Regular Council Highlights - March 18, 2025

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

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

The Regular Council minutes from February 18, 2025 were received and adopted.

Committee of the Whole – March 4, 2025 
All recommendations from the Committee of the Whole meeting were adopted as printed in the minutes, save and except for Items 9.3.10, 9.3.12, 9.3.13, and 9.3.22. 

Item 9.3.10 - Strategic Plan Annual report 

The 2024 to 2027 Strategic Plan calls for an annual progress report from Council. The 2024 annual report was received and adopted as printed. Council directed staff to report back on interim results for the Strategic Plan at the August council meeting.  

Read the 2024 Strategic Plan Annual Report.  

Read the 2024 to 2027 Strategic Plan.  

Item 9.3.12 - Road Allowance Purchase Request, 357 Alvar Road, Kirkfield 

Council accepted the presentation as written and directed staff to move forward with the applicant’s request to buy the full road allowance. The sale will go through the regular process, with the buyer covering all related costs, as outlined in By-Law 2018-020, as amended.  

Item 9.3.13 - Provincial Energy Procurement 

The Provincial Energy Procurement report was received and the motion that Council consider energy procurement projects and issue written support through ‘Municipal Resolution in Support of Proposal Submissions’ on a case-by-case basis was adopted as printed.  

Read the Provincial Energy Procurement report to Council.  

Item 9.3.22 - Terms of Reference for Advisory Committees, Boards and Task Forces 

Council approved the report as written, with an added request for the Clerk’s Office to suggest ways to make sure that any working groups, subcommittees, or meetings set up by advisory committees, boards, or task forces are open to the public, officially approved, have clear membership, and keep proper records. The Clerk’s Office will bring these options back to Council by the end of June 2025. 

Read the Terms of Reference Update for Advisory Committees, Boards and Task Forces report.  

Planning Advisory Committee – March 5, 2025 

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

Release of Fenelon Falls Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Funds 

The Fenelon Falls Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Fund gave $2,700 in funding to the Fenelon Falls Grannies for their annual music-a-thon fundraising event in Fenelon Falls in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmother’s Campaign. The funds will go towards the event’s cost of insurance, hall rental, food and an honorarium for the sound crew.  

Learn more about the Fenelon Falls Grannies and their upcoming music-a-thon fundraiser. 

Greening the Fleet Update 

To support the plan to replace some municipal vehicles with electric ones, staff asked for up to $450,000 from the Capital Contingency Reserve. This money would be used to buy and install two electric vehicle chargers for the first five electric vehicles in the municipality’s fleet. However, because of the current economy and concerns about long-lasting tariffs, Council motioned to postpone the investment in EV charging units to a future year and incorporate it into the relevant Capital Budget at that time.

There was a recorded vote, Mayor Elmslie, Deputy Mayor McDonald, Councillors Richardson and Joyce were in favour. Councillors Perry and Warren were opposed. The motion passed and will be deferred to a future year.  

Read the Electric Vehicle Charger Installation report to Council. 

Social Services Service Plan 2025 to 2029

The Social Services Plan for 2025 to 2029 explains how local social services will be delivered to match the goals set by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. The Ministry’s goal is to create a system that works well and is easy to use, focusing on helping people by offering different types of support based on their individual needs. This support is meant to help people overcome challenges and get ready for work and greater independence. The report was received and adopted as printed. 

Read the Social Service Plan 2025 to 2029 report to Council. 

Read the Social Service Plan 2025 to 2029.

Review of Right of Way Responsibilities and the Cost of Entrance Infrastructure 

Staff gave Council an overview of who is responsible for taking care of road entrances and who owns and pays for entrance structures, like culverts, in Kawartha Lakes. Council passed a motion to accept the report and asked staff to come back with a more detailed report about what it would take to follow "Alternative Two." This option says that property owners who use road entrances and culverts would be fully responsible for them. The updated plan could also offer some financial help for homeowners. Staff will report back to Council by the end of September 2025.

Read the Review of Right of Way Responsibilities and the Cost of Entrance Infrastructure report to Council. 

Next Council meeting  

Council will return for a Committee of the Whole meeting on April 8, 2025 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 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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