If I wanted to record in-camera meetings I could easily do without a phone If there is to be no outside communication get rid of the computers we sit at with as much access as our phones have I would argue Councillors SHOULD have every means available to access info on the fly at meetings

That's it for tonight. In other business, Coun. Bierk announced he's celebrating his 44th brithday and there's not place he'd rather spend it. Everyone wish @alexbierk.bsky.social a happy birthday. I'm off to write!

I can now report: the City will open Temporary Shelter ❄️ I want to recognize the work of Facilities and Social Services staff who have rallied to make this happen. There are provisions to provide transportation, and City staff will operate the shelter overnight and through the weekend. Thanks all ❤️

I find it extremely problematic that delegated authority can be used to open temporary shelter when it helps enforce a bylaw, but not when record-breaking cold puts human life at risk

While there is no Council approved emergency winter shelter plan — I have messaged the Mayor and the CAO this morning to argue that certainly, the extreme cold weather that’s coming must warrant a response by us (the City). *We can open up temporary shelter to enforce a bylaw, remember

Amen. I'm in town ward and can only vote for 2 councilors and mayor. @alexbierk.bsky.social @joylachica.bsky.social and Keith Riel are my kind of people. 💪

Shame on Chief Betts! Factual clarification is appropriate - but, repeated and derogatory personal characterizations and assumptions about an elected official's motives, integrity, or beliefs are not. Budget debate and scrutiny are core responsibilities of Council, not evidence of bias or bad faith.

@alexbierk.bsky.social says he won't support the budget either. HE says the city's own departments "are coming in with very lean increases" - yet not police.

Biggest things we could do for local economy/downtown that no one’s talking about. 1. Capital investment to retrofit and re-open PCVS 2. Revisioning of Peterborough Square , maybe in collaboration with w Trent

I hope ppl are noticing the comparison of the time/effort put into saving face on social media vs. the time/effort put into Council’s request to reduce the Police budget (20min virtual meeting)

Peterborough's Modular Bridge Housing Community at Wolfe Street chooses new name as it celebrates second anniversary

This just in 👀: Chief Betts calls out the Examiner as being fake news at a Chamber of Commerce Breakfast.

Ann was a fun and passionate energetic force who didn’t back down to defend what she believed in. Always looking to lift-up those around her especially in her work to support representation of women in leadership roles in our community. Like so many others, I am shocked and deeply saddened RIP Ann

Police Board only took 20min (virtually) to decide on our budget ask….what does that tell you!!??

Bio-Break, 2-site solution, Penthouse Renovation Project, no free parking for out of towners, Roy Brady, MLES Prisoner Containment vehicle, Tranisit ridership, Ptbo Strong Ai Farm strat plan, BIG signs, Cavalry Church Pentagon, EC DEV DBIA MAT TAX COPHI LEGACY FUND,,,🤪🫠

Coun. Bierk's amending motion to allocate and additional $25k be added to the Grants to Individual Artists Awards administered by EC3 passes 10-1 with only Coun. Andrew Beamer voting against. All votes adopting the EC3 funding report for 2026 are unanimous.

A few things from today: Deferred an almost a million dollar project that didn’t make sense, and got five votes in favour of raining in the Police Project Budget which is a huge factor in this years tax increase.

I will be making a motion next week to restore City funding to EC3s Grants to Individual Artist Program What does this actually cost taxpayers? 25,000 dollar investment in local artists 0.01% added to the tax increase 4 cents per year for the average homeowner

Appreciation post for Rob Hailman and Roy Brady @rjhelms.bsky.social 📒📓📖

It's hypocritical, she says. "We don't tell people we respect that we will carve them like dinner fowl," she says (referring to the mayor once saying something similar to @alexbierk.bsky.social in debate)

Public Budget meeting had maybe 8 people show up. Same with the Police budget info session — in previous years these meetings have been packed. Feels like the public is losing faith that their voices and input have a chance to make a difference.

This 2025 recession really took a toll on the size and quality of Halloween Candy

Unfortunately, I won’t be at the opening of Bonnerworth next week — but I will gladly attend the opening of the new @tacobell.bsky.social when it opens on behalf of the City of Peterborough.

@alexbierk.bsky.social says he's glad to live in a city "where heritage was prioritized," and some buildings are designated and protected.

All this would be "reasonable," says @alexbierk.bsky.social ... "What we're doing instead is accepting GE's plan, on GE's terms," and trusting the same MOE that has allowed this brownfield to sit "for generations."

GE "built and then abandoned this city," says @alexbierk.bsky.social .... And to not hold them accountable "is a missed opportunity."

@alexbierk.bsky.social amendment carries 6-5; in favour, along with @alexbierk.bsky.social, are @joylachica.bsky.social, @mattcrowley.bsky.social, Coun. Don Vassiliadis, Coun. Andrew Beamer, Coun. Keith Riel.

There are families "that live on the fenceline of that property," says @alexbierk.bsky.social. He says "we can't fumble our way through" the safety aspect here; they need to rethink this, and ask for details. He calls it an "atypical" application for demolition.

@alexbierk.bsky.social says most councillors understand this site to be "deeply contaminated" - and he wants to ensure there's a plan for cleanup.

"My hope is that site could someday be reimagined - and I think the buildings could be part of that," says @alexbierk.bsky.social - he adds it makes him "nervous... that we are inching further toward that site being a flattened" brownfield.

Maybe the city needs to put pressure on GE to "meaningfully remediate the lands" and even consider alternatives to demolition, says @alexbierk.bsky.social

"I feel sad for our community and for the history of that site," says @alexbierk.bsky.social. "We're not even willing to look, with our heritage committee, at the whole site - that's wild, to me."

Prepping for the General Electric demolition item on our agenda tomorrow

From my studio window, I saw @joylachica.bsky.social in the PRIDE parade, crushing on her scooter, dancing as she went — so cool! Joy’s a real one…lots of love to everyone 🏳️‍🌈🩷

Downtown scene report: *”rip through and patch it up, boys” this is crazy to me

𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 ⊹ ࣪ ˖, 2021 12 x 9 inches oil on linen, over panel

Today we took matters into our own hands to show how easy it is to freshen up our downtown inastructure.

My brother Nick has a show up right now in Brussels at one of the best art galleries in the world. So proud of him! Check it out: gladstonegallery.com/exhibit/nich...

Was just on CBC’s Ontario Morning to discuss the City’s “song and dance” shelter strategy — *enforcement strategy Can barely think after lastnights marathon Council meeting 🏳️

@alexbierk.bsky.social says it seems "very performative" to now receive feedback from the citizens, but not take that into consideration. Is it not?

But @alexbierk.bsky.social says "what is the point of us to ask for the public's feedback.... if we're not going to take into consideration any of that?"

Well it's been about 30 minutes now that council's been in closed session. Three councillors - @alexbierk.bsky.social, @joylachica.bsky.social and Keith Riel - have exited the closed session room.

Welp

@alexbierk.bsky.social is moving that the report be referred back to staff, and that staff come back with a detailed report that shows how the police act and new Ontario Building Code mandates details of the renovation.

"That's budget by stealth - approve in principle now, because we think we have no choice," says @alexbierk.bsky.social of the increased costs with not enough detail.

Overshooting the budget by $25M needs to be costed out, says @alexbierk.bsky.social. Mandates (from the provincial government) do not mean council ought to just hand over the additional money.

Deferred ! ! !

@alexbierk.bsky.social says approving the RFQ process to go forward "is not harmless... It's the starting gun on a race we cannot finish."

And now @alexbierk.bsky.social is speaking about a closed session report, on a land acquisition, stating clearly he is not in favour of this and that it's too much money. "Every dollar counts - every million dollars counts."... He says it's for a project on the books for years now.

Happy Labour Day, we got a dog!