Board adopts updated fee schedule; cannabis licensing fees rise about 71% on staff cost model

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday adopted a set of updates to the county's master fee schedule covering museum school-tour fees, parks and veterans-hall rentals, and a sweeping increase in cannabis program fees that county staff said averages about 71%.

Staff described the fee adjustments during a consolidated public hearing. The Museum Administrator asked the board to reduce or waive fees for K-12 guided school visits to boost attendance after the museum's school participation fell sharply when fees rose; staff recommended returning the student fee to $6 to encourage school tours. The board signaled support for lowering student fees and for waiving the use fee for nonprofit image requests, while asking staff to return with specifics on nonprofit room rental pricing.

Facilities and Parks staff said parks rental rates were being reorganized to align with the City of Ukiah's structure (1-50 people, 50-100, 101+). Staff noted that full cost recovery for parks would require rates in the thousands of dollars per use, so the board adopted rates that move toward standardization without attempting full cost recovery.

Veterans halls: staff proposed reduced public rates and retention of existing waivers for recognized veterans groups and official county functions; the board approved continuing exemptions for veterans organizations and county departments per current rules and regulations.

Cannabis fees: Sarah McBurney, Mendocino County Cannabis Department, told the board the proposed increase reflects a change in the county's cost-recovery calculation, adding an internal overhead allocation and supervision rate. "Our proposed fees reflect an average increase of approximately 71% across the board," McBurney said, noting the department had streamlined operations but that the new fee model incorporates the county's 87-cost allocation and recent salary increases. The department also introduced a new compliance-inspection fee to fund additional random and referral inspections; that fee would be charged alongside the five-year license renewal and would cover additional "boots-on-the-ground" inspections for roughly 13% of permits per renewal cycle.

Public comment on the cannabis increases was substantial. Cannabis business representatives said the jump is steep and urged a staged approach. The Mendocino Cannabis Alliance's president said the sector needs predictability and proposed phasing increases over time; other commenters argued the county is already effectively subsidizing program costs and should pursue full cost-recovery for all permitting programs. County staff said cannabis tax revenue (budgeted in non-departmental revenue) helps offset program costs and that grant-funded salaries were excluded from the fee calculations.

Board action: the board adopted the fee package as presented, with direction to staff to return with additional documentation where supervisors requested more detail (for example, details on nonprofit museum room rentals and on the administrative rules that will prevent duplicate inspections under the new compliance inspection fee for cannabis renewals). The resolution amending the Master Fee Schedule was adopted by roll call; supervisors recorded unanimous approval of the adoption motion for the consolidated fee update.

Why it matters: fee changes shift the local cost of services and regulatory programs; the cannabis fee increase drew sustained concern from growers and industry representatives because it will increase business operating costs and occurs while the county faces broader budget pressures.

What's next: staff will publish the updated schedule (effective Nov. 22 per staff notice) and return to the board with more detail on specific waivers and implementation procedures as requested.