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Finance committee backs flat first-tent fee, lower incremental charge after nonprofit complaint
Summary
After a Saints Car Club complaint that multiple large tents triggered repeated fees, staff proposed and the committee agreed to forward a recommendation for a flat first-tent permit fee that covers typical review/inspection costs and a smaller per-additional-tent charge to the full council.
The Port Orchard Finance Committee reviewed a complaint that a nonprofit event was charged multiple tent-permit fees after putting up more than one large membrane tent. Nick Bond, who presented the background, said the city historically charged only a $10 technology fee for small pop-up tents but adopted higher fees for larger membrane structures to capture staff review and after-hours inspection time.
Bond told the group the new fee was intended to cover actual inspection and plan-review costs, including occasional nights and weekend inspections. He said the Saints Car Club had been assessed about $400 in permit fees for multiple tents and asked the committee to consider whether that structure is fair to organizations that host multi-tent events.
Committee members discussed options that would preserve cost recovery while reducing the burden on event organizers. Council member Eric Warden and others suggested a flat fee for the first tent and a modest additional charge for each subsequent tent when the tents are inspected in a single trip; one proposal discussed was a $50 fee for each additional tent. Members asked staff to draft an amendment to the city fee resolution that would set a per-event first-tent fee and a lower per-additional-tent fee reflecting economies of scale for one inspection trip.
Committee chair Mark Trinary said staff should prepare a concise amendment for the council agenda; the group agreed the item could be brought forward quickly, likely as part of a director’s report or on the consent agenda if no member objects. The committee did not take a formal vote at the meeting but directed staff to prepare language and forward a recommendation to the full council.
The committee’s decision means the council will soon consider a fee amendment intended to (1) ensure permit fees cover staff time and after-hours inspections and (2) reduce duplicate charges when multiple tents can be inspected in a single visit.
The council is expected to see proposed ordinance/resolution language at an upcoming study session or regular council meeting.
