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Comprehensive Citywide Fee Study Results
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA
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SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA 1. Study Objectives
2. Methodology
3. Results
4. Recommendations
AGENDA
Comprehensive Citywide Fee Study
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Study Objectives
3 Consolidate and expand fees where appropriate to
better reflect existing services.
Streamline Fee Structures
Benchmark against other Bay Area jurisdictions.
Comparative Survey
Identify the average level of effort associated with
different permits and applications.
Average Time Assumptions
Ensure that the direct and indirect costs do not exceed current fees.
Compliance with Prop 218 and 26
Determine direct and indirect costs associated with
staff time.
Fully Burdened Hourly Rates
Provide an updated master fee schedule reflective of
current costs.
Updated Master Fee Schedule
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Fee Calculation Methodology
4 Avg staff time by
Position Title per
Permit / Application
Fully Burdened
Hourly Rate per
Position Title
Full Cost Fee
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Fee Study Results (1)
5 • Streamlined the Building Fee Schedule by expanding valuation-based fees for Single-Family Residential, Commercial, and Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Permits and creating Plan Check as percentage of the Building Permit fee. • Created stand-alone permits for over-the-counter building permit fees. • Incorporated City Attorney, Engineering, and Police, Fire, and Building time assumptions into Planning fees, resulting in the applicant paying a single fee. • Added a separate valuation table in Fire Prevention to cover Fire Life Safety Inspection review.
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Fee Study Results (2) – Technology Surcharge
6 • Technology Surcharge (Previoulsy Database Maintenance Fee) – covers the annual and potential replacement cost of TRAKiT.
è Standard fee charged by other jurisdictions. Proposed fee lower than comparable jurisdictions.
è Renamed to represent the true purpose of the fee.
è Calculated separately so it can be consistently applied on business license ”fees” (taxes) as well as permit applications.
è Allows cost recovery for technology even on fees not set to full cost recovery è Ensures compliance for auditing purposes as funds are earmarked and setaside for replacement. matrix
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Fee Study Results (2) – Other Development Surcharges
7 • General Plan Maintenance Fee – covers the cost of updating long-range planning efforts, only applicable on Building Permits. Calculated at 0.30% of the Building Permit Valuation.
• Building Training Surcharge – cover annual training costs for Building staff, calculated at $7 per permit.
• Climate Surcharge – cover the costs of updating ordinances and plans based upon Climate policies. Calculated at 0.026% of Building Permit Valuation. matrix
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Fee Study Results (2)
8 Category
Current Fee
Revenue
Full Cost
Revenue Difference Cost Recovery
Housing $23,221 $32,104 ($8,883) 72%
Planning $1,114,668 $2,159,082 ($1,037,318) 52%
Building $9,220,734 $9,295,300 ($74,567) 99%
Fire $3,303,365 $2,951,803 $351,562 112%
Engineering $1,305,957 $1,722,166 ($416,209) 76%
Water Quality $92,421 $180,530 ($88,109) 51%
Total $15,060,366 $16,333,889 ($1,273,522) 92%
Overall, at 92% cost recovery level.
Highest cost-recovery at 99% and 112% is for Building and Fire. Lower cost recoveries for Planning and Water Quality.
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Cost Recovery Comparison
9 Fire is above typical cost recovery and Engineering and Water Quality are below the typical cost recovery ranges.
72%
52%
99%
112%
76%
51%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
Housing
Planning
Building
Fire
Engineering
Water Quality
Cost Recovery %
Current Revenue Cost Recovery vs. Typical Revenue Cost Recovery Typical Cost Recovery Current Cost Recovery
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City Staff Recommendations
10 • All user fees are proposed at 100% cost recovery (exceptions to 100% cost recovery) discussed on the next slide.
è 104 fees are decreasing (Film Permits, Fire Operational Permits, Police Permits, etc.) • Fees should be annually updated based upon local CPI per best practices. • Parks and Recreation Fees approved at 3% increase per Parks & Rec Commission and alignment with market rates.
• Library fees approved by Library Board.
• Proposed fees are generally in alignment with other jurisdictions. è Exception is Planning fees, which are higher due to the inclusion of departmental support which is not the same for other jurisdictions.
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City Staff Recommendations – Less than 100% Cost Recovery 11 Fee Title Current Fee Proposed Fee % Cost Recovery
ALS I / II $2,161 $2,593 75%
BLS (Emerg.) $2,161 $2,593 75%
BLS Non-Emerg. $754 $905 75%
Appeal (PC to Council) $1,848 $1,848 14%
Appeal to PC $923 $923 7%
Design Review – Signs (Type A – up to 25 sq.ft. ) $185 $250 10% Design Review – Signs (Type B – up to 100 sq. ft.) $923 $3,410 44% Single-Family Res. Mod. New $3,500 31%
Categorical Exemption $185 $250 17%
Livescan Fingerprinting $81 $81 89%
Tow Service Franchise Fee $20 $20 10%
Food Facility Discharge Permit $163 $324 60%
SIU Wastewater Discharge Permits $652 $1,311 60%
Waste / Septage Hauler Discharge Permit $163 $316 60%
Stormwater Facility Inspection New $121 50%
16 fees out of 500+ fees
being proposed at less
than full-cost recovery.
Encourages compliance
with regulations, and
limits barrier to entry for
smaller design review /
single-family projects.
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City Staff Recommendation Impacts
12 Category
Current Fee
Revenue
Recommended Fee
Revenue Revenue Change
Housing $23,221 $32,104 $8,883
Planning $1,114,668 $2,097,810 $983,142
Building $9,220,734 $9,295,300 $74,567
Fire $3,303,365 $2,951,803 ($351,562)
Engineering $1,305,957 $1,722,166 $416,209
Water Quality $92,421 $113,237 $20,816
Total $15,060,366 $16,212,420 $1,152,054
Based on City staff recommendations and prior year workload, implementing the recommended fees will result in approximately a $1.15 million increase in revenue.
Largest increases would be for Planning and Engineering. matrix
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Questions and Answers