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Piedmont council adopts planning & building fee policy, directs staff to design solar rebate program
Summary
Council adopted a cost-recovery policy and updated fee schedule, setting a goal of 100% cost recovery with an implementation date of Jan. 1, 2026; staff will return with details on a solar rebate program after council direction to prefer rebates over reduced permit fees.
The Piedmont City Council voted unanimously to adopt a planning and building cost‑recovery policy and an updated fee schedule after a presentation from Matrix Consulting and city staff.
Courtney Ramos of Matrix Consulting summarized the study and its results: "we're roughly under recovering our costs by about $427,000 or recovering 73% of our costs," she said, identifying a $392,000 gap on building services and about $35,000 on planning. Staff recommended adopting a policy that targets 100% cost recovery, with council‑authorized exceptions for documented public benefits such as affordable housing or climate goals, and setting annual CPI adjustments to preserve recovery levels.
Council members asked several technical and policy questions, including whether battery storage requires a separate permit (staff: included in the same permit) and the basis for solar cost estimates. Staff described two incentive approaches for residential rooftop solar: a 50% permit fee reduction (estimated at least $30,000 annually based on roughly 100 residential solar permits per year) or adding residential rooftop solar to the existing home electrification rebate program (staff estimated a $1,000 rebate could cost about $100,000 annually if fully funded). Staff recommended an implementation date of Jan. 1, 2026 to allow for public messaging.
Councilmember Ramsey moved to accept the report and adopt the fee schedule and policy, directing staff to return with a detailed proposal for a solar rebate program; the motion carried unanimously on roll call. Staff will return with a more detailed rebate plan and cost estimates before allocating general‑fund subsidies for incentives.
