Joint Meeting Council/BFPD
10/6/26 05:30 PM
City Manager Department
Christopher Heldreth
Resolution
Doc ID: 6595
AGENDA ITEM
AGENDA MATTER:
RESCIND THE CITY OF BARSTOW'S AND THE BARSTOW FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT'S JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 09-2026 THAT DISCOUNTED DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE (DIF) RATES FOR ELIGIBLE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, AND ADOPT JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11- 2026 TO REVISE DISCOUNTED DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE (DIF) RATES FOR RESIDENTIAL
DWELLING PROJECTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On March 17, 2026, the City/District approved a discount on development impact fees ("DIFs") that apply to residential developments that included development of at least five (5) residential dwelling units. Upon implementation of the discounted fees, staff determined that the City's/District's intention was that the discounted DIFs apply to the first four thousand (4,000) residential dwelling units, not specifically for those projects that are for the development of five (5) or more residential dwelling units, as contained within Joint Resolution No. 09-26. Therefore, staff is requesting the City/District rescind Joint Resolution No. 09-26, in its entirety, and adopt Joint Resolution No. 11-26 to revise the criteria to which the discounted DIF rate applies to residential dwelling projects.
DISCUSSION:
Both the City of Barstow (“City”) and the Barstow Fire Protection District (“District”) have authority to impose development impact fees (“DIFs”) to help them absorb the impacts of new development. DIFs may not fully reimburse the City or District for all such impacts (e.g., environmental mitigation, public service costs, etc.), but they may cover costs to construct new or expanded physical facilities and infrastructure. For example, a new housing or commercial development requires the City to expand its public safety departments or its capacity to process wastewater; therefore, City/District may raise revenue from DIFs to fund necessary expansions.
On March 17, 2026, the City and District approved adoption of a nexus study for the establishment of a new DIF rate structure. Under the Mitigation Fee Act (Gov. Code, § 66000 et seq.), DIFs must be supported by a nexus study that shows how necessary improvements and infrastructure are connected to new development.
As part of the Council’s/Board’s action on March 17, 2026, a discounted DIF rate for residential dwelling projects was adopted under Joint Resolution No. 09-26; however, the adopted resolution specifically identified that only those residential projects of five (5) or more new residential dwelling units qualified for the discounted DIF rate. Upon staff’s implementation of the new DIF fees, it was recognized that the Council’s/District’s intent was that the discount apply to any new residential dwelling project, regardless of the number of new residential dwelling units being developed. Therefore, staff is requesting the City/District rescind Joint Resolution No. 09-2026, in its entirety, and adopt Joint Resolution No. 11-2026 to authorize the application of a discounted DIF rate to the first four-thousand (4,000) new residential dwelling units retroactively to May 18, 2026.
To summarize, the proposed resolution imposes the new discounted DIF rates on a staggered schedule based on the level of new residential dwelling unit development:
Joint Meeting Council/BFPD
10/6/26 05:30 PM
City Manager Department
Christopher Heldreth
Resolution
Doc ID: 6595
AGENDA ITEM
• Until the City approves projects providing 1,000 new dwelling units, new dwelling unit(s) will continue to pay the City’s current DIF rates.
• When the City has approved between 1,001 and 2,000 new dwelling units, new dwelling unit(s) will pay 25% of the proposed new rates.
• When the City has approved between 2,001 and 3,000 new dwelling units, new dwelling unit(s) will pay 50% of the proposed new rates.
• When the City has approved between 3,001 and 4,000 new dwelling units, new dwelling unit(s) will pay 75% of the proposed new rates.
• Once the City has approved more than 4,000 new dwelling units, the full proposed increase will apply.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Adoption of the revised discounts for residential DIFs will limit the net increase overall; however, the City of Barstow and the Barstow Fire Protection District's intentions are to promote residential development.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council/Barstow Fire Protection District Board:
1. Adopt Joint Resolution No. 11-2026, which repeals Joint Resolution No. 09-2026 (Attachment B), in its entirety, and revises the applicability of discounted Development Impact Fees (DIFs) for the first 4,000 new residential dwelling units approved on or after May 18, 2026.