HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-05-21 City CouncilBUDGET
’98- ’99 City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
ATTENTION:
FROM:
FINANCE COMMITTEE
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES
DATE:MAY 21, 1998 CMR:235:98
SUBJECT:MUNICIPAL FEE SCHEDULE WITH 1998-99 PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS
This report transmits the Municipal Fee Schedule with proposed amendments for the Fiscal
Year 1998-99.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed changes to the Municipal Fee
Schedule.
DISCUSSION
This report transmits the Municipal Fee Schedule for Fiscal Year 1998-99. Changes or
additions tothe Municipal Fee Schedule are highlighted for easy reference, and deletions hre
lined through. The proposed changes would increase the 1998-99 revenue by an estimated
$28,000, when compared to the 1997-98 Adjusted Budget. Fee revenues are expected to
increase during 1998-99 in a number of areas, such as building and planning, arts and culture,
and parking violations, primarily resulting from greater program activity and more effective
collection efforts, not due to changes in the fee structure.
There area number of proposed changes to the Municipal Fee Schedule as follows:
An alternative fee schedule is proposed for golf course fees to encourage play during
the golf course renovation which will occur in 1998-99. Three groups of rates are
proposed:
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a) Regular green fees apply under normal 18 hole golf course configuration.
b)Interim green fees apply when interim greens and tees are in use.
c)Special application fees apply when normal. 18 hole golf course configuration
is reduced, due to construction work, to 15 holes or less.
Application of interim and special fees is proposed to be implemented under the
discretion of the Director of Community Services. Reduced fees are proposed to
encourage continued usage during construction, and revenues from greens fees, play
cards, etc. are expected to be $466,000 less than in the 1997-98 Adopted Budget,
primarily due to lower demand.
New fees for golf cart and club rentals and driving range usage, adopted on March 16,
1998, are incorporated into the 1998-99 Municipal Fee Schedule. These will yield
$400,000 in new revenues for 1998-99, but are offset by an increase in management
fees paid to Brad Lozares, the golf pro, under a new management agreement.
Animal Services fees are being restructured to incorporate the currently separate
processing fee of $10 into the adoption charges. A detailed list of charges for
veterinary services at the Spay and Neuter Clinic is being added, based on the
veterinarian’s hourly rate of $100daour, and the cost of spay and neuter services for
dogs is being adjusted to reflect the weight of the dog. Revenues in the Spay and
Neuter Clinic are expected to increase $52,000, primarily due to activity at the clinic.
However, a decline in revenues in other Animal Services fees of $22,000 will result
in a net increase of only $30,000.
The fee discount program in Arts and Culture and Recreation is being restructured to
provide a 75 percent discount from class fees (compared to the current 50 percent
discount) for low-income residents, establishing the income eligibility at the
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Low-Income Guidelines, and
eliminating the $5 exemption from the Fee Reduction program. There is no change
to the disabled income eligibility provisions.
5.Other proposed changes with nominal fiscal impact are:
Deletion of a fee for copies of the Palo Alto Municipal Code and City
Charter due to their availability for purchase in various media from the
City’s vendor, ProCode, or on-line;
b)Addition of a franchise renewal fee of $1,250 to cover the cost of processing
the application for the cable television franchise;
CMR:235:98 Page 2 of 3
c)
d)
e)
0
An increase of $5 for an annual permit for Foothill Park entry ($3.75 for
Seniors), and an increase in the reservation fee for picnic areas within the Park;
Providing authority within the basic rental rates at Cubberley for the
Director of Community Services to authorize hourly facility rental discounts
of between 5 and 10 percent off regular rates for new customers for off-peak
usage;
An increase in building demolition and building relocation fees, because of
the number of special reviews required, and deletion of fees by the Planning
Division for sign permits and for electrical pole and meters installations;
An increase in the hourly fee for the use of the attendant parking lot downtown
to $2 for the second hour of parking. Police service fees for public events are
being increased by $2 and $3 per hour to reflect actual costs, and various
parking permit penalties are being adjusted. New special events fees are being
established for Public Works staff services.
An increase in the minimum charges at the landfill of 25 percent, and the
addition of new fees for one-half cubic yard loads, for asphalt, concrete, and
rock loads.
RESOURCE IMPACT
Approval of the Municipal Fee Schedule with proposed amendments will result in a net.
revenue increase of approximately $28,000 compared to the 1997-98 Adjusted Budget.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
These recommendations are consistent with existing City policies.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Adjustment to the Municipal Fee Schedule does not constitute a project for the purposes of
the California Environmental Quality Act.
PREPARED BY:Linda Craig, Senior Financial Analyst
APPROVED BY:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
CC:N/A
CARL
Manager
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