HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4062
City of Palo Alto (ID # 4062)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 9/16/2013
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: 2014 Municipal Fee Schedule Amendments
Title: Adoption of a Resolution Approving the 2014 Municipal Fee Schedule
Amendments
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Administrative Services
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Council approve amendments to the FY 2014 Adopted Municipal Fee
Schedule effective July 1, 2013, as stated in the resolution.
Executive Summary
The recommendations included in this report will allow for minor technical adjustments to the
Municipal Fee Schedule. These clerical amendments consist of modifying copying costs to ensure
consistency and adding three fees which were inadvertently omitted from the 2014 Municipal Fee
Schedule due to clerical errors. The fee amendments will have no effect on the Fiscal Year 2014 Adopted
Operating Budget, as the correct rates were used in the development of revenue estimates for the
budget. Upon approval of the recommendations included in this report, staff will amend the 2014
Adopted Municipal Fee Schedule that is posted on the City’s website.
Background
On June 10, 2013, the City Council approved the 2014 Operating Budget, which included the Municipal
Fee Schedule. Subsequent to the release of the Adopted Municipal Fee Schedule early August 2013, a
small number of clerical errors were discovered, and staff now seeks City Council authorization to
retroactively correct these errors effective July 1, 2013.
Discussion
After the release of the FY 2014 Adopted Municipal Fee Schedule early August 2013, a small number of
clerical errors were discovered as discussed below.
City of Palo Alto Page 2
Zoning Map Booklets: The FY 2014 Adopted Municipal Fee Schedule includes fees for the purchase of
Zoning Map Booklets in two different sections of the schedule. In the City-Wide Fee section of the
document (page 1-1), the fee is listed as $48.00 + $4.00, if mailed, however, in the Planning and
Community Environment Department (page 16-4) the fee is listed as $95.00 + $4.00, if mailed. The fee
was increased in Fiscal Year 2010 and then again as part of the 2014 Budget, however, the City-Wide
section of the document was not updated to account for these Zoning Map Booklets fee increases. The
higher rate, as reflected in the Planning and Community Environment Department, has been used since
2010. Staff recommends to retroactively update the City-Wide Fee Section of the FY 2014 Adopted
Municipal Fee Schedule to ensure consistency within the document.
Construction and Demolition Fees: Prior to Fiscal Year 2014, the Municipal Fee Schedule for the Public
Works Department included fees related to the Construction and Demolition Program. These fees are
assessed for various types of projects and construction valuations to ensure proper recycling and
disposal of demolition debris. The three fees are itemized below:
Commercial and Multi-family projects greater than or equal to $25,000 in valuation:
$225/permit
Single Family and Two Family projects greater than $75,000 in valuation: $205/permit
Single Family and Two Family projects greater than $25,000 and less than $75,000 in valuation:
$77/permit
Prior to FY 2014, the Revenues and associated expenditures associated with this program were
budgeted in the Refuse Fund. As part of the FY 2014 Adopted Budget, the revenues and expenditures
related to this program were shifted to the General Fund, in the Planning and Community Environment
Department. As part of the development of the 2014 Municipal Fee Schedule, staff correctly eliminated
these fees in the Public Works Department – Refuse section; however, inadvertently these fees were not
added to the Planning and Community Environment Department Section. Therefore, staff recommends
to retroactively approve these three fees effective July 1, 2013 so that staff can amend the Planning and
Community Environment Department Section of the FY 2014 Adopted Municipal Fee Schedule.
Resource Impact
No impact on the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget is anticipated as a result of these recommendations. All
recommended fee amendments to the FY 2014 Adopted Municipal Fee Schedule and related revenue
estimates were assumed in the development of the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget.
Policy Implications
This recommendation is consistent with adopted Council policy.
Environmental Review
The action recommended is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act.
City of Palo Alto Page 3
Attachments:
Attachement A: RESO Muni Fee Schedule 2014 (PDF)
Exhibit 1 - Exhibit Revised Muni Fee pages (PDF)
*NOT YET APPROVED*
130904 sh 0131121
Resolution No. ________
Resolution of Intention of the Council of the City of Palo Alto
Amending the Citywide Section and Planning and Community
Environment Department Section of the Fiscal Year 2014 Municipal
Fee Schedule
R E C I T A L S
A. On June 10, 2013, The City Council approved the 2014 Operating Budget, which
included the Municipal Fee Schedule.
B. Subsequent to the release of the Adopted Municipal Fee Schedule early August
2013, a small number of clerical errors were discovered.
C. Prior to FY 2014, the revenues and associated expenditures associated with this
program were budgeted in the Refuse Fund. As part of the FY 2014 Adopted Budget, the
revenue and expenditures related to this program were shifted to the General Fund, in the
Planning and Community Environment Department. As part of the development of the 2014
Municipal Fee Schedule, staff correctly eliminated these fees in the Public Works Department –
Refuse Section; however, inadvertently these fees were not added to the Planning and
Community Environment Department Section.
D. The Municipal Fee Schedule displays the fees for Zoning Map Booklets in the
Citywide section as well as the Planning and Community Environment section of the document.
The fee included in the Citywide section of the document incorrectly states a lower fee than the
Planning and Community Environment section.
E. The minor technical adjustments to the Municipal Fee Schedule are for four fees
retroactive to July 1, 2013. These adjustments will ensure consistency of two fees (Zoning Map
Booklets) across the schedule and add three fees (Construction and Demolition Fees) which
were inadvertently omitted from the 2014 Municipal Fee Schedule.
F. The fee amendments will have no effect on the Fiscal Year 2014 Operating
Budget, as the correct rates were used in the development of revenue estimates for the
budget.
G. The fee amendments will be retroactive to July 1, 2013.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows:
SECTION 1. The Municipal Fee Schedule is hereby amended as stated on the
attached Exhibit “A” – Citywide Section and Planning and Community Environment Department
Section of the Fiscal Year 2014 Municipal Fee Schedule.
*NOT YET APPROVED*
130904 sh 0131121
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SECTION 2. The Council finds that this is not a project under the California
Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
__________________________ _____________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
__________________________ _____________________________
Sr. Assistant City Attorney City Manager
_____________________________
Director of Planning & Community Environment
_____________________________
Director of Administrative Services
FY 2013 FEE FY 2014 FEE
Map Scales
Zoning Map Booklet $95.00 + $4.00 if mailed $95.00 + $4.00 if mailed
CITYWIDE FEES
City of Palo Alto FY 2014 Municipal Fee Schedule 1- 1
Construction and Demolition
Commercial and Multi-Family projects greater than or
equal to $25,000 in valuation
Single Family and Two Family projects greater than
$75,000 in valuation
Single Family and Two Family projects greater than
$25,000 and less than $75,000 in valuation
FY 2013 FEE FY 2014 FEE
PLANNING & COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT
Building Division
Whenever work is started without application approval, an investigation fee in addition to the permit fee shall be collected whether
or not a permit application is then or subsequently approved. The investigation fee shall be equal to the amount of the application
fee required.
$230.00/permit $230.00/permit
$205.00/permit $205.00/permit
$77.00/permit $77.00/permit
City of Palo Alto FY 2014 Municipal Fee Schedule 15-1