Joelle Kovach
@joellekovach.bsky.social
City hall reporter for The Peterborough Examiner (in Peterborough, Ontario).
Love this story.
November 19, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Love this story.
Beamer now saying this is the fourth and final budget of the term. And budget talks are over now.
November 18, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Beamer now saying this is the fourth and final budget of the term. And budget talks are over now.
Unanimous vote to use that $3M from reserves. It decreases the tax increase for 2026 to 6.56% more than in 2025.
November 18, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Unanimous vote to use that $3M from reserves. It decreases the tax increase for 2026 to 6.56% more than in 2025.
Back from a short bio break.
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Back from a short bio break.
Next meeting for the police services board would be in December, says Mayor Leal (he notes today's meeting was cancelled, for budget talks - he's on the board).
November 18, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Next meeting for the police services board would be in December, says Mayor Leal (he notes today's meeting was cancelled, for budget talks - he's on the board).
Riel now moving for the police operating budget to be 7% more in 2026 compared to 2025; that would be a change from the budgeted 9.8% increase that's included in the 2026 draft budget document.
November 18, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Riel now moving for the police operating budget to be 7% more in 2026 compared to 2025; that would be a change from the budgeted 9.8% increase that's included in the 2026 draft budget document.
@alexbierk.bsky.social is moving for a contingency fund - budgeted at $1.2M - for corporate expenditures (used for purposes such as emergencies, unanticipated legal fees, etc) be capped at $1M.
November 18, 2025 at 7:27 PM
@alexbierk.bsky.social is moving for a contingency fund - budgeted at $1.2M - for corporate expenditures (used for purposes such as emergencies, unanticipated legal fees, etc) be capped at $1M.
Social services: The provincial government funding allocation for operating the Wolfe Street modular shelters is ending in March, notes Commissioner Laidman; they've not heard back on whether another 3-year commitment of funding. So that's why the city had a wind-down plan, for this spring.
November 18, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Social services: The provincial government funding allocation for operating the Wolfe Street modular shelters is ending in March, notes Commissioner Laidman; they've not heard back on whether another 3-year commitment of funding. So that's why the city had a wind-down plan, for this spring.
Library operating budget, now. There had been a decrease of about $65K on their budget for new acquisitions, in 2025; the library board had asked for the $65K to be restored, in 2026.
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Library operating budget, now. There had been a decrease of about $65K on their budget for new acquisitions, in 2025; the library board had asked for the $65K to be restored, in 2026.
Covering budget talks at city hall in Peterborough, Ontario this afternoon. Will offer real-time updates of the details.
November 18, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Covering budget talks at city hall in Peterborough, Ontario this afternoon. Will offer real-time updates of the details.
5 p.m.: Meeting in recess until 9 a.m. tomorrow - we will continue updating you at that time. Between me and @sebastianj-l.bsky.social , we've got your details!
November 17, 2025 at 9:57 PM
5 p.m.: Meeting in recess until 9 a.m. tomorrow - we will continue updating you at that time. Between me and @sebastianj-l.bsky.social , we've got your details!
Talk now from Coun. Duguay of maybe setting aside a 20-year-old plan to study the future growth of the Coldsprings area; right now there's a plan to start studying the area (cost: $375K in 2026) toward preparation of a Secondary Plan on long-term growth ($1M).
November 17, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Talk now from Coun. Duguay of maybe setting aside a 20-year-old plan to study the future growth of the Coldsprings area; right now there's a plan to start studying the area (cost: $375K in 2026) toward preparation of a Secondary Plan on long-term growth ($1M).
Coun. Kevin Duguay moves to reduce the funding for the Central Area Master Plan from $1.2M to $1M.
November 17, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Coun. Kevin Duguay moves to reduce the funding for the Central Area Master Plan from $1.2M to $1M.
Now: Discussion of whether to spend $100K on a hotel/convention centre feasibility study for 2026. @joylachica.bsky.social asking staff why councillors haven't discussed this potential spending in portfolio meetings, for example.
November 17, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Now: Discussion of whether to spend $100K on a hotel/convention centre feasibility study for 2026. @joylachica.bsky.social asking staff why councillors haven't discussed this potential spending in portfolio meetings, for example.
@joylachica.bsky.social now moving to defer to 2027 a $25K renovation of the top floor of city hall; it involves conversion of a staff washroom into a kitchenette. There's a space-needs analysis coming forward, says CAO.
November 17, 2025 at 8:34 PM
@joylachica.bsky.social now moving to defer to 2027 a $25K renovation of the top floor of city hall; it involves conversion of a staff washroom into a kitchenette. There's a space-needs analysis coming forward, says CAO.
"I'm not convinced speed enforcement cameras are a dead issue," says Coun. Kevin Duguay. He says municipalities are still lobbying the province to reverse their decision.
November 17, 2025 at 7:59 PM
"I'm not convinced speed enforcement cameras are a dead issue," says Coun. Kevin Duguay. He says municipalities are still lobbying the province to reverse their decision.
Talk of traffic calming (and speed cameras) arises. Mayor Leal points out that the Ontario gov has promised $210M in funding for other traffic calming techniques (ie: roundabouts, speed cushions) instead of speed cameras (which have been banned by the province).
November 17, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Talk of traffic calming (and speed cameras) arises. Mayor Leal points out that the Ontario gov has promised $210M in funding for other traffic calming techniques (ie: roundabouts, speed cushions) instead of speed cameras (which have been banned by the province).
Discussion now on the Crawford TRail extension project from Monaghan Road to Townsend Street; there's a motion now from Coun. Kevin Duguay to not have any pedestrian crossing for the trail. The idea is to direct trail users to the Monaghan Road and Lansdowne Street signalized intersection.
November 17, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Discussion now on the Crawford TRail extension project from Monaghan Road to Townsend Street; there's a motion now from Coun. Kevin Duguay to not have any pedestrian crossing for the trail. The idea is to direct trail users to the Monaghan Road and Lansdowne Street signalized intersection.
Mayor Leal asks whether any buildings have already been demolished, at former Canoe Museum site; Nelson says yes, 2 bldgs have already been torn down on the site.
November 17, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Mayor Leal asks whether any buildings have already been demolished, at former Canoe Museum site; Nelson says yes, 2 bldgs have already been torn down on the site.
@joylachica.bsky.social asking about the replacement of the transit garage, now. She's asking about remediation of the property (it's the former Canoe Museum property at Romaine and Monaghan Road).
November 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM
@joylachica.bsky.social asking about the replacement of the transit garage, now. She's asking about remediation of the property (it's the former Canoe Museum property at Romaine and Monaghan Road).
Ailan McKenzie, another project manager for the city, is now explaining that the idea is for the caretaker's cottage to be an accessible washroom building but it can also have some additional uses too.
November 17, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Ailan McKenzie, another project manager for the city, is now explaining that the idea is for the caretaker's cottage to be an accessible washroom building but it can also have some additional uses too.
Covering budget talks, this afternoon.
November 17, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Covering budget talks, this afternoon.
Reposted by Joelle Kovach
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m., a bit more than five minutes after we started. Thanks for following!
November 11, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m., a bit more than five minutes after we started. Thanks for following!
New recordings, new plays and other creative projects happened because of this grant, says Pillon.
November 11, 2025 at 1:07 AM
New recordings, new plays and other creative projects happened because of this grant, says Pillon.