Lisa Osanic

City Councillor of Collins-Bayridge District

599 Rankin Cr. Kingston
613-389-7336

District Updates:

September 20, 2023

Kingston Police Summary

  1. This neat website tracks all of the crime across the city  Kingston Crime Statistics  It’s an interesting website to refer to.
  2. There has been a lot of graffiti across the west end over the last month and also vandalism.  Street trees have been knocked over as well.  Please report any of this activity to contactus@cityofkingston.ca and the non-emergency police line 613-549-4660.  Vandalism is a criminal offense. 
  3. Dunham Park, Collins Bay Road, Ridgewood, Horsey Bay, Auden Park and especially Lemoine Point have all been hit with graffiti.
  4. There is a growing number of underage kids (under 19) smoking/vaping cannabis along pathways and city parks, especially at lunch time.  Activity can be reported to the Kingston police at 613-549-4660. 
  5. The police presented their current budget to forecast at council on September 19th.  Overtime costs are $282K higher than budget with $88K of unbudgeted costs related to policing the St. Patrick’s Day events and $78K attributed to the Collin’s Bay Institution shooting incident.
  6. The police have had much stricter enforcement at Queen’s this year.  Many more tickets have been issued.  Open Liquor has been the #1 offense at Queen’s, accounting for 95% of the tickets. The same heavy-handedness will be used during Homecoming.
  7. Police Chief Fraser says that he is open to further ideas from the public.  Kingston has the most trouble compared to the other university towns in Ontario.

Parks:

  1. Bayridge Park Pickleball – a request to players to please use a quiet ball or paddle to keep the noise down as best we can. Pickleball play is thriving and that is very exciting!
  2. Some of the children’s equipment in Dunham Park was vandalized/broken last year.  Unfortunately the original playground manufacturer has since gone out of business and thus we have gone back to the design to possibly find another solution.  The parts supply in the playground industry is a very difficult one to work within as companies are always moving and changing hands so keeping up with it is very difficult.  Staff are working on finding replacements.

Road Construction, Traffic, Sidewalks, Parking, Stop Signs:

  1. Most of the west end is under construction as we are all well-aware.  Thank you for your patience during each traffic tie-up and delay we sit through.
  2. Many of the construction projects have been delayed. There had been plans for some projects to be finished this fall – now they have been deferred until next year.
  3. Bayridge Drive is having a multi-use path installed this summer/fall. Construction south of Old Colony will continue next year.  The path will run from Cataraqui Woods Drive to Front Road. It will be terrific once it’s completed. The Bayridge Drive multi-path is a $15 million project.  The federal government provided a grant covering 70% of the cost for active transportation during the pandemic.
  4. Princess St. is having a sidewalk installed from Collins Bay Road all the way to Lisa St. on the south side. There will be a pedestrian crossing at Lisa St. and Princess St. The sidewalk will jump over to the north side at this point to match up with the existing sidewalk on the north side just west of Bayridge Drive.
  5. Next year, a sidewalk and bike lane will be constructed along Collins Bay Road from Woodbine to Princess.
  6. The sidewalk on Wise St. is being bundled with the pedestrian crossing at Lancaster and Newhall and the sidewalk on Lancaster between Limestone and Jasper.  Construction will begin next spring.  I know that Wise St. has waited 6 years for this sidewalk, maybe longer.
  7. There will be a new stop sign at the corner of Lancaster at Bridle Path/Strand.   During the election, I took requests for many stop signs throughout the district.  I submitted them all for stop sign analysis.  Staff will be bringing a report to council with the results of the analysis of all of the stop sign requests.  I do not know the results of any of the other locations, but I will make you aware of the report when it’s available.   Based on the analysis, if the traffic study shows that a stop sign is not warranted based on the traffic counts, site conditions, accident history, and other Ministry of Transportation criteria, a motion at council could be tried. We’ll wait for the results first.
  8. The CN crossing at Coronation Blvd has been bumpy for the last few years.  CN told me last week that they do not have the money in their budget to do a full reconstruction like we had done at the Collins Bay Road crossing in 2021.  CN says that that the Coronation Blvd crossing features a curve in the tracks and there will always be bumps. Curved tracks necessarily involve one rail being higher than the other and will never be as smooth as an at grade crossing with linear track.   Our CN contact is Daniel Salvatore and his email is Daniel.Salvatore@cn.ca   The signals at the tracks were upgraded this week. 
  9. New “No Parking” signs will be installed on Rockwood Drive around the curve where the mailboxes are, on one side of the road only. Signs will be going up this fall.  It has been very congested at the bend for some time now and staff have now agreed to the parking restrictions.
  10. Prince Charles Drive was assessed for traffic calming.  SLOW markings have been painted on the road and a speed indicator sign has been added.  A sidewalk cannot be added to the bridge over the creek as the bridge is too narrow. I wish that more can be done.
  11. Council recently voted to make all residential side streets be 40km/hour.  Previously, if streets did not have a posted speed limit sign, you could speed down a little side street at 50km/hour and you would not be considered speeding.   You will see new street signs warning of the 40km/hour speed limit as you enter neighbourhoods. 
  12. Please continue to report all potholes to contactus@cityofkingston.ca

Community Standards Bylaw – feedback is being collected

  1. The city is seeking feedback on the draft version of this new bylaw
  2. https://getinvolved.cityofkingston.ca/38036/widgets/160803/documents/111545
  3. It takes a while to download, but eventually comes up.
  4. Send your feedback to  jmorley@CityofKingston.ca
  5. I still have to send my comments

New Housing Recap:

Planning Committee has been busy approving housing. The provincial government has set a target of 8000 units to be built and occupied within the next few years.

  1. 1177 Montreal St. – 130 units
  2. 1274 Highway 15 – 4 storeys, 51 units apartment. 
  3. 47 and 67 Village Drive – 12 storey new rental apartment of 135 units
  4. 5-7 Cataraqui St. – 76 townhomes with 2 suites in the basement
  5. 2 more apartments to be added to the existing apartment at Gardiners Road and Princess St. (south-east corner)
  6. 14-storey private student residence being built on the NE corner of Queen and Barrie Streets
  7. There are high rise construction underway at Princess/Sydenham and the two new apartments downtown on Queen St. and also Wellington St.

Coming up in the near future – 14 storey high rise at Place d’Armes & Wellington St. and a 15 storey high rise at Barrack and Wellington St.

Waste:

  1. Giveaway Day is this Saturday Sept 23. Put your free items at the curb for the day with a “free” sign
  2. In the next few weeks, you will see 15 “textile” bins across Kingston placed at city-owned facilities. The city has just partnered with Renewal Squared based out of Trenton.  They will be collecting the clothing.  All textiles can be put in the bins – including damaged, stained or ripped clothing, old towels, rags, and even single or broken shoes.  Textiles that cannot be sold at second-hand stores are made into industrial rags.  Council was told that 85% of all textiles end up in landfill.  Knowing now that we can put rags and tattered clothing into these new textile bins, the city hopes that there will be less waste.
  3. https://www.renewalsquared.com/

Lawn and Garden this fall –

  • Fallen Apples, Pears, and any other fruit can be brought to the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre in Napanee on Highway 2
  • After Halloween, Sandy Pines will also accept your pumpkins
  • All fall, Sandy Pines will take any bags of DRY leaves that they will use in the animal enclosures
  • Outreach volunteers are very much needed at Sandy Pines.  If interested, email sandypineswc@gmail.com

Highgate Creek between Carmil Blvd and Prince Charles Drive

  • The CRCA is doing an assessment of the concrete bottom of the creek. The last time the concrete-lined creek was cleared out was 17 years ago. This is called “channelization”.   You may see the engineer and CRCA staff in the creek in the next short while clearing some sediment in random spots as they test the condition of the concrete.

Accessibility

  1. You can nominate a person, group, or organization who is making Kingston a more accessible community for an Accessibility Award.  Due by Oct 20th
    1. https://www.cityofkingston.ca/city-hall/kingston-awards/access-awards
  2. Community residents presented to council on Sept 19th  about an Inclusive playground project – a playground that does not have just one inclusive feature, but all features would be inclusive.  The location will likely be at Shannon Park.  For more information or to donate, please see their website below.

Inclusive Play Project | Because playgrounds should be for everyone

Strategic Plan

  1. Council’s Strategic Plan has been published since the last update I sent you.  You can read it at:
  2. https://www.cityofkingston.ca/city-hall/city-council/council-priorities

Water – Utilities Kingston

  1. Water Main Lining Program is completed for the 2023 Season  
  2. Working with Fer-Pal Construction Ltd, UK has completed the 2023 water main lining program ahead of the anticipated November 2023 completion date. Surface restoration work, including sod landscaping, concrete curbs and some sidewalk sections is ongoing. Utilities Kingston is aware of deficiencies associated with surface restorations, particularly sod, and are working with the contractor to rectify them.
  3. Lining water main allows the city to rehabilitate aging pipes while minimizing service interruption and nuisance to residents. Instead of digging up the road along the entire length of the water main, the contractor excavates ‘pits’ to access the main at strategic locations and work from there. The lining process involves cleaning the inside of the mains and then inserting a felt liner that is coated with a resin. This resin compound is then cured-in-place to form what is essentially a ‘new pipe within a pipe’.

Upcoming Events:

  1. There is a Volunteer Roundup at Rideaucrest Homes on Rideau St. on Sept 20 and 21st if you are interested in volunteering there
  2. Wheels on the Runway in support of United Way

Date: Saturday, September 23rd

Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Last Entry: 1:30 PM

Location: YGK Airport, 1114 Len Birchall Way

Presented by YGK Airport and United Way KFL&A. 

 Admission is by donation, and 100% of all proceeds will go to the United Way.

  1. This Saturday, September 23, from 10am to 3pm at City Park for Big Paws, the Kingston Humane Society’s largest event of the year! It is free. Donations are welcome online or at the event. All proceeds will go to support the Kingston Humane Society and help us provide shelter and care for homeless animals.
  2. Ride for Refuge 2023 “Home for Heroes Kingston” to fundraise for the Kingston Veteran’s Village.  https://rideforrefuge.org/location/kingston  It’s the 20 tiny homes being built along King St. West at the Providence Care Campus. Each home is 300 square feet.  The walk starts from the Collins Bay Legion.
  3. Tree Planting at Lemoine Point on Saturday October 14th @9am.  350 trees to plant that morning!

April 11, 2023

Looking for a New Family Physician

  • City Council dedicated $2 million over 4 years to help provide financial incentive to recruit new doctors to Kingston  Press Release
  • Ten (10) doctors were recruited in 2022 and were mostly replacing retiring family physicians and/or were new doctors who are scaling up their practices/rosters. The City is actively trying to recruit 3 additional doctors who are showing some interest in coming here
  • In the meantime, residents looking for a family doctors are encouraged to register at Health Care Connect at https://hcc3.hcc.moh.gov.on.ca/HCCWeb/faces/layoutHCCHomePage.xhtml. Some local clinics also have internal waitlists.

Walking to Wellness Indoors until April 30th

https://www.Kflaph.ca/walkingtowellness

Tree Planting

  • The Neighbourhood Tree Planting Program spring sale is underway for just a few more days
  • If you had to take down one of your trees recently, please consider planting a new one for future generations. The best time to plant a tree was yesterday
  • There are 10 species of trees available for purchase at a cost of $20 per tree. This program allows property owners within the City of Kingston to purchase up to 2 trees per owned property in an effort to expand the community’s tree canopy. Tree pickup will be scheduled for early May with dates and pickup details forthcoming.
  • Further details can be found on the City’s website  https://www.cityofkingston.ca/resident/trees-nature/neighbourhood-tree-planting-program, or if you have any questions, please contact Kayla Stratford at kstratford@cityofkingston.ca.

Open Air Fire Permit

contactus@cityofkingston.ca

  • To report Potholes
  • To report damage to your grass from the sidewalk plows

To Report Speeding Cars on your road to the Police

  • Please call the Police non-emergency line at 613-549-4600

New Stop Sign on Front Road at Bayridge Drive

  • It is amazing the number of cars who still are not stopping on Front Road at the new stop sign at Bayridge Drive as a new 4 way stop
  • Just a reminder that is there and I have seen police officers watching it

Introducing a new Dashboard about Kingston

  • There is a new website that tracks many indicators about our city
  • I find the housing one interesting as it shows just how unaffordable housing is right now

https://kingstoninfocus.ca/

https://kingstoninfocus.ca/dashboards/Housing

Create an Account with the City of Kingston

  • https://www.mykingston.ca/
  • You will be able to track of all your customer service tickets and also download your property tax bill through your account in the future
  • 14,000 residents in Kingston have an account so far

Community Safety Zone Implementation –

The next round of Community Safety Zone implementations includes the following schools in our district:

  • Bayridge Public School
  • Bayridge Secondary School
  • Collins Bay Public School
  • Frontenac Secondary School & Module de l’Acadie
  • All currently installed Community Safety Zones are mapped and available for residents to access here. This map will be updated as phases of installation are completed. More information about the ongoing implementation of Community Safety Zones and broader Neighbourhood Road Safety work is available on the City’s website: www.cityofkingston.ca/NeighbourhoodRoadSafety.
·       Already completed are:   Lancaster & Mother Teresa Elementary Schools, Woodbine Road in front of Holy Cross, and St-John XXIII Catholic School

Red Light Camera Program Update

  • Between March 1 and December 31, 2022, there were 2029 charges issued for red light running violations occurring at the seven locations in operation across the city.
  • These violations, based on the set fine of $325 for red light running in Ontario, represents $659,425 in total fines issued to deter this motorist behaviour. Under the program, the City receives $260 per ticket although the actual amount retained by the City to offset the costs of the program will vary based on ticket contests and additional fine amounts for tickets that remain unpaid and escalate.
  • Staff will continue to monitor the operation of the cameras to inform road safety programs and the operating budget associated with this new program.
  • More information on the program, including locations of the red light cameras, how to pay tickets, FAQs, etc., can be found at www.cityofkingston.ca/RedLightCameras.

The following intersections have been submitted for stop sign analysis and the outcomes will be known this fall:

  1. Lancaster Drive at Strand/Bridle Path Cr.
  2. Humberside Drive at Ryan
  3. Aylmer Cr. at Clark Cr.
  4. Lincoln Dr. at Forest Hill Drive East
  5. Mona Dr. at Woodside Dr.
  6. Mona Dr. at Woodbine Road

Street Undergoing Traffic Calming Analysis in 2023

  • Prince Charles Drive will be undergoing analysis; in particular, the area at the bridge where there is no sidewalk
  • I have a list of other streets that also want to be submitted for traffic calming
  • Councillors are allowed to submit one street per year

New Sidewalks being constructed in 2023

  • Wise St

https://getinvolved.cityofkingston.ca/wise-street-sidewalk

  • Princess St. south side from Collins Bay Road to Lisa St., then north side Lisa St. to Bayridge Dr.
  • In 2024, sidewalks/bike lanes will be constructed on Collins Bay Road from Woodbine Road to Princess St.

Pedestrian Crossings and Sidewalk on Lancaster north side from Limestone Dr to western edge of Holy Cross track:

Street Sweeping

Water Main Lining Program Begins for the 2023 Season

  • Utilities Kingston awarded the 2022-2023 contract for structural lining of watermains to Fer-Pal Construction Ltd, and work is re-starting April 11th. The work under this contract is anticipated to be complete by the middle of November 2023.

Benefits:

  • Lining water main allows us to rehabilitate aging pipes while minimizing service interruption and nuisance to residents. Instead of digging up the road along the entire length of the water main, Fer-Pal will excavate ‘pits’ to access the main at strategic locations and work from there. The lining process involves cleaning the inside of the mains and then inserting a felt liner that is coated with a resin. This resin compound is then cured-in-place to form what is essentially a ‘new pipe within a pipe’. We’ll also replace aging infrastructure in the area, including water valves and fire hydrants. This helps to ensure the continued safety and reliability of the water distribution system.

2022 Carry-Over:

Work will continue on lining approximately 1,240 meters of watermain, primarily in the Collins-Bayridge residential area in the west end of Kingston:

  • Bath Road: lining will be completed west of Collins Bay Road beginning next week, with the work east of Collins Bay Road completed in 2022.

2023 Work Areas:

• King Street, from Collins Bay to Victoria – preparation to begin next week.

• Victoria Street, from Mary to Elizabeth – preparation to begin next week.

• Anne Street, from Mary to Elizabeth – preparation to begin next week.

• Mary Street, from Victoria to Anne – preparation to begin next week.

• Elizabeth Street, from Victoria to Anne – preparation to begin next week.

Preventative Plumbing Program

  • Homeowners: get up to $3,000 through our 2023 Preventative Plumbing Program. You may use the funds to install sump pumps, backwater sanitary valves and other eligible measures, including disconnecting illegal plumbing connections. Participants benefit from a free in-home visit that provides advice to reduce the risk of basement flooding. Interested? Visit the Preventative Plumbing Program webpage to find details and an online application form, email or call 613-546-0000.
  • Did you know? Since the Preventative Plumbing Program began in 2012, $4.8 million in financial assistance has helped nearly 2,600 Kingston homeowners, including with the removal of more than 260 illegal connections to the sanitary sewer.

Household Hazardous Waste Facility now Open

  • Thursdays 8am-5pm and Saturdays 8am-4pm

Outcome of the development application for 2925 Princess St.

  • Planning staff recommended approval of the 80 unit development at 2925 Princess St. and council approved it
  • However, the Final Plan of Subdivision will return to Council when it is completed and I will let everyone know when it comes up
  • An amendment was tried at planning committee to remove some of the density from the site by removing Block 8.  Removing Block 8 would have given space for snow storage.  The amendment unfortunately failed.   That means that the people living there will have to pay for the removal of snow from the site which will place a burden on their condo fees and make the units less affordable.  In reality what will likely happen is that snow will pushed to the west side of the property up against the west side fence and the large trees along the fence.  The salt from the snow will likely kill the trees over time in which case, the condo fees will have to cover the costly removal of the trees in the future, to the detriment of the neighbourhood
  • The old growth 94cm diameter Bur Oak (tree#1801) is in jeopardy as it sits in the easement where the utilities need to run from Woodbine Road to access the site.  Let’s all hope that the utilities can be run from Princess St. instead.  The report says that running the pipes from Princess St. can’t be done because there is not the capacity along Princess St. due to the buildout of the Woodhaven subdivision
  • The other old growth 80cm diameter Bur Oak (tree#1823) looks to have too much encroachment into its tree protection zone from Block 9 and 7.  As well, it will receive almost full shade from Block 9, 8, and 7.   It will fall into a slow decline and the condo fees will have to cover the cost of its removal one day in the future, to the detriment of the development as it is another 200 year + old tree that is just a beauty

Do we need a large Conference Centre in Kingston?

  • Please let me know your thoughts about funding a large Conference Centre in downtown Kingston
  • The location would likely be near the Leon’s Centre
  • It would be for conferences/trade shows that cannot fit into existing sites such as hotels and Queen’s/St. Lawrence College
  • It would require funding from the city to build and then it would take annual funding to maintain and operate such a facility
  • However, city council has been told that Kingston is losing out on the spin off economic benefits by not being able to host large conferences

Parks

  • I’ve been informed by Public Works that the garbage cans that were removed from parks for the winter will be put out again very shortly
  • If you see a site that needs a garbage can or a site that used to have a garbage can, but the city forgets to put it back out, please contact me so that I can do a ticket
  • I have made a request to put a garbage can at the entrance to Dunham Park off of Mona/Lynwood
  • I have seen the photos of the dog droppings at that park entrance.    There is a fine if caught dumping and not scooping up

Problems registering for Swimming Lessons

  • I know that it is very difficult to register for swimming lessons in Kingston
  • It’s been difficult for 20 years and building a new pool is long overdue, especially with the 7% growth rate in our population during COVID
  • There is an online petition if you are interested in signing it
  • https://www.change.org/p/kingston-kids-are-sinking-more-swimming-lessons-now
  • In 2009 and 2010, city council came close to voting for a new 50 metre pool at the Invista Centre, but the vote lost.  Instead, council decided to renovate Artillery Park and the outdoor pool at the Memorial Centre
  • The city knows that a new pool would go at the Invista Centre so that it can use the energy efficiencies from the rinks to help heat the pool
  • Would you prefer a 50 metre pool there or a 25 metre pool?  The expense to maintain a new pool will affect future taxes.  A 50 metre pool will be more expensive and will have a greater impact to the tax rate.  However, a 50 metre pool can double the amount of swim lessons compared to a 25 metre pool. It can also provide diving.  It can provide water polo.  It can expand the aqua fitness classes.  It can provide much more recreational swim time as the 50 metre pool can be divided in half so that there is different programming on each side at the same time.  The price is – well, the increased cost.  Please let me know your preference as the city starts the planning process for a new pool at the Invista Centre.

Hummingbirds will be Arriving Soon!

  • Hummingbirds are migrating north and they have been spotted in Kentucky right now. 
  • Follow their journey northward at the below map:  https://empressofdirt.net/hummingbird-migration-map/
  • Feed these beautiful birds by filling a measuring cup with ¼ cup of white sugar and then pour boiling water from the kettle to the 1 cup mark.  Cool and change every few days or when you see the water cloud over.  It is worth the effort!
  • In Ontario we have just one species – the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
  • The males start flying south in July (so soon!) and the females and baby hummingbirds are gone from Kingston by the end of September

April 22nd is Earth Day – Celebrate Earth Day with new Climate Stories at McBurney Park

  • Skeleton Park from 1pm-4pm
  • Activities will include engaging in music and nature therapy; button- and poster-making; pollinator garden kits; bicycle tune-ups; information booths on climate projects happening locally; and making a large collaborative mural. Bring an old t-shirt, as well, to decorate.
  • Sustainable Kingston is thrilled to participate in this event along with the Kingston Frontenac Public Library, 350 Kingston, Cycle Kingston, the Butterflyway Project, and several local musicians. If you are interested in volunteering at our Earth Day celebration, feel free to reach out to newclimatestories@gmail.com

Pitch-In Kingston April 17-23

City of Kingston Nature Challenge April 28-May 1st

  • Join other nature lovers in Kingston and help contribute to wildlife conservation! For the first time, the City of Kingston will join hundreds of cities across Canada and around the world in a friendly competition to upload and share nature observations.

How to participate  Register here
1. Find wildlife! It can be any WILD plant, animal or any other evidence of life found in Kingston.
2. Take a picture or record a sound! Be sure to note the location of the critter or plant.
3. Share your observations through iNaturalist.

You can send your photos through to iNaturalist Canada by downloading the app:    https://inaturalist.ca/

Kingston Field Naturalists on iNaturalist

iNaturalist.ca is a great place to post your nature observation photos and browse what others have posted. The Kingston Field Naturalists has established several projects to collect observations made in our study area – a 50 km radius circle centered on the peak of Murney Tower. These projects were established to collect observations of specific taxa (birds, butterflies, moths) and observations made at the Helen Quilliam Santuary. To view all the projects, visit https://inaturalist.ca/projects/kingston-field-naturalists-projects. You are encouraged to join the projects that interest you to receive updates about new observations and information posted about the projects. You don’t have to do anything special to add your observations as they are added automatically as long as they meet the criteria for the project.

No Mow May

  • Rotarians have partnered with 1000 Islands Master Gardeners to give lawn and garden guidance on NO MOW MAY and beyond. The QR code on your sign will take you and passersby to our NO MOW MAY page. No Mow May is just a start to creating healthy urban biodiversity. April and May is a good time to reimagine a living lawn.
  • In June:  When it is time to cut grass, cut it in stages: do not go from no mowing back to the old short lawn in one cut.  Grass should not be cut more than a third of its length as cutting any lower could kill your grass.  Please save your signs in and put them up again in April next year, or if you have switched to a meadow, pollinator, edible, or forest garden inspire a friend or neighbor to use the sign!
  • In Kingston, this project is sponsored by Rotary District 7040, Rotary Clubs of Kingston, and ESRAG North East America. We ask for a voluntary donation of $20 (or what you can afford) to help cover costs and help further Rotarians’ voluntary projects to support environmental sustainability and biodiversity. Please e-transfer to rotarykingston@gmail.com (noting this is for No Mow May). Cheques to the Rotary Club of Kingston or cash at pickup.
  • Signs and stakes can be picked up at address: 4296 Bath Road, Kingston ON, Please ring the bell!
  • The signs are reusable
  • Thank you for participating!

https://www.cbc.ca/life/home/the-case-for-leaving-the-perfectly-manicured-lawn-behind-1.6449477

Outstanding Volunteer Awards

New Community Partner at Centre 70

We have a new community partner at Centre 70. Blooms Skills Centre took possession of the

concession at Centre 70 on February 1st, 2023.

Blooms mission is to offer accessible skills training and learning opportunities for young adults

with intellectual and development exceptionalities. Blooms will operate a CommUNITY Café

and will offer a café style menu using seasonal local produce from the community garden.

Division Street: Kingston’s Drug Poisoning Crisis

  • Monday April 10 at 7:30-8:30pm (1 hour episode)
  • Catch a one-hour special with Sue Deuchars. Since her son’s death, Sue has been an overdose prevention worker at the Kingston Integrated Care Hub and an advocate for people who use substances.
  • Tune in for a special one hour episode of “Division Street” on YourTV.First (Cogeco 13) airing is Monday, April 10th at 7:30pm.

Annual Report on Drinking Water

https://utilitieskingston.com/News/Article/2022-annual-reports-on-drinking-water-quality

  • The reports are prepared in response to Ontario Regulation 170 of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Ontario has strict water quality standards, which Utilities Kingston employees continually meet and exceed.
  • The drinking water system reports detail how the systems operate. There are a series of filtration, treatment, monitoring and backup systems in place to continually supply high-quality drinking water

December 2022

City Council is now sworn in and we just had our First Council meeting earlier this week.  There is lots to tell you.  First, thank you so very much for your support during the election.  It was truly appreciated and meant the world to me.  I’m so happy to be able to provide these updates again and a big welcome to the new residents who have joined my distribution list.   

  1. Issues at the Door this past Fall
  • Residents did not hold back with issues and I collected 284 of them!
  • Needed road repairs, traffic, illegal parking, and drainage problems really sum up the issues – Public Works, Engineering, and Transportation.
  • I have met with the Mayor, with the CAO and with the Commissioners.  I will be meeting with the Directors of Public Works, Engineering, and Transportation before Dec 23rd to review the issues in detail.
  • I will post as much information as possible about resolutions to the issues as I work my way through the list.
  • I will create a new tab on my website called “Resolution to Issues” and then I can post more details on the my website than through the email update. Stay tuned.   There are so many issues!
  1. Leaf Pick Up – put out the bags by 6am on  Dec 12th
  • The trucks have gone around at least once, as other routes freed up time.
  • Our pickup is scheduled for next week.
  • The pickup was late this year, purposely planned late because last fall in 2021, the maple trees hung on to their leaves until December.  When the truck came by in mid-November, many residents still had more bags to eventually put out.
  • We cannot predict Mother Nature.   This fall, the leaves were mostly dropped b mid-November.  I don’t know what week will be our pickup next fall!
  1. Bill 23 – deadlines are fast approaching to send comments
  • Many residents have asked me how they can send comments about Bill 23/what they can do
  • City staff wrote a very comprehensive report to City Council this week detailing the enormous consequences of the bill
  • The full report can be read at:
  • City of Kingston – City Council Agenda – Meeting 01-2023 – Report COU-23-020
  • There are several proposals with upcoming deadlines posted for comment on the Environmental Registry of Ontario website.
  • Below is the list of the proposals and if you click on each proposal, you can read the details of each proposal
  • Bill 23 has many parts such as the 4 proposed regulations below, which has added to the complexity of where and when to send comments. 
  • Deadlines have already passed to send comments on many other regulations in Bill 23.  The commenting period came and went so quickly.
  • These proposals are STILL OPEN for comment:
    • ERO 019-6141 – Proposed Changes to (December 9, 2022 at 11:59pm) 
    • ERO 019-6197 – Proposed Changes to Ontario Regulation 299/19: Additional Residential Units (December 9, 2022)  https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6197
    • ERO-019-2927 – Proposed Updates to the regulation of development for the protection of people and property from natural hazards in Ontario (December 30, 2022)   https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-2927
    • ERO-019-6177 – Review of A Place to Grow Provincial Policy Statement (December 30, 2022)
    • ERO-019-6161 – Conserving Ontario’s Natural Heritage (specifically wetland offsetting) (December 30, 2022)
  • https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6161
  • Please send comments to all or as many as you can.

Also, email our MPP at Queen’s Park – the Honourable Ted Hsu so that he knows your concerns.

            thsu.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

  1. Transit on Bayridge Drive
  • I’ve been told that the Bus Stop on Bayridge Drive at Old Colony Road is at a dangerous location because when vehicles pass the bus, they are passing into oncoming traffic in the left hand turn lane.
  • The Transit Director agrees and next summer when Bayridge Drive undergoes construction for the new multi-use pathway system, the bus stop will be moved further south.   Thank you for bringing that to my attention.
  • I have also been told that another dangerous Bus Stop is on Collins Bay Road at Aylmer Cr.  I will be talking to our Transit Director about this location as well. A new sidewalk is being built next summer.  I am hoping that this will be the ideal time to move that Bus Stop too.
  • Please make me aware of any other dangerous Bus Stops.
  1. Update on water, sewer project: Front Road and King Street West
  • Utilities Kingston is in the process of finalizing a contract with a construction company for the restoration of the roadway.
  • I have heard that Front Road can be back to 4 lanes by January 1st, but the website does not have that information and maybe I am wrong.
  • Updates will be posted to the Utilities Kingston website at www.utilitieskingston.com.
  • Thank you for your patience.  I am so sorry for the inconvenience.
  • Construction will resume in the 2023 construction season.
  1. Neptune Technology for replacing your Water Meter
  • There are so many scams out there right now; however, Utilities Kingston uses a company called Neptune Technology for water meter replacements and if you see a letter from Neptune saying it is time to replace your water meter, it is legitimate.
  • I thought for sure it was a scam, but it is not.
  • Many homes in Westwoods received such a letter this past fall.
  1. New Signalized Pedestrian Crossings coming to our district in 2023-24:
  • Remember that we have new signalized pedestrian crossings coming-
    • Dunham St. at the park pathway
    • Katherine Cr. at Woodbine Road
    • Lancaster at Newhall
    • Lancaster at Strand
    • Mona at Humberside
    • Mona at Lynwood/Dunham
    • Hudson Drive in front of Bayridge Public School
    • Hudson Drive at Hudson Park
    • Later in 2025-26, Collins Bay Road at Humberside/Safari Drive
  1. Dunham Park Playground Equipment Vandalism
  • It seems that some people are up to continued mischief in Westwoods.
  • From spray painting garage doors and cars with horrible racial language, stealing Ukrainian flags, breaking the little see-saws at Dunham Park….now the playground equipment has been spray painted with more horrible racial language. 
  • A work order has been submitted to remove the graffiti and the police will be notified.
  • New see-saws are also on order.  Due to the pandemic and the demand for outdoor play space and equipment, there is wide-spread supplier shortage and delay in getting the broken equipment replaced.
  1. Highgate Park
  • An accessible swing is on order for Highgate Park.
  • Again, due to wide-spread supplier shortage, the swing has been on order for a long time and the city may not get the swing until next spring/summer, but please know that it is on order.
  1. Indoor Racquet Sportsplex off of Highway #15
  • The Dome has gone up!
  • Tennis Clubs of Canada are now working on the inside.
  • They had some weather delays.
  • There is another new indoor facility – the Kingston Pickleball Club is already open in the west end.
  • They are located on 1150 Gardiners Rd (unit 1A) at Cataraqui Woods Drive.
  • You can buy guest passes to try the club out.
  • https://kingstonpickleballclub.com/
  1. Lemoine Point Update

South Parking Lot/Laneway

  • There have been many complaints about the “craters” in the roadway leading up to the South Parking lot.
  • A contractor this week has just completed pulverizing the south laneway and parking lot.  This has resulted in a granular surface, but one that can now be managed through grading as potholes develop. 
  • The previous surface of tar and chip hindered the conservation area’s ability to maintain a consistent surface. 

Shoreline Trail

  • Significant progress has been made at restoring access along the waterfront (particularly along the beach area). 
  • The conservation area has resurfaced the trail between the north washroom and the beach, a new trail was created at the beach that is further inland and connects to the shoreline trail that is south of the beach.  They also resurfaced the trail that connects from the beach area to the service road (it was a grassed surface previously).  These improvements have been resulted in positive comments as the new surface is accessible, whereas the beach area was more natural loose cobble.  The project will be carried into next year (2023) as there are still works to improve the shoreline trail that are within the approved budget ($60,000).

Other trail works

  • The conservation area also completed resurfacing of the service road from the area that we refer to as the flat rock (this is the area where we stockpile materials for trail works, and is located just south of where trail 2 crosses the service road).  This area was treated with 5/8 stone to raise sections that were low and wet (over the last year) and the final surface treatment of stone dust was recently put down. 
  • Did you know that the entire budget for Lemoine Point is under $200,000 per year? The city repays it to the CRCA.    For a conservation area as large as Lemoine Point (136 hectares!)  and one that is so heavily used, that is not a large budget.  Many hands make light work.  This spring, you can volunteer your time to become A Friend of Lemoine Point.  You can also help pay for the expenses of Lemoine Point by becoming a member which is $20 per year or $100 for a family.  Friends Lemoine (cataraquiconservation.ca)

12 ) New 4 Way Stop Sign at the bottom of Bayridge Drive & Front Road

  • I’m still not used to the new 4 way stop when coming home from the downtown, but the 4 way stop sign was badly needed and is now in place

13 ) City Waste Newsletter

14) Christmas Tree Pick Up

  • Although the city does not pick up Christmas trees, RE/MAX Finest Realty Agents will pick up your tree for a $20 donation to the Homes for Heroes Foundation in support of their Kingston housing project at the Providence Continuing Care grounds.
  • DATES: Dec 28 or Jan 3.
  • Contact trees@remaxfinestrealty.com to book your tree pick-up!
  • E-transfer only.
  • Please have your tree out front by 8:00a.m. on the pick-up date.

15) Business Support Office now open at City Hall

  • The city now has a point person to support businesses and business owners at all stages
  • Mark Nardi is the new Business Support Analyst
  • 613-546-4291 ext. 3000
  • BusinessSupport@cityofkingston.ca or book a meeting online  cityofkingston.ca/BusinessSupport

16) Homelessness and Encampments in Kingston

  • The City currently has 187 shelter/transitional housing type spaces (69 pre-pandemic). These spaces have generally been at capacity most nights.
  • Staff are working on adding 87 shelter/transitional housing units by early January 2023. These include up to 46 spaces at the former Frontenac School (through a temporary lease), 12 spaces at St. Mary’s and 29 spaces at 805 Ridley Street.
  • It is estimated that there are about 60 to 70 people in the encampment around the Integrated Care Hub/Belle Park who will be offered space at these facilities.
  • It is important to note that staff cannot make people to use a shelter.  For various reasons, there are a good number of people each winter who choose to live outside rather than spend the night at a shelter.

Upcoming Events:

  1. Snow Much Fun – Snow Much Fun brings festive cheer to City Hall & Springer Market Square on December 9th, 10th, & 11th, 2022!

The event will feature a Holiday Market in Memorial Hall with entry fee by donation to Almost Home, a Silent Auction with proceeds to Almost Home, Wagon Rides, DJ Skate, Live Entertainment, Storytime with Mayor Paterson, refreshments, and snow much more!

For more information visit: https://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/city-calendar-events/feature-events/snow-much-fun

  1. All Aboard for the Holidays – On Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11 the PumpHouse will be transformed into a winter wonderland, where model trains travel through delightful seasonal settings and fun activities await discovery. During this family-favourite event visitors can enjoy the museum’s hands-on holiday activities and learn about trains from expert volunteers.
  1. It’s been a long wait…..ta-da………..

Waaban Crossing Official Opening – On Dec 13, 2022, The City of Kingston will officially open the much anticipated Waaban Crossing. The official opening ceremony will begin at the Kingston East Community Centre starting at 1:00pm. At the conclusion of the speeches, attendees will be shuttled to the east landing of the Waaban Crossing to observe the ribbon cutting and the winners of the United Way auction taking the first trips across the bridge. The bridge will be open later that day for public use.

  1. If your Cat needs Spay/Neutering:

On Tuesday January 3rd 2023 from 10am-1pm, the Kingston Humane Society will be accepting applications for their Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic.  $125 + HST.  It really is low cost.   They only accept 10 cats though.    613-546-1291.   The next date will be Feb 7th, March 7th, April 4th, May 2nd, and June 6th. 

This concludes my update. Much more to come in 2023. 

Hoping your Holidays are full of Cheer and Wishing you a Bright New Year!!!  Lisa

October 2022

Take Your Pumpkins and Dry Leaves to Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre

  • Your Pumpkins, Bags of Dry Leaves, Fallen Nuts and Fallen Apples/Pears can be brought to Sandy Pines
  • They are open 8am-6pm seven days a week
  • They are located at 8749 Highway 2, just west of Napanee

Brush Collection in Collins-Bayridge = Area “E” on the map

  • Brush will be picked  Nov. 7 – 12th
  • Leaves will be picked up Dec 12 -16
  • The truck be back! Don’t panic if you see the truck picking up brush or leaves ahead of schedule. The city is just trying to get a jump on the season! The truck will be back to your neighbourhood during your scheduled week.
  • The leaves are being picked up later this year since we are a heavily treed district and the maple trees have been hanging onto their leaves later over the last few years, past the leaf collection week.  With leaf pick up now being in December, all of the trees should have dropped their leaves by then.
  • https://www.cityofkingston.ca/resident/garbage-recycling/household/yard-waste

New Pedestrian Crossings Planned

Collins-Bayridge All Candidates Meeting – Tuesday October 11th at 7:30pm

I’ve accepted an invitation to an online All Candidates meeting, hosted by the Coalition of Communities. You must register for the free Zoom meeting so that zoom-bombing can be prevented. A link will be sent to you from Eventbrite just prior to the meeting. It’s an “Ask Me Anything” meeting. It will be moderated by Elaine Power, professor in Queen’s School of Kinesiology & Health Studies. It is open to anyone who wants to register and listen.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDKGpFrQg_Gz-0QLmVKmZxA

Car Break-ins/Property Theft in the Area

  • Almost every street I’ve canvassed on has reported car break-ins and property theft
  • Please keep your cars locked and do not keep any valuables in them
  • Lock your house each night
  • Don’t keep any valuables outside on the front lawn or front porch
  • Make a police report for any theft and keep safe!

Dunham Park

  • The culvert and pathway work is completed, at a cost of $320,000
  • Thank you for your patience!

Nine new Physicians are starting in Kingston

  • City Council has allocated $2 Million over 8 years into doctor recruitment
  • Nine new physicians have announced that they will start practise here
  • Queen’s Family Health Team (Dr. Tranmer, Dr. Braidwood, Dr. Haffey and Dr. Li)
  • Frontenac Doctors (Drs. Sproule and Dr. Spohn)
  • Maple Family Health Team (Dr. Lee and Dr. Badowski)
  • Kingston Family Health Team (Dr. Panosyan)

When will Centennial Drive be open, through to Gardiners Road?

  • In the approval process for the Cataraqui Estates Business Park, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) stipulated that the intersection of Centennial Drive and Gardiners Road must be upgraded prior to opening the extension of Centennial Drive (in the location you mention below). The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has approval authority given the proximity to Hwy 401. The design of the Centennial Drive and Gardiners Road intersection is underway and pending design completion and appropriate approvals the construction is anticipated to begin in 2023. 
  • Once the intersection work is completed, the City will be able to open this section of Centennial Drive that connects the Cataraqui Estates Business Park to Gardiners Road to vehicles.

Moving the Transit Bus Stop on Bayridge Drive at Old Colony further South

  • Residents have alerted staff that drivers are swerving around the bus stop on Bayridge Drive at Old Colony Road and driving into oncoming cars in the left turn lane of cars heading north
  • The bus stops at Bayridge Dr/Old Colony Rd will be relocated further from the intersection as part of the Bayridge Drive multi-use path project.
  • The bus stop will also be upgraded with larger transit stations including lighting, more seating, proper recycling/garbage receptacles, and bicycle parking areas.

OSPCA Mobile Van came to Kingston and fixed 48 cats! 

  • Over two days Sept 9-10th, the OSPCA brought their mobile van and fixed 48 cats for $95 each
  • Please get your cat spayed or neutered to help control the cat overpopulation

New Bus Route on Upper Princess to Woodhaven Drive – Route 19

  1. The new route (Route 19) started on September 6.
  2. The route map and schedule are now available on the City’s website: https://www.cityofkingston.ca/documents/10180/39680442/Transit_Route19_MapSchedule_Sep2022.pdf/37114484-6e26-5591-9802-2910c935d561?t=1660586880454

New Community Safety Zone for the Westwoods Neighbourhood

  • In response to the School Pedestrian Safety Working Group, the speed limits in Westwoods have been reduced to 40 km/hour in effect right now.  This is a pilot project along with Strathcona Park
  • Lancaster Drive in front of the schools has been reduced to 30 km/hour
  • Next year, the same speed limit reduction will be applied to include all other school safety zones

Lancaster Drive Public School and Bayridge Public School have been under construction all summer    

  • Lancaster Drive Public School this summer has had playground and field improvements including new pathways, sitting areas, and an artificial turf play surface
  • Bayridge Public School has a new site entrance, student drop off areas, parking lot, and play yards.  The project included earthwork, pipework, paving, concrete, line painting and landscaping
  • The school boards are a bit behind, but hoping to have all work completed by Labour Day Weekend
  • There’s been a lot of noise and commotion due to the construction.  Thank you, all, for your patience.

Construction Work on King St. West/Front Road from Country Club Drive to the Invista Plant

  • There have been delays with the with the construction
  • The project details can be found here:  https://utilitieskingston.com/Projects/Detail/PortsmouthPumpingStation
  • Four Lanes of Traffic will be restored as soon as possible
  • There is going to be an in-person information session on Monday, Sept. 26 at 5 p.m., to hear updates on the water and sewer project on Front Road and King Street West.
  • The information session will take place at the INVISTA Centre (1350 Gardiners Rd.), meeting rooms A/B. Utilities Kingston’s President and CEO, David Fell; Director of Utilities Engineering, Remi Adedapo; and Chris Phippen, Manager of Utilities Engineering, will provide project updates and answer questions from community members.
  • Utilities Kingston had started a large, phased, multi-year project to improve water and sewer infrastructure in the community, however the contractor encountered site conditions that they did not anticipate. As a result, the work has been temporarily halted. All parties are concerned and interested in finding a solution to restart work on the project.
  • Learn more about the information session.
  • The sensor for the traffic lights at the railway tracks/eastern plant exit/entrance had to ripped up with the road and as a result, the traffic light changes on a regular cycle instead of only changing if a car in the other direction appears.  Utilities Kingston is aware.  The cycling of the traffic light is contributing to the traffic delays.  However, it would be expensive to put the sensor back, only to then rip it up again when the construction resumes.   UK apologizes for the traffic delays
  • Bath Road is an alternative east-west route

Road and Sidewalk Repairs

  • Balmoral Park has been resurfaced with new drainage
  • Sidewalk design work is being finalized right now for Wise St.  Construction of the sidewalk has been COVID delayed, but it will be constructed in 2023. Sorry for the lengthy wait
  • Sidewalk design work is also being finalized right now for Collins Bay Road, west side, from Aylmer Cr. to Edwin St. with construction in 2023, also COViD delayed
  •  A sidewalk is planned for Princess St. from Woodhaven to the existing sidewalk to the east in front of Martin’s Storage Solutions

Bayridge Park

  • The city acknowledges that there has been pooling of water after heavy rains on particular spots on the tennis courts and pickleball courts since the courts opened in July
  • The city will be reviewing the spots with puddles with the contractor and any needed repairs will happen later this fall and early next spring
  • Bayridge Park is the home of Kingston’s first permanent pickleball courts – there are four of them!   Permanent means that there are permanent nets on site
  • Players must use a foam ball or quiet paddle to play pickleball there out of respect for noise
  • Please drop by and give pickleball a try!

If you want to report speeding cars to the Police or have other traffic complaints, https://www.kingstonpolice.ca/en/services-and-reporting/traffic-complaints.aspx

Red Light Camera Locations

  • As we drive around town, these are the 7 intersections with red light cameras;
  • County Road 2 and Princess Mary/Craftsman
  • Division and Concession
  • John Counter and Sir John A MacDonald
  • Johnson and Barrie
  • Perth and Unity
  • Princess and Bayridge
  • Princess and Centennial