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Council tables broad fee-schedule overhaul, asks for a work session on building-permit fees
Summary
Councilors paused consideration of a large package of fee changes that included sliding-scale building-permit fees, new tipping and EMS fees, and cemetery adjustments, voting to table the entire package for a dedicated work session to refine numbers and impacts.
The Two Rivers City Council unanimously agreed on Nov. 17 to table a proposed municipal-fee schedule that would have updated numerous charges citywide, citing the need for more analysis and a dedicated work session.
City staff presented a large package of changes intended to help the general fund keep pace with inflation and to move many legacy flat fees to a sliding scale tied to project value. Proposed items included a new harbor tipping fee ($20 per cubic yard) for future Army Corps dredging, a tactical EMS fee ($150), paramedic intercept fees charged to private ambulance companies, modest increases to beverage-operator and background-check fees, cemetery fee adjustments and a new approach to building-permit fees calculated at $7.50 per $1,000 of project value for many permit categories.
Several council members raised notable concerns about the sliding-scale approach for building permits, saying the proposed $7.50/$1,000 rate could significantly increase costs for larger projects and that the schedule was unclear in places. Staff explained the sliding scale is based on project value (not the full home value) and said comparables informed the proposed numbers; staff also noted additional inspector and community-development staffing planned for 2026 to support growth.
Council member (speaker 11) moved to postpone consideration and hold a work session to review the package in detail; the motion was seconded and adopted by roll call. Council asked staff to return with refined recommendations for permit-related chapters and clarified numbers for fees to be considered at a subsequent work session.
