Kenmore Council scheduled 2026 fee schedule discussion, informed by fee study showing $339,000 cost-recovery gap

What the records say

The City of Kenmore's agenda for its Nov. 17, 2025 regular meeting listed Proposed Resolution No. 25-434, the 2026 Fee Schedule, presented by Development Services Director Samantha Loyuk, for discussion and direction ¹. The agenda describes this as a discussion-and-direction item, not a final vote or adoption ¹. The same meeting packet includes a fee study presentation whose agenda bill states the study results 'will inform the 2026 fee schedule (separate agenda item)' ¹. That study found the Development Services Department recovers about 78% of its fee-related costs, an annual shortfall of roughly $339,000, with Building at 84% recovery, Engineering at 65%, and Planning at 28% ¹. The supplied record does not include the proposed 2026 fee amounts themselves, so it does not show which specific charges would change or by how much ¹. The available records do not establish what the Council discussed or decided on Nov. 17 ¹.

• The agenda lists Proposed Resolution No. 25-434, 2026 Fee Schedule, as a business agenda item for discussion and direction, presented by Development Services Director Samantha Loyuk ¹.
• The same meeting's fee study agenda bill states the study results will inform the 2026 fee schedule as a separate agenda item ¹.
• The fee study found the department recovers about 78% of fee-related costs, an annual shortfall of roughly $339,000; Building recovers 84%, Engineering 65%, and Planning 28% ¹.
• The study recommends reducing fees that exceed cost recovery and increasing fees that fall short, with amounts adjusted to reflect a 2.7% Washington CPI for 2026 ¹.
• The supplied record does not include the proposed 2026 fee amounts, final terms, or effective dates ¹.

Why it matters

Permitting and land-use fees affect what residents and builders pay for city services, and the fee study behind this item documents where current fees fall short of the city's actual costs — including a roughly $339,000 annual gap — signaling that some fees were positioned to rise while others could fall ¹. Because the agenda item was scoped to discussion and direction, no fee change took effect from this item alone, and the supplied records do not show the outcome ¹.

What changed / what's next

• The Nov. 17, 2025 City Council agenda listed the 2026 Fee Schedule (Proposed Resolution No. 25-434) for discussion and direction, with several related attachments added or updated on Nov. 13 ¹.
• The item was scoped as a presentation for discussion and direction, not a final adoption action ¹.
• The supplied records do not establish whether the Council gave direction, moved the item forward, or took any vote on Nov. 17 ¹.
• The proposed 2026 fee amounts are not in the supplied record; the agenda references a 2026 Fee Schedule exhibit and a tracked-changes attachment, but their contents are not included ¹.
• The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome.