Council adopts modest 2.6% TUMF increase to maintain regional funding

RIVERSIDE — The Riverside City Council on May 5 introduced and adopted an ordinance amending chapter 16.68 of the municipal code to update the city’s Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) schedule and a companion resolution setting the new fees.

Chris Scully, interim deputy public works director and city engineer, said the city is a WRCOG (Western Riverside Council of Governments) participant and must align its local ordinance and fee schedule with a 2024 nexus study and WRCOG’s automatic annual adjustment, which is tied to construction cost indices and capped at 5%. "The percent change is about 2.6% across the board for all the fees, which is a modest increase," Scully said. Staff said the new schedule would take effect July 1 and that failure to adopt the updates could risk the city’s eligibility for TUMF funding used on regional projects such as the Third Street grade separation.

Councilmember Conder moved to approve staff recommendations; the motion was seconded and the council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance and updated fee schedule. Council discussion referenced WRCOG executive committee support and concerns that modest increases may not fully cover rising material and labor costs, but staff said the automatic adjustment and Nexus updates are intended to keep fees aligned with construction costs without producing sudden large increases.

What this means: Developers will pay slightly higher TUMF charges on new development permits starting July 1 under the updated schedule; the change preserves the city’s participation in WRCOG programs that pool funds for regional transportation projects.

Vote summary: Motion to adopt ordinance and resolution — passed unanimously.