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However, only approximately $6,000 of that relates to the building permit fees being contemplated this <br /> evening. Of the remaining amount, approximately $10,000 goes towards development impact fees and <br /> a good portion of the rest are actually pass through fees paid to other agencies for things like water <br /> connection and sewer treatment. <br /> The city last reviewed its user fees for Development Related services in 1992 and again in 2011. The <br /> Council declined to implement fee increases at either time; therefore the majority of fees have not been <br /> increased since the 1980s. User fees are collected for the administration of Building and Safety Division <br /> services (permit processing, plan checking, building inspection, and building, plumbing and electrical <br /> permits), Planning Division services (conditional use permits, PUD reviews, and appeals), Engineering <br /> Division services (public and private improvements and improvement plan checking review, both onsite <br /> and off), and Fire Prevention Division services (inspection services). <br /> Per the General Plan, the city's fiscal policy requires that development pay for 100% of its cost of <br /> services, with the goal of course being full cost recovery. In 2009 the city hired Public Resource <br /> Management to complete a study of its development related user fees. The study revealed an <br /> approximate cost recovery of 45% and recommended at that time that the city work towards an 80% <br /> cost recovery, with annual fee increases based on a Construction Cost Index (CCI) adjustment and a <br /> biannual review and update of fees to move towards 100% cost recovery. <br /> The study was most recently updated with budget data for FY 2014-15. It is important to note that not <br /> all costs in these departments are fee related and in fact part of the study was determining the direct <br /> cost of fees related to the activities described. In FY 2014-15 the combined budget for these <br /> departments totaled approximately $12 million, a little over which $7 million of that is fee related. The <br /> remaining budget costs typically relate to development of the city's Capital Improvement Program and <br /> other advanced planning efforts. The study then determined the direct (staff time) and indirect (prorated <br /> share of administrative departments such as Finance, City Attorney, City Manager) costs per activity for <br /> the more than 200 different fees being addressed as part of this update. When combined, the fully <br /> burdened cost of all fee related services in FY 2014-15 totaled $8.8 million. FY 2014-15 revenues <br /> based on the current fee schedule were projected to recover only $4.2 million, equaling a cost recovery <br /> rate of 48%. <br /> On February 25, 2015 the city's Finance Committee, comprised of Councilmembers Brown and Olson, <br /> supported a recommendation to increase city fees to recover 79% of the total cost of all fee related <br /> services. It is important to note that cost recovery is not equal amongst divisions. As proposed, Building <br /> and Safety would achieve 100% cost recovery, Fire Prevention 75%, Engineering 43% and Planning <br /> 25%. Based on input received from the Chamber of Commerce in 2011, in which the Chamber <br /> requested the deferral of certain planning fees later in the building process when financing is easier to <br /> secure, staff is recommending that 36% of planning fees to the building stage. The true recovery rate in <br /> Planning is therefore 61%. The proposed increase across all divisions would approximately generate <br /> an additional $2.7 million in revenues, which would directly reduce the subsidy from the General Fund. <br /> Ms. Wagner explained that Fire Prevention services is comprised of 2 primary segments — plan check <br /> fees for new construction and tenant improvements, and annual fire and CUPA inspections of <br /> commercial properties. Pleasanton current charges nothing for annual fire and CUP inspections <br /> performed by LPFD. However, LPFD provides the same services for the City of Livermore who charges <br /> the full 100% of that cost. Total costs for Fire Prevention in FY 2014-15 were slightly less than $1 <br /> . million versus fee collections of $62,500. In addition, the city pays state fire code fees on behalf of <br /> commercial properties operating in Pleasanton. Staff is therefore recommending that the city adopt the <br /> same fees as Livermore, given that they share the same staff and the same services are provided to <br /> both communities. <br /> City Council Agenda Page 7 of 11 April 07,2015 <br />