COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

May 8, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 17, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

James Porter, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Executive Summary - Department of Public Works Encroachment Permit, Inspection and Traffic Program Fees for 2008 through 2012

RECOMMENDATION:

1.

Adopt an Ordinance adding chapter 2.54 “Permitting and Inspection Fees”, for 2008 through 2012, to San Mateo County Ordinance Code, Title 2, “Administration”; and

2.

Adopt an Ordinance adding section 7.28.060 “Parking Zone Development Fees”, for 2008 through 2012, to San Mateo County Ordinance Code, Title 7, “Vehicles and Traffic”.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all.

Goal 7: Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors.

Implementing fees for permitting and inspecting various encroachments or improvements in maintained and non-maintained public rights of way, for issuing other types of permits, and for processing requests for specialized parking restrictions provides a means to offset a portion of the costs associated with ensuring that both the safety and the capacity of the road network and other County infrastructure are properly preserved for use by the public.

BACKGROUND:

Program

The Department of Public Works manages public road rights of way in the unincorporated areas through a variety of permits and associated inspections. The California Streets and Highways Code (Section 1460, et seq.) authorizes the Director of Public Works to issue permits to allow various improvements to be constructed or placed in the public rights of ways of both maintained and non-maintained roads, or for the temporary closure of public roads for events or activities. The Department’s average annual costs associated with providing these services is $210,000. These costs are paid out of the Road Fund.

Permits

The majority of permits are currently issued at no cost to the applicant. A deposit is collected but is typically returned to the applicant after final inspection.

For permits that involve significant construction activities or disturbance to the public right-of-way, as determined by the Director of Public Works, a deposit is collected from the applicant and an escrow account is established. Inspection costs are then charged against the escrow account and any remaining funds are refunded to the applicant at the conclusion of the project.

Parking Restrictions

The Department also processes approximately 20 requests each year for parking restrictions customized to suit individual businesses or residents. This work is currently performed at no cost to the business or resident.

DISCUSSION:

The current practice of issuing permits, performing inspections, fabricating and installing street signs and establishing parking restrictions at no cost is a financial hardship for the Department.

We conducted a survey of other Bay Area counties and all the cities within San Mateo County regarding fees for Public Works permits and services. All 20 cities within San Mateo County and neighboring Counties currently collect fees for encroachment permits and other types of permits. Several cities collect fees for various parking programs.

The proposed fees are comparable to the fees collected by adjacent Counties.

Public Notification

We have advised representatives of the Pescadero Municipal Advisory Council, the Fair Oaks Community Council, the MidCoast Community Council, and public utility companies and districts of the proposed fees and advertised the fee schedules locally.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The proposed fee ordinance takes effect thirty (30) days after adoption. Revenues resulting from the fees are anticipated to offset program costs in the amount of $202,000. Those costs are currently paid out of the Road Fund.

There is no impact to the General Fund.