City Council
259 N. Wilma Avenue
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: Ken Zuidervaart, Planning Director
Date: 10/10/2023
Subject: SJMSCP Fee Update - 2024
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
City Council to consider approving the following motion:
“The City Council adopts the resolution amending the 2024 SJMSCP Development Fees.”
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Attached to this staff report is SJCOG’s staff report regarding approval of an amendment to the 2024 SJMSCP Fee. The fees proposed for 2024 are indicated in the attached SJCOG staff report and have decreased once again from the 2023 fees. The fees are based on a financial analysis model adopted by the SJCOG Board, which takes into account the true costs of implementation and fulfillment of the SJMSCP.
Existing 2023 and Proposed 2024 Habitat Fee Comparison
Habitat Type 2023 Fee Per Acre Proposed 2024 Fee Per Acre Multi-Purpose Open Space $9,629 $8,918
AG/Natural $19,255 $17,833
Vernal Pool - grasslands $75,320 $69,408
Vernal Pool - wetted $176,878 $177,724
With the exception of the property located along the Stanislaus River, which is essentially undevelopable land, all property located within the Ripon General Plan area is classified as Multi-Purpose Open Space habitat type.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act and the Guidelines, this project is Categorically Exempt, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3).
Attachments:
1. SJCOG Staff Report
2. Exhibit A
3. Notice of Public Hearing
RESOLUTION NO. 23-45
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RIPON AMENDING THE SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY MULTISPECIES HABITAT CONSERVATION AND OPEN SPACE
PLAN (SJMSCP) DEVELOPMENT FEE
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Ripon adopted an Ordinance establishing the authority for collection of a Development Fee for the San Joaquin County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation and Open Space Plan (SJMSCP) for all new developments pursuant to the SJMSCP within the City of Ripon; and
WHEREAS, a “Fee Study” dated July 16, 2001 was prepared which analyzed and identified the costs, funding, and cost-benefit of the San Joaquin County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation and Open Space Plan; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the SJMSCP Development Fee is to finance the goals and objectives of the SJMSCP that include, but are not limited to preserve land acquisition, preserve enhancement, land management, and administration that compensate for such lands lost as a result of future development in the City of Ripon and in San Joaquin County; and WHEREAS, after considering the Fee Study and the testimony received at the public hearing, the Ripon City Council approved said report; and further found that the future development in the City of Ripon will need to compensate cumulative impacts to threatened, endangered, rare and unlisted SJMSCP Covered Species and other wildlife and compensation for some non-wildlife related impacts to recreation, agriculture, scenic values and other beneficial Open Space uses; and
WHEREAS, an “Updated Fee Study” dated 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021 was prepared which analyzed and identified the costs and funding of the SJMSCP; and WHEREAS, the SJMSCP Development Fees are divided into three categories:
Category A - Acquisition; Category B - Enhancement; and Category C - Land Management / Administration; and
WHEREAS, the SJMSCP Development Fees for the three categories will be decreased as shown on the attached Exhibit “A”; and
WHEREAS, to ensure that the SJMSCP development fees keep pace with inflation, annual adjustments are made to the fees based on the method previously adopted by the Ripon City Council.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIPON, AS FOLLOWS:
1. The City Council finds and declares that the purposes and uses of the Development Fee, and the determination of the reasonable relationship between the fees’ uses and the type of development project on which the fees are imposed, are all established in Ordinance 648, and remain valid, and the City Council therefore adopts such determinations.
2. The 2024 Development Fee for the three categories of land – natural land and agricultural lands, vernal pool habitat, and multi-purpose open space conversion- shall be as set forth on Exhibit “A.”
3. The Fee provided in this resolution shall be effective on January 1, 2024, which is at least sixty (60) days after the adoption of this resolution.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Ripon this 10th day of October, 2023, by the following vote:
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Leo Zuber, Vice Mayor
SECONDER:Daniel de Graaf, Council Member
AYES: Restuccia, Zuber, de Graaf, Barton, Uecker
THE CITY OF RIPON,
A Municipal Corporation
By ________________________________
MICHAEL RESTUCCIA, Mayor
ATTEST:
By: ___________________________
LISA ROOS, City Clerk