|
Agenda Item: 8(g) |
Prepared By: Justin Martin, Public Works Director |
|
Business: Consent Agenda Resolution |
Department: Public Works |
Subject:
Title
Resolution - Amending Existing Right of Way Permit Review and Inspection Fee Schedule - Justin Martin, PE, Director, Public Works Department
Body
BACKGROUND:
The City's current Right-of-Way Permit Review and Inspection Fee Schedule was adopted by City Council in 2014 through Resolution No. 14-03 and has remained unchanged for more than twelve years. During that time, the cost and complexity of reviewing plans, issuing permits, performing construction inspections, coordinating utility work, and administering right-of-way permits have increased significantly.
Public Works staff review engineering plans and traffic control plans, coordinate with utility providers and contractors, conduct field inspections to ensure compliance with City standards, verify restoration of public infrastructure, and enforce permit requirements intended to protect the City's roads, sidewalks, drainage systems, utilities, and other public assets. These services require qualified personnel, specialized equipment, continuing education, and administrative support, all of which have experienced substantial cost increases since the current fee schedule was adopted.
The proposed changes are intended to better align permit fees with the City's actual cost of providing plan review, inspection, and permit administration services while maintaining a fair and equitable fee structure for applicants. The proposed revisions include:
• Removing the $8-per-day fee for leased parking on City-owned property, except within the public rights-of-way since it is unrelated to the right-of-way permitting program.
• Increasing the driveway reconstruction permit fee from $200 to $380 for both residential and non-residential properties to better reflect the level of review and inspection required.
• Eliminating the unused and ambiguous Right-of-Way Construction Permit Removal Fee and replacing it with a Driveway/Sidewalk Repair (Less Than 50% Replacement) permit fee of $50 for residential properties and $200 for non-residential properties.
• Increasing the permit fee for installing landscaping within the public right-of-way by $50 for both residential and non-residential properties.
• Increasing all reinspection fees by $50 and establishing a new $100 consultation fee for site visits requested by permittees to meet with the City's right-of-way inspector for project consultation.
All other fees within the Right-of-Way Permit Review and Inspection Fee Schedule will remain unchanged.
Updating the fee schedule will help ensure that a greater portion of the cost of plan review, inspections, and permit administration is borne by those utilizing the public rights-of-way rather than subsidized by the City's general taxpayers.
FUNDING SOURCE / FISCAL IMPACT: Right-of-Way Permit Plan Review and Inspection Fees are deposited into the General Fund and offset a portion of the personnel, equipment, vehicle, technology, and administrative costs associated with administering the City's Right-of-Way Permit Program. Approval of the proposed fee schedule is expected to increase cost recovery for these services but is not anticipated to fully recover all costs associated with program administration.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve Resolution 26-41.
POTENTIAL MOTION: “I move to approve Resolution 26-41.”