Belleville City Council met for the first time in 2026 this afternoon at Belleville City Hall following their holiday break.
Council passed the 2026 borrowing By-law, authorizing the City to borrow funds to support approved capital projects and financial obligations. Council also approved blanket purchase orders totaling $600,000 for fleet repairs in 2026, allocating $300,000 to Prevost, $150,000 to Rush Truck Centre, and $150,000 to Premier Truck, in accordance with the City’s purchasing By-law.
Traffic changes were also approved, with Council passing amendments to the traffic By-law to establish a three-way stop at the intersection of Essex Dr and Kipling Dr. The change follows a recommendation from the Transportation Committee and is intended to improve safety at the intersection.
Council further adopted an updated Community Improvement Plan (CIP) focused on housing, downtown revitalization, and Brownfield redevelopment. Under the approved plan, most CIP incentive programs will be activated for the duration of the City’s Housing Accelerator Fund agreement, with the exception of Programs 1, 12, and 14. The plan is aimed at encouraging residential development, revitalizing the downtown core, and supporting redevelopment of underutilized properties. The full plan can be read here.
Several administrative By-laws were also passed, including the appointment of a Municipal Parking By-law Enforcement Officer for properties located at 87 Queen St and 190 Bridge St E. The By-law will be prepared for Council’s consideration.
Council received a number of information items, including a year-end report from Belleville Economic Development, the December 2025 Building Services month-end report, and correspondence from Quinte Conservation regarding proposed provincial changes to conservation authorities.
Council also agreed to support a resolution from the City of Kingston advocating for prioritization and funding of the Kingston Health Sciences Centre Redevelopment Project.
KHSC’s primary hospital site Kingston General Hospital (KGH) is operating in an aged, constrained facility, with critical infrastructure that no longer meets modern health-care standards for patient safety, accessibility, and clinical innovation. The proposed KHSC redevelopment project, including a major rebuild of KGH and the Cancer Centre of Eastern Ontario, will strengthen regional access to emergency services, surgical care, maternal and pediatric care, cancer care, and specialized programs that local hospitals rely on.
Kingston City Council is formally requesting the support of neighbouring and partner municipalities across Southeastern Ontario in advocating to the Province of Ontario for the prioritization and full funding of the Kingston Health Sciences Centre Redevelopment Project and Kingston City Council request supporting municipalities to write a motion of support to be sent to the Honourable Doug Ford, M.P.P., Premier of Ontario, the Honourable Sylvia Jones, M.P.P, Minister of Health, the Honourable Kinga Surma, M.P.P., Minister of Infrastructure, Deborah Richardson, Deputy Minister of Health, Michelle E. DiEmanuele, Ontario Secretary of the Cabinet, Ted Hsu, M.P.P., Kingston and the Islands, John Jordan, M.P.P., Lanark-FrontenacKingston, Ric Bresee, M.P.P., Hastings-Lennox and Addington and Steve Clark, M.P.P., Leeds-Grenville-Thousands Islands and Rideau Lakes, urging immediate advancement of the KHSC rebuild in the provincial capital plan.
Council will meet again on January 26th, 2026 for 4pm at Belleville City Hall.
