Monona committee adopts updated fees and penalties schedule including TIF application and background-check fees

The City of Monona Finance & Personnel Committee on Dec. 1 adopted Ordinance 12-25-8100 to update the city’s fees, fines and penalties schedule.

Staff presented a suite of changes affecting multiple departments. Highlights included an ambulance-fee structure adjustment; modest increases to dog and cat license fees driven largely by county rate changes the city collects; a $50 increase for erosion-control and stormwater permit fees; and a new $15 per-applicant background-check fee to recover screening costs when applications list multiple applicants.

Staff also reviewed parks and recreation adjustments designed to encourage season passes (including higher nonresident rates), a change that makes temporary-structure charges $100 per tent, and modest increases to lake-access launch fees. The presenter said the city has been meeting with the City of Madison and Dane County to explore a more equitable distribution of launch-pass revenue used at Lotus Park and that those talks will continue in January and spring.

A more significant change discussed was the parkland dedications (fee-in-lieu) proposal. Staff reported the packet lists a current baseline number (transcript reference showed the figure as "$7.14" and an adjusted packet figure of "$1,417") and recommended a new schedule in line with nearby communities — roughly $4,000 per single-family unit and $3,000 per multifamily unit. Staff noted Monona is not charging an impact fee while some neighboring communities do and said dedication fees have fewer expenditure restrictions than statutory impact fees. Committee members asked whether discounts could apply for senior or affordable housing; staff said the ordinance and future practice could allow flexibility for such projects.

On development incentives, staff proposed a $1,000 nonrefundable TIF application fee to require a formal application and to offset consultant and staff review costs; staff said this approach mirrors practices in nearby municipalities such as Middleton. Staff also proposed raising certified survey map fees from $200 to $250 and charging $25 per lot (up to $50 per lot). Presenters characterized most of these changes as modest revenue-recovery or cost-alignment measures rather than major new revenue sources.

A motion to approve the fee schedule passed by voice vote. Committee also accepted general fund accounts payable checks dated Nov. 14, 2025. The ordinance and fee schedule will be reflected in the operating budget materials the city presents to council.