Hermosa Beach Municipal Code Ch. 2.64 Fees and Service Charges

Contents:

2.64.010 Intent.

2.64.020 Costs reasonably borne defined.

2.64.030 Schedule of fees and service charges.

2.64.040 Appeal to city council.

Pursuant to Article XIIIB of the California Constitution, it is the intent of the city council to require the ascertainment and recovery of costs reasonably borne from fees and charges levied therefor in providing the regulation, products or services. (Prior code § 2-109)

"Costs reasonably borne," as used and ordered to be applied in this chapter are to consist of the following elements:

1. All applicable direct costs including, but not limited to salaries, wages, fringe benefits, services and supplies, 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 assets recovery expenses, consisting of depreciation on fixed assets, and additional charges, calculated on the cost divided by the approximate life expectancy of the fixed asset;
4. General overhead, expressed as a percentage, distributing and charging the expenses of the city council, city manager, finance department, city treasurer, city clerk, city attorney’s office, community promotion, personnel office, 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. (Prior code § 2-110)

Fees and service charges, whether or not provided for elsewhere by ordinance, shall be set and adjusted by resolution of the city council following a public report and recommendation from the city staff reflecting the cost reasonably borne and the recommended percentage of recovery, except that the city manager is hereby empowered to set a fee for service requests when no fee has otherwise been established, and the request cannot be met unless the city incurs costs that can be reasonably borne from fees and charges. Fees specified shall be effective only after meeting the requirements set forth for public hearings. To the extent possible, the city’s fees and charges shall be fixed by one master fee resolution of the council. (Ord. 96-1155 § 7, 1996: prior code § 2-111)

Any person who feels that any fee or charge is in excess of the percentage of costs reasonably borne to be recovered, or is inappropriately set, may appeal in writing to the city council. (Prior code § 2-112)