Approve Comprehensive Fee & Fine Schedule FY 2015/16DATE:
TO:
FROM:
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
FEBRUARY 23, 2015
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER
MEETING DATE: 03/03/15
ITEM NO:
SUBJECT: ADOPT RESOLUTION APPROVING THE COMPREHENSIVE FEE AND
FINE SCHEDULE FY 2015/16, TO CONTINUE CERTAIN DEPARTMENT
FEES, RATES AND CHARGES, AMENDING CERTAIN FEES, RATES, AND
CHARGES FOR FY 2015/16
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Open and hold the public hearing.
2. Close the public hearing.
3. Adopt resolution approving the Comprehensive Fee and Fine Schedule FY 2015/16, to
continue certain department fees, rates, and charges, amend certain fees, rates, and
charges for FY 2015/16
BACKGROUND:
The Town's financial policies require that certain fees, rates, and charges for services be
maintained to allow for cost recovery based on the actual cost to provide Town services. "Fee"
activities are services and functions provided by the Town to individuals who receive some
direct material benefit above and beyond services offered to residents at general taxpayer
expense. Annually, the Council adopts a Comprehensive Fee Schedule, which lists all of the
Town fees.
Staff periodically reviews the cost of providing such fee -based services and, if supported by cost
data, fee modifications are recommended. The last user fee study was completed in April 2010.
The purpose of the study was to review the Town's current fee schedule, calculate the total cost
of fee -generating services, analyze the cost recovery levels for each fee, and provide
recorrunendations on how to reclassify or adjust fees annually. The analysis also included a
comprehensive cost allocation study to determine the proper assignment of administrative
overhead rates. While all Town fees were evaluated, the user fee study primarily focused on
Community Development (Planning and Building), Engineering, Police, and other administrative
fees.
PREPARED BY: STEPHEN CONWAY
Administrative Services ector
Reviewed by: , ' Assistant Town Manager
own Attorney Finance
N:\FINANCE\Fee Schedule\2015-16\FY 2015-16 User Fee Council Report.docx
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: ADOPT RESOLUTION CONTINUING CERTAIN DEPARTMENT FEES,
RATES AND CHARGES, AND AMENDING CERTAIN FEES, RATES, AND
CHARGES FOR FY 2015/16
FEBRUARY 23, 2015
DISCUSSION:
The Comprehensive Fee Schedule allows for an annual adjustment of fees by the average
increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the previous calendar year. The average increase
in the CPI for 2014 was 2.9%. Attached for Council reference is an updated FY 2015/16
Comprehensive User Fee and Fine Schedule (Exhibit A to Attachment 1) reflecting all Town
fees (including proposed changes) and an itemized list of recommended FY 2015/16 fee
adjustments, reclassifications, and deletions, including those to be adjusted by the average CPI
(Attachment 2).
The proposed FY 2015/16 Comprehensive Fee Schedule accounts for modifications to fees,
including Library and Parks and Public Works as explained below:
Library
Recommended changes are proposed by the Library Department to increase operation efficiency
and cost recovery.
• Eliminating Inter -Library Loan Fee $5.00 — Inter -library loan service is used by only
1% of the patrons. The real cost of this service in staff time, software license fee and
postage ($50.00) far outweigh the $5.00 fee. The library is not offering this service
any longer.
• Eliminating Patron procures replacement copy — half of normal processing fee for
item type since the cataloging and processing are done by an outside vendor and
accepting replacement copies from patrons disrupts the uniformity of the collection,
• Eliminating the first ten pages free for internet printing and increases the page per
cost from $ 0.10 to $ 0.15 in an effort to reduce frivolous printing and to boost cost
recovery per page cost.
Parks and Public Works
The Parks and Public Works Department is recommending modifications to the fee schedule as
described below:
• PPW is proposing to increase the park reservation fees for non-residents on all Town
parks (Oak Meadow Park, Creekside Sports Park, Belgatos Park, Blossom Hill Park, La
Rinaconada Park, and Live Oak Manor) from $125 to $150. The Town's park
reservation fees are lower in comparison to other nearby cities' park sites. Last year, 67%
of the park reservations were made by non-residents. Monte Sereno residents pay the
resident rate of $95.00.
Community Development
• To create an incentive for developers to submit proposals to the Conceptual Development
Advisory Committee, staff is recommending no change to this fee ($2,891).
PAGE 3
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: ADOPT RESOLUTION CONTINUING CERTAIN DEPARTMENT FEES,
RATES AND CHARGES, AND AMENDING CERTAIN FEES, RATES, AND
CHARGES FOR FY 2015/16
FEBRUARY 23, 2015
DISCUSSION(cont'd):
Once adopted by Council, fees are effective after a protest period of at least 60 days. As noted in
the attached Resolution (Attachment 1), the recommended fee adjustments and new fees would
be effective July 1, 2015.
CONCLUSION:
It is recommended that Town Council approve the recommended adjustments to the
Comprehensive Fee and Fine Schedule effective July 1, 2015.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Town's financial policies require that fees be maintained to provide for the recovery of costs
associated with Town services. The proposed fee adjustments reflect an increase in the CPI, and,
therefore, better represent the cost to deliver services. Staff will incorporate the fee changes into
the Town's FY 2015/16 Operating and Capital Budget using conservative activity projections.
Further fee increases will be brought to Council for its review during the budget process, to
move toward full cost recovery of fee -based services.
Attachments:
1. Resolution approving the Comprehensive Fee Schedule FY 2015/16, including Exhibit A
Proposed FY 2015/16 Comprehensive User Fee and Fine Schedule
2. Recommended FY 2015/ Fee Adjustments, reclassifications, and deletions
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank