Oh hey - I love this idea. Could be replicated in any city - including Peterborough - don’t you think?

Meeting adjourns at 8:45 p.m., just shy of 3 hours after it began. Thanks so much for following along - I'm happy to provide you with this free service! G'night.

@alexbierk.bsky.social says "we don't know what is happening, on and off that site... I'm just disappointed" that the city cannot "create some sort of understanding of what's happening on that site" in terms of contamination (quite apart from demolition plans).

"I don't believe for one minute GE will answer any quesitons they aren't obligated to answer. You can ask until the cows come home," says Haacke.

"We rely on our professional staff and their processes" to ensure safety, says Duguay. "I'm fully satisfied that will be in place.... it's law."

Ilmar Simonovski, municipal operations commissioner, says he's been in the buildings at GE and they are completely empty (in other words, ready for demolition).

Baldwin asks whether we have had an application for demolition yet from GE Vernova. No, says city CAO Raina.

Riel says he doesn't see a problem with @joylachica.bsky.social motion. The plan could be heard in closed session, he says.

"I think as leaders around this table, we should know" all about the demolition plan and safety, says @alexbierk.bsky.social

But now @alexbierk.bsky.social is asking for council to direct staff to direct staff to get a plan regarding the level and extent on contamination in and around the GE site (in the soil and structures, for instance), and identify roles of various agencies in ensuring a safe demolition.

Council votes a final time now to apply for funding through Build Canada Homes to build a Peterborough Housing Corporation (PHC) project at 1190 Hilliard St. The project is designed, but paused due to lack of funding.

Lato says Prince of Wales parents were largely dismayed that council did not vote to place heritage designations on the buildings. "We all know this site is poisonous. We won't know how poisonous it is, until the chemical inventory."

Nicholas Lato, of Frederick Street, making a deputation now regarding the heritage status of the GE buildings. He's concerned that council voted down a proposal to place heritage designations on the eight buildings GE plans to preserve.

@alexbierk.bsky.social says "we're heavily relying on that funding to continue operations" at the modular sleeping cabin grouping. He asks whether that funding will be renewed, at the end of March?

Question time. Coun. Riel asks about funding to build affordable housing, particularly social housing projects proposed by Peterborough Housing Corporation. Smith says he cannot say precisely, yet.

United Way campaign chair Paul Rellinger says they are now $80K shy of their $1.6 million goal for the campaign (which is completed at the end of March).

City staff rally raised over $14K for the United Way campaign! Chair Paul Rellinger here receives the cheque. Laken Macfarlane was the city staffer who took the lead.

Oh dear, 'blinding migraine' sounds awful... I gotcha covered.

Hello Peterborough. I'm at city hall right now, filling in for @sebastianj-l.bsky.social (this is still his beat - I'm needed as a fill-in!) Anyway, this is a council meeting I'm about to cover - please stay tuned.

It’s keeping time again!!! Yay!

Have you seen the Peterborough Snow Waves?

Ticked off: Peterborough's famous clock stalled

Careful, now.

Please follow @sebastianj-l.bsky.social for council updates… he’s at city hall, I’m watching the livestream. Thanks!

Kind of unusual to know the night before that it’s a snow day, the following day - but this is quite a storm…

Oh and STSCO has called it too, already: snow day on Monday in Peterborough, folks.

School closure for Monday…. PVNC (Catholic school board) has called it: their schools are closed tmr (parents are getting the recorded call rn)

Just finished - so good. I absolutely loved it.

Historic farmhouse in Peterborough's north end could be torn down

Peterborough mayor talks affordability, housing and more as 2005 draws to a close

'This time is for real': High-speed train heading to Peterborough sooner than later, Alto CEO says

"Before we go to enjoyment - uh, adjournment," says the mayor, he takes a moment to wish everyone a nice December holiday time.

Under other business, Duguay thanks the Kinsmen for organizing the 50th annual Santa Claus parade on Saturday night.

Now: council discussing the proposal for 6 apartment buildings at Towerhill Drive.

Now: 700 Parkhill Rd. Duguay says he heard nothing tonight that would change his mind, regarding this application.

Baldwin says these are the timelines they used last year. "For any of us to suggest this is orchestrated is false."

Now a presentation from city treasurer Richard Freymond.

Duguay now is saying "our municipality is not alone" in facing heavy budget pressures.

Now: Riel is saying he doesn't support the municipal budget adoption. He says the police budget alone pushes the budget up so high, it's reached a level that "many families cannot afford." He says it's "reasonable for council to step back and say, 'Is this sustainable?'"

At the last city council meeting of the year. Here to offer you live-posts.

This orchestra of amazing young musicians has some adult players, to boost the numbers in certain sections. I’m delighted to play cello with them - and looking forward to Sunday!

Peterborough people: Lately there's been an aroma of ketchup outside in the downtown and East City areas, no? Usually it's a Quaker smell, like maybe oatmeal or maple - but since Sunday I swear it smells like the flavouring on ketchup chips. Please somebody tell me I'm not imagining it.

Meeting adjourned at 10:58 p.m., six hours after it started. I'm amazed we are done before 11 p.m. Thanks for joining me - goodnight!

Now: @alexbierk.bsky.social notice of motion on 'calling the question' in debate.

Ah now Beamer revises his completion time goal for 11:20 p.m.

Randall responds to some of the earlier concerns from the neighbour: groundwater monitoring is a condition of draft plan approval. Anyone who wants to sign up to have their water monitored, he says, they can.

Chris Roberts to give a delegation on this right now - he lives on Simons Ave. He says that he and 58 neighbours feel their street wasn't designed to take heavy equipment from construction, plus the traffic that will come due to the apartments.

Now: a proposal to build 6 apartment buildings on a 15-acre undeveloped property on Towerhill Rd.

Caldwell now says the plan is for the units to be affordable - as long as they get grant money.

Now: City planner Ian Walker is talking about the proposal for a co-housing apartment building on Maryland Avenue. 1.3 acres, vacant land, formerly part of a convent.