Kawartha Lakes Council highlights
Kawartha Lakes – The following are highlights from the Regular Council Meeting from the City, on April 30, 2024.
The meeting can be viewed in full on its YouTube Channel.
Regular Council Minutes from March 19, 2024 and Special Council Minutes from April 4, 2024 were received and adopted.
National Day of Mourning – April 28
Mayor Elmslie began the meeting by recognizing that Sunday April 28 was the National Day of Mourning. The National Day of Mourning is dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives, suffered injury or illness on the job, or experienced a work-related tragedy.
“It is a day not only to remind ourselves to work safely and to ensure our workplaces are safe for others but also to pause and honour our colleagues and their families. It is important to follow safety precautions, not just to protect ourselves but our co-workers too. We each have a role to play in conducting ourselves safely at work because one life lost or irreparably harmed is one too many,” said Mayor Elmslie.
Congratulations to Craig Shanks, Director of Community Services on his retirement
On behalf of Council and Staff, Mayor Elmslie thanked and congratulated Director of Community Services Craig Shanks on his retirement. Craig began his career locally over 25 years ago with Lindsay just before amalgamation and continued in his role with the City of Kawartha Lakes. He served as Manager of Parks and Recreation and has been the Director of Community Services for the last 12 years.
“Today is Craig’s last day and we will miss his constant championing and passion for community service as well as his fierce and unwavering support for his staff. Craig, thank you for all of your contributions to the community and the City, we are better as a result of your work and we wish you and your family every happiness and great health in your retirement,” said Mayor Elmslie.
Thank you and congratulations on your retirement Craig, the municipality wishes you all the best in your future endeavours!
Migratory Bird Day on May 11
Mayor Doug Elmslie announced that Kawartha Lakes will be recognizing World Migratory Bird on May 11. On that night, lights will be off at City Hall because lights can disorient birds, many of which migrate at night.
“As both a Nature Canada certified Bird Friendly City and Bee City, we encourage everyone to get out and get to know the many bird species that make Kawartha Lakes home,” shared Mayor Elmslie.
The Mayor encouraged residents to:
- Check out free events being hosted by Kawartha Conservation, Kawartha Field Naturalists, and Kawartha Land Trust
- Visit our Jump In website to vote for the Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes Bird of the Year before May 11.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kawartha Lakes Overview
Janice Balfour, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kawartha Lakes began her presentation by thanking Council for visiting them to see where they provide services. She spoke about the organization’s rebranding and Project Ignite. Using real life examples, she explained their different programs including wrap around services, in-school mentoring, group programming, and Kids N Kops. She shared some of the positive outcomes of mentoring and the ways Big Brothers Big Sisters aligns with the Kawartha Lakes Strategic Plan and the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan. She briefly spoke about barriers to providing programs in Kawartha Lakes, including funding, volunteer recruitment and being confused with BGC Kawarthas.
Balfour concluded by asking Council to share the good work Big Brothers Big Sisters does with their communities. There are 27 children on their wait list to be matched with a volunteer, and they have the most difficulty finding volunteers in rural areas of Kawartha Lakes. If you’re interested in volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kawartha Lakes, fill out an application today!
Social Services – Ontario Works Caseload Demographics
Janine Mitchell, Manager, Human Services, presented Ontario Works caseload demographics to Council. The Social Services Service Plan 2024 to 2028 was also received by Council. Stay tuned for more information on this presentation and report next week.
For more information, read the Social Services Service Plan 2024 to 2028 Council report.
Committee of the Whole – April 9, 2024
All recommendations from Committee of the Whole were adopted as printed in the minutes save and except for Items 9.3.5, 9.3.11, 9.3.26, 9.3.27, 9.3.28, and 9.3.29.
Item 9.3.11 – Enbridge Gas expansion project in Bobcaygeon
Council received the presentation by I.E. Weldon Students from Committee of the Whole, April 9, 2024, and a motion was made that the municipality ask Enbridge Gas and the Ontario Energy Board to put the natural gas expansion project in Bobcaygeon on hold for discussions and further analysis of the true cost of natural gas heating. The municipality has provided for a deferral of taxes for the Enbridge project over a 10-year period to allow the expansion to take place. The expansion was approved in 2017. Fenelon Falls was Phase 1 and is now complete. Bobcaygeon is Phase 2, and residents have had the ability to comment online. The motion failed in a recorded vote.
Item 9.3.26 – Omemee Splash Pad Feasibility Review
A motion was adopted to receive the feasibility report and have a second public meeting in Omemee prior to June 1, 2024. Director Shanks reiterated to Council that the main issue is the lack of a feasible water source to support the splash pad, especially during the hottest stretches of summer. Staff will target to hold the meeting before June 1, 2024.
Item 9.3.27 – Fenelon Falls Cemetery Board
At the April Committee of the Whole meeting, staff recommended that the municipality assume management, administration and operations of the Fenelon Falls Cemetery (FFC), while working with the Fenelon Falls Cemetery Board (FFCB) to apply for representation on the Kawartha Lakes Cemetery Board (KLCB). The FFCB has been a volunteer board since 1869 and to keep the cemetery in local hands, Council made a motion that the Fenelon Falls Cemetery Board remain a committee of Council and the motion passed.
Item 9.2.28 – Proposed Heritage Designation of 49 King Street, Bobcaygeon
The owner of 49 King Street in Bobcaygeon made a deputation to Council asking them not to approve the heritage designation at this meeting, allowing the owner to speak with staff about the report details. Emily Turner, Economic Development Officer – Heritage Planning, clarified that the report on the agenda does not designate the property, but is a signal from Council that staff can start the process of contacting the property owner for consultation on the proposed designation. The report was passed as printed.
Planning Advisory Committee – April 10, 2024
All recommendations from the Planning Advisory Committee were adopted as printed in the minutes save and except for Items 10.3.7 and 10.4.1.
Item 10.3.7 – Proposed Rural Zoning By-law
The proposed Rural Zoning By-law will be coming to the May 21 Regular Meeting to allow comments from the April 11 meeting to be considered and any updates included in the final by-law for adoption.
For more information, please view the full news release: Planning Advisory Committee hears further public comment on the proposed Rural Zoning By-Law
Item 10.4.1 – Zoning by-law amendment: 158 Colborne Street West, Lindsay – Francoeur
Two deputations to Council were made, one by individuals representing local property owners and one by an individual representing the developer. The Planning Advisory Committee notified Council that it does not support the staff recommendation to amend the Town of Lindsay Zoning By-Law for this development.
Council passed a motion to receive the Planning Advisory Committee’s report and that it be sent to staff to discuss with the developers of the proposed townhouse units. Staff will bring an updated report to Council for the June 25 meeting.
Centennial Trailer Park Master Plan
The Centennial Trailer Park Master Plan was received and staff have been instructed to collaborate with Corporate Services and Asset Management to incorporate, as necessary, identified capital and operating forecasted expenditures into the Long-Term Financial Plan 2022 to 2031.
For more information, read the Centennial Trailer Park Master Plan Council report and the Centennial Trailer Park Master Plan.
Petitions
A petition regarding a request for Speed Limit Reduction on Hayes Line from Ski Hill Road to County Road 10 was received and referred to staff for action. The first page of the petition can be found here. A complete copy of the petition with 25 signatures is available at the Clerk’s Office upon request.
A petition regarding a request for Area Improvements Surrounding Devan Court, Lindsay and the Red Pines Estates Townhouses in Lindsay was received and referred to staff for action. The first page of the petition can be found here. A complete copy of the petition with 20 signatures is available at the Clerk’s Office upon request.
Memorandums
Mayor Elmslie brought the Memorandum Regarding the City of Kawartha Lakes O.P.P. Detachment Board Transition to Council. As of April 1 2024, the Community Safety and Policing Act 2019 requires an Ontario Provincial Police Detachment Board be established for each detachment that provides policing in a municipality. As a result, Council was asked to establish the City of Kawartha Lakes O.P.P. Detachment Board to replace the City of Kawartha Lakes Community Policing Advisory Committee (CPAC).
The memo recommended that the existing members of the Community Policing Advisory Committee (Councillor Ashmore, Councillor Richardson and Councillor Warren) be appointed to the Detachment Board for the balance of the current term of Council. The new O.P.P. Detachment Board will be comprised of three (3) members of Council, one public member appointed by Council and one provincial appointee appointed by the Minister. Staff were asked to start the recruitment process for the public member of the board. The motion was to move as printed and it passed.
Next Council meeting
Council will return next week for a Committee of the Whole meeting on May 7, 2024 at a special early start time at 10am in order to hear presentations from Fire and Paramedics Services.
Public attendance in Council Chambers is welcome. Regular and Committee of the Whole meetings will be broadcast live on the City’s YouTube Channel and on Cogeco cable television.
Please note that you can regularly watch recordings of the City of Kawartha Lakes Regular Council Meetings on Cable Cable channel 26 and Rogers Ignite channel 548 at 1pm on the Sunday that follows the Tuesday meeting. However, the April 30 rebroadcast won’t air until Sunday May 12 at 1pm due to a scheduling conflict.
