HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 05-33 Water Heater Replacement Permit Fee AmendmentResolution No. 05-33
REQUEST:
CITY OF PALM DESERT
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
STAFF REPORT
Approval to Amend Resolution No. 04-84, as it relates to the
Building and Safety Fee Schedule for water heater replacement
permits.
SUBMITTED BY: Martin Alvarez, Senior Management Analyst
DATE: May 12, 2005
CONTENTS: Resolution No. 05-33
Recommendation:
Waive further reading and adopt:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 05-33, amending the Building and Safety Fee
Schedule for Water Heater Replacements from $97.50 to $65.00.
2. Authorize the City Manager to issue refunds for overcharges relating to water
heater replacement permits issued after September 6, 2004.
Discussion:
On July 8, 2004, the City Council adopted Resolution 04-84, approving the
Development Services fees for service. Approval of these fees was based on a
comprehensive fee study conducted by Zucker Systems.
Staff has recently received several complaints concerning the new cost for a water
heater replacement permit. The prior cost to inspect a water heater replacement was
$5.00. The former cost did not cover the actual time required to inspect a water heater.
Based on the adopted fee study, the estimated time to provide this type of inspection
was 45 minutes. The inspector's hourly rate was determined to be $130.00, which
includes salary, vehicle, materials and overhead. Based on a 45-minute inspection, the
permit fee for a water heater was established at $97.50.
Over the last nine months, staff has collected data from all Development Services
departments relating to actual time required to perform inspections and plan reviews.
To address the recent complaints regarding the cost of water heaters permits, staff has
analyzed our recent data and determined that the average time required to inspect a
Staff Report
Revised Water Heater Fee
Page 2 of 2
May 12, 2005
Resolution No. 05-33_
water heater replacement is 30 minutes. Based on the hourly rate of $130 for an
inspector, the average time to inspect a water heater can be reduced to $65.00.
Existing Water Heater Permit Cost Proposed Water Heater Permit Costs
Time: 45 Minutes / $97.50 1 Time: 30 Minutes / $65.00 1
If the new water heater fee is approved, residents may be entitled to a refund for the
overcharge. The City Council may authorize the City Manager to review and approve
these refund requests.
In the future, staff will return with a comprehensive review of the Development Services
fees for service using the actual time tracking data we are continuing to collect.
Submitted By:
Martin Alvarez
Senior Management Analyst
Approval:
AC ent Services
City Manager
Finance Director
G:1DevServices&Martin AlvarezlWord Files12005 SRlwaterheaterfees.doc
RESOLUTION NO. 05-33.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
DESERT, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING RESOLUTION 04-84, AS IT
RELATES TO THE BUILDING AND SAFETY FEE SCHEDULE FOR
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT PERMIT FEES.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Palm Desert, California, did on July 8,
2004, approve fees for inspection and plan review services within the Development
Services Departments as described on the Cost of Services Study, Volume I and II
conducted by Zucker Systems.
WHEREAS, there are a number of services provided by the City when
processing applications, reviewing plans and providing inspection services for the
development of property in the City that are of primary benefit to the applicant; and
WHEREAS, the cost of these services should be borne primarily by the applicant
receiving benefit from such services and so as to insure the timely and effective delivery
of services. The City can account for the actual costs of these services
WHEREAS, the cost of providing inspection services for water heater replacement
has recently been reevaluated. The actual cost such inspection is lower than identified
originally in the 2004 Cost of Services Study.
NOW, THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT
DOES HEREBY AMEND THE BUILDING AND SAFETY FEE SCHEDULE AS IT
REPLATES TO WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT PERMITS AS FOLLOWS:
35. Water Heater Replacement
Inspection Flat Fee $65.00
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Palm Desert
City Council, held on this day of May, 2005, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
BUFORD A. CRITES, Mayor
City of Palm Desert
ATTEST:
RACHELLE D. KLASSEN, City Clerk
City of Palm Desert, California