Williamsport council approves first reading of fee-schedule update after questions on event and mulch fees

Williamsport City Council voted 5-0 on March 13 to approve on first reading an ordinance amending Article 117, the city's general fee schedule, updating contractor, inspection and special-event fees and adding several new permit categories.

City staff said the updates are the first comprehensive fee changes in about five years and are intended to align Williamsport with neighboring municipalities while recovering staff costs. "We have not done a change of any fee updates in the last 5 years," a staff member told council, adding the administration plans to review fees about every two years.

Council members and members of the public questioned several line items during the public hearing and discussion. Resident Liz Meeley highlighted a pricing gap that might encourage organizations to apply for multiple single-event permits instead of an annual permit, noting, "The cost of a single special event permit is $50. The cost of an annual special event permit is $3.50." Staff said they would revisit both special-event and water-barrier fees before second reading and bring a revised proposal back to council.

Major changes reviewed by staff included increases to building and plumbing contractor fees, a higher conditional-use application fee to reflect increased hearings, a new and larger inspection fee for new restaurant/food-service facilities aligned with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture process, a reinspection fee for repeat inspections, modest increases to street-cut permits, and a new structure for brush and mulch access fees. Staff cited operational costs and additional labor for Streets and Parks when justifying higher fees for in-city versus out-of-city contractors.

Staff also explained specific fee amounts and operational impacts discussed in the meeting: college-letter inspections would be charged $60 per address plus $15 per unit when inspectors must check multiple units at a single address; the annual special-event permit currently covers six or more events at a $3.50 rate; mulch-grinding and relocation have historically cost the city about $90,000 when contracted; and the brush/mulch access schedule shows a large jump at the 20-acre threshold that council asked staff to reconsider.

Council directed staff to return for second reading with the recommended clarifications: (1) revise the annual special-event pricing or the event-count threshold so the annual permit yields a clear administrative savings and reduces permit gaming; (2) split water-filled barrier fees from metal barricade fees and propose an appropriate higher charge for water-filled barriers; and (3) add an intermediate brush/mulch acreage tier to smooth the jump between small and large commercial holdings. Staff said Streets and Parks, Codes and administration would meet and present adjustments at the final reading.

The ordinance passed first reading with a 5-0 vote and was assigned to second reading with the requested fee clarifications.