Corona Municipal Code Ch. 3.02 Fee and Service Charge Revenue and Cost Comparison System

Pursuant to the California Constitution, Art. XIIIB, it is the intent of the City Council to require the setting and recovery of costs reasonably borne from fees and charges levied therefor in providing the regulation, products or services set forth in § 3.02.040.

(`78 Code, § 3.02.010.) (Ord. 1914 § 1 (part), 1989; Ord. 1732 § 1 (part), 1984.)

The City Manager is delegated the authority and directed to adjust fees and charges to recover the percentage of costs reasonably borne in providing the regulation, products or services enumerated in § 3.02.040 in the percentage of costs reasonably borne and on the schedule of rate review and revision as hereinafter established in this chapter. In so adjusting fees and charges, the City Manager shall act in an administrative and ministerial capacity and shall consider only the standards and criteria established by this chapter.

(`78 Code, § 3.02.020.) (Ord. 1914 § 1 (part), 1989; Ord. 1732 § 1 (part), 1984.)

(A) "Costs reasonably borne" are:

(1) All applicable direct costs, including, but not limited to, salaries, wages, fringe benefits, services and supplies, equipment costs, operations expenses, contracted services, special supplies and any other direct expense incurred;

(2) All applicable indirect costs, including, but not restricted to, building maintenance and operations, equipment maintenance, communication, printing and reproduction and like distributed expenses;

(3) Fixed asset recovery expenses, consisting of depreciation on fixed assets and additional charges, calculated on the current estimated cost of replacement divided by the approximate life expectancy of the fixed asset. A further additional charge to make up the depreciation not previously recovered and reserved in cash also shall be calculated so as to recover such unrecovered depreciation over the remaining life of the asset;

(4) General overhead, expressed as a percentage, distributing and charging the expenses of the City Council, City Manager, Finance, City Treasurer, City Clerk, City Attorney, Human Resources, Information Technology, and all other staff and support services;

(5) Departmental overhead, expressed as a percentage, distributing and charging the cost of each department head and his or her supporting expenses.

(B) "Actual costs" are those applicable direct costs noted in § 3.02.030(A)(1) above.

(C) "Full costs" are those applicable direct costs noted in § 3.02.030(A)(1), plus those indirect costs, fixed asset recovery expenses, general overhead and departmental overhead costs noted in §§ 3.02.030(A)(2) through 3.02.030(A)(5) above.

(`78 Code, § 3.02.030.) (Ord. 3134 § 1, 2013; Ord 1914 (part), 1989; Ord. 1732 § 1 (part), 1984.)

The City Manager and each department head under the direction of the City Manager shall review the fees and service charges and recovery percentages on a biennial basis, and shall propose to the City Council that it set and/or adjust the amount of the fee or service charge and recovery percentages so as to recover the approved percentage of the estimated reasonable cost of providing the listed regulation, product or service. The City Council shall adopt the fee and service charge schedule and recovery percentages by resolution, in accordance with the process provided for by state law and this chapter.

(`78 Code, § 3.02.040.) (Ord. 3213 § 1, 2015; Ord. 3193 § 3, 2015; Ord. 3134 § 2, 2013; Ord. 3070 § 1, 2011; Ord. 3029 § 1, 2010; Ord. 3023 § 1, 2010; Ord. 3003 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2984 § 5, 2009; Ord. 2890 § 1, 2007; Ord. 2768 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2704 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2643 § 1, 2003; Ord. 2520 § 1, 2001; Ord. 2395 § 1, 1999; Ord. 2314 § 1, 1997; Ord. 2257 § 1, 1995; Ord. 2098 § 1, 1992; Ord. 2054 § 1, 1991; Ord. 1997 § 1, 1990; Ord. 1914 § 1 (part), 1989; Ord. 1781 § 1, 1985; Ord. 1732 § 1 (part), 1984.)

Any new or increased fees and charges authorized by this chapter shall be considered by the City Council at a noticed public meeting. The City Manager shall cause notice of the public meeting on new or increased fees and charges to be provided pursuant to Cal. Gov’t Code § 66016. At the public meeting the City Council shall receive oral and written presentations concerning the new or increased fees and charges.

(`78 Code, § 3.02.050.) (Ord. 3193 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1914 § 1 (part), 1989; Ord. 1732 § 1 (part), 1984.)

Pursuant to Cal. Gov’t Code § 66016, the City Manager shall, at least ten days prior to the public meeting required by § 3.02.050, make available to the public data indicating the cost or estimated cost required to provide the regulation, products or services for which the fees and charges are levied and the revenue sources anticipated, including general fund revenues, to provide such regulation, products or service.

(`78 Code, § 3.02.060.) (Ord. 3193 § 2, 2015; Ord. 1914 § 1 (part), 1989; Ord. 1732 § 1 (part), 1984.)

(A) Any person who feels that any fee or charge determined by the City Manager pursuant to the directions in this chapter is in excess of the percentage of costs reasonably borne to be recovered as set out in § 3.02.030, or that such fee or charge has not been reviewed within the review schedule as set out in § 3.02.040, may appeal in writing to the City Council.

(B) No fee shall be charged for such appeal.

(C) No fee for which an appeal has been filed shall take effect until heard by the City Council. The appealed fee or charge shall take effect immediately upon hearing by the City Council unless ordered otherwise by the City Council.

(`78 Code, § 3.02.070.) (Ord. 1914 § 1 (part), 1989; Ord. 1732 § 1 (part), 1984.)

(A) Exempted fees. A nonprofit organization shall not be required to pay those fire inspection and special use permit review fees identified in the fee discount/waiver column of the citywide master fee recovery schedule adopted by resolution of the City Council pursuant to § 3.02.040 of this code.

(B) Reduced fees. A nonprofit organization shall only be required to pay 50% of those building, planning, and development service fees identified in the fee discount/waiver column of the citywide master fee recovery schedule adopted by resolution of the City Council pursuant to § 3.02.040 of this code.

(C) Verified statement. Any person claiming a reduction or exemption pursuant to this section, in addition to making an application for a permit as provided by city ordinances or resolutions, shall file a verified statement with the city’s finance officer stating the facts upon which the reduction or exemption is claimed. The statement shall be in a form required by the finance officer. The finance officer shall make such investigation of the claim as they deem appropriate.

(D) Finance officer determination; permit issuance. The city shall issue the requested permit with either partial payment or without payment of the city permit fee, as applicable, only if the finance officer has verified that the person is entitled to the reduction or exemption under this section. If the finance officer has determined that the person is not entitled to the reduction or exemption under this section, the city shall issue the requested permit only with full payment of the city permit fee required pursuant to this chapter.

(E) Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall apply:

(1) “Nonprofit organization” is an organization in current good standing under United States Internal Revenue Code § 501(c)(3) and authorized to operate as such in California under applicable state law; and

(2) “Finance officer” shall be the Finance Director or their authorized designee.

(`78 Code, §3.02.080.) (Ord. 3356 §3, 2023; Ord. 2097 §1, 1992.)

(A) Reduced fees. New single-family construction on infill residential lots within the boundary of the Downtown Specific Plan shall only be required to pay 50% of those plan check and permit/inspection fees identified in the fee discount/waiver column of the citywide master fee recovery schedule adopted by resolution of the City Council pursuant to § 3.02.040 of this code.

(B) Verified statement. Any person claiming a reduction pursuant to this section, in addition to making an application for a permit as provided by city ordinances or resolutions, shall file a verified statement with the city’s finance officer stating the facts upon which the reduction is claimed. The statement shall be in a form required by the finance officer. The finance officer shall make such investigation of the claim as they deem appropriate.

(C) Finance officer determination; permit issuance. The city shall issue the requested permit with partial payment of the city permit fee only if the finance officer has verified that the person is entitled to the reduction under this section. If the finance officer has determined that the person is not entitled to the reduction under this section, the city shall issue the requested permit only with full payment of the city permit fee required pursuant to this chapter.

(D) Definition. As used in this section, “Finance officer” shall be the Finance Director or their authorized designee.

(Ord. 3356 §4, 2023.)