Shifting the responsibility for residential sidewalk snow clearing to property owners, ending municipal garbage collection for larger apartment and condominium buildings, and introducing parking and non-resident admission fees at Riverview Park and Zoo are among the options identified in a sweeping review of City of Peterborough services.
The long-awaited review will be presented to Peterborough city council at its general committee meeting on Monday evening (September 21).
Prepared by Ernst & Young LLP, the 234-page Effectiveness and Efficiency Review identifies 20 opportunities for cost savings and revenue, ranging from changes that would affect residents directly to internal improvements in city purchasing, staffing, and financial management.
Review estimates up to $30.2 million in savings and avoided costs over four years
In a memo to general committee, city CAO Jasbir Raina cites the review’s estimated cumulative savings or avoided costs of $20.6 million to $30.2 million over four years. The review’s financial projections also include new revenue, with actual benefits depending on which options proceed, implementation costs, and further analysis.
Raina notes general committee is only being asked to receive the review for information. No specific service cuts or fee changes are being recommended for approval at the meeting.
One of the largest potential financial changes involves Peterborough Regional Airport, which the city owns and funds despite its location outside municipal boundaries.
The review recommends first pursuing municipal boundary restructuring so the city can secure control over the airport and surrounding employment lands and receive a proportionate benefit from development.
If that cannot be achieved, or retaining the airport cannot be justified financially, options include a transfer, long-term lease, regional partnership, airport authority, or sale. The review models $6.6 million in savings over four years under a transfer scenario.
Modernizing procurement could produce another $2 million to $6.65 million over four years through improved purchasing strategies, stronger contract oversight, and streamlined approvals for routine purchases.
Changes to sidewalk snow clearing, apartment garbage collection, and zoo admission among options
Among the most consequential service changes for city residents, the review proposes ending routine municipal snow clearing on most residential sidewalks and making adjacent property owners responsible, which is the practice in municipalities like the City of Toronto.
Municipal clearing would continue along designated priority routes serving transit, schools, hospital areas, and other important pedestrian connections, with targeted assistance for eligible residents. Estimated savings and avoided costs range from $530,000 to $670,000 annually.
The review also proposes discontinuing municipal garbage collection for apartment and condominium properties with seven or more units, requiring owners to arrange private collection. About 37 per cent of these units currently receive city collection, while the remainder already use private services. Ending collection could save approximately $665,000 annually before transition costs. An alternative would offer optional municipal collection at full cost to participating properties.
At Riverview Park and Zoo, introducing parking fees and admission charges for visitors from outside Peterborough County could generate a net benefit of $1.6 million to $4.2 million over four years. Admission would remain free for local residents.
Arts funding, housing development, and staffing also identified for potential changes
One of the options in the review is moving the Art Gallery of Peterborough toward independent staffing and operations, supported by a declining municipal grant and greater fundraising. The review estimates a $2 million four-year benefit, while warning programming could suffer if replacement revenues fall short. It also recommends considering shared or integrated space instead of assuming a new standalone gallery building.
Other proposals include ending the city’s approximately $108,000 annual operating grant to The Canadian Canoe Museum after its funding agreement concludes in 2028, charging for repeated false fire alarms, and transferring responsibility for new housing development from Peterborough Housing Corporation to a city-directed function while retaining the corporation as the housing operator.
Targeted staffing and management changes could avoid $2.3 million to $3.4 million over four years. Ernst & Young explicitly cautions these estimates are not an immediate savings forecast or a workforce-reduction target, recommending reductions through vacancies, succession, and other transitions.
Service-level decisions would fall to the next council during 2027 budget deliberations
The presentation of the review comes five weeks before the October 26 municipal election that will see a new council elected.
That council will be responsible for deciding whether to pursue any of the options in the review as part of next year’s budget deliberations.
“It is anticipated that recommendations stemming from the Effectiveness and Efficiency Review that are related to service levels and financial considerations will be included in the draft 2027 budget for council’s consideration,” CAO Raina writes in his memo.
Heritage designations and $7-million waterfront concept plan also on the agenda
Other items on Monday night’s agenda include several financial reports and the proposed heritage designation of six properties: the London Street Generating Station, the Sherbrooke Street Substation, Prince of Wales Public School, The LePlante House, 485-495 Aylmer Street North, and the Peterborough Lawn Bowling Club/Peterborough Rugby Club.
General committee will also be asked to endorse a proposed concept plan for the Otonabee River Trail and Shoreline Improvement Project, which would reconstruct the Crescent Street corridor into a multi-modal waterfront destination.
With a preliminary estimated cost of $7 million, the project would include a south and eastbound one-way lane from Lake Street to Haggart Street, a two-way cycle-track, new sidewalks, dedicated parking zones, an area for gathering at the T-Warf, and enhance public space and shoreline features.
If council endorses the plan, it would proceed to detailed design and tender, with construction expected to begin in 2027.
Business case proposes phased upgrades to airport beginning with runway widening
Despite some of the contrary options presented in the Effectiveness and Efficiency Review for the future of Peterborough Regional Airport, council will be asked to consider a business case report proposing a phased approach to upgrading the airport.
The first phase would include planning and design work to widen the airport’s main runway and to implement instrument non-procession level of service (an aircraft approach procedure that provides left/right steering guidance to align with the runway but does not provide up/down electronic altitude guidance).
According to the report, core airfield improvements would support existing airport tenants and continued aviation and aerospace growth, while positioning the airport for possible scheduled commercial passenger service in the future.
The study estimates approximately $75.3 million in new capital spending across the proposed development phases including $33.5 million for runway widening, taxiway realignment, and related airfield improvements, $17.6 million for passenger-service infrastructure, including terminal expansion, parking, and road changes, and $24.1 million for later improvements, including further taxiway construction, approach and landing systems, and aircraft rescue and firefighting facilities and equipment.
Council is being asked to endorse the phased approach in principle and to direct staff to move forward with the first phase of the plan, including runway widening.
Councillor motions address data centres, storefront cafe seating, and recognition of the late Robert Winslow
Three notices of motion will also be presented at Monday night’s meeting.
Councillor Joy Lachica is proposing the city establish an interim control by-law to prohibit the use of land, buildings, or structures for the purpose of new data centres and similar facilities.
Councillor Alex Bierk is presenting two motions.
The first proposes that staff report back to council with options to support storefront cafe seating, with simplified permitting or approval processes so that low-impact cafe seating is not subject to the same permitting process as large outdoor patios.
The second motion asks that staff report back on ways the city can recognize and honour the life, work, and legacy of Robert Winslow, the founder of 4th Line Theatre who passed away unexpectedly on September 12.
Items endorsed by general committee will be considered by council for final approval at its regular meeting on Monday, September 28.
