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San Ramon council questions $4,000–$4,500 appeal deposit after staff cites Matrix fee study
Summary
Council heard a staff recommendation to retain a deposit-based appeal fee model (staff cited a Matrix Consulting Group time-and-cost study that estimated a typical appeal at about $6,700). Public commenters and several council members said the current $4,000–$4,500 deposits deter appeals; council asked staff for additional options and data and directed follow-up at a workshop and policy committee.
The San Ramon City Council spent the bulk of Monday—s meeting discussing the city—s planning appeal fee structure, including whether a $4,000–$4,500 deposit creates an undue barrier to public appeals.
Community Development Director Lauren Barth told the council the city adopted a deposit-based appeal fee as part of the master fee schedule; the Matrix Consulting Group—s fee/time study estimated the full cost of a typical appeal at "roughly $6,700," Barth said. The current adopted deposits—a lower amount than the study—s maximum—are intended to recover staff time, noticing and overhead rather than be a punitive charge.
Barth explained the difference between the city—s deposit-based system and flat-fee systems used by many neighboring jurisdictions: "A lower flat fee would require either the city or the project applicant to cover any additional costs of processing the appeal," she said, while deposit-based models recover full cost from the appellant and require billing the appellant for overruns.
Council members asked…
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