Council ratifies Stanislaus Consolidated Fire District development impact fees after public hearing

The Riverbank City Council unanimously approved a resolution ratifying development impact fees proposed by the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District following a public hearing.

Chief Clint Bray and a consultant, Jeffrey Small of Capital PFG, presented the district’s analysis and rationale. The district said growth over the next eight years could add roughly 8,000 homes and about 16 million square feet of new development across the district, increasing demand for fire services and that a new station serving Riverbank is projected to cost about $12 million to $13 million. The district told council it intends to finance roughly 40 percent of the new station from impact fees and the remainder from other district funds.

Council members asked for details about fees already collected and oversight of those funds. District staff said the district has collected just under $1 million in restricted impact-fee funds to date and confirmed those restricted funds will be used toward the new station. Staff also said the district’s restricted accounts are audited annually and that annual audits would continue for the new fee program.

Members of the public who spoke urged the council to act and cited wildfire losses elsewhere as an argument for funding fire services. One commenter, Jamie Eggers, said the district’s fees should have been updated earlier, citing a 2007 update date and a municipal services report showing a historical service deficiency.

After public testimony, the council voted 5-0 to ratify the district’s adopted fees. Staff noted the district’s special-assessment funding for fire staffing is a separate, voter-authorized mechanism and does not require council approval.