Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Development Services Special Revenue Fund was created to support the activities of Building Services Division of the Department of Development and other agencies charged with the review of private development related plans. This fund is supported solely by the fees collected by the Building Services Division from users of its services for those services associated directly with the development process.
The existing fee structure, created at the time of implementation of the Development Services MOU, has been fully reviewed. As result of this review, revised fees are being proposed reflect a 15% percent across the board increase. This fee schedule will not only allow the Division top better budget and project revenue, but also will allow the industry to better prepare for future changes and adjust their bidding process accordingly. As implementation of these fees occurs, further minor modifications and refinements that prove necessary for continued customer service improvements will be evaluated and possibly submitted as future legislation. The Division is committed to establishing a review process with the industry to recommend and evaluate financial and performance indicators for the One Stop Shop.
The majority of the existing fees have not been increased or altered since the inception of the One Stop Shop at the start of 2002, and as such reflect the increase needed to keep pace with the increases in the cost of performing inspections and reviewing plans as well as increases in all development review related activities.
FISCAL IMPACT: Revised fees reflect the City's costs associated with the Development related processes.
Title
To repeal the current Building Services Division Fee Schedule, adopted by Ordinance 2176-01, effective January 1, 2002, and all amendments thereto, and to adopt a new Building Services Fee Schedule based on the consolidated "One-Stop Shop" initiative and as a result of the yearly review of fees related to the development process; and to declare an emergency.
Body
Whereas, the Department of Development and its partners of the construction industry have committed to the Building Services Division's One-Stop-Shop as memorialized in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding concerning its funding and operation, and
Whereas, the cost of all services rendered by the Building Services Division and certain services within the Public Service Department are to be made self-sustaining through the creation of a Building Services Special Revenue Fund, and
Whereas, this fund is to be supported by the fees collected by the Building Services Division for services associated with the development process, and
Whereas, the existing fee structure, created at the time of implementation of the Development Services MOU, has been fully reviewed, and
Whereas, as result of this review, revised fees are being proposed reflect a 15% percent across the board increase, and
Whereas, The Division is committed to establishing a review process with the industry to recommend and evaluate financial and performance indicators for the One Stop Shop, and
Whereas, as implementation of these fees occurs, further minor modifications and refinements that prove necessary for continued customer service improvements will be evaluated and possibly submitted as future legislation, and
Whereas, this fee schedule will not only allow the Division to better budget and project revenue, but also will allow the industry to better prepare for future changes and adjust their bidding process accordingly, and now therefore
Whereas, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to repeal the current Building Services Division Fee Schedule, adopted by Ordinance 2176-01, effective January 1, 2002, and all amendments thereto, and to adopt a new Building Services Fee Schedule based on the consolidated "One-Stop Shop" initiative in order to preserve the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That this revised Building Services Division Fee Schedule, as required and authorized by Columbus City Codes Section 4103.14 and titled "Fees and Assessments", which has been created, reviewed and recommended that accompanies this document, shall be utilized as the fee schedule for the permits, licenses, registrations and other functions subject to it for services offered by the Building Services Division of the Department of Development and to become effective on September 111, 2006, or the earliest period allowed by law.
Section 2. The funds generated from these fees shall be deposited in Special Revenue Fund 240.
Section 3. Funds necessary for any refunds are hereby deemed appropriated.
Section 4. The city auditor, in his discretion, is authorized to make temporary transfers of cash from the economic stabilization fund, Fund 11, to the development services fund, Fund 240, to allow payment of necessary operating expenses from the latter fund in the event of temporary cash shortages in that fund. These transfers are only to be made to address short-term cash flow issues, and they shall be repaid to Fund 11 upon the city auditor determining, in consultation with the director of finance and management, that sufficient funds for such repayment exist in Fund 240. Repayment of such temporary transfers shall be a priority for Fund 240, and it is the intention of this provision that all temporary transfers be repaid at the earliest possible time.
Section 5. That the existing Building Services Division Fee Schedule, initially adopted by Ordinance 2176-01, which became effective January 1, 2002, and all amendments thereto, are hereby repealed effective September 11, 2006.
Section 6. The City will create a five-member Building Services Review Committee, appointed by the mayor with approval by City Council and with recommendations from the boards of the BIA, the BX and NAIOP. The Construction Services Review Committee will consist of one architect, one engineer, one developer, one residential contractor and one commercial contractor. The Committee will meet monthly to review the processes of the Building Services division and the issuance of building permits, with the goal of completing the entire review and permitting process within no more than 30 days. the committee will report directly to the Mayor and City Council's development committee.
Section 7. The Building Services division will provide a monthly performance report to Columbus City Council's development committee detailing its progress toward meeting goals set by the Building Services Review Committee.
Section 7. 8. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.