TAMRMS#: B06
9.1
REQUEST FOR DECISION
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Bylaw 22/2026 - Master Rates Bylaw and Other Bylaws (1st Reading)
Presented by: Atul Saini, Financial Controller, Financial & Strategic Services
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RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
recommendation
That Bylaw 22/2026, being a bylaw to amend the Master Rates Bylaw and various other bylaws under which fees, rates and charges are set, be read a first time.
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SUMMARY
Administration is seeking adjustments to the City’s fees, rates, and charges as referenced in Council Policy and established by bylaws, as part of the 2027-2029 Municipal Budget Process.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
That if a fee or charge is set in a bylaw, only Council can adjust it:
“Council shall set fees contained within bylaw. The CAO shall make recommendation(s) as to the appropriate fee, as necessary.”
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
User fees are a critical element of a municipality’s revenue mix and represent a significant portion of the City’s revenue stream. Annually, departments review fees considering factors such as market comparables, benchmarks, cost recovery and the methodologies prescribed in Council Policy. This review process supports the City’s ‘user pay’ philosophy, such that wherever and to the extent possible, the user of a particular program or service pays the cost of delivering or providing that program or service.
1. Fees, Rates and Charges Set By Bylaw
(requires Council approval since only Council has authority to pass bylaws)
These are user fees set in one of the bylaws or in the Master Rates Bylaw 1/82 and require Council to pass one or more amending bylaws in order to make rate or fee changes. These fees are mandatory, and Administration has no discretion to waive them in the situations and with respect to the persons to whom they apply. This includes fees for such things as development permits, building permits, and electrical permit fees. The individual schedules can be found in the attachment to this report entitled “Fees Contained in Bylaw” with recommended changes to rates marked in red. Making the recommended bylaw amendments would generate an incremental $114,100 in Municipal Operating Revenue for 2027.
To provide both Council and the public with adequate time to review Administration's recommended amendments to the fees and charges that are set by bylaw, it is proposed that only first reading of Bylaw 22/2026 occur on September 1, 2026, and that second and third reading of the bylaw be scheduled through the Agenda Planning process for the regular Council meeting on October 6, 2026. The text of amending Bylaw 22/2026 is found in the attachment entitled “Master Rates and Bylaw Fees Amending BL 22/2026”.
The impact of the adjustments that Administration seeks from Council through bylaw amendments would be to generate an estimated incremental $114,100 in Municipal Operating Revenue for 2027. If the recommended bylaw amendments are passed, these dollar impacts will be factored into the 2027 budget to be presented to Council later in Q4 2026.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
N/A
IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
Amendment of the Bylaw fees as detailed in the attachments will generate an incremental $114,100 in Municipal Operating Revenue which has been incorporated into the 2027 Proposed Budget. This will provide funding for the delivery of various municipal programs and services while continuing to support the City’s user pay philosophy.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time
Program or Service:
None at this time
Organizational:
None at this time
Risks
None at this time
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
None at this time
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
Financial Planning
Stewardship and Development of annual operating and capital budgets for Municipal and Utility operations.
IMPACTS OF ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
If Council does not wish to support the proposed motion, Administration presents the following alternatives for Council’s consideration.
ALTERNATIVE 1:
Council can recommend an amendment to any fee adjustment in Bylaw 22/2026 or to any fee or charge contained in any bylaw referenced in Bylaw 22/2026 whether or not it is being recommended for adjustment at this time. It is respectfully requested that any such proposed amendment sought by any Councillor be submitted to Legislative Services by 12:00 noon on Friday, September 18, 2026 in the form of a postponed motion. Any such postponed motions will then be brought to Council for consideration on October 6, 2026 in conjunction with second and third readings of Bylaw 22/2026. This timing will allow Administration to know where we stand in respect of fees, rates, and charges before finalizing the proposed 2027 budget.
Financial:
None at this time - dependent on the changes proposed, if any.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time
Program or Service:
None at this time
Organizational:
None at this time
Risks
None at this time
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Report Date: September 1, 2026
Author(s): Atul Saini
Department: Financial and Strategic Services
Department Director: Anne Victoor
Managing Director: Diane McMordie
Chief Administrative Officer: William Fletcher