April 9 Committee of the Whole highlights

Kawartha Art Gallery asks for $500,000 over four years and more council news

The following are highlights of the Committee of the Whole meeting on April 9, 2024. The meeting can be viewed in full on the City’s YouTube channel.

All recommendations made at Committee of the Whole will return to Regular Council for review and/or adoption on April 30, 2024.

Bee a Hero 2023 Awards Presentation

Christine Szabados and Councillor Pat Warren, both on the Kawartha Lakes Environmental Advisory Committee (KLEAC), presented the 2023 Bee a Hero Awards. To view the full list of award recipients, view our ‘Congratulations to the 2023 Bee a Hero award recipients’ news release.

Those looking to enter next year’s contest, are asked not to forget to take a ‘Before’ picture as you prepare your pollinator friendly garden this spring and stay tuned for 2024 contest dates by subscribing to our newsroom.

Fenelon Falls Powerlinks Committee Update

The Fenelon Falls Powerlinks Committee provided Council with an update on their Clifton Park Pedestrian Bridge project. The project will see a pedestrian bridge built over the Fenelon River to connect Clifton Street North with Clifton Street South. The committee asked Council for a letter of support so that they can move forward with permitting. The presentation was received and will return to the next Regular Council meeting for review and/or adoption.

Kawartha Art Gallery Business Case

Susan Taylor, Executive Director, and Tim Crouch, strategic plan coordinator/communications, provided an update and business case from the Kawartha Art Gallery (KAG). They thanked Council for their generous operational investment in 2023 of $50,000 per year for three years, which has already created growth and opportunity for the gallery. This investment allowed them to pay CARFAC fees to artists in 2023.

For a brief history, current state of the Gallery, initiatives for 2024 and beyond, financial information and three-year strategic plan, view the Kawartha Art Gallery business case report. The Kawartha Art Gallery has an opportunity to move to a new location at 19 Cambridge Street South in Lindsay. The Gallery has asked for additional municipal support of $500,000 over the next four years. This funding would allow the Gallery to hire more staff and move into the new space. Watch the full presentation on YouTube.

Short Term Rental Licensing Program Update

Staff gave an update on the progress being made on licensing and enforcing Short Term Rentals in Kawartha Lakes. Our new Short Term Rental (STR) By-Law is designed to address specific concerns while supporting the majority of our responsible rental operators. Please note the following:

Licensing Requirement – As of January 1, 2024, all STRs in Kawartha Lakes must be licensed. This requirement is crucial for ensuring guest safety and maintaining respect for the rights of neighbouring properties. Apply online for your Short Term Rental Accommodation Business License.

Monitoring and Enforcement – The municipality has implemented a 24/7 monitoring service to ensure that STR operators swiftly address any issues, typically within 30 minutes. Violations related to parking, noise, pets and waste will result in fines for guests. Owners face inspection fees and demerit points for each infraction, potentially leading to license revocation. During long weekends this summer, starting with Victoria Day long weekend in May, there will be By-Law Officers on staff to respond to complaints.

How to report issues:

– STR Hotline: 705-990-2497
– Online complaint form: kawarthalakes.ca/STR-Tips

For more details, please visit our website: www.kawarthalakes.ca/STR. Together, we can ensure that Kawartha Lakes remains a beautiful and peaceful place for everyone.

2024 Road Life Cycle Extension Program

Staff presented the 2024 Road Life Cycle Extension program to Council to provide them with an update on the identified projects for the program. The intent of the Life Cycle Extension program is to maintain and preserve roads sections in Kawartha Lakes through the following programs: local asphalt paving, local surface treatment (not included in 2024 budget), micro-resurfacing (not available included in 2024 budget), roads to be pulverized due to maintenance demand, slurry sealing and crack sealing. The program uses these methods to maintain road section segments in a reasonable state until a future capital project is implemented. View all roads included in the 2024 Road Life Cycle Extension program by reading the report to Council.

Climate Change and Expression of Support for Healthy Environment Plan

Evelyn Pascoe and Aden Addison, students from the I.E. Weldon Green Advocates Team, gave a presentation to Council about climate change and Kawartha Lakes’ Healthy Environment Plan. The I.E. Weldon Green Advocates Team is a club that has a goal of making change in their community and all over the world by raising awareness about environmental and social issues like climate change, water overuse and environmental degradation. While the students thanked Council for the environmental actions they’ve taken in Kawartha Lakes so far, naming the Healthy Environment Plan, tree planting, Bee Friendly City and Bird Friendly City initiatives, they also asked Council and all government leaders to do more.

“We as youth of this community are supposed to have hopes and dreams for the future. Instead, we worry. Beyond worry, we have anger, frustration, sadness, grief and anxiety. Children and young adults worldwide are losing their rights as youth. Clean air, clean food and safe water are no longer a guarantee to some. Violent acts of nature are taking away our safe homes and compromising our education, even our right to survive is no longer guaranteed,” said Pascoe.

Watch Evelyn and Aden’s presentation to Council.

Downtown Parking Strategy Report

At the October 24, 2023 Regular Council meeting, staff were asked to review the Downtown Parking Strategy for Lindsay and report back to Council with an update by March 31, 2024. Staff provided Council with the Downtown Parking Strategy report with the recommendation that a project to refresh and update the Downtown Parking Strategy be included for consideration in the 2025 budget process. Staff recommended refreshing the strategy to recognize current and future growth in our downtowns. The report was received and will return to the next Regular Council meeting for review and/or adoption.

2024 Tax Policy Decisions

The 2024 Tax Policy Decisions report outlines provincial tax policies that have influenced the policy and recommendations for the 2024 tax year.

Council has been asked to approve the following for the 2024 tax year:

• Do not adopt optional property classes
• Tax rate reductions (Commercial at 30%, Industrial at 35% and First class undeveloped farmland at 45%)
• Establish tax ratios as outlined in Appendix A
• Establish $300 as the eligible amount for Low Income, Senior and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief.
• The 2024 Tax Policy Decisions will be forwarded to the next Regular Council Meeting for consideration.

Release of Fenelon Falls C.H.E.S.T. Funds

The municipality has received two new grant applications for funding from the Fenelon Falls C.H.E.S.T. Fund. The Grove Theatre has applied for $6,000 in funding to support the cost of props, costumes, crafts, snacks and transportation for the operation of their new summer camp launching this summer. The Fenelon Falls and District Chamber of Commerce (FFDCC) has applied for $6,000 in funding to purchase items branded with the Fenelon Falls 150th Anniversary Logo. Items will include banners for the downtown core along with branded tote bags and other promotional items to hand out to the public at FDCC events. Any leftover funds will go towards an outdoor “paint by numbers” mural created by local community members during one of the events hosted by FFDCC this season. Staff recommended that both requests be approved by Council. For more information on the requests, view the Release of Fenelon Falls C.H.E.S.T. Funds report.

Omemee Splash Pad Feasibility Review

Council directed staff to conduct a feasibility review for potentially building a splash pad in Omemee. The Omemee Splash Pad Feasibility Review reported that the capital cost for installing a splash pad in Omemee would range from $795,000 to $1,035,000. Annual operating costs for the splash pad would be upwards of $50,000 (staff costs included) for a four-month operating period.

The feasibility review revisited the water supply issue for the project. Since municipal water supply isn’t available in Omemee, a splash pad in Omemee would need to source water from either water wells or a water body, both of which are problematic due to lack of potential water supply and the need to treat the water. Due to the high costs and water supply issues, staff do not recommend building a splash pad in Omemee.

The feasibility review did provide an alternative as numerous residents that attended the recent public meeting suggested that the money would be better spent enhancing Omemee Beach Park instead. Staff estimate the cost for an Omemee Beach Park enhancement project would be approximately $500,000 and if endorsed by Council it could be included in 2025 Capital Budget deliberations.

Fenelon Falls Cemetery Board

The management and operation of the Fenelon Falls Cemetery (FFC) and the continuation of the Fenelon Falls Cemetery Board (FFCB) has been in discussion since 2018. Staff recommend that the municipality assume management, administration, and operations of the FFC, while working with the FFCB to apply for representation on the Kawartha Lakes Cemetery Board (KLCB). The proposed transition date is July 1, 2024. The municipality will be maintaining some of the operations to ensure consistency and for budgetary need. Maintenance will continue to be provided by the current vendor until the end of 2024. Read the Fenelon Falls Cemetery Board report.

Proposed Heritage Designations

The following proposed Heritage Designations were brought to Committee of the Whole:

Proposed Heritage Designation of 35 Bolton Street, Village of Bobcaygeon (Bank of British North America) – This property, also known as the Bank of British North America, was constructed between 1913 and 1914 and is a rare example of a Romanesque Revival style commercial building in Bobcaygeon.
Proposed Heritage Designation of 49 King Street East, Village of Bobcaygeon (Bobcaygeon Schoolhouse) – This property was constructed in 1873 and is a unique example of a two-storey Victorian schoolhouse in both Bobcaygeon and Kawartha Lakes. It provides important information regarding the history of education in Bobcaygeon and is a local landmark.
Proposed Heritage Designation of 97 King Street, Village of Woodville – This property was constructed in 1892 and is a representative example of an Italianate commercial block in downtown Woodville. It has specific historic connections to the commercial development of Woodville in the late nineteenth century and is an important part of the downtown commercial streetscape.
Proposed Heritage Designation of 34 to 36 King Street East, Village of Omemee (McPherson’s General Store) – This building was constructed in 1863 and is a representative, but also unique, example of an Italianate commercial block in downtown Omemee. It is one of Omemee’s oldest commercial buildings.
Memorandums

Councillor Warren brought a Memorandum Regarding a Request for Electric Vehicle Management Plan to Council. The memorandum requests that Staff develop an Electric Vehicle Strategy and Management Plan. The memo was received and moved as printed.

Next Council meeting

Council will return for a Regular Council meeting on April 30, 2024 at 1pm.

Public attendance in Council Chambers is welcome in the public gallery on the main floor, and overflow seating is available in the Victoria Room on the second floor. Please note that no video and/or audio recording is permitted in Council Chambers during meetings.

The Regular Council meeting will be broadcast live on the City’s YouTube Channel as well as Cogeco cable television. A recording of the meeting will also be available on Cable Cable channel 26 and Rogers Ignite channel 548 at 1pm on the Sunday that follows the Tuesday meeting.