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Staff proposes code change to move application fees to annual budget resolution; proposes nonrefundable payment upon application
Summary
Planning staff presented a preliminary ordinance to remove itemized application fees from the land-development code and instead reference an annually adopted city budget resolution; staff said the proposal would make fees nonrefundable when an application is submitted, changing current refund practices in some cases.
Planning staff on July 8 presented a preliminary ordinance to change how the city sets land-development and application fees, proposing to delete a detailed, itemized fee schedule from the code and instead refer to an annual city budget resolution.
Miss Grasser, speaking for the Planning Department, told the commission the goal is administrative flexibility: instead of amending code to update fees every time, the city would adopt fees annually through its budget resolution. "So instead of changing code every time, they are adopted every year through resolution to the city council of our city budget," Grasser said.
Grasser also said the draft adds a provision that fees will be nonrefundable once an application is submitted. Commissioners asked about current practice; Grasser said staff typically refunds fees when an item does not reach the commission, and often fees are not collected until staff meets with applicants, but the new code would require payment upon application and make fees nonrefundable.
Commissioner Reichert moved preliminary approval and Commissioner Budke seconded; the commission voted in favor. Because this was a preliminary action, the matter will return to the commission for final action consistent with ordinance-adoption procedures.
