City Council meeting overview package for September 3, 2025

Peterborough, ON - City Council approved the following items during its meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 500 George St. N., on Wednesday, September 3, 2025:

• An update on the Police Stations Renovations and Expansion Project, including updating the program area requirements;
• An update on the Multi-Use Sport and Event Centre project, including approving the use of 182 Townsend St. as the preferred location for the facility in the future and starting a process to receive submissions from the private sector on potential partnerships related to the project;
• Treasurer's Report, 2024 Consolidated Financial Report, 2024 Trust Funds Financial Statement and Five-Year Review;
• Adopting a Cash-in-Lieu of Parking Policy to allow a building owner or occupant of a building on a parcel of land located within the City's Strategic Growth Areas to enter into an agreement and pay a fee in-lieu of providing and maintaining on-site parking that would otherwise be required under the zoning regulations;
• Acknowledging receipt of a notice of intention to demolish the Christian Education Centre portion of Mark Street United Church at 90 Hunter St. E. and that Council advise the property owner that it has no objection to the proposed demolition of that portion of the building;
• Report of closed session - That staff proceed as outlined in closed session report from the Commissioner of Finance and Corporate Support Services respecting an agreement with the Township of Selwyn and the Peterborough Police Services Board for the City to provide contract police services to the Lakefield Ward within the township for a five-year period January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2030;
• Report of closed session - That staff proceed as outlined in closed session report from the City Solicitor respecting small claims litigation;
• Report of closed session - That Council receive for information a report of the City Solicitor respecting litigation update;
• Report of closed session - That staff proceed as outlined in closed session report of the Commissioner, Legislative Services, respecting a proposed land acquisition;
• Report of closed session - That staff proceed as outlined in closed session report of the City Clerk respecting 2024 Civic Awards for Youth Volunteer of the Year, the Holnbeck Award and a Community Betterment Award;
• Report of closed session - That staff proceed as outlined in closed session report of the Commissioner, Legislative Services, respecting a potential acquisition of an interest in property;
• Rezoning 90 Hunter St. E. from its current designation for a church use to a new designation that would allow for its continued use for a church as well as a new residential use, which would include a 17-storey mixed-use building;
• Verbal Audit Findings Report for December 31, 2024;
• Providing direction on voting methods for the 2026 Municipal Election, including the use of optic scan tabulation equipment, internet voting technology, accessible voting equipment, and in-person voting for both advanced voting and Voting Day;
• Receiving for information the Acknowledgement Letter prepared by Baker Tilly KDN LLP as part of the audit of the 2024 Consolidated Financial Statements of the City of Peterborough;
• Receiving for information the 2024 Annual Report for the City of Peterborough Development Charge Reserve Fund and the Water Development Charges Report for the year ended December 31, 2024; and
• Amending the rate for the City-wide residential development charge (singles and semis) effective September 2, 2025 to decrease it by 3.3% and the rate for the non-residential development charge to decrease it by 4.2%.

The meeting is livestreamed at peterborough.ca/WatchCouncil. Agendas and recordings of meetings are posted at peterborough.ca/agendas.

Police stations renovations

Council approved an update on the Police Stations Renovations and Expansion Project, including updating the program area requirements.

Council approved that the updated program area requirements be approved in principle to allow the project to advance and that staff continue to mitigate the project costs through construction documentation and sequential tendering process, and report back to Council with a budget update when cost certainty is validated.

Council received a presentation on the current project status inclusive of the updated program area requirements for the Peterborough Police Service (PPS), which has increased from 95,000 square feet to 110,000 square feet. The requirements of the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 (The Act) that came into effect as of June 5, 2025, have been included in the project during design development.

Through Report LSRS23-002 dated December 4, 2023, Council approved the purchase of 1421 Lansdowne St. W. for the PPS administrative functions with police operations remaining at its downtown facility at 500 Water St., creating a two-site solution to facilitate the requirements of the Police Service Facility Space Needs Study. 

Both buildings at 500 Water St. and 1421 Lansdowne St. W. were built in the 1960s. 500 Water St. is in good condition and has been maintained over its lifespan by the City of Peterborough. All building and site improvements required to service the PPS needs have been incorporated in the design and will be addressed through this project. 1421 Lansdowne St. W. has been under various ownership which included a variety of uses and therefore have resulted in varied maintenance over its lifespan. Necessary improvements and upgrades to the portion of the building and site to be occupied by the PPS will need to be completed within this project.

As the project design development has progressed at both sites several key factors have been identified that have impacted the original project scope and will result in an increased budget requirement.

The original space needs study completed in 2019 identified a requirement of 95,000 square feet to support the PPS with the inclusion for anticipated growth within the Police Service staffing. Through current design development of the project, which has involved a series of Subject Matter Expert (SME) meetings, ensuring each division of the PPS indicated their needs. SZA in consultation with City staff and the PPS have revised the program area to address updates and requirements of the Ontario Building Code (OBC), the recent enactment of the Act and the two-site solution. The current program space needs are adjusted to 110,000 square feet. The increase of 15,000 square feet beyond the original space needs assessment accommodates right-sized detention facilities and additional training space as required by the OBC, the policing standards and The Act. Other minor duplicate amenities are necessary to accommodate the two-site solution. This additional area has added $7,125,000 to the budget.

Parking justification studies have been conducted by a Traffic Consultant that shows the current police station at 500 Water St. is deficient in parking. A new parking structure has been included for the accommodation of additional parking on the site to meet the site plan requirements for public, staff and fleet vehicles. This structure has added $2.4 million to the budget.

To assist in achieving the corporate GHG reduction targets as mandated by the Climate Emergency Declaration approved by Council in 2019, the design strives to achieve a 50% reduction of GHGs at 500 Water Street and an 80% reduction of GHGs at 1421 Lansdowne Street West. City staff and project consultants are selecting elements of the energy conservation studies that have the best return on investment and improve the performance of the buildings and their systems to provide robust, sustainable facilities built to best practices. These efficiency measures have added $4,375,000 to the budget.

Council has approved a total project budget of $66.5 million through the 2025 budget with approved pre-commitment of budget through years 2026 and 2027. 

The Police Stations Renovation and Expansion project budget has covered the purchase cost of the entire property at 1421 Lansdowne St. W. of $15.5 million. The original project budget allocated a $4 million allowance to purchase a new property to support the project. PPS will use just over half of the building, leaving the remainder for future City use with several acres on the surrounding site for future opportunities. To date, the total purchase price of 1421 Lansdowne St. W. has been allocated to the project budget, resulting in an additional $11.5 million added to the budget. An analysis of the acquisition cost by Realty Services has determined that the property acquisition cost relative to the PPS usage of the property is $5,053,200.

The four additions to the budget as outlined above total $25.4 million, this brings the estimated project budget to $91.9 million. The police station portion of the project is $81,453,200, with the remainder of the budget for the property costs associated with the other portions of the property acquisition for future civic administration uses and for future development uses.

The project has engaged a Construction Manager through a CCDC-5B Construction Management Contract. This form of contract has been used successfully with other City projects in terms of managing and containing the overall project budget. Staff will continue to ensure control over the budget is monitored, seek out opportunities for value engineering and will provide a future update for required budget amendments when greater cost certainty is confirmed in later, detailed stages of the project.

Staff will make an application for Green Municipal Fund through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to assist in offsetting the cost of energy efficiency measures to both buildings at 500 Water St. and
1421 Lansdowne St. W.

Multi-Use Sport and Event Centre project update

Council approved an update on the Multi-Use Sport and Event Centre project, including a recommendation to approve the use of 182 Townsend St. as the preferred location for the facility in the future and starting a process to receive submissions from the private sector on potential partnerships related to the project.

The call for submissions for private-sector interest in partnering with the City on the project is recommended to include 182 Townsend St., the portion of Townsend Street right of way between Aylmer and George streets, municipally owned properties on Wolfe Street, and the existing Memorial Centre property east of Roger Neilson Way.

The call for submissions process would identify the opportunities for a wider district plan for this area of the downtown and to reduce the overall project risk to the City.

The Multi-Use Sport and Event Centre project was started in 2018.

Analysis and highlights from a feasibility study included:

• Proposed capital costs with seating expected to be 5,800 in an approximate 155,000-square-foot overall building.
• Expected project timeline.
• Functional assessment of the PMC along with a cost benefit analysis of upgrades to the PMC versus a new building and when construction should occur.
• Market definition, current status of the market and future market opportunities.
• Potential components of a new facility.
• Existing financial performance of the PMC versus a new facility’s potential financial performance.
• Locational considerations for a new facility and potential economic impacts.

A locational analysis in a subsequent phase included a long list of candidate sites.

In June 2023, Council approved direction that the preferred location be in accordance with the Downtown First public investment strategy in the Official Plan.

The property that is the proposed preferred site is currently used as the City’s Bus Garage as well as a secondary public works site. The site itself would become surplus to the City’s core service needs once the bus garage is replaced with the planned new facility on Romaine Street. The property contains the following advantages and benefits:

• Site is fully in City ownership and does not rely upon land assembly;
• The property is situated adjacent to other City-owned lands as well as large privately-owned parcels which could enhance the MUSEC project as part of a wider redevelopment project;
• Significant regeneration potential exists of both adjacent parcels and the broader area over the long-term relative to other sites;
• Proximity to the downtown core. The site is easily accessible to the core of the downtown so that downtown businesses can see the benefits of its location;
• Offers additional potential design opportunities including the usage of the Townsend Street road allowance adjacent to the site;
• The location does allow for the usage of the significant parking supply in the downtown area on off peak hours;
• Design options are available with respect to daylighting Jackson Creek which will enhance site aesthetics and be a positive contribution environmentally; and
• Provides an opportunity to ensure an existing city owned brownfield site can be redeveloped into a positive community benefit.

Treasurer's Report and 2024 financial statements

Council approved the Treasurer's Report, 2024 Consolidated Financial Report, 2024 Trust Funds Financial Statement and Five-Year Review.

• 2024 Treasurer's Report
• Five-Year Review
• 2024 Consolidated Financial Report

Each year the City must undergo an external audit mandated by Section 296.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001. The audit involves the City’s external Auditor, Baker Tilly KDN LLP, conducting the audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that they plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement. The audit also involves examining on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements as well as assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management. The audit also evaluates the overall financial statement presentation. 

Cash-in-Lieu of Parking Policy

Council approved adopting a Cash-in-Lieu of Parking Policy to allow a building owner or occupant of a building on a parcel of land located within the City's Strategic Growth Areas to enter into an agreement and pay a fee in-lieu of providing and maintaining on-site parking that would otherwise be required under the zoning regulations.

The use of Cash-in-Lieu of Parking serves as a strategic approach to address parking supply management and support for other Transportation Demand Measures. A Cash-in-Lieu of Parking Policy is frequently employed to achieve various objectives including promotion of shared parking, discouraging excessive vehicle usage, providing funding for transportation demand management programs, revitalizing downtown cores, preserving heritage structures and facilitating redevelopment, particularly in cases where on-site parking options are constrained.

Formalizing and modernizing a Cash-in-lieu of Parking Policy in the City’s Strategic Growth Areas addresses situations where providing on-site parking is difficult or impractical and will incentivize the creation of additional housing in areas served by public transit and alternative modes of transportation while generating funds for municipal infrastructure and other Transportation Demand Measures like car share and bike share programs.

Adopting the Cash-in-Lieu of Parking Policy will support intensification, reduce development barriers, and streamline development approvals to help achieve the City’s Housing Pledge. It will also facilitate housing creation while funding municipal parking and transportation demand management initiatives, aligning with the goals of the Housing Accelerator Fund, the Mayor’s Task Force for Housing Creation, and the Transportation Master Plan.

Zoning: 90 Hunter St. E.

Council approved rezoning 90 Hunter St. E. from its current designation for a church use to a new designation that would allow for its continued use for a church as well as a new residential use, which would include a 17-storey mixed-use building.

The property is at the northwest corner of the intersection of Hunter Steet East and Mark Street. Mark Street
United Church is on the property that that is subject primarily to the Downtown Core Area Designation and partially to the Residential designation of the Official Plan.

The 17-storey, mixed-use building built on the western portion of the property would contain 205 residential apartments and 232 square metres of ground floor commercial space. The eastern portion of the property would accommodate the retained church on a smaller lot. The zoning boundary would follow the proposed line of severance.

The property is centrally located along the primary commercial street of the East City neighbourhood. The street is currently primarily made up of low-rise commercial with three storeys or less, with many properties having large surface parking areas. Properties to the north are predominantly low-density residential.

Recent planning approvals have introduced mid- and high-rise mixed-use and residential development to the area, including the Railyards residential-commercial, mixed-use development at six-storeys, the 195 Hunter Street East development at nine storeys and Skyline – Times Square building at 12 storeys.

Various technical studies have been submitted in support of the application, such as an urban design analysis, an environmental assessment, a heritage impact study, a noise impact study, a traffic impact study, and a hydrogeological assessment.

On November 27, 2023, Council pledged to support the construction of 4,700 new dwellings by 2031 as requested by the Minister on June 16, 2023. Provincially, municipal housing pledges are a key tool for ensuring the construction of 1.5 million new homes by 2031 to address an ongoing housing supply and affordability crisis. At this time, the City is 29% of the way towards the target (1,356 of 4,700 units).

With a proposed 205 residential units, the 90 Hunter St. E. proposal would represent approximately 4% of the City’s housing target.

It is the opinion of staff that the proposed amendment is consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement, conforms to the City’s Official Plan, supports the City’s Strategic Plan objectives, and would assist the municipality in meeting its housing target. The proposed development will contribute to the development of complete communities by facilitating a high-density mixed-use development on an underutilized portion of the subject property within the Central Area, while also contributing to the ongoing operation of the church in the neighbourhood.

2026 Municipal Election voting methods

Council approved providing direction on voting methods for the 2026 Municipal Election, including the use of optic scan tabulation equipment, internet voting technology, accessible voting equipment, and in-person voting for both advanced voting and Voting Day.

The 2026 Municipal Election will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026. Planning and preparations for the 2026 election have commenced. 

Since 2006, voting methods, such as, Optic Scan Tabulation Equipment and Internet Voting have been offered to the Peterborough electorate to provide options for voting in the Municipal Election.

Internet voting provides a remote and convenient way to cast a ballot. It serves groups with special needs, mobility issues, and other individuals unable to attend traditional voting locations for various reasons. Voters can vote at their convenience, from anywhere they can connect to the internet. Benefits to this alternative method of voting may include increased accessibility, increased voter participation, and convenience.

The City of Peterborough has offered internet voting as an option since 2006. Since implementation, its use and acceptance by the electorate has grown exponentially. In 2022, 18,246 voters voted via the internet (69.24% of electors who cast a vote). This has greatly increased from 2018 (41%), 2014 (37.8%), 2010 (16.3%), and 2006 (13.9%). It is expected internet voting will be a popular choice among the electorate in the 2026 Municipal Election.

In 2022, the City provided 16 in-person voting locations on Voting Day, with a minimum of three in each ward. 5,287 electors cast their vote using a paper ballot on election day accounting for 20% of the total votes cast.

Council approved providing both in-person and internet voting for the 2026 Municipal Election.

City-wide Development Charges Study amendment

Council approved amending the rate for the City-wide residential development charge (singles and semis) effective September 2, 2025 to decrease it by 3.3% and the rate for the non-residential development charge to decrease it by 4.2%.

The updated growth-related costs of the sanitary capital program are lower than those included in the original City-wide Development Charges Study, dated September 6, 2024. Since the passage of By-law 24-081, the City has received grants which reduce the net cost of certain growth-related capital projects.

The amended rate for the City-wide DC residential rate (Singles and Semis) to take effect September 2, 2025, will be 3.3% less than the current rate ($70,953 to $68,604) and the non-residential rate will be 4.2% lower ($268.61 to $257.29).

• 2024 Amended Development Charges City-wide Background Study
• 2024 Amended Development Charges By-law public meeting presentation
• By-law for City-wide Development Charges