Title
Resolution to Approve Fiscal Year 2016 Fee Adjustments for Safety Services Area - Fire Department Inspection Service Fee Schedule
Memorandum
Attached for your review, consideration, and approval is the resolution approving fee adjustments for the Fire Department for the 2016 fiscal year.
In conjunction with the preparation of the budget, the Safety Services Area is requested to review fee and permit processes, and generated revenue to determine if the cost of the services provided is recovered by the charges for these services. The cost recovery revenue resulting from the fee adjustments is an essential component to balancing expenditures and revenues. Collectively these provide realistic and reasonable fee assessments to the citizens.
Since the Fire Department's Fire Safety Inspection Program is relatively new (3 year), it was essential to reevaluate and adjust the Fee Schedule as needed separately from the budgetary process. Over the last two years, the Fire Department has engaged community stakeholders in constructive dialogue in restructuring the Fire Safety Inspection fees. Most recently, the Fire Department established a working group of business leaders in the community who are directly impacted by inspection fees. Consequently, with this group's help and input, a new model has been developed for Fire Safety Inspection fees to incorporate a fair and equitable approach in charging for inspection services that will address community expressed concerns regarding the current fee schedule.
The new Fire Safety Inspection Fee Schedule is based on an equitable charge by square footage, which addresses the negative community perception of excessive and unfair charges. The cost per square foot formula is based on the past few years of inspections' cost recovery funds collected.
At the urging of business owners, additional steps have been taken to restructure the Fire Department's Fee Schedule to be more aligned with the Housing Departme...
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