Board adopts planning and transportation fee updates; vote 4–1

The Board of Supervisors approved updates to transportation mitigation fees and a comprehensive revision of planning and building fees aimed at increasing cost recovery and simplifying fee structures.

Public Works and Planning staff presented the administrative update: transportation mitigation fees were adjusted (an approximately 16% administrative change in one element), and planning & building fees were restructured to reduce fees for small projects and raise rates for larger or more complex projects, with the department aiming to raise planning cost recovery from roughly 82% to about 96–99%.

Staff said the fee package would raise approximately $950,000 toward operational shortfalls and streamline hourly-fee and fixed-fee structures. The proposal also included removing certain hourly charge categories and creating a transparent maintenance/technology fee structure to support online permitting improvements.

Supervisor Nelson opposed the package on equity grounds, arguing that the general public (not only applicants) benefits from some services and that the county should use general‑fund resources rather than shifting costs to applicants for matters tied to public safety.

A board vote to adopt the ordinances and fee schedule carried 4–1 (Supervisors Hartmann, Lee, Lavanino and Presidenta Caps in favor; Supervisor Nelson opposed). The board also approved an amendment to charge one television‑line item from the general fund (the motion recorded before adoption).

What’s next: Planning staff said they will implement the new fee schedule and continue process improvements, with a scheduled follow-up on permit-process modernization and online improvements.

Provenance: Presentation and roll call appear in the administrative package and the public record for Items 5 and 6.