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Hawaiian Gardens reviews consultant fee study recommending higher planning recovery, new 5% technology surcharge
Summary
At a March 19 special meeting, consultants presented a fee study examining more than 570 line items and recommended higher cost-recovery targets for planning, phased recreation increases, and a 5% technology surcharge; staff will hold a required public hearing and return with a resolution, targeting a July 1 implementation.
At a special meeting on March 19, 2026, the Hawaiian Gardens City Council reviewed a consultant-prepared fee study that recommends raising some planning and permit fees, adopting a 5% technology surcharge on permitting and planning transactions, and phasing increases for certain recreation programs.
Matrix Consulting Group project manager Khushbu Engel told the council the study evaluated more than 570 fee line items across city departments and used “typical reasonable average time” and a fully burdened hourly rate — including salaries, benefits, productive hours and overhead — to calculate a “maximum justifiable fee.” Engel said the study found the city is roughly 50% cost-recovery overall for building and planning and that the gap represents about “a $217,000 deficit,” driven mostly by planning shortfalls.
The study proposes different cost-recovery targets by service type. Community development…
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