Thousand Oaks studies overhaul of user fees; staff recommends public hearing April 29

City staff presented a citywide study March 25 recommending updates to Thousand Oaks’ user fees, fines, penalties and development impact fees for fiscal years 2025–2027, and the City Council set a public hearing for April 29, 2025 to consider final adoption.

Jamie Boscarino, the city’s finance director, told the council the study—prepared with Matrix Consulting Group—reassessed every municipal fee and consolidated the previous multi-hundred page fee manual into a streamlined schedule. Boscarino said the city currently lists 679 fees and staff’s proposal brings the total to 685 after additions and deletions. "Of the 685 total fees, 208 are being proposed to increase to get closer to full cost recovery, 110 are proposed to decrease, and 332 are proposed to remain the same," Boscarino said.

Boscarino explained the difference between a fee and a tax under state law and summarized the city’s policy preference for full cost recovery while noting council exceptions for certain community-benefit fees. She said the study included benchmark comparisons with Camarillo, Oxnard, Santa Clarita, Simi Valley and Ventura and recommended some administrative moves—such as transferring film permit fees from Community Development to Cultural and Community Services and moving cannabis fees to Finance—to streamline user experiences.

Councilmembers asked for specific clarifications during the presentation. Council member Gutierrez pressed for an explanation of meeting-room rental categories; Boscarino said the schedule groups users as government (no charge for most uses), nonprofit (discounted) and for-profit businesses (full fee). Mayor Pro Tem Taylor asked whether shifting building permit fees from a valuation basis to a square-foot basis benefits residents; Boscarino and building official Teo Franco explained the change is intended to decouple permit costs from high-end finishes and make fees more predictable.

Other notable proposals highlighted in the meeting: converting building permit valuation fees to square-foot calculations, a new security fee for theater performances (previously absorbed by the city), and adjustments to certain inspection and waiver fees in Public Works. Staff said development impact fees (road/traffic, police facilities) would be updated by construction cost indices and that water and wastewater fees adopted in October 2023 are not being adjusted now. The report also recommended that staff return with final fee ordinances and findings that the fee update is not a project under CEQA.

Councilmember Adam moved to receive the report, provide direction and set the April 29 public hearing; the motion passed 5-0. Staff will return with final fee schedules and proposed implementing actions for council consideration.