COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

April 21, 2006

BOARD MEETING DATE:

May 9, 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

County-Wide Mitigation Fees for County Public Road Reconstruction

Recommendation

Adopt resolutions:

a)

accepting the report on the status of the County-Wide Mitigation Fees and finding that fees held over five years shall continue to be retained; and

b)

authorizing an increase in the fees as provided in the ordinance that established the fees.

Vision Alignment

Commitment: Ensure the basic health and safety for all.

Goal(s): Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors.

The collection of mitigation fees will aid in funding the reconstruction of roads and drainage facilities that are a benefit to residents and the general public.

Background

Previous Board Action

Adopted an ordinance and resolutions in previous years authorizing the collection of countywide mitigation fees, accepting reports on the status of the collected funds and increasing the rates used to calculate the fees.

History

Your Board instituted mitigation fees in 1991 as a means of having developers of property contribute funds to construct and reconstruct County roads that are used by the occupants of their developments. The enabling legislation - Government Code Sections 66484, et seq. - requires that funds be collected and used in the same areas (zones) where the funds are collected. The ordinance adopted by your Board which established mitigation fees, also established the various zones in the County, and:

1.

requires that a report on the status of the mitigation fees by zone be prepared each year.

2.

requires that findings be made on fees held over five years that have not been expended; and

3.

allows for adjustments in the mitigation fees based on the change in the Construction Cost Index as published by the Engineering News Record.

Discussion

Status of Funds

The attached summary indicates the amount of funds that have been collected together with interest from inception of the fees in January 1991 through December 31, 2005 (Exhibit “A”).

Funds collected in the Mid-Coast Urban Area (Montara, Moss Beach, El Granada and Princeton) amounting to $245,219 are over five years old and have not yet been used to finance roadway or drainage facility improvement projects. However, three drainage projects have been approved by your Board and these projects are moving forward. Therefore, we are recommending that your Board determine that these funds be retained and be used for these drainage projects.

Adjustment of Fees

The fees as established use the residential fee as the base with commercial and industrial fees related as multiples of the residential fee, with the exception of the Commercial – Self-Storage fee, which was established in 1999. The ordinance provides for adjusting the mitigation fee based on changes in the Engineering News Record Construction Cost Index, which has increased over forty-seven percent (47%) since inception of the fees (with the exception of the Commercial – Self-Storage fee, which has increased over twenty-two percent (22%) since inception). We are recommending that the residential fee be increased from $1.40 to $1.47 per square foot of assessable space, and that the Commercial – Self-Storage fee be increased from $0.95 to $0.97 per square foot of assessable space with the commercial and industrial fees adjusted proportionately to reflect the change in the Construction Cost Index. The following is a summary of the recommended adjusted fees (per square foot of improved area):

Initial Fee

Existing Fee

Total Change Since 1991

Proposed Fee

Residential

$1.00

$1.40

+47.0%

$1.47

Industrial

$1.00

$1.40

+47.0%

$1.47

Commercial – Self Storage*

$0.80

$0.95

+22.0%

$0.97

Commercial – Lodging

$1.00

$1.40

+47.0%

$1.47

Commercial – Retail

$2.00

$2.80

+47.0%

$2.94

Commercial – Office

$2.00

$2.80

+47.0%

$2.94

*fee established – February 1999

Resolutions accepting the report and authorizing an increase in the fees have been approved as to form by County Counsel.

Fiscal Impact

Future projects proposed to be financed with Mitigation Fees will be recommended for budgeting through the normal budget process.

There is no impact to the General Fund.