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. . I . -, Chairman Bautista said the Board's recommendation is for the Council to accept the 1994 Uniform Building Code fee structure, an increase ofIess than 5% each year over '-- the last eight years. In response to Council questions, Building Official La Torra said the notification of the public hearing was sent out in early August, before August 5, 1996, and it asked for comments and suggestions either written or by phone; and the Tri-County Association was not notified, but the San Mateo County Association of Realtors was notified through Dennis Pantano. In response to Council questions, Chairman Bautista advised that the Building Department was not analyzed for efficiency, but the Board took into consideration the expansion of services accomplished by the Department without adding to the Department's costs, and concluded that Building Official La Torra had been extremely effective and efficient. Chairman Bautista described the overhead factor and advised the Building Department's overhead factor of 1.5 was actually below industry standards. 2) Open public hearing; MAYOR HARTNETT DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AT 8:57 P.M. 3) Hear public comment; '-- Mayor Hartnett asked if anyone wished to speak to this issue. No one came forward. 4) Close the public hearing; MIS:. LEIPZIGIRUSKlN TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE AND HEARING CLOSED AT 8:58 P.M. 5) Council action; Councilman Leipzig stated "My views are pretty weIl known on this subject. I am opposed to it. I wiIl vote against this 40% tax increase, or $1.25 miIIion tax increase. Costs versus taxes is an interesting conversation, discussion. But I wonder if we look at other departments in the City in the same way. When the average citizen hears that we are raising taxes by $1.25 miIIion.... They don't think we are just paying for this service if we go get a building permit to build a home or remodel. They look at it as doIlars out of their pocket to the City of Redwood City. They don't .... look throughout the budget and determine that it costs them so much to run this department, so they have to raise this much money in taxes to cover that. We don't operate the fire department that way, nor the police department.... It comes out of the general fund. That is what municipal goveinment is. This whole analogy doesn't impress me. It is - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 54 AUGUST26,1996 MINUTES Paqe No. 448 PAGE 11