SR 06:036 - Laserfiche WebLink

" 41 '- ~ - I pLEASANTONc City Council Staff Report February 7,2006 Administrative Services Department SUBJECT Resolution to Amend the Fee Schedule to include a Fee for Notary Public Services STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the attached resolution to amend the fee schedule to include a fee for Notary Public Services. SUMMARY The City Clerk and Deputy City Clerk are Notaries Public and offer services to the general public as well as provide services for City needs. No fees are currently charged for these services. Staff recommends establishing a fee for notary services provided to the general public set at the amount determined by the State of California (currently $10 per signature). Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council: BACKGROUND The City Clerk and Deputy City Clerk are Notaries Public and offer services to the general public as well as provide services for City needs. No fees are currently charged for these services. Few nearby cities provide notary services to the general public and no others do it for free. (See attached survey.) Providing these services to members of the public can be very time consuming and, although appointments are encouraged, often interrupts other staff work. Because the service is provided free of charge, the City of Pleasanton has become especially attractive and people often travel long distances in order to have their documents notarized here. Two unintended outcomes have resulted-one, we are unfairly competing with businesses in the community who also provide notary services but charge a fee, and two, the City Clerk's Office staff spends a substantive amount of time providing notary services. Staff recommends that a fee be assessed to address both issues. SR:06:036 Report_Notary Fee 2-07-06