17 Staff Report - TIF with AttachmentsPREPARED BY: Nicolle Burnham, Parks and Public Works Director
Gabrielle Whelan, Town Attorney
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 04/02/2024
DATE: March 28, 2024
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Receive a Report on the Transportation Impact Fee and Provide Direction
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive a report on the Transportation Impact Fee and provide direction.
BACKGROUND:
On January 16, 2024, Town Council took a series of actions that resulted in the establishment of
a Transportation Impact Fee (TIF) to replace the Town’s Traffic Impact Fee. The actions
included adoption of a Transportation Impact Nexus Study, modifications to Section 15, Article
VII of the Town Code, and resolutions to replace the Traffic Impact Fee with the updated TIF
and modify Town Council Policy 1-08: Transportation Impact Policy.
During the consideration of this item, questions were asked about the project list, its associated
costs, and how those projects relate to new development. During the hearing, staff provided
information on how the cost estimates were generated and clarified how the fee was
calculated. Specifically, staff indicated that the new fee is based on the historical level of
investment the Town has made in its transportation network and that new development would
contribute to implementation of the transportation project list at a rate that does not exceed
the Town’s historic level of investment. Staff indicated that the legal footing for this was sound
because the improvements are needed to meet demands on the transportation infrastructure
that will arise from future development.
Following the meeting, staff continued to consider and discuss the use of historic level of
investment as the method of calculating the new fee. After conferring with the Town’s
consultant who prepared the Nexus Study, and third party legal and technical advisers, staff is
bringing this item back to Town Council for discussion and direction.
ITEM NO: 17
PAGE 2 OF 7 SUBJECT: Receive a Report on Transportation Impact Fees and Provide Direction DATE: March 28, 2024
DISCUSSION:
Context of Adopted Nexus Study and Fee
The TIF was adopted under the California Mitigation Fee Act (often referred to as AB1600)
which is codified in Government Code Sections 66000 and following. Per the Mitigation Fee
Act, in adopting the fee the Town must: 1) identify the fee’s purpose and use; 2) determine a
reasonable relationship between the fee’s use and the type of land use development project(s)
required to pay the fee; 3) determine a reasonable relationship between the need for the
public facility(ies) and the type of land use development projects required to pay the fee; and 4)
demonstrate a reasonable relationship between the amount of the fee and the costs of the
facilities needed to cover developmental impacts. Compliance with these requirements is
documented in the Transportation Impact Fee Nexus Study adopted on January 16, 2024.
In addition, Government Code Section 66016.5, which is also part of the Mitigation Fee Act,
provides that, when applicable, a nexus study shall identify the existing level of service for each
public facility, identify the proposed new level of service, and include an explanation of why the
new level of service is appropriate. The term “level of service” in this context pertains to the
quality or amount of service being provided for a particular type of infrastructure. This should
not be confused with “intersection level of service” which measures the volume and rate of
vehicles going through an intersection.
The Act does not define “level of service,” and jurisdictions have used a variety of methods to
calculate impact fees. Calculations can often vary based on the type of impact fee being
calculated. For example, traffic impact fees have historically been based on intersection level of
service (LOS) for roadways with impacts based on detailed traffic modeling of vehicle delays at
each intersection.
The intersection LOS methodology works well when a list of capital projects is focused on
moving vehicles quickly and efficiently and for developing a traffic impact fee. However, this
method does not lend itself to non-vehicular transportation improvements which are a large
focus of the Town’s adopted General Plan and Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. For this
primary reason, the methodology for the new Transportation Impact Fee (TIF) was not based on
intersection LOS. Moving away from an intersection LOS analysis was specifically supported by
the following reasons:
• Intersection LOS is a valid metric for assessing the operation of intersections by
measuring vehicular delay. However, LOS is not helpful in evaluating the demand for
non-vehicular transportation improvements. The only project on the Town’s project list
that would lend itself to an intersection LOS analysis is the State Route 17 Corridor
Congestion Relief Project.
PAGE 3 OF 7 SUBJECT: Receive a Report on Transportation Impact Fees and Provide Direction DATE: March 28, 2024
DISCUSSION (continued):
• Intersection Level of Service traffic analysis does not account for the full range of
transportation-related infrastructure, including the transit, bicycle, and pedestrian
projects that have been identified in the Town’s adopted Plans.
Given the shortcomings of the intersection LOS method, a historic level of investment or “asset
based” approach was used to calculate the TIF. The Nexus Study
(https://mccmeetingspublic.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/losgatos-meet-
6f19635f84ad4713a27b577cff420113/ITEM-Attachment-001-
f9100b2185eb4fd8bd34a179bea1253f.pdf) defined Level of Service to mean historic level of
investment in transportation-related infrastructure. This is a method that is widely used for
park impact fees and more recently is being used by other jurisdictions for transportation
impact fees (Attachment 1). Its use for transportation impact fees allows for a broad range of
projects to be efficiently funded, rather than just those that can be assessed by intersection
LOS.
Alternatives Analysis
In conducting its recent analyses, staff has identified potential alternatives for modifying the
Nexus Study and the TIF. Staff is not recommending a specific option at this time. Attachment
2 provides a summary of the alternatives and their advantages and disadvantages. Each
alternative is described in more detail below.
Option 1. Keep Adopted Analysis and Associated Fee (Asset Based Approach)
The analysis presented to Town Council for TIF adoption started with a calculation of the
historic level of investment of all transportation improvements. The ensuing analysis is
underpinned by the foundation that the proposed TIF charged to new land use development
projects cannot exceed the historic level of investment that the Town has made in its
transportation network. In other words, new development would fund a reasonable portion of
the future improvements that cannot be funded in other ways (i.e., grants, etc.) because the
Town has already funded at a historic, calculated level. The historic level of investment was
calculated to be $57,907 per dwelling unit. The proposed fee was calculated to be $16,051 for
an average sized single-family residence (or per Dwelling Unit Equivalent).
This method was selected because it provided a mechanism to fund the full range of
transportation-related projects identified in the Town’s adopted Plans. This approach is
believed to fairly apportion project costs to new development in that the new development is
not being asked to pay more than the Town’s historic investment in its transportation
infrastructure assets. While widely used for certain categories of impact fees (e.g., parks) and
PAGE 4 OF 7 SUBJECT: Receive a Report on Transportation Impact Fees and Provide Direction DATE: March 28, 2024
DISCUSSION (continued):
used by other jurisdictions for transportation impact fees, this method is legally untested in its
use for calculating transportation impact fees.
Option 2. Refine the Adopted Analysis (Modified Asset Based Approach)
This alternative retains the method, clarifies the assumptions, and revises certain calculations
used for the Nexus Study. With this option, staff would evaluate the following assumptions and
revise the analysis accordingly:
• Evaluate and review calculations around the historic level of investment. This would
involve comparing costs to current bid pricing for similar work, adjusting if necessary,
and then depreciating the value of the Town’s transportation assets. The result would
be a maximum justifiable fee of less than the $57,907 historic level of investment per
dwelling unit.
• Refine costs of transportation investments on the project list by adjusting to 2024
dollars and providing further analysis of funding expected from other sources. Staff is
confident that project costs presented in the project list (Appendix Section 1 of the
Nexus Report) represent the best available information. Specifically:
- The $111M cost of the Highway 17 Highway 9 item is from VTA;
- The $25M for the Highway 17 Overcrossing is from the design consultant
working on the project;
- The Shannon Road Widening and Safety Improvements cost is from the design
consultant based on their 95% complete plans (although soft costs for this
project are currently increasing);
- The traffic signal program costs are from the Town’s Traffic Engineering Team
and assumes $1M per signal for design and construction. The Town owns 31
signals, and replacement of eight signals seemed reasonable given past activity;
- Projects labeled as Carryover were in the 2014 project list and were adjusted to
2022 dollars; and
- Costs for the remaining projects were estimated by the consultant or taken from
Town documents such as the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and adjusted to
2022 dollars.
As such, staff would not propose to revisit the base costs of the projects other than
escalating them to 2024 dollars and would analyze in more detail the “Estimated
Funding from Other Sources” which may include grants or other programs, resulting in a
potentially different “Unfunded Cost Allocated to TIF Calculation.”
As with Option 1, the Town’s consultant and their subconsultants believe this approach fairly
apportions project costs to new development in that the new development is not being asked
to pay more than current the Town’s historic investment in its transportation infrastructure
PAGE 5 OF 7 SUBJECT: Receive a Report on Transportation Impact Fees and Provide Direction DATE: March 28, 2024
DISCUSSION (continued):
assets. It is important to note that staff has not completed analysis of this option and so cannot
say if the resulting fee would be higher, lower, or the same.
Option 2A: Option 2 with Intersection Level of Service Analysis of Highway 17 Project
In this scenario, staff would make the revisions to historic level of investment and project cost
calculations noted under Option 2 and would remove the Highway 17 project from the project
list and analyze that project using the intersection Level of Service analysis. In this scenario,
there would be two separate fee calculations: one for bicycle and pedestrian projects and one
for the Highway 17 project. The total fee would be the sum of these two resulting fees.
Using intersection Level of Service for the Highway 17 project would mean the cost of the
improvements for this project would be apportioned to new development based on the volume
of traffic generated by those land use developments. As noted previously, this is the method
used to historically calculated traffic impact fees.
This option provides a mechanism to generate funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects while
analyzing the traffic-related project (Highway 17) in a more traditional way. It also allows for
fees to be generated to support implementation of the full breadth of the Town’s adopted
Plans governing transportation.
Option 3: Convert to a Basic Fair Share Approach
Under this alternative, the use of historic level of investment as the nexus would be eliminated.
If this option is selected, staff does recommend adjusting the project list as recommended in
Option 2 to refine the project costs and adjust them the2024 dollars. Further analysis would
then be completed to consider which transportation projects would primarily benefit new land
use development over existing residents.
Following refinement of the project list, the costs of each project would then be apportioned to
new development based on this resulting analysis. In its simplest form, this could mean
dividing the total cost of the project list by the percentage increase of dwelling unit equivalents
projected. The increase in dwelling units is calculated at 10% (see Table 3 of the Nexus Study).
The portion of the project list would then be apportioned to new development would be
allocated across the 2,598 Dwelling Unit Equivalents (DUEs) calculated in the Nexus Study.
A more complicated analysis would require evaluating each transportation project location and
its proximity to new development and then apportioning specific projects to new versus
existing development. That is not recommended due to the complexity of the required
analysis.
PAGE 6 OF 7 SUBJECT: Receive a Report on Transportation Impact Fees and Provide Direction DATE: March 28, 2024
DISCUSSION (continued):
The “Fair Share” method has the advantage of identifying how much new development would
contribute to the transportation improvements. It is important to note that staff has not
completed analysis of this option and so cannot say how significantly it would impact the fee
calculation. Initial considerations suggest that the resulting fee could be lower than the
previous fee of $1,104 per vehicle trip, or approximately $10,000 per single family residence.
Option 4: Use Only an Intersection Level of Service Analysis
As noted previously, intersection level of service (LOS) has been the historic method of traffic
impact fee calculation in many communities. Under the intersection Level of Service method,
traffic modeling is completed and fees are charged based on the additional traffic generated by
new land use developments. This method is not applicable to funding for bicycle and
pedestrian improvements.
The only vehicle-related project on the Town’s project list would be the Highway 17 project. If
this method were used, all other projects would be removed from the project list and would
not be eligible for funding through the Town’s impact fee program.
Option 5: Combine Options 3 and 4
For this option, staff would recommend adjusting the project list as recommended in Option 2
and Option 3 to refine the project costs and adjust them to 2024 dollars. The Highway 17
project would be removed from the project list and analyzed separately using the LOS method
discussed in Option 4. The fee associated with Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects would be
calculated as discussed in Option 3. The two resulting fees would then be added together to
yield the final Transportation Impact Fee.
This option has the advantage of identifying how much new development would contribute to
the transportation improvements while using the traditional LOS analysis for the Highway 17
project. It is important to note that staff has not completed analysis of this option and cannot
say how significantly it would impact the fee calculation. Initial considerations suggest that the
resulting fee could be lower than the previous fee of $1,104 per vehicle trip, or approximately
$10,000 per single family residence.
CONCLUSION:
Staff looks forward to Town Council’s feedback on these options and its direction regarding
next steps.
PAGE 7 OF 7 SUBJECT: Receive a Report on Transportation Impact Fees and Provide Direction DATE: March 28, 2024
COORDINATION:
This agenda item was coordinated with the Town Manager, the Town Attorney, Finance
Director, outside legal counsel, and DKS Associates.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Depending on the direction provided by
Town Council, modifications to the Transportation Impact Fee Program directly affect the
availability of future funding for transportation-related capital improvements.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Asset Based Transportation Impact Fees in California (Partial List)
2. Summary of Alternatives
This Page Intentionally Left Blank
1135 CLARENDON CRESCENT BOBINOAKLAND@GMAIL.COM OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 94610 (510) 816-9458
Asset-based Transportation Impact Fees in California (partial list)1
City/County Project Use of Funds Adopted
Pleasant Hill Traffic Mitigation Fee Update
w Upgrade or expand street, transit, bicycle or pedestrian facilities
w Capital projects not specified but anticipated to include streetwidenings & extensions, intersection improvements, completinggaps in transit, bicycle & pedestrian network, and replacementof substandard facilities2
2003
San
Francisco
Transportation
Sustainability Fee Nexus Study
w Any complete streets improvement (bicycle and pedestrian
facilities only)
w Capital projects not specified but shown in various master plans
2015
Contra Costa County Alamo Area of Benefit District w Fund capital projects list of bicycle, pedestrian, and intersectionprojects, including safety improvements 2016
Oakland Transportation Impact Fee Nexus Analysis
w Upgrade or expand “citywide transportation infrastructure”3
w Capital projects not specified but shown in various master plans
w May fund street and intersection mitigation measures forcumulative impacts identified in existing EIRs
2016
Santa Rosa Impact Fee Program Update
w Upgrade or expand “citywide transportation infrastructure” 3
w Revenue allocated roadways/intersections (85%) vs.transit/bike/pedestrian (15%)
w Capital projects not specified but shown in various master plans
2018
El Cerrito Transportation Impact Fee Study
w Upgrade or expand “citywide transportation infrastructure” 3
w Funding gap for capital project list focused on bicycle andpedestrian improvements
2019
Long Beach Traffic Impact Fee Study w Upgrade or expand “citywide transportation infrastructure” 3
w Funding gap for capital project list (all modes)
Deferred
Rolling Hills Estates Public Facilities Fee Program Update
w Upgrade or expand any transportation infrastructure
w Funding gap for capital project list focused on intersection,bicycle, and pedestrian improvements
2019
South San Francisco Development Impact Fee
Study
w Upgrade or expand “citywide transportation infrastructure” 3
w Funding gap for capital project list (all modes)
2020
1 List only includes studies prepared by or with substantial input from Urban Economics. Other consultants have used this approach as well for transportation impact fees.
2 Level of investment based on depreciated value of assets to enable use of funds for replacement of depreciated facilities. All other programs listed in this table are based on replacement value and prohibit use of funds for replacement of existing facilities.
3 “Citywide transportation infrastructure” defined as system of arterials, collectors, and related transit, pedestrian, and bicycle facilities that provide connectivity between neighborhoods and activity centers within the jurisdiction, as well as to neighboring communities. Excludes local streets used primarily for access to one specific neighborhood or development site.
ATTACHMENT 1
This Page Intentionally Left Blank
Page 1 ATTACHMENT 2
Atachment 2. Summary of Alterna�ves
Alterna�ve Name Advantages Disadvantages
Op�on 1: Keep the Adopted
Analysis and Associated Fee
(Asset-Based Approach)
• Analysis is complete and fee
is adopted.
• Fee was based on the
otherwise unfunded project
costs, and accounts for
an�cipated grant and other
funding sources.
• Approach has been adopted
by other jurisdic�ons, yet has
not been legally tested for a
TIF.
• Adopted fee is higher than
nearby jurisdic�ons.
Op�on 2: Refine the Adopted
Analysis (Modified Asset
Based Approach)
• Clarifies the assump�ons.
• Provides a more conserva�ve
calcula�on of the maximum
jus�fiable fee.
• Refines the transporta�on
project list to provide 2024
cost es�mates and clarify
other funding sources.
• Retains an approach that has
been used by other
jurisdic�ons but has not been
legally tested for a TIF.
• Staff is unclear at this �me
how this approach might
change the resul�ng fee.
Op�on 2A: Op�on 2 with
Intersec�on Level of Service
Analysis for Hwy 17 Project
• Uses intersec�on Level of
Service for the only
tradi�onal transporta�on
project (Hwy 17) on the
project list.
• Clarifies the assump�ons.
• Provides a more conserva�ve
calcula�on of the maximum
jus�fiable fee.
• Refines the transporta�on
project list to provide 2024
cost es�mates and clarify
other funding sources.
• Retains an approach that has
been used by other
jurisdic�ons but has not been
legally tested for a TIF.
• Staff is unclear at this �me
how this approach might
change the resul�ng fee
Page 2 ATTACHMENT 2
Atachment 2. Summary of Alterna�ves
Alterna�ve Name Advantages Disadvantages
Op�on 3: Calculate Fee Using
“Fair Share” Es�mate of
Project Costs
• Method has survived legal
challenge.
• Refines the transporta�on
project list to provide 2024
cost es�mates and clarify
other funding sources.
• May reduce the proposed fee
to below the previous level of
$1,104 per trip.
• Unfunded costs for most
projects would be allocated to
the fee based on the new
development’s share of total
future land use in Los Gatos.
• Requires the Town to clearly
document how funding gaps
will be filled for all
transporta�on projects on the
project list.
Op�on 4: Use only an
Intersec�on Level of Service
Calcula�on.
• Tradi�onal method of
calcula�on that has survived
legal challenge.
• SR 17 Conges�on
Management is the only
project that lends itself to this
approach. Bicycle and
pedestrian projects would not
be funded.
Op�on 5: Combine Op�ons 3
and 4
• Relies on “Fair Share”
approach for bicycle and
pedestrian costs and “Level
of Service” for Highway 17.
• Combines two op�ons that
have survived legal challenge.
• May reduce the proposed fee
to below the previous level of
$1,104 per trip.
• Unfunded costs for most
projects would be allocated to
the fee based on the new
development’s share of total
future land use in Los Gatos.
• Requires the Town to clearly
document how funding gaps
will be filled for all
transporta�on projects on the
project list.
ATTACHMENT 3
From: Phil Koen
Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2024 10:13 AM
To: Mary Badame <MBadame@losgatosca.gov>; Matthew Hudes <MHudes@losgatosca.gov>; Rob
Rennie <RRennie@losgatosca.gov>; Rob Moore <RMoore@losgatosca.gov>; Maria Ristow
<MRistow@losgatosca.gov>
Cc: Laurel Prevetti <LPrevetti@losgatosca.gov>; Gabrielle Whelan <GWhelan@losgatosca.gov>; Wendy
Wood <WWood@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Agenda Item # 17 - public comment
[EXTERNAL SENDER] Dear Honorable Mayor and Members of the Town Council,
I recommend the Town Council repeal the ac�ons taken on
January 16, 2024, and redo the Nexus Study by adop�ng Op�on
#3. The Nexus Study is fatally flawed in that it does not provide
any reasonable alloca�on of future infrastructure investment to
new development based on a nexus finding that establishes a
reasonable rela�onship according to need, benefit, and
propor�onality.
A traffic impact fee can only be used to mi�gate the impacts of
new development on facili�es or infrastructure and can only be
spent on capital projects that improve or expand facili�es to
accommodate growth in service demand from new
development. Fee revenues cannot be used for rehabilita�on
unless related to a major capital project upgrade nor can they
be used for maintenance or opera�ng costs. The Nexus study
must allocate the fair share of facility costs to new
development. The study prepared for the Town fails to do this.
The major failing of the study is that it is purposely designed to
“tax” new development to fund all the cost of certain
transporta�on projects the Town Council wishes to develop
ATTACHMENT 3
over the next 20 years, regardless of whether they are truly
required to accommodate growth. For example, State Route 17
Corridor Conges�on Relief Project accounts for $10.5m or 25%
of the total new infrastructure investment listed in the Nexus
study. The reason for this project was outlined in an October 4,
2023, Staff Report to the Town Council. The report stated, “the
project was requested by the Town in an effort to improve
traffic flow on Highway 17, discourage cut through traffic in Los
Gatos, and improve pedestrian and bicycle safety along
Highway 9 near the on and off ramps to Highway 17”. These are
largely exis�ng condi�ons with minimal rela�onship to
incremental impacts from future development. And yet 100%
of the cost of this project was included in the TIF project cost
summary.
Worse, when asked by the Town Council if this project could be
removed from the list, Staff replied if the project is removed
there would be no known funding source for the 10% Town
match requirement for the Measure B Conges�on Management
Funds. If removed, the impact fee in every land use category
would be materially reduced. For example, the impact fee for
mul�-family dwelling units would be reduced by 30% or $4,274
per dwelling unit. Based on this, the true intent of the Nexus
Study was not to allocate the fair share of this project cost to
new development but rather to allocate all the project cost to
new development regardless of the true propor�onality. Simply
put, the goal was to extract maximum fee revenue from new
development regardless of true propor�onality.
ATTACHMENT 3
I would also request that the Town release to the public all
documents received from the third party legal and technical
advisers who reviewed the Nexus Study. I previously requested
these documents and was informed by the Town Atorney that
“atorney-client privileged informa�on on this topic has been
provided to the Town Council. Staff an�cipates sharing public
informa�on at a future Town Council mee�ng”. There is no
reason to withhold these documents from the public given the
importance of this analysis and the public good that would
come from sharing this informa�on.
One last comment I would respec�ully request the Council to
consider. When the Nexus Study was discussed at the January
16, 2024 Town Council mee�ng, one member of the Town
Council though�ully suggested the Nexus Study be reviewed by
the Finance Commission. This sugges�on was not accepted by a
majority of the Council members for reasons that are s�ll not
en�rely clear. In retrospect, this was unfortunate because of
where we now find ourselves.
I am poin�ng this out because the role of the Finance
Commission is to independently advise the Council on
important financial issues. The Commission is capable and
willing to act as an independent advisor to the Town Council, if
requested. A nexus study is a technical document and needs to
be a well-organized and factually correct report that can be
relied upon when making the required findings in accordance
with the relevant sec�ons of the Government Code. This report
has severe shortcomings which could have been pointed out to
ATTACHMENT 3
the Town Council if the Finance Commission had been engaged.
I would encourage the Town Council to honor the people’s
wishes when they approved the Finance Commission and ask
for the commission’s input before making cri�cal financial
Transportation Impact Fee Program
Receive Report and Provide Direction
Town Council Meeting
April 2, 2024
1
ATTTACHMENT 4
BACKGROUND
2
•Spring 2022 –Town hires DKS to update the Town’s Traffic Impact Fee Program
•May 2023 – Staff provides report on technical work completed and preliminary fee
calculations.
•October 2023 – Town Council holds a study session to address questions raised in the
May 2023 meeting and provides feedback to staff.
•November 2023 – Town Council received the draft Nexus Study, including the Capital
Project List in Appendix 1, and set a hearing date for January 16, 2024.
•January 2024 – Council adopted a Transportation Impact Nexus Study, approved
modifications to Section 15, Article VII of the Town Code and adopted resolutions to
replace the Traffic Impact Fee with Transportation Impact Fee and modify Town
Council Policy 1-08
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK OF IMPACT FEES
3
Per the California Mitigation Fee Act the Town must:
•1) identify the fee’s purpose and use;
•2) determine a reasonable relationship between the fee’s use and the type of land
use development project(s) required to pay the fee;
•3) determine a reasonable relationship between the need for the public
facility(ies) and the type of land use development projects required to pay the
fee; and
•4) demonstrate a reasonable relationship between the amount of the fee and the
costs of the facilities needed to cover developmental impacts.
Also, when applicable, a nexus study shall identify the existing level of service for each
public facility, identify the proposed new level of service, and include an explanation of
why the new level of service is appropriate.
CALCULATION OF TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES
4
•Historically Traffic Impact Fees focused on optimizing vehicle improvements
and used intersection Level of Service to apportion traffic fees.
•Intersection Level of Service does not consider bicycle and pedestrian
infrastructure.
•There are three basic approaches to impact fee calculations:
•Level of Service (for traffic only);
•Asset Based (adopted by Los Gatos in January); and
•Fair Share Approach
FEE CALCULATION OPTIONS
5
Alternative Name Advantages Disadvantages
Option 1: Keep the Adopted
Analysis and Associated Fee
(Asset-Based Approach)
•Analysis is complete and fee is
adopted.
•Fee was based on the
otherwise unfunded project
costs, and accounts for
anticipated grant and other
funding sources.
•Approach has been adopted by
other jurisdictions yet has not
been legally tested for a TIF.
•Adopted fee is higher than
nearby jurisdictions.
FEE CALCULATION OPTIONS (cont’d)
6
Alternative Name Advantages Disadvantages
Option 2: Refine the
Adopted Analysis
(Modified Asset Based
Approach)
•Clarifies the assumptions.
•Provides a more conservative calculation of
the maximum justifiable fee.
•Refines the transportation project list to
provide 2024 cost estimates and clarify
other funding sources.
•Retains an approach that has been
used by other jurisdictions but has
not been legally tested for a TIF.
•Staff is unclear at this time how
this approach might change the
resulting fee.
Option 2A: Option 2 with
Intersection Level of
Service Analysis for Hwy
17 Project
•Uses intersection Level of Service for the
only traditional transportation project (Hwy
17) on the project list.
•Clarifies the assumptions.
•Provides a more conservative calculation of
the maximum justifiable fee.
•Refines the transportation project list to
provide 2024 cost estimates and clarify
other funding sources.
•Retains an approach that has been
used by other jurisdictions but has
not been legally tested for a TIF.
•Staff is unclear at this time how
this approach might change the
resulting fee
FEE CALCULATION OPTIONS (cont’d)
7
Alternative Advantages Disadvantages
Option 3: Calculate Fee
Using “Fair Share”
Estimate of Project Costs
•Method has survived legal challenge.
•Refines the transportation project
list to provide 2024 cost estimates
and clarify other funding sources.
•May reduce the proposed fee to below
the previous level of $1,104 per trip.
•Unfunded costs for most projects would
be allocated to the fee based on the new
development’s share of total future land
use in Los Gatos.
•Requires the Town to clearly document
how funding gaps will be filled for all
transportation projects on the project
list.
Option 4: Use only an
Intersection Level of
Service Calculation
•Traditional method of calculation
that has survived legal challenge.
•SR 17 Congestion Management is the
only project that lends itself to this
approach. Bicycle and pedestrian
projects would not be funded.
FEE CALCULATION OPTIONS (cont’d)
8
Alternatives Advantages Disadvantages
Option 5: Combine Options 3
and 4
•Relies on “Fair Share”
approach for bicycle and
pedestrian costs and “Level of
Service” for Highway 17.
•Combines two options that
have survived legal challenge.
•May reduce the proposed fee
to below the previous level of
$1,104 per trip.
•Unfunded costs for most
projects would be allocated to
the fee based on the new
development’s share of total
future land use in Los Gatos.
•Requires the Town to clearly
document how funding gaps
will be filled for all
transportation projects on the
project list.