Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, May 07, 2019
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER GENERAL FEE STUDY TO PROVIDE A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE COSTS THE CITY INCURS FROM PROVIDING SERVICES AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF PRIOR TO BRINGING FORWARD AN UPDATED FEE STRUCTURE FOR ADOPTION (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
The General Fee Study is detailed analysis dedicated toward seeking alternate, and more equitable, ways to finance City services provided to the community. The study will also provide the City Council and management the complete information upon which to assess fees charged to the public for services provided.
The City charges fees for a myriad of services, from development and building fees to recreation programs to park and facility rentals, among other things. Issues continue to surface related to many of these fees, and the economic consequences of raising or lowering fees without studying the market first.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
RECEIVE staff report and provide direction to staff prior to bringing forward a complete General Fee Study proposal.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
1. DO NOT APPROVE moving forward with the General Fee Study.
2. TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate, consistent with the requirements of the law.
IV. BACKGROUND
The City of Carson charges user fees for a variety of specific services provided on behalf of private citizen or group. The underlying assumption for the user fee is that costs of services benefiting individuals and not the entire community should be borne by the individuals receiving the services, and that the user of the service should pay a fee that bears a relationship to the cost of the service. Therefore, setting user fees is equivalent to establishing prices for services. Unlike private organizations, making a profit in providing services to the public is not a legally allowable objective for local governments. The City may only set fees at a level to recover the full co...
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