City Council Minutes 2011 06 07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes June7,2011 Page 5 of 10 reading amendments on Page 9, Section 13.28.010 Rates; Residential, which refers to residential sewer rates. Resolution No. 29, Series 2011 will set the actual fees. Economic Development Director Star explained at first reading of the Ordinance, Councilors expressed some concern that setting the fees by resolution instead of ordinance might take away certain rights. She confirmed legislatively adopted fees can be challenged by the public. She stressed the goals are to consolidate these fees into one location, simplify periodic review of the fees to ensure that they adequately cover the cost of the service provided and reflect the City Council's policy objectives, and make it easier for the public, developers, and others to determine the level of fees that may be of interest to them. The one exception is impact fees which should continue to be set by ordinance and remain in the Code, in order to comply with state statutes. Councilors also expressed concern the fees would not be as readily available to the public as they are now because Code containing the fees are on the City's website. Staff supports posting the fees on the City's website and will do so if Council approves a resolution containing the fees. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilor Muckle expressed concern over the citizens' right for referendum. He stated the initiative process would be required to change the fees. He stated currently the fees and requirement instructions for licenses and permits can be found in the Code book. He felt a majority of the fees should be set by the City Manager and not the Council. Councilor Yarnell agreed some fees should be administrative and not legislative. She was interested in seeing a list of fees approved by Council and those set administratively. Mayor Pro Tem Marsella favored a consistent method of changing the fee chart. She felt the public right to protest is still protected. Mayor Sisk favored the transparency of the fee schedule and concurred the citizens' rights are still preserved. He supported going forward with the ordinance. Councilor Dalton felt it was appropriate for fees to be set by Council action, by way of resolution. He did not support fees being set administratively. Councilor Yarnell supported making the City's fees available to the public. She favored having a simple process for the public to protest the fees. Mayor Sisk requested public comment and hearing none, closed the public hearing.