HomeMy WebLinkAbout021119_ra01 JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
FROM: Patty Charnas, Director, Community Development
Austin Watkins, Planning Manager NV)
Jodi Adams, Permit, Building, and Administration Manager-TIN
DATE: February 11,2019
SUBJECT: Public Hearing on Community Development's Proposed Fee Schedule
Modifications
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
The Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing accepting written and verbal testimony
regarding proposed modifications to Jefferson County's Department of Community Development's (DCD)
fee schedule. Community Development, an enterprise fund,proposes modifications to its fee schedule
adding new services and reviews, modifying existing services and reviews, deleting repealed services and
reviews, and increasing its hourly review fee.
ANALYSIS:
Proposed Modifications to the Fee Schedule
In 2018, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners (BoCC)made substantial legislative changes
to the Jefferson County Code, including changes to Title 8 and Title 18, warranting modifications to the
Community Development fee schedule. Community Development is an enterprise fund requiring that the
Department capture its permit and application costs through fees, such as application and review fees for
land use and building permits. The proposed modifications to the fee schedule include updates to match
recent legislative changes, modifications based upon applications and services rendered by the Department,
and an increase in the overall hourly fee from $92 to $94 based on the 2018 Consumer Price Index (CPI)
(rounded to the nearest dollar). The existing 2015 Fee Schedule as amended and through a 1996 Ordinance,
permits Community Development to raise its hourly fee without BoCC action by the CPI yearly. Below is an
overview of the proposed modifications.
• Increase in hourly fee from $92 to $94 (based on CPI which is rounded to the nearest dollar and
already in place under Ordinance 12-1209-96 and Ordinance 08-1123-15 as amended by Ordinance
05-0625-18).
• Addition of the following services and reviews
o Boundary Line Agreement(4 hour base fee);
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o Lot Certification(4 hour base fee);
o Hearing Examiner Fee ($1,250 per Type III application or appeal requiring adjudication by
the Hearing Examiner);
o Miscellaneous Hourly Fee ($94 per hour charged for services and reviews not expressly listed
within the fee schedule);
o Commercial Shooting Facility Ordinance—Operating Permit(23 hours base fee. Chapter
8.50 of the Jefferson County Code); and
o Built without permits (BWOP)penalty fee (50%penalty based on total permit fee)
• Modification of the following services and reviews
o Waiver of Special Reports (increased to 3 hour base fee from 2 hours)
• Deletion of the following services and reviews
o Site Plan Approval Advanced Determination
Hearing Examiner Fee
It is recommended that applicants bear the cost of their permit, application, or appeal adjudication for
Type III permits and appeal decisions made by the Hearing Examiner. In 2018, the average cost per Type III
decisions was $1,258. Community Development proposes a$1,250 Hearing Examiner fee for all Type III
applications and appeals. This would be in addition to Community Development fees, such as our base
hourly fee, public hearing notice fee, and notice board fee. Currently, the Hearing Examiner adjudicates
Type III applications and land use decision appeals as quasi-judicial. The Hearing Examiner is paid for by
the County General Fund as a non-departmental line item. This solution provides a system in which the
applicant pays their fair share of permit or application adjudication and is consistent with the majority of
Washington counties.
Built Without Permit(BWOP) Penalty Fee
Currently, there is no penalty fee assessed for structures built without permits. As proposed, a 50%
penalty fee will be assessed in addition to the base building permit fee. The Built Without Permit(BWOP)
penalty fee serves as a financial disincentive to building without permits. Community Development receives
several hundred code enforcement complaints annually, many of which allege unpermitted structures. The
BWOP penalty fee will serve as a financial incentive to obtain permits at the front end, and to come into
compliance if a structural issue exists. The BWOP penalty fee will be used as a tool in Community
Development's upcoming code compliance program. Community Development has completed a
comparative analysis of surrounding jurisdictions and the proposed fee and program is consistent with
surrounding jurisdictions.
The attached Fee Policy provides the Community Development Director with the discretion to waive
the BWOP penalty fee, including in circumstances when the BWOP was not the applicant's or their agent's
fault or the applicant purchased the property within the past 6 months.
DCD Staff Consults
Community Development's on-going mission includes providing customers with general information
on code requirements for proposed land uses and development applications. Currently, the Department
offers Customer Assistance Meetings (CAMs), which are a single, free 15-minute meeting per parcel per
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year. Additional CAMs or customer-requested additional CAM time beyond 15-minutes trigger a paid 1-
hour CAM at $100 per hour. Customers almost exclusively elect the free 15 minute CAM as opposed to paid
CAMs. Recent tracking and monitoring revealed that CAMs usually run over 15-minutesln 2018,these free
CAMs cost the Department$40,000, which is not sustainable.
Community Development proposes to modify its Customer Assistance Meetings diversifying and
improving the Department's customer service, while offering a budget saving opportunity. The proposed fee
schedule renames our existing CAMs to DCD Staff Consults continuing to authorize an hourly charge for
the staff consult service of$100 per hour, inclusive of the technology fee and associated scanning costs.
Monies paid towards Staff Consults will be credited to permit applications paid for within one-year of the
Staff Consult.
The DCD Staff Consult will offer a variety of consults starting with a paid 30-minute consult; paid 1-
hour consult; or, a"permitting path consult". Community Development's proposed permitting path consult
will result in a written deliverable explaining likely permitting paths based on information reviewed and
discussed. The permitting path consult offers a lower cost service to applicants to determine initial feasibility
of permitting a project, prior to investing additional time or money into developing the proposal to the level
necessary for a pre-application review. The potential exists that Staff Consults and Permit Path Consults
may preclude the need for more expensive additional pre-application conferences currently called for in
code.
These new services allows Department staff to spend additional time with the customer resulting in
better research, improved information, improved delivery of information, and an overall better
understanding of our processes. Community Development will continue to answer simple over the counter
questions free of charge. The Department will roll out an online scheduling tool for customers to schedule
appointments in advance. Additionally, DCD is improving its website offerings (e.g., improve out frequently
asked questions) and plans to hold more frequent trainings with stakeholder groups.
Attachments:
• Draft Modifications to Community Development's Fee Schedule, Appendix A
• Draft Adopting Ordinance
FISCAL IMPACT:
The proposed modifications to Community Development's fee schedule have a positive impact on the
County's General Fund, as the Department will better capture its permit and application fee revenue based
on recent legislative changes, modifications based upon applications and services rendered by the
Department, and an increase in the hourly rate charged by the Department from $92 to $94 per hour. The
impact from the proposed paid DCD Staff Consult system is hard to predict, given the program's
parameters; however, DCD expects that the proposal will have an overall positive impact to DCD's General
Fund account.
The proposed fee modification for the Hearing Examiner is expected to save the County's General
Fund non-departmental line item account approximately $15,000 per year or$1,250 per Type III decision or
appeal rendered by the Hearing Examiner.
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RECOMMENDATION:
Community Development recommends adopting the attached Ordinance and Fee Schedule after
conducting a public hearing and considering timely written and verbal testimony.
REVIEWED BY:
1"
Philip Mor e ��'•un y A• -' rator Date
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JEFFERSON COUNTY
STATE OF WASHINGTON
IN THE MATTER OF FEE SCHEDULE }
MODIFICATIONS FOR THE JEFFERSON COUNTY } ORDINANCE NO.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT }
WHEREAS, this Ordinance sets a new fee schedule for the Jefferson County Department of
Community Development("Community Development"); and
WHEREAS, Community Development is primarily an enterprise fund providing services to the
public for a fee, such as land use and building permits; and
WHEREAS, Community Development annually reviews its hourly rate for staff review activities
by analyzing its costs, including administration and overhead for fee related activities, and the billable
hours of staff assigned to fee work; and
WHEREAS, Community Development annually reviews its base hours for staff review activities
by analyzing level of effort for reviews and services;and
WHEREAS, Community Development updates their fee schedule providing for an increase to
their hourly review rate,establishes base hours and fees for newly enacted reviews, deleting repealed
reviews, and providing for flexibility in miscellaneous reviews or services; and
WHEREAS, on February 11,2019,the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners("BoCC")held
a public hearing soliciting input and feedback on the proposed fee schedule.
NOW THEREFORE,BE IT HEREBY ORDAINED,by the Jefferson County Board of
Commissioners as follows:
Section 1.Findings.The BoCC hereby adopts the recitals(the WHEREAS statements)as its findings of
fact in support of this Ordinance.
Section 2. Appendix A. The BoCC adopts Appendix A establishing an updated fee schedule as Jefferson
County Code Appendix,Fee Schedule,II. Department of Community Development—Building Division,
Development Review and Long-Range Planning.
Section 3. Repeal. This Ordinance repeals and replaces Ordinance No. 08-1123-15.
Section 4. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence,clause,phrase or section of this Ordinance or
its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid,the remainder of this Ordinance or its
application to other persons or circumstances shall be fully valid and shall not be affected.
Section 5. Effective Date. The Ordinance becomes effective upon adoption by the BoCC.
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Approved and adopted this day of 2019.
SEAL: JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Kate Dean, Chair
David Sullivan, Member
ATTEST
Greg Brotherton,Member
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Carolyn Gallaway Philip C. Hunsucker
Deputy Clerk of the Board Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Page 2 of 2
Appendix A
STATE of WASHINGTON
COUNTY of JEFFERSON
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BUILDING AND PLANNING DIVISION
a) Applies to new construction only, otherwise, number 7 applies
b) The fee is determined by a schedule established in the International Residential Code, and is based on
the value of the structure.
c) Auditor's Office fee.
d) The fee for residential square footage valuation is based on Building Valuation Data established by
International Code Council, Building Safety Journal. Building Valuation Data is published in February
and August of each year.
e) Building Official will verify valuation per IBC Section 109.3 Building Permit Valuations.
f) Base fee is the minimum amount charged per application. Additional time may be charged on an
hourly basis.
g) Hourly rate is increased by CPI each year.
Main Floor b b Base Fee
65% 65% Plan Check Fee
a,d,e a,d,e Valuation
e e
Additional Floors,Finished Basement b b Base Fee
65% 65% Plan Check Fee
a,d,a a,d,a Valuation
Unfinished basement b b Base Fee
65% 65% Plan Check Fee
a,d,e a,d,e Valuation
Carports,Garages,Pole Buildings,Decks b b Base Fee
65% 65% Plan Check Fee
a,d,e a,d,e Valuation
Semi-Heated Space b b Base Fee
65% 65% Plan Check Fee
a,d,e a,d,e Valuation
Modular Home foundations&foundations for relocated structures b b Base Fee
65% 65% Plan Check Fee
$34.87/sq.ft. $34.13/sq.ft. Valuation
d,a d,e
COMMERCIAL structures,construction or improvements b b Cost or Fair Market Value,IRC Fee table
65% 65% Plan Check Fee
e e
Manufactured Homes/mobile homes(one or two sections) 644.00 658.00 7
Additional sections for manufactured home/mobile home 46.00 47.00 0.5 Increase by CPI
New-propane tanks,lines, and associated appliances (In 276.00 282.00 3
existing structures)
New or existing wood stove,inserts,pellet stoves,hot water 184.00 188.00 2
heater,heat pump,propane tank swap out (In
existing structures)
Inspection;re-inspection 92.00 94.00 1
Change of Use or Occupancy 552.00 564.00 6
Title Elimination 92.00 94.00 1 Base
Renewal 276.00 282.00 3 6 mo renewal only by request
Demo Permit 92.00 94.00 1 Base
Fire Code Official Services 92.00 94.00Per hour or based on contract provider
-fee
Water System Review 276.00 282.00 3 3 hour minimum charge
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3s. ,
Application for 911 Number/Address 276.00 282.00 3
911/Address Replacement Plate 20.00 20.00_based on cost of plate&numbers
Road Vacation Request 276.00 282.00 3
Road Naming 368.00 376.00 4
Additional new address requests during road naming process 115.00 1
Road Name Change 644.00 658.00 7
•
Pre-application Conference 460.00 470.00 5 Not applied to permit
Pre-application site visit. 184.00 188.00 2
DCD Staff Consult Meetings. 100.00 100.00 1 *Base,applied to permit if submitted w/in
one year.$100 p/h inclusive of 5%tech
fee,and prorated scanning fee.Base of
$94 per hour.
Administrative Appeal of Land Use Decisions 1,012.00 1,034.00 11 Base
Hearing Examiner plus actual costs as incurred 149.00 149.00 Public Hearing Notice
for expenses,facilities,etc. 10.00 10.00 Notice Board
1,250.00 Hearing Examiner Fee
Revisions to Land Use Applications Requiring a second Public 276.00 282.00 3 Base
Hearing Notice
149.00 149.00 Public Hearing Notice
Site Visit 184.00 188.00 2 Base
Code Interpretation 644.00 658.00 7 Base
Notice Board 10.00 12.00_Each
Hourly Rate 92.00 94.00 1 Per hour
EIS Preparation or Review, Including Third Party Review. 276.00 282.00 3 Base&Actual Costs Incurred(Inc.
Consultant Work)
3rd Party Review of Special Reports 276.00 282.00 3 Base&Actual Costs Incurred(Inc.
Consultant Work)
Waiver from Special Report 188.00 2 Base
Resubmittal of Consistency Review 184.00 282.00 3 Base
Miscellaneous Hourly Fee. 94.00 1 Base hourly fee for miscellaneous
customer requests,research,permits or
other customer work not expressly listed,
and similar customer functions.
Commercial Shooting Facility Ordinance Application-Operating 2,162.00 23 Base
Permit
Hearing Examiner fee 1,250.00_Base
Pre-application for more than 10,000 sq/ft of impervious surface or 460.00 470.00 5
more than 5,000 sq/ft of non-single family development or for a
GASP
Allowed"Yes"Use Consistency 276.00 282.00 3 Base
Road/Lot Segregation,Lot Certification 368.00 376.00 4 Base
Road Setback Administrative Variance 368.00 376.00 4 Base
Tree/Vegetation Removal 276.00 282.00 3 Base
Stormwater Management Permit Stand Alone Only or in 460.00 470.00 5 Base
conjunction with Class IV General Forest Practices
Boundary Line Adjustment 828.00 846.00 9 Base
Boundary Line Agreement 368.00 376.00 4 Base
Shoreline Master Program Permit Exemption (Stand 644.00 658.00 7 Base
alone or with Single Family Residence)
Shoreline Master Program Permit Revision 184.00 188.00 2 Base
Last Will&Testamentary Division 644.00 658.00 7 Base
Home Business 276.00 282.00 3 Base
Transient Rental,Vacation Rental,and Bed and Breakfast 276.00 282.00 3 Base
Temporary Use 276.00 282.00 3 Base
Sign Permit 276.00 282.00 3 Base
Minor PRRD Amendment 276.00 282.00 3 Base
(Planned Rural Residential Development)
GASP(Critical Areas Stewardship Plan) 644.00 658.00 7 Base
460.00 470.00 5 Pre-app
Additional fee for State Environmental Policy Act(SEPA)Review 920.00 940.00 10 Base
(including SEPA base fee,Notice of Application,and Notice Board) 149.00 149.00 Notice of App
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
as
Discretionary"D"or Unnamed Use Classification 460.00 470.00 5 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
390.00 425.00 5 Pre-app
Short Plat 2,484.00 2,538.00 27 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
390.00 425.00 5 Pre-app
828.00 846.00 9 Base
Plat Alteration(unless hearing is required,then Type III permit
along with Hearing Examiner fee,plus hourly). 149.00 149.00 Notice of App
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
390.00 425.00 5 Pre-app
Conditional(Administrative)"C(a)"Use 1,472.00 1,504.00 16 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
390.00 425.00 5 Pre-app
Conditional(Discretionary)"C(d)"Use 1,472.00 1,504.00 16 Base
*if goes to Hearing Examiner,then Hearing Examiner 149.00 149.00 Notice of App
base fee applies,plus hourly. 10.00 12.00 Notice Board
390.00 425.00 5 Pre-app
Cottage Industry 1,012.00 1,034.00 11 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
390.00 425.00 5 Pre-app
Temporary Use 276.00 282.00 3 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
390.00 425.00 5 Pre-app
Variance,Minor 1,012.00 1,034.00 11 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
390.00 425.00 5 Pre-app
Shoreline Substantial Development 1,472.00 1,504.00 16 Base
(Primary Use) 149.00 149.00 Notice of App
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
390.00 425.00 5 Pre-app
Release of Six Year Moratorium under 644.00 658.00 7 Base
Forest Practices Act(Partial) 149.00 149.00 Notice of App
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
390.00 425.00 5 Pre-app
Conversion Option Harvest Plans 644.00 658.00 7 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
390.00 425.00 5 Pre-app
Additional fee for State Environmental Policy Act(SEPA)Review 920.00 940.00 10 Base
Binding Site Plans 7,912.00 8,084.00 86 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
149.00 149.00 Notice of Public Hrg
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
460.00 470.00 5 Pre-app
1,250.00 Hearing Examiner Fee
Conditional"C"Use 2,116.00 2,162.00 23 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
149.00 149.00 Notice of Public Hrg
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
460.00 470.00 5 Pre-app
1,250.00 Hearing Examiner Fee
Long Plat,Preliminary(including Planned Rural Residential 7,912.00 8,084.00 86 Base
Development) 149.00 149.00 Notice of App
149.00 149.00 Notice of Public Hrg
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
460.00 470.00 5 Pre-app
1,250.00 Hearing Examiner Fee
Plat Alteration(if hearing is required) 1,932.00 1,974.00 21 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
149.00 149.00 Notice of Public Hrg
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
460.00 470.00 5 Pre-app
1,250.00 Hearing Examiner Fee
Variance,Major 1,932.00 1,974.00 21 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
149.00 149.00 Notice of Public Hrg
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
460.00 470.00 5 Pre-app
1,250.00 Hearing Examiner Fee
Reasonable Economic Use Variance 1,932.00 1,974.00 21 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
149.00 149.00 Notice of Public Hrg
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
460.00 470.00 5 Pre-app
1,250.00 Hearing Examiner Fee
Shoreline Substantial Development(Secondary Use) 2,300.00 2,350.00 25 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
149.00 149.00 Notice of Public Hrg
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
460.00 470.00 5 Pre-app
1,250.00 Hearing Examiner Fee
Shoreline Conditional Use 2,300.00 2,350.00 25 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
149.00 149.00 Notice of Public Hrg
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
460.00 470.00 5 Pre-app
1,250.00 Hearing Examiner Fee
Shoreline Variance 1,932.00 1,974.00 21 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
149.00 149.00 Notice of Public Hrg
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
460.00 470.00 5 Pre-app
1,250.00 Hearing Examiner Fee
Release of Six Year Moratorium under 1,932.00 1,974.00 21 Base
Forest Practices Act(Full) 149.00 149.00 Notice of App
149.00 149.00 Notice of Public Hrg
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
460.00 470.00 5 Pre-app
1,250.00 Hearing Examiner Fee
Additional Fee for State Environmental Policy Act(SEPA)Review 920.00 940.00 10 Base
Hearing Examiner fee 0.00 1,250.00_Base fee for Hearing Examiner
FINAL PLAT APPROVAL Short Plat,Long Plat,Binding Site 276.00 282.00 3 Base
Plans,Plat Alterations;Final(including Planned Rural Residential
Development application) 460.00 470.00 5 Pre-app
Special Use(Essential Public Facilities) 2,024.00 2,068.00 22 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App
149.00 149.00 Notice of Public Hrg
10.00 12.00 Notice Board
460.00 470.00 5 Pre-app
Request for Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan/UDC 644.00 658.00 7 Base(If docketed,then hourly charge)
Text Amendment(Suggested) 149.00 Notice of App
149.00 Notice of Public Hrg
12.00 Notice Board
390.00 425.00 5 Pre-app
J.C.Comprehensive Plan/UDC Amendment(Site Specific) 4,416.00 4,512.00 48 Base
-Includes Noticing&SEPA 149.00 Notice of App
149.00 Notice of Public Hrg
12.00 Notice Board
460.00 470.00 5 Pre-app
Open Space/Open Space Current Tax Assessment 2,116.00 2,162.00 23 Base
149.00 149.00 Notice of App&Public Hrg Notice
Transfer Forest Land(RCW 84.33)to Timber Land(RCW 84.34) Assessor Fee Processed by Assessor's Office
Application
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Copy of Duplicating Fee-8 1/2"x 11"or 8 1/2"x 14" 0.15 0.15_Per page
11"x17" 0.30 0.30_Per Page
Land Use Maps 20.00 20.00 _Each
Publications At Cost At Cost _
Scanning 19.00 24.00-Base,or actual at hourly rate if over%
hour. Increase by CPI.
Refunds --_See Refund Policy
Technology Fee 5%_On total permit costs
Built Without Permits Penalty Fee 50%_On total permit costs