AgdaPkt 2004-09-27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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�A-q ATTACHMENT 111 Planning Cost Reoov�ery Pdicy As part of the Council's on-going review of the budget, the Revenue sub-committee comprised of Chairman Jim Hartnett, Mayor Jeff Ira, and Council member Rosanne Foust met in April and June 2004 to consider changes to the way the City charges planning applicants for project review. Redwood City's last amendment to any planning fees or charges was in 1990. The sub-committee reviewed data from a variety of neighboring cities, but focused on Mountain View, San Mateo, and Palo Alto as the most comparable to Redwood City (similar in population and in the complexity of the projects they see). Comparison of Pern�it Fees ($) Pem�it RWC San Ma�eo Palo AfDo Mt View Architectural Permits 100-450 281-2,034 120-3,500 557-1,916 Planned Development Permits 1,000 4,627 NA 3,592 General Plan Amendments 500 4,627 5,000 1,276 Zonin Amendments 1,000 4,627 5,000 1,276 Use Permits 400 453 2,500 1,574 Source: Data from City websites — April 24, 2004 This is just an excerpt of the complete list of permits. It was clear that Redwood City's charges were very low when compared with any of our neighbors. In FY 2003/04 Planning fees and charges amounted to 16% of their general fund costs to operate the Planning function. It appeared to the sub-committee that while some services — for example police and fire — should be regarded as something a resident should receive as part of the City's basic services, it was appropriate to charge the actual cost of service to applicants of major development projects. If we do not charge the actual cost for such project review, it means that all residents of the City are subsidizing these major projects. The proposal is that "major projects" pay the full costs of processing their applications. We are recommending one-quarter acre as the definition of what constitutes a`major project'. Below this threshold, applicants would pay the current fees'. At or above this threshold, the proposed policy will require that the applicant make a deposit of funds ' Staff is conducting an analysis of actual costs to deliver different types of permits. This will provide the basic data Council will need to have before considering changing such fees. The sub-committee will consider this data when available and make a recommendation to Council. Alll-1 _ _ . _._