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Ceres adopts updated development-impact fees; single-family rates jump about 65%
Summary
The council adopted a comprehensive update to development-impact fees, aligning residential fees with AB 602 (per-square-foot basis) and raising several category fees: single-family residential fees up roughly 65%, multifamily up about 56%. The fee schedule takes effect 60 days after adoption.
Ceres City Council voted unanimously on July 14 to adopt a revised development-impact fee schedule after a consultant presentation that recalculated capital needs across police, fire, parks, transportation, water and wastewater.
Consultant Adam Marston of Harrison Associates told the council the update was required to comply with AB 602 and AB 1600 and to reflect updated master plans and construction-cost trends. "Development impact fees are imposed by a local government on new development to offset their demands on public infrastructure," Marston said during the presentation.
Key changes and methodology The update shifts residential fees to a per-square-foot basis in line with AB 602, while nonresidential fees remain on a per-1,000-square-foot (or per-trip/employee) basis. Major points presented to council: - Single-family residential fees increased by roughly 65% compared with the last comprehensive update (2010/2013). - Multifamily fees increased by roughly 56%. - Office fees rose by about 82%; commercial fees rose by ~39%; industrial fees fell by about 22% due to changes in employment-density assumptions.
Marston said the study used a mix of approaches (existing-inventory, plan-facilities and system-plan methods) depending on the facility type. For example, parks used a plan-facilities method based on the city's general-plan standard (four acres of parkland per 1,000 residents), while transportation was based on capital needs tied to projected trip generation. Water and wastewater used master-plan-derived costs and meter/EDU factors for equitable allocation.
Council questions and context Council members asked whether the fee amounts included anticipated operating costs, salaries, or projected contract escalations; staff and consultant stressed the fees pay only for capital costs and cannot legally fund salaries or ongoing maintenance. Marston and staff explained that the fee update was triggered by new master plans, cost escalations and AB 602's statutory updates, and that fees must be revisited at least every eight years.
Adoption and next steps Council adopted the new schedule by roll call (5-0). Under state law, mitigation/impact fees become effective 60 days after council adoption. Staff said the city would publish the new fee schedule and inform applicants and developers about the change and the effective date; building permits already issued prior to the effective date are not subject to the new fees.
Speakers quoted (first reference with role) Adam Marston (Harrison Associates, consultant): "Development impact fees are imposed by a local government on new development to offset their demands on public infrastructure."
