A new initiative to keep Peterborough streets clean, a revised council code of conduct, a new winter shelter response plan, traffic changes to Armour Road, delegation of authority to city staff during the “lame duck” period of council during an election year, and a pilot program to help seniors clean snow from the end of their driveways are some of the items on city council’s upcoming agenda.
Council will meet in open session as general committee at 6 p.m. on Monday (May 25), following a closed session to consider items related to litigation or potential litigation and to receive advice from city legal counsel.
Here are some highlights of what’s on the open session agenda:
Proposed “Clean Streets Peterborough” initiative
A report from municipal operations commissioner Ilmar Simanovskis and community services commissioner Sheldon Laidman is recommending that council implement a wide-ranging “Clean Streets Peterborough” initiative “intended to improve the cleanliness of parks, streets, the downtown core, and other public spaces.”
Combining waste management changes, public education, enforcement, and community outreach, the coordinated strategy is aimed at tackling illegal dumping, overflowing public bins, improper waste set-outs, and garbage accumulation in parks and public spaces across the city.
According to the report, a working group of city staff was established last fall to explore new ways of addressing waste management issues, both downtown and across the city. In the downtown core, staff began increased weekend enforcement to fine property owners where waste was found in front of their properties outside the collection days.
That led to some property owners being fined for what councillor Alex Bierk called “orphaned garbage” — garbage placed on a property that does not belong to the property owner — and resulted in council approving a motion that directed staff to pause the fines until they could consult with affected property and business owners and report back to council with recommended by-law amendments “to improve clarity and fairness in enforcement.”
The report being presented to council, which is a result of the staff working group recommendations and a response to council’s motion, also summarizes interim results from a city-wide survey that has so far received about 400 responses.
Between 70 and 80 per cent of respondents identified household garbage in public bins, waste left beside bins, and illegal dumping of bulk items as major concerns. Respondents identified parks as the places where they believe most debris is being found, and reported household bagged garbage and food waste as being a common material.
Around 10 per cent of the respondents admitted to participating in illegal dumping themselves, with over half reporting they knew it was wrong but felt they had no other option. Others said they assumed the city or someone else would collect it, didn’t consider it a big deal, didn’t know how to properly dispose of it, or believed everybody else did it as well.
Many respondents linked illegal dumping to disposal fees, missed collection days, lack of transportation, and frustration with current waste collection rules. About 60 per cent agreed that some city waste rules do not match some residents’ real living conditions, while 85 per cent supported more visible enforcement and 82 per cent supported lowering disposal costs.
“The results support moving forward with a program that combines faster cleanup, clearer communication, easier legal disposal options, targeted enforcement, hotspot monitoring, and stronger expectations for property owners and landlords,” the report states.
Among the proposed changes is eliminating the city’s bulk item collection fee for the remainder of 2026, which currently costs $60 for the first item and $30 for each additional item. Staff say disposal costs were repeatedly identified in the survey as a factor contributing to illegal dumping of furniture, mattresses, and appliances.
Staff are also proposing a surveillance camera pilot program at selected parks and other public locations where recurring garbage accumulation, illegal dumping, or misuse of public receptacles is taking place. The cameras would be used to identify recurring behaviours and to discourage illegal dumping.
Another recommendation is temporarily doubling residential garbage bag limits until the end of 2027, with staff citing concerns that bi-weekly garbage collection, clear bag requirements, and existing bag limits may be contributing to improper disposal behaviours. The report notes survey respondents identified extra garbage bags as one of the hardest waste items to dispose of properly.
Other recommendations include reducing the replacement cost of the city’s green bins from nearly $89 to about $35, launching a public communication and engagement campaign, improving the city’s reporting process for illegal dumping, and resuming enforcement against unattributed garbage left on boulevards in the downtown area after the temporary pause approved by council.
Other than investing in cameras, staff estimate the initiative could be implemented without additional costs, although the city would forgo up to $20,000 annually in bulk item collection fees and up to $20,000 in reduced green bin replacement fees.
“Overall, the Clean Streets Peterborough program provides a balanced path forward,” the report concludes. “It reduces barriers that may contribute to improper disposal, improves the city’s ability to respond to problem locations, and creates a clearer framework for education, compliance, and enforcement. Staff will monitor implementation and outcomes so that council can assess the effectiveness of the program and consider any future refinements based on evidence and community experience.”
Amendments to council’s code of conduct
A report from the city’s people and culture director Jen McFarland proposes an amended code of conduct for council, originally initiated in response to a December report from the city’s integrity commissioner over Mayor Jeff Leal’s use of the N-word at Trent University the previous March. In his report, the commissioner suggested council may wish to amend council’s code to address conduct to prohibit the use of the N-word.
A staff report presented to council at its March 23 general committee recommended that the section of the code of conduct that states that members of council must not “use indecent, abusive or insulting words, or expressions toward any other (member of council), and member of staff or any member of the public” be amended to read “use indecent, abusive or insulting words, expressions or racial slurs.” At that meeting, councillor Joy Lachica put forward a motion to refer the matter to city DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) staff to report back to council with recommendations on wording.
On April 13, McFarland presented a report to general committee recommending further amendments to the code of conduct, including adjusting gendered language, referencing protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code, aligning the definition of harassment with the Ontario Human Rights Code, and expanding the examples of harassment. Council approved the report at general committee and at the city council meeting the following week.
McFarland’s report to general committee at Monday’s meeting includes a draft by-law for the code of conduct with the recommended amendments, which have been reviewed by city legal staff.
The draft by-law replaces the use of “his or her” and “himself or herself” with “their” and “themselves,” provides a definition of discrimination, expands the definition of harassment to include examples, includes a definition of racial harassment with examples, expands the definition of sexual harrasment, and references the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Winter shelter response plan
A report from community services commissioner Sheldon Laidman recommends options for a planned seasonal winter shelter model for people experiencing homelessness in winter 2026-27, instead of the temporary temperature-based shelter response used this past winter.
The report states the city “continues to face sustained pressure” on its four emergency shelters and overnight drop-in program providing 127 beds, with demand exceeding available capacity and people remaining unsheltered, especially during the winter months.
According to the report, at least 932 people experienced homelessness in 2025, a 16 per cent increase from 2024, with an average of 370 people experiencing homelessness on any given day. The report also highlights several homelessness trends in Peterborough, including increases in chronic homelessness, first-time homelessness, and longer shelter stays. Indigenous people continue to be overrepresented among the homeless population, according to staff.
The report notes the city operated an emergency temperature-based shelter response at the former fire station on Carnegie Avenue for up to 40 people per night over 10 days during the winter of 2025-26, but staff say the model created significant operational and staffing challenges and could not reliably open during all periods of extreme cold.
The report presents two options for a planned overnight shelter model, both of which would operate out of the former fire station and provide at least 30 additional beds nightly.
The first option would operate for three months from January through March — the coldest winter months — and would cost about $303,000 annually, plus $20,000 in startup costs.
The second option would run for six months from November through April at an annual operating cost of about $576,600, plus $20,000 in startup costs. Staff say the longer model would provide greater operational stability, better staffing retention, and shelter access during colder fall and spring periods and over the holiday season.
A third option would see the city decline to fund any additional winter shelter spaces. Staff warn that, without additional seasonal shelter capacity, unsheltered individuals would face continued exposure to prolonged periods of cold weather, increased health and safety risks, and additional strain on existing shelters already operating at or above capacity.
“Options A and B presented in this report reflect a shift toward a more planned and reliable approach to winter shelter provision,” the report concludes. “While a seasonal model does not fully address year-round system demand, it represents a practical and achievable step to increase access to indoor space during the highest-risk period.”
Armour Road traffic operations review
A report from infrastructure, planning and growth management commissioner Blair Nelson presents the findings and recommendations of a traffic operations review of Armour Road between Hunter Street and Parkhill Road.
The report recommends a series of traffic-calming and pedestrian safety measures as a result of the review, which identified high vehicle speeds, limited pedestrian crossing opportunities, and sightline problems caused by on-street parking.
City staff are recommending seven short-term measures for implementation in 2026, including a new 40 km/h speed limit throughout East City, lane narrowing through pavement markings, additional no-stopping and no-parking restrictions, new permanent driver feedback signs, and an extension of the existing community safety zone north to Swanston Avenue. These measures would cost around $70,000, an amount that is available in the 2026 approved capital budget for traffic improvements.
As a medium-term objective, the report also recommends the installation of a new intersection pedestrian signal at Armour Road and Dufferin Street, with staff requesting council pre-commit $250,000 in the 2027 capital budget for the project.
The traffic review found vehicles consistently speeding on Armour Road at around 60 km/h despite a posted speed of 40 km/h in the portion of the road fronting Kaawaate East City Public School and 50 km/h elsewhere. The report states the road’s wide lanes between Parkhill Road and Douro Street and steep grades south of Parkhill Road and north of Hunter Street contribute to speeding, and recommends reducing lane widths from 5.75 metres to 3.3 to 3.5 metres using urban shoulder pavement markings.
The study also identified a lack of protected pedestrian crossings in the 640 metres between McFarlane Street and Parkhill Road. Staff recorded frequent pedestrian crossings at Dufferin Street by residents, students, trail users, and transit riders accessing Nicholls Oval Park, the Rotary Greenway Trail, bus stops, and nearby businesses.
Although the Dufferin Street location does not technically meet the city’s warrant requirements for a signalized pedestrian crossing, staff are still recommending the installation because pedestrians currently face only one safe crossing opportunity every three to four minutes during peak traffic periods.
Collision data reviewed between 2017 and 2024 showed 84 reported collisions along the corridor and at the Hunter Street intersection, including 11 collisions involving injuries or fatalities. Staff identified angle and turning-movement collisions as a significant concern, with restricted sightlines at intersections blamed partly on parked vehicles, hydro poles, and vegetation.
Staff are recommending the implementation of no-stopping signs a minimum of 30 metres from all intersections between Hunter Street and Parkhill Road, and the removal of on-street parking on the west side of Armour Road between Hunter Street and Douro Street.
The report also recommends pavement markings and signage at entry points to Nicholls Oval Park to help provide clear direction for park visitors and extending the existing community safety zone on Armour Road to encompass the pedestrian crossing at McFarlane Street, which has an existing school crossing, and the proposed pedestrian crossing at Dufferin Street.
Delegation of authority during council’s “lame duck” period
A report from legislative services commissioner David Potts recommends the delegation of authority to allow the city’s chief administrative officer (CAO) to temporarily exercise certain powers during a potential “lame duck” period in the 2026 municipal election year.
Ontario’s Municipal Act imposes restrictions on the authority of council during an election year once it’s determined the incoming council will have less than three-quarters of the members of outgoing council either seeking re-election or re-elected. For Peterborough, the threshold would be fewer than nine of the current 11 council members (including the mayor).
The restricted act period could either begin after the nomination period ends on August 21 and fewer than nine of the current members of council are certified to run for office, or following voting day on October 26 if fewer than nine of the current members of council have been re-elected.
During the restricted acts period, council is prohibited from making certain decisions, including hiring or dismissing city employees and (unless it was already included in the 2026-27 budget) disposing of municipal property worth more than $50,000 or approving any expenditure or incurring any liability over $50,000.
To maintain continuity of municipal operations during such a period, staff are recommending council approve a temporary by-law delegating limited authority to the city’s CAO. The proposed delegation would allow the CAO to appoint or remove commissioners, approve property dispositions over $50,000, and authorize expenditures or liabilities exceeding $50,000 if necessary.
The report notes the city already has existing delegated authority provisions through its procurement and CAO by-laws, but the proposed by-law would address any remaining operational gaps during the restricted acts period.
The report also notes the Ontario government is proposing changes to the Municipal Act that would affect strong mayor powers during a municipal election year. Specifically, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is proposing to limit outgoing heads of council in designated strong mayor municipalities from proposing the municipal budget for the year immediately following a regular municipal election.
Mayors in designated strong mayor municipalities would also be restricted from appointing or removing the CAO and other municipal division heads, changing the organizational structure of the municipality, or (if not already authorized in the municipality’s budget) exercising their by-law power to dispose of property valued over $50,000 or authorize expenditures or liabilities over $50,000.
These restrictions, which would be in place before nominations close for the 2026 municipal election, would apply if it can be determined that either three-quarters of the outgoing members of council will not be members of the new council or if it can be determined that the outgoing head of council will not be the incoming head of council.
Windrow removal subsidy pilot program
A report from municipal operations commissioner Ilmar Simanovskis is recommending a pilot subsidy program for seniors and residents with disabilities, beginning in the 2026-27 winter season, for the removal of windrows — the often large and difficult-to-remove ridges of snow and ice left at the end of residential driveways by city snow plows.
The proposed program comes in response to a February council motion, initiated by Mayor Jeff Leal, that directed staff to investigate snow-clearing support options for older adults and people with mobility challenges. Staff are recommending a subsidy model rather than a municipally delivered or contracted snow-clearing service.
Under the proposal, eligible residents would receive a subsidy of up to $450 per winter season to help offset the cost of hiring private contractors to clear windrows.
To qualify, applicants would need to be Peterborough residents who own and live in their homes, are either age 65 or older or have a physical disability, have no other able-bodied adult in the household able to clear the windrow, and fall below Statistics Canada’s low-income measure threshold.
The report says a public survey conducted through Connect Peterborough received 636 responses, with 63 per cent of respondents reporting they have a disability or health condition that makes clearing windrows difficult. Seventy per cent said they have avoided leaving their homes because of uncleared windrows.
Staff considered three possible delivery models: an in-house city-operated service, a contracted service, and a subsidy program.
The report says a municipally operated service would require additional staff, specialized equipment costing up to $170,000, and more storage space at the city’s public works yard. A contracted service would cost an estimated $55,000 for 100 driveways to as much as $100,000 per year, depending on the number and distribution of participating households and the severity of winter weather.
Staff ultimately concluded the subsidy model would provide residents with greater flexibility to hire contractors familiar with their properties, while limiting the operational burden on city staff during major winter storms.
The report also recommends the city support the promotion of the volunteer-based “Snow Angels” initiative, although the program would operate independently and not be administered by the municipality.
Council is being asked to pre-commit $45,000 in the 2027 public works budget to fund a pilot program supporting up to 100 households. Staff would report back to council in early 2027 on the pilot’s effectiveness.
“The introduction of a windrow removal subsidy program will enhance the safety of our neighbourhoods within the existing staff resources the city has,” the report concludes. “Complementing the subsidy with the promotion of the Snow Angels volunteer initiative further strengthens the city’s response by fostering community support networks and expanding assistance options.”
Items endorsed by general committee on May 25 will be considered by council for final approval the following Monday.
Council meetings are streamed live at www.peterborough.ca.
