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VII.2. Fee Schedule Review; Bishop CITY OF HOPKINS Memorandum To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members Mike Mornson, City Manager From: Nick Bishop, Finance Director Date: April 2, 2024 Subject: Fee Schedule Review _____________________________________________________________________ PURPOSE To provide input on proposed changes to various fees charged by the City. INFORMATION Beginning in the Summer of 2021 staff has reviewed various fees charged by the City to ensure that the rates accurately reflect the cost to provide a service. As part of this continued effort City Council approved fee increases in November 2021 and July 2022. The review of fees included staff time, equipment, technology costs, supplies and space allocation. The objective of this fee review is to have fees correctly aligned with the cost of service. November 16, 2021 City Council approved fee increases for Planning and Zoning Application Fees, which included base fees, escrows and new fees related to traffic studies, environmental studies and applications for financial assistance. The approval also established solar fees for residential and commercial and increased park dedication fees. July 19, 2022 City Council approved increases for rental licensing, notary services, alarm registrations and fire inspections. Newly Proposed Fees Tree Assessment Fee: The City’s Forestry division inspects public and private trees for diseases, such as Dutch Elm Disease, Oak Wilt and Emerald Ash Borer. Diseased trees on private property must be removed at the owner’s expense. Tree removal can be expensive and the City offers homeowners a program to assess the cost of removal to their property taxes over a ten-year period with interest. Administering the program requires staff time and other overhead costs. There is currently no fee associated with the program. Finance Department Water Meter Reading Fee: The utilities division will install smart water meters throughout the City in 2024. The new MXU radio meters have many advantages including the ability to automatically download water usage. Currently, meters require a utility staff person to drive every street of Hopkins to collect data. A non-radio meter can be installed, but would require more staff time and other resources to collect data. A fee will offset the additional cost. Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Permit: The City has created a permit and permit checklist for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE). A permit is only required for projects where EVSE will be directly wired to the electrical system. Vehicles with internal charging units can plug into existing 120-volt outlets, although that method takes the vehicle longer to charge than if it were plugged into EVSE. The permit also supports the City's work towards incorporating best practices related to electric vehicles and equipment into City processes. EVSE permit fees are identified for commercial and residential projects respectively. Use determinations: The Zoning Administrator is asked to make a determination on a proposed use that is not listed in the zoning ordinance. Staff would review a submitted application which describes the characteristics of the proposed use and assesses whether it would fit within a category of uses or whether it is similar to a use that is described. Administrative site plan review: Residential buildings with 4 or fewer units; smaller new buildings and expansions; and certain site improvements are administratively reviewed. There is a range of complexity within these types of projects. Simpler projects such as residential additions, garages, and decks require minimal amounts of staff time for review. These project types had previously been reviewed for zoning compliance as part of the building permit process; however, planning staff time is not accounted for in building permit fees. FUTURE ACTION If supported by City Council, staff will bring forward the attached fee changes for approval. Fees Reviewed (from Appendix A of City Code)Current Proposed Dogs, spayed or neutered $22.00 $25.00 Dogs, not spayed or neutered $30.00 $30.00 Chicken License $150.00 $125.00 Impound Fee (1st offense)$35.00 $70.00 Impound Fee (2nd offense)$45.00 $100.00 Impound Fee (Additional Offenses)$35.00 $100.00 Driveway Permit $40.00 $40.00 Street Excavation-residential $35.00 $50.00 Residential Fences $35.00 $65.00 First and Second Fire Inspection (per hour)2 $60.00 $115 for first hour + 60/additional Third Inspection (per hour)2 $120.00 $120/ hour Fourth and additional inspections (per hour)2 $180.00 $180/hour Concept review1 $350.00 $375.00 Site plan review1 $500.00 $550.00 Conditional use permit1 $800.00 $900.00 Conditional use permit for fences, signs and other uses1 $150.00 $175.00 Variance-Residential (4 or fewer units)1 $500.00 $550.00 Variance-All Other1 $500.00 $800.00 Vacate street or alley1 $500.00 $550.00 Rezoning or text amendment1 $1,000.00 $1,100.00 Administrative subdivision1 $300.00 $325.00 Subdivision approval, preliminary1 $1,000.00 $1,100.00 Subdivision approval, final1 $1,000.00 $1,100.00 Subdivision, combined application1 $1,800.00 $2,000.00 Planned unit development1 $2,500.00 $2,750.00 Comprehensive plan amendment1 $2,000.00 $2,200.00 Park dedication fee per residential unit1 $5,000.00 $5,500.00 Environmental review1 $1,000.00 Actual Costs + Deposit based on scope Traffic/travel demand management study1 $500.00 Actual Costs + Deposit based on scope Zoning verification letter1 $100.00 per parcel $110 per parcel Extension of approvals1 $250.00 $275.00 Planning and Zoning Fire Inspection Fences Engineering Animals Fees Reviewed (from Appendix A of City Code)Current Proposed Application for city financial assistance1 $2,000.00 $2,200.00 Zoning appeal1 $350.00 $375.00 Interim use permit1 $800.00 $900.00 Alarm Registration $30.00 $35.00 Snow Removal - Residential $2.00 per foot $100.00 Snow Removal - Commercial $3.00 per foot $250 or actual costs Initial Inspection $100 + $25 Per Dwelling Unit Inspected $100 + $100 Per Dwelling Unit First Re-Inspection $50.00 $150.00 Second Re-Inspection $75.00 $225.00 Each Additional Re-Inspection Double Previous Amount Double Previous Amount License - Single Family Units2 $100.00 $100.00 License - Buildings with 3 or More Units2 $100 per building + $10 per unit $200 per building + $10 per unit Temporary Signs $50.00 $75.00 Permanent Signs $100.00 $75.00 Special Event Permit $50.00 $375.00 1 - Previously Reviewed on November 16, 2021 2 - Previously Revied on July 19, 2022 Newly Proposed Fees Current Proposed Tree Assessment Fee N/A $325.00 Water Meter Reading Fee (Radio Opt Out)N/A $25 Per Month Inspections Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Permit-Residential N/A $80.00 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Permit-Commercial N/A $160.00 Planning and Zoning Use Determination N/A $150.00 Administrative Site Plan Review-Commercial N/A $350.00 Administrative Site Plan Review-Residential (4 or fewer units) New Build/Addition N/A $100.00 Administrative Site Plan Review-Residential (4 or fewer units) Decks N/A $50.00 Planning and Zoning (continued) Public Works Rental Signage Miscellaneous Police Public Works