Harper Park, poet laureate on agenda

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:

Harper Park

City staff recommend committing $225,000 to the 2018 budget to hire an environmental consultant to study Harper Park and what will happen to it once the dice starts rolling at Shorelines Casino Peterborough next year.

The wilderness park is located near the new casino site and has been the focus of environmental concerns about the impact of development around it.

The staff report recommends Beacon Environmental for the job, citing a clause in the purchasing bylaw that allows staff to use a consultant who has worked on a project before.

The consultant would be tasked with developing updates to the city’s Heritage Official Plan and the Harper Park watershed management plan.

Poet laureate

Peterborough could have a poet laureate if council approves a oneyear pilot project proposed by staff.

The cost would be $2,000, and the program would be administered by the arts, culture and heritage advisory committee.

The post is honorary, not employment, but the poet laureate would receive the $2,000 as an honorarium, the staff report states.

A city’s poet laureate writes about themes and ideas that are of significance to his or her community, the report states. The person also serves as an advocate for literacy and makes public presentations of his or her work.

Candidates must be Peterborough residents or taxpayers who have published at least one book of poetry (not self-published) and be able to fulfil the position’s obligations.

A selection committee would be formed if the proposal is approved by council.