Council overview package for December 2, 2024

Peterborough, ON - City Council endorsed the following items during its General Committee meeting in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 500 George St. N., on Monday, December 2, 2024:

• A presentation on intimate partner violence;
• A presentation on progress related to the Secondary Plan and Community Planning Permit By-law Project;
• Approval of the Shareholder Report, 2023 Annual Report, and 2023 Annual Financial Statements for Peterborough Housing Corporation;
• A presentation to be received for information on the Corporate Sector Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory;
• A presentation to be received for information on the Community Sector Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory;
• A report from the Mayor's Task Force for Housing Creation with various recommendations to support the creation of housing;
• A by-law to amend various committee Terms of Reference in response to Council's direction on November 4, 2024 related to advisory committees;
• Appointing Ruth Uy and Tareq Zabet to the City of Peterborough Holdings Inc. Board for a three-year term starting January 1, 2025 and expiring December 31, 2027;
• The September 30, 2024 Financial Report (unaudited) with associated recommendations;
• Revisions to the Pre-Application Consultation Process associated with planning applications, as a result of Bill 185, Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024;
• Withdrawing its notice to designate 1400 Monaghan Rd. under the Ontario Heritage Act;
• Approving certain capital projects and operating expenses from the City's Draft 2025 Budget process ahead of Council holding a meeting on January 20, 2025 for Council to continue its review of the rest of the Draft 2025 Budget with options to reduce the all-inclusive rate increase and that would updated the anticipated approval date for the 2025 Budget to February 3, 2025;
• Report of Closed Session - That staff be authorized to proceed as outlined in closed session report from the Commissioner of Infrastructure, Planning and Growth Management and the City Solicitor respecting an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal filed by EcoVue Consulting Services Inc. on behalf of Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes regarding 385 Lansdowne St. E.;
• Report of Closed Session - That staff be authorized to proceed as outlined in closed session report from the Commissioner of Legislative Services respecting 708 Hawley St.; and
• Report of Closed Session - That staff be authorized to proceed as outlined in closed session report from the Commissioner of Community Services related to a potential property acquisition.

Council agenda

Items endorsed by General Committee on December 2 will be considered by Council for final approval on Monday, December 9, 2024.

Council did not support a recommendation that was on the December 2 General Committee agenda to proceed with a process to consider whether to sell Naming Rights to the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Council indicated it is not interested in selling the Naming Rights to the facility.

Before the General Committee meeting on December 2, Council held a Special Council meeting to consider a new City-wide Development Charges by-law. Council gave final approved to a new City-wide Development Charges by-law for a 10-year term starting January 1, 2025.

To register as a delegation for a City Council meeting, individuals must complete the online form at peterborough.ca/delegations or phone 705-742-7777 ext. 1820 by 11 a.m. on the day of the meeting.

Peterborough Housing Corporation

Council endorsed approval of the Shareholder Report, 2023 Annual Report, and 2023 Annual Financial Statements for Peterborough Housing Corporation (PHC).

In compliance with the Business Corporations Act and Shareholder Direction, City Council will review PHC’s annual report and audited financial statements, ensuring transparency in PHC’s financial health and operations.

Peterborough Housing Corporation operates as a separate corporation where the City is the sole shareholder. Per the Shareholder Direction and the Business Corporations Act, an annual general meeting of the shareholder is required to conduct specific business.

• Council report
• Peterborough Housing Corporation 2023 Annual Report
• Peterborough Housing Corporation 2023 Audited Financial Statements
• Appointment of Auditor

Corporate Sector Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory

Council supported receiving a presentation for information on the Corporate Sector Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory.

The City of Peterborough completed its annual inventory of Corporate Sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from municipal sources in 2022 compared against the 2011 baseline year. Corporate Sector emission sources are comprised of the following City assets:

• Facilities
• Fleet vehicles
• Exterior lighting fixtures
• Wastewater pumping stations
• Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Waste Management Facility

The assessment revealed that Corporate Sector emissions declined by 13 percent or 3,341 tCO2e in 2022 from 2011 levels. However, emissions grew by 2 percent or 541 tCO2e in 2022 from 2021 levels. Emissions were primarily impacted by the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic modifying service levels, increase in grid electricity emission factor, and biogas production at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Corporate Sector emissions are projected to decline by 32 percent or 8,476 tCO2e from 2011 levels by 2030. The City is developing key projects that will facilitate mitigation, such as from the implementation of the Source Separated Organics program, the Alternative Fuels Study for Transit, and the Community Buildings Retrofit program.

Community Sector Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory

Council supported receiving a presentation for information on the Community Sector Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory.

The City of Peterborough completed its annual inventory of Community Sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from community-wide sources in 2022 compared to the 2011 baseline year. Community Sector emission sources are comprised of the following:

• Residential buildings
• Commercial buildings
• Industrial buildings
• Transportation

Greenhouse gas emissions are derived from the combustion of fossil fuels or purchased grid electricity during the operation of community transportation and building assets.

The assessment revealed that Community Sector emissions declined by 18 percent or 107,233 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) in 2022 from 2011 levels. However, annual emissions grew by 1 percent or 5,401 tCO2e in 2022 from 2021 levels. Community emissions were primarily impacted by the final months of the COVID-19 pandemic altering travel, school, and work. The Transportation Sector was especially affected, likely due to travel restrictions and the high cost of fuel in 2022.

Community Sector emissions are projected to decline by 17 percent or 100,158 tCO2e from 2011 levels by 2030. Key programs to facilitate mitigation of the Community Sector by 2030 include the Home Energy Efficiency Program, Green Economy Peterborough, and federal policy to shift the Transportation Sector toward electric vehicles.

Mayor's Task Force on Housing Creation

Council endorsed a report from the Mayor's Task Force for Housing Creation with various recommendations to support the creation of housing.

The Mayor established the Task Force for Housing Creation in January 2024 to bring together housing development professionals to help inform ways of encouraging and promoting the construction of 4,700 new housing units by 2031.

Over the course of six meetings, this group of local housing developers and experts covered a range of topics and offered suggestions for how the City can improve its processes to better facilitate the construction of housing. Their insights have led to a report and the resulting 15 recommendations to bolster housing construction in Peterborough.

Peterborough, like so many other cities across the country, is in the midst of a housing crisis. The vacancy rate in Peterborough is 1%, among the lowest in Canada today, and a report last year showed that rents in Peterborough were the 10th highest in the country.

There is a housing supply problem in Peterborough – the number of new housing units in our community hasn’t kept up with the demand from our residents. That’s not the sole responsibility of municipalities. Aside from subsidized housing units, the city doesn’t directly build housing. Cities also don’t control the interest rates set by the Bank of Canada, nor can we influence the cost of construction materials and the availability of labour. But as the level of government responsible for administering the planning and permitting process, the City does have a significant role in facilitating the construction of housing.

The following recommendations are proposed to be in force effective December 9, 2024

• Recommendation 1: One-year approval timeline for qualifying projects
• Recommendation 4: Ensure firm processing timelines, make development approval status information available on City website, and provide quarterly development approval status reports to Council
• Recommendation 5: Establish as-of-right residential zoning
• Recommendation 6: Pre-zone underused properties within the City’s Strategic Growth Areas
• Recommendation 13: Prioritize public-private, public non-profit, and Indigenous partnerships to further housing construction
• Recommendation 14: Seek funding from upper levels of government to incentivize affordable and Indigenous non-market housing
• Recommendation 15: Lobby major federal political parties to support modernizing the Federal HST rebate on the purchase of a new home

With respect to the following eight recommendations, it is recommended that staff be directed to report back with options for implementation for Council’s consideration in one report in April 2025:

• Recommendation 2: Identify studies and drawings required for the development approval process within municipal discretion to impose and consider reducing their scope or eliminating, as appropriate
• Recommendation 3: Lapse Provisions for Development Approvals
• Recommendation 7: Require sidewalks on one side of local streets in subdivisions
• Recommendation 8: Review bylaws 21-074 and 17-121 to reduce development costs associated with compensating for tree removals
• Recommendation 9: Review engineering fees and the City’s Development Security Collection and Release Procedures
• Recommendation 10: Permit two stage curbs in new development
• Recommendation 11: Expand Community Improvement Plan incentives to all Strategic Growth Areas, and convert incentives from refunds to waivers
• Recommendation 12: Financially incentivize multi-unit residential development projects

Council added an amendment to specify that an Affordable Housing Task Force be created to guide Recommendation 12 to financially incentivize multi-unit residential development projects.

Amendments to Committee Terms of References

Council endorsed a by-law to amend various committee Terms of Reference in response to Council's direction on November 4, 2024 related to advisory committees.

Council, at its meeting of November 4, 2024, respecting Report COU24-002, Governance of Advisory Committees and Councillors’ Participation on Local Boards, Municipal Corporations and Third Party Organizations and Corporations, made changes to the political representation on various advisory committees, boards and third party organizations.

As per Council’s direction, the by-law amendments to the various Terms of Reference take effect January 1, 2025.

Political representation has been rescinded on the following committees, Accessibility Advisory Committee, Arenas, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, Citizen’s War Memorial Advisory Committee, Community Investment Grants Advisory Committee, Museum and Archives Advisory Committee, Peterborough Architectural Advisory Committee, Planning Advisory Committee and Transit Liaison Committee. The draft by-law attached as Appendix A to the report amends the membership in the Terms of Reference for these committees by removing a Council representation and adding an additional member of the public.

Political representation was also removed from the following local boards, municipal corporations and other third-party organizations and corporations, Art Gallery of Peterborough, The Canadian Canoe Museum, East City Ashburnham Village Business Improvement Area, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Market Hall Performance Centre, Multicultural Canada Day Committee, Peterborough Downtown Improvement Area, Peterborough Green-Up Association, Showplace Peterborough Performance Centre. One member of Council was removed from the Peterborough Public Library Board.

Staff have notified representatives of the above local boards, municipal corporations and other third-party organizations and corporations of Council’s decision respecting political representation involving these groups.

Financial Report (unaudited)

Council endorsed the September 30, 2024 Financial Report (unaudited) with associated recommendations.

• Summary of net operating revenue and expenditures
• Departmental operating expenses
• Capital works in progress
• Building permit activity

Peterborough Memorial Centre Naming Rights

Council did not support proceeding with a process to consider selling the Naming Rights to the Peterborough Memorial Centre. It expressed that it is not interested in making available for sale the Naming Rights to the facility.

Staff were seeking direction from Council on whether to pursue a Naming Rights opportunity at the PMC, or whether to decline the unsolicited request. If Council wishes to consider this opportunity, under the Sponsorship Policy, Section 9.2.2 (c), the first step would be consultation with the appropriate advisory committee. The City would also consult with other stakeholder groups, including the Peterborough Petes.

Following consultation, Council approval would be required to add the PMC Naming Rights sponsorship to the City’s Sponsorship Asset Inventory prior to the asset being made available for sale.

Based on an industry scan of comparable naming rights for municipal facilities, it is estimated that a Naming Rights Sponsorship at the PMC might generate NET revenues between $750,000 and $1.5 million dollars over a 10-year term.

If PMC Naming Rights is added to the Sponsorship Asset Inventory at a future date, staff would subsequently undertake a standard sponsorship solicitation process to engage the marketplace and identify other interested prospects and the potential valuation of the Asset(s). Council would provide direction on the negotiation of a Naming Rights Sponsorship Agreement.

The City has received an unsolicited request to purchase Naming Rights to the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

The Peterborough Memorial Centre naming rights would not be made available for sale if Council ratifies its direction from Monday, December 2, 2024.

Pre-application consultation process

Council endorsed Revisions to the Pre-Application Consultation Process associated with planning applications, as a result of Bill 185, Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024.

The revisions to the current pre-application consultation process and fees associated with Planning Applications are necessary in response to recent changes to the Planning Act imposed through Bill 185.

• Proposed Pre-Application Consultation By-law
• Proposed 2025 Fees Development Planning

Recent changes to Planning Act via Bill 185 require municipalities to make the pre-consultation process available and voluntary. Pre-consultation requirements are now voluntary, resulting in necessary process changes to facilitate instances where an applicant proceeds directly to filing a Planning Act application.

In response to the changes related to fee refunds and mandatory pre-consultation imposed through Bill 185, Staff recommends that the Technical Adequacy Review (TAR) process form part of the formal Planning Act application review process.

The proposed process, together with improved service standards, continue to demonstrate a commitment on behalf of the City to process planning applications in an efficient and timely manner. The proposed changes are intended to reflect the legislation by shifting processes and allowing Planning Act applications to advance with or without pre-application consultation.

With the passing of Bill 185 and the inability to require a mandatory pre-consultation process, the current pre-consultation by-law and internal application review process needs to be revised. The new by-law and internal process as recommended would:

• Pivot back to the traditional development review process that is familiar to staff and the development industry and was the norm prior to Bill 109 and the mandatory refund of fees;
• Protect the technical review process and fees associated with that review should an applicant make a Planning Act application without engaging in pre-consultation with City Staff;
• Keep the timing and process of the technical review of the application(s) consistent regardless of whether the applicant participates in pre-consultation. Choosing to advance directly to the Planning Application stage would result in a loss of the current Stage 1 – Pre-Consultation step, not the technical review; and,
• Revise the City’s application fee schedule to incorporate the current Stage 2 - Pre-Application Technical Adequacy Review (TAR) fee into the fees collected at the time the Planning Act application is made; and to apply an application premium ($5,000) to those applications that proceed directly to the application stage to reflect the Staff time needed to review an application for completeness that did not benefit from pre-screening or pre-consultation with City Staff and the standard review agencies.

Notice of Objection - 1400 Monaghan Rd.

Council endorsed withdrawing its notice to designate 1400 Monaghan Rd. under the Ontario Heritage Act after considering an objection to its Notice to Designate that was received from representatives from the property owner.

Under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA) objections to a Council’s intention to designate a property having cultural heritage value or interest must be reviewed by Council which must decide whether or not to withdraw the notice of intention to designate. The owner of 1400 Monaghan Rd. has filed a notice of objection to the designation of that property and Council is asked to make that decision.

At the City Council meeting of September 23, 2024, Council passed a motion serving its Notice of Intention to Designate (NOID) the property at 1400 Monaghan Rd. – The Martin House, as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA). The City published the NOID on October 1, 2024, which started a 30-day period in which objections to the proposed designation could be made to the City. During that period one objection was received.

Prior to 2022, an objection made to a Council’s NOID led directly to review by the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) without further consideration by Council. Changes made through Bill 23 in 2022 now require that Council consider the nature of an objection to its NOID and to make a decision whether or not to withdraw the notice of intention to designate the property.

If Council decides to withdraw the NOID after considering an objection, the City informs the owner, publishes notice of its decision and the property is removed from the Heritage Register. If Council proceeds with the passage of the designating by-law for 1400 Monaghan Rd., the City informs the owner and publishes a notice of the by-law’s passage. This notice triggers a second 30-day objection period during which any person may appeal the by-law’s passage to the OLT. The OLT has the authority to dismiss the appeal or allow the appeal by either repealing or amending the by-law. The OLT decision is binding on the municipality

Development Charges

City Council approved updating the City-wide Development Charges effective January 1, 2025 for growth-related infrastructure. The overarching principle for development charges is that growth should pay for growth.

The City-wide Development Charge by-laws expire on January 1, 2025. A new by-law must be passed to continue to impose development charges for growth-related infrastructure.

Council considered the following documents:

Development Charges City-wide Background Study

Development Charges City-wide Background Study public meeting display boards

Development Charges (DC) have been levied in the City since 1999 and resulting bylaws typically have a shelf life of five years, with an increase to ten years arising from recent amendments to the Development Charges Act, 1997 (DCA). The DC background study process and ensuing rates fulfill several ongoing key objectives:

• to ensure that growth continues to pay for itself so that the burden arising from development related capital costs does not fall on existing residents in the form of higher taxation and user fees;
• to provide the appropriate level of DC capital funding for infrastructure required by ongoing development in the City, informed by Council approved service levels and Master Plans;
• to ensure that the resulting rates are fair and equitable to all stakeholders; and do not act as an unnecessary disincentive to growth occurring in the City.

The Development Charges Act (DCA) requires the City to estimate “the anticipated amount, type and location of development” for which development charges may be imposed. The forecasts of population, households, employment and non-residential building space were prepared by Hemson Consulting Ltd. and are structured to achieve:

• A population of 125,000 and employment of 63,000 by 2051 as set out in Policy 3.2 b. of the City’s Official Plan. These forecasts are in accordance with the population and employment forecasts in Schedule 3 of the Provincial Plan A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
• The City’s pledge to build 4,700 new homes between 2022 and 2031. The Housing Pledge has been endorsed by City Council in order to achieve a housing target assigned to the City by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

The City’s population is forecast to grow from 92,653 in 2024 to 101,174 in 2034, an increase of 8,522. Households are forecast to increase by 5,270 units over the same 10-year period. Over the long-term (to 2051) the City’s population is forecast to grow to 121,938 (or 125,000 with Census net undercoverage) with a total of 17,640 new units.

The net municipal cost of the development related capital program is $2.4 billion for growth-related infrastructure requirements.

The rate for the City-wide DC residential rate (Singles and Semis) to take effect January 1, 2025 will be 48.0% ($48,014 to $70,953) more than the current rate and the non-residential rate will be 55.0% ($173.65 to $268.61) higher.

Although the 48.0% increase is significant, the overarching principle that “growth pays for growth,” should be adhered to. Any reduction to the charge, including the phase-in of rates, would effectively place the burden of the cost of growth-related infrastructure onto the taxpayer.

2025 Budget

Council endorsed the following motion related to the City's Draft 2025 Budget:

Whereas, Council at its meeting of November 18 and 19, 2024, referred the draft 2025 budget back to staff to provide further options for reductions to City services, or additional sources of revenues, whereby an All-Inclusive Rate increase of 7.0% could be achieved.

Be it resolved, that a meeting be convened during the day on Monday January 20, 2025 to review draft 2025 budget options to reduce the all-inclusive rate increase and;

That recommendations for the 2025 budget be considered by Council for final approval at its meeting of February 3, 2025 and;

That, to facilitate the timely commencement of specific Asset Management and Capital Planning, Engineering & Capital Works, Facilities and Property Management, Information Technology Projects and Planning, Development and Urban Design projects in 2025, Council at its meeting of December 9, 2024, approve the following 2025 projects:

Asset Management and Capital Planning

Engineering and Capital Works

Facilities and Property Management

Information Technology

Planning, Development and Urban Design

That the motion be amended by adding the Tree Removal By-law Planting Program, reference 22-018, $500,000;

That, to ensure the continuity of funding for housing and homelessness programs, the following operating budget items in Community Services be approved at the December 9, 2024 Council meeting:

Operating Budget, the Housing and Homelessness budgets included on Pages 234-235 of the 2025 Budget Highlights Book as well as the motions related to Agenda Item 9.f Homelessness Budget Recommendations, Report CSSS24-026 dated November 18, 2024.

That, User Fees and Charges as set out in Part 5 of the 2025 Budget Highlights Book be approved. 

-30-