AGENDA #6h

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       User Fee Schedules and Policies

 

DATE:             June 14, 2004

 

 

The attached resolution would approve user fee policies, fee schedules, and facility use policies for various Town services and facilities.  Attached are copies of the proposed policies and fee schedules for each department for 2004-05.  Proposed changes for 2004-05 are summarized below.

 

GENERAL FUND

 

For several departments including the Town Clerk, Engineering, Inspections, Library, and the Police we propose no changes in fees or policies for FY 2004-05.  Recommended changes for other departments are as discussed below.

 

Recommended Changes in Finance Department User Fees and Policies (Begins on page 7).

 

Enforcement hours in Parking Lot 3 have been extended to 8 p.m.  This would make the enforcement hours consistent with the enforcement hours for Lot 5.

 

Recommended Changes in Fire Department Fees (Begins on page 10).

 

There is one recommended change in the Fire Department fee schedule, a fee of $100 for failure to correct life safety violations.  This change would be a means of improving compliance with violations affecting life safety, but should have only a small impact on revenues.  The proposed budget includes the effect of this fee change.

 

Recommended Changes in Parks and Recreation Department Fees (Begins on page 22).

 

There are several changes recommended in the 2004-05 Parks and Recreation User Fee Policy.

 

The first is the inclusion of a fee for Payment in Lieu of Recreation Space on new multifamily dwellings or planned developments. Section 5.5.2(h) of the Land Use Management Ordinance describes the process for allowing a developer to use payments in lieu of recreation space.  (Please note that this does not affect the process for establishing the amounts for payment in lieu of recreation areas in subdivisions.) One provision of the ordinance states that: “The amount of the Payments In Lieu of Improved Recreation Space shall be established by the Town Council annually as part of the budget process”. The fee would be set at $12 per square foot for all required recreation space not provided within the development.  The effect of this fee is reflected in the proposed budget.

 

The proposed User Fees Policies also includes a fee for new 6-month swim and gymnasium passes. The fees for gymnasium passes would cost up to $13 (resident) or $33 (non-resident).  Adult pool passes would cost $102 (resident) and $143 (non-resident).

 

Patrons are required to pay a portion of total recreation program fees based on the Financial Assistance Eligibility Scale.  Under the Fee Reduction Policy, a 3rd tier of percentage has been added to the system. Patrons can qualify to pay 10, 50, or 75% of program fees. This is in response to a petition from a member of the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board.

 

The recommended User Fee Policies includes a $10 processing fee for refund requests made by patrons. In addition, a cancellation policy has been added for groups and individuals renting facilities.

 

Finally, the recommended User Fee Policy includes a fee for groups or individuals requesting use of facilities for private events such as birthday parties. Non-profit and civic groups would continue to use facilities for public meetings at no charge as described below:

 

The Hargraves Recreation Center may be rented for a fee of $35 per hour with meeting rooms there and at the Community Center at $20/ hour.  Gymnasiums can be rented at $30/hour, with some specific requirements.  Groups can also rent the climbing wall and the Community Center Pool with varying rates from $9 per hour to $75/hour depending on the required level of supervision.

 

The effect of these fee changes has been included in the proposed budget.

 

Recommended Changes in Planning Department Fees (Begins on page 37).

 

We recommend adjustments to the schedule of Development Application Fees for Office-Institutional-4.  These fees relate to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill development applications. 

 

We estimate that new fees below would recover the cost of staff development review and will raise an additional $21,000 which is included in the budget.

 

Office-Institutional-4 Development Plan

 

Application  for development - $1,150 + $60/acre

Application for Modification of Development Plan, same as above

Application for Site Development Permit - $3,600

 

Recommended Changes in Public Works Department User Fees (Begins on page 40).

 

For the Public Works Department, only one change is proposed.  For the Solid Waste Services Division, fees for Commercial Collection would be increased by 46%.  The base fee for a once a week pick up for an 8-yard front load service would go from $550 per year to $801 per year.  The proposed budget includes the effect of the commercial garbage fee changes.

 

Recommended Changes in Transportation Department User Fees (Begins on page 43).

 

The Transportation Department has experienced excess demand for advertising.  We recommend increasing the rates for advertising by between $10 and $22 on the monthly fees to between $55 and $91 per month depending on the level of service. The proposed budget includes the effect of the advertising fee changes.

 

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

We recommend adoption of the attached resolution to establish user fee schedules and policies.

 

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.      User Fee Policies, 2004-2005

Town Clerk’s Office (p. 5).

Engineering Department Inspection Fee Policy (p. 6).

Engineering Department Municipal Cemetery Fees (p. 6).

Finance Department Parking Fee Policies (p. 7).

Fire Department Proposed Fees (p. 10).

Inspections Schedule of Permit Fees (p. 15).

Public Library Proposed Schedule of Fines and Fees (p. 21).

Parks and Recreation Department User Fee Policy (p. 22).

Planning Department Development Review Fees (p. 37).

Police Department Use Fee Schedule (p. 39).

Public Works User Fee Policy - Field Operations (p. 40).

Public Works User Fee Policy - Solid Waste (p. 41).

Transportation Department User Fee Policy (p. 43).

A RESOLUTION ADOPTING USER FEE POLICIES AND SCHEDULES FOR VARIOUS TOWN DEPARTMENTS (2004-06-14/R-17)

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby adopts, effective July 1, 200 4, the attached user fee policies and schedules as submitted by the Town Manager on June 9, 2004:

 

 

Town Clerk – Schedule of User Fees

 

Engineering -

Inspections Fee Policy

Municipal Cemetery Fees

 

Finance –Parking Fee Policies

 

Fire Department - Permit Fee Policy

 

Inspections Department -

Building Permit Fees

Electrical Permit Fees

Mechanical and Plumbing Fee Schedules

 

Library -Schedule of Fines and Fees

 

Parks and Recreation - User Fee Policy

 

Planning - Development Review Fees

 

Police - Fee Policy

 

Public Works -

Field Operations -Street Cut Policy

Sanitation Services Policy and Disposal Fees

 

Transportation - General User Fee Policy

 

 

This the 14thth day of June, 2004.