City Council meeting overview package for March 9, 2026

Peterborough, ON - City Council approved the following items during its meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 500 George St. N., on March 9, 2026:

• Motion under Other Business - That Council hereby authorizes a temporary road closure permit to be issued to Dave Dame of Runners Life for the purpose of a 5K run and walk event on March 15, 2026, on George Street between Lansdowne Street and McDonnel Street to be held immediately prior to the start of the St. Patrick's Day Parade;
• Financial Statements for Peterborough Utilities Commission from 2024 and 2025;
• Awarding the 2026 Community Project and Investment Grants, and extending the funding agreement with Electric City Culture Council for 2027;
• Implementing a pilot program for providing on-street parking permits in two identified parking zones;
• Receiving for information the annual Drinking Water Summary Report, which provides information on the drinking water system and its ability to meet the existing and planned uses;
• Report of Closed Session - That staff be directed to proceed as outline in closed session report of the City Solicitor respecting litigation instructions - Old HRTO Matter;
• Report of Closed Session - That staff be directed to proceed as outlined in closed session report of the Commissioner, Legislative Services, respecting a proposed land acquisition;
• Report of Closed Session - That staff be directed to proceed as outlined in closed session report of the Commissioner, Legislative Services, respecting a proposed expropriation of lands for road widening; and
• Report of Closed Session - That closed session report LSOCS26-004 be received for information.

Council meetings are livestreamed at peterborough.ca/WatchCouncil. Agendas and recordings of meetings are posted at peterborough.ca/agendas.

Peterborough Utilities Commission financial statements

Council approved the Peterborough Utilities Commission financial statements for 2024 and 2025, and the post audit letters for the financial statements.

Peterborough Utilities Commission (PUC) dissolved effective April 1, 2025. The water utility, Riverview Park and Zoo, and Information Technology were transferred to the City.

After March 31, 2025 all transactions of the water utility and other former PUC operations after this date have been included in the City financial records. 

Documents associated with the financial statements report include:

• Peterborough Utilities Commission, financial statement, at December 31, 2024
• Peterborough Utilities Commission, financial statement, at March 31, 2025
• Audit of the Financial Statements of Peterborough Utilities Commission, 2024 year end
• Audit of the Financial Statements of Peterborough Utilities Commission, 2025

Community Project and Investment Grants, and EC3 funding

Council approved awarding the 2026 Community Project and Investment Grants, and extending the funding agreement with Electric City Culture Council for 2027.

The Project Grant Committee recommended 25 organizations to receive funding totaling $20,965. The maximum grant allowable in the Community Project Grant stream is $1,000.

The Community Investment Grant Committee recommended 22 organizations to receive funding totaling $204,070. The maximum grant allowable in the Community Investment Grant stream is $15,000.

Council will also approved extending the term of Community Investment Grant Advisory Committee to
cover the 2027 Community Grants Program and extending the funding agreement for Electric City Culture Council (EC3) for 2027 to also allow for guidance from the Municipal Cultural Plan, which is expected to be completed in November 2026, on the role of an arts council in Peterborough.

EC3 funding for 2027 will be the same amounts as approved in 2026. This will include $100,000 in operating funds through the Community Grants Program, $50,000 through the Cultural Services Budget for the Grants to Individual Artist Program, and $25,000 through the Cultural Services Budget to deliver Artsweek in 2027.

EC3 has historically received $50,000 to deliver Artsweek every two years. EC3 is approved to receive $25,000 in 2026 to cover planning costs associated with the event in 2027. A one-year extension to the current agreement realizes the completion of Artsweek in 2027.

Council is expected to consider revisions to the Community Grants Program in 2027 following the completion of the Municipal Cultural Plan.

On-street parking permit pilot program

Council approved implementing a pilot program for providing on-street parking permits in two identified parking zones.

Council removed one of the three identified parking zones that had been recommended for the On-Street Parking Permit Pilot Study - the zone that had been identified as Parking Area #2, which is in the Parklands subdivision off of Milroy Drive. It also added a direction that results from the pilot project return to Council for consideration.

The two pilot program area maps approved by Council are posted online at connectptbo.ca:

• Pilot Program Area 1
• Pilot Program Area 3

The pilot program areas are intended to capture a mix of operational conditions expected to be encountered throughout the City. Pilot program results will be used to inform a future report to Council regarding recommendations for a future permanent on-street parking permit program.

Available parking permits will consist of 24-hour, weekly, monthly, six-month and annual permits at various fees.

The On-Street Parking Permit will exempt a permit holder from the current maximum parking durations and seasonal restrictions within By-law 09-136 as amended. All other parking by-law requirements will still apply.

Permits could be temporarily suspended by declaration of the City to facilitate municipal operations such as snow removal and street sweeping.

The need for an on-street parking permit program has been identified for many years in the City of Peterborough. Recently, this program was identified during development of the City’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) application as a possible means to support new development.

The HAF initiative requires the City to commence selling of permits under the pilot program by end of March 2026.

Each address will get up to 10 free 24-hour permits per year. After the 10 free 24-hour permits, a 24-hour permit will cost $20.

To help ensure equitable distribution and availability of permits, there will be a maximum number of permits available for each pilot area (75% of total legal parking spots) and there will be a maximum of three permits per address.

There will be other eligibility criteria considered before an individual can acquire a permit beyond the proof of residency within the pilot area. Applicants must also provide proof of ownership of the vehicle, and a check will be completed to ensure there are no unpaid parking infractions.

Drinking Water Summary Report

Council approved receiving for information the annual Drinking Water Summary Report, which provides information on the drinking water system and its ability to meet the existing and planned uses.

A priority of management of the water system is to provide Council members with the level of understanding and confidence necessary to trust that the water system operations and reporting activities are meeting all regulatory requirements.

The Summary Report for Municipalities is required under Schedule 22 of O. Reg. 170/03 of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The Municipal Drinking Water Licence rates the Peterborough Water Treatment Plant at a daily maximum of 104,000 cubic metres. In 2025, the highest maximum daily amount of water was 46,310 cubic metres in June.