DATE:
May 3, 2022
TO:
Christine Daniel, City Manager
FROM:
Brad Farmer, Finance Director
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Amending The City Of Emeryville Master Fee Schedule For Fiscal Year 2022-23 Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council hold a Public Hearing and thereafter approve the above-entitled resolution updating the Master Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2022.
Background
The City of Emeryville charges fees for a variety of specific services offered by City departments. These fees are intended to recover the costs of services provided, to the extent possible. Services for which fees are charged are those performed by a governmental agency for the benefit of an individual community member or group. The costs of services benefiting individuals and not the community at large should be borne by the individuals receiving the service. In most cases, the City may only set fees at a level to recover the full cost of providing the service and may not generate revenue on fees. In certain circumstances due to policy objectives, it is reasonable to set fees at a level that does not recover the full cost of providing the service, thereby resulting in the difference being absorbed by the General Fund.
The last comprehensive fee analysis for Emeryville was conducted in fiscal year 2015-16 by NBS and adopted by the City Council on July 19, 2016. The Master Fee Schedule attached to the proposed resolution has been updated with the San Francisco Bay Area Consumer Price Index (CPI), or, in certain cases as mandated by the Municipal Code, the Engineering News Record Construction Cost Index for San Francisco.
DISCUSSION
The Master Fee Schedule attached to the proposed resolution identifies fee changes and additions proposed by City departments. The tables contain a description of the fee, the current level of the fee and the proposed change. Primarily the proposed changes reflect adjustments of 5.2% as measured by the average change in the SF Bay Area Consumer Price Index from February 2021 to February 2022.
Proposed increases in fees for the City Manager and City Clerk, Finance, Fire, Public Works, Economic Development and Housing Departments, and Child Development, were based on the annual CPI changes. Other new or significantly revised updates are detailed by department below.
The proposed fee changes will take effect on July 1, 2022, if approved by the City Council. However, Government Code Section 66017(a) provides that new or increased fees relating to the filing, acceptance, review, approval or issuance of an application, permit, or entitlement of a development project, shall become effective 60 days after adoption of the new fee or increase by the City Council.
Highlights on Proposed Fee Changes
Building Division
Most Building Division fees are based on construction valuation. These fees remain unchanged to ensure that Emeryville’s fees are comparable to those of other cities. Most flat fees have been increased by CPI. A new fee of $175 has been added for extensions of permit expiration dates and plan check expiration dates to cover services that are currently provided, but not charged for. Solar Panel Building Permit fees have been updated to reflect the fee amounts authorized under state law.
Sewer Connection Fees
The sewer connection fee is a one-time fee that is paid to the City when a property owner/developer pulls a building permit that includes new connections to the Sanitary Sewer collection system. The fee is used to make capital improvements to the sewer collection system. Section 7-8.306 of Chapter 8 of Title 7 of the Emeryville Municipal Code provides that the rate “shall be adjusted annually on July 1 by resolution of the City Council to reflect the change in the Engineering News Record (ENR) Construction Cost Index during the preceding twelve (12) months. The March ENR Construction Cost Index value shall be used as the basis of adjustment.” Sewer Connection Fees have been updated based on the change in the Engineering News Record (ENR) Construction Cost Index for March 2020 - March 2021, which is 15.15%.
Planning Division
Various fees have been increased by CPI. Staff proposes to update the Alameda County filing fees for environmental documents. These fees, set by the State Department of Fish & Game, increase every year on January 1. The fees shown are as of 1/1/2022. They will go up again on 1/1/2023.
Police Department
Most fees have been adjusted for CPI. A new fee for Police Non-Sworn Overtime Hourly rate has been added for non-sworn staff who work special events.
Community Services Department
In general, the costs for community service programs are covered by the General Fund. It has been the City’s longstanding policy to keep the fees low to ensure programs are affordable to residents and non-residents. Community Services Department fees have been adjusted to reflect the CPI increase.
Community Services Division
Community Event Permit (Non-Park Rental) Fees are being added to recover costs for staff time and resources. The description of “ECCL Athletic Field” has been revised to include the terms “and/or Track”. New fees have been added for ECCL Outdoor Basketball Court Rentals based on costs of 50% of indoor gym fees. A new fee for ECCL Special Equipment & Services (e.g., Audio Equipment, Visual Equipment) has been added which is based on market rate since this equipment is EECL own property and not limited to cost recovery.
Youth Services Division
The fee schedule removes Swim Team fees for Junior Groups, as the City will no longer offer these rates. All Swim Team fees increased to reflect additional use of pool time.
Adult Services Division
The fee schedule adds a new ECCL Fitness Passport fee which is a 10-Day Pass for non-resident youth and seniors which is currently not on the fee schedule.
Fiscal Impact
Approval of the proposed mast fee schedule will provide the City an opportunity to recover some of its costs for providing these services.
ADVISORY BODY REVIEW
The proposed master fee schedule was reviewed by the Budget and Governance Committee on April 14, 2022.
Conclusion
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed revisions to the master fee schedule.
PREPARED BY: Andrea Arriaga, Accounting Technician
REVIEWED BY: Brad Farmer, Finance Director
Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Christine Daniel, City Manager
Attachments
Draft Master Fee Schedule (Redline)
Draft Resolution
Exhibit A – FY 22-23 Proposed Master Fee Schedule (Clean) Master Fee Schedule
City Council Meeting | May 3, 2022
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM