City of Peterborough Accepting Applications For Citizen Appointments to City Council Advisory Committees

The City of Peterborough is taking applications for its advisory committees to provide input and feedback on the provision of municipal services for the Peterborough community with the deadline on Jan. 13 at 4:30 p.m.

“Citizen participation is essential for a healthy democracy. We are better when we work together,” said Mayor Jeff Leal.  “Citizens who participate on advisory committees provide valuable input into City initiatives. If you have a keen interest in one of the current vacancies, I encourage you to apply.”

Citizen appointments are volunteer opportunities with all applicants required to be Peterborough residents as interviews may be required.

Applications are reviewed by City Council’s Citizen Appointment Selection Committee. The Committee will make recommendations to Council for its consideration.

The following are vacancies on the following committees:

• Accessibility Advisory Committee – three vacancies (Four-year term)

• Age-Friendly Peterborough Advisory Committee – One vacancy (Two-year term)

• Airport Strategic Initiatives Committee – Two vacancies (Two-year term)

• Arts and Culture Advisory Committee – Five vacancies (Four-year term)

• Arenas, Parks and Recreation Committee – One vacancy (Four-year term)

• Citizens’ War Memorial Advisory Committee – One vacancy (Four-year term)

• Committee of Adjustment – Five vacancies (Four-year term)

• Community Investment Grants Advisory Committee – Eight vacancies (Three-year term)

• Museum and Archives Advisory Committee – One vacancy (Four-year term)

• Peterborough Public Library – Six vacancies (Four-year term)

• Planning Advisory Committee – Four vacancies (Four-year term)

• Police Services Board - One vacancy (Four-year term)

• Property Standards Committee – Five vacancies (Four-year term)

• Tree and Woodlands Appeals Committee – Three vacancies (Four-year term)

Applications are available online and hard copies are available at the Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 500 George St. N., Peterborough. Completed applications may be submitted online, dropped off or mailed to City Hall no later than Jan. 13 at 4:30 p.m.

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City Council Sworn In During Inaugural Meeting

The inaugural Council meeting for the swearing-in of the 2022 - 2026 City Council was held at the Austin Doran Hall in the Mount Community Centre on Monday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The ceremony’s venue was changed from Council Chambers at City Hall to allow for additional seating. To comply with room capacity limits, reserved seating was available for residents and family and friends of the newly elected Council members. 

The meeting was live-streamed on the City’s website and the recording of the session is also available online. 

This was the only agenda item forr the meeting. Council next meeting, sitting as Finance Committee and General Committee on Monday.

Registration Now Open for Social Procurement Information Sessions in Peterborough

Register and join a virtual information session on how the City of Peterborough’s recently-updated Procurement By-Law introduces social procurement priorities into decision making on City purchases on Dec. 6 or Jan. 11.

File photo.

Social procurement is a way for the City of Peterborough to elevate the social, economic, cultural and environmental impact by leveraging existing procurement activities to achieve positive social value outcomes.

Peterborough City Council voted on Sept. 26 to update the City’s Procurement By-Law to include social procurement, and the City has since started a three-year social procurement implementation strategy.

The City is offering information sessions on the social procurement policy and implementation. Anyone is welcome to join from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on both Dec. 6 and Jan. 11, but the content will be of particular interest to any current or potential vendors to the City of Peterborough.

The City will be email a link and call-in number to the meeting, either of which can be used to join virtually. Both information sessions will be held on Microsoft Teams.

• During this engagement, you will:

• Learn about the policy updates

• Prepare for social procurement implementation

• Have the opportunity to ask questions

To join:

• Download the latest version of Microsoft Teams

• Arrive a few minutes early

• Be prepared to explore new possibilities together

• Bring your questions

Register using the City of Peterborough’s website.

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City Council To Be Sworn During Inaugural Meeting On Nov. 28

The inaugural Council meeting for the 2022-26 City Council swearing-in is held at the Austin Doran Hall in the Mount Community Centre on Nov. 28 at 6:30 p.m.

File Photo

Limited seating is available by advance registration due to the venue's capacity to attend the meeting in person. Registration begins at noon on Wednesday on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registrants can call the City Clerk’s Office 705-742-7777 ext. 1820 or they can register in person at City Hall.

The room accommodates reserved seating for family and friends of the newly-elected Council members and local dignitaries.

The swearing-in is the only item on the agenda. Council is holding its first meetings sitting as Finance Committee and General Committee on Dec. 5. Council meeting schedules and agendas are posted at on the City’s website.

The meeting will be live-streamed for anyone to view online.

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Mayor Diane Therrien Calls Special City Council Meeting Thursday; City to Discuss Housing and Homelessness

Mayor Diane Therrien has called a special meeting of City council to provide housing and homelessness updates for this Thursday.

Mayor Therrien announced she was not seeking re-election in November last year. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At the special council meeting, council will confirm the proceedings of the special general committee meeting and hear from delegations.

The special general committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. and a special council meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Under council’s procedure by-law (21-104), council can hold a special meeting if it provides 48 hours notice of such meeting.

The meetings will be held electronically and can be viewed on the City’s website.

Members of the community wishing to speak at the council meeting must register before 11 a.m. on Thursday by using the registration form on the City of Peterborough website or by calling 705-742-7777 extension 1820.

Comments on the meeting agenda items can also be made on connectptbo.ca which is the City’s online community engagement hub, until 11 a.m. on Thursday. Comments provided as part of the “Comment on Current Agenda Items” section will be circulated to council members in advance of the meeting.

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Urban Park Naming Rights Sold To Quaker Foods

Peterborough City Council approved selling the naming rights of Urban Park to Quaker Foods for $240,000 during a meeting at City Hall on Monday.

The Urban Park temporarily opened a small section during Canada Day to commemorate the unveiling of the peacekeeper monument. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Located at the corner of Charlotte and Alymer Street, the property is being renamed ‘Quaker Foods Urban Park.’

This agreement includes inflationary increases on annual payments over a 15-year term atop the $240,000. The City typically aims for a 10-year term for naming rights according to the Council meeting minutes.

PepsiCo Canada’s (Quaker Foods) recent Quakerborough campaign celebrated the 120-year anniversary of Quaker Foods in Peterborough. Quaker Foods has been a local brand presence, creating many sponsorship opportunities for the City.

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Peterborough City Council Endorses Naming Rights Opportunity For Quaker Foods

Peterborough City Council in favour of changing the park’s name from Urban Park to Quaker Foods Urban Park at Monday’s meeting.

A section of the park was temporarily open for a ribbon-cutting ceremony of a UN Peacekeepers Monument on Canada Day. It was commissioned from the City in 2017 and cost roughly $100,000 to build. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Naming rights would sell for $240,000. The park is located at the corner of Charlotte and Alymer Street.

Renaming Urban Park requires financial and term commitment limits the number of businesses that sees a strategic or appropriate fit. The City typically aims for a 10-year term for naming rights according to the Council meeting minutes.

The agreement includes inflationary increases on annual payments over a 15-year term on top of the $240,000.

A number of businesses and organizations have discussed this opportunity with the City, noting that Quaker is a local brand presence that would encourage sponsorships for Peterborough.

Through the Quakerborough campaign, Quaker Foods has participated in a number of marketing and advertising opportunities as they celebrate 120 years in Peterborough.

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Nomination Period For City Council And School Board Trustees Ends August 19

The nomination period to file to run as a candidate for City Council or school board trustee in the October 24 municipal election closes at 2 p.m. on August 19.

Photo by Luke Best.

Candidate packages and resources are available online at peterborough.ca/vote. To file nomination papers candidates are required to make an appointment with the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 500 George St. N., by emailing election2022@peterborough.ca.

The nomination period opened May 2, 2022.

In the City of Peterborough, positions for election are Mayor and two ward Councillors for each of the five wards (Otonabee, Monaghan, Town, Ashburnham and Northcrest), as well as trustee positions for the local school boards:

1. Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board

2. Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board

3. Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir

4. Conseil Scolaire Viamonde

Voters in the City of Peterborough are reminded to verify that they are registered to vote in the October 24 municipal election by using the online tool at peterborough.ca/voters.

Eligible voters on the Voters List will receive a Voter Notification Card (VNC) in the mail in early October telling them where they may vote. If voting in-person, voters must vote at a voting location within their ward on Election Day or at an advanced poll (Ward 1 - Otonabee, Ward 2 - Monaghan, Ward 3 - Town, Ward 4 - Ashburnham or Ward 5 - Northcrest). The VNC will direct voters to the poll location closest to them.

Online voting will be available from October 1 until 8 p.m. on October 24 and in-person voting will be available on both Election Day and through advanced polls.

Election Day is October 24, voting locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Advanced polls will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 8, 15 and 22 at the following locations:

• Ward 1: Healthy Planet Arena, 911 Monaghan Rd.

• Ward 2: Westdale United Church, 1509 Sherbrooke St.

• Ward 3: Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St. N

• Ward 4: Lions Club, 347 Burnham St.

• Ward 5: Northview Community Church, 1000 Fairbairn St.

An advance voting location with enhanced accessibility features will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., October 17 to 21, at City Hall, 500 George St. N.

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City Council Approves Over $20,000 Of Grants To Seven Peterborough Organizations

Peterborough City Council approved allocating $20,458 to various local charitable and not-for-profit organizations as recommended by the Community Investment Grant Advisory Committee, on Monday.

Capable Con is one of seven organizations receiving funding. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

This year the city received twelve applications for their Investment Grant funding and all twelve applications received funding. Due to the low number of applications received and the Committee’s evaluation of those applications, a surplus of funds remained.

The Committee discussed how best to approach this unique occurrence and recommended a motion to Council addressing the surplus.

That the remaining surplus Community Grant funds will be split between seven different organizations.

• $5,000, Community Care Peterborough, Meals on Wheels program

• $1,958, Peterborough Historical Society-Hutchison House Museum, repairs to stairs and install a bike rack

• $3,500, Council for Person's with Disabilities, support for Capable Con 2022

• $3,000, Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, upgrade ticketing platform

• $3,000, Peterborough Folk Festival, assistance to cover costs of paying performers

• $2,000, Peterborough Drug Strategy, hire an external consultant to support strategic planning and post COVID-19 engagement

• $2,000, Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee, support the development of education, communication, and engagement activities

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Peterborough City Council Endorses Applying To Become A 'Bee City' To Promote Pollinators

Peterborough City Council endorsed applying to Bee City Canada to designate the City of Peterborough as a Bee City and committing to the standards of the Bee City Canada program at their meeting on Tuesday.

Photo by Luke Best.

Bee City Canada (BCC) was formed in 2015 as a national organization to champion insect pollinators. Bee City Canada seeks to protect pollinators by maintaining and creating pollinator habitats in communities.

A certification program designated for cities is administered by BCC to approve municipalities that commit to expanding pollinator habitat, increasing public education about the benefits and plight of pollinators, and committing to annual celebrations during International Pollinator Week.

Bee City certification requires all municipalities to adhere to the following criteria to achieve approval by BCC:

• Creation of a Bee City Pollinator Team with one City staff liaison

• Submission of supporting pollinator initiatives that have been completed or ongoing in the community

• Submission of an introductory statement describing the importance of Peterborough becoming a Bee City

• Signed council resolution nominating the municipality as a Bee City

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