Title
Approval of Building, Engineering and Land Use Fee Increase
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Finance Committee recommended approval of the proposed building, engineering and land use fee increases as recommended at their October 11, 2017, meeting.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the proposed building, engineering and land use fee increases.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve increasing building, engineering and land use fees, as recommended by the Finance Committee.
Staff Contact:
Karen Kenneson, Associate Line of Business Director, Community Planning and Development, 360.753.8277
Presenter:
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
In November 2015, Council approved the establishment of a Development Fee Revenue Fund (the Fund) for the purpose of receiving fees collected for management of development (i.e., construction-related permit and planning activity). The fees are to be used to pay costs related to the management of development at a Council-established 85 percent cost-recovery rate. Establishment of this Fund was based on recommendations from a 2015 Development Services Fee Study. In January 2017, Council approved policies for managing the Fund, including establishing a target fund balance, establishing what actions will be taken when the fund balance exceeds or is less than the target fund balance, processes to identify costs to be reimbursed by the Fund and establishment of a Technology Account within the Fund to maintain, upgrade and replace technology and equipment that benefits users of development services.
The current recommendation includes a technology fee of 3.9 percent that would be assessed on permits and plan review fees to fund the Technology Account category. This includes software updates and licenses, web hosting for permitting and online plan review, credit card payment processing fees, technological equipment and services, and expected significant periodic expenditures such as tec...
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