Discuss Draft Fee Schedule Amendments

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

<span style="margin-left:0in;">The purpose of this discussion is to review the approach to proposed fee schedule amendments before a final schedule is presented for consideration. A clear fee schedule should help customers understand charges and help staff administer them consistently. Council should be able to distinguish clerical updates from changes that affect the cost of City services.</span><br><h1 style="margin-left:0in;"><br></h1><p style="margin-left:0in;">Staff recommends presenting each proposed amendment in a comparison showing the service, current fee, proposed fee, reason for the change, estimated annual activity, and anticipated revenue effect. The comparison should identify new charges, deleted charges, revised amounts, and changes to the basis for calculating a fee.</p><p style="margin-left:0in;">For discretionary fees, the discussion should address the cost of providing the service and the portion appropriately paid by users. Regional comparisons may inform the review, but the recommendation should explain the City’s service costs and policy objectives.</p><p style="margin-left:0in;">Departments should identify implementation needs, including forms, payment systems, website updates, customer notice, and treatment of applications or reservations already received. Utility service rates should remain coordinated with Item 1G so the final documents use consistent amounts and effective dates.</p>