SUNDRE — Minimal changes to the fees charged by the town include a marginal increase to the rates at the Greenwood Campground.
As part of an annual review process to ensure the municipality’s fees are up to date and roughly in line with neighbouring and comparable communities, council heard during its regularly scheduled Dec. 6 meeting from Chris Albert, the town’s director of corporate services.
“Some of the fees are effective once the new season starts. An example of this would be the arena,” said Albert, adding those fees come into effect in May rather than in the new year.
“This is just to give user groups certainty over the course of a season,” he said in explanation of fees that don’t begin until May even though the fees bylaw takes effect on Jan. 1.
“The purpose of the bylaw is to set the user fees for most of our major categories,” he said, citing as examples utilities, planning and development, facility use, business and pet licenses, as well as administrative costs.
“The goal of the fees within this bylaw, is partial recovery of costs associated with a particular service so it is not fully subsidized by taxes or non-users of that service,” he said.
Part of the annual review process involves each department manager looking over their fees as well as keeping an eye on the current costs the town incurs in providing a specific service, he said, adding an increase in expenses will generally translate to increased fees.
Other factors considered include comparable communities to ensure the town is roughly within the same cost spectrum as regional neighbours and similar municipalities. Additionally, predicted use is also calculated into the overall equation, he said.
“So, if we’re seeing a growth in a certain area, we may need to change fees. Or, if we’re seeing lacklustre use in certain areas, we may want to adjust these to attract different users to the facilitates or to what we’re doing,” he said.
All of that information is compiled into the overall fees bylaw, he said, adding that budgeted costs over the last number of years have remained fairly stable.
“Therefore, we’ve actually managed to keep our fees very stable,” he said. “Which is definitely a good thing — it adds that predictability to the system.”
Heading into 2022, minimal changes were proposed by administration, he said, adding one is a slight increase to some of the Greenwood Campground’s fees as well as a revision to the planning and development department for reference purposes to make information easier to access for various users of those fees.
Responding to follow-up questions, Albert said three out of nine camping fees have modestly increased: non-serviced (per night) from $24 to $25; power serviced only (per night) from $32 to $35; as well as full service (per night) from $37 to $40.
Mayor Richard Warnock said he was pleased to see that level of consistency among the fees that remain largely unchanged, and sought a motion to open the floor for discussion.
Upon second reading of the bylaw, Coun. Jaime Marr sought clarification with regards to the digital display sign on the northwest corner of Centre Street and Second Avenue south of the River Valley School.
“Is this a fee that we anticipate to have soon, or not?” she asked.
“My understanding is that currently the sign is broken and has some issues,” replied Albert, adding there had been a discussion with the community services department regarding whether to keep those fees in the bylaw.
“Their hope is in 2022, to be able to look into partnerships or sponsorships to get a new sign or to get it repaired,” he said, adding the fees were ultimately included in the bylaw as it is possible the display will once again be available in the coming year.
“Unfortunately, it’s not right now, but we are working towards that,” he said.
Marr later followed up with an unrelated question pertaining to the Greenwood Campground's rates and whether the dumping fee is waived for residents.
“Do we not waive the dumping fee for residents anymore, or was that changed at some point?” she asked.
Albert said that as far as he was aware, the town does not waive the dumping fee for residents.
Drawing from his past recollection from the last term he served when the late Myron Thompson was still on council, Coun. Chris Vardas said he recalled a discussion at the time that led to a decision to waive the dumping fee for residents.
“That’s something we’ll have to look into,” said Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer. “But that wouldn’t affect the fees bylaw anyway if it was a waived fee.”
Council proceeded to carry the bylaw’s remaining readings.
