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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-03-09 - AGENDA REPORTS - FEE REDUCTION SIGNAGE APPS (2)AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approv Item to be presented by: Conal McNam ra CONSENT CALENDAR DATE: March 9, 1999 SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO REDUCE APPLICATION AND PERMIT FEES ASSOCIATED WITH SIGNAGE APPLICATIONS DEPARTMENT: Planning & Building Services RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council direct staff to subsidize Planning and Building Division fees associated with Sign Permit and/or Sign Review applications, which allow non -complying signage to reach compliance, by 50% if permits are pulled by June 15, 1999, and 25% if permits are pulled by September 15, 1999, and appropriate $25,000 from Council Contingency Fund 1240-7401 into Account # 3110-8110 to subsidize sign program/permit fees. BACKGROUND On February 19 1999, the City Council adopted Ordinance 99-1, approving minor changes to the City's Sign Ordinance, and approved the preliminary action plan for addressing the amortization period set to expire November 13, 1999. At the meeting, the Council expressed an interested in offering businesses a reduced fee for signage applications when these applications required signs to be removed and replaced due to the amortization period. At the meeting, staff presented a financial breakdown of the impacts associated with waiving certain fees. The Council discussed subsidizing 50% of application fees if permits are pulled before June of this year and 25% of application fees if permits are pulled by September of this year. In order for businesses to realize the maximum benefit from such a program, staff is bringing this item back to the Council as quickly as possible. Affected applicants pulling permits at the Planning and Building public counters would have their fees reduced by the amount chosen by the City Council. Staff believes that the fee subsidies will continue to assist businesses in complying with the Sign Ordinance. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS There are no alternative actions as identified by staff; however, the City Council could elect to not subsidize fees or modify the method and/or amount of subsidization. Item:A � on � P, PP ""' ED Agenda _a FISCAL IMPACT Staff anticipates that the fiscal impact of such an action will not exceed $25,000 total. Staff is recommending that the Council, should the subsidy be approved, transfer Council Contingency Funds into the Planning and Building Services' administrative budget to be used for subsidies. ATTACHMENTS None. pbs \current\ signage fee-sl.doc