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Hemet council approves participation in WRCOG TUMF update, adopts new tiered residential fees
Summary
The Hemet City Council on Feb. 11 voted 5-0 to introduce an ordinance updating the city's participation in the Western Riverside Council of Governments' Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) program, including a new tiered residential fee structure required by Assembly Bill 602.
The Hemet City Council on Feb. 11 voted 5-0 to introduce and read by title only an ordinance adopting the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) 2024 Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) nexus update and participating in the countywide fee program.
Noah Rau, Hemet's public works director, told the council the update responds to rising roadway construction costs and to state changes enacted by Assembly Bill 602. "The 2024 TUMF Nexus study is the first update since Assembly Bill 602 was signed into law in 2021," Rau said, adding the law requires nexus studies adopted after July 1, 2022, to calculate fees proportional to a housing unit's square footage.
The nexus study produced a tiered fee structure for single-family residences, producing increases that Rau said range from roughly 22.5% to 91.5% depending on home size. WRCOG program manager Cameron Brown said WRCOG engaged developers and the Building Industry Association and "we have actually not had any pushback to this fee increase. All they wanted to know was when is it going forward?" Brown added that TUMF accounts for a small share of overall mitigation fees, which also include water, school and other local fees.
The council discussion addressed exemptions, allocation and local projects. Brown said the nexus study and WRCOG process recorded exemptions for affordable housing and accessory dwelling units (ADUs); when asked, Brown said "affordable housing is exempt" from the TUMF charge. He also said WRCOG provides five-year allocations and cited an $11 million allocation for Warren Road and a roughly $35 million allocation toward State Route 79 realignment, describing that as covering about a quarter of the realignment.
Council members asked technical questions about the fee basis and local impacts. Rau clarified the square footage bases the fee on conditioned living area ("living space"), not garage area. The council then voted to approve the item. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Kendrick made the motion; Council Member Linda Krupa seconded. The roll call was Krupa yes, Lodge yes, Mayles yes, Mayor Pro Tem Kendrick yes, Mayor Jackie Peterson yes.
The ordinance will be brought back for additional readings and formal adoption consistent with municipal ordinance procedures. Staff said WRCOG will continue to provide jurisdictions with fee allocations and annual reports to track local project funding.
