City Council Meeting

Approving minutes from January 15, 2024

That the minutes of January 15, 2024, be approved.

Suspending rules of procedure to allow unregistered DBIA delegations to speak on the Downtown Patio Program Insurance report

That the rules of procedure (section 10.2.1) be suspended to permit unregistered delegations from the DBIA to speak to Report FCSERM24-003, Downtown Patio Program Insurance.

Economic Development

Approving consent items including a construction project, insurance matters, tax adjustments, and citizen committee appointments

That Report LSRS24-001 - Construction Project, Report LSOCS24-002 – Insurance Matters, Report FCSFS24-001 – Tax Adjustments and Appeals Under the Municipal Act, Report LSCLK24-001 – Citizen Appointments to Various Committees, Report CAOGR24-001 – Government Relations Matters (January 29, 2024), Report FCSFS24-002 – 2024 Borrowing By-law, and Sustainability of Municipal Finances be passed on consent.

That Report LSRS24-001 - Construction Project, Report LSOCS24-002 – Insurance Matters, Report FCSFS24-001 – Tax Adjustments and Appeals Under the Municipal Act, Report LSCLK24-001 – Citizen Appointmen

Environment & Climate

Budget & Finance

Governance & Procedure

Proceeding with closed session direction on City of Peterborough Holdings Inc. and the Utilities Commission

a) That Council proceed as outlined in Closed Session Report LSOCS24-004 dated January 29, 2024 of the City Solicitor respecting City of Peterborough Holdings Inc. and Peterborough Utilities Commission; and, b) That Council amend paragraph d) of its Council Directions to delete the words, “establish the common facts and parameters of the report and report back to Council with the common facts and parameters in subsequent updates” and to substitute the words, “to undertake due diligence investigations considered advisable by the City’s CAO in consultation with the working group and the City Solicitor including with the assistance of third party professionals reporting to the City considered advisable by the City’s CAO in consultation with the said Commissioners and the City Solicitor and that staff periodically report to Council”.

a) That Council proceed as outlined in Closed Session Report LSOCS24-004 dated January 29, 2024 of the City Solicitor respecting City of Peterborough Holdings Inc. and Peterborough Utilities Commissio

Water & Utilities

Set $2M minimum liability insurance for central area patios

d) That $2 million Commercial General Liability be the minimum accepted insurance limit for central area businesses seeking a patio extension licence, and that staff prepare a report on a tiered approach for the patio program for 2025;

d) That $2 million Commercial General Liability be the minimum accepted insurance limit for central area businesses seeking a patio extension licence, and that staff prepare a report on a tiered appro

Approve event application and insurance policy changes

Amended Recommendation: That Council approve the recommendations outlined in Report FCSERM24-001, dated January 29, 2024 of the Commissioner, Finance and Corporate Support Services as follows: a) That staff, in consultation with the CAO, be provided authority to deny event applications that include high-risk activities received with less than 30 days’ notice, with the exception of timely celebratory events intended to recognize the significant accomplishment of a person/group/team such as a provincial, national or international championship. b) That staff, in consultation with the CAO, be directed to deny an event application from an event organizer who has a demonstrated history of incomplete compliance with the City’s event rules, guidelines, or regulations or who has debt to the City, other than otherwise due and payable municipal taxes. c) That Council grant staff the authority to determine which events on City-owned land are high risk events and to impose as a condition of receiving a permit for a high-risk event that the City’s minimum insurance requirements be met at least 30-days before the permit’s issuance; d) That $2 million Commercial General Liability be the minimum accepted insurance limit for central area businesses seeking a patio extension licence, and that staff prepare a report on a tiered approach for the patio program for 2025; e) That a letter be sent to AMO and all member municipalities requesting an investigation into insurance matters and that AMO be encouraged to investigate the creation of an insurance company for municipal purposes; and, f) That staff report back by Q3, 2024, with a plan for the 2024/25 winter season and beyond on how the City will accommodate covering the liability insurance premiums for community volunteers as they relate to city activities.

Amended Recommendation: That Council approve the recommendations outlined in Report FCSERM24-001, dated January 29, 2024 of the Commissioner, Finance and Corporate Support Services as follows: a) That

Intergovernmental Relations

End exclusionary zoning; allow four units per lot

Whereas, the City of Peterborough has committed to the Provincial Housing Pledge of supporting the creation of 4,700 new units by 2031; Whereas, the City of Peterborough takes this responsibility seriously and has already implemented several initiatives to transform the planning and building ecosystem in our community and continues to move key initiatives forward; Whereas, the City of Peterborough has made application to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Housing Accelerator Fund to secure funding that is critical to facilitating this market transformation; Whereas the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities of Canada is publicly encouraging municipalities to end the practice of exclusionary zoning – zoning that only permits single or semi-detached dwellings to the exclusion of other housing forms – to provide greater flexibility in addressing the housing supply and affordability crisis; Therefore, be it resolved, that staff be directed to bring forward, with a sense of urgency, updates to appropriate regulatory mechanisms as required including the Official Plan and the Zoning By-law for Council’s approval to put an effective end to "exclusionary zoning” in Peterborough, which could include expanding the City’s current Additional Residential Unit policies and regulations to permit up to four units per residential lot as of right.

Whereas, the City of Peterborough has committed to the Provincial Housing Pledge of supporting the creation of 4,700 new units by 2031; Whereas, the City of Peterborough takes this responsibility seri

Housing & Homelessness

Zoning & Planning

Receive downtown patio insurance supplemental information

That Council approve the recommendations outlined in Report FCSERM24-003, dated February 5, 2024, of the Commissioner, Finance and Corporate Support Services as follows: a) That the supplemental information pertaining to insurance requirements for the Downtown Patio Licence Program, be received for information. b) That Council, at its meeting of February 5, 2024, consider staffs original recommendation d) as outlined in Report FCSERM24-003.

That Council approve the recommendations outlined in Report FCSERM24-003, dated February 5, 2024, of the Commissioner, Finance and Corporate Support Services as follows: a) That the supplemental infor

Update Official Plan to allow utility service extensions

Whereas the City of Peterborough is required to ensure the adequate provision of employment opportunities, a full range of housing, including affordable housing, and the protection of the financial and economic well-being of the Province and the City pursuant to Section 2 of the Planning Act, Whereas the City of Peterborough is required to ensure the adequate provision and efficient use of communication, transportation, sewage and water services and waste management systems (collectively, “municipal services”) pursuant to Section 2 of the Planning Act; Whereas the City of Peterborough has exhausted its supply of serviced employment land and has completed a Land Needs Assessment that identifies the need for more employment land; Whereas the City of Peterborough has available water and wastewater infrastructure capacity to accommodate new development and has plans in place to expand capacity to meet future growth needs, but has limited opportunity to develop new employment land by virtue of being land-locked; Whereas Section 6.1.7 of the Official Plan currently prohibits the extension of the City’s utility, sanitary sewer and water services beyond the existing City boundary except to serve City-owned facilities; Whereas historically the City of Peterborough has, in special circumstances, amended the Official Plan to support the extension of one or more municipal services beyond the City boundary to support development opportunities of mutual benefit to the City and certain neighbouring municipalities; And whereas the City of Peterborough will consider opportunities on a case-by- case basis to support mutually beneficial development with a neighbouring municipality to foster regional economic expansion and job growth which could include the extension of one or more municipal services beyond the City boundary; Therefore, be it resolved, that staff be directed to bring forward for Council’s consideration an update to the Official Plan to introduce greater flexibility for Council to consider the extension of municipal services beyond the existing City boundary in circumstances where doing so would mutually benefit the City and one or more neighbouring municipality.

Whereas the City of Peterborough is required to ensure the adequate provision of employment opportunities, a full range of housing, including affordable housing, and the protection of the financial an

Roads & Infrastructure

Urge Canada to reconsider Fleming College student policies

WHEREAS, the Federal Government has recently announced policy changes that will negatively affect publicly funded colleges, particularly those in small, northern and rural regions of Ontario, by altering the framework through which international students are admitted and managed; WHEREAS there is growing concern over the current funding model of postsecondary education, which has placed additional financial pressures on publicly funded colleges, undermined their sustainability and made it more difficult for colleges to respond to the needs of local employers; WHEREAS Fleming College has developed an important public-private college partnership with Global University Systems (Fleming College Toronto) that contributes $26 million annually in net revenue to Fleming College, money that is invested locally for students and our community; WHEREAS students enrolled in programs offered through the Global University Systems public-private partnership campuses are recognized as students of a publicly funded college and are held to the same high standards of academic rigor, are provided with comparable wrap-around support services to those offered at Fleming College and receive a Fleming College credential; WHEREAS, the elimination of Post-Graduate Work Permits by the Federal Government for students graduating from programs offered through the Global University Systems public-private partnership campus would result in an immediate suspension of revenue to Fleming College, adversely affecting the sustainability of the college and undermining the ability to support local employers; WHEREAS, the Federal Government’s policy changes have been made without any consultation with postsecondary institutions and without a clear understanding of the severe financial hardship this will result in for smaller public colleges based primarily outside of the GTA; WHEREAS international students bring many benefits to the community including meeting local workforce needs, bringing diversity of perspectives, economic benefits, and cultural enrichment; WHEREAS, the Government of Ontario has recently called together a group of experts who have released recommendations in the Blue-Ribbon Panel report that are designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the postsecondary education sector in Ontario; WHEREAS, the flow of international students is anticipated to be drastically reduced as a result of these changes, which would have a direct, negative impact on the local Peterborough economy: THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Peterborough City Council urge the Federal Government to reconsider its recent policy changes and specifically exempt public-private partner institutions from being excluded in offering students who successfully complete their program of study a Post-Graduate Work Permit; and, THAT Peterborough City Council request the Government of Ontario to immediately implement the Blue-Ribbon Panel recommendations and actively work with the Federal Government to restore the eligibility of public-private partner colleges, to grant students who successfully complete their program of study, a Post-Graduate Work Permit.

WHEREAS, the Federal Government has recently announced policy changes that will negatively affect publicly funded colleges, particularly those in small, northern and rural regions of Ontario, by alter

Social Services & Equity

Urge Canada to reconsider Trent University student policies

WHEREAS, the Federal Government has recently announced policy changes that will negatively affect publicly funded universities by altering the framework through which international students are admitted and managed; WHEREAS there is growing concern over the current funding model of postsecondary education, which has placed additional financial pressures on publicly funded universities, undermined their sustainability, and made it more difficult for universities to respond to the needs of local employers; WHEREAS Trent University is one of the largest employers in the region and contributes approximately 10% of the local GDP; WHEREAS international students bring many benefits to the community including meeting local workforce needs, bringing diversity of perspectives, economic benefits, and cultural enrichment, WHEREAS Trent University has taken a measured and sustainable approach to increasing international enrolment providing wrap-around supports both pre- and post-arrival and throughout their time at Trent, including assistance finding housing both on- and off-campus, mental health supports, employment services, and financial aid, WHEREAS International students are important to the fiscal sustainability of the University, WHEREAS, the Federal Government’s policy changes have been made without consultation with postsecondary institutions and without a clear understanding of the financial hardship this will result in for smaller public universities based primarily outside of the GTA; WHEREAS, the Government of Ontario has recently convened a group of experts who have released recommendations in the Blue-Ribbon Panel report that are designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the postsecondary education sector in Ontario: WHEREAS, the flow of international students is anticipated to be drastically reduced as a result of these changes, which would have a direct, negative impact on the local Peterborough economy; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Peterborough City Council urge the Government of Canada to reconsider its recent policy changes, and request that the Government of Ontario immediately implement the Blue-Ribbon Panel recommendations and actively work with the Federal Government to ensure a fair and reasonable allocation of study permits that reflect the responsible approach Trent University has taken to recruiting and supporting international students and their importance to the region.

WHEREAS, the Federal Government has recently announced policy changes that will negatively affect publicly funded universities by altering the framework through which international students are admitt

Approving By-law 24-008 authorizing a $15,000,000 borrowing limit for 2024 current expenditures

That by-law 24-008 Being a By-law to authorize the borrowing limit of $15,000,000 for 2024 current expenditures, be approved.

Reconsidering a previously adopted motion on multi-residential waste collection

That Council reconsider a motion previously adopted by Council, regarding multi- residential waste collection.

Temporarily authorize waste collection at multi-residential properties

Whereas Waste Collection By-law 23-106 establishes service limits with respect to garbage (Section 13) and organics (Section 15); Whereas Council has requested a report on cost and service level implications related to garbage pick up at various multi-residential and condominium properties were Council to establish service level limits that would exceed the service limits as established by Waste Collection By-law 23-106; and, Whereas Council considers it appropriate to temporarily authorize service levels that exceed those established by the by-law pending consideration of the report. Now therefore be it resolved, That notwithstanding Waste Collection By-law 23-106, Council authorizes unseparated garbage and organics waste collection services to the multi- residential/condominium properties identified in a list provided by the Municipal Operations Department to the City Clerk until Council’s determination in response to the pending staff report; That staff be authorized to access up to $500,000 from the Waste Management Reserve to cover any expenses required; and, That the Commissioner, Municipal Operations be authorized to execute any documents and agreements to give effect to the forgoing, on terms acceptable to the said Commissioner in forms acceptable to the City Solicitor.

Whereas Waste Collection By-law 23-106 establishes service limits with respect to garbage (Section 13) and organics (Section 15); Whereas Council has requested a report on cost and service level impli

Approving By-law 24-009 confirming proceedings of the February 5, 2024 Council meeting

That by-law 24-009, being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council at its meeting of February 5, 2024, be approved.

Adjourn meeting at 8:35 pm

That the meeting be adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

City Council Meeting

Votes