Agenda - Council - 01/10/2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Deputy City Administrator Nelson stated the Public Works Committee, at its meeting last week, recommended moving forward with getting RFPs for a sewer and water comprehensive plan. Once completed, policy assumptions will be made on capital investments and community build out to provide the basis of information to make that decision. Planning Intern Brama advised the Public Works Committee recommended the top soil requirement be changed from six inches to four inches but he does not know the dollar amount of savings. Councilmember McGlone noted the recommendation is to shift some fees to the developer, like streetlights, which he supports. He supported the development agreement having the authority to not issue the certificate of occupancy until the City is assured everything to be done by the developer is completed. Councilmember McGlone stated he found most of staff s recommendations are not a reduction but a shift. Councilmember Tossey concurred, noting the recommendations will result in a savings by the developer of only $279/single family home, which he did not find to be significant. Acting Mayor Wise stated he thought the City would host a charette with developers so they could be asked about the charges. Deputy City Administrator Nelson stated the builder's open house is scheduled in December/January. She noted the recommendations may not be much of a reduction but the big reductions will be on the development side when the City looks at SAC and WAC fees. However, this will not be known until the studies are completed. She stated staff will be contacting builders, developers, people involved with The COR, and Builder's Association. After public hearings, staff will glean the information gathered for the Council's consideration. Councilmember Backous stated the reduction in fees is closer to $950/single family home, which is significant. He felt staff s recommendations were a step in the right direction. Councilmember Tossey stated it is a shift of some costs but, in reality, the cost is the same for the builders. He noted the escrow is usually used to assure the project follows the development agreement and asked whether the City can legally use the certificate of occupancy as leverage. Public Works Director Olson noted it is the homeowner that needs the certificate of occupancy so it could cause a problem if the certificate of occupancy is used as "leverage" to assure something like erosion control standards for the development, which is a problem with the developer, not the homeowner. He noted the escrow guarantees the project will be completed as defined in the development agreement. Councilmember McGlone stated the idea behind erosion control is to control sediment so there is no flexibility in that rule. Public Works Director Olson stated another scenario would be if the developer has not yet put in the streetlights and the homeowner wants a certificate of occupancy. City Council Work Session / November 22, 2011 Page 3 of 10