Submitted By
Tammie Grossman, Director Development Customer Services
Reviewed By
CLP
Agenda Item Title
Title
Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 7 ("Buildings"), Article 8 ("Fees") of the Oak Park Village Code to Establish an Annual Building and Construction Permit Fees and Zoning Application Fees Ordinance Requirement.
End
Overview
Overview
The First Reading of the Ordinance was held on March 16, 2015. The Building Construction Permit Fee and Zoning Application Fee Schedule have not been fully updated since July 2009 and a comprehensive review has been completed resulting in the recommended amendment to the Village Code to establish a new schedule that reflects the current cost of providing services. Additionally, the recommended amendment provides that on an annual basis, the fee schedule should be reviewed and adjusted to ensure that the fees charged accurately reflect any fluctuation in the cost of providing services.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Conduct second reading and adopt the Ordinance.
Fiscal Impact
The Building Construction Permit Fees and Zoning Application Fee Schedule has been revised to reflect the current cost of providing services and should, therefore, result in a revenue neutral state for the Permit Processing Division's annual budget.
Background
The First Reading of the Ordinance was held on March 16, 2015. Upon review, Public Works revised the attached fee schedule and increased some fees to cover costs. Changes requested by Public Works are related to sewer connection fees and eliminating certain water meter accessory fees. The revised Fee Schedule also clarifies plan review fees for Fire Department review of fire protection and detection systems and the plan review fees for Health Department review of food service establishment projects. The revised restoration deposit requirements eliminate deposit amounts being determined by the Director of Public Works on a case-by-case basis. The Fee Schedule also now indicates plan review fees are to be established by the Department of Development Customer Services for larger projects.
In July 2009, the Village Board approved the first building permit fee schedule update which was based upon the application of a cost of living factor to all fees, some of which had not been changed for 20 years. Since that time, the only revision has been the addition of fees associated with processing permits online in March 2011.
The current schedule does not accurately reflect the cost of providing services to the public. It is at times difficult to read and cumbersome to use. A revised schedule has been prepared to make the schedule accurately reflect the cost of providing permitting and inspection services and to make the schedule easier to use and apply.
Alternatives
Alternatively, the current method of determining permit fees based on a percentage of construction valuation or lump sum fee based on work item could be continued. However, we have found that this method results in less predictability in fees.
Previous Board Action
First reading on March 16, 2015.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
It is recommended that the fees be reviewed annually to reflect any fluctuation in the Permit Fee Multiplier or the Building Validation Data. These two items directly tie into determining the cost of providing our services to the public. The schedule may be easily revised to reflect the current cost of providing services by applying a percentage change factor to each line item.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A.
Performance Management (MAP) Alignment
This item aligns with the Development Customer Service Improve Customer Service by ensuring that the permit issuance and plan review processes are streamlined in a consistent and customer-friendly manner.