HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - August 15, 2012 C-20AGENDA ITEM
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Ah CITY OF LODI
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
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AGENDA TITLE: Adopt Resolution Revising and Establishing Fees for Police, Fire and Parks,
Recreation and Cultural Services Departments
MEETING DATE: August 15,2012
PREPARED BY: Chief of Police, Fire Chief and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Interim
Director
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt resolution revising and establishing fees for Police, Fire and
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services departments.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The city periodically reviews and adjusts fees as needed to cover
costs of providing the related service to the fee payer. Staff has reviewed various fees and is
recommending the following increases in Police, Fire and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services fees.
Police
Proposed fee increases for the police department consist of fees for services outside the normal scope of
citizen's requests. This includes release of towed vehicles, fingerprinting, clearance letters, special
permits and special licensing required for businesses. Fees for the majority of police services were last
reviewed for adjustment in 2006. Proposed increases are based on a breakdown of the actual costs
associated with each service including staff time and any supplies (ExhibitA). Staff conducted a review
of fees from surrounding agencies (Exhibit B) and the fees proposed are comparable to agencies
contacted. Increasing fees for services as presented will generate approximately $65,740 in annual
revenue.
The Department also recommends an increase in bail amounts on the majority of Lodi parking citations,
from $40 to $45. Parking citation fines were last increased in November, 2010 by $3 per citation to cover
the additional fee imposed by the State. The City pays a total of $7.50 per citation for court funding.
Management of the parking citation program is outsourced and fees for this service have increased by 11
percent in three years. The proposed increase to parking fines (Exhibit C) will help offset the cost of
program management by generating approximately $20,000 in revenue. A numberof cities in the area
were contactedfor comparison of fines (Exhibit D). Three of the seven cities surveyed are currently
reviewing parking citation fines.
Fire
The Fire Department recommends the following fees to assist in cost recoveryfor fire prevention. The fire
company "Business Fire & Life Safety Inspections" increase is to update and reflect our current approved
hourly rate. There will continue to be no charge for these first two inspections, but additional inspections
will require the fee. The imposed fee for private fire hydrant annual inspections is in relation to an
occurrence during our recent Insurance Services Organization (ISO) test. Two high-risk properties within
APPROVED:
onradt Bartlam, City Manager
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our city put life safety and our local economy in jeopardy by not having functioning hydrants. The
increase in fee for our standard hourly rate for engine or truck company is being raised to keep all of our
fees congruent with existing approved fees.
Current Fee
Proposed Fee
Fire co. inspection re -inspection fee $75 hr.
$135 hr.
Privatefire h drantannual inspection $0
$135 hr.
Standard hourly rate — Engine/ Truck $131 hr.
$135 hr.
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
PRCS is proposing several fee increases intended to that better reflect market rates and/or reduce
Department subsidies: Swimming fees at the Hutchins Street Square pool, RV camping rates at Lodi
Lake Park, and the fee to issue tickets to events at Hutchins Street Square.
A proposed fee increase for swimming at the Hutchins Street Square pool was presented to the
Recreation Commission on June 5, 2012. The Commission unanimouslyvoted to recommend the City
Council adopt the following fee schedule, which increases the fee by $1 per swim. In addition, it creates a
higher nonresidentfee and adds children 12 and under to the senior/disabled rate schedule.
The proposed fees were developed by staff in consultation with pool users atter a May 23, 2012 meeting
that outlined the financial challenges of operating the pool. Approximately 60 members of the public
attended the meeting, and some of them attended the Recreation Commission meeting and expressed
their support for the fee increase. The Recreation Commission and staff have not heard any objections to
the proposed fee schedule, which is intended to reduce the pool's significant annual operating loss.
Commissioners said the department should charge an additional fee for swimmers attending drop-in
classes, which comprises most the pool schedule. This proposal does not include that recommendation,
which staff has yet to explore.
In addition, the Department proposed increasing the two-hour rental fee for private parties of up to 25
swimmers from $95 to $150. The current price only slightly covers the cost of supplying lifeguardsfor the
special events — most commonly children's birthday parties — and is far below market rates.
The Department also proposes increasing the per -night RV camping fee at Lodi Lake Park from $30 to
$32. This fee is competitive with other parks in the region.
Finally, PRCS is proposing to increase the Hutchins Street Square Box Office ticketing fee from $3 to $4.
The fee is intendedto offset the cost of staffing the box office, ticketing machines, software, licensing and
related expenses associated with creating tickets to events. Even with this increase, ticket fees at
Hutchins Street Square are still below market average. The price is included in the cost of tickets for City -
sponsored events, and is an added cost for other events.
Currentfee
Proposed Lodi
Proposed non-
resident fee
residentfee
Seniorldisabled
$2.50$3.50
$3.50
$3.75
per swim
Senior/disabled
15/$40
15/$45
15/$25
(Seniors/disabled/
(Seniors/disabled/
punch pass
children)
children
Adults
$3.75
$4.75
$5
Adults
15/$43
15/$58
15/$63
punch pass
The proposed fees were developed by staff in consultation with pool users atter a May 23, 2012 meeting
that outlined the financial challenges of operating the pool. Approximately 60 members of the public
attended the meeting, and some of them attended the Recreation Commission meeting and expressed
their support for the fee increase. The Recreation Commission and staff have not heard any objections to
the proposed fee schedule, which is intended to reduce the pool's significant annual operating loss.
Commissioners said the department should charge an additional fee for swimmers attending drop-in
classes, which comprises most the pool schedule. This proposal does not include that recommendation,
which staff has yet to explore.
In addition, the Department proposed increasing the two-hour rental fee for private parties of up to 25
swimmers from $95 to $150. The current price only slightly covers the cost of supplying lifeguardsfor the
special events — most commonly children's birthday parties — and is far below market rates.
The Department also proposes increasing the per -night RV camping fee at Lodi Lake Park from $30 to
$32. This fee is competitive with other parks in the region.
Finally, PRCS is proposing to increase the Hutchins Street Square Box Office ticketing fee from $3 to $4.
The fee is intendedto offset the cost of staffing the box office, ticketing machines, software, licensing and
related expenses associated with creating tickets to events. Even with this increase, ticket fees at
Hutchins Street Square are still below market average. The price is included in the cost of tickets for City -
sponsored events, and is an added cost for other events.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
FUNDING AVAILABLE:
Increasing Policefees will generate approximately $73,000 in revenue for
services and $20,000 in revenue on parking citation fines annually.
Increasing Fire fees will have a minimal fiscal impact.
Approving the proposed PRCS pool fees will reduce the Department's pool
subsidy by approximately $25,000. The RV fee increase will have a minimal
impact, and the increased ticket charge will generate approximately
$10,000, helping to recoup the expenses associated with providing tickets
for events held at Hutchins Street Square.
Not applicable.
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Mark Helms
Chief of Police
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darks, Recreation and Cultural Services Interim Director
Attachments: Exhibits& B, C and D
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Larry Rooney
Fire Chief