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Avondale releases fee-study recommendations; council to consider changes July 7
Summary
A consultant-led fee study recommended consolidations, increases and new fees across development services, engineering and fire/medical fees; council will consider final fee ordinance July 7 and new fees would take effect Sept. 1.
City staff presented the results of a consultant-led fee study on June 16 and outlined proposed fee schedule changes for fiscal year 2026. The study (conducted by MGT Consulting Group per staff) evaluated approximately 764 city fees and focused on development services, engineering, and fire/medical fees, which together comprise about 60% of total fees.
Nut graf: Staff said many fees were last updated years ago; the study produced a recommended set of consolidations, increases and reductions intended to move toward reasonable full-cost recovery while remaining competitive and business-friendly. Counciltermed the work “long overdue” and staff said the recommended changes will return for council action on July 7, with proposed effective date Sept. 1.
Finance Director Renee summarized key findings: development services was recovering roughly 85% of costs (an estimated $678,000 subsidy), engineering services about 62% (about $1,673,000 subsidy) and fire/medical about 43% (about $120,000 subsidy). Staff recommendations included fee consolidation (for example, electrical permit fee consolidation) and selective increases limited by market competitiveness. Outreach included a business-ambassador event and targeted follow-up; only one telecommunications provider submitted substantive feedback and staff made a recommended revision to one associated fee.
Ending: Staff will post required public notices and are scheduled to present the ordinance for council vote July 7; staff recommended smaller, more frequent fee updates rather than infrequent large catch-ups.
