Council regulatory services manager Lichelle Guyan's report to the council this week proposes a mixed fee model that would cap the hourly fees council officers could charge at four hours.
``I guess it [the fees model] puts a trigger where the time will no longer apply, but we also have to be careful that it does still give us the opportunity to recover our costs of doing a job,'' she said yesterday.
``We expect the vast majority will be under four hours.''
The council proposal to cover costs from implementing and regulating the Food Act 2014 split costs evenly between ratepayers and businesses, but would mean an estimated average 69% fee rise for Waitaki eateries.
In February, when councillors heard submissions on a proposal for the new fees for the Waitaki district's 182 affected businesses, several submitters opposed the new fees, including Hospitality NZ, an advocacy group with 28 Waitaki members.
Trish Woods-Whiting, of The Galley Cafe, warned the new charges might lead to some small businesses closing.
Bevan Smith, of Riverstone Kitchen, wrote in favour of a flat fee over hourly fees, which he said could lead to ``inflated fee blowouts''.
At the submissions hearings, Riverstone Kitchen's Kate Proctor asked whether the council would consider capping the fees.
In her report to the council, Mrs Guyan wrote ``verification fees capped at four hours may provide a level of comfort when planning compliance costs''.