Improvements to our infrastructures, parks and green spaces. Over $90 million in investments

Transcription

1 Mayor s Message Claude Gladu Mayor of Longueuil and Chairman of the Agglomeration Council Improvements to our infrastructures, parks and green spaces Over $90 million in investments I am pleased to announce that Ville de Longueuil has earmarked $72 million for the maintenance of its infrastructures and that it will carry out a hundred or so priority projects in 2007, 2008, and 2009, for the benefit of the residents of all three boroughs. Another $20 million have been budgeted for improvements to our parks and green spaces. Acting as a responsible administration, we are investing in a major program, as the quality of our infrastructures and parks is a chief concern for my administration. Longueuil and its entire community will benefit from our considerable efforts to consolidate our assets and preserve our infrastructures. The projects and the investments were mainly identified through the Urban infrastructures inventory and maintenance program that Ville de Longueuil was one of the first cities to adopt in Québec in 2004, and an initiative for which Longueuil received a Technological Innovation award. We have also applied the criteria imposed by the Ministère des Affaires municipales et des Régions which gives priority to underground infrastructures since their development and maintenance is partly financed by the transfer, to municipalities, of a portion of the revenue generated by the federal excise tax on gas. In 2007 and 2008, we will launch the first phase which will include 45 priority projects in the boroughs of Greenfield Park, Saint-Hubert, and Vieux-Longueuil. More than ever, we are bringing together all the required elements to ensure the renewal of our infrastructures whose value is estimated at $3.1 billion and which include 1,240 kilometres of sanitary and storm sewers, 1,080 kilometres of streets, and 910 kilometres of water supply lines. We will take every measure to keep you well informed about these projects and to limit inconveniences during work. We are also confident that we can count on your understanding and collaboration. Regular sessions of the City Council Tuesdays, June 19, July 10 and August 28 at 7:00 p.m. Regular sessions of the Agglomeration Council Thursdays, June 21, July 12, and August 30 at 4:00 p.m. To keep informed about projects and their schedules, please contact Info-travaux at , or visit the city s website (longueuil.ca/travaux).

2 Improvements to our parks, green spaces and pathway network In 2007, 2008 and 2009, Ville de Longueuil will invest nearly $20 million, including $10 million in 2007, to complete about 60 projects aimed at improving Longueuil s pathway network as well as various parks and green spaces in the three boroughs. Since early 2007, over $6 million of work have been authorized or undertaken. More recently, Longueuil s council awarded a lighting contract for the synthetic soccer fields in Marcel-Simard and Pierre-Laporte parks in the borough of Saint-Hubert. Evaluated at nearly $225,000, these projects will be carried out in June. A by-law is also scheduled to be adopted in the near future for studies and work aimed at improving various parks, sports fields and green spaces. These projects, assessed at $1.8 million, include revitalizing and developing parks, green spaces, sports fields, playgrounds and urban furniture, improving the pathway network, and continuing the installation of signage. Synthetic fields Soccer and football are increasingly popular. In order to meet the needs of its citizens and to promote sports throughout its territory, Ville de Longueuil has developed synthetic fields in the following parks: Greenfield Park: Pierre-Laporte* Saint-Hubert Marcel-Simard Pierre-Laporte Rosanne-Laflamme* Vieux-Longueuil Collège Édouard-Montpetit* Collège Français Centre Multi-Sports** Laurier On May 28, Claude Gladu, Mayor of Longueuil, Mireille Carrière, municipal councillor and member of the Executive Committee, and Bernard Constantini, president of the borough of Greenfield Park, were on hand to break ground at the site of the future synthetic multi-sports field that will be developed at Pierre- Laporte park at a cost of $1.4 million. * soccer or football ** indoor soccer These fields are equipped with state-of-the-art surfaces and are ideal for outdoor sports. They offer several advantages including less maintenance, and extended use throughout the year allowing players to practise their favourite sport from April to November, from morning to night.

3 Municipal News A special tribute to Mayor Claude Gladu At the annual meetings of the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ), the UMQ s chairman and Mayor of Sherbrooke, Mr. Jean Perrault, honoured prominent figures of Québec s municipal world, including the Mayor of Longueuil, Mr. Claude Gladu, for his 25 years of political life. The Speaker of the National Assembly of Québec, Mr. Michel Bissonnet, also paid tribute to Mr. Gladu, presenting him with the Médaille de l Assemblée nationale du Québec. The Speaker applauded the dedication and commitment of Mr. Gladu who, over the last quarter century, never kept track of his time to help improve the quality of life of all Longueuil citizens. A municipal councillor since 1992, Mr. Gladu was elected Mayor of Longueuil in 1994 and re-elected in In 2001, following the municipal mergers, we was elected president of the borough of Vieux-Longueuil, a position he kept until his election as Mayor of the new Ville de Longueuil. Mr. Michel Desjardins, municipal councillor for district 1, was appointed member of the Executive Committee of Ville de Longueuil. Mr. Robert Gladu, councillor for district 14, is now a member of Ville de Longueuil s Finance and Human Resources Commission. Mr. Gilles Grégoire, municipal councillor for district 15, will sit on the Agglomeration Council. Ms. Marie-Lise Sauvé, chair of the municipal council and councillor for district 7, is appointed member of the Conférence régionale des élus de Longueuil. Michel Bissonnet, Speaker of the National Assembly of Quebec, presented Mayor Claude Gladu with the Médaille de l Assemblée nationale du Québec to underline his outstanding contribution to Québec s municipal world. The Communications Department receives two Plume d or awards including one for Ici Longueuil On May 10, Longueuil s Communications Department received two Plume d or awarded by the Association des communicateurs municipaux du Québec (ACMQ). The event was held in Saint-Georges-de-Beauce. Every year, the Plume d or contest honours the five best communications projects in the municipal world. Jean Perrault, chairman of Union des municipalités du Québec and Mayor of Sherbrooke, paid tribute to Mayor Gladu for his 25 years of political life. The Mayor of Longueuil, Claude Gladu, was pleased to learn that Longueuil s Communications Department had received two Plume d or awards at the ACMQ s last conference. Mr. Gladu congratulated François Laramée, Communications Manager, his team, as well as all the city s staff that contributed to the success of the two award-winning projects. The first Plume d or the Communications Department received was in the Municipal newsletter recreation program category for its Ici Longueuil publication. The second Plume d or was awarded in the Information and outreach category for the excellent information campaign carried out as part of the Place Charles-Le Moyne revitalization project. These honours and awards are the result of quality teamwork, an excellent spirit of collaboration, and the team s commitment to always better inform Longueuil s citizens, said François Laramée, Communications Manager.

4 Services to residents The quality of water in our public swimming pools A shared responsibility! Ville de Longueuil is taking all the necessary measures to ensure the quality of water in municipal swimming pools. It is also by sharing this responsibility with the city that pool users can help maintain this quality at all times. Increased use of a pool can affect water quality if users fail to take a few precautions. This is why the city is asking users to do their part by following the usual guidelines and precautions: Do not use a pool if you have a contagious disease or an open wound. Shower before using a pool. Apply a sunscreen 30 minutes before swimming. Make sure that children go to the bathroom before using a pool. Do not urinate or spit in the pool. Immediately notify the pool s attendants if you see unclean water, unclean sanitary facilities, or a fecal or vomit accident. Users can consult a pool s water analysis log or obtain any other information regarding the pool s sanitary conditions from pool staff. Updated maintenance and operating procedures To maintain the water s quality, Ville de Longueuil has updated pool maintenance and operating procedures by making the adjustments required by the new government standards, implemented on January 1, 2007, regulating the quality of water in swimming pools and other artificial basins. Maintenance staff are now trained to perform various water tests and to respond to emergency situations. Pool and wading pool attendants will enforce hygiene and sanitary regulations, maintain facilities, and ensure the proper operation of water treatment and disinfection systems. In particular situations, they can temporarily close a pool. Access to municipal pools is free at all times. For pool and wading pool hours and activities, visit the Recreation, Culture and Community Life section under Services for Residents on the city s website (longueuil.ca). Agglomeration of Longueuil Second consecutive drop in the crime rate For the second consecutive year, the crime rate has dropped by 5% on the agglomeration s territory, which translates into a 10% drop in the crime rate since According to the Police Service s 2006 activities report that was tabled before the Agglomeration Council on May 17, 2007, 23,334 criminal offences were recorded during the year, which is 1,186 less than in Property crimes also registered a 9% drop, from 17,757 in 2005 to 15,918 in Although 2006 was a year of many changes, including changes to the city s organizational structure, the Police Service continued its excellent work to provide a safe living environment to the entire agglomeration, including Longueuil made up of its boroughs - Greenfield Park, Saint-Hubert, and Vieux-Longueuil as well as the cities of Boucherville, Brossard, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, and Saint-Lambert. This territory covers a total area of 284 km 2. The Police Service s 2006 activities report is available at longueuil.ca/police.

5 A city in action Aérosalon 07 greets nearly 20,000 visitors On May 25, 26 and 27, nearly 20,000 visitors walked the tarmac at Saint- Hubert airport to discover unusual exhibits and see dozens of military and civilian planes and helicopters. Folks of all ages also had lots to do and see: shows, animation, big tents, an inflatable planetarium, a robot, and aircraft scale models. Everything was free! The Longueuil 350 th Celebrations organizers wish to thank the following organizations for their support in making Aérosalon 07 a huge success: CRÉ de Longueuil, DASH-L, Développement économique Longueuil (DEL), École nationale d aérotechnique (ÉNA), F. Catania, Forum Jeunesse Longueuil, Groupe MK, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and the Réseau de transport de Longueuil. New commemorative plaques To better remember Gilles Labbé, CEO of Héroux-Devtek and honorary chairman of Aérosalon 07, Claude Gladu, Mayor of Longueuil, Julie Payette, Chief Astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency, Serge Tremblay, General Manager at CAMAQ, and Charles Le Moyne. On May 30, in the presence of elected officials, guests of honour and citizens, Sieur Charles Le Moyne unveiled commemorative plaques and launched a brochure on the new animated heritage circuit on Chemin de Chambly. These plaques will be installed at seven locations throughout Longueuil s boroughs, highlighting heritage and noteworthy sites, buildings and monuments. The sites selected by the Société historique et culturelle du Marigot and the Société d'histoire de Saint-Hubert are: Maison Vincent-Sainte-Marie, Saint-Hubert airport, Saint-Hubert s Model School, Îles de Longueuil, Coteau-Rouge, the farms along Chemin de Chambly and the Parc régional de Longueuil. A commemorative plaque is unveiled at Longueuil City Hall The Mayor of Longueuil, Mr. Claude Gladu, unveiled a commemorative plaque underscoring the work of the main collaborators and partners who contributed to transforming the former military base s headquarters into a city hall building. The unveiling took place on May 23 in the presence of the project s developers, Dessau-Soprin, and its partners: Realis Construction, Les consultants S.M., Groupe Petrone, and Vaillancourt Associés Designers. Micheline Hébert, of the Société d'histoire de Saint- Hubert, Michel Pratt, of the Société historique et culturelle du Marigot, Claude Gladu, Mayor of Longueuil, and Charles Le Moyne. Claude Gladu, Mayor of Longueuil, and Rosaire Sauriol, Dessau-Soprin s senior vice-president, unveiled the commemorative plaque in the presence of the firms that contributed to the city

6 Nearly 2,800 Longueuil Roses distributed to Longueuil residents With the tremendous success of the Longueuil Rose, Ville de Longueuil increased from 2,500 to 2,800 the number of roses that were distributed in order to meet the demand. The following paragraphs highlight the various events held in each borough to distribute the roses. It was as part or Earth Day, on April 22, that the borough of Greenfield Park distributed the Longueuil Rose. The event attracted over 400 residents who also enjoyed a varied program of activities. In honour of Sieur Charles Le Moyne, several residents wore a period costume. On the photo, they are accompanied by municipal councillors Gilles Grégoire, Normand Caisse, Robert Myles, Bernard Constantini, borough president, Lise Dutil, Manon D. Hénault, and by Maka Kotto, MP for Saint- Lambert. Over 1,200 persons took part in the 7 th edition of Saint- Hubert s Environmental Promotion Day that was held at the municipal shops on May 5. In addition to the Longueuil Rose, residents could also pick up compost, mulch and perennials. Sieur Charles Le Moyne greeted the residents. The borough s president, Stéphane Desjardins, and several other council members, were also in attendance. In Vieux-Longueuil, the Celebrating the Rose of Longueuil event attracted over 1,500 visitors who stopped at the many booths set up for the occasion and where they obtained a wealth of information on horticulture and the environment. The photo shows a few residents who were very pleased to receive a Longueuil Rose, along with Sieur Charles Le Moyne and elected officials Simon Crochetière, Nicole Béliveau, Jacques Goyette, borough president, Manon D. Hénault, Claudette Tessier, and Roger Roy.