Fremont City Council Meeting: 07/16/24 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Police Department
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Fees & Rates
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5220) DOC ID: 5220
Updated: 7/12/2024 11:37 AM by Dina Lewis Page 1
MASTER FEE SCHEDULE AMENDMENT FOR CONCEALED CARRY WEAPON LICENSE - Public Hearing (Published Notice) to Adopt a Resolution Amending the Master Fee Schedule to Update the Concealed Carry Weapon License Fee Contact Persons:
Name: Diane Brasil
Title: Management Analyst
Div/Dept: Police Department
Phone: 510-790-6816
E-Mail: [email protected]
Executive Summary: The Alameda County Sheriff, through an agreement with the police chiefs of the agencies in the county, was the sole issuing agency for Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) licenses. In January 2024, the Alameda County Sheriff notified agencies within Alameda County they would no longer be processing CCW Licenses for areas that were not under county jurisdiction. As a result, the Fremont Police Department will be responsible for processing and issuing all CCW licenses for residents of the City of Fremont.
Consequently, staff is recommending an amendment to the current fee schedule to reflect the necessary increase in fees and make an addition (CCW license modification fee) to the fee schedule.
BACKGROUND: The California Penal Code authorizes the police chief of each municipality or the county sheriff to issue or renew a Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) license to qualified individuals. Historically, the Alameda County Sheriff issued CCW licenses to citizens of Fremont. In January of 2024 the Alameda County Sheriff announced to local police agencies in the county that they would no longer process CCW applications for those applicants that resided in municipalities due to workload. As a result, the Fremont Police Department now has the responsibility of issuing CCW licenses and needs to update its processes and the fees for the CCW license.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: The City's current CCW fee as listed on the Master Fee Schedule was adopted well over a decade ago and does not reflect new statutory requirements for the CCW licensing process, needed software technology, nor current hourly rates for employees. Below is a brief overview of the application process and the involvement of City of Fremont employees.
Application Process:
The proposed application process aligns with the statutory requirements in the Penal Code.
Application: Applicant submits a CCW license application through the Fremont Police website (via the Permitium software). The application is queued and accepted. It will be reviewed and assigned to a member of the Office of Professional Standards and Accountability. The application processing cost will make up part of the fee charged to the applicant by the Police Department.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5220) Meeting of July 16, 2024 Updated: 7/12/2024 11:37 AM by Dina Lewis Page 2
Live Scan: The applicant will make an appointment to submit fingerprints via Live Scan at the Fremont Police Department Detention Center. The applicant pays the actual cost of the Live Scan.
Background Investigation: Upon receipt of a letter from CA DOJ verifying the applicant is not prohibited from possessing a firearm, the application will be assigned to a background investigator through the Office of Professional Standards and Accountability.
The background investigation cost will comprise part of the fee charged to the applicant by the Police Department.
Psychological Examination: Upon successfully completing the background investigation the applicant will be required to take a psychological examination by a qualified vendor acceptable to the department. The applicant pays the vendor the actual cost of the psychological exam.
Firearms Training and Qualification: The applicant is required to attend a course of instruction of a minimum of 16 hours and a qualification by trainers certified by CA DOJ and acceptable to Fremont PD. The applicant pays the vendor the actual cost of the course and qualification.
Issuance of CCW License: At the completion of the process, if successful, a CCW License will be issued by the Chief of Police. The cost of the CCW license issuance will make up part of the fee charged to the applicant by the Police Department.
A supervisor or sergeant within the Office of Professional Standards and Accountability has primary responsibility for overseeing the CCW licensing process. The supervisor will assign the processing of the CCW licensing to a Community Service Officer or an Annuitant which will take approximately five hours to complete.
The City will contract with two software providers. The first is Permitium Software for an online software solution developed for processing and issuing CCW permits. The initial software implementation cost is $2,800 (quoted as $5,600 with a 50% discount) and a yearly license cost of $4,704. Based upon an estimated 400 applicants per year, the estimated Permitium cost per candidate would be $11.76. FAMA software is the second software company that conducts background checks on an applicant’s social media and internet presence, which is a statutory requirement for the issuance of a CCW license.
The yearly software license cost is $5,000 and an additional $12 for each applicant’s background check. Based upon an estimated 400 applicants per year, the estimated FAMA cost per candidate would be $24.50.
Cost Component Hourly Rate Cost Per Applicant
Sergeant (Professional Standards) $223.21 $223.21 (1 hour) Community Service Officer $87.15 $453.75 (5 hours)
Annuitant $75.31 $376.55 (5 hours)
Permitium $11.76
FAMA $24.50
Total Cost Per Applicant: $695.22 or $636.02
Based on the previously listed costs, the estimated per applicant cost to the city for the Council Staff Report (ID # 5220) Meeting of July 16, 2024 Updated: 7/12/2024 11:37 AM by Dina Lewis Page 3
issuance of a CCW license will be $695.22 or $636.02.
The Police Department conducted research and obtained information on local agency fees and discovered in Alameda County, most agencies will charge fees ranging from $400 -$499.
As a brand new program, the projected costs of processing an application are estimates at this point. As we pilot this initiative for the first year, we recommend aligning fees with local agencies as we assess other potential costs associated with this mandate. After the first year, staff will assess the program costs and determine if adjustments to the fee are required based on actual costs Staff recommends adopting the following fees:
Type of Service Cost
CCW License, New $499
CCW License, Renewal $200
CCW License, Modification $50
FISCAL IMPACT: Adopting the proposed changes to the Master Fee Schedule will reduce the net cost to the City to issue CCW permits as required by the Penal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Updates to the Master Fee Schedule for the fees charged for a CCW permit are an administrative government activity that is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378 and pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) in that the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Since it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed amendments may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Draft Reso- Master Fee Schedule Concealed Weapon License
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Hold a public hearing.
2. Find that amending the Master Fee Schedule is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), per CEQA Guidelines section 15378, as the action is an administrative fiscal activity and per CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) as the amended charges are not a project that requires environmental review.
3. Adopt a resolution amending the Master Fee Schedule for Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) licenses as outlined in the attached resolution.