Council debates mobility fee changes; staff says new numbers fit state limits, will add item to next week's agenda

Assistant City Manager Mark Mason presented updated calculations tying the proposed mobility fee schedule to state impact-fee statute constraints. Mason and the mayor explained the statutory framework that limits how quickly an existing impact/fee schedule can change: a fee increase that is greater than 25% but not more than 50% of the current rate must be implemented over four years (effectively up to 12.5% per year when the 50% cap applies); increases under 25% can be phased over two years.

Mason walked the committee through a comparison table that maps the city—s current impact-fee categories to the proposed mobility-fee amounts and shows a compliant multi-year implementation schedule. The presentation showed that, using the revised figures staff introduced at the meeting, none of the proposed fees would exceed the statutory per-year threshold of 12.5% or the 50% increase ceiling applied over four years; that means the administration believes the revised ordinance can be implemented without invoking an "extraordinary-circumstances" study that would require a supermajority vote.

Council discussion was lengthy and sharply divided. Supporters said the mobility fee is needed to fund long-range transportation and multimodal projects in the city—s 2045 mobility plan and that collecting a higher fee now would reduce the need to shift larger costs onto existing residents later. Opponents said the proposed increases would make housing less affordable and would shift disproportionate costs onto residents who already paid impact fees when they built or bought homes.

Councilmembers also debated a procedural path: last week's ordinance failed when a motion relying on an extraordinary-circumstances study required six affirmative votes but received only four. Mason and the city attorney advised that with the revised implementation schedule (which stays within the statutory limits) the council could adopt an amended ordinance without the extraordinary-circumstances study and with a simple majority; staff recommended placing the updated ordinance on next week—s council agenda so council can reconsider and act ahead of Oct. 1 to align implementation with the calendar year.

Several councilmembers asked staff for more time and for the chart and supporting materials to be included in next week—s packet; the mayor said staff would add the updated chart and letters of industry support to the backup. The committee directed the clerk to place the mobility-fee item on next week—s agenda for formal action and several councilmembers discussed scheduling a special reconsideration or a follow-up meeting to handle voting logistics.

Ending: Staff will add the updated mobility-fee chart and industry letters to next week—s agenda materials; councilmembers discussed but did not complete a motion to reconsider during this meeting.