COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

 

DATE:

January 16, 2009

BOARD MEETING DATE:

February 3, 2009

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

James C. Porter, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Ordinance to Clarify the Uses of Mitigation Fees

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt an Ordinance amending Section 2.53.070 of the Ordinance Code to clarify the permissible use of fees that are charged to mitigate the burden on existing County public roads and drainage systems that is caused by new development in the unincorporated area of San Mateo County.

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Responsive, effective and collaborative government.

Goal 20: Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.

 

Adoption of this Ordinance will define the uses of development mitigation fees so that funds can be used for appropriate projects in the areas where the fees were collected.

 

BACKGROUND:

In 1990 the Board adopted Ordinance 3277, providing for mitigation fees to pay for the cost of reconstructing existing public roads that were deteriorating as a result of new construction in the unincorporated area of the County, and that ordinance has been amended on several occasions, and currently authorizes the use of the fee to fund reconstruction of roads and drainage facilities.

 

DISCUSSION:

Requests for reconstruction of existing roads and drainage systems in the unincorporated areas have substantially increased. In 2006 the Board expanded the use of development mitigation fees to include drainage improvements. This change will clarify that the reconstruction projects for which the fees may be used include planning for and conducting environmental review of those projects, and will further clarify that reconstruction includes repaving.

 

The Ordinance has been approved as to form by County Counsel.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

Mitigation fees: The proposed change will clarify the use of the fees and will not change the amount of the fees.

 

There will be no impact to the County’s General Fund as a result of this ordinance amendment.