Regular Council Highlights - January 28, 2025
Kawartha Lakes – The following are highlights from the Regular Council Meeting on January 28, 2025.
The meeting can be viewed in full on our YouTube Channel.
The following Special and Regular Council minutes were received and adopted:
Condolences to Councillor Ashmore and family
Mayor Elmslie offered words of condolence to Councillor Ashmore and his family for the passing of his second eldest son, Michael Ashmore. Councillor Ashmore was not in attendance, but had asked Mayor Elmslie to give his thanks to Council and the community for the outpouring of support he and his family have received.
Kawartha Lakes contingent attends Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference
The Kawartha Lakes delegation, including Mayor Elmslie, Councillors Yeo and Joyce, and CAO Ron Taylor, attended the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference from January 19 to 21. Key advocacy points included:
- Economic Resilience
- Arts and Culture Funding
- Housing Targets
- Transportation Infrastructure
- Community Paramedicine Program
- Homelessness Crisis
- Networking and Expertise Sharing
The conference offered valuable opportunities to advocate for local priorities and collaborate with provincial officials and other municipalities. More details on the ROMA Conference can be found in the news release.
Committee of the Whole – January 14, 2025
All recommendations from the Committee of the Whole meeting were adopted as printed in the minutes, save and except for Items 9.3.4, 9.3.6, and 9.3.7.
Item 9.3.4 - Request for Review of Priority Groups for the Canada Ontario Housing Benefit
A motion was brought forward to add “persons with disabilities” as a priority for funding under the Canada Ontario Housing Benefit program. Council referred to staff and the Joint Advisory Committee for Social and Housing Services for additional information and a report to Council at the February 18 Regular Council meeting.
Item 9.3.6 - Request for Water Bill Reduction
The deputation was received and referred to staff for review with a report back to Council by March 31, 2025.
Item 9.3.7 - Request for Site Plan Exemption
The deputation was received and referred to staff for more information with a report back to Council for the April meeting.
Planning Advisory Committee – January 15, 2025
All recommendations from the Planning Advisory Committee were adopted as printed in the minutes.
Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes – Partnership Agreement
In June 2024, the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes (CFKL) provided Council with an overview of a proposed partnership between the municipality and the CFKL. The programs and services included ongoing grassroots community fundraising, management of the municipality’s Social Sustainability Fund and community collaboration and reporting of community health and well-being indicators through the Vital Signs program. At Council’s direction staff have formalized a four-year partnership agreement with the CFKL. The agreement ends on December 31, 2028 with an automatic four-year renewal if appropriate upon mutual consent. The intent of the agreement term is to generally revisit the agreement and update partnership arrangements at least each term of Council. The report was received as printed.
Kennel and Pound Services update
Kawartha Lakes and the Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes (HSKL) have come to an agreement for HSKL to once again provide kennel and pound services for the municipality. This partnership will reinstate the Feral Cat Trap Neuter Return (TNR) and Domestic Stray Cat Pilot Projects, which were temporarily suspended in 2024. The agreement also includes provisions for ongoing animal sheltering and public education. It expires on December 31, 2025, and it includes options for annual renewals based on performance and Council approval. The report was received as printed.
Blue Box Options for Non-Eligible Sources
The Blue Box Regulation (O Reg. 391/21) established that producers of recycling are responsible for the end-of-life management of their products from Eligible Sources (residential locations, schools and non-profit long-term care homes/senior residences). Per the regulation, the producers are not responsible for the management of recycling from Non-Eligible Sources such as industrial and commercial properties, commercial farms, places of worship, daycares, campgrounds and trailer parks, municipal buildings or facilities, not-for-profits or shelters, and post-secondary institutions.
Municipalities will no longer be allowed to blend the recycling from Non-Eligible Sources with the recycling from Eligible Sources in the same truck as of January 1, 2026. Therefore, the Non-Eligible Sources will have to be managed separately. Staff confirmed that there are 718 Non-Eligible Source locations in the municipality that currently rely on our blue box collection service. Those Non-Eligible Sources will continue to receive service in 2025 but service will cease January 1, 2026. The Update on Blue Box Options for Non-Eligible Sources Council Report provided Council with options to consider for the future of Non-Eligible Source recycling in Kawartha Lakes.
The report was received as printed, and Council chose Alternative Three. Staff will notify Non-Eligible Sources that the municipality plans to cease providing curbside collection and processing to Non-Eligible Sources in January 1, 2026. Staff will continue to explore alternatives to support provision of the services such as a joint procurement with adjacent municipalities and municipal support for a private procurement process.
Snowmobile Trail Maintenance and Use Agreement - Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) District 4
The snowmobile trail use and maintenance agreements provide clear guidance on the roles and responsibilities of the parties involved; in this case the Corporation of the City of Kawartha Lakes and the respective Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs governing district. Prior agreements were made between Kawartha Lakes and individual snowmobile clubs. The municipality has become aware that the OFSC has changed its approach and that, going forward, the governing OFSC district will sign trail maintenance and use agreements instead of the individual clubs. Kawartha Lakes has also been made aware that the insurance provider for the OFSC is requiring trail maintenance and use agreements as part of their coverage.
The Agreement between the Corporation of the City of Kawartha Lakes and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs – District 4 for the use of City Lands for the purpose of snowmobiling was received as printed.
Petitions
A petition regarding a request for a Four Way Intersection at Mary Street West and Adelaide Street South, Lindsay was received and referred to staff for a return report. The first page of the petition can be found here. A complete copy of the petition with 72 signatures is available at the Clerk's Office upon request. The petition was referred to staff for review and report back by June 30, 2025.
Next Council meeting
Council will return for a Committee of the Whole meeting on February 4, 2025 at 10:30am.
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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Contact Us
Kawartha Lakes
P.O. Box 9000, 26 Francis Street
Lindsay, ON, K9V 5R8
Telephone: 705-324-9411
Toll free at 1-888-822-2225
After-hours emergencies: 1-877-885-7337
