Fremont City Council Meeting: 11/12/24 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Public Works
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Fees & Rates
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5281) DOC ID: 5281
Updated: 11/8/2024 10:41 AM by Susan Gauthier Page 1
UPDATE TO THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE- Public Hearing (Published Notice) to Consider Adopting a Resolution Amending the Master Fee Schedule for Various Public Works Engineering Fees to Reflect Current Cost of Services, Support Community Interest in Monthly Parking at Centerville Train Depot, and to Ensure Full Accurate Cost Recovery; Make Findings of CEQA Exemption.
Contact Persons:
Name: Tiffany Curotto Hans Larsen
Title: Management Analyst II Public Works Director
Div/Dept: Public Works Public Works
Phone: 510-494-4548 510-494-4722
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to facilitate updating fees charged by the Public Works Department to align with the City’s goals to deliver quality services in a timely manner and to achieve cost recovery for those services. The significant updates are related to community interest in a monthly parking fee at the Centerville Train Depot and the identification of services previously unaccounted for. The recommended fee changes will be effective 60 days from the date of City Council action.
BACKGROUND: The City of Fremont has a Master Fee Schedule (MFS) for a variety of City services that includes: Development – Planning, Engineering, and Building & Safety; Recreation Services and Activities; Animal Services; Human Services; Maintenance Operations; Public Safety; and General and Miscellaneous. A current copy of the MFS is posted on the website for the Finance Department (see weblink below). The MFS is established by City Council Resolution No. 8672 and is updated as needed by supplemental City Council actions.
The most recent updates to the Public Works fee schedule occurred in December 2023, when the Council approved a comprehensive update to fees related to construction in the street right-of-way. In May 2024, City Council adopted recommendations from the Community Development Department that included modifying appeal fees, adding new general development fees, and combining development fees in the MFS to make it easier for applicants to identify all applicable fees for their projects.
State law limits the amount of fees that can be imposed to the reasonable cost of providing services. Staff conducted an analysis of the time and cost of providing various services based on employee time reporting data collected over a multiyear period.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: Staff has identified several fees some of which should be adjusted, removed, and/or added to support community interests and achieve cost recovery. Exhibit A (attached) identifies the recommended changes to several fee categories, which are also summarized below.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5281) Meeting of November 12, 2024 Updated: 11/8/2024 10:41 AM by Susan Gauthier Page 2
New Monthly Parking Pass Option at Centerville Train Depot
In 2018, City Council approved the establishment of the Centerville Train Depot Paid Parking Program, and in 2019, the daily weekday parking rate was approved for $3. At the time, public outreach identified a desire for monthly parking passes, however, the parking kiosk technology could not accommodate this request. A new software update rolling out this fall will allow for monthly parking pass capabilities, and with development plans underway within the surrounding Centerville Transit Oriented Development (TOD) area, the parking demand will likely increase. Staff recommends adding a new fee section called “Centerville Train Depot Parking,” keeping the current daily rate of $3 for weekdays (free on weekends and holidays), and adding a new $50 fee for “monthly pass”. The fee revenue will recover annual operating and maintenance costs for station parking management, security and cleanliness.
Other Miscellaneous Fee Changes
• Update the classification and cost recovery for over-the-counter Building Permit Review Fee for Engineering staff to “Civil Engineer I” instead of Engineering Technician, which is the actual staff classification that performs the review.
Administratively adjust the hourly rate on January 1st to the nearest dollar, which aligns with the Planning staff over-the-counter review. • Remove the redundant fee for “Underground Utility Exception inspection.” • Update “Special major encroachments” to “Major encroachments” to align with Fremont Municipal Code Section 12.05.040.
• Add a fee for Engineering Services – Processing of Affidavit Requesting Release of Plans for Duplication; Cost for Research; and Refund Processing Fee.
Consistent with State law, the recommended fee changes would be effective 60 days from the date of City Council action.
Public Notice
A public hearing notice was published in the Tri-City Voice on October 29, 2024.
Additionally, public hearing e-mail notification of the proposed adjustments to the Public Works fees in the Master Fee Schedule was sent to approximately 4,605 persons subscribed to the City’s e-Subscribe Builder’s Interest List (3,523 email subscribers and 1,082 text message subscribers) on October 29, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACT: The recommended actions have a positive fiscal impact by providing a more accurate cost recovery of City services, thereby ensuring fiscal sustainability and avoiding potential subsidy by the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because they are an administrative fiscal activity and not projects pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378.
WEBLINK:
• Current Master Fee Schedule
www.fremont.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/13864/638300253322870000 Council Staff Report (ID # 5281) Meeting of November 12, 2024 Updated: 11/8/2024 10:41 AM by Susan Gauthier Page 3
ATTACHMENTS:
• Draft Resolution- Master Fee Schedule Update
• Exhibit A – Master Fee Schedule with Track Changes to Relevant Pages
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Hold a Public Hearing; and
2. Approve a resolution amending the Master Fee Schedule to reflect the changes in the proposed updated Master Fee Schedule (Exhibit A to Resolution) for Public Works Fees, effective as of January 11, 2025.