Consultant outlines fee-study progress; building and engineering fees flagged for priority review

Burke Consulting gave the council an interim briefing on a citywide cost-recovery fee study, describing work-to-date, methodology comparisons with peer cities, and next steps toward a draft report later this summer.

Consultant Catherine Getz said the study reviews fee-setting methodologies across departments (staff time estimates, actual cost of service, peer comparison) and is focusing on community development, parks and recreation, and general administrative fees. "What we're working on now is comparing current methodologies to best practices or industry standards or what peers are using," she said, noting that building and engineering fees were identified as a priority area for further analysis and that the consultant aims to produce a draft in late July.

Council members asked whether the analysis could present alternative cost-recovery scenarios (for example, what a fee schedule would look like at 80% cost recovery versus 100%) and whether the consultant could add closer peer jurisdictions. The consultant said scenario modeling is possible and that the draft would include methodology options and estimates of coverage under different recovery targets.

Staff said the study will also identify statutory fees (for example, public records where state law constrains pricing) and where policy choices are required to balance cost recovery with public access. The consultant will return with a draft report and follow-up recommendations for council consideration.