Agenda - Planning Commission - 12/01/2011 - Work Session

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landscaping escrow that is only collected if landscaping is not complete by the time the Certificate of Occupancy is requested. The landscaping escrow, which covers sod, trees, and topsoil, is $5,000.00. of issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. If not, the City can draw upon the escrow to complete the work. Requiring installation of yard is for aesthetics, erosion control purposes and to reduce potential issues with noxious weed establishment. reach $10,000 or more. Therefore, Staff determined that a flat fee would be more feasible and simpler approach. Trees Depends on whether commercial or residential. For single family residential projects, there is a landscaping escrow that is only collected if landscaping is not complete by the time the Certificate of Occupancy is requested. The landscaping escrow, which covers sod, trees, and topsoil, is $5,000.00. For commercial projects, trees are part of the required improvements and thus the fee ($300 per tree which accounts for tree, delivery, installation) is collected as part of the Stage I surety. The purpose of the escrow is to ensure that the required landscaping (per City Code) is installed within six (6) months of issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. If not, the City can draw upon the escrow to complete the work. Installation of trees is required by City Code and the surety is collected to ensure that this work is completed per the approved plans. Staff initially tried to calculate these costs on a lot by lot basis, but it was not uncommon for those calculations to reach $10,000 or more. Therefore, Staff determined that a flat fee would be more feasible and simpler approach. Staff looks at the cost for the trees themselves but also the delivery and installation costs when determining the per tree fee. Shrubs Generally speaking, shrubs are not specifically required for single family home projects but are often part of multi -family projects. For commercial and multi -family projects, shrubs are part of the required improvements and thus the fee ($75 per shrub, which accounts for shrub, delivery, installation) is collected as part of the Stage I surety. Installation of shrubs is required by City Code and the surety is collected to ensure that this work is completed per the approved plans. Staff looks at the cost for the shrubs themselves but also the delivery and installation costs when determining the per shrub fee. Fee/Charge Description (what is the fee) Rationalization (the purpose) Methodology (studies/forecasts to determine what we need to charge) Erosion Control Erosion controls are part of stormwater runoff management programs. The controls often involve the creation of a physical barrier to prevent erosion caused by water. The City of Ramsey charges a $100 administrative fee and also requires a $1,500 escrow. The purpose of the administrative fee is to cover administrative costs in the finance department. The purpose of the escrow is to give builders and incentive to abide erosion control standards. If the property owner doesn't comply the city can use the escrow to complete the work. There are laws that the City of Ramsey is responsible to abide by in regards to surface water discharge (and thus erosion control) under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) enforced by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The City of Ramsey is issued a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit from the MPCA to