Title
Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of Resolution Amending Master Fee Resolution No. 12191 to Add and Revise Fees. (Finance 2410)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of Resolution Amending Master Fee Resolution No. 12191 to Add and Revise Fees
BACKGROUND
On January 22, 1992, the City Council adopted Resolution Number 12191, codifying all fees for services and linking the rate at which the City’s fee schedule may be increased to the Consumer Price Index for the San Francisco Bay Area. Subsequently each year, via resolution, the fee structure is revised and updated to streamline fee collection.
On October 3, 2006, the City Council approved Resolution 14027, Amending Master Fee Resolution No. 12191 to Revise and Streamline the Planning & Building, Public Works, and Fire Department Fee Schedules, to allow for 100% cost recovery.
DISCUSSION
Annually, staff reviews existing fees and charges as part of the budget development process. Any modifications to the Master Fee Schedule are recommended to reflect increases in the cost of living adjustments authorized by Resolution and the Municipal Code.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the San Francisco Bay Area as 3.4% for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-17. Based on Resolution 12191, the eligible fees in the Master Fee Schedule have been increased in accordance with the Bay Area Consumer Price Index. The Engineering News Record announced the Construction Cost Index for the San Francisco Bay Area as 1.2% for FY 2016-17. Based on the fee escalator provisions of Municipal Code Sections 27-3.12, 27-4.12, and 27-1.10, Affordable Housing Unit Fees, Development Impact Fees (DIF), including the Alameda Point DIF, have been increased in accordance with the Construction Cost Index.
Fees associated with the Alameda Recreation and Park Department were approved by the City Council in November 2016 and are incorporated in the attached schedule without changes.
The City’s fees for ambulance and emergency medical services are based on the Alameda County’s fee schedule. When fee updates are received from the County, the City will revise and adjust its fee schedule to reflect the County fee schedule.
Staff is proposing the following changes to the Fee Schedule:
City Clerk
• In Fiscal Year 2016-17, the City Clerk’s office began a Passport Acceptance and Processing program. After having the program in place for a year, staff recommends to increase a Passport photo fee from $20 to $25.
• The Notary Services fee set by the State is increasing from $10 to $15.
Police
• With the amended contract with the Friends of Alameda Animal Shelter for the operations of the shelter, the City takes on the billing and collection of the pet licenses effective July 1, 2017. As a result, the fees associated with this program have been added to the Citywide Fee Schedule under the Police Department section. The type of fees have not been changed; however, staff is proposing to increase pet license fees by the CPI consistent with other City fees.
• The Administrative Tow Fees are proposed to be increased from $125 to $150. The Department reviewed the Tow Fee in other Alameda County cities, which ranged from $175 to $200 with Hayward at $225 and Livermore at $282. The revised $150 fee is still below average of the surveyed cities.
Rent Stabilization Program
• On June 6, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 15271 approving a Rent Stabilization Program fee of $120 per rental unit. The fee is included in the Master Fee Schedule and is effective July 1, 2017.
Billing Rates for selected staff positions (with and without overhead) are included in the Master Fee Schedule. These rates were established based upon the internal fee study prepared by the Finance Department in FY 2012-13 and were based upon 1,600 effective working hours for a staff member for a fiscal year. These rates have been updated this year based upon the CPI.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The projected revenues from the fees outlined in the Master Fee Schedule are included in the FY 2017-18 Budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity is not a project and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 15378 (b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines, because it involves governmental fiscal activities (acceptance of the operating and capital budget), which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
RECOMMENDATION
Hold a public hearing to consider adoption of a resolution amending Master Fee Resolution No. 12191 to add and revise fees.
Respectfully submitted,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Fiscal Year 2017-18 Master Fee Schedule