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San Rafael staff propose modest fee increases in master fee schedule; ambulance and childcare fees among changes
Summary
Staff outlined proposed updates to the City of San Rafael master fee schedule: most fees indexed to CPI (2.7 percent), ambulance fees proposed to move toward full cost recovery for non‑resident private insurers, and targeted increases for childcare and planning fees; final adoption scheduled for June 2.
City staff gave the finance subcommittee a high‑level review of proposed changes to San Rafael’s master fee schedule on May 13, noting most charges will be adjusted by the 2.7 percent CPI and highlighting several department‑specific changes.
Staff said the fire department is proposing to increase ambulance fees from a prior 75 percent cost recovery level to 100 percent cost recovery for patients with private insurance who are non‑San Rafael residents; staff described caveats related to billing practices. The planning department proposed roughly a 5 percent increase in planning fees to preserve cost recovery amid heightened permit activity, and building and code enforcement fees were characterized as increasing roughly 3 percent with valuation‑based fees rising modestly.
Why it matters: fee changes alter the cost of city services for residents, developers and program users and feed into the FY25/26 revenue assumptions. Staff also highlighted planned fee changes for childcare programs (about a 10 percent increase for preschool and a 5 percent increase for after‑school programs) to support program costs; the proposed increases are reflected in the draft budget materials and will come to the council for adoption.
Other details
- Recreation subsidy: staff noted the general fund subsidy to recreation programs (about $2.4 million) will be maintained at current levels while staff studies fee‑structure and cost‑recovery policy.
- Towing and other fees: staff plan to formally include towing fees in the master fee schedule where they previously were set by resolution but not codified in the schedule.
- Timing and adoption: staff will present the master fee schedule to the City Council for adoption on June 2, following this subcommittee preview.
No fees were adopted by the subcommittee; the presentation was informational and staff will return with ordinance and schedule language for council action.
