CR 11-007 Approve Resolution 2011 - 004, Revising City Feesmost
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• January 18, 2011
APPROVE RESOLUTION 2011-004
REVISING CITY FEES
Proposed Action
Council Report 2011-007
Staff recommends approval of the following motion: Move that the Hopkins City Council adopt
Resolution 2011-004 revising miscellaneous fees.
Approval of this motion will revise a number of fees which the City charges for services.
Overview
As a general rule, the people benefiting from a particular service should bear the cost of
providing the service. Therefore the City charges fees to businesses or individuals who receive
licenses, permits, or services which are limited to that business or individual. Fees and service
charges should cover the costs involved in providing the program or service. Periodically, staff
reviews existing fees and makes recommendations for revisions.
Primary Issues to Consider
• What are the details of the fee revisions?
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Supporting Documents
• Resolution 2011-004
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J s A. Genellie
Assistant City Manager
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•Council Report 2011-007
Page 2
Analysis of the Issues
• What are the details of the fee revisions?
Animal Impound fee: this fee reimburses the City for the cost of picking up stray animals and
transporting them to the animal hospital. The fee structure is also designed to encourage
individuals to restrain their pets by increasing the cost for repeat violations. Dog owners who
license their pets may avoid this fee if the City can contact them prior to taking the dog to the
animal hospital.
Impound fee (1 st Offense) - increasing from $25.00 to $35.00
Impound fee (2nd Offense) - increasing from $35.00 to $45.00
Impound fee - additional offenses - increasing from $25.00 times the number of times the
animal is impounded to $35.00.
Animal Boarding Fee: Staff is proposing to add an administrative fee to the boarding fee which
is paid to the pet hospital. This fee, which is $5.00 more than what the hospital charges, will help
offset the cost to the City of animals which are not claimed.
Fingerprints: this fee is charged to individuals who, for various reasons including teaching, day
care and adoption, require a copy of their fingerprints. The fee is being increased from $10.00 to
• $15.00 per card.
Snow Removal Fees
The current snow removal fee schedule is as follows:
Commercial: $2 per foot for first 30 feet of sidewalk
$1 per foot from 30 to 100 feet of sidewalk
$0.50 per foot for remaining
Residential: $1 per foot for first 50 feet of sidewalk
$0.50 per foot for remaining
The majority of our snow removal problems are on vacant commercial properties. The rates for
commercial properties longer than 30 feet are currently near the cost of hiring out snow removal
to a contractor. We have also had a situation where a commercial property owner pushed his
parking lot snow onto the sidewalk, necessitating removal by heavy equipment. Because snow
removal by City staff should be a last resort for residents and commercial properties, we are
proposing to increase the fees as shown below.
Commercial: $2 per foot for entire length of sidewalk*
Residential: $1 per foot for entire length of sidewalk*
*Significant snow depth or situations where heavy equipment is required to clear the snow will
• be charged on a time and equipment basis for costs incurred above the rates stated above.
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Council Report 2011-007
Page 3
Video Copies of City Meetings: this fee is charged to individuals who want a copy of a
televised City meeting. The current fee refers to video tapes. Copies are now made on DVDs.
The cost will remain the same as it was for video tapes, $20.00 per meeting.
Alternatives
1. Approve Resolution 2011-004.
2. Do not approve Resolution 2011-004.
Staff recommends Alternative # 1.
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0 CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 2011-004
RESOLUTION INCREASING MISCELLANEOUS FEES
WHEREAS, the Hopkins City Code authorizes the City Council to set fees by
Resolution, and;
WHEREAS, the City needs to offset the cost of providing fee based services;
THEREFORE BE IT NOW RESOLVED that the following fees shall be changed
in order to better match the fee to the cost of providing the service:
Animal Impound fee:
Impound fee (1st Offense) $35.00
Impound fee (2nd Offense)$45.00
Impound fee - additional offenses # of times animal impounded * $35.00
Animal boarding fee: $36.00/day
• Fingerprints 15.00 per card
DVD copies of City Meetings - 20.00
Snow Removal Fees
Commercial: $2 per foot for entire length of sidewalk*
Residential: $1 per foot for entire length of sidewalk*
*Significant snow depth or situations where heavy equipment is required to clear the
snow will be charged on a time and equipment basis for costs incurred above the rates
stated above.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Hopkins this 18th day of January 2011.
ATTEST:
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk
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Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor