Aldermen approve waiver of internal city permit fees for new Brentwood Public Library building; external review fees remain the library's responsibility

The Brentwood Board of Aldermen voted to waive the city’s internal building‑permit fees for the Brentwood Public Library’s new building at 2201 South Brentwood Boulevard, a project city staff described with an estimated total cost of $5,300,000. City staff estimated the permit fee calculation at $7 per $1,000 of project cost (about $37,500) and said additional mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire suppression and stormwater review fees could bring the city’s foregone revenue to roughly $50,000.

Whitney, a staff member presenting the request, said the library’s site-development plan had been approved and the library asked the city to waive permit fees for the construction project. Alderman Tice raised a distinction between internal city permit-review costs and fees the city would pay to outside vendors for specialized reviews (for example, Gonzales for stormwater). He recommended waiving the city’s internal fees but requiring the library to pay any external review fees that the city would otherwise pay out of pocket.

Alderman Goad seconded the proposal and the motion was later amended so that any external vendor fees required for the project would remain the library’s responsibility. The amended motion — to waive internal city fees but require payment for any external vendor reviews — was approved by voice vote; the transcript records the motion carrying but does not provide a roll-call tally for this item.

City staff provided the following fee and project details in the presentation: project cost $5,300,000; building permit fee formula $7 per $1,000 of project cost; estimated base building permit fee $37,500; additional stormwater review fee listed at $1,000 plus inspection fees; and an estimated total revenue loss to the city of about $50,000 if all related fees were waived. Staff also noted mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire suppression permit fees had not yet been submitted and would add to any total.

The board referenced prior practice waiving fees for other local projects and discussed ensuring that any costs the city must pay to outside firms not be absorbed by Brentwood taxpayers. The city attorney confirmed the proposed motion language was acceptable.

The motion as recorded in the meeting was: waive internal building permit and related city fees for the Brentwood Public Library new building; require the library to pay any external vendor review fees. The motion was made and seconded and carried by voice vote. Staff will process the permit and the library remains responsible for external consultant fees.