REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Study Session on the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Municipal Fee Schedule
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
Many of the City of Santa Clara's fees, rates, and charges ("Fees") are contained in a municipal fee schedule, which is adopted by the City Council by resolution. Generally, the fee schedule is updated annually which helps ensures that the Fees comply with applicable law, including the California Constitution as well as provide transparency in the fee structure for the City's development-related and other municipal fees.
California Constitution Article XIIIC and other applicable laws enable local agencies to set fees without voter approval; provided, among other things, the fees do not exceed the reasonable cost of service. To the extent that a fee has been set based upon a presumption of 100% cost recovery, the City cannot generally waive the fee unless it covers the cost of such waiver out of another permissible funding source such as the General Fund or as otherwise allowed under state law.
California Government Code Section 66016(a) and 66018 states that prior to imposing a new fee or increasing an existing one, a local agency shall hold at least one open and public meeting at which oral or written presentations can be made as part of a regularly scheduled meeting and notice of such hearing must be published. The public hearing is scheduled for April 23, 2024. Pursuant to Government Code section 66018, the first notice for this public hearing was published in the Santa Clara Weekly on April 3, 2024 and the second notice will be published on April 10, 2024. Staff has also notified all interested parties that have requested to be notified regarding proposed fee updates. The purpose of this study session is to inform the Council and the public regarding the proposed Fee changes, obtain input regarding the Fees, and provide all interested parties with an oppor...
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