REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
March 19, 2020
FROM: KERRI L DONIS, Fire Chief
Fire Department
SUBJECT
Title
Action pertaining to the 555th Amendment to the Master Fee Schedule:
1. Adopt a finding of statutory exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15273(a) for amendments to the Fire Department's fees for Fire Inspection and Prevention and related services.
2. ***RESOLUTION - 555th Amendment to the Master Fee Schedule No. 80-420, to add, adjust, revise, or delete various Fire Department fees (subject to Mayor's veto).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council:
1. Adopt the CEQA exemptions; and
2. Approve the 555th Amendment to the Master Fee Schedule (MFS) Resolution No. 80-420 to add, adjust, revise, or delete various fire department fees (subject to Mayor's veto).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2011, the Fresno Fire Department contracted with NBS Government Finance Group (NBS) to prepare an independent User and Regulatory Fee Analysis for the Fire Prevention and Investigation Division (the 2011 Fire Fee Analysis). NBS performed a comprehensive analysis, including a detailed time-on-task study as well as salary rate analysis to estimate the costs to provide the services that generated the fees. The 2011 Fire Fee Analysis, dated September 16, 2011, concluded that overall fee levels were insufficient to recover the costs to provide services. The Fire Department Prevention and Investigation Division related services Master Fee Schedule fees have not been updated to implement the recommendations set forth in the 2011 Fire Fee Analysis.
Recently, the City reviewed NBS's methodology and determined that cost recovery figures have changed based on the methodologies used by NBS in 2011. In January 2020, the Fresno Fire Department engaged NBS again to review the City's analysis and suggested changes to the 2011 proposed fees. Though a comprehensive study was not performed, NBS concurred with City staff regarding the 2011 Fire Fee Analysis methodology an...
Click here for full text