Town of Yountville
Staff Report
6550 Yount Street
Yountville, CA 94599
Agenda Item #: 10A
Yountville Town Council Staff Report
DATE: August 19, 2025
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Brad Raulston, Town Manager
PREPARED BY: Aaron Hecock, Planning & Building Director
RECOMMENDATION
Conduct a public hearing regarding proposed fees for the processing and issuance of Temporary Use Permits and Washington Street Activation Permits and adopt Resolution Number 25-4388 authorizing Town staff to update the Master Fee Schedule to incorporate these new fees.
DISCUSSION/BACKGROUND
The Town’s Master Fee Schedule was initially established by Resolution No 2973-11 and has been updated annually thereafter in accordance with the Yountville Municipal Code. Town staff are proposing additions to the Master Fee Schedule in order to account for the staff time required in order to process permit applications related to Temporary Use Permits (TUPs) and Washington Street Activation Permits.
Article XIII C, section 1, subdivision (e) of the California Constitution and Government Code section 66014 provide that fees, including, but not limited to, fees for filing and processing applications, may not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service for which the fee is charged. Based on previous experience, staff conservatively estimates the following staff time is required to process and issue TUPs:
Principal Planner - 3 hours to review application for completeness, previous entitlement and code review, writing and issuing a completeness and issues letter, reviewing resubmittal materials, drafting conditions of approval and issuing permit. $108.81 (hourly rate) x 3 hours = $326.43 Planning & Building Director - 1 hour to review application materials, applicable code, conditions of approval and permit. $186.37 (hourly rate) x 1 hour for review and oversight. = $186.37 Total proposed fee for TUP applications = $512.80
The Washington Street Activation Ordinance was adopted in May 2022 (Ordinance No 22-507) however, no fee was established to cover the staff time required for processing the permits. Based on recent experience processing these applications, which are more permanent in nature with direct effects on Washington Street, staff conservatively estimates the following staff time is required to process and issue Washington Street Activation permits:
Principal Planner - 4 hours to review application for completeness, previous entitlement and code review, writing and issuing a completeness and issues letter, reviewing resubmittal materials, drafting conditions of approval and issuing permit. $108.81 (hourly rate) x 4 hours = $435.24 Planning & Building Director - 1 hour to review application materials, applicable code, conditions of approval and permit. $186.37 (hourly rate) x 1 hour for review and oversight. = $186.37 Total proposed fee for Washington Street Activation Permit applications = $621.61 In recognition that projects vary in size and complexity, staff reserves the right to require a reimbursement agreement to cover the actual costs of staff time exceeding that covered by the base fee, with a deposit therefor.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Exempt per California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15378(b)(4) (government fiscal activities which do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment), 15273 (establishing charges for the purpose of meeting operating expenses), and 15061(b)(3) (common sense exemption where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment).
FISCAL IMPACT
Is there a Fiscal Impact? Yes
Is it Currently Budgeted? No
Where is it Budgeted? N/A
Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? Discretionary
Is there a Staff Resource Impact? Yes
STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL
Is item Identified in Strategic Plan? Indirectly
If yes, Identify Strategic Goal and Objective. Visionary Leadership: The Town's leadership maintains an openminded, forward-thinking decision-making process. We value engagement and participation from all members of the community as we work together to create policies and plan for the future.
Briefly Explain Relationship to Strategic Plan Goal and Objective. The Town has taken a number of actions to encourage economic vitality and growth, including but not limited to, the establishment of the Washington Street Activation Zone and Temporary Use Permits.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No 25-4388