Council updated on extreme weather response, approves additional support for residents

Council today received an update on the City's response to the July 1 extreme weather event and approved additional measures to support affected residents. Many residents continue to deal with the ongoing impacts of flooding and property damage due to this historic rainfall event.

Council approved a partnership with the Canadian Red Cross to provide urgent support to residents affected by the extreme weather event. Working with City staff, the Canadian Red Cross will help connect residents with services and resources, including support navigating insurance claims, access to engineers and renovation specialists, and other social supports. Council also directed staff to explore a longer-term partnership with the Canadian Red Cross focused on strengthening community resilience and preparedness for future extreme weather events.

Council also approved additional support for residents dealing with flooding and property damage. The City will waive building permit fees for flood-related repairs, waive encroachment fees for waste containers used to collect storm debris, and expand the Compassionate Grant Program and Residential Protective Plumbing Program so more residents can access financial assistance. The Province has also announced plans to activate the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program for eligible flood-affected areas to help cover clean-up, repair and basic emergency expenses not covered by insurance.

Council heard that the impact of the storm continue to affect thousands of residents across Ottawa.  The scale of the storm's impact includes: 

• More than 6,000 reported basement floods
• Power outages that impacted more than 30,000 residents
• Widespread property damage, downed trees and road closures
• Approximately 100 residents displaced from their homes, requiring temporary accommodations

Since Wednesday, July 1, the City has taken action to support residents and communities affected by the storm, including: 

• More than 3,300 wellness visits to check on residents and connect people with additional support
• More than 1,000 visits to community information hubs and sessions, where residents could access City services, insurance resources and community support
• More than 2,600 tonnes of storm debris collected through enhanced waste collection and disposal services
• Household hazardous waste and electronic waste drop-off events in the most impacted communities to help residents dispose of flood-damaged materials safely
• More than 640 service requests completed for downed and damaged trees
• Ongoing support from partners including the Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance and other community organizations

The update included information about the impact on City infrastructure and the ongoing work to better understand what happened. In some areas, up to 167 millimetres of rain fell in just a few hours, with rainfall levels approaching or exceeding a one-in-200-year storm event. While critical services such as drinking water and wastewater treatment remained operational, in the hardest-hit areas, drainage systems could not move water away quickly enough, leading to localized flooding.

The City is reviewing what happened and will share findings with Council and residents. Resources and information for residents continue to be available on the extreme weather event webpage.

Council approves transportation and mobility improvements

Council approved a Transportation and Mobility Strategy and Action Plan to help improve traffic movement this fall as commuting increases. Traffic patterns are expected to change after summer, with people returning to workplaces and students resuming school.

The plan will improve transit, manage traffic, expand parking options and make it easier for people to walk and cycle. It focuses on practical actions to reduce congestion, expand travel options, and help people and goods move efficiently through the city. The City will monitor the plan and make adjustments as needed.

The plan includes:

• Transit enhancements: Adding express routes to major destinations and employment areas, improving transit reliability and capacity and strengthening connections with cycling, shuttles, and Park & Ride options.
• Traffic management and construction coordination: Improving traffic flow through signal timing, traffic monitoring, incident response, enforcement, and coordinated construction activities.
• Parking measures: Expanding and optimizing parking options, including Park & Ride facilities, to improve access to transit and reduce congestion.
• Active transportation: Supporting walking and cycling through improved access, connectivity, and public awareness.
• Communications and public information: Providing timely, clear travel information to help residents plan their trips and navigate the transit network.

City applies to the Development Charges Reduction Program

Council approved the City’s application to the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) under the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build. The program requires the City to reduce residential development charges (DCs) to encourage building more houses. The Province would fund infrastructure projects to help offset the City’s loss of revenue from reduced DCs.

The funding program asks municipalities to reduce residential DC rates by at least 30 to 50 per cent for three years, and to submit shovel-ready infrastructure projects for funding consideration. The City is proposing to reduce its DC rates by 54 per cent and fund the following infrastructure projects, with an estimated total cost of $692.2 million:

• Wastewater projects, including sewers and pumping stations
• Arterial road extensions and widenings
• Intersection projects
• Expansion of the Bowesville Park & Ride
• The Riverside South recreation complex.

The City is requesting $478.3 million in DCRP funding. The City’s contribution is estimated at $62.2 million, with the remaining project costs continuing to be funded largely through DCs.

Together, these projects are expected to support the development of more than 65,000 housing units.

Arterial Road projectsinclude the Greenbank Road Realignment (Cambrian Road to Barnsdale Road), Brian Coburn Boulevard Widening and Realignment (Renaud Road to Navan Road,  Navan Road to Mer Bleue Road,  Mer Bleue Road to Tenth Line Road), Carp Road Widening (north of Hazeldean Road to Highway 417).

There are also intersection focused projects on

• Boundary Road at Mitch Owens Road
• Flewellyn Road at Shea Road
• Barnsdale Road at Greenbank Road
• Mer Bleue Road W at Navan Road
• Cambrian Rd at Elevation Road and Apolune Street
• Earl Armstrong Road at Limebank Road
• Spratt Road at Borbridge Avenue
• Terry Fox Drive at Blanding Street
• Terry Fox Drive and Cope Drive
• Perth Street at Shea Road
• Fernbank Road at Cope Drive and Eldenwylde Drive
• Old Richmond Road at Perth Street and Eagleson Road
• Othello Avenue at Smyth Road and Russell Road
• Earl Armstrong Road at Collector H
• Tenth Line Road at Wall Road
• Eagleson Road at Flewellyn Road
• Abbott Street East at Shea Road
• Greenbank Road at West Hunt Club
• Riverside South Recreation Centre Multi-Use Pathway Connection (Limebank Road to Bowesville Road)
• Terry Fox Drive at Hope Side Road

Council approves by-law adding tenant protection for bad-faith evictions

Council approved a new by-law to help protect tenants from bad-faith eviction practices related to renovations and repairs.

The Rental Renovation Licence By-law will require landlords to obtain a licence from the City when seeking to evict tenants to renovate or repair a rental unit. The by-law aims to prevent landlords from using renovations or repairs as a pretense to evict tenants when the true intent is to re-rent the unit at a higher amount.

While the Province sets eviction rules through the Residential Tenancies Act, the City's licensing process will help support compliance with those rules. Under the by-law: 

• Landlords must obtain a building permit before issuing an eviction notice.
• When issuing an eviction notice, landlords must provide affected tenants with a City-produced eviction education guide to help them understand their rights and available protections.
• Once an eviction notice has been issued, landlords have seven days to apply to the City for a rental renovation licence.

The new by-law takes effect on January 1, 2027, providing time to develop the licensing program and to produce education materials for landlords and tenants, including the eviction education guide.

Council approves agreement to resolve Miller’s Farm zoning appeal

Council approved an agreement to resolve the zoning appeal for Miller's Farm at 6158 Rideau Valley Drive. After the owner appealed Council’s decision to refuse a zoning change in November, Council directed staff to enter mediation. The resulting agreement includes limits on vehicle storage, business activities, parking and outdoor storage areas, and requires the topsoil bagging operation to end by November 1. A zoning amendment will be brought forward to implement the agreed changes.

Council directs staff to work with Halloween house owner to preserve it

Council also directed staff to work with the property owner to review options to permit the continued operation of the charitable Halloween display while ensuring compliance with applicable by-laws and regulations. The house has raised over $100,000 for CHEO over the years and provides valuable  volunteer hours for local high school students.

Council ratifies tentative agreement with union

Council ratified a tentative agreement with CUPE 5500. The union represents over 200 staff in OC Transpo’s fleet and facilities maintenance, transit operations, and special constables.