TIMMINS - With winter on the way, residents putting up temporary car shelters won't be forking out more cash for a permit.
A staff request to increase the fee for small accessory structures and temporary tent shelters was turned down by Timmins council on Tuesday.
“We live in Northern Ontario, the seasonal shelters are put up in winter time so you could keep your car clear when it’s -40 out and you don’t have to be out clearing off snow and so forth in the middle of winter. I have a really hard time further charging residents for legally complying tent structures in their residential areas given all the other challenges we have around the community,” said Coun. Steve Black at the meeting.
The permit cost for a temporary tent shelter is $15 for a seasonal structure or $25 to have it up annually. The small accessory structure fee is $50.
Clerk Steph Palmateer asked to increase the fees to $35 for a season shelter, $50 annually, and $60 for a small accessory. It's estimated that the change would have brought in $1,600 in extra revenue annually.
Each year, he said there are upwards of 100 permits issued.
The "small increase", said Palmateer, is because the fees have stayed the same since the bylaw was adopted in 2016.
“These permits are very labour intensive for the enforcement services department so we’re just looking to make the fees help cover some of the cost to provide this service,” he said.
Black was on council in 2016.
He recalled that the conversation at that time was to have a way to easily track temporary shelters and wasn't about revenue.
“I’m not looking to further generate revenue from this process,” he said.
Coun. Bill Gvozdanovic doesn't have an issue with the fee increase but did question the process of how a permit is reissued.
“The issue that I have with that is it’s not really written in stone, it’s at the discretion of the supervisor … I would feel more comfortable if the council approved the policy that came from the department so that they wouldn’t be sticking their neck out,” he said.
The wording in the bylaw allows the enforcement services supervisor to refuse to issue or renew a permit or suspend or revoke a permit under certain conditions. Those are if the supervisor determines that granting a permit isn't in the public's interest, or the applicant hasn't complied with the bylaw's requirements.
While not supportive of hiking the fees, Coun. Lorne Feldman backs having stricter rules.
“I would like the compliance that when they have to come down there’s not really the discretion — you just don’t get the permit. We want to help, but you have to apply,” he said.
The item was defeated in a recorded vote. Black, Feldman and Coun. John Curley were against the fee increase, and Gvozdanovic and Coun. Andrew Marks, who was deputy mayor and chaired the meeting, were in favour.
Mayor Michelle Boileau was absent, as well as councillors Kristin Murray, Cory Robin and Rock Whissell.
