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Rowlett officials propose master fee schedule updates, including Wet Zone price hikes
Summary
City staff presented a master fee schedule update Dec. 15 that would add several building and neighborhood‑service fees and raise Wet Zone water‑park admission and season‑pass prices; officials said new charges align with state changes and neighboring cities and aim to recoup costs staff currently absorb.
City staff on Dec. 15 told the Rowlett City Council they intend to update the municipal master fee schedule to capture new and previously unpriced services and to align with neighboring jurisdictions and recent state guidance.
The Community Development Director said the schedule, last revised Sept. 2, 2025, proposes new fees for several commercial activities and clarified permit rules. “We compared our current fees to Wiley, Sachse, Rockwall, Garland, Mesquite, Plano, and Richardson,” the director said, adding the city discovered services it had been providing without a fee. Staff proposed a modest reinspection fee increase for small projects — from $50 to $60 — and adding items such as a temporary certificate of occupancy and a work‑without‑permit penalty that many peers already charge.
The director told council the city also needs a separate public‑hearing notice fee because advertising a hearing in the Dallas Morning News typically costs at least about $350. Staff said they used a case count of roughly 39 public‑hearing notices this year to estimate the projected cost recovery and will publish the cost basis and staff‑hour calculations on the city website if the council adopts the changes.
Parks and Recreation Director Ryan Mullins outlined proposed increases to the Wet Zone water‑park admissions and season passes, saying the staff recommendation raises most resident single‑admission prices by $2 and nonresident prices by $3. For example, resident admission for patrons 48 inches and taller would move from $10 to $12 and nonresident admission from $12 to $15; season‑pass and family‑pass rates would also rise. Mullins estimated the fee adjustments would generate roughly $64,000 in additional revenue but acknowledged those receipts would flow to the general fund rather than be sequestered for pool maintenance.
Councilmembers pressed staff for detail about how individual fees were calculated and how the city will demonstrate compliance with statutory caps for certain categories, such as food‑service permits. A councilmember asked whether staff would post the written calculations tying each fee to average staff hours, indirect costs and overhead; staff said they will provide that documentation if the fees are adopted.
No formal vote was taken at the work session. Staff said they will return with any requested refinements and supporting documentation at a future meeting, with the ordinance and resolution language prepared for council consideration after public notice and additional review.
