Kawartha Lakes meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Council moves toward multi-year funding deal with Kawartha Art Gallery; other meetings hold no substantive items

Kawartha Lakes Council has authorized its Chief Administrative Officer to develop an extended multi-year partnership agreement with the Kawartha Art Gallery, with a draft agreement including future operating funding expected in the first quarter of 2027. The Gallery is seeking annual municipal operating support of $200,000.

Council Meeting — July 21, 2026

The most consequential decision at the July 21 Regular Council Meeting was the authorization for the CAO to develop the multi-year partnership agreement with the Kawartha Art Gallery. The motion carried. A draft agreement that includes future operating funding is expected in Q1 2027.

Council also received a deputation from Susan Taylor and Dionne Beard regarding the Kawartha Art Gallery. That item carried as well.

Several other deputations were received by Council:

• Jeff Van Ginkel and Eric Finn spoke regarding tree installation at Primeau Crescent (Carried).
• Rosemary Finn spoke opposing a zoning amendment for 89 McKelvey Road (Carried).
• Nicholas Dell spoke supporting the zoning amendment for 89 McKelvey Road (Carried).
• Correspondence from Chris and Lexi Kemp opposing a parking lot conversion at Prince Street East was received (Carried).

Council adopted the Open Session Agenda with amendments, and adopted the minutes of the Special and Regular Council Meetings from June 23, 2026. Both carried.

Waste Management Advisory Committee — July 22, 2026

The agenda for the July 22 Waste Management Advisory Committee meeting contained only procedural software boilerplate. No specific discussion or decision items were listed. Minutes have not yet been published.

Committee of Adjustment — July 23, 2026

The Committee of Adjustment agenda for July 23 was also procedural only, with no listed decisions or discussions. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

Two meetings are scheduled in the next two weeks, though both agendas currently list only procedural boilerplate with no specific items for discussion or decision:

• **Planning Advisory Committee** — August 5, 2026. No rezonings, contracts, ordinances, or public hearings are listed.
• **Municipal Heritage Committee** — August 6, 2026. No specific items for discussion or decision are listed.

Residents interested in the Kawartha Art Gallery funding agreement can watch for the draft report expected in Q1 2027, which will detail proposed future operating support.

Environmental Advisory Committee backs $10K annual bird-safe window budget; heritage and zoning reviews advance

The Environmental Advisory Committee carried a motion recommending City Council allocate $10,000 annually, starting in 2027, for bird-collision mitigation window treatments at priority city facilities. The recommendation is one of several carried motions from the committee's July 2 meeting, which also included a commitment to an Ecological Passages pilot project and approvals of several environmental award nominations.

Environmental Advisory Committee — July 2

The committee carried a motion committing to establish an Ecological Passages Budget as a pilot project, using exclusion fencing during scheduled road resurfacing. The goal is to test measures that help wildlife safely cross roads during maintenance work.

In a closed session, the committee approved nominations for the Bee a Hero Award and several Environmental Hero Award categories — individual, business, and student — for presentation to City Council. A carried motion directed staff to prepare a report requesting Council approval of all award nominees.

A tree by-law update was discussed, but no decision was made on that item.

Municipal Heritage Committee — July 2

The Municipal Heritage Committee reviewed a proposed heritage designation for 992 Portage Road in Eldon. The agenda also included two alteration applications: one for 26 Francis Street, Lindsay (City Hall) and another for 6697 Highway 35, Coboconk.

Additional agenda items covered a Doors Open planning update and options for heritage designation plaques. Minutes for this meeting have not yet been published, so no decisions are confirmed in the available record.

Planning Advisory Committee — July 8

The Planning Advisory Committee held a public meeting and was scheduled to vote on three zoning by-law amendments:

• 121 January Lane, Lindsay (O'Neill)
• Angeline Street South, Lindsay (Melody Gardens Inc.)
• 89 McKelvey Road, Kirkfield (Kalo, Kichiguina and Viatcheslav)

The applications would change local zoning bylaws for these sites. The committee also received reports and heard deputations. Minutes have not yet been published, so vote outcomes are not available in the current record.

Coming up

Three meetings are scheduled in the next two weeks, though agendas currently list no substantive items:

• **July 21 — Regular Council Meeting:** Agenda contains only procedural boilerplate with no specific reports, decisions, or public hearings.
• **July 22 — Waste Management Advisory Committee:** No specific discussion or decision items listed.
• **July 23 — Committee of Adjustment:** Agenda contains only procedural boilerplate with no listed decisions or discussions.

Residents interested in the zoning amendments at 121 January Lane, Angeline Street South, and 89 McKelvey Road should watch for the Planning Advisory Committee minutes, which will confirm how the committee voted on each application. The Environmental Advisory Committee's $10,000 bird-safe window recommendation and award nominations will move to City Council for final consideration.

Council approves 2025 audited financial statements, funds $62K tax levy deficit

Kawartha Lakes Council has approved the 2025 audited financial statements and directed that the remaining $62,023.15 general tax levy deficit be funded from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve. The decision was among several carried motions at the June 23 regular council meeting.

Council decisions — June 23

Council carried five motions at its regular meeting:

• **2025 audited financial statements** — Approved.
• **Tax levy deficit** — Directed that the remaining $62,023.15 general tax levy deficit be funded from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve.
• **2026 MOU with BGC Kawarthas** — Approved.
• **Multi-year funding agreement** — Authorized the CAO to develop a multi-year funding agreement for youth services.
• **Pedestrian crosswalk request** — Referred to staff for a 2027 report.

A special council meeting the same day was largely procedural. Council adopted the agenda, recessed for the Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton Housing Corporation Shareholder Meeting, and passed a confirming by-law. No substantive decisions were made in open session.

OPP Detachment Board — June 22 (agenda only)

The O.P.P. Detachment Board was scheduled to receive the 2025 annual report and the Q1 2026 report from the detachment commander. The agenda also included statistics on fatal motor vehicle collisions, the Project Lifesaver program, and correspondence on police service board elections. Minutes have not yet been published.

Lindsay Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Fund Grant Committee — June 22 (agenda only)

The grant committee was set to elect a chair and vice chair, then consider a request from the Kawartha Lakes Museum and Archives for a further extension on its 2025 grant. Other agenda items included a change of scope request from the United Way, a financial update on the grant fund, 2026 timelines for the 2027 grant cycle, and a review of the online application process. Minutes have not yet been published.

Committee of Adjustment — June 25 (agenda only)

The committee was scheduled to hold a public hearing and decide on nine minor variance applications to zoning bylaws. Properties listed on the agenda:

• 21-23 Cambridge St S, Lindsay
• 70 Wilkinson Dr, Somerville
• 29 Cedar Dale Dr, Bexley
• 9 Chipmunk Trail, Bexley
• 2628 Elm Tree Rd, Fenelon
• 5 Fifth Point, Sturgeon Point
• 130-132 William St N, Lindsay
• 1051 North Bay Dr, Bexley
• 48 Suter Dr, Laxton

Minutes have not yet been published.

Municipal Heritage Committee — July 2 (agenda only)

The committee was to review a proposed heritage designation for 992 Portage Road in Eldon, plus alteration applications at 26 Francis Street, Lindsay (City Hall) and 6697 Highway 35, Coboconk. The agenda also included a Doors Open planning update and options for heritage designation plaques. Minutes have not yet been published.

Environmental Advisory Committee — July 2 (agenda only)

The committee was scheduled to vote on budget requests for the Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes Team Project and the Eco Passages Pilot Project, and receive an update on the Tree By-law. A closed session was listed to discuss nominations for the Bee a Hero and Environmental Hero awards. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

• **July 8 — Planning Advisory Committee:** Public meeting and vote on three zoning by-law amendments for properties at 121 January Lane, Lindsay; Angeline Street South, Lindsay; and 89 McKelvey Road, Kirkfield. The committee will also receive reports and hear deputations.

Kawartha Lakes council closes out 2025 books with $62,023 deficit funding

Kawartha Lakes council wrapped up its 2025 financial year on June 23, approving the audited financial statements and directing staff to cover a $62,023.15 general tax levy shortfall from the municipality’s Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve. The regular meeting also advanced a youth-services agreement with BGC Kawarthas and sent a pedestrian safety request to staff for review. Other boards and committees met on topics ranging from police reports to heritage designations.

Council approves 2025 financials, deficit funding

Council approved the 2025 audited financial statements and directed that the remaining $62,023.15 general tax levy deficit be funded from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve. All items on the agenda were carried.

In other action, council approved a 2026 memorandum of understanding with BGC Kawarthas and authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to develop a multi-year funding agreement for youth services. A request for a pedestrian crosswalk was referred to staff for a report in the 2027 budget process.

O.P.P. Detachment Board (June 22)

The board was scheduled to receive the detachment commander’s 2025 annual report and the first-quarter 2026 report, along with an overview of statistics on fatal motor vehicle collisions. The agenda also listed a presentation on Project Lifesaver and correspondence regarding police service board elections. Minutes have not yet been published.

Lindsay Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Fund Grant Committee (June 22)

After electing a chair and vice-chair, the committee was to consider a request from the Kawartha Lakes Museum and Archives for a further extension on its 2025 grant. A change-of-scope request from the United Way, a financial update, and a review of the online application process for the 2027 grant cycle were also listed on the agenda.

Committee of Adjustment (June 25)

The committee held a public hearing to decide on nine minor variance applications. The properties span multiple wards: 21-23 Cambridge St S in Lindsay; 70 Wilkinson Dr in Somerville; 29 Cedar Dale Dr, 9 Chipmunk Trail, and 1051 North Bay Dr in Bexley; 2628 Elm Tree Rd in Fenelon; 5 Fifth Point in Sturgeon Point; 130-132 William St N in Lindsay; and 48 Suter Dr in Laxton. Decisions will be available once minutes are published.

Municipal Heritage Committee (July 2)

Committee members were scheduled to review a proposed heritage designation for 992 Portage Road in Eldon and two alteration applications—one for City Hall at 26 Francis Street in Lindsay, the other for 6697 Highway 35 in Coboconk. An update on Doors Open planning and options for heritage designation plaques were also on the agenda.

Environmental Advisory Committee (July 2)

The committee met to vote on budget requests for the Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes Team Project and the Eco Passages Pilot Project. Members also received an update on the Tree By-law and held a closed session to discuss nominations for the Bee a Hero and Environmental Hero awards.

Coming up

No public meetings are scheduled in Kawartha Lakes for the next 14 days.