Planning proposes charging sign fees via business license to boost revenue and enforcement

The Planning and Development Department proposed a package of fee adjustments to increase revenue and reduce administrative burden, including moving commercial sign fees into the business‑license renewal process. Brad (Planning director) told the board that integrating a sign fee into business licenses — a $25 to $120 miscellaneous fee depending on exemptions — could generate roughly $280,000 to $1.3 million in annual revenue depending on fee level and exemptions.

Planning also proposed a 3% across‑the‑board permit fee increase and a 25% increase in zoning application fees; together those measures would produce modest revenue increases estimated by staff. The department said signage enforcement is resource‑intensive: the city records about 10,103 approved sign applications and the planning team collects $50 per sign (collected every five years), but enforcement capacity is constrained because a single staff member currently handles most signage billing and compliance.

Director Brad said the proposal would retain planning's authority over sign approval but automate fee collection via business licenses to remove the need for manual billing and reduce postcard or processing costs. The department also recommended modest resubmittal fees (for repeated plan resubmissions after multiple rounds of review) to discourage slow cycles and free staff time. Board members asked for clarification about how many businesses must obtain a business license and enforcement for unlicensed businesses; Planning staff said they will coordinate with Treasury and the department of code enforcement to ensure equitable application and to capture unlicensed operators where state law permits.

No formal board vote occurred; staff will return with implementation details and recommended fee amounts for formal consideration during the budget process.