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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

I think he may be digging in.

Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

Meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m. Thanks for joining me - it's my pleasure to offer you this update service! (Totally human generated btw - NOT artificial intelligence.)

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

Leal says "I think we are in good company" with the other mayors who signed the letter (which he says was delivered today to the Premier).

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

Leal says over the weekend he learned that in Toronto, drivers aren't ticketed unless they are going 11 km/hr over the limit: "I think this addresses this notion of tax grab."

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

Ooooh, Leal says now he's signed that letter to Premier Ford to advocate for speed cameras in school zones.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

That notice of motion carries unanimously.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

Duguay suggests a delegation to Queen's Park.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

"This group (city staff) are very humble," says Leal.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

Leal says "I know... our staff were making suggestions to the provincial ministry" to ID shortfalls, even as the ice storm was happening. "We were able to point out these areas that perhaps should be considered."

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

@mattcrowley.bsky.social asks whether there's a federal aid program - Freymond says maybe, but he doubts we'd qualify.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

@alexbierk.bsky.social asks about any further sources of relief from the province. Freymond: "I'm opening all the doors and seeing what response we're given."

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

So: he'll bring forward all the opportunities, including overages in some areas of spending.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

Freymond says "I would love to give the councillor hope - but I'm going to paint a very real picture here."

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

@alexbierk.bsky.social asks about that $3 or $4 million shortfall - how will we cover that? Within the city budget, or are there other funding opportunities?

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

"Further that Richard Freymond, Commissioner, Finance and Corporate Support Services / Treasurer is given delegated authority to verify and attest to the accuracy of the Municipal Ice Storm Assistance program application package."

Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

The notice of motion, in two parts: "Whereas the Corporation of the City of Peterborough has eligible costs directly linked to the March 2025 ice storm; the council of the Corporation of the City of Peterborough hereby requests assistance under the Municipal Ice Storm Assistance program."

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

He says "obviously we will apply for every penny we can."

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

Freymond says they can claim for about $8 million

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

He doesn't think the city will be eligible to recoup all those costs. And it's taking all this time to digest the info, he says, because the province has very specific criteria for applying for money (they have to consider every piece of equipment they used, and the costs to operate that equipment).

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

"We believe the costs incurred to date are about $11 million," says Freymond. And he says they are applying through the municipal assistance program offered by the province. The application (which they are preparing) is due by the end of this month.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

City treasurer Richard FReymond says a report has been written about the city's response to the ice storm. They were planning to release that soon.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

Now a notice of motion from Haacke, who is asking that the city apply for provincial funding from the province following the ice storm of last March.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

Parnell's motion to have PACAC weigh in on the appropriateness of placing heritage designations on the 8 buildings GE plans to preserve carries 10-1. Riel votes against this (he had earlier said this is undermining the committee, that PACAC ought to be allowed to look at the whole campus).

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

"I don't see this site ever being used as residential - at all," says Haacke - the contamination will leach for years, he says.

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Joelle Kovach @joellekovach.bsky.social · 6d

@joylachica.bsky.social says "It's just a shame we're looking at the dust - and this is what we leave to our committee. It's a shame. It's a shame."