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North Oaks council adopts 2026 fee schedule, confirms appointments and adds tree-assessment charge
Summary
The council approved Ordinance 157 adopting a revised 2026 fee schedule (contractor license fee raised to $70, temporary C/O fee $25 with $10,000 escrow, new administrative variance fee), confirmed planning commission appointments (Res. 1588 and 1589) and approved a $3,134.50 assessment for removal of a diseased tree at 4 Oriole Lane (Res. 1591).
The North Oaks City Council on Jan. 15 approved a package of administrative changes and appointments, voting unanimously on several motions to adopt a revised 2026 fee schedule, confirm Planning Commission appointments and add a property assessment for hazardous-tree removal.
Administrator Kevin Kress reviewed the key changes in Ordinance 157, which amends the 2026 fee schedule. Notable adjustments include moving companion animal licensing to a $0 fee until the animal ordinance is updated, raising contractor/mechanical license fees from $40 (the long-standing local rate) to $70 to align with peer cities, and adding a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy line item: a $25 fee with a $10,000 escrow requirement to ensure completion of outstanding work. The fee schedule also adds an Administrative Variance fee of $450 with a $1,250 escrow for excess-height reviews and increases septic permit application fees to match neighboring municipalities. Kress said there will be no change to water and sewer rates at this time; staff will return in spring with a proposal to align rates across both sides of the community. A proposed waste-hauler fee was removed from the current schedule pending further discussion with the North Oaks Homeowners Association (NOHOA).
Councilor Mark Azman moved to open the public hearing on the fee schedule; no members of the public commented. Azman then moved — and Councilor Grover Sayre seconded — approval of Ordinance 157. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. Attorney Bridget Nason will draft a summary fee-schedule resolution (Resolution 1590) for publication to reduce printing costs and reference the full ordinance for details; Council approved that resolution by unanimous vote.
Separately, the council approved Planning Commission appointments. Administrator Kress noted a correction to Resolution 1588 (item B should list Rick Kingston rather than Rick Anderson). Council then approved Resolution 1588 as amended and Resolution 1589 (the 2026 annual appointments), both by unanimous roll call votes.
On a separate public hearing, staff described work by Woodland Restoration to remove hazardous trees at 4 Oriole Lane after multiple owner notifications and nonresponse. The City paid the contractor $3,134.50 in August 2025 and recommended placing that amount on the homeowner’s 2027 tax assessment roll to reimburse the City. With no public comment, Councilor Azman moved and Councilor Gaspard seconded approval of Resolution 1591; the motion carried unanimously.
Motions and outcomes
- Approval of agenda: Motion by Councilor Grover Sayre, seconded by Councilor Sara Shah; carried unanimously by roll call. - Approval of consent agenda (licenses, minutes, financials, schedules): Motion by Councilor Andrew Gaspard, seconded by Councilor Mark Azman; carried unanimously by roll call. - Resolution 1588 (Planning Commission appointment, amended): Motion by Councilor Mark Azman, seconded by Councilor Andrew Gaspard; carried unanimously by roll call. - Resolution 1589 (2026 appointments): Motion by Councilor Mark Azman, seconded by Councilor Andrew Gaspard; carried unanimously by roll call. - Ordinance 157 (2026 fee schedule): Motion by Councilor Mark Azman, seconded by Councilor Grover Sayre; carried unanimously by roll call. - Resolution 1590 (Summary publication of Ordinance 157): Motion by Councilor Mark Azman, seconded by Councilor Sara Shah; carried unanimously by roll call. - Resolution 1591 (add $3,134.50 to City assessment roll for 4 Oriole Lane tree removal): Motion by Councilor Mark Azman, seconded by Councilor Andrew Gaspard; carried unanimously by roll call.
What this means
The fee schedule changes take effect upon publication and will be summarized by a separate resolution for newspaper publication. Water and sewer rates remain unchanged for now; staff will return in spring with a proposal. The council’s approvals reflect routine municipal housekeeping and an assessment to recover the direct cost of hazardous-tree removal when property owners do not reimburse the city.
Next step: the city attorney will draft and publish the summary fee schedule (Resolution 1590); staff will return with a water and sewer rate proposal in spring and will place the tree assessment on the 2027 tax roll.
