Colfax Municipal Code Art. II Traffic Mitigation Fees and Procedures

This traffic mitigation fee (TM fee) is established pursuant to California Government Code, Chapter 5, Section(s) 66000 and Government Code Sections 53077, 54997 and 54998 as amended. The city finds the establishment of a development fee for mitigation of traffic impacts a necessity for community safety, welfare and continued economic viability. Completion of a citywide traffic study and analysis identified impacted streets and intersections and establishes a fee based on these Government Code Sections.

(Ord. 457 (part), 1999: prior code § 9-1.1025 (part))

The purpose and intent of the traffic mitigation fee and study(s) provides the nexus of the identified impacts created by development projects and establishes a fee and procedure to provide a portion of the financing for improvements to provide adequate levels of service. The city establishes such fee based on the traffic mitigation fee study completed by David Evans and Associates dated July 14, 1999 (pursuant to the Government Code Sections) incorporated by reference and a part of this chapter. Level of service (LOS) C is the city standard pursuant to the circulation element of the Colfax General Plan 2020.

(Ord. 457 (part), 1999: prior code § 9-1.1025 (part))

As used in this article:

"Fee" means the amount collected for each peak hour traffic trip created by development projects. "Fee" includes the cost of the traffic mitigation fee study (and review and revisions,) and provide a portion of the funding for costs associated with construction improvements as a mitigation measure for traffic impacts pursuant to the Colfax General Plan 2020.

(Ord. 457 (part), 1999: prior code § 9-1.1025.1)

The critical intersections are Auburn Street at State Route 174; Auburn Street at I-80 Overpass; Auburn Street at I-80 Westbound Ramps; and Canyon Way at I-80 Overpass, with year 2020 p.m. peak hour intersection conditions at LOS F, utilizing the Caltrans Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) methodology. Improvements to these streets will increase the level of service to LOS B or better.

(Ord. 457 (part), 1999: prior code § 9-1.1025.2)

The fee calculation is the total cost of improvements (one million forty-eight thousand dollars ($1,048,000.00)) divided by the total number of trips from projected development (two thousand nine hundred thirty (2,930)) to equal the cost per trip for mitigation improvements (three hundred fifty-eight dollars ($358.00)); as researched and developed by David Evans and Associates, Inc., Traffic Mitigation Fee Study, dated July 14, 1999.

(Ord. 457 (part), 1999: prior code § 9-1.1025.3)

A fee is warranted in the amount of three hundred fifty-eight dollars ($358.00) for each p.m. peak hour trip(s), in accordance with the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual, current edition for development projects. In instances where the ITE Trip Generation Manual does not list a specified land use, a fee of three hundred fifty-eight dollars ($358.00) per p.m. peak hour trip is established. This calculation shall be based on estimated peak hour trips for the land use, for a "similar or like use" from the ITE Trip Generation Manual.

(Ord. 457 (part), 1999: prior code § 9-1.1025.4)

The TM fee is based on estimates of project improvements design costs, construction costs, lands acquisition costs and projected development build-out according to the Colfax General Plan 2020, the fee shall be reviewed every two-three years or more often if necessary, but reviewed no less frequently than every five years.

(Ord. 457 (part), 1999: prior code § 9-1.1025.5)

Excepting therefrom collection of costs for the traffic mitigation fee study review and revisions, the city shall deposit the fee(s) collected for improvement(s) in a separate capital facilities account or fund in a manner to avoid any commingling of the fees with other revenues and funds, except for temporary investments.

(Ord. 457 (part), 1999: prior code § 9-1.1025.6)

The city shall expend those fees solely for the purpose for which the fee is collected; any interest income earned by moneys in the account or fund shall also be deposited in that account or fund and shall be expended only for the purpose of capital facility improvements.

(Ord. 457 (part), 1999: prior code § 9-1.1025.7)

The city shall within one hundred eighty (180) days after the last day of each fiscal year, make available to the public the following information for the fund account:

A. The amount of the fee;

B. The beginning and ending balance of the fund account;

C. The amount of the fees collected and the interest earned;

D. Identify the date determined that sufficient funds have been collected to complete financing on an incomplete public improvement or staged improvement(s);

E. Identify each public improvement or staged improvement on which fees were expended and the amount of expenditures on each improvement, including the total percentage of the cost of the public improvement funded with collected fees.

(Ord. 457 (part), 1999: prior code § 9-1.1025.8)