Peterborough city council will be meeting as general committee on Monday (March 10).
Following a closed session at 5:30 p.m., where councillors will discuss a “potential acquisition” of land for future road work, council will meet in council chambers at 6 p.m. for an open session.
Below are some highlights of what’s on the agenda for Monday’s meeting.
Update and expansion of community planning permit by-law
City staff are recommending the council adopt a city-wide community planning permit by-law.
A community planning permit (CPP) by-law is a land use planning tool available to Ontario municipalities that combines zoning by-law amendments, site plan approvals, and minor variances into a single application and approval process.
A CPP by-law can apply to specific geographic areas or to the entire city, replacing the city’s existing zoning by-law in its entirety.
“The implementation of a city-wide CPP by-law will streamline the development approvals process with a 45-day legislated timeframe for approvals, in contrast to the minimum 150-day cumulative timeframe for the current development approvals process,” reads a staff report from Blair Nelson, the city’s commissioner of infrastructure, planning, and growth management.
“The CPP by-law also enables the city to consider increased height and density in exchange for services, facilities and matters (e.g., affordable housing).”
2024 council remuneration and expense statements
City council will review a report of the remuneration and expenses of the mayor and councillors in 2024.
The report shows that Mayor Jeff Leal received $121,615.02 in 2024, including $90,318.12 in remuneration as mayor, $11,600 in remuneration or meetings or honorariums for City of Peterborough Holdings Inc., and $7,947.90 in pension benefits.
Each councillor received $35,380.08 for being a member of council, with all councillors save Matt Crowley receiving $3,113.37 in pension benefits. All councillors also received a $600 internet allowance. With the exception of Andrew Beamer, all councillors also received a $2,556 vehicle allowance (the mayor received $5,112).
Councillor Joy Lachica also received $9,035.65 in remuneration as a board member of Peterborough Public Health.
Expenses reimbursed to councillors were mainly for their attendance at various conferences, including the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference which the mayor and all councillors attended. Conference expenses ranged from $249.08 to $3,553.72, with most expenses in the $1,500 range.
Councillor Kevin Duguay had the highest expenses at $5,280.58, most of which was related to his attendance at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conference in Calgary. Councillor Alex Bierk has the next highest expenses at $4,764.29, as he attended four conferences in 2024.
Rogers Street parking restrictions
City staff are recommending changing the existing one-hour parking restriction on Rogers Street between Hunter Street and Sophia Street to the default three-hour restriction.
According to a report from commissioner Nelson, staff received a request from the Peterborough Theatre Guild to review the current one-hour parking restriction, as it makes it difficult for patrons to park on-street when attending performances that are longer than one hour.
The original one-hour parking restriction on Rogers Street was implemented in the 1990s to address overflow parking from the former St. Joseph’s General Hospital. At that time, parking on the east side of the street was restricting traffic flow and parking on the west side of the street was constantly occupied by hospital visitors and staff.
After receiving the request from the Peterborough Theatre Guild, staff conducted a survey of 32 households in the area, with 85 per cent of the 41 per cent of households that responded supporting a return to the three-hour parking restriction.
“In addition to the survey results, staff recognize that with the closure of St. Joseph’s General Hospital and the redevelopment of the site to residential occupancy, the need for one-hour parking restriction no longer exists,” the report states.
Bensfort Road and Otonabee Drive traffic signal and all-way stop review
After a request from last April that city staff report back to council on the need for an all-way stop or traffic signal at the intersection of Bensfort Road and Otonabee Drive, staff are presenting the findings of a review that concludes neither traffic signals nor all-way stop control are warranted at this time.
According to the report from commissioner Nelson, city staff reviewed and analyzed data related to vehicle volume, pedestrian volume, and collision history, and also completed a speed study, sight line review, and site observations.
“The Bensfort Road and Otonabee Drive intersection failed to meet the minimum threshold for total vehicle volume, delay to cross traffic, four-hour volume and collision experience, and signalization of the intersection is not recommended at this time,” the report states.
The report also found that adding that an all-way stop is unwarranted and implementing one could create delays for drivers and increase speeds on Bensfort Road, and that intersection pedestrian signals are also unwarranted.
The report recommends improving sight lines by relocating the stop sign and painted stop bar location and by trimming overgrown vegetation along the east limits of the Bensfort Road right-of-way.
The report also recommends implementing painted median islands, painted edge lines, and painted curb radii, with the intent of encouraging lower vehicle speeds on Bensfort Road at Otonabee Drive by providing clear guidance to drivers while narrowing lane widths to promote lower speeds.
Contract extension for Selwyn Link bus service
City staff are recommending that the City of Peterborough extend its contract with Selwyn Township’s “The Link” rural transit service pilot program for an additional year until March 31, 2026.
Peterborough Transit, which has been the service provider of “The Link” since April 2021, operates two routes: Route 31, “Curve Lake – Lakefield” (which travels from Trent University to the village of Lakefield then on to Curve Lake First Nation, returning through Lakefield and returning to Trent University) and Route 32, “Ennismore – Bridgenorth” (which travels from Trent University to Bridgenorth and then over the causeway to Ennismore then back to Trent University). The routes operate six times per day on weekdays.
In 2019, Selwyn Township received $1.5 million from the Ontario government’s Community Transportation Grant Program to operate the service until March 31, 2025. According to the staff report by municipal operations commissioner Ilmar Simanovskis, Selwyn Township has received additional funding to extend the pilot for another year and has proposed extending the agreement with Peterborough Transit until March 31, 2026, with a two per cent increase to the hourly rate.
“The city has been providing this pilot program at no cost to city taxpayers, through a full cost recovery approach to service delivery,” the report states, noting that the service will generate a gross revenue of around $513,000 in 2025 with a new surplus of $8,000 for the city. “The program is seeing annual ridership increases, which improves access for residents to seek services and opportunities beyond the boundaries of the city.”
Renewal of Trent University universal bus pass funding agreement
City staff are recommending that the city renew its agreement with the Trent Central Student Association (TSCA) for the continuation of the Universal Transit Pass (U-Pass).
Under the program, Peterborough Transit offers two express routes that serve the university, along with other special services tailored to serve student events, exam schedules, and convocation ceremonies.
The fees collected by the TSCA will generate around $2.8 million in operating revenue in 2025.
Agreement with ORCA for the operation of Beavermead Campground
City staff are recommending that the city sign another five-year agreement with Otonabee Region Conservation Authority for the continued operation of the campground at Beavermead Park.
The city and Otonabee Conservation entered into an initial agreement in 2015, with a five-year extension period that expired in October. While the city is responsible for maintaining the grounds, roadways, and the washroom building and attached kiosk, Otonabee Conservation is responsible for operations of the campground, including permitting of sites.
The new agreement outlines an annual payment fee to the city to cover the annual maintenance expense of the property, as well as a profit-sharing agreement that sees Otonabee Conservation keeping 10 per cent of gross revenue with the remainder shared equally with the city.
Designation of listed properties update
City staff will present a report to council sharing an initial list of 56 properties that the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee has identified as priorities for designation under the Ontario Heritage Act by January 1, 2027.
The city maintains a heritage registrar of almost 700 properties that are of cultural value or heritage interest. Under recent amendments to the provincial legislation, all municipalities are required to remove listed properties by January 1, 2027 if they are not designated by then. Properties that are removed from the heritage registrar cannot be re-listed or a period of five years from their removal.
The list of 56 properties recommended for heritage designation include the Commerce Building at 129 Hunter St. W., the Peterborough Lawn Bowling Club at 725 Armour Rd., Mark Street United Church at 90 Hunter St. E., Hamilton House at 640 Walkerfield Ave., Murray Street Baptist Church at 175 Murray St., Cherney House at 99 Roper Dr., Salvation Army Temple and Stevenson Hall at 216 Simcoe St., Trent Radio House at 715 George St. N., King George Hotel at 172-174 Simcoe St., White House Hotel at 171-175 Charlotte St., Queen Alexandra Community Centre at 180 Barnardo Ave., and Prince of Wales Public School at 1211 Monaghan Rd.
Motion to limit city’s use of X social media platform
Councillor Matt Crowley will be bringing forward a motion that proposes the City of Peterborough limit its use of the X social media platform (formerly known as Twitter).
“X has become a media platform that is not adequately responding to hate speech and misinformation,” the motion reads, adding “Continued use of X could be perceived as tacit approval of or association with ideologies that are inconsistent with the City of Peterborough’s commitment to freedom, inclusivity, and nondiscrimination.”
Recognizing that Peterborough Transit is currently using X as a main method to communicate service changes to customers, and that the city uses all available social media platforms to communicate emergency services information, Crowley’s motion proposes that the city discontinue use of X “except for Peterborough Transit, Fire Services, and emergency information as necessary.”
The motion also proposes that city staff report back to council during 2026 budget deliberations “with recommendations and associated budget implications for implementing a Snow Plow Tracker service for residents and a smartphone app for Peterborough Transit, which includes the ability to send notifications to subscribers, with the goal of improving customer service and eliminating the use of X.”
Items endorsed by general committee on March 10 will be considered by council for final approval the following Monday.
Council meetings are streamed live at www.peterborough.ca.
