HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008/12/16 Item 7
CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA STATEMENT
:::::,~~ CITY OF
- - CHULA VISTA
12/16/08, Item =+-
SUBMITTED BY:
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ESTABLISHING
THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESSING AND IMPACT FEE
PAYMENTPLANPROGRAM;~~
DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING' , .
DIRECTOR OF PLANNING . UILDINctl~
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE~ '
INTERIM CITY MANAGER "'7 f
4/STHS VOTE: YES 0 NO [g]
ITEM TITLE:
REVIEWED BY:
SUMMARY
The City of Chula Vista requires the payment of various processing, development impact, capacity,
and in-lieu fees to ensure new development mitigates its impact on public facilities, The payment of
these fees is a substantial commitment for many projects, and spreading the payment of the fees
over an extended period may assist in tbe development of projects, Members of the development
community have contacted the City and requested an extended payment schedule program be
considered. The proposed Ordinance represents the City's response to this request.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The City's Environmental Review Coordinator has reviewed the proposed actIvIty for
compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the
activity is not a "Project" as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines;
therefore, pursuant to Section l5060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not
subject to CEQA.
RECOMMENDATION
Council approve the Ordinance establishing a Development Processing and Impact Fee Payment
Plan Program (first reading), to take effect and be in full force 30 days after the second reading
and adoption.
BOARDS/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
The City collects processing, development impact, capacity, and in-lieu fees from developers as
a condition of project approval. These funds are used to offset the City's cost of providing
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development review services and to finance the construction of public improvements necessary
to mitigate the subject project's impact on the City's public facilities.
The payment of processing and development fees is a substantial commitment for most
development projects. As a result of the current downturn in development and the continued
tightening of the credit market, the burden created by the payment of fees at building permit
issuance has increased. Local developers and the Building Industry Association (BIA) have
approached the City requesting consideration of an extended payment plan program.
In response to this request, staff has surveyed other California jurisdictions and found that
several fee deferral programs are being offered. These programs include deferral of fees to
various project milestones, including certificate of occupancy and close of escrow.
In order to help stimulate economic development and to be responsive to the needs of our
customers, staff recommends the creation of an extended payment plan program for certain
processing and development impact fees. The Ordinance provides a framework for individual
projects to enter into payment plan agreements with the City.
The program is intended as a temporary response to the current housing market slump, and as
such, will expire on December 30,2010.
General Program guidelines included in the Ordinance are described below.
DEVELOPMENT PROCESSING AND IMPACT FEE
PAYMENT PLAN PROGRAM
The Development Processing and Impact Fee Payment Plan program allows the extended
payment of certain processing and development impact fees. Participation in the Program
requires the developer enter into an agreement with the City identifying the fees to be paid, total
fee amount due, and establishing a payment schedule for the fees (including initial deposit and
amount due per month and/or milestone).
The fees due are as determined by the fee schedule in effect at the time the agreement is
executed. If the applicant fails to comply with all provisions and requirements of the Ordinance
or individual payment plan agreement, the City will adjust the development processing and
impact fees due to reflect the then current fee rates.
The maximum payment schedule is 12 months, with an optional 12 month extension at the
discretion of the City Manager or his designee. Any additional extension of the payment
schedule requires Council approval. In no event will the fee payment schedule extend beyond
either: 1) the City's approval and signature on the final inspection card for residential
development; or 2) the issuance of the certificate of occupancy for a non-residential
development.
All developers with projects currently submitted to the City for review and permlttmg are
eligible for the extended payment program, including residential, commercial, and industrial
projects. Those developers with current outstanding debts with the City are not eligible for the
program until their City accounts are brought current, to the satisfaction ofthe Finance Director.
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Applicants will not be required to submit an administrative fee to cover the cost of administering
the payment plan agreements. In addition, no interest will be charged on the fees included in the
individual payment plans. The order in which payment plan funds are applied to the various fee
programs shall be at the sole discretion of the Finance Director.
The payment schedule agreement required by the Program is non-transferrable and must be
recorded as a lien on the subject property, with the applicant responsible for all recording costs.
Upon receipt of payment in full, the City will file a release of lien.
DECISION MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site
specific and consequently the 500 foot rule found in California Code of Regulations section
18704.2(a)(1) is not applicable to this decision.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the Ordinance creates a framework for a payment program only, and therefore has
no General fund impact.
For future payment plan agreements as authorized by the Ordinance, applicants will reimburse
the City for all costs incurred in the preparation, execution, and recordation of the individual
project agreements, resulting in no net General fund impact. Staff costs incurred in administering
individual payment plan agreements will not be recovered via a stand-alone administrative fee.
lt is anticipated that these costs will not exceed staff time generally spent administering fee
programs.
Approval of individual project payment plan agreements will result in extended payment of
processing and development fees. Delayed receipt of fees will result in decreased interest
earnings and may impact project constmction phasing.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
Prepared by: lracsema Quilantan, Assistant Director of Engineering. Engineering Department
M.IEngineer'IAGENDA ICAS2008',{ 2-16-08',Fee Deferral Program Staff Report Rev.doc
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ORDINANCE NO.
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA
EST ABLISHING THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROCESSING
IMP ACT FEE PAYMENT PLAN PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista (City) requires the payment of various types of
development impact fees to help address the impacts of new development; and
WHEREAS, on August 7, 1990, pursuant to Ordinance No. 2384, the City Council
established the Telegraph Canyon Drainage Fee; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 2384 requires that the Telegraph Canyon Drainage Fee be
paid before the approval by the City of the development project, or if not paid at the time of
approval of the final map or parcel map, the fee must be paid before the issuance of the first
building permlt for the development; and
WHEREAS, on December 9, 1997, pursuant to Ordinance No. 2716, the City Council
establish the Poggi Canyon Sewer Basin Development Impact Fee; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 2716 requires that the Poggi Canyon Sewer Basin
Development Impact Fee be paid in cash upon the issuance of a building permit; and
WHEREAS, on January 5, 1999, pursuant to Ordinance No. 2767, the City Council
established the Otay Ranch Village I and 5 Pedestrian Bridge Development Impact Fee; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 2767 requires that the Otay Ranch Village I and 5 Pedestrian
Bridge Development Impact Fee be paid prior to the issuance of building permits for residential
development projects; and
WHEREAS, on February 18, 2003, pursuant to Ordinance No. 2898, the City Council
established the Pedestrian Bridge Development Impact Fee Program for Otay Ranch Village II;
and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 2898 requires that the Pedestrian Bridge Development
Impact Fee for Otay Ranch Village II be paid in cash upon the issuance of a residential building
pel111it; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 332 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code establishes the Residential
Construction Tax; and
WHEREAS, the Residential Construction Tax requires that the tax be paid upon the
application for a building permit; and
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Ordinance No.
Page :2
WHEREAS, Chapter 3.50 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code establishes the
Development Impact Fees to Pay for Various Public Facilities (PFDIF); and
WHEREAS, the PFDIF requires that the fee be paid upon the issuance of a building
pennit; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 3.54 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code establishes the
Transportation Development Impact Fee for the Eastern Territories of the City (TDIF) and
Chapter 3.55 of the Municipal Code establishes the Western Transportation Development Impact
Fee (WTDIF); and
WHEREAS, both the TDIF and the WTDIF require that the fee be paid upon the issuance
of a building pennit; and
WHEREAS, Section 13.14.090 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code establishes the
Sewage Capacity Charge; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that the payment of fees represents a substantial
financial commitment for many projects; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that establishing a payment plan for certain fees may
assist in the development of projects; and
WHEREAS, this Ordinance establishes a payment plan for certain development
processing and impact fees for a specified period of time.
NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City ofChula Vista does ordain as follows:
Section 1. Environmental Review
The City's Environmental Review Coordinator has reviewed the proposed activity for
compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the
activity is not a "Project" as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines;
therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not
subject to CEQA.
Section 2. Purpose
The City Council of the City of Chula Vista desires to encourage the constmction of
residential and nonresidential development projects within the City. The City Council finds that
the early payment of certain impact fees for new development creates such a barrier to such
development and desires, by the adoption of this Chapter, to ease such barrier by establishing a
payment plan for certain development impact fees.
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Ordinance No.
Page 3
Section 3. Definitions
"Applicant" means the owner of the real property or the developer with an approved
development project who seeks a development impact fee payment plan pursuant to this
Ordinance.
"Approved Residential Development Project" means a market rate residential development
consisting of single-family or multifamily residential units sold or rented at prevailing market
rates and free of any afford ability restrictions which has received final discretionary action by the
City and which is in compliance with all environmental requirements due prior to issuance of a
building penllit.
"Approved Development Project " means a nonresidential development which has received
final discretionary action by the City and which is in compliance with all environmental
requirements due prior to issuance of a building permit.
Section 4. Development Impact Fees Subject to the Payment Plan Program
Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapters 3.32, 3.54 and 3.55 of the Chula Vista Municipal
Code and the Ordinances listed below, the provisions of this Ordinance shall apply only to the
following development impact fees:
(a) the Sewer Capacity Fee codified lD Section 13.14.090 of the Chula Vista Municipal
Code;
(b) the Residential Construction Tax codified in Chapter 3.32 of the Chula Vista Municipal
Code;
(c) the Development Impact Fees to Pay for Various Public Facilities codified in Chapter
3.50 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code;
(d) the Eastem Area Transportation Development Impact Fee codified in Chapter 3.54 of
the Chula Vista Municipal Code;
(e) the Westem Transportation Development Impact Fee codified in Chapter 3.55 of the
Chula Vista Municipal Code;
(I) the Telegraph Canyon Drainage Fee established on August 7, 1990 pursuant to
Ordinance No. 2384;
(g) the Poggi Canyon Sewer Basin Development Impact Fee established on December 9,
1997, pursuant to Ordinance No. 2716;
(h) the Otay Ranch Village 1 and 5 Pedestrian Bridge Development Impact Fee established
on January 5, 1999, pursuant to Ordinance No. 2767; and
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Ordinance No.
Page 4
(i) and the Pedestrian Bridge Development Impact Fee Program for Otay Ranch Village 11
established on Febmary 18,2003, pursuant to Ordinance No. 2898.
Section 5. Establishment of the Development Impact Fee Payment Plan Program
(a) The Development Impact Fee Payment Plan Program is established for those
development impact fees listed in Section 4.
(b) The Development Impact Fee Payment Plan Program shall apply only to Approved
Residential Development Projects and Approved Development Projects as defined in
this Ordinance.
(c) An Applicant may file an application with the City to request a payment plan for any or
all of those development impact fees listed in Section 4.
(d) The Applicant shall deposit with the City an amount to be determined by the City
Manager for an Approved Residential Development Project or an Approved
Development Project at the time the building permits are issued. No building permit
shall be issued for an Approved Residential Development Project or an Approved
Development Project subject to this Ordinance unless the Applicant has paid this
deposit.
(e) The Applicant, and the owner of the property, if different, shall be required to enter into
an agreement with the City, in a form approved by the City Attorney, agreeing to the
payment plan.
(I) The maximum period for any payment plan pursuant to this Chapter is twelve (12)
months from the date of issuance of building permits. This period may be extended once
for twelve (12) months at the discretion of the City Manager. Any additional extensions
shall be at the discretion of the City Council.
(g) All fees subject to the Development Impact Fee Payment Plan Program shall be paid in
full the earlier of: (1) the City's approval and signature on the final inspection card by
the Director of Planning and Building, or designee, for an Approved Residential
Development Project; or (2) the issuance ofthe certificate of occupancy for an Approved
Development Project; or (3) the end of the maximum period described in subsection (I)
ofthis Section 5.
Section 6. Agreement Shall Constitute a Lien
The Applicant and the owner of the property, if different, shall execute a Development
Impact Fee Payment Plan Program Agreement with the City. The Agreement shall be recorded
by the City and shall constitute a lien against the property for the payment of the fees. The City
Manager shall execute the Agreement on behalf of the City.
Once the obligation is paid in full, the City shall record a Release of the Lien.
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Ordinance No.
Page 5
Section 7. Determination of the Amount of Development Impact Fees
The amount of development impact fees owed by the Applicant shall be determined by the
City pursuant to the provisions outlined in the Municipal Code or in the ordinances establishing
the fees. These amounts shall be fixed as of the date of the execution of the Development Impact
Fee Payment Plan Agreement by the City. The amounts of these fees shall not change as long as
the Applicant is in full compliance with all provisions and requirements of this Ordinance and
the Development Impact Fee Payment Plan Program Agreement. If, however, the Applicant fails
to comply with all the provisions and requirements of this Ordinance or the Agreement, the City
may adj ust the development impact fees to reflect the current rates for the fees.
Section 8. Not Transferable
The City's approval of a Development Impact Fee Payment Plan is not transferable to any
other project. even if the Applicant is the same and the other project would qualify for the
Development Impact Fee Payment Plan Program.
Section 9. Recordation Costs
The Applicant shall pay all costs of recordation of documents required pursuant to this
Ordinance and the Development Impact Fee Payment Plan Program Agreement at the execution
ofthe Development Impact Fee Payment Plan Program Agreement by the City.
Section 10. Expiration of this Ordinance
This Ordinance shall take effect thirty days after final passage and shall expIre on
December 31, 20 I 0, and as of that date, is repealed.
Presented by
Approved as to form by
~.-!~IL ~~~
Bart C. Miesfeld C
City Attorney
Richard A. Hopkins
Director of Engineering
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