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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.a. DETERMINE IF PILOT PROGRAM FOR DEFERRED PAYMENT OF CONNECTION FEES EST BY RESOLUTION NO. 2009-034 BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE ON JUNE 4, 2010. IF WILL BE EXTENDED, ADOPT A RESOLUTION & DETERMINE IF FEE TO RECOVER ADMINISTRATION COSTS OF THE PROGRAM SHOULDCentral Contra Costa Sanitary District ' BOARD OF DIRECTORS POSITION PAPER Board Meeting Date: JUne3,2010 No.: 7,a. Engineering_ Type of Action: ADOPT RESOLUTION Subject: DETERMINE WHETHER THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR DEFERRED PAYMENT OF CONNECTION FEES ESTABLISHED BY RESOLUTION NO. 2009- 034 SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE ON JUNE 4, 2010. IF THE PROGRAM IS TO BE EXTENDED, ADOPT A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE PROGRAM AND DETERMINE IF A FEE TO RECOVER ADMINISTRATION COSTS OF THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. IF SO, SET PUBLIC HEARING FOR JULY 1, 2010 Submitted By: Initiating DeptJDiv.: Jarred Miyamoto-Mills, Principal Engineer Engineering/Environmental Services REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDED FOR BOARD ACTION: ~ ~~- ~ J. M amoto-Mills C A-~ K. Alm James .Kelly, Gener I Manager ISSUE: At its June 4, 2009 regular meeting, the Board of Directors adopted Resolution No. 2009-034 establishing cone-year pilot program for deferred payment of connection fees. The program will expire on June 4, 2010, unless it is extended by the Board of Directors. RECOMMENDATION: Take no action; allow the Pilot Program for Deferred Payment of Connection Fees to expire on June 4, 2010. If the program is extended, staff recommends a fee to recover the District's cost be considered. FINANCIAL IMPACTS: Writing procedures, creating documents and completing legal review required about $6,000 in staff labor and District Counsel effort; this was a one time cost. Ongoing management and administration of the program, including preparing and notarizing documents, corresponding with owners, recordkeeping and recording of agreements and releases at the office of the Contra Costa County Recorder has required about 220 hours of staff time to date at a cost of about $27,500 including the District's overhead. In addition, the opportunity cost of forgone interest was about $6,500. So, the total cost for the one-year pilot program has been about $40,000 or about $180 per residential unit where fees were deferred. Excluding the setup costs, the District spent about $155 per residential unit. ALTERNATIVES/CONSIDERATIONS: Alternatively, the Board may elect to adopt a resolution to extend the program. If the Board chooses to extend the program, it could consider setting a fee to recover the District's cost to administer the program. The Building Industries Association of the Bay Area and Shapell Homes has each asked that the program be continued. N:\ENVRSEC\Position PapersVvtiyamoto-Mills\2010\PP To Extend or Not Deferred Fee Program FINAL 63-10 jm2.doc Page 1 of 3 POSITION PAPER Board Meeting Date: June 3, 2010 subject. DETERMINE WHETHER THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR DEFERRED PAYMENT OF CONNECTION FEES ESTABLISHED BY RESOLUTION NO. 2009- 034 SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE ON JUNE 4, 2010. IF THE PROGRAM IS TO BE EXTENDED, ADOPT A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE PROGRAM AND DETERMINE IF A FEE TO RECOVER ADMINISTRATION COSTS OF THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. IF SO, SET PUBLIC HEARING FOR JULY 1, 2010 BACKGROUND: In the Spring of 2009, the homebuilding community contacted counties, cities and special districts including CCCSD, requesting that each agency consider allowing deferred payment of impact and utility connection fees at the close of escrow for new homes as allowed by recent legislation, rather than continuing the current practice of collecting these fees when a building permit is issued or utility service connections are made. The homebuilders believed that the then-prevailing economic recession, specifically the credit and cash flow crisis, had resulted in an inequitable and unjust situation for builders. The Board considered the homebuilders' request, and at its June 4, 2009 regular meeting, approved aone-year pilot program for deferred payment of connection fees, finding that the situation constituted a "special circumstance" requiring suspension, modification and relief from application of District Code provisions pertaining to the time for payment of fees. The approved program allowed builders the option of signing a promissory note and recordable agreement calling for payment of fees either upon close of escrow, first occupancy, or after expiration of a two-year period from the issuance of the Connection Permit, whichever event occurs first. To date, two developers (Shapell Homes and Brookfield Homes) and three owners of individual lots have opted to defer fees and charges under the pilot program. Amounts that have been deferred and paid to date are as follows: Number of Amount Amount Amount Owner Units Deferred Paid Outstanding Shapell Homes 180 $1,078,670 $ 518,375 $ 560,295 Brookfield Homes 34 239,066 239,066 0 Gallegos 1 5,298 0 5,298 Bragg 1 5,298 0 5,298 Maggi 4 21,192 0 21,192 TOTALS: 220 units $1,349,524 $ 757,441 $ 592,083 N:\ENVRSEC\Position Papers\Miyamoto-Mills\2010\PP To Extend or Not Deferred Fee Program FINAL 6-3-10 jm2.doc Page 2 of 3 POSITION PAPER Board Meeting Date: June 3, 2010 subject. DETERMINE WHETHER THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR DEFERRED PAYMENT OF CONNECTION FEES ESTABLISHED BY RESOLUTION NO. 2009- 034 SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE ON JUNE 4, 2010. IF THE PROGRAM IS TO BE EXTENDED, ADOPT A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE PROGRAM AND DETERMINE IF A FEE TO RECOVER ADMINISTRATION COSTS OF THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. IF SO, SET PUBLIC HEARING FOR JULY 1, 2010 Fees for one of the two'single-unit deferrals are currently delinquent. This issue will be considered at a public hearing also on the agenda for this Board meeting regarding collecting delinquent amounts on the property tax roll. While Brookfield Homes and three owners of very small projects initially made use of the program in the summer of 2009, only one owner (Shapell Homes) has used the program since that time. Staff recommends that the program be allowed to expire due to the low usage and program cost. The Building Industries Association of the Bay Area and Shapell Homes has each asked that the program be continued. RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION: Take no action; allow the Pilot Program for Deferred Payment of Connection Fees to expire on June 4, 2010. Alternatively, the Board may elect to extend the program by adopting a resolution that includes the following provisions: A finding that special circumstances require continued suspension, modification and relief from application of District Code Section 6.08.040 and Subsection 6.12.030D, pertaining to the time for payment of connection fees; 2. Approval for extension of the pilot program for a term to be determined by the Board. 3. Authorization for staff to record program documents. If the Board elects to extend the program, it should determine the term of the extension and whether a fee should be considered to recover the costs for setup and administration of the program. If the program is to be extended and the Board wishes to consider assessing a fee, staff recommends that the Board set July 1, 2010 as the date for a public hearing to consider an ordinance to add a fee to the Schedule of Environmental and Development-Related Rates and Charges pursuant to Chapter 6.30 of the District Code to recover the setup and administration costs of the program. N:\ENVRSEC\POSition Papers\Miyamoto-Mills\2010\PP To Extend or Not Deferred Fee Program FINAL 63-10 jm2.doc Page 3 of 3 RESOLUTION NO. 2010- A RESOLUTION OF THE CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT FINDING THAT SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRE CONTINUING MODIFICATION, SUSPENSION, AND RELIEF FROM APPLICATION OF DISTRICT CODE PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO THE TIME FOR PAYMENT OF CONNECTION FEES; AND APPROVING AONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM ALLOWING DEFERRED PAYMENT OF CONNECTION FEES ESTABLISHED BY RESOLUTION NO. 2009-034 WHEREAS, representatives of the homebuilding community have requested that the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (District) extend its program for deferred payment of certain connection fees established by Resolution No. 2009-034, and as allowed by California Government Code Section 66007; and WHEREAS, the District Board of Directors finds that the continuing economic recession has resulted in a continuing inequitable and unjust situation for builders, which constitutes a special circumstance requiring continued suspension, modification and relief from application of District Code Section 6.08.040 and Subsection 6.12.030D, pertaining to the time for payment of connection fees. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of the District as follows: THAT the pilot program for deferred payment of annexation and capacity fees established by Resolution No. 2009-034 is hereby extended for one year; and THAT unless extended by the Board of Directors, the extended pilot program will terminate on June 30, 2011; and THAT, having determined that it is an appropriate staff function to sign and record agreements and promissory note releases associated with the program, the General Manager and/or his designee shall be authorized to record said agreements and promissory note releases with the Recorder of Contra Costa County. Resolution No. 2010 Page 2 of 2 PASSED AND ADOPTED this 3rd day of June 2010, by the Board of Directors of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District by the following vote: AYES: Members: NOES: Members: ABSENT: Members: Michael R. McGill President of the Board of Directors Central Contra Costa Sanitary District County of Contra Costa, State of California COUNTERSIGNED: Elaine R. Boehme Secretary of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District County of Contra Costa, State of California Approved as to form: Kenton L. Alm Counsel for the District • RESOLUTION NO. 2009- 034 A RESOLUTION OF THE CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT FINDING THAT SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRE MODIFICATION, . SUSPENSION, AND RELIEF FROM APPLICATION OF DISTRICT CODE PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO THE TIME FOR PAYMENT OF CONNECTION FEES; AND APPROVING AONE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM ALLOWING DEFERRED PAYMENT OF CONNECTION FEES FOR HOMES AND BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED ON VACANT PARCELS WHEREAS, representatives of the homebuilding community have requested that public agencies, including the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (District) consider allowing deferred payment of impact or connection fees at the close of escrow for new homes, as allowed by California Government Code Section 66007; and WHEREAS, the District Board of Directors finds that the impacts of the current economic recession, specifically the credit and cash flow crisis, has resulted in an inequitable and unjust situation for builders, which constitutes a special circumstance requiring suspension, modification and relief from application of District Code Section 6.08.040 and Subsection 6.12.030D, pertaining to the time for payment of connection fees; and • WHEREAS, the District Board of Directors passed a motion at its regular meeting on May 7, 2009, that directed staff to develop aone-year pilot program allowing builders to defer payment of connection fees to the close of escrow, rather than requiring payment of these fees when a connection permit is issued just prior to actual physical connection of house plumbing to the public sewer; and WHEREAS, staff developed a pilot program that will allow deferred payment of annexation and capacity fees at close of escrow, and presented the proposal to the Board of Directors of the District at its regular meeting on June 4, 2009. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of the District as. follows: THAT the proposed one-year pilot program for deferred payment of annexation and capacity fees is hereby approved; and THAT staff is directed to implement the pilot program as soon as possible, by applying the following conditions: (1) Only homes or buildings being built on vacant parcels shall be eligible for the fee deferral program; • (2) Only annexation and capacity fees may be deferred. Other fees including those for reimbursements, application, plan review and inspection shall continue to be collected at the time of Connection Permit issuance; Resolution 2009- 034 Page 2 of 2 (3) The annexation and capacity fee amounts assessed shall be those applicable on the date of payment. That is, if a fee increase or decrease occurs between the time of Connection Permit issuance and the time of payment, the new fees shall be charged. (4) Participation in the fee deferral program shall be at the builder's option. That is, the builder may choose between paying applicable fees at the time of Connection Permit issuance, or signing a promissory note and recordable agreement calling for payment of fees either upon close of escrow, first occupancy, or after expiration of a two-year period from the issuance of the Connection Permit, whichever event occurs first. (5) Unless extended by the Board of Directors, the pilot program will terminate on June 4, 2010. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 4th day of June 2009, by the Board of Directors of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District by the following vote: AYES: Members: • NOES: Members: ABSENT: Members: ,~ e ~'' COUNTERSIGNED: ,~ .Elaine R. Boehme Hockett, Lucey, McGill, Menesini, Nejedly None None .~.~ `T//. 6~4 ~lar"iies A. Nejedly President of the Board of Directors Central Contra Costa Sahitary District County of Contra Costa, State of California Secretary`of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District 'County of Contra Costa, State of California Approved as to form: ~ . Kenton L. Alm Counsel for the District