Child care, trails before council

City council has a busy agenda Monday night when it meets as committee of the whole.

With 22 items on the agenda, council will be tackling a wide variety of issues and proposals, from new early years centres to crosscountry ski trails in Jackson Park.

Here’s a look at some of what council will be discussing Monday night:

Canada 150

Council will hear a final report on the city’s Canada 150 celebrations from chair Mike Melnik and committee member Galen Eagle.

Events included members of the local business, arts and culture scene, and included a street festival on Hunter Street June 30, a Kim Mitchell concert on Canada Day, through additional funding to Musicfest, and more.

The city contributed $100,000 to the anniversary events, topped up by a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, $5,000 in sponsorship from Shaw Direct TV, $725 from the East City Village BIA and $7,500 from the city’s Arts, Culture and Heritage division.

Action Lab

The Peterborough Green Economy Action Lab will make a presentation on the city’s potential for development of a green economy and sustainable community initiatives.

Staff recommends that the report be referrred to the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development and Sustainable Peterborough.

Early Years

City council will hear a report on improvements to the Early Years and Child Care programs in the city and county.

The province announced plans in 2016 to transform existing child and family programs into a more integrated system of services for children six and under and their families. In the Peterborough area, these includes the Peterborough Family Resource Centre (operating in the city, Asphodel-Norwood and Selwyn), the Old Millbrook School Family Centre and the North Hastings Children’s Services in North Kawartha.

The city sites include Antrim St., St. John and Otonabee Valley family hubs.

As of January, the city will take over all funding and planning responsibilities for the centres. A new staff report recommends exploring other sites for centres in the area, re-examining the Apsley centre and considering a new site in Otonabee-South Monaghan.

The cost to operate the centres would be $1,236,657 in 2018, staff state.

Evinrude ice

City staff say it will cost $160,000 to replace the refrigeration condenser at the Evinrude Centre. It’s included in the 2018 draft capital budget.

The condenser, installed new in 1997, is at the end of its life, staff state, and has suffered leaks in the coil twice.

If it were to fail, there would be no ice at the twin-pad arena.

Approval would get the ball rolling to have the new unit brought in (it would take eight weeks) and installed, which would take 48 hours and would not disrupt the ice surfaces. Planning is required to avoid ice-time disruption during the hockey season, staff state.

Tree canopy

Council will hear about a plan to update local tree canopy bylaws to reflect the changing challenges facing urban forests, including the Emerald Ash Borer.

The new bylaws would include public education and consultation and the establishment of a committee to conduct hearings over tree and woodland bylaws.

Other matters

Council will hear from staff about proposals to put a fourway stop at Hunter Street W. and Bethune St., nordic cross-country ski trails in Jackson Park, sidewalks on Foxmeadow Road, Easthill Drive and Meadowview Road and more.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.