Santa Maria Municipal Code Art. 1 Hearings

(a) The City Council shall hold at least one public hearing as part of a regularly scheduled meeting prior to levying a new fee or service charge or prior to increasing an existing fee or service charge, if the fee or service charge is among the categories described in Section 2-24.102.

(b) The notice provisions of this chapter supplement but do not replace other notice requirements found elsewhere in this Code, and in the provisions of State law.

(Prior Code § 2-150; Ord. 83-1061 § 1, eff. 11/17/83)

Except as provided in Section 2-24.103, notice shall be given in conformity with this chapter prior to levying a new or increased fee or service charge for:

(a) Zoning variances, zoning changes, use permits, building inspections, building permits, plan checking, the processing of subdivision or parcel maps, funding the operations of the Planning Commission, subdivision committee and other planning functions;

(b) All water and sewer connections; and

(c) The funding of agencies in aid of administration, such as boards of review, appeal, adjustment and the like.

(Prior Code § 2-150.1; Ord. 83-1061 § 1, eff. 11/17/83)

Any person desiring notice of hearings on fees or service charges enumerated in Section 2-24.101 shall, on or before April 1st of each year, file a written request with the City Clerk stating the specific category(ies) of fees or service charges of which notice of hearings is desired. Written requests for mailed notices are valid for one year from the date on which filed unless a renewal request is filed on or before April 1st of each year, and conditioned upon the prepayment of a reasonable annual charge for sending such notices. Such annual charge shall be set by resolution of the City Council from time to time, and shall be based on the estimated cost of providing such service.

(Prior Code § 2-150.2; Ord. 83-1061 § 1, eff. 11/17/83)

Persons requesting notice in conformity with Section 2-24.103 are entitled to and shall be provided with written notice of the time and place of hearing(s) at which a proposed new or increased fee or service charge will be considered, as well as a general explanation of the matter to be considered, and a statement that the data required by Section 2-24.105 is available for public review in the City Clerk's office. Such notice shall be mailed at least 14 days prior to the public hearing described in Section 2-24.102 to all persons who have complied with Section 2-24.103 by filing a written request for mailed notices.

(Prior Code § 2-150.3; Ord. 83-1061 § 1, eff. 11/17/83)

At least 10 days prior the public hearing on a proposed new or increased fee or service charge, data indicating the amount of cost, or estimated cost, required to provide the service for which the fee or service charge is levied, and the revenue sources anticipated to provide the service, including general fund revenues, shall be made publicly available in the City Clerk's office.

(Prior Code § 2-150.4; Ord. 83-1061 § 1, eff. 11/17/83)