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)
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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...
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