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Advisory council urged to advise on fees as city prepares to take over permitting
Summary
At a recent advisory council meeting, members discussed the pending transfer of permitting authority to the city, the advisory board’s role in advising on fee changes, and a rulemaking process that would initially adopt current fees by reference before any fee study or drafted rule changes.
An advisory council meeting reviewing the pending transfer of a local permitting agency heard officials say the city plans to amend an interlocal agreement and could extend the transition period, and members urged the council to shape fee policy and reporting during the change.
The meeting centered on who will set fees and who will approve permits once the city agency assumes responsibility. A committee member said the council has tried "not have our fee structure too far removed from what the state charges so that those fees would not be a burden on local permittees," and urged that permit decisions, including Title 5 approvals, be based on "the administrative reading of the rules," not politics.
Agency officials told the council that permit authority would be delegated to the agency director rather than routed to county commissioner meetings. "As I understand it, you would have authority... that would be the sole responsibility of the agency director," a staff member said; an agency official confirmed that delegation.
Officials said the resolution that adopts the new rules by reference will list the advisory board’s roles and responsibilities and suggested the council decide whether to provide written reports to the board of commissioners — for example, before the county’s budget process. "I think that's something that you can advise on," the agency official told members.
On fees, staff explained that adopting the agency’s current code by reference would keep fees the same initially. Any change would require a draft-rule process and outreach: the agency described a fee-study approach that inventories current permitted facilities, models proposed charges to show increases or decreases and estimated revenue, and includes stakeholder outreach such as letters to facilities and opportunities for comment.
Council members discussed timing for reporting and how other counties structure advisory boards and reporting requirements. The advisory committee will receive supporting materials from staff to help decide the scope of its recommended duties.
The meeting did not record a formal vote on policy changes; council members focused on laying out responsibilities and a schedule for review and input before rules are adopted by the commissioners.
