Title
Adopt a resolution to amend the Monterey County Fee Resolution to:
1. Adjust certain specified fees for land use permitting activities in the following Articles of the County Fee Resolution
i. Article I (Environmental Health)
ii. Article IX (RMA-Planning);
iii. Article X (RMA-Public Works);
iv. Article XVII (County Counsel); and
v. Article XIX (RMA-Building Services)
2. Extend an automatic annual fee adjustment every July 1 for a three year period (beginning July 1, 2013 through July 1, 2015) with adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area.
3. Incorporate amendments to Article XI (Water Resources Agency) into the Monterey County Fee Resolution, contingent upon adoption of said amendments by the Board of Supervisors of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency and said amendments taking effect.
(Adjust Fees - REF130021/County Master Fee Resolution (PD080324), County-wide)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Adopt a resolution to amend the Monterey County Fee Resolution to:
- Adjust certain specified fees for land use permitting activities in the following Articles of the County Fee Resolution
- Article I (Environmental Health)
- Article IX (RMA-Planning);
- Article X (RMA-Public Works);
- Article XVII (County Counsel); and
- Article XIX (RMA-Building Services)
- Extend an automatic annual fee adjustment every July 1 for a three year period (beginning July 1, 2013 through July 1, 2015) with adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area.
- Incorporate amendments to Article XI (Water Resources Agency) into the Monterey County Fee Resolution, contingent upon adoption of said amendments by the Board of Supervisors of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency and said amendments taking effect.
SUMMARY:
The Board of Supervisors approved a comprehensive update of the land use fees in 2008 (Resolution 08-132) and authorized an automatic annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index for those fees through July 1, 2012. For today's action, staff is recommending modifications to a few specific fees for this year and extension of the automatic adjustment through July 1, 2015. Staff will return in the near term to the Board of Supervisors to obtain direction on a more comprehensive fee update for Board consideration later this calendar year.
DISCUSSION:
See Attachment A for a detailed discussion.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The land use application fees charged to applicants are a composite of the fees for each of the County land use departments and the Monterey County Water Resources Agency. Accordingly, RMA-Planning staff has worked with staff from Environmental Health, RMA-Public Works, Water Resources Agency, RMA-Building Services, RMA-Finance, RMA-Administration, the CAO-Budget and Analysis division, and Office of County Counsel in the preparation of this report. Similar recommended fee amendments are scheduled for separate consideration today by the Board of Supervisors of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency and, if approved, are recommended to be included in the County Fee Resolution.
FINANCING:
The effect of these changes on the departments' budgets will depend on final decisions from the Board of Supervisors. Recommendations contained in this report are for full cost recovery in some instances while requiring General Fund subsidy for other categories. The proposed adjustments to fees are intended to help recapture costs associated with the provision of land use permitting services and associated planning, monitoring, and enforcement activities for which the fees are imposed, are no more than is necessary to cover the reasonable costs of the governmental activity, and do not exceed the reasonable and actual costs to the County of providing these services.
Prepared by: Mike Novo, Director, RMA-Planning, ext. 5192
Approved by: Benny Young, Director, Resource Management Agency
This report was prepared with assistance from the land use departments and County Counsel.
cc: Front Counter Copy; California Coastal Commission; The Open Monterey Project; LandWatch; Permit Streamlining Task Force; Jane Haines; Richard Rosenthal; Land Use Departments; Project File PD080324
Attachment A Discussion
Attachment B Fee Matrix (Planning Permits and Land Use Changes)
Attachment C Correspondence
Attachment D Draft Resolution to adopt fee changes