Kitchener

The meeting included a delegation regarding transportation connections near Rockway Gardens, with a focus on landscape preservation and traffic calming measures. An update was provided on the Kitchener 2051 official plan, covering community values, urban growth, transit integration, and sustainability policies. The Rockway Fairway Transportation Connections project status was discussed, noting community engagement results and a project pause due to new provincial legislation. Additionally, staff provided updates on the 2026 budget, the Connected Kitchener mobility plan, the completion of the Boardwalk to Downtown route, and an upcoming Earth Day event.

The committee meeting addressed several key planning and strategic initiatives. Key topics included the approval of a noise exemption for downtown special events, a progress update on the Pivot Net Zero 2025 initiative, and the reception of the 2026 Vision Zero annual update with directions to staff for safety improvements. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing the second draft of the Kitchener 2051 New Official Plan, including the consideration of numerous public submissions and feedback regarding land use designations, employment areas, commercial policies, and residential zoning.

The council discussed various items including the approval of a housing-focused Heritage Helping Housing Building Grant, the adoption of a Rental Renovation Licensing By-law, and the reallocation of development charges debt for the Cowan Recreation Centre. Additionally, the council reviewed committee reports regarding heritage designations, municipal grants, and the use of corporate resources for campaign purposes. Updates were provided by the Mayor regarding regional water capacity constraints, and several notices of motion regarding local traffic impacts and community communication plans for the transit hub were deferred to a future meeting.

The committee held a meeting to discuss several active transportation and trail-related topics. A wayfinding update was provided regarding city-wide active transportation routes, specifically noting the completion of Route 1 and progress on Route 2, which aims to connect Stanley Park to Downtown Kitchener. Subcommittee breakout sessions allowed for the discussion of plans and goals for the upcoming year, focusing on infrastructure support, public outreach, and safety initiatives such as Vision Zero and Complete Streets. Additionally, the committee was reminded of the upcoming Winter Bike to Work Day event.

The committee discussed and approved the 2026 Internal Audit Work Plan, which outlines proposed assurance and consulting activities for the upcoming year. Additionally, the committee reviewed the 4th Quarter 2025 Audit Status Report, which provided updates on assurance and consulting services performed during the latter half of the year, including findings from a physical inventory count audit and a status update on the SAP Separation of Duties Audit.