stimulate discussion leading up to the January meeting.