Part 1: Public Art, Practical Services, and Early Budget Signals – 10/10/2024

Name: County Committee of the Whole Meeting
Start: 2024-10-10
Location: Shire Hall

PECConnect
Oct 10, 2024
4 min read

The County Committee of the Whole met on October 10, 2024, at Shire Hall in Picton to review several significant policy and planning matters that will shape decisions heading into the 2025 budget year.

The agenda moved steadily through presentations, public meetings, and reports, with no public comments registered for this session. While no final decisions were made at this meeting, the discussions set the groundwork for motions that would later return to Council for approval.

View the entire PEC Council meeting, or continue to speaker comments and councillor votes>

Launching the County’s First Public Art Plan

The meeting opened with a presentation from Andrea Dawes, representing the Prince Edward County Arts Council (County Arts), who introduced the Public Art Plan 2025–2030. Dawes explained that the plan was developed over the course of a year in collaboration with municipal staff, led internally by Chris Palmer, Supervisor of Museums and Cultural Services.

The plan outlines a long-term vision for public art across the County, shaped through extensive community engagement. Dawes described how residents, artists, Indigenous voices, youth organizations, and local groups contributed input through surveys, public art walks, workshops, and interviews. The goal is to create accessible, inclusive public art that reflects local identity while supporting economic, cultural, and social well-being.

Council members responded positively, with Mayor Steve Ferguson and Councillor Phil St-Jean both commending the depth of the work and its potential long-term benefits. The presentation was formally received, allowing staff to bring forward a related implementation report later in the meeting.

Road Allowance Closure Near Mountain View Airport

Council then held a required public meeting regarding the proposed closure and conveyance of unopened road allowances between Ameliasburgh and Sophiasburgh Wards. Aynsley Osborne, Development Coordinator, explained that the parcels are located within the fenced boundaries of the Mountain View Airport and were unexpectedly found to still be under municipal ownership.

No members of the public spoke, but councillors asked clarifying questions about location and mapping. Suggestions were made to include simple maps in future public notices to improve clarity. The public meeting portion was closed without objection.

Period Poverty Pilot Project Update

Menstrual products on red background: pads, tampons on rose petals, and a menstrual cup with lavender. Mood is informative and serene.

Next, Council reviewed an update on the Period Poverty Pilot Project, presented through a report from the Recreation and Community Facilities Department. Lisa Lindsay, Director of Recreation and Community Facilities, and staff addressed questions about where free menstrual products are currently provided and why town halls were not included.

Several councillors, including Councillor Kate MacNaughton, discussed whether town halls could be added as low-risk locations. Staff explained concerns related to vandalism, plumbing damage, and supervision, drawing on experiences from park washrooms. Council ultimately supported continuing the program as-is, with costs included in future operating budgets.

Approving the Public Art Plan Framework

Council then returned to the Public Art Plan, this time through a formal staff report recommending adoption and funding. Chris Palmer spoke to the operational side of the plan, explaining the proposed $60,000 annual investment, split evenly between program administration and the creation of new public art.

Discussion touched on heritage protections, vacant storefronts, funding sources, and whether public art could leverage grants or community benefits from development. Staff emphasized that modest municipal funding is often required to unlock external grants. Council supported the plan framework, directing staff to return in 2025 with detailed policies.

Early Direction for the 2025 Budget

The final major item was a Pre-Budget 2025 Direction report presented by Chief Administrative Officer Marcia Wallace. The report outlined proposed approaches to managing rising costs, including deferring non-urgent capital projects and reviewing service levels.

Four turquoise and white portable toilets in a row are placed outdoors on a paved area with grassy background.

A key discussion focused on the future of portable toilets in parks and boat launches, originally introduced during the pandemic. Councillors raised concerns about tourism impacts and public access. An amendment was supported to continue the service using Municipal Accommodation Tax funds, rather than the general tax levy.

Council also discussed capital planning pressures, reserve funding, and the importance of aligning future spending with a comprehensive asset management strategy planned for early 2025.

Key Takeaways

Public art is moving from vision to action. Council endorsed a long-term framework that could bring new public art into parks, villages, and public spaces County-wide.
Essential services remain under close review. From period poverty supports to washrooms in public spaces, council weighed community needs against operational realities.
2025 budget decisions are already taking shape. Early direction focused on deferring non-urgent capital projects, protecting key services, and preparing for tougher financial choices ahead.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 01:42:15. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.