Committee of the Whole Highlights – May 5, 2026

Kawartha Lakes – The following are highlights of the Committee of the Whole meeting on May 5, 2026.

The meeting can be viewed in full on our YouTube channel:

• Committee of the Whole May 5 

Announcements

May 5 was Red Dress Day. This day honours missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people (MMIWG2S+) in Canada. People were encouraged to wear red to show support and raise awareness. The day also reminds us that Indigenous communities still face violence and that more work is needed for justice and reconciliation.

May is MS Awareness Month. This month helps teach people about Multiple Sclerosis (MS), shares personal stories, and raises money for research through events like the MS Walk. MS is a disease that affects the nervous system and can make everyday life difficult. The MS flag was raised at City Hall, and residents were encouraged to support the cause.

Saturday, May 9, is World Migratory Bird Day. Kawartha Lakes is recognized as a Bird Friendly City by Nature Canada, and encourages residents to enjoy watching birds returning for the season and help protect them by keeping cats indoors and turning off lights at night to reduce window collisions.

Deputy Mayor Richardson announced she will not run in the 2026 municipal election. She thanked her family, council members, and staff for their support during her time on Council. She also spoke about some of the challenges that come with serving in local government.

Watch Council announcements from the 12:50 mark

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Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar Project Presentation

Irvin Marucelj from the Department of National Defence (DND) shared a presentation on the Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar Project. The first phase of the project includes roads studies, construction routes to access the project, and hydro and utility servicing.

DND will have three requests to Council:

1. That DND is permitted to complete studies on the nearby roads to the site at 0 Thistle Trail.
2. That they obtain ownership/interest in the roads. The Roads would remain open to the public except for the segment between 0 and 185 Thistle, which would be closed. A new connector would be built along the north edge of 185 Thistle Trail.
3. That high-voltage equipment owned by DND be permitted to be placed on the site.

DND is attempting to modify the project to avoid areas of environmental sensitivity.

Health concerns were addressed, saying that DND must follow the same rules as those that apply to everyone else. Any health hazards will need to be contained within the site boundary.

The DND has announced that this site will be developed as a transmission site for the Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar Project.

Watch the full presentation.

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Consent Matters

8-1-3 Records Management By-Law

The City plans to approve a new by-law that sets rules for how long municipal records must be kept and how records will be managed. The by-law would also allow the City Clerk to update record retention timelines when needed.

Council will be asked to officially adopt the by-law, at which time an older records management and privacy policy will be removed and replaced.

A new Records Management Policy will be added to the City’s official policy manual to replace previous versions.

The recommendations in the report were received as printed and will be brought to the next Regular Council meeting. Read the report on the Records Management By-law.

Watch from the 1:29:45 mark.

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8-1-6 2026 Life Cycle Extension Program

This annual report updates Council on the City’s 2026 Road Life Cycle Extension Program, which is designed to maintain and preserve roads for as long as possible before major reconstruction is needed. The program includes several types of road maintenance work, including local asphalt paving, slurry sealing, crack sealing, asphalt rejuvenation, and converting severely damaged paved roads back into gravel roads through a process called pulverizing.

Local asphalt paving will focus on smaller road sections that require repairs but are not currently included in the City’s long-term road replacement plans. Roads in very poor condition that cannot simply be resurfaced may be pulverized and turned into gravel roads until they can be rebuilt in the future. Slurry sealing and crack sealing will also be used to help extend the life of roads that are still in fair condition by protecting the road surface and preventing further damage.

In 2026, crack sealing work will continue along CKL Road 45 near Kinmount and is expected to continue westward over the next two years. City staff and ward councillors toured roads in April to identify areas with high maintenance concerns and help determine which roads should be included in the program. The report is intended to keep Council informed about the road maintenance projects planned for 2026 under the Life Cycle Extension Program.

The report was received as printed. Read the 2026 Life Cycle Extension Program report. To view roads under construction in 2026, visit our website: www.kawarthalakes.ca/roads

Watch from the 1:33:15 mark.

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Petitions

A petition to request that the road allowances adjacent to the site of the Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar Project be retained by the City of Kawartha Lakes was received. A complete copy of the petition with 47 signatures is available at the Clerk's Office upon request.

The petition was received by Council.

View the online petition.

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Memorandum regarding an all-way stop request at Indian Trail and Pleasant Point Road (CKL Road 11)

Council received a memorandum from Councillor McDonald proposing that an all-way stop be installed at Indian Trail and Pleasant Point Road (CKL Road 11). The memo asked that the necessary by-law be forwarded to council for adoption and will be forwarded to Council for consideration at the next Regular Council Meeting.

Watch from the 2:06:00 mark.

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Memorandum Regarding Support Bill 21, Protect Our Food Act, 2025

Council received a memorandum from Councillor Warren that urges the Province to continue implementing measures that protect farmland and other agriculture-related lands from further loss. The memo will be forwarded to the Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness and local MPP Laurie Scott, and brought back to Council for consideration at the next Regular Council Meeting.

Watch from the 2:09:18 mark.

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Memorandum Regarding Drainage Issues on Birchmount Court, Pleasant Point

Council received a memorandum from Councillor Ashmore asking that staff be directed to investigate the drainage and road deterioration of Birchmount Court, Pleasant Point and report back with recommendations on a solution by Q3 of 2026. The memo will be brought back to Council for consideration at the next Regular Council Meeting.

Watch from the 02:12:55 mark.

Memorandum Regarding Fleming College Trade Programs

Council received a memorandum from Councillor Doble asking that the municipality advocate for the advancement and enhancement of trade programs such as the Heavy Equipment Operator program at the Frost Campus of Fleming College, and for the expansion of skilled trades programs (currently offered at the Sutherland Campus) to the Frost Campus.

The memo also asked that the City engage with Fleming College as an active partner, to invest in the future development and vibrancy of the Frost campus and to seek out additional opportunities to align shared priorities with specific interest in trades.

This memo will be forwarded to Council for consideration at the next Regular Council Meeting.

Watch from the 02:14:00 mark.

Memorandum regarding reducing bypasses at the Fenelon Wastewater Treatment Plant

Council received a memorandum from Councillor Perry, asking that staff examine options for reducing bypasses at the Fenelon Wastewater Treatment Plant and report back with recommendations by the end of Q3.

This recommendation will be forwarded to Council for consideration at the next Regular Council Meeting.

Watch from the 2:24:00 mark.

Memorandum regarding road allowance restoration at 168-170 Lakebreeze Road

Council received a memorandum from Councillor Perry about restoring the City’s road allowance located at 168-170 Lakebreeze Road. The memo was not supported, and Council recommended that Public Works will coordinate with the neighbours to plant the replacement cedar trees that one of the residents will supply.

Watch from the 2:27:45 mark.

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Next Council meeting

Council will return for a Regular Council meeting on May 19 at 1pm.

Public attendance in Council Chambers is welcome in the public gallery on the main floor, and overflow seating is available in the Victoria Room on the second floor. Please note that no video and/or audio recording is permitted in Council Chambers during meetings.

The Regular Council meeting will be broadcast live on the City’s YouTube Channel as well as Cogeco cable television. A recording of the meeting will also be available on Cable Cable channel 26 and Rogers Ignite channel 548 at 1pm on the Sunday that follows the Tuesday meeting.

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