Committee of the Whole highlights – June 4, 2024
The following are highlights of the Committee of the Whole meeting on June 4, 2024.
The meeting can be viewed in full on the City’s YouTube channel. The meeting began early with the Accessibility Awards ceremony, followed by a lunch break before the rest of the meeting commenced.
– View the Accessibility Awards ceremony
– View the rest of the June 4 Committee of the Whole meeting
All recommendations made at Committee of the Whole will return to Regular Council for review and/or adoption on June 25, 2024.
National Indigenous History Month
Mayor Elmslie began Council by recognizing that June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada. The Mayor honoured the day by reading out the municipality’s Land Acknowledgement:
“The City of Kawartha Lakes respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Mississauga lands and the traditional territory covered by the Williams Treaties.
We are grateful for the opportunity to work here and we thank all the generations of people who have taken care of this land – for thousands of years. We recognize and deeply appreciate their historic connection to this place. We also recognize the contributions of Métis, Inuit, and other Indigenous peoples, both in shaping and strengthening this community and country as a whole. This recognition is connected to our collective commitment to make the promise and the challenge of Truth and Reconciliation real in our community.”
After the Land Acknowledgement, Council observed a moment of silence.
Accessibility Awareness Recognition Awards
The sixteenth annual Accessibility Awareness Recognition Award winners were announced at the Committee of the Whole meeting. These awards recognize individuals, groups and businesses that have exceeded expectations while working to remove barriers for individuals with disabilities or to increase public awareness within the community.
Read more about the winners in our Accessibility Awareness Recognition Awards news release.
Women’s Resources presentation on Intimate Partner Violence in Kawartha Lakes
This presentation was given by Denise Williams and Johnine Harris from Women’s Resources. Women’s Resources has been providing programs for abused women and their children for 30 years. They currently have 44 staff members and 100 volunteers, offering emergency shelter, counselling and second-stage housing.
Denise and Johnine asked Council to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic in the City of Kawartha Lakes. They explained that incidents of abuse and violence are increasing. As a community committed to the safety and well-being of its residents, it is important for the municipality to take steps towards solving this issue.
Watch the full presentation on our YouTube Channel.
Partnership with Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes
CAO Ron Taylor provided Council with a report recommending that the municipality form an official partnership with the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes (CFKL) to deliver community and municipal funding programs, manage fundraising campaigns and implement community engagement and reporting. The report recommended that the municipality provide operating funds to CFKL in the amount of $126,000 over a three-year period beginning in 2024. Read the Partnership with the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes report.
CFKL updated Council with a presentation showing what they can offer to the municipality and our community. The foundation’s goal with its potential partnership with the municipality is to help us improve quality of life, create a sense of belonging and ensure more people thrive in Kawartha Lakes.
As a potential partner, CFKL can help the municipality in three ways:
1. Provide access to Vital Signs tool – Vital Signs is a research program used by over 80 municipalities in Canada. Vital Signs helps municipalities measure progress, identify priorities, and inform investments where they can have the greatest benefit in Kawartha Lakes.
2. Social Sustainability Fund – The fund would address priority areas in making the community a better place to live. With limited resources in 2023, CFKL provided $523,000 in grants to the community, with more resources they are confident they’ll be able to do even more for Kawartha Lakes.
3. Community Partnership – Collaborating with the municipality on specific projects can yield some significant opportunities.
The report and presentation were received as printed and will be brought forward to Council for consideration at the next Regular Council meeting.
Active Transportation Master Plan
In 2021, Kawartha Lakes retained consultant CIMA+ to lead the development of our first ever Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP). The goal of the ATMP was to develop a comprehensive plan that promotes and guides the development of active transportation throughout the municipality.
The ATMP has eight principles that support the plan’s vision statement:
1. Design for user comfort and safety
2. Provide barrier free access
3. Connect community destinations
4. Identify feasible solutions
5. Support sustainable implementation
6. Establish clear communication
7. Foster stewardship
8. Establish consistent monitoring
For more information read the Kawartha Moves: Active Transportation Master Plan report to Council.
View the Active Transportation Master Plan.
The report and presentation were received as printed and will be brought forward to Council for consideration at the next regular council meeting.
Long Term Financial Plan Update
Director of Corporate Services, Sara Beukeboom, presented the Long-Term Financial Plan (LTFP) Update presentation to Council. The purpose of the presentation was to update Council and inform them of upcoming changes to the 2022 to 2031 LTFP. The plan was completed in 2022 and the numbers used for the long-term forecast were largely based off pre-pandemic numbers. The market and economy has significantly changed post-pandemic, and Council were informed that the LFTP will be updated to reflect that. The presentation was received and referred to the next Regular Council meeting.
Memorandums
Councillor Smeaton brought the Memorandum Regarding a Heavy truck By-Law to Council. Heavy trucks from development sites are using non-artery, and non-collector roads to get to and from landfill destinations and construction sites. The memo asks staff to report back to Council by the end of September 2024 with a draft By-Law permanently prohibiting heavy truck traffic on Regent Street (Willam Street to Victoria Avenue), Elgin Street (Willam Street to Victoria Avenue), Pottinger Street (William Street to Victoria Avenue), and William Street North (Colborne Street to Orchard Park Road). The motion was to move as printed and it passed.
Councillor Joyce brought the Memorandum Regarding the Council Expense Policy to Council. The memo recommends that the Council Expense Policy be revised to include the costs for security camera(s) and monitoring services due to an increase in threats of physical violence and intimidation experienced by Councillors and their families. The memo also recommended an increase in monthly cell phone and home internet expenses due to the rising cost of said services. The motion was to move as printed and it passed.
Councillor Joyce brought the Memorandum Regarding a Request for a Flashing Red Light (Beacon) at the intersection of Kirkfield Road and Woodville Road to Council. Residents living at the intersection have experienced more than 10 vehicles running through the stop sign and landing on their property over the last five years. The project has been included in the 2025 Capital budget but due to the inherent danger, the memo recommends that the project be moved ahead to 2024. The motion was to move as printed and it passed.
Next Council meeting
Council will return for a Regular Council meeting on June 25, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.
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 1:00 p.m. on the Sunday that follows the Tuesday meeting.
