HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-15-015 - Amendments to 2015 User Fee Schedule
REPORT TO: Mayor Vrbanovic and Members of Council
DATE OF MEETING: February 2, 2015
(519-741-2200, ext. 5500)
SUBMITTED BY: Jon Rehill, Fire Chief
(519-741-2200, ext. 5500)
PREPARED BY: Jon Rehill, Fire Chief
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: January 29, 2015
REPORT NO.: CSD-15-015
SUBJECT: AMENDMENTS TO 2015 USER FEE SCHEDULE
___________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
That the 2015 User Fee Schedule be amended to revise certain user fees related
to the Direct Detect Program, as outlined in Report CSD-15-015.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Kitchener Fire Department has user fees approved as part of the annual
user fee report. Fire user fees are charged for products and services such as issuing
permits, conducting fire prevention inspections, commissioning private fire systems, and
monitoring fire alarms.
REPORT:
While inputting the approved 2015 user fees for the Direct Detect fire alarm monitoring
program, Fire staff noted that the Council approved 2015 fees were not what they
expected. The error results from misinterpreting the treatment of HST on the user fees.
Fire staff believed the Council approved 2015 fees did not include HST, but they did.
As a result, the approved 2015 fees are too low.
To correct this, staff are proposing the fees be changed as outlined in the table below.
This would result in Direct Detect customers being charged 3% more compared to their
2014 actual rates. This is consistent with the increase in most other user fees for 2015.
2015 2015
Approved Revised
Fee Prior Fee Prior
User Fee #Descriptionto HSTto HST
809Extra Units/Unit - Monthly$3.65$4.12
8121G1 Monitor Commercial Non-Required (monthly) - $25.16$28.43
DVAC or AES
8131G2 Monitor Commercial Required (monthly) - DVAC $40.24$45.47
or AES
8151G10 Monitor Dealer Non-Required - Monthly $9.34$10.56
dealer pricing (COK bills dealer, dealer bills
customer)
8161G4 Monitor Dealer Required - Monthly dealer $13.99$15.81
pricing (COK bills dealer, dealer bills customer)
8171G11 Monitor Small Premise -used for non-required $15.09$17.05
monitoring only (small commercial buildings,
churches, 3 story walk ups, student housing,
schools)
8181G13 Monitor/DVAC Replacement (monthly)$50.27$56.80
820Direct Detect Service Calls - During Business Hours - $72.56$81.99
Hourly*
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The aforementioned amendments support the foundation of Effective and Efficient
Government, as contained in the City’s Strategic Plan.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
If the fees are left uncorrected, this will have the effect of lowering projected income
from the commercial monitoring budget line by approximately $9,500 in 2015 and each
year forward. The hourly service rate is also affected and Direct Detect would expect to
see an annual revenue loss of approximately $3,000.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Community engagement is not required as this is simply a correction to the amounts
reported. Correction of the rates to the amounts actually used will ensure continuity for
our customers.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Michael May, Deputy CAO, Community Services
Department