Agenda Information Sheet
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Development
CM/ ACM: John Cabrales, Jr.
Date: September 16, 2014
SUBJECT
Title
Consider adoption of an ordinance establishing administrative fees for the remediation or abatement of public nuisances, including high weeds and grass, trash and debris, stagnant water, securing of dangerous or abandoned buildings, and demolition of dangerous buildings; providing that a schedule of fees shall be maintained in the office of the City Secretary; and providing for an effective date.
Body
BACKGROUND
The Community Improvement Services Administrative Fee is applied to invoices for any contracted work (nuisance abatement only) that the division performs on private property, i.e. removal of tall grass and weeds, trash and debris, and dangerous buildings, and for securing vacant and abandoned structures. The reason for increasing the fee is to recover most of the cost of the extra staff time expended to remediate these particular properties, i.e. officer inspections, case documentation, work order issuance, contractor oversight, contractor payment, invoice issuance, and lien filing and release. The lien filing and release fees are paid to the Denton County Clerk's Office and were increased from $20 to $30 each in 2013.
A recent survey of other Texas cities revealed the following Administrative Fees for code enforcement abatements: Abilene ($100), Waco ($125), Lubbock ($150), Wichita Falls ($160) San Angelo ($150), Midland ($50), Garland ($125), Dallas ($166), Mesquite ($100), Plano ($200), Richardson ($250), Irving ($250), and Arlington ($200).
The current City of Denton CIS Administrative Fee is $80.00. This fee was established by ordinance in 1991 and has not been increased since that time. The requested increase is from $80.00 to $160.00.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the fee increase and ordinance.
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE OF PROJECT
If approved, the proposed fee will become effective on October 1, 2014.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (Council, Boards, Commissions)
The FY 2014-15 Proposed Budget, which has been discussed with the City Council on various dates since July 31, 2014, includes a proposal to increase this fee.
FISCAL INFORMATION
The increase will result in doubling revenue line item 5914 (Administrative Fees). In FY 14-15, the fee income will increase from approximately $2,680 to $5,360.
EXHIBITS
1. Ordinance
Respectfully submitted:
Brian Lockley, AICP, CPM
Director of Planning and Development
Prepared by:
Lancine Bentley
Community Improvement Services Manager