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Carmel council adopts updated citywide fee schedule, cuts tree-pruning permit fee
Summary
The Carmel-by-the-Sea City Council approved a revised citywide fee schedule for fiscal year 2025–26, applying a 2.4% CPI adjustment to many service charges and reducing the tree-pruning permit fee after council discussion; the change was adopted unanimously.
The Carmel-by-the-Sea City Council on May 6 approved a revised citywide fee schedule for fiscal year 2025–26 that updates many user charges for municipal services and reduces one permit fee after council amendment.
City staff presented the proposed schedule, which carries forward a cost-of-service study from fiscal 2023–24 and applies a 2.4% Bay Area CPI increase to most fees. The schedule also adds several fees that had been omitted in past updates, including library and community activity charges and ambulance service fees aligned with county ambulance rates, the presenter said.
The council debated several specific items before voting. Public Works staff member Mary Bilsey said certain fees recorded in the packet reflect council decisions made last year rather than current cost-based rates; she cited the dead-tree removal fee as an example. Council members and residents raised concerns about the cost burden of some planning and landscape-related checks and asked staff to consider a lower “entry-level” review tier for routine changes such as small light fixtures or limited landscape work.
During discussion, council members also pressed staff to develop clear criteria for fee waivers for individuals or nonprofits with financial need. City staff said they will return with proposed waiver criteria and noted the intent to start a new comprehensive fee study sooner than the usual three-year cycle to capture operational changes and any efficiencies.
Councilmember Hans Booter moved to adopt the fee schedule as presented with one amendment: reduce the tree pruning permit fee to $205 to better align the charge with community goals of encouraging tree maintenance. The motion was seconded and passed on a unanimous roll call vote: Councilmember Barron, Councilmember Booter, Mayor Pro Tem Delves, Councilmember Jermaugh and Mayor Dale Byrne voting yes.
Staff said the fee schedule will go into effect after required noticing and implementation steps, and noted additional fees and potential waivers will be returned once the forthcoming time studies are complete. Councilmembers also directed staff to provide clearer public documentation of which fees are cost-based, which were previously adjusted by council action, and to add a narrative and position-level salary detail to future budget materials so residents can better understand cost drivers.
