The Finance and Personnel Committee on July 21 approved updates to the city’s fee schedule covering zoning and building-inspection services, saying the changes are intended to align charges with staff time and comparable municipalities. The ordinance under consideration would amend sections of the fees, fines and penalties schedule related to zoning (chapter 4.80) and building inspection (chapter 1.75).

Committee members heard a presentation from Doug, a city staff member, who summarized the package as a set of clarifications and fee realignments. Doug said the changes will distinguish between two types of new commercial applications—small occupancy of an existing space with little build-out versus new commercial construction requiring broader review—and will call out fees tied to rezoning, general development plans and the precise implementation plan that follows a GDP. He also described a proposed increase to the reinspection fee "by $20 per item per time" based on the building inspector’s feedback and comparable schedules. Doug told the committee the verification-letter requests (commonly submitted before sale of a commercial building) require research and were proposed to be realigned with staff time.

A committee member asked how the sign-permit change would affect recurring events. Doug said a single recurring weekly event that is the same each week could be permitted once, but distinct events or substantially different signage plans would require separate applications and fees. Doug also said the variance application fee is proposed to increase to better cover staff time, and that the change follows conversations with the Zoning Board of Appeals chair and reflects costs such as Class 1 posting in the local paper and required mailings.

A motion to approve the ordinance was made and seconded; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. The committee discussion and the ordinance packet indicate the principal goals are (1) to better reflect staff workload in fee charges, (2) to align the city’s schedule with comparable communities, and (3) to shift more of the direct cost of review to applicants rather than general taxpayers.

The ordinance will amend the city’s fees, fines, and penalty schedule; committee members did not adopt separate rates for per-square-foot sign pricing, and staff said per-square-foot charges would not change for permits that already exceed the base threshold. No roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript; the motion passed via voice vote.