Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the User Fees Development Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Phoenix staff recommend 30% increase to development services hourly rate; council to consider Dec. 17
Summary
City planning and fire officials told the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee they need a 30% boost to the $150 hourly rate (to $195) and other user-fee updates to restore the Development Services fund; the subcommittee unanimously recommended the proposal for City Council consideration.
City planning and fire officials on Nov. 19 recommended the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee send a package of user-fee increases to the Phoenix City Council for consideration on Dec. 17. Staff said the changes are intended to restore the Development Services enterprise fund and allow the city to maintain current service levels.
Adam Miller, with the Planning and Development Department, emphasized these are fees for services, not taxes, and described them as charges for plan review, inspection and permitting work provided by the department and the Fire Department. "These are not taxes," Miller said. He told the subcommittee the proposal would not create new fees tied to building-code changes but would adjust existing hourly rates and select program fees.
Staff presented a financial forecast that, they said, shows a structural deficit in the development fund that could exhaust the fund balance within 24 months if no changes are made. As part of a "build resiliency" option, Miller said staff recommend a 30% increase to the department hourly rate — moving it "from a $150 to a $195" — to move toward full cost recovery and restore the fund balance. Miller also said the city has budgeted a comprehensive user-fee study for next spring to examine all business processes and fee structures.
Chief Tim Christ of the Fire Department described changes tied to the 2024 International Fire Code, including two new operational permits (battery storage/handling for larger lithium-ion installations and heating/cooking/warming permits for certain high-risk settings) and updates to the Special Hazards Annual Assessment Program, which covers facilities that store or use hazardous materials. Chief Christ noted that the hazmat assessment fees were last updated in 2003 and that the program includes nearly 1,600 facilities in Phoenix.
John Bomber of NAEP Arizona, representing owners, developers and related professionals, urged the city to pair any fee increases with measurable commitments on staffing, service levels, transparency and customer communication so that the development community can see improved turnaround times and coordination. Miller and staff committed to follow up with additional comparative dates and supporting detail on request.
The subcommittee voted unanimously to recommend the staff proposal to the full City Council. Staff told the subcommittee the notice of intent had been posted in October in accordance with state statutes, the Development Advisory Board and Fire Safety Advisory Board had provided unanimous support, and the proposed changes would take effect Jan. 20 if Council approves them on Dec. 17.
What's next: The City Council is scheduled to consider the fee changes on Dec. 17; staff will provide the promised supporting data and the formal fee-study results next spring.
