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Council adopts amended FY23 fee schedule after debate over big jumps in planning fees
Summary
Snowflake council members questioned sharp increases in the proposed FY23 fees; after discussion the council reduced several Planning & Zoning fees (rezone, variance, special-use and temporary-use permits) and adopted Resolution 2022-04 by unanimous vote with two members absent.
The Snowflake Town Council on July 5 adopted Resolution 2022-04, the FY23 Comprehensive Fee Schedule, after trimming several Planning & Zoning fees that council members said represented steep increases for residents and applicants.
Brian Richards, town staff member, presented the schedule and said many existing fees were “very old” and that updated amounts reflect staff time and publishing costs. "It is very costly to do these processes with staff time and publishing fees," Richards said.
Councilmember Kerry Ballard objected to large single-step increases, saying, "we're still trying to be a user-friendly community, when you make such a big jump in some of the fees it isn't very user friendly." Lynn Johnson asked for comparisons to other jurisdictions and urged that fees be tied to specific cost calculations rather than set arbitrarily.
As amended by council action, Planning & Zoning fees were adjusted as follows: Proposed Rezone Request reduced from $600 to $450; Proposed Variance Request reduced from $500 to $450; Proposed Temporary Use Permit reduced from $200 to $150; Proposed Special Use Permit reduced from $500 to $450. For utilities, staff recommended about a 4% increase, noting pipe costs have ‘‘at least tripled’’ and that the town chose a 4% rise rather than an 8% inflation adjustment.
Greg Brimhall moved adoption with the noted changes; Lora Jones seconded. The motion passed unanimously with Cory Johnson and Joe Bjornn absent.
The council directed staff to implement the revised fee schedule.
