Council agrees to $100,000 reduction on nearly $197,000 permit bill for Golden Bough Playhouse renovation

The council took up a request from Pacific Repertory Theatre to waive approximately $196,648.71 in building permit fees tied to the Golden Bough Playhouse renovation. Staff recounted the project's six‑year permitting history, noting the scope began near $2.5 million but the final valuation approached $14 million after multiple plan revisions; staff also said the city incurred roughly $18,000 in outside plan review fees. Staff told council that fee waivers are a legislative discretion because the fee schedule was adopted by resolution.

Steven Moore, executive director of Pacific Repertory Theatre, asked the council to exercise that discretion, saying the project’s scope did not meaningfully change while global inflation and pandemic‑era price escalations increased construction costs. “The question before you tonight is whether applying that formula without adjustment produces a fair result under extraordinary circumstances,” Moore said. Dozens of community members and PacRep board members urged the council to continue prior precedent of fee relief for historic performing‑arts venues; supporter Carol Hall said PacRep “has served this community for more than 40 years” and asked the council to treat the Playhouse equitably with other historic venues.

After deliberation about precedent, budget impact and fairness to other applicants, a motion to waive $100,000 of the charge carried on a 4–1 roll call (Councilmember Baron voted no). The council also asked staff to discuss a payment plan option with the applicant and return a resolution to the council spelling out findings and the waiver terms. Staff noted the waiver decision will be memorialized by resolution at a future meeting.