City of Kingston
Council Meeting
Agenda

That Kingston City Council recognize International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8, 2026, and celebrate the achievements of women throughout Kingston. International Women’s Day (IWD), established in 1911, has for over 115 years advanced the vision of a gender equal world, free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination, where diversity is valued and celebrated. The 2026 IWD theme, ‘Give to Gain’, emphasizes generosity, collaboration, and the power of reciprocity and mutual support in advancing gender equality. Kingston City Council expresses its support for International Women’s Day, its goals, and women in Kingston, and encourages residents to contribute to the continued advancement of women in our community.

That Council delegate authority to the Director, Engineering Services to approve agreements and related documents with the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, including any ministry or agency, and municipalities that relate to the planning, design, repair, rehabilitation, reconstruction, maintenance or improvement of municipal and provincial roads, and road-related infrastructure, including planning studies, environmental studies, bridges, culverts, drainage, and associated works, provided that any costs to be incurred by the City in respect of such agreements are included in an approved budget, and that the City Clerk be directed to include such delegation of authority in future amendments to the Delegation of Authority By-law.

That Council direct staff to prepare remaining vegetated and treed portions of Lot 446 located at 1713 Venture Drive to receive beneficial re-use soils in accordance with existing soil management plans and strategies.

That Council approve the recommendations of the Rural Economic and Community Development Working Group for the allocation of funds from the Samsung Community Benefit Program Fund for:

1. Up to $12,000 for the implementation of a marketing and communications plan to improve awareness of, and engagement with, rural Kingston residents, businesses, and community organizations, including rural newsletters, curbside signage, and targeted social media;
2. Up to $30,000 for the continuation of the Rural Kingston Community Program Fund to provide up to six (6) grants of $5,000 each to support rural organizations and partnerships to create or enhance events, cultural activities, recreational products, and community beautification projects, and that Council delegate to the Rural Economic and Community Development Working Group the evaluation and approval of projects to be funded; and
3. Up to $2,000 to support Rural Community Space Activation activities that deliver small-scale, locally focused programming and community events in rural facilities.

That Council endorse the Shovel-Worthy Development Framework, attached as Exhibit B to Report Number 26-054, and direct staff to continue working with project partners to complete Phase 2 of the Framework - the Site Development Guidelines; and

That Council direct staff to continue working with landowners north of the St. Lawrence Business Park Expansion Lands to advocate for the expansion of the ecological corridor connecting Butternut Creek with the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Garden, to support the goals of biodiversity and ecological linkages within the corridor.

That Council approve the reallocation of $3,000,000 from the employment land acquisition budget, and the reallocation of the funding source from the Industrial Land Reserve Fund to the Municipal Capital Reserve Fund, to support the development of Tri-Colour Labs, a shared, industry-ready wet lab and biomanufacturing facility located at Botterell Hall, Queen’s University, subject to the following conditions:

1. Confirmation and retention of higher-level government funding, including compliance with all associated timelines and eligibility requirements;
2. Finalization of a governance and oversight model that provides for City participation in advisory and reporting structures, ensures transparency and accountability, and protects municipal interests;
3. Execution of funding, governance, and collaboration agreements between the City of Kingston, Kingston Economic Development Corporation, and Queen’s University, in a form satisfactory to the Director of Legal Services and Chief Financial Officer;
4. Restriction of the City’s contribution to eligible capital and equipment costs only, with no municipal responsibility for operating, maintenance, or lifecycle costs; and
5. Structuring of funding disbursement on a claim-based basis tied to confirmed matching contributions, construction progress, and reporting requirements; and

That Council authorizes the Mayor and Clerk to execute all necessary agreements to give effect to this approval to support the development of Tri-Colour Labs.

That Council receive the 2025 Annual Water Summary Reports for the King Street Water Treatment Plant, the Point Pleasant Water Treatment Plant and the Cana Water Treatment Plant as required by the terms and conditions outlined in Schedule 22 of Ontario Regulation 170/03 for Drinking Water Systems.

That the application for a zoning By-Law amendment (File Number D14-013-2025) submitted by Fitzrovia, on behalf of 555 Princess Inc., for the properties municipally known as 525 Princess Street and 555 Princess Street be approved; and

That Kingston Zoning By-Law Number 2022-62, as amended, be further amended, as per Exhibit A (Draft By-Law and Schedule A to Amend Zoning By-Law Number 2022-62) to Report Number PC-26-003; and

That Council determines that in accordance with Section 34(17) of the Planning Act, no further notice is required prior to the passage of the By-Law; and

That the amending By-Law be presented to Council for all three readings; and

That Council authorize the Manager, Development Engineering, to approve an encroachment agreement for the pedestrian bridge between 555 Princess Street and 525 Princess Street, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor or their designate and the Director, Public Works and Solid Waste or their designate.

That the 2026 Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee Work Plan, attached as Exhibit A to Report Number MAAC-26-002, be approved.

Whereas Rajesh Kumar (the Member) was appointed to the KFHC Board by Council on December 2, 2025 for a term ending November 14, 2026, and has indicated that he is not able to attend three consecutive Board meetings; and

Whereas A By-Law Relating Generally to the Conduct of the Business and Affairs of the Kingston & Frontenac Housing Corporation (By-Law Number 1), subsection 3.07 (1)(c) states that ‘A Director shall be deemed to have submitted a letter or resignation under 3.07 which takes effect immediately who: is absent from three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings of the Board without cause acceptable to the Board; and

Whereas the Kingston & Frontenac Housing Corporation Board of Directors has determined that the Member’s cause for absence is not acceptable;

Therefore Be It Resolved That the resignation of Rajesh Kumar from the Kingston & Frontenac Housing Corporation Board of Directors be received with regret; and

That in accordance with Section 3.3.2 d. of the Public Appointment Policy, Nida Rehman be appointed from the reserve pool to the Kingston & Frontenac Housing Corporation Board of Directors for a term ending November 14, 2026.

Whereas the City operates a network of outdoor rinks with varying service levels and operational requirements; and

Whereas weather variability, water access, and resourcing has increasingly impacted the reliability and availability of outdoor rink operations;

Therefore Be It Resolved That Council direct staff to undertake a service level review, including public engagement, of the City’s outdoor rink program, including a review of rink locations and opportunities to consolidate, service models, and operational opportunities to make the best use of existing resources; and

That Council direct staff to report back to Council by Q3 2026 with options and associated resource implications for consideration with respect to outdoor rinks.

Whereas in June 2021 the Province of Ontario released the Blue Box Regulation to shift the financial and operational responsibility of recycling from municipalities to the organizations that produce packaging, paper and packaging-like products; and

Whereas the shift of municipal responsibility for recycling programs is commonly known as extender producer responsibility;

Whereas starting July 1, 2025, the administration of the recycling program in the City of Kingston shifted to a not-for-profit organization known as Circular Materials Ontario (CMO); and

Whereas CMO has contracted a private company, currently Emterra Environmental, to collect curbside recycling in Kingston; and

Whereas prior to July 1, 2025, curbside recycling collection was conducted by a combination of municipal staff and a private contractor overseen by municipal staff; and

Whereas since July 1, 2025, Kingston residents have experienced increased instances of curbside recycling not being collected and delayed responses from Emterra Environmental with respect to resident concerns;

Therefore Be It Resolved That Council urge Circular Materials Ontario (CMO), and its contractor for recycling collection in Kingston, Emterra Environmental, to take immediate steps to (a) improve the reliability of curbside recycling collection for Kingston residents and (b) ensure adequate communication with Kingston residents; and

That City staff be directed to continue sharing information with the public regarding the transition of the blue box program to extended producer responsibility and provide clear instructions on how residents contact CMO and Emterra Environmental with concerns or complaints regarding the recycling program; and

That a copy of this motion be shared with Allen Langdon, Chief Executive Officer, CMO, Allan Cosman, Board Chair, CMO, Ted Hsu, M.P.P. Kingston and the Islands and John Jordan, M.P.P. Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston.

Whereas the federal government has identified Alto High-Speed Rail (HSR) as a nation-building project to deliver faster, more reliable, passenger rail service, strengthen regional connectivity, and support Canada’s climate objectives through a transportation shift; and

Whereas the Alto high-speed rail line is intended to serve major centres and regional hubs along the Toronto – Ottawa - Montréal corridor to maximize ridership, economic impact, and public value; and

Whereas Kingston is a major regional hub in Eastern Ontario, serving as a centre for post-secondary education with Queen’s University, St. Lawrence College and Royal Military College, health care with Kingston Health Sciences and the Cancer Centre of Eastern Ontario, national defence with CFB Kingston, provincial and federal ministry regional offices, several national and international employers and a significant tourism and innovation economy, all of which generate rail demand; and

Whereas Kingston is the fourth busiest VIA Rail station in Canada with established travel demand within the Windsor-Quebec corridor, making us well positioned to support an Alto station that advances regional connectivity and travel-time competitiveness; and

Whereas a stop in Kingston would contribute to Alto’s mandate of supporting strong ridership demand, enabling meaningful shifts from passenger vehicles, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ensuring regional access to high-speed rail in Eastern Ontario; and

Whereas a southern route that is as close as possible to the urban centre of Kingston would be most beneficial to the residents of the City of Kingston and would align with the preferences of surrounding municipalities like South Frontenac; and

Whereas a southern High-Speed Rail route that bypasses Kingston would not serve the region, limit ridership and regional connectivity and offer no benefit to the city or Eastern Ontario;

Therefore Be It Resolved That Kingston City Council call on the Federal Minister of Transportation to enhance Alto’s mandate to include the addition of a Kingston stop on the proposed Alto High-Speed Rail Southern Route between Peterborough and Ottawa; and

That Kingston City Council expresses its support for the proposed southern route for the Alto High Speed Rail line, provided there is a new stop added that is in close proximity to Kingston; and

That Kingston City Council requests that the southern route and planned stop in Kingston be located as close to the urban core of the city as possible; and

That if there is no station in Kingston, then Kingston City Council formally opposes the creation of the Alto Southern Route that would effectively bypass Kingston and offer no value or benefit for Kingston residents or those in Eastern Ontario; and

That a copy of this motion be sent to the Right Honourable Mark Carney, P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada, The Honourable Steve MacKinnon, P.C., M.P., Minister of Transport, Martin Imbleau, President and CEO, Alto, Mark Gerretsen, M.P. Kingston and the Islands, Scott Reid, M.P. Lanark-Frontenac, Ted Hsu, M.P.P. Kingston and the Islands, John Jordan, M.P.P. Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, Ric Breese, M.P.P. Hastings - Lennox and Addington, South Frontenac Mayor Ron Vandewal, the Eastern Ontario Mayors' Caucus, and the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus.  

Whereas trees provide important environmental, ecological, and community benefits, including habitat, erosion control, climate resilience, and protection of adjacent lands; and

Whereas the City recognizes the need to balance environmental stewardship and the preservation of natural features with the protection of agricultural practices that support normal and sustainable farming operations; and

Whereas under the current wording of City of Kingston By-Law Number 2018-15, the Tree By-Law, clear cutting may be treated as a normal farm practice, permitting large scale tree removal without the requirement for a tree permit or municipal oversight, including in circumstances where those trees provide important environmental functions for adjacent lands; and

Whereas City staff have observed an increase in the injury or destruction of trees in contravention of the Tree By-Law on both private and public lands;

Therefore Be It Resolved That City staff be directed to review the Tree By-Law and bring forward amendments to Council to require a tree permit for all clear cutting, including on agricultural lands, in order to ensure appropriate municipal oversight of large-scale tree removal, and to make any other consequential amendments that staff consider advisable to improve the enforceability of the Tree By-Law, by the end of Q2 2026; and 

That City staff be directed to review the administrative monetary penalties associated with contraventions of the Tree By-Law and to report back to Council by the end of Q2 2026 with any recommended changes to ensure penalties remain appropriate, proportionate, and effective as a deterrent.