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Seward council approves 3% convenience fee for most card payments; utilities exempt
Summary
Council approved a resolution to add a 3% convenience fee to most non-utility debit and credit-card transactions, with utilities explicitly excluded from the fee.
The Seward City Council voted to add a 3% convenience fee to most debit and credit card transactions for city services, excluding utility payments.
Greg, a city staff member, told the council the recommendation followed a pilot at the golf course and consultations with department heads. "Basically every department except utilities... has recommended that we add this additional 3% convenience fee," Greg said, noting the city intends to exempt utility payments because of the greater sensitivity of those transactions.
Departments expected to apply the fee include recreation (the pool), the library, building inspections and cemetery services when a plot is purchased. Greg said the pool expressed particular interest in adding the fee so seasonal-pass purchasers would be able to decide whether to pay with cards or by cash or check. The city will also continue to review other department needs before applying the fee more broadly.
The resolution was introduced as resolution number 2025-9 and was moved and adopted during the meeting. The transcript does not specify an effective date for the fee or further implementation steps; staff indicated departments had been consulted and the pool planned to include the fee in customer communications.
