Sunnyside adopts revised FY2026 fee schedule; stormwater restructuring, police off-duty rates and parks deposits updated

The Sunnyside City Council adopted a revised fee schedule for fiscal year 2026 on Oct. 27 after an extended staff presentation and questions from council. Key changes included a restructured stormwater fee that separates residential and commercial rates, a 5% increase to selected service categories (ambulance, health and safety, street/sidewalks, water, sewer and stormwater), formalized police off-duty staffing rates and a two-hour minimum, and clarified refundable cleaning/damage deposits for parks and pool rentals.

Stormwater: City staff and public-works personnel explained the fee recalculation. The city moved from a single flat residential-equivalent model toward a parcel-based flat commercial rate intended to recover a target revenue (staff cited a target near $475,000) and reduce pressure on the general fund. Staff said the new residential monthly charge would drop by about $0.47 (to roughly $6.01) while an average commercial parcel would pay about $17.78 per month; staff said the change aims to shift more of the program cost to commercial/industrial lots that have more impervious surface.

Police and special staffing: The fee schedule adds explicit rates for off-duty officers, DUI restitution adjustments and a clear two-hour overtime minimum in line with union contract requirements; the police chief said availability depends on union call-out lists and certification (for example, drone operators are limited to certified staff and drone responses will be billed at the staff rate).

Parks and pool rentals: Staff added refundable cleaning/damage deposits (examples: $55 refundable cleaning deposit for park reservations) and a pool rental deposit; the schedule formalizes nonprofit discounts (50%) for reserved fields and event applications.

Councilors raised concerns about impacts on nonprofits and churches; staff and council discussed the final fees as a balance between cost recovery and affordability. After discussion, Councilor Hart moved, seconded by the Deputy Mayor, to adopt the fee schedule. The council approved the schedule by roll-call vote; staff said new rates will take effect Jan. 1, 2026, and the posted electronic version will be the authoritative copy.