AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE
RECEIVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
PUBLIC REVIEW PRIOR TO THE
MEETING
AGENDA NO: 7a
MEETING DATE: August 12, 2025
1 Heather Goodwin
From: Airlin Singewald
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2025 6:13 PM
To: Council
Cc: Emily Conrad; Andrea Lueker
Subject: Planning and Building Fees
Dear Mayor and Council,
I received a question from a councilmember about the effect of the proposed fee schedule update on the cost to obtain planning and building permits to construct a typical single-family residence in Morro Bay. I would like to share my response, along with some additional relevant information, which I believe the entire Council will find useful in preparing for tomorrow's discussion. As shown below, the proposed fee updates would increase the cost to permit a typical single-family residence (1,800 sf with a 400 sf garage) by $7,092 or 13% compared to the current fee levels. Assuming a construction cost of $500 / sf, this would increase the project cost for a typical single-family residence by approximately 0.64 percent.
As you will see below, the majority of the fees to build are impact fees for new development to pay its fair share cost of new public facilities - e.g., fire, water, sewer, police, storm drains, traffic, etc. Please note the proposed fee schedule update does not include changes to development impact fees. Staff is working with a separate consultant (DTA) to complete a development impact fee nexus study (required by AB 1600) that will establish the maximum impact fees the City may impose on new development. Staff will review the nexus study and preliminary recommendations with building industry stakeholders prior to presenting recommended development impact fees to Council in the fall of 2025. 2 Airlin M. Singewald
Community Development Director
[email protected]
Phone: 805-772-6291
City of Morro Bay | Community
Development
955 Shasta Ave | Morro Bay, CA 93442
www.morrobayca.gov/planning
NOTICE
Counter Hours M-TH- 8:00 am to 5:00 pm closed Fridays.
2 It seems to me that permit processing fee is the money paid for a permit. There shouldn't be an additional fee for handling a permit.
Planning fees are increasing the way building fees are jumping. Why is a "sign exception" more costly that a "sign?" What is there to increase about street naming? Why are fines in the Planning Department so low?
You can segregate line items out and ask that the document be brought back with certain changes.
Sincerely,
Betty Winholtz
AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE
RECEIVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
PUBLIC REVIEW PRIOR TO THE
MEETING
AGENDA NO: 8a
MEETING DATE: August 12, 2025
2 1. I have always objected to both the city attorney and the city manager having car allowances. Rather, like any other employee, if travel is required on behalf of the City, take a City vehicle or get reimbursed for mileage.
2. Time off seems excessive. Combining vacation days (120) with administrative leave (80), the attorney is working 46 out of 52 weeks per year. Or to say it another way, not working 6 weeks a year.
3. Is there a provision that the city attorney cannot work for another jurisdiction or entity while employed in-house by the City?
I am not seeing the purpose of the excessive pages attached to the report.
Sincerely,
Betty Winholtz
AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE
RECEIVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
PUBLIC REVIEW PRIOR TO THE
MEETING
AGENDA NO: 8b
MEETING DATE: August 12, 2025