Mayor Lyn Hall has a pair of proposals he's introducing to lower fees for seniors and those concerned about their environmental footprint.
Hall will be looking for city council support on Monday night to change the definition of "senior" in the city's bylaw that sets out user fees, lowering the age from 65 to 60 years at the pools and arenas.
Hall is asking for the change to take effect as of Jan. 1, 2017.
The scheduled 2016 public admission fee for the pools is $6.30 for adults (up to 65 years old) and $4.80 for seniors (65 years of age and older).
Senior rates for the Pine Valley Golf Course apply to people 55 years and older.
"Many seniors, in particular, have limited or fixed incomes, which makes it more difficult and less affordable for them to be physically and socially active," said Hall in his report to council.
Hall is also asking for council to direct city staff to return a report outlining the financial and operational impacts of removing the fee for residents who want a smaller garbage container.
Currently, it costs $30 to downsize to a smaller curbside bin, which Hall said many residents may wish to do, given the addition of curbside recycling, but the fee is a disincentive.
Staff would also be asked to look at bringing back the voluntary water metering program, which was developed back in 2005 to help residents cut back on their water bills. The program allowed for homeowners to volunteer to have water meters paid for by the city installed on their homes on their dime.
At the time, the city said a 15-per-cent reduction in consumption would save the city nearly $140,000 in water and sewer operating costs.
"Past data from the program has shown an approximate 30 per cent decrease per capita in residential water usage, where meters have been installed," Hall's report to council said.
Hall's proposal would be for a specific number of free water meters to be made available each year.
