Regular Council Highlights - January 30, 2024

Kawartha Lakes – The following are highlights from the Regular Council Meeting on January 30, 2024.

The meeting can be viewed in full on our YouTube Channel.

Regular Council Minutes from December 12, 2023 were received and adopted.

Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton Housing Corporation Annual General Meeting

Council started with a Special Council Meeting for the Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton Housing Corporation’s Annual General Meeting at 12:30pm.

Black History Month

Mayor Elmslie began Council by recognizing that February is Black History Month, noting:

“Kawartha Lakes joins communities across Canada in celebrating the heritage of Black Canadians who have shaped our country. Please take a moment to check out the Kawartha Lakes Public Library recommended books to celebrate Black History Month. Or take the family on a guided hike this Saturday near Coboconk, hosted by Kawartha Land Trust, and learn more about Black Excellence in Conservation.”

For more information, read our Black History Month in Kawartha Lakes news release.

ROMA Conference update

Mayor Elmslie provided Council with a brief update on the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) 2024 Conference held in Toronto from January 21 to 23, 2024. He had this to say about the conference:

“This year’s ROMA Conference was very productive. We were able to speak with a number of Ministers and parliamentary staff to ensure local priorities are being heard. I look forward to hearing back on a number of issues. The Councillors who attended felt the sessions and networking were valuable to the work they do on behalf of constituents.”

For a more detailed update, read our ROMA Conference news release.

Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus (EOWC) Advocacy Briefing Package

The EOWC provided council with their ROMA 2024 Conference Advocacy Briefing Package. The briefing package laid out the EOWC’s advocacy priorities including:

• Affordable and Attainable Housing
• Next Generation Infrastructure Funding to Support Rural Municipalities
• Modernizing the Construction Approval Process
• Long-Term Care

View the EOWC Advocacy Briefing Package.

Committee of the Whole – January 16, 2024

All recommendations from Committee of the Whole were adopted as printed in the minutes save and except for Items 9.3.2, 9.3.3, 9.3.4, and 9.3.11.

Planning Advisory Committee – January 17, 2024

All recommendations from the Planning Advisory Committee were adopted as printed.

Update on request to purchase the shoreline road allowance adjacent to Grove Road in Fenelon (extracted item 9.3.2)

Realty Service staff were directed by Council to negotiate a land sale agreement with Grove Road landowners to purchase their adjacent Grove Road shoreline road allowances in Fenelon Township before the end of the year. The agreement will include language to protect the municipality’s lakefront access and the existing road infrastructure.

Kawartha Lakes Strategic Plan 2024 to 2027 consultation period extended (extracted item 9.3.11)

The consultation period for the Strategic Plan 2024 to 2027 is being extended until February 23 to give our community more time to provide input. This extension follows Council's decision to postpone the adoption of the plan until the March 19 Regular Council meeting, allowing for additional feedback from Committees of Council and the public.

To facilitate further discussion, Council is hosting an evening meeting on Thursday, February 15 in Council Chambers. The session will begin with staff providing a brief overview of the draft of the Strategic Plan, followed by time for deputations and correspondence from Committees and the public.

Additionally, we're keeping the Jump In, Kawartha Lakes online engagement platform open for comments until February 23 at www.jumpinkawarthalakes.ca/strategicplan2024. All feedback received, whether past or new, will be compiled and included in a report for the Regular Council meeting on March 19.

Supply and delivery of four land ambulances

Council approved the single source purchase of four land ambulances from Crestline Coach Ltd. in Saskatoon for a total estimated cost of $1,069,184 not including HST. This was a single source purchase because Crestline is the only approved manufacturer of new and remounted ambulances through the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Ontario Provincial Land Ambulance and Emergency Response Vehicle Standards.

View the Single Source Supply and Delivery of Four Land Ambulances Council Report.

Upcoming ball diamond infield restoration

Council approved the single source contract for the restoration of 16 ball diamonds in the Spring of 2024 at a total cost of $191,359.10 not including HST. The ball diamonds that are set for restoration this spring are:

• Wilson Fields Diamonds 1 through 7
• Little Britain Diamonds 1 through 3
• Fenelon Falls Diamonds 1 and 2
• Bobcaygeon Diamonds 1 and 2
• Oakwood Diamonds 1 and 2

View the Single Source for Ball Diamond Infield Restoration Council Report.

Petitions

A petition regarding a request for Speed Limit Reduction for part of Balsam Lake Drive in the Township of Bexley was received and referred back to staff for action. Details of the petition can be found here. A complete copy of the petition with 18 electronic signatures and seven original signatures is available at the Clerk's Office upon request

Council will return next week for a Committee of the Whole meeting on February 6, 2024 at 1pm.

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 now 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. Due to a scheduling conflict on Sunday February 3, 2024 the rebroadcast on Cable Cable and Rogers Ignite will be pushed to Monday February 4, 2024.

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