Council adopts broad update to master fee schedule; staff to annualize review and provide more usage data
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Summary
Oak Harbor City Council on Nov. 5 adopted Resolution 25‑24, a comprehensive update to the city’s master fee schedule covering development services, public-safety permits, parks, marina and other fees.
David Goldman, deputy city administrator and finance director, presented a comprehensive master fee schedule update during the Nov. 5 meeting and said staff consolidated current and proposed fees into a spreadsheet showing percent changes and the date of last revision. Goldman said the update affects multiple schedules (development services, finance/utilities, fire permits, parks and recreation, marina, and public records) and that some charges had not been adjusted for many years.
Goldman said building-fee tables are set by the Washington State Building Code and associated RCWs, while planning and development fees were adjusted to improve cost recovery; the planning and zoning fee recovery rate was illustrated as improving to roughly 23% for the most recent year analyzed. He said impact fees were not adjusted as part of this action and are being studied separately.
Paul Shor, city fire marshal, explained that the fire schedule was reorganized to break out unit fees (sprinkler heads, detectors, pump tests, etc.) so permit applicants can calculate fees consistently. He also said some fees were lowered where regional comparables and historical installation volumes supported the change; other fees rose to better align with staff time and service costs.
Examples discussed on the record included a hydrant meter rent per day that moved from $5 to $10 (a 100% change on a small-dollar item) and a proposed change to water cut-off/lien enforcement from $40 to $50. Councilmembers raised concerns about large percentage increases on some line items (for example, fireworks public-display permits and kayak/dinghy storage/rental fees), asked for clearer usage and revenue data, and requested that fee updates be made on a scheduled (annual or biannual) cadence rather than in ad hoc multi‑year batches.
Staff committed to bring fee schedules to council annually with improved supporting data and to work with relevant commissions (parks, planning) on changes that affect their programs. Councilmember Merrow moved and Councilmember Wiggenstein seconded adoption of Resolution 25‑24; it passed unanimously (Mayor Pro Tem had left the meeting).