Regular Council Highlights - February 18, 2025

Kawartha Lakes – The following are highlights from the Regular Council Meeting on February 18, 2025.  

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

The Regular Council minutes from January 28, 2025 were received and adopted.

Winter Storm update 

The Mayor and Council opened the meeting with thanks to our Public Works department for their efforts this winter to keep our roads and sidewalks clear. With the unprecedented amount of snow we’ve received this winter, residents were asked to continue with patience as we remove snow throughout the municipality.  

Correspondence: Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus Support of Canadian and Ontario Governments' Negotiations with the United States Government on Trade Tariffs 

From: Bonnie Clark, Chair, Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus 

The correspondence details a Resolution which includes, in part, that ...“the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus supports the Canadian and Ontario governments on the measures they have put in-place in response to the proposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods and ask that they take any and all measures to protect the interests of Ontario in any upcoming trade negotiations, and ensure municipalities are part of the coordinated Team Canada approach.” 

The Resolution is in alignment with goals of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), which supports those governing bodies to continue negotiations with the US to best support Ontario citizens. 

Locally, purchase amounts are being tracked and looking to ‘hold the line’ with regards to purchases where spending may be more than budgeted due to the impact of forthcoming tariffs. Reserves will be accessed on a last resort basis. The correspondence was received as printed.  

Read the correspondence on Trade Tarriffs. 

Businesses can visit the new Tariff Support page on our website.

Committee of the Whole – February 4, 2025 

All recommendations from the Committee of the Whole meeting were adopted as printed in the minutes, save and except for Items 9.3.5, 9.3.11, 9.3.12, and 9.3.13. 

Item 9.3.5 - Growth Management Strategy  

The Growth Management Strategy was received and approved as printed. 

Jump In to the Growth Management Strategy project page for more details on how this plan came together with community input and how it will affect growth into the future. 

Item 9.3.11 - Planning Inquiry 121 Autumn Lane, Kirkfield 

The deputation was received and referred to staff for more information with a report back to Council for the April meeting. 

Item 9.3.12 - Request for a Water Bill Reduction 

The deputation was received and referred to staff for more information with a report back to Council for the April meeting. 

Item 9.3.13 - Rare Disease Community and Kawartha Lakes 

Staff are already looking into this and will report back to Council in the future. The deputation was received.  

Planning Advisory Committee – February 5, 2025 

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

Water and Wastewater Servicing and Capacity Master Plan update

The 2025 Water and Wastewater Servicing and Capacity Master Plan Study Completion was approved as printed. Staff have been authorized to publish the notice of completion of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) Planning and Design process for the Water and Wastewater Servicing and Capacity Master Plan Study for the legislated 30-day comment period. Stay tuned to our Public Notices newsroom for the notice of completion.  

More information on the Water and Wastewater Servicing and Capacity Master Plan can be found on the Major Projects page on our website.  

Transportation Master Plan update

The Transportation Master Plan was approved as printed. Staff have been authorized to publish the notice of completion of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) Planning and Design process for the 2025 Transportation Master Plan Update for the legislated 30-day comment period. Stay tuned to our Public Notices newsroom for the notice of completion. 

Jump In for more information on the Transportation Master Plan.

Partnership Agreement – Kawartha Lakes Museum and Archives 

Kawartha Lakes Museum and Archives (KLMA), previously known as the Victoria County Historical Society (VCHS), rebranded in 2022 but has been preserving and exhibiting materials related to the City of Kawartha Lakes since their founding in 1957 and incorporation as a not-for-profit in 1976. Since 2011, KLMA has been the sole occupant of the "Olde Gaol", where it operates a museum and manages its private archives and collection.  

The municipality owns both the building and the surrounding land and maintains an active lease agreement with KLMA, set to expire in 2041. Kawartha Lakes continues to invest in the upkeep of the facility and grounds to ensure their proper maintenance. With Council’s ongoing funding commitment, it is essential to establish clear funding and partnership expectations through a formal agreement. 

For 2025, KLMA will receive $125,000. Starting in 2026, a 3% annual escalation is applied. The report was passed as printed.

Read the Partnership Agreement – Kawartha Lakes Museum and Archives

Partnership Agreement – Kawartha Lakes Art Gallery 

On April 9, 2024, Kawartha Lakes Art Gallery (KAG) submitted an updated business case proposing relocation to a downtown location and expanded programming, requesting $200,000 annually from 2024 to 2026. Given this multi-year commitment, it was recommended that Kawartha Lakes and KAG formalize their partnership through an agreement, which was presented for approval. Council approved this funding through the 2024 and 2025 budgets. 

Founded as a not-for-profit charity in 1976, KAG has provided nearly 50 years of local arts programming with municipal support, including funding and space within the Lindsay Library Branch. With Council’s ongoing funding commitment, a formal agreement is necessary to establish expectations, including reporting requirements. The proposed three-year agreement, ending December 31, 2026, aligns with current funding commitments and will be revisited each Council term, with future funding requests expected before the agreement expires.

The report was passed as printed. Read the Partnership Agreement – Kawartha Lakes Art Gallery. 

Municipal Credit Rating 

At the request of Council, staff were directed to explore the option to fund capital projects through the open market by obtaining a municipal credit rating. Upon review, staff recommended not pursuing a municipal credit rating at this time due to the costs and administrative functions of obtaining and maintaining a credit rating. The report was received as printed. For more information, check out the Municipal Credit Rating report. 

Next Council meeting  

Council will return for a Committee of the Whole meeting on March 4, 2025 at 10:00am. Please note the early start time.  

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 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.  

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