To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Public Hearing
SUBJECT:
title
Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of an Ordinance, which Modifies the 2021 Update of the Humboldt County Schedule of Fees and Charges (4/5 Vote Required)
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Open the public hearing;
2. Introduce by title, Ordinance No. ____ (Attachment I), Amending the 2021 Humboldt County Schedule of Fees and Charges for the Department of Aviation Enterprise Fund, Budget Unit 1100 381 and Agricultural Commission/Sealer of Weights and Measures, Budget Unit 1100 261;
3. Waive the first reading of the ordinance;
4. Receive the staff report and public comments;
5. Approves and/or modifies the new, increased, decreased, deleted or changed fees, as shown in the 2021 Humboldt County Schedule of Fees and Charges for Aviation Enterprise Fund, Budget Unit 381 (Attachment II) and Agricultural Commissioner Schedule A (Attachment IV);
6. Adopt the Ordinance;
7. Direct the Clerk of the Board, within 15 days, to publish a post-adoption summary of the ordinance (Attachment V) with the names of the Supervisors voting for and against the ordinance, and to post in the office of the Clerk of the Board a certified copy of the full text of the adopted ordinance and amendments along with the names of those Supervisors voting for and against the ordinance [Government Code Section 25124 (b)(1)]; and
8. Close the public hearing.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Department of Aviation Enterprise Fund, Budget Unit 1100 381
Agricultural Commission/Sealer of Weights and Measures, Budget Unit 1100 261
DISCUSSION:
Annually, county departments review fees and charges to determine whether such fees and charges are sufficient to recoup costs associated with providing services to the public. On Feb. 23, 2021, your Board adopted Ordinance No. 2668 which amended and updated the Humboldt County Schedule of Fees and Charges, effective March 29, 2021. Following adoption, staff was made aware of a discrepancy in a portion of fees described under the Department of Aviation Enterprise Fund, Budget Unit 1100-381 and in an attachment provided by the Agricultural Commission/Sealer of Weights and Measures, Budget Unit 1100-261.
Modifications made to the Department of Aviation Enterprise Fund fees and charges address two specific areas. First, there was a misalignment of lines within the previously approved documents that caused 11 fees related to hanger storage at Murray Field to be assigned to the incorrect titles. Second, the department has amended fee titles to further clarify updated nomenclature which identify the types of hangers available at two airports. Specifically, two fees at Garberville Airport and one fee at Rohnerville Airport have been split into more defined categories that more closely mirror the naming and costs recommended in the recent rate study completed for the department by the Aviation Management Consulting Group (AMCG).
To address the discrepancy in published rates, the Department of Aviation has continued to charge the lower rate documented in either the 2021 Humboldt County Schedule of Fees and Charges, made effective March 29, 2021, or the intended rates, as outlined in this amendment. Aviation will continue to do so until the attached Draft Ordinance is made effective. Attachment II provides a comparison of the existing fees and charges to the proposed changes, described above. Calculations supporting all changes are contained in Attachment III.
Additionally, the Agricultural Commission/Sealer of Weights and Measures has provided a modified Schedule A for Budget Unit 1100-261, which outlines fees related to the testing of commercial and non-commercial weighing and measuring devices (Attachment IV). The schedule included in the previously approved documents noted the Local Device rate for a Counter Class II weighing device at $80, rather than the actual cost of $50. It should be noted, the total cost related to this fee did present the accurate total of $52.20. The Fee Authority column has also been modified to reflect the appropriate government codes authorizing collection of the noted fees.
Government Code Sections 54986 and 66018 require that prior to adopting a resolution or ordinance approving a new fee or changing an existing fee, the Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing at which time oral or written presentations can be made.
Should your Board adopt the draft ordinance, it will be effective July 19, 2021, and the new fees will be in effect as of that date.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The revised fees reflect updating fees to current costs, the collection of which results in a net zero budget impact. Some of the proposed updated fees related to Aviation have increased (Attachment 2), and the attached ordinance must be adopted before the department can collect the increased fees.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by managing our resources to ensure sustainability of services .
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
All entities, agencies or businesses impacted by specific fees are involved.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could modify specific recommended fee changes or decline to adopt a new fee schedule and leave the current fees in place. These alternatives are not recommended, as the proposed fees have been prepared by departments to maximize cost recovery.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment I - Draft Fee Ordinance
Attachment II - 2021 Humboldt County Schedule of Fees and Charges for Aviation Enterprise Fund, Budget Unit 381
Attachment III - Supporting Documentation for New and Changed Fees
Attachment IV - Agricultural Commissioner Schedule A (2021)
Attachment V - Summary for Publication after Adoption of Ordinance
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No: I-1
Meeting of: 02/23/2021
File No.: 21-192