10/22/1990 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e a combination of increased fees, service reductions, and one-time revenues. The Council Committee on Development Services looked at the total costs of development services provided by the General Fund and identified opportuni- ties for reducing general tax support for these services. Services included in the recommendations can be divided into three categories: direct servic- es, e.g., land use actions initiated by property owners, building permits, and plan-checking fees; general business services; and general public devel- opment services, e.g., general land use planning and information provided about development. The recommendations contained in the report have been available for the past several weeks. Responding to questions from councilors and the Mayor, Mr. Mounts said that State code is vague on whether fire inspections for all structures are re- quired annually. He added that the recommendation to eliminate tax support of development services refers only to General Fund support. Mayor Miller opened the public hearing. John Sheppard, 3815 Monroe Street, spoke on behalf of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber believes a fee increase would discourage expansion of existing businesses and relocation of businesses to the community and would send a negative message to the business community. Mr. Sheppard argued that most regulations are imposed on property owners for the benefit of the general public, and the public should carry its share of the burden of the cost of development regulations. By not requiring lOa-percent cost recovery in the case of annexation, the plan, in Mr. Sheppard's opinion, recognizes e the negative impact of high fees. Dave Carlson, 1601 Willamette Street, identified himself as a realtor repre- senting the Eugene Association of Realtors. He considered development ser- vices a consumer issue and said that the community should bear the cost of regulating private property owners involved in development or building. Mr. Carlson requested that the council oppose the recommendations in the study or postpone its decision because he thought there had been inadequate public notice of the council's consideration of the issue. Kaye Robinette, 2180 Law Lane, spoke as former Deputy Administrator of the State Building Codes Agency and said that instead of increasing fees for bUilding permits and plan checks, the program could be turned over to the State for operation. Bob Schafer, 86092 Lorane Highway, argued that adopting the study's recommen- dations would increase the cost of a building permit for a 1,600-square foot home from $1,100 to as much as $9,156. He said that the cost of living in Eugene is 18 percent above the national average, while income in lane County is 15 percent below the national average. Mr. Schaefer maintained that the sole purpose of a bUilding department is the promotion of life, health, and safety, and it would be inappropriate at this time to impose fees which add to the cost of housing. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 22, 1990 Page 2