Perry City Council approves FY2024-25 impact fee plan

Perry City Council voted to approve the fiscal year 2024-25 impact fee plan after a presentation from city staff explaining how collected fees will be used over the next six years. Councilmember Walker moved to approve the plan and the motion was seconded and adopted by roll call.

City staff told the council the plan breaks out fee balances by category. Police impact fees total $8,799 and are earmarked for evidence-bay expansion; fire fees total $8,469 and are slated to fund a fire-staffing needs study around fiscal 2026; parks impact fees total $164,445 and will fund equipment and master-plan work at Mountain View Park. Water-related impact fees were reported at $514,190, with portions already spent and remaining funds planned for the Nielsen well, a pump house and chlorination work; additional bond funds were noted as likely for a storage tank. Storm-drain impact fees were reported at $476,906 and will be used for work tied to the 1200 West Central Trail and associated drainage improvements.

During the discussion councilmembers asked clarifying questions about what counts as an impact-fee-eligible expense, whether certain trail work properly counted as storm-drain work and the timing of projects. Staff said the plan is a planning document, not a mandate, and that eligible projects can be adjusted if priorities change. The council approved the plan by roll call, with Councilmembers Young, Walker, Osler and Wright recorded as voting yes.

The council also approved the city's 2025 meeting schedule during the same meeting, setting regular council sessions for the second and fourth Thursdays of each month and planning commission meetings for the first Thursday.