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 fees collected from the users of 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 a result of this review, fees will now be based on the time it takes to review the plans and the number of inspection trips. Fees assessed in this manner will more accurately reflect our costs and be allocated more equitably and fairly for those supporting development related review services through fees charged and paid.
This fee schedule will not only allow participating reviewing agencies to 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 city is committed to continuing the review process with the industry to recommend and evaluate financial and performance indicators for the One Stop Shop.
FISCAL IMPACT: Revised fees reflect the City's costs associated with the Development related processes.
Title
To adopt a new "One-Stop Shop" Fee Schedule, including fees for the Building Services Division and the Division of Transportation, 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 repeal all earlier fee schedules related to the development process.
Body
Whereas, the city of Columbus and its partners in the construction industry have committed to creating a One-Stop-Shop as memorialized in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding concerning its funding and operation, and
Whereas, the cost of all One Stop Shop services were to be made self-sustaining through the creation of a special revenue fund called the Development Services Fund, and
Whereas, this fund is supported solely by fees collected from the users of services associated directly 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 a result of this review, fees will now be based on the time it takes to review the plans and the number of inspection trips, and
Whereas, the city is committed to continuing the 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 participating reviewing agencies to better budget and project revenue, but also will allow the industry to better prepare for future changes and adjust their bidding process accordingly, now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the attached revised Development Services fee schedule, including fees for the Building Services Division as authorized by Columbus City Codes Section 4103.14, shall be incorporated fully as if set out at length herein and shall be utilized as the fee schedule for all functions and fees subject to it and shall become effective on January 1, 2008, or the earliest period allowed by law.
Section 2. 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 3. That the existing Building Services Division Fee Schedule, initially adopted by Ordinance 1365-06, which became effective September 11, 2006, and all amendments thereto, is hereby repealed.
Section 4. That the existing Section 901.01 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
901.01 Agreements to improve street areas.
Upon receipt of requests for the right and privilege to cause the improvement of any public street, avenue, boulevard or alley in the city, the director of public service is authorized to enter into agreements, granting such right and privilege, and such agreements shall contain the following provisions and conditions.
(a) The pavements so constructed shall be in accordance with plans to be approved by the transportation administrator and the director of public service, which plans shall meet the standard minimum requirements as adopted by the city council.
(b) The transportation administrator shall furnish detailed specifications, which shall be complied with in every respect.
(c) The grades of the streets, alleys or other public ways to be so paved shall be as shown on the plans therefor and shall be recorded in the profile books in the office of the transportation administrator.
(d) The city shall be held free and harmless from any and all claims for damages of every nature arising or growing out of the improvements so agreed to be made.
(e) The party requesting such right and privilege shall pay the costs of inspection and the cost of fire hydrants and shall deposit, with the city treasurer through the transportation administrator, the sums of money estimated by the transportation administrator to be necessary therefor, and in the event that such estimated amounts are found to be insufficient shall deposit such additional amounts as are necessary upon demand. All unexpended monies so deposited shall be refunded.
(f) Such party shall furnish a surety bond or an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a bank and subject to the provisions of Chapter 1305 of the Ohio Revised Code satisfactory to the director of public service, or an escrow agreement acceptable to the city attorney and director of public service, or a certified check upon a solvent bank of the city, in the sum of one hundred (100) percent of the estimated cost of the proposed improvements to guarantee the performance of the agreement.
(g) Any violation of the terms of the agreement or noncompliance therewith shall constitute a breach of contract and the transportation administrator shall have the right and privilege to stop the work forthwith.
(h) Upon completion of the work in accordance with the plans and specifications therefore, the pavements shall become the property of the city at no cost to the city and without encumbrance of any nature.
(i) City council shall by ordinance establish and periodically amend a schedule of fees for the review of street plans. All fees are for the purpose of defraying costs incurred by the division of transportation for reviewing street plans to assure conformance to city specifications. Once the fee has been paid it shall not be refundable. The transportation administrator shall not release street plans for construction until the fee has been paid in full. All fees shall be paid to the city treasurer for deposit into the development services special revenue fund. The schedule of fees and service charges shall be posted in the office of the division of transportation, public service department.
(j) All fees collected are for the purpose of paying for services rendered by the Transportation Division for coordinating, directing, inspecting and supervising the construction of streets, highways, bridges, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, street lighting, water distribution lines, traffic control devices and any other city-owned or operated facility and such other related matters as may arise in connection with such construction to assure conformance to city specifications. All fees shall be paid to the city treasurer for deposit into the building services special revenue fund. Council shall, by separate ordinance, establish and periodically adjust the fees for all types of applications and review provided by the Department, hereinafter referred to as the "Fee Schedule," for the purpose of defraying the costs of providing service. The fee in effect on the date of receipt of any application shall be the fee charged. The schedule of fees shall be as follows:
Classification
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Hourly Rate
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|
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Construction Inspector I (FTR & FTL)
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$52.00
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Engineering Associate I
|
52.00
|
Engineer Aide I
|
52.00
|
Engineer Aide II
|
52.00
|
|
|
Engineering Associate II
|
55.00
|
Engineer-In-Training I
|
55.00
|
Surveyor-In-Training I
|
55.00
|
|
|
Engineer-In-Training II
|
62.00
|
Engineer I
|
62.00
|
Engineer II
|
62.00
|
Engineering Associate III
|
62.00
|
|
|
Engineer III
|
$70.00
|
Engineer IV
|
70.00
|
Construction Materials Analysis Coordinator
|
70.00
|
Surveyor
|
70.00
|
|
|
Engineering Intern
|
40.00
|
|
|
Prevailing Wage Coordinator
|
48.00
|
Section 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.