Council approves user fees, some costs higher at Cenovus Energy Hub

BorderPulse

December 18, 2025

cenovus energy hub

Lloydminster city council has approved its 2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw, formally setting a wide range of user fees for the coming year, including those associated with the Cenovus Energy Hub.

The Bylaw establishes the fees that residents, user groups, and organizations will pay for city services in 2026. Administration told council the changes generally fall within a modest range and are intended to reflect rising operating and maintenance costs rather than generate new revenue.

Administration explained that Hub fees are treated as user fees, meaning costs are recovered from users rather than through general taxation.

“These fees are designed to recover the cost of operating and maintaining the facilities, while keeping core sport infrastructure consistent across the city,” said Karen Gana-Dela Rosa, the city’s director of environment services.

While the council did not debate individual Hub line items during the meeting, a review of the approved fee schedules shows notable differences between the Hub and other city facilities.

For example, the Legacy Meeting Room at the Cenovus Energy Hub, which measures 355 square feet, is approved at $50.95 per hour, rising to $51.90 later in the year.

By comparison, a 796-square-foot meeting room at the Servus Sports Centre is priced at $43.81 per hour, rising to $44.76. Despite being more than twice the size, the Servus room carries a lower hourly rate.

Administration has previously stated that facility fees are influenced by operating costs, demand, and long-term maintenance requirements, rather than solely by square footage.

At the same time, several core facility fees remain standardized across the city. Indoor ice sheet rentals and locker room fees are priced the same regardless of which city-owned arena is used, meaning sports groups pay the same rate whether they book ice at the Hub or the Servus Sports Centre.

Parking lot rental fees for permitted events are also standardized citywide. This means events that rely heavily on outdoor space will not face different parking lot rental costs based on location. For example, organizers of large vehicle-based events such as the Just Cruzin’ car show will pay the same parking lot rental rate whether the event is hosted at the Cenovus Energy Hub or the Servus Sports Centre, allowing events to move locations without triggering higher costs.

Council approved the Fees and Charges Bylaw through second and third readings, finalizing the city’s 2026 fee schedule. The broader framework allows the council to revisit individual fee categories in future years if user groups or the public raise concerns.

Read more: Council questions 13 per cent rise in water rates through 2030

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