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Council adopts updated user-fee schedule after Willdan study; option A selected

Yucaipa City Council · April 14, 2026

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Summary

After a multi-year Willdan study, the council approved a comprehensive update to the city's user-fee schedule (option A), including a 3.2% CPI increase effective July 1, and authorized staff to use study hourly rates; the changes increase a variety of departmental fees to better reflect full cost recovery.

City staff and Willdan Financial Services presented the comprehensive user-fee study and recommended fee adjustments across departments intended to increase cost recovery and reduce general-fund subsidies. Tony Thrasher (Willdan) described methodology — time-and‑materials, overhead allocation and fee-type distinctions — and highlighted broad patterns: many existing fees fall below full cost and the study proposes increases and new fees in planning, building, engineering, fire, and other departments.

Key figures cited by staff included average changes: engineering fees up about 24% on average for existing fees; planning average increase ~23%; building permit flat-fee adjustments averaging 16% for existing fees; fire and building program changes included numerous new state-mandated inspection fees. The Willdan team explained options for technology fee recovery (option A = full recovery; option B = limited recovery) and recommended an annual inflator to avoid large periodic adjustments.

Councilmember Thorpe moved to adopt option A (full technology-fee recovery); Deputy Mayor Bieber asked clarifying questions about credit-card convenience fees and the city’s acceptance of cash. Staff confirmed cash payments remain accepted at City Hall and that the convenience fee proposal would authorize the city to set a percentage when the city directly charges credit-card fees. The council voted to adopt the selected fee schedule and a 3.2% CPI increase effective July 1; staff also authorized an additional 30 days for public comment per the recommendation.

Attribution: Technical descriptions and fee figures are attributed to Tony Thrasher (Willdan) and Ryan (city staff); motions and votes attributed to Councilmember Thorpe, Deputy Mayor Bieber and the mayor.