Murrieta Municipal Code Ch. 3.32 Fee and Service Charge

3.32.010 Intent.¶

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 hereinafter enumerated in this chapter.

(Ord. 158 § 1 (part), 1996)

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3.32.020 Authority.¶

The city council has the authority to adjust fees and charges to recover the percentage of costs reasonably borne in providing the regulation products or services enumerated in this chapter in the percentage of costs reasonably borne and on the schedule of rate review and revision as hereinafter established in this chapter. "Costs reasonably borne" shall be as defined in Section 3.32.030.

Any fees may be set by resolution of the city council. The city council by resolution may establish, in its discretion, any other fees and charges for which such fee or charge is authorized by law.

(Ord. 158 § 1 (part), 1996)

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3.32.030 Costs reasonably borne--Defined.¶

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

A. All applicable direct costs including, but not limited to salaries, wages, overtime, employee fringe benefits, services and supplies, maintenance and operation expenses, contracted services, special supplies, and any other direct expense incurred.

B. All applicable indirect costs including, but not restricted to, building maintenance and operations, equipment maintenance and operations, communications expenses, computer costs, printing and reproduction, and like expenses when distributed on an accounted and documented rational proration system.

C. Fixed assets recovery expenses, consisting of depreciation of fixed assets, and additional fixed asset expense recovery 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 difference between book value depreciation not previously recovered and reserved in cash and the full cost of replacement, which also shall be calculated and considered a cost so as to recover such unrecovered costs between book value and cost of replacement over the remaining life of the asset.

D. General overhead, expressed as a percentage, distributing and charging the expenses of the city council, city manager, finance department, city clerk, city attorney, community promotion, personnel department, and all other staff and support service provided to the entire city organization. Overhead shall be prorated between tax-financed services and fee-financed services on the basis of said percentage so that each of taxes and fees and charges shall proportionately defray such overhead costs.

E. Departmental overhead, expressed as a percentage, distributing and charging the cost of each department head and his or her supporting expenses as enumerated in subsections A, B and C of this section.

F. Debt service costs, consisting of repayment of principal, payment of interest, trustee fees and administrative expenses for all applicable bond, certificate, or securities issues or loans. Any required coverage factors of added reserves beyond basic debt service costs also shall be considered a cost if required by covenant within any securities ordinance, resolution, indenture or general law applicable to the city.

(Ord. 158 § 1 (part), 1996)

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3.32.040 Schedule of fees and service charges.¶

The city manager, finance director and each city department head, under the direction of the city manager, shall review the fees and service charges listed following, on the schedule of frequency listed in this section, and present to the city council any adjustments to the fee or charge schedule so as to recover the listed percentage of costs reasonably borne necessary to provide the listed regulations, products or services.

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Regulation, Products Or Service	Percentage of Costs Reasonably Borne To Be Recovered	Review Schedule
Development Permits
1. Sign review	100	Annual
2. Flood hazard review	100	Annual
3. General plan review and revision	100	Annual
4. Zone change review	100	Annual
5. Variance review	100	Annual
6. Conditional use review	100	Annual
7. Site plan review	100	Annual
8. Subdivision review	100	Annual
9. Appeal processing	100	Annual
10. Plans revision review	100	Annual
11. Review of annexation request	100	Annual
12. Lot line adjustment review	100	Annual
13. Lot merger review	100	Annual
14. Compliance certification	100	Annual
15. Right-of-way abandonment review	100	Annual
16. Environmental determination review	100	Annual
17. Environmental impact review	100	Annual
18. Special event review	100	Annual
19. Specific plan review	100	Annual
20. Development agreement review	100	Annual
21. Preapplication review	100	Annual
Plan Checks and Inspections
22. Building plan checks	100	Annual
23. Building inspections	100	Annual
24. Fire plan checks	100	Annual
25. Fire inspections	100	Annual
26. Subdivision inspections	100	Annual
27. Engineering permit inspections	100	Annual
28. Utility inspections	100	Annual
29. Public improvement inspections	100	Annual
30. Subdivision plan checks	100	Annual
31. Final tract/parcel map plan checks	100	Annual
32. Grading plan checks	100	Annual
33. Daycare plan checks and inspections	100	Annual
34. Landscape plan checks	100	Annual
35. Business use review and inspections	100	Annual
36. Regulatory review and inspections	100	Annual
Public Safety Services
37. City code enforcement abatement	100	Annual
38. City code enforcement inspections	100	Annual
39. Police security	100	Annual
40. Police administration	100	Annual
41. Fire suppression	100	Annual
42. Fire administration	100	Annual
43. False alarm response--fire	100	Annual
44. Animal regulation	50	Annual
Community Services
45. Classes and programs	100	Quarterly
46. Pool usage	25	Annual
Maintenance Services
47. Utility street usage	100	Annual
48. Refuse collection street usage	100	Annual
49. Landscape service	100	Annual
50. Lighting service	100	Annual
51. Street sweeping services	100	Annual
52. Street tree maintenance	100	Annual
53. Storm drain maintenance	100	Annual
54. Unpaved street maintenance	100	Annual
55. Vacant lot weed removal	100	Annual
Administrative Services
56. Attorney fees	100	Annual
57. Consultant services	100	Annual
58. NSF check processing	100	Annual
59. Sale of maps and publications	100	Annual
60. Document copying	100	Annual
61. Document certification	100	Annual
62. Records research service	100	Annual
63. Risk management services	100	Annual
64. Redevelopment operation administration	Overhead rate	Annual
65. Redevelopment project administration	Overhead rate	Annual

New Services and/or comparable services determined by city manager.

Overtime rates shall apply to all items except Nos. 40, 42, 46, 58, 69 and 60.

All fees and charges set pursuant to this chapter and section shall take effect sixty days after city council has approved the resolution, and no written appeal has been filed.

The schedule of frequency of rate adjustments may be varied by the city manager to adjust revenues sufficient to meet debt service coverage requirements of any bond, certificate, or ordinance, resolution, indenture, contract or action under which securities have been issued by the city which contain any coverage factor requirement.

(Ord. 158 § 1 (part), 1996)

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3.32.050 Public meeting.¶

Pursuant to the requirements of California Government Code Section 66016, the city clerk shall cause notice to be provided as set out in said Government Code Section 66016, and the city council shall receive at a public meeting oral and written presentations concerning the fees and charges proposed for those categories of fees and charges set out in Government Code Sections 66013 and 66014. Such notice, oral and written presentation receipt, and public meeting shall be provided by the city council prior to taking any action on any new or increased fees or charges for those categories set out in said Government Code Sections 66013 and 66014 and Section 3.32.040 of this chapter.

(Ord. 158 § 1 (part), 1996)

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3.32.060 Provision of data.¶

Pursuant to Section 66016 of the California Government Code, the city clerk shall, at least ten days prior to the required public meeting set out in said Government Code Section, make available to the public data indicating the cost, or estimated cost required to provide the services set out in Government Code Section 66013 and 66014.

(Ord. 158 § 1 (part), 1996)

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3.32.070 Appeal to city council.¶

Any person who feels that any fee or charge determined and set by the city council is in excess of the percentage of costs reasonably borne to be recovered as set out in Section 3.32.040, or that such fee or charge has been reviewed prior to or has not been reviewed within the review schedule as set out in Section 3.32.040, may appeal in writing to the city council. No fee for which an appeal has been filed shall take effect until heard by the city council. Such appeal shall be placed on the agenda of the next ensuing council meeting after receipt of such appeal, and heard at the next ensuing council meeting. Such appealed fee or charge shall take effect immediately upon hearing by the city council unless ordered otherwise by ordinance amending the chapter.

(Ord. 158 § 1 (part), 1996)

Exceptions & meaning →