Notice of Public Meeting with respect to Building By-law and Related Fees - November 5, 2024

City of Kawartha Lakes Council will hold a public meeting to consider amendments to the City of Kawartha Lakes Building By-law 2021-161, being a by-law under the Building Code Act respecting permits and related matters, passed under Section 7(6) of the Building Code Act.

A public meeting will be held at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday November 5, 2024 at 1pm. See below for details on participating in the public meeting.

The City of Kawartha Lakes is proposing to adopt amendments to the Building By-law following a review of the current building permit fee structure. The effect will be to introduce a three (3) year extension to the current five (5) year fee schedule, introduction of new approval process relating to Pre-Approved Models and associated fee, introduction of a fee for the removal of Building Code Orders from title, clarifications relating to refunds, as well as some minor housekeeping amendments.

Legislative Requirements

As per Division C, Part 1, Clause 1.9.1.2. (1)(d) the following information shall be made available to the public:

(i) The estimate of the costs of administering and enforcing the Act by the principal authority: for the year 2024: $2,760,616, for the year 2025: $3,422,500, for the combined building and septic program;

(ii) The amount of the fee to be added to or changed in the by-law: a copy of the proposed amendments are available by contacting the City as mentioned below.

(iii) The rationale for imposing the new fee updates: introduction of new Pre-Approved Model process, cost recovery for enforcement processes, house-keeping.

For further information or to obtain a copy of the information regarding the proposed amendments contact Susanne Murchison, Chief Building Official at 705-324-9411 extension 1200 or toll free at 1-888-822-2225 extension 1200, or by e-mail at smurchison@kawarthalakes.ca.

How to Participate in the Public Meeting

Seating is limited. You must reserve a seat with the Recording Secretary to be able to attend City Hall in person. Please e-mail clerks@kawarthalakes.ca to reserve your seat. If you have not received a confirmation e-mail from Clerks Office staff that a seat is reserved for you, you do not yet have a seat reserved for you.

There are several ways in which the general public can provide submissions to the Committee of the Whole meeting for the November 5, 2024 meeting, as follows:

• Submit comments in writing: Submit comments in writing to Susanne Murchison, Chief Building Official, at 180 Kent Street West, Lindsay, Ontario, K9V 2Y6, by fax at 705-324-5514 or by e-mail at smurchison@kawarthalakes.ca. Written comments must be received prior to end of day November 1, 2024.

• Register to speak at the Committee of the Whole meeting: Should you wish to speak at the Committee of the Whole meeting, please e-mail Clerk’s Office at clerks@kawarthalakes.ca. Please include:

• Your name (first and last);
• E-mail address in order to send you an invite to participate in the meeting via Zoom which allows for participation by computer, mobile device or telephone;
• Which item on the agenda you wish to address; and,
• Whether you would prefer to attend in person by appointment, or via Zoom.

Notwithstanding the deadlines noted above, members of the public are requested to register as soon as possible in order to facilitate an orderly registration process and meeting.

Members of the public are encouraged to e-mail written comments to smurchison@kawarthalakes.ca prior to the date above even if they choose to register to speak at the meeting in order for the Chief Building Official to have their comments in the event they are not successful in joining the electronic meeting.

Electronic Participation for Persons Wishing to Make Representations

Upon receipt of your request to speak at the meeting, you will be provided the Zoom meeting details and password prior to the meeting, including a link to educational resources for those who may be new to using Zoom.

Please note that neither a computer, nor a video sharing device, is required to participate in the meeting via Zoom. You may also opt to call in from a cell or landline. A call-in number will be provided in the e-mail invite for this purpose.

Persons who intend to participate during the meeting may wish to register/sign up in Zoom if they have not already done so. The following information is provided for your consideration and guidance during remote participation in the meeting:

• When you join the meeting, either by phone or online, you will be admitted in as an attendee. You will not be greeted upon joining the call. You will be able to hear the meeting and see the active speaker (if you have video capability), but your microphone will be muted until it is your turn to speak.
• You may also follow along on livestream until you are called upon to speak (a separate device is best if you are calling on a cell), but you must mute that feed when you are called on to speak in order to prevent feedback. Please note there may be a 5 to 30 second delay between the live meeting and what you see on livestream.
• If you join the Zoom meeting through your phone, please do not put the phone on hold at any time, as this will result in broadcasting “hold music” online once your microphone function is unmuted.
• To optimize call quality when using a laptop, a headset with microphone is best if available to you; otherwise, whether using your laptop microphone or cell phone, please speak directly into the receiver and do not use speaker phone.
• If you are having technical difficulties on November 5, 2024 with respect to gaining access to Zoom, you may contact the Clerk’s Office via e-mail at clerks@kawarthalakes.ca or call at 705-324-9411 extensions 1322 or 1266. Please be advised that the City has limited resources available and is not able to diagnose or address technical issues with your hardware or internet connection.
• Please be reminded that the meeting will be live streamed and archived to the livestream. If you enable your camera, you will appear to meeting participants and on the livestream.
• Please do not share the Zoom meeting details with anyone or post through social media. These details are restricted to Committee of the Whole meeting, specifically designated staff and persons that have made a request to speak. All others will be able to watch and listen to the meeting on the City of Kawartha Lakes livestream.
• Public delegations will be provided five (5) minutes in which to make their comments once called upon to speak by the Mayor. Questioning of/debate with the Council Members or staff is not permitted. If you have questions, you may state them during your five minutes. Your comments must be directly related to the content of the report to which you are speaking. The Council Members may choose to ask you follow-up questions following your remarks, comment, or ask staff to respond to what you have said.
• You are encouraged to send written comments for the Committee of the Whole member’s consideration in addition to your oral presentation to agendaitems@kawarthalakes.ca and smurchison@kawarthalakes.ca.

Any person may participate at the Public Meeting and/or make written or verbal representation either in support of or in opposition to the proposed Building By-law amendments. At the public meeting presentations that would take longer than five minutes should be presented in written form and summarized verbally. All submissions received prior to or at the Public Meeting will be considered.

If you wish to be notified of the recommendation and/or the decision of the Council of the City of Kawartha Lakes on the proposed Building By-law Amendments, you must make a written request to the address provided below and/or provide your name, address and postal code on the appropriate form at the Public Meeting.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.