Loma Linda adopts updated fee schedule and urgency resolution to implement new fees immediately

After a detailed presentation, the Loma Linda City Council approved a multi-year fee study update and an urgency resolution that makes many revised fees effective immediately.

Eric Johnson of Revenue Cost Specialists told the council the firm fully allocated departmental costs — salaries, benefits, overhead and departmental time — to produce per-service cost estimates and proposed fees intended, in many cases, to recover 100% of the cost of providing the service. "What we did is we identified what are the services being provided, who's providing them, how much time is being spent...and we match that time detail up with that fully allocated hourly rate," Johnson said. He noted the analysis identified roughly $9 million in current subsidy across user-fee services, with much of that subsidy in public-safety medical-response fees.

The study also recommended changes to non-cost-based fines (for example, some parking fines) to encourage compliance. Johnson said the team surveyed neighboring jurisdictions and set many fees to a market midpoint. Council discussion focused on the timing of the urgency resolution, the public engagement and the potential political reaction to parking fine and enforcement changes.

After council discussion, members moved to adopt two resolutions — the fee-study update and an urgency resolution authorizing fees to take immediate effect. The council approved both by roll call. Council members said they would prepare to answer constituent questions about specific fee increases and about enforcement practices tied to the new schedule.

The adopted schedule and support materials are available in the city’s staff reports and will be implemented per the adopted resolution.