City Council meeting overview package for May 25, 2026

Peterborough, ON - City Council will consider the following items during its General Committee meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 500 George St. N., starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 25, 2026:

• Implementing an initiative to improve the cleanliness of parks, streets, the downtown core, and other public spaces through a coordinated waste management, public education, compliance, and enforcement program;
• Amendments to the Council Code of Conduct to support respectful conduct and a work environment free of harassment and discrimination, regardless of context or circumstance;
• Authorizing the City to enter into a Municipal Capital Facility agreement, which will also be a 20-year lease, with Activity Haven Senior Centre (Peterborough);
• A report with options to provide additional winter shelter capacity for individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness beginning in 2026-2027;
• A new Corporate Accessibility Policy that will consolidate and replace two existing policies, creating a single, comprehensive framework in line with current legislative requirements;
• Proposed Emergency Management Program and Plan enhancements, including formalizing the Incident Management Team model, strengthened regional collaboration, and supporting ongoing improvements;
• A report for information on the City's Asset Management Planning, in relation to Ontario Regulation 588/17 Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure reporting requirements;
• Findings and recommendations of the traffic operations review of Armour Road between Hunter Street and Parkhill Road, including reducing the speed limit to 40 kilometres per hour for all roads in the area bounded by Little Lake to the south, the Otonabee River to the west, Parkhill Road to the north, and the Trent Canal to the east;
• A recommendation from the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that Council designate the property at 181-191 Simcoe St. as a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act;
• A bylaw for the Better Homes Peterborough Local Improvement Charge to be imposed on consenting homeowners that lists specific charges being applied to participating properties to collect loan repayment related to Better Homes Peterborough financing for energy conservation measures;
• A bylaw for delegation of authority during the Restricted Acts Period (Lame Duck) for certain periods of the election year, until the inaugural meeting of the new Council, if it is determined that the incoming Council will include fewer than three-quarters of the members of the outgoing Council;
• Extending a contract for security services with Maxama Protection Inc. from April 30, 2026 to December 31, 2026 at a cost of up to $252,350.64 plus tax through a non-standard procurement; and
• Approving a pilot Windrow Removal Subsidy Program for the 2026-2027 winter season and pre-committing $45,000 in the 2027 Budget to deliver the pilot program.

Council will consider approval of the items at its regular Council meeting on Monday, June 1, 2026.

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

Before the public portion of the meeting, Council will hold a closed session meeting starting at 5:15 p.m. to consider two items as permitted under the Municipal Act, 2001, including:

• Section 239(2)(e) litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals and (f) advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege - Appeal
• Section 239(2)(f) Advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose - Lease

Clean Streets Peterborough

Council will consider implementing an initiative to improve the cleanliness of parks, streets, the downtown core, and other public spaces through a coordinated waste management, public education, compliance, and enforcement program.

The initiative will include actions such as:

• Increasing the bi-weekly bag limit to eight bags from the current limit of four bags for residential collection areas, until December 31, 2027;
• A communication and engagement campaign
• A targeted surveillance camera pilot at selected parks and public space locations;
• Improvements to the public reporting process for illegal dumping and improper waste set-out;
• Targeted outreach to landlords, property managers, the DBIA, and multi-residential properties to support collection education;
• Removing the fee for Large Article Collection;
• Reducing the fee for a green bin cart from the current rate of $88.49 per unit to $35.40 per unit;
• Resuming enforcement activities that had been paused for unattributed/orphaned garbage on boulevards within the area bounded by and including Park Street, McDonnel Street, Water Street and Sherbrooke Street; and
• Requesting that Canadian Pacific railway respond to and action the request from the City to remove all waste material from their corridors nd implement a report and response program for timely cleaning response.

The goal of the review leading to the recommendations was to identify strategies that would reduce the friction within the waste management systems and make movement of waste from the homes and businesses of the city as simple as possible thereby anticipating a reduction in inappropriate waste disposal behaviours.

A complication of this goal is that the blue bin program is now operated by the province. And as much as blue bin and recycling collection is an important part of the overall service, without direct control issues with
service levels and consistency are outside the control of staff. The City will continue to work closely with the extended producer responsibility program to identify improvements and efficiencies and better coordinate those services to further support city goals.

Activity Haven agreement

Council will consider authorizing the City to enter into a Municipal Capital Facility agreement, which will also be a 20-year lease for the Queen Alexandra Community Centre at 180 Barnardo Ave., with Activity Haven Senior Centre (Peterborough).

The City of Peterborough has a long-standing relationship with Activity Haven Senior Centre (Peterborough) (Activity Haven) through many agreements and program collaborations. Activity Haven has operated a recreation centre for senior citizens in the Queen Alexandra Community Centre for over 45 years and has a current membership of over 1,200 seniors.

Council had previously directed staff to negotiate revised occupancy and custodial agreements with Activity Haven which align with those for other City facilities for operational and capital needs. The terms for a custodial agreement and an occupancy agreement have been agreed to by both the City and Activity Haven. However, designating the Queen Alexandra Community Centre as a Municipal Capital Facility, through a Municipal Capital Facility agreement is needed so that all the agreements can be completed.

180 Barnardo Avenue is currently owned by the City and the City does not collect taxes from properties it owns, except to the extent that a property, or a portion of the property, is leased to a third-party. The budget and financial implications of proceeding with the new agreement is limited to foregoing the opportunity to collect taxes from Activity Haven for the whole of 180 Barnardo Ave.

Winter Shelter Response Plan

Council will consider a report with options to provide additional winter shelter capacity for individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness beginning in 2026-2027.

The City continues to experience sustained pressure on the homelessness system that includes 127 beds provided through four emergency shelters and an overnight drop-in program, with shelter demand exceeding capacity and individuals remaining unsheltered, particularly during the winter months when health and safety risks to those living outdoors are elevated.

During the 2025/26 winter season, an unplanned, temperature-based shelter response was implemented to temporarily increase the number of shelter beds available; while it demonstrated strong system responsiveness, it also highlighted significant operational and staffing challenges and did not provide consistent service during all periods of extreme cold or temperatures below -30 degrees Celsius.

Staff are recommending a planned seasonal winter shelter model as a more stable and effective approach to increasing capacity during the highest-risk months, while recognizing that year-round shelter solutions remain a broader system need.

Two winter shelter operating options have been developed, with each program anticipating operations for 11 hours a day for overnight service and the provision of at least 30 beds with the former fire station on Carnegie Avenue as the anticipated location: 

• Option A: a three-month model (January–March), with a startup cost of $20,000 and annual budget of $303,050; and
• Option B: a six-month model (November–April), with a startup cost of $20,000 and annual budget of $576,600.

Each options has different implications for cost, staffing feasibility, and service consistency.

There were a minimum of 932 individuals who experienced homelessness in 2025. This includes individuals who are unsheltered, living in shelters or couch surfing and were connected to services. This is a 16% increase from the 803 individuals who experienced homelessness in 2024.

Shelter utilization data from the 2025/26 winter season shows that emergency shelter capacity was consistently at or above maximum levels, with limited ability to accommodate additional individuals during periods of peak demand.

Corporate Accessibility Policy

Council will consider a new Corporate Accessibility Policy that will consolidate and replace two existing policies, creating a single, comprehensive framework in line with current legislative requirements.

The Accessibility Advisory Committee endorsed the proposed Corporate Accessibility Policy on May 6, 2026.

The City will continue to strive for an inclusive environment for our services, programs, facilities, information, employment, and transportation systems that align with current legislation and the City’s 2024 to 2028 Accessibility Plan

The Corporate Accessibility Policy will replace the existing Accessible Customer Service Policy and Integrated Accessibility Standards Policy.

Emergency Management Program updates

Council will consider proposed Emergency Management Program and Plan enhancements, including formalizing the Incident Management Team model, strengthened regional collaboration, and supporting ongoing improvements.

The City’s Emergency Management Program is compliant with the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) and Ontario Regulation 380/04 and provides a coordinated framework for mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

The Province is advancing modernization through the Emergency Management Modernization Act, which emphasizes risk-based planning, interoperability, and enhanced accountability.

The proposed Incident Management Team (IMT) model strengthens operational response capacity through a scalable structure that draws on Directors and Managers from across City Divisions. Members may be engaged as required, depending on the nature, scale, and severity of an incident.

Asset Management Planning update

Council will consider a report for information on the City's Asset Management Planning, in relation to Ontario Regulation 588/17 Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure reporting requirements.

The Asset Management Plan is intended to serve as a strategic work plan for City assets and to provide a means of guiding infrastructure investment decisions in order to meet key strategic goals. It is also a comprehensive reference for Council and staff to make informed decisions by using asset data as evidence. Council approved an update of the Asset Management Plan in 2025.

Implementing an asset management plan involves developing a structured, long-term strategy for managing infrastructure, including inventorying assets, assessing their condition, reviewing levels of service, and aligning asset lifecycle activities with financial planning. 

Major challenges and emerging issues affecting the successful implementation of asset management strategies and initiatives include funding and resource constraints as well as data and technology challenges.

Armour Road Traffic Operations Review

Council will consider the findings and recommendations of the traffic operations review of Armour Road between Hunter Street and Parkhill Road, including reducing the speed limit to 40 kilometres per hour for all roads in the area bounded by Little Lake to the south, the Otonabee River to the west, Parkhill Road to the north, and the Trent Canal to the east.

City Council and members of the Armour Road community have expressed concern with vehicle speeds on Armour Road between Nassau Mills Road and Hunter Street, as well as the need for pedestrian crossing opportunities to provide increased system connectivity between neighbourhood residents and the Rotary Greenway Trail, transit stops, and retail locations.

The traffic operations review focused on:

• existing traffic control
• vehicle speed and volume
• road geometry and sightlines
• pavement condition
• historical collision data
• pedestrian activity and crossing opportunities
• the impact of future development

Data collected during the traffic operations review showed high vehicle speeds, a lack of pedestrian crossing opportunities between Parkhill Road and McFarlane Street, sightline restrictions due to parked vehicles, and a trend of angle and turning movement collisions.

Staff recommend the following actions:

• A reduced area speed limit of 40 km/h on all roads bounded by Little Lake to the south, the Otonabee River to the west, Parkhill Road to the north, and the Trent Canal to the east;
• Narrowing lane widths using urban shoulder pavement markings and installing permanent driver feedback signs;
• No-Stopping restrictions at intersections on Armour Road between Parkhill Road and Hunter Street to improve sight lines, and No-Parking restrictions on Armour Road between Hunter Street and Douro Street;
• Extending the existing Community Safety Zone and installing signs and pavement markings to guide drivers at the entrances to Nicholls Oval Park; and
• Implementation of an Intersection Pedestrian Signal (IPS) at the intersection of Armour Road and Dufferin Street to provide a controlled crossing opportunity and system connectivity between neighbourhood residents and the Rotary Greenway Trail, transit stops, a retail store, and Nicholls Oval Park.

Council will consider pre-committing $250,000 in the 2027 Budget for Armour Road Corridor Improvements.

Heritage designation: 181-191 Simcoe St.

Council will consider a recommendation from the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee that Council designate the property at 181-191 Simcoe St. as a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act.

181-191 Simcoe Street has cultural heritage value as a historic hotel in downtown Peterborough. Constructed of stone circa 1849, it is a rare example of the Georgian style in Peterborough. Historically, it is linked to Edward Phelan, the longtime proprietor who extended the hotel over Jackson Creek, and the Montgomery family, including proprietor Francis Montgomery and Provincial Constable Norman F. Maker. Contextually, the building is functionally and historically linked to other former hotel buildings in the wider downtown.

Better Homes Peterborough Local Improvement Charge

Council will consider a bylaw for the Better Homes Peterborough Local Improvement Charge to be imposed on consenting homeowners that lists specific charges being applied to participating properties to collect loan repayment related to Better Homes Peterborough financing for energy conservation measures.

Renovation financing is provided via secured loans from the City to the homeowner in two disbursements after a property tax roll review is completed by Revenue Services.

By-laws that authorize the use of Local Improvement Charges for the Better Homes Peterborough program and that lists specific charges being applied to participating properties are required to be approved to collect loan repayment.

The Better Homes Peterborough program launched on April 22, 2025, offering city homeowners the opportunity to implement energy efficiency and conservation measures to their low-rise residential properties as a means to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while also improving household energy affordability and comfort.

Financing is available for qualifying homeowners through a priority lien Local Improvement Charge (LIC) to fund eligible retrofit costs of up to $50,000 with a fixed interest rate of 4.5% to be repaid via property taxes over a maximum period of 15 years.

Windrow Removal Subsidy Pilot Program

Council will consider approving a pilot Windrow Removal Subsidy Program for the 2026-2027 winter season and pre-committing $45,000 in the 2027 Budget to deliver the pilot program.

The City will also initiate a Snow Angels volunteer snow removal program.

At its meeting on February 2, 2026, Council directed staff to investigate options for a Seniors Snow Clearing
Support Program beyond baseline winter maintenance, including potential models implemented by other municipalities such as windrow assistance, subsidy/rebate, community/agency partnership or volunteer matching, and that investigates eligibility criteria, delivery methods, costs, and funding options.

The Windrow Removal Subsidy Program would be available to eligible residents aged 65 and older,
as well as individuals with disabilities, in accordance with established eligibility criteria. The proposed subsidy would be $450 per season per household. Participants would be required to submit proof of eligible expenses to receive reimbursement.

During winter maintenance, City plows clear the road and may leave a ridge of snow or windrow at the end of the driveway. For many older adults and people with disabilities, the windrow can be heavy and difficult to remove, especially after repeated and significant snow events.

The City considered options including in-house delivery of windrow removal using existing City staff, a contracted service, and a subsidy program.