Regular Council Meeting Highlights – July 21, 2026

Kawartha Lakes – The following are highlights from the Regular Council Meeting on July 21, 2026.

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

The Regular Council minutes and the Special Council Meeting minutes from June 23, 2026 were received and adopted.

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Presentations

Municipal and Tourism Wayfinding Strategy and Implementation

City of Kawartha Lakes created a Municipal and Tourism Wayfinding Strategy to improve signs that help residents and visitors find communities, parking areas, businesses, and tourist attractions. The city worked with a consulting and design company, held public meetings, completed an online survey, and studied the current signs to create the strategy. The proposed new signs would use shapes, colours, and materials inspired by local water, trees, and canoes.

The strategy includes recommendations for:

• Entrance signs
• Road directional signs
• Pedestrian signs
• Event boards
• Signs for service clubs and businesses

It would reduce the number of confusing signs and make important information easier to read. Older community signs could be repaired or moved to places where people can see them up close and take photos. The city would also work with local groups to protect special community features. Businesses could pay to appear on some directional signs, which would help cover costs.

The project implementation would take about eight years and be completed in four stages. It would begin with entrance and driving signs in larger communities such as Lindsay, Fenelon Falls, and Bobcaygeon. Later stages would add walking signs, expand the system to smaller communities, and connect the whole municipality with regional signs.

Watch the presentation on YouTube starting at the 1:03:30 mark. Council received the presentation and supported the recommendations outlined in the Municipal Tourism and Wayfinding Strategy Report.

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6.2 Partnership Agreement Between the City of Kawartha Lakes and the Kawartha Art Gallery

The Kawartha Art Gallery asked the City of Kawartha Lakes to renew its partnership and continue providing $200,000 each year for three years. Gallery leaders explained that the City’s support has helped them grow, even though their move to 19 Cambridge Street was delayed. The gallery now does more than display art. It promotes local artists, places artwork in businesses and public spaces, organizes community events, supports downtown Lindsay, and works with health and community groups. These programs help residents connect, support local businesses, and improve community well-being.

The gallery also explained how it plans to manage public money responsibly. Since provincial and federal arts funding has become harder to receive, the gallery has increased other sources of income and formed new partnerships. Its total revenue is expected to grow from $351,000 in 2027 to $380,000 in 2029, while the amount requested from the City will stay the same. Council members praised the gallery’s work, financial planning, and support for local culture and economic growth.

Council approved a motion asking City staff to prepare a new multi-year partnership agreement for review in early 2027.

Watch the discussion on YouTube starting at the 31:50 mark.

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Planning Advisory Committee – July 8, 2026

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

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Consent Matters Extracted for Discussion

10.1.1 Driving School - Enforcement Options

Aaron Sloan, Manager of Municipal Law Enforcement, outlined options to address concerns about driving school operations in Kawartha Lakes. While driving schools and instructors are regulated by the province, the City of Kawartha Lakes does not currently license them or manage local training routes.

Staff evaluated provincial regulatory frameworks, legislative and regulatory considerations, operational and financial impacts, and results of a public survey. The survey was conducted on Jump In, Kawartha Lakes, and found that nearly 79% of respondents supported municipal regulation. The main concerns were traffic congestion, safety, repeated use of residential streets and accountability.

The staff report recommends creating a licensing program for driving school businesses, instructors and vehicles. This would include requirements related to insurance, qualifications, vehicle identification and where or when training occurs.

Council asked staff to develop a business case and licencing program to regulate driving school operations. Staff will report back to council by the end of June 2027 (Q2).

Read the Driving School – Enforcement Options Report or watch the discussion in Council on YouTube at the 1:40:15 mark.

Follow the project at jumpinkawarthalakes.ca/driving-school-operations

10.1.2 Rooming House/High Occupancy Homes

This staff report recognizes that shared housing provides an important lower-cost option for students, workers, seniors and residents with limited incomes. Any new rules must balance housing affordability with tenant safety and neighbourhood quality of life. 

The report evaluated housing trends, supply, affordability, and licencing in other Ontario municipalities. It also considered the City of Kawartha Lakes Official Plan, Ontario Building Code, Ontario Fire Code, Ontario Human Rights Code, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the Municipal Act. A survey was conducted on Jump In, Kawartha Lakes, which found strong support for greater oversight, including annual inspections, occupancy limits and a local contact for rental properties.

Staff have been asked to develop a rooming house and shared housing licencing program, which will include a draft by-law, fees, inspection program, and enforcement procedures. The report will come back to the Regular Council Meeting of September 22, 2026. 

Read the full Room House/ High Occupancy Homes report or watch the discussion in Council on YouTube at the 1:45:40 mark.

Follow the project at jumpinkawarthalakes.ca/high-occupancy-housing

10.1.5 Relocation of the Former Omemee Train Station to Omemee Beach Park

The former Omemee Train Station is being moved to Omemee Beach Park to help preserve an important part of the community's history. 

Through a Jump In survey, the City asked the public for feedback on where specifically in the park it should be located. The majority of respondents preferred Option A, next to the playground equipment. Staff also recommend Option A as the best location in the park because it fits with future park plans.

The project is expected to cost about $80,000. The Omemee and District Lions Club would be responsible for fundraising, restoring the building, and covering all future operating and maintenance costs through an agreement with the City.

Read the full report.

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Memorandums

Support for the Permanent Doubling of the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund ("OCIF") Funding Grants

Mayor Elmslie brought forward a Memorandum asking for Support for the Permanent Doubling of the OCIF Funding Grants.

Council approved the request, which asks the Ontario government to permanently double its infrastructure funding for municipalities starting in 2027. This extra money would help communities repair and improve roads, bridges, and other important public services.

Copies of the request will be sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Minister of Finance, and local MPP Laurie Scott.

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Next Council Meeting

Council will return for a regular Council Meeting on August 25, 2026 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 Xfinity channel 548 at 1pm on the Sunday that follows the Tuesday meeting.