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Planning staff outlines options to avoid SB 5290 refunds: fees, on‑call reviewers and contingent staffing
Summary
Staff briefed council on Senate Bill 5290, which requires refunds to applicants if statutorily mandated review timelines are missed. Staff proposed three measures to avoid refunds: adopt reasonable fees (done), expand on‑call permitting assistance (contracted reviewers funded by clients where applicable), and budget contingent FTEs to be filled when permit revenue increases; staff recommended documenting measures in a resolution tied to the November budget package.
Planning Director Carol Helland updated council on Senate Bill 5290 and staff proposals to avoid the fiscal exposure created by mandated refunds when review timelines are missed.
Helland said SB 5290 requires jurisdictions to reimburse applicants when statutorily mandated timelines are not met. To insulate the city from refunds, staff proposed adopting three additional measures that the statute recognizes: 1) maintain reasonable fees (staff pointed to a fee study completed earlier this year and adopted…
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