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Boise, ID Code of Ordinances
CITY CODE of BOISE CITY, IDAHO
ORDINANCES PENDING REVIEW FOR CODIFICATION
ADOPTING ORDINANCE
TITLE 1 ADMINISTRATION
TITLE 2 BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES
TITLE 3 LICENSES AND PERMITS
TITLE 4 HEALTH AND SANITATION
TITLE 5 PUBLIC SAFETY
TITLE 6 MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
TITLE 7 PUBLIC WAYS AND PROPERTY
TITLE 8 AIRPORT
TITLE 9 BUILDING CODES AND REGULATIONS
TITLE 10 PUBLIC UTILITIES
TITLE 11 DEVELOPMENT CODE
PARALLEL REFERENCES
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9-2-13: ASSESSMENT AND PAYMENT OF DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES:
   A.   Payment Required: Prior to issuance of a building permit, the fee payer shall pay impact fees, in accordance with this chapter. The Impact Fee Administrator shall rely upon the information contained in the building permit application(s), planning application(s), or other planning entitlement(s) documents associated with the development.
      1.   The fee payers shall pay all impact fees prior to the issuance of a building permit, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the City and the fee payer. No construction shall commence nor shall the City issue a building permit unless and until the fee payer has satisfied the provisions of this chapter.
      2.   Completed applications for building permits received within sixty (60) days of the effective date of any amendment to this chapter that affects the impact fee calculation, may be exempt from that portion of the amendment. The complete application must include permitted plans signed and sealed by a State licensed engineer or architect, if required, that shows all site work, and complies with all applicable zoning, architectural, structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and environmental requirements.
      3.   Applications for building permits filed prior to the effective date of any amendment to this chapter, but which expire or are revoked, shall be subject to the provisions of the most current ordinance in effect at the time of reapplication. In the event that an amendment results in a change in the amount of impact fees charged for a particular category of public facility, the fee payer shall pay the impact fee amount in effect upon the date of his or her reapplication.
      4.   If a building permit expires or is revoked and development or construction does not commence, the owner of record shall be entitled to a refund of previously paid impact fees for that development as set forth by section 9-2-21 of this chapter.
      5.   The owner of record shall not receive a refund for proposed development activity resulting in a negative fee calculation or in cases in which final City approval has not occurred.
   B.   Expansion, Change Of Use: If development results in either the expansion of an existing nonresidential land use, a change from a nonresidential land use type to a different nonresidential land use type, or a change from a residential to nonresidential land use type, then an impact fee shall be assessed only for the additional impact attributable to the expansion, change or more intensive use.
   C.   Removal, Demolish Of Building; Replacement Structure: When a building or structure will be removed or demolished, the fee payer shall pay an impact fee based upon the difference between the fee that would have been paid for the previous structure and the fee for new structure on the site; provided, that the prior structure was removed or demolished not more than ten (10) years prior to the application for a building permit and documentation of its previous existence and size is provided to the Impact Fee Administrator. In all other cases, the replacement structure will be treated as new development.
   D.   Nonconformance With Land Use Category: If the proposed development does not conform to a land use category identified by the most current adopted impact fee study, then the Impact Fee Administrator shall apply the land use category that most closely resembles the proposed use.
   E.   Modular, Manufactured Or Recreational Vehicle: An impact fee will be assessed for installation of a modular building, manufactured home or recreational vehicle unless the fee payer demonstrates:
      1.   A modular building, manufactured home or recreational vehicle legally occupied the site prior to the effective date of this chapter; or
      2.   An impact fee had been paid previously for the installation of a modular building, manufactured home or recreational vehicle on that same site.
Lawful storage of a recreational vehicle does not constitute an installation for purposes of this chapter.
   F.   Extraordinary Impact: If the City Council determines that a proposed development activity would create an extraordinary impact on the City's public facilities system, resulting in the City's inability to accommodate the development without excessive or unscheduled public expenditures, the City Council may refuse to approve the proposed development activity and may recommend to the other affected government agencies that the project not be approved. In the alternative, the City Council may calculate a pro rata share per service unit of the extraordinary impact and charge an impact fee greater than the fee indicated by use of the fee schedule.
   G.   Individual Assessment: An individual assessment of impact fees is permitted when the fee payer demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that the established impact fee is inappropriate.
      1.   Written application for an individual assessment shall be made to the Impact Fee Administrator prior to receipt of building permits or other necessary approvals or entitlements from the City. The individual assessment process shall consider of studies, data and any other relevant information submitted by the fee payer supporting adjustment of the impact fee. Late applications for individual assessment of impact fees may be considered for a period of sixty (60) days after the receipt of a building permit only if the fee payer demonstrates that the facts supporting the application were not known or discoverable prior to receipt of the building permit and that undue hardship would result if the application is not considered.
      2.   The Impact Fee Administrator shall render a written decision regarding the individual assessment within thirty (30) days of receipt of the application. The decision by the Impact Fee Administrator shall include an explanation of the calculation of the impact fee and an explanation of factors considered under Idaho Code section 67-8707, and shall specify the system improvement(s) for which the impact fee is intended to be used. The decision of the Impact Fee Administrator shall establish the impact fee for the development for one year from the date of the final decision. (Ord. 43-16, 12-13-2016, eff. 1-1-2017; amd. Ord. 8-23, 2-28-2023, eff. 4-10-2023)
9-2-14: COLLECTION AND PENALTIES:
The City may utilize the following means and methods to ensure the payment of impact fees:
   A.   Interest: Charge interest on any unpaid portions of the impact fee with interest at the highest legally allowable rate and a penalty of five percent (5%) for each thirty (30) day period payment is late;
   B.   Building Permit Withheld: Withholding the building permit until the impact fee is paid;
   C.   Utility Service Withheld: Withholding utility services until the impact fee is paid; or
   D.   Lien: Creation of a lien for failure to pay the impact fee following the procedures set forth in Idaho Code title 45, chapter 5. (Ord. 43-16, 12-13-2016, eff. 1-1-2017)
9-2-15: IMPACT FEE OFFSETS AND CREDITS:
A fee payer shall receive credit or reimbursement for the present value of any system improvement, the value of dedication of real property to the City, or other contribution required by the City from the developer for system improvements of the category for which the impact fee is being collected, including system improvements paid for pursuant to a local improvement district.
   A.   Limitations: All offsets and credits against impact fees shall be subject to the following limitations and shall be granted based on this chapter:
      1.   No offset or credit shall be given for the dedication or construction of project improvements or site related facilities.
      2.   A fee payer shall not receive an offset or credit in excess of that amount to be collected from the assessed impact fee.
      3.   The unit costs used to calculate the offsets or credits shall not exceed those assumed for the capital improvements included in the CIP(s) for the category of facility within the service area for which the impact fee is imposed.
      4.   An offset or credit shall lapse ten (10) years after receipt of the first building permit issued after the effective date of this chapter or within such period as may be otherwise agreed to by written agreement.
      5.   The City will not reimburse the property owner or fee payer for an offset or credit when no impact fees for the new development can be collected pursuant to this chapter or for any amount exceeding the total impact fees due for the new development for the category of capital improvement.
      6.   The amount of any offset or credit shall not include the amount attributable to participation by the City in the development.
   B.   Application: An offset or credit associated with a plat shall be applied to an impact fee at the time of application for the first building permit for the subject property and will continue to be applied until the offset or credit is exhausted for that development. (Ord. 43-16, 12-13-2016, eff. 1-1-2017)
9-2-16: EXEMPT DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES:
   A.   Claim Of Exemption: A fee payer shall claim an exempt development activity upon application for a building permit.
   B.   Activities Specified: The following development activities are exempt from the payment of impact fees:
      1.   Construction of publicly owned buildings or structures, which are solely for governmental purposes, unless the City determines that the development activity will create an extraordinary burden on public facilities owned or operated by the City;
      2.   Rebuilding or replacing a structure destroyed or damaged by fire or other catastrophe, with a new structure which does not increase the impact over that attributable to the destroyed or damaged structure; provided, that the structure is rebuilt and ready for occupancy within two (2) years of its destruction;
      3.   The remodel or repair of a structure that does not increase the number of service units;
      4.   Replacing an existing use on the same site, provided the number of units does not increase;
      5.   Placing a temporary construction trailer or office on a site;
      6.   Alteration or expansion of an existing dwelling unit where that alteration or expansion does not increase the number of service units;
      7.   Construction of accessory buildings or structures typical to residential uses, such as tennis courts or clubhouses, which will not result in an increase in the number of service units or the fee payer can demonstrate that the use does not create a significant impact on the capacity of system improvements. (Ord. 43-16, 12-13-2016, eff. 1-1-2017)
9-2-17: AFFORDABLE HOUSING IMPACT FEE EXEMPTION:
Developments that provide affordable housing may be entitled to an impact fee exemption. Applicants seeking this exemption shall make such request by written application. Each application shall be evaluated pursuant to the Idaho Development Impact Fee Act, any amendments thereto, and other criteria established by the city, and be approved by the Impact Fee Administrator.
Affordability of the designated percentage of the development shall be ensured through covenants or deed restrictions at the discretion of the city in consultation with the city attorney.
The exempt development's proportionate share of system improvements shall be funded through a revenue source other than development impact fees. (Ord. 43-16, 12-13-2016, eff. 1-1-2017; amd. Ord. 5-21, 3-9-2021)
9-2-18: ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNTS:
   A.   Specified: To ensure that impact fees will benefit the appropriate development, the City will establish separate interest bearing impact fee trust accounts for each category of capital improvement within each service area for which the impact fee is collected.
   B.   Earned Interest: Interest earned shall be credited to the account on which it was earned and shall be used solely for the purposes specified in the CIP.
   C.   Accounting; Time Limit For Expending Funds: The City shall establish adequate financial and accounting controls to ensure that impact fees are utilized solely for purposes authorized by this chapter. Disbursement of funds shall be authorized by the City at such times as are reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this chapter. Impact fees shall be expended within a reasonable period of time, but not to exceed a maximum of eight (8) years, unless extended as provided by subsection D of this section from the date the fees were collected, on a first-in, first-out basis (FIFO). Funds shall be deemed expended for purposes of this chapter when payment for a capital cost has been approved by the City.
   D.   Extension Of Time Limit: The City may hold the impact fees for longer than eight (8) years, but no more than eleven (11) years from the date the fees were collected, if it identifies in writing:
      1.   A reasonable cause why the fees should be held longer than the eight (8) years; and
      2.   An anticipated date by which the fees will be expended.
   E.   Refunds: If it is determined that the impact fees have not been expended for capital facilities identified by the CIP within the authorized time frame and any permitted extensions, then such fees, including interest shall be refunded as set forth by this chapter.
   F.   Annual Financial Report: A financial report on the impact fee trust accounts shall be provided annually to the Mayor and Council. The report shall include:
      1.   The amount of all development impact fees collected, appropriated or spent during the preceding year by category of public facility and service area;
      2.   The percentage of tax and revenue other than impact fees collected appropriated or spent for system improvements during the preceding year by category of public facility and service area;
      3.   The length of time that unexpended impact fees have been held and the expiration date of those impact fees. (Ord. 43-16, 12-13-2016, eff. 1-1-2017)
9-2-19: EXPENDITURE OF IMPACT FEES:
   A.   Permitted Expenditures: Except as otherwise provided, impact fees, including accrued interest, shall only be expended on public facilities identified in the CIP for the relevant service area. Impact fees may be expended for, but not limited to, the construction contract price, surveying and engineering fees, and land acquisition costs for public facilities. Impact fees may also be used to pay the principal and interest payments (including sinking fund payments) on bonds or other borrowed revenues used to acquire, expand or improve public facilities. Expenditures may be made to purchase additional land from a fee payer where such purchase is consistent with the purpose of this chapter.
   B.   Prohibited Expenditures: Impact fees collected pursuant to this chapter shall not be used to pay for any of the following:
      1.   Construction, acquisition or expansion of projects or assets other than capital improvements or facility expansions identified in the CIP(s);
      2.   Repair, operation or maintenance of existing or new capital improvements or facility expansion;
      3.   Upgrade, update, expansion or replacement of existing capital improvements to provide better service to existing development;
      4.   Upgrade, update, expansion or replacement of existing capital improvements to serve existing development in order to meet stricter safety, efficiency, environmental or regulatory standards; and
      5.   Administrative and operating costs incurred by the City. (Ord. 43-16, 12-13-2016, eff. 1-1-2017)
9-2-20: APPEALS:
   A.   Appeal Of Administrative Decisions By Fee Payer: The City shall contract with qualified independent individuals to sit as hearing officers in order to consider administrative appeals filed under this chapter. Except for the determination of an individual assessment, a fee payer may appeal a final decision of the Impact Fee Administrator by filing a written notice of administrative appeal with the City Clerk within thirty (30) days of: 1) a written decision by the Impact Fee Administrator; or 2) the acceptance of payment of the impact fee under protest. The appeal shall contain a written explanation of the appeal and documentation to be considered by the Hearing Officer. A fee payer may pay an impact fee under protest in order to obtain a building permit and shall not be precluded from exercising the right of appeal as provided herein.
      1.   Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a decision of the Impact Fee Administrator may be appealed by the developer or fee payer to the Hearing Officer for the following reasons:
         a.   The applicability of an impact fee to the new development;
         b.   The method of calculating the amount of the impact fee;
         c.   The availability or the amount of the offset or credit;
         d.   The application of the offset or credit against the impact fee due; or
         e.   The amount of a refund due.
      2.   The burden of proof shall be on the fee payer to demonstrate that the Impact Fee Administrator erred in his/her decision. Following a hearing on the appeal, the Hearing Officer shall issue a written decision within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of the hearing. The written decision of the Hearing Officer shall constitute the final decision.
      3.   The City Clerk shall schedule the appeal before the Hearing Officer as soon as practical. The Hearing Officer may affirm, reject, or revise the decision of the Impact Fee Administrator and shall issue a written decision providing findings of fact and conclusions of law supporting the decision. The written decision of the Hearing Officer shall be mailed to the City and the fee payer, certified mail, return receipt requested.
   B.   Protest Of Expenditure By Interested Person: Any person with standing may protest the expenditure of impact fees within two (2) years of the expenditure by filing a protest with the City Clerk. The City Clerk shall set the matter for hearing before the City Council within thirty (30) days of receipt of the protest. The protesting party shall identify the impact fee expenditure to be protested and the basis of the protest. The City Council shall render a decision regarding the protest within thirty (30) days of the close of the hearing on the matter.
   C.   Appeal Of An Individual Assessment: Appeals of the Impact Fee Administrator's determination of individual assessment shall be made to the City Council by the filing of an appeal with the City Clerk within ten (10) days of the decision of the Impact Fee Administrator. The appeal shall contain a written explanation of the appeal and documentation to be considered by the City Council.
      1.   The burden of proof shall be on the fee payer to demonstrate that the Impact Fee Administrator erred in their decision.
      2.   The City Clerk shall schedule the appeal before the City Council as soon as practical. The City Council may affirm, reject or revise the decision of the Impact Fee Administrator. Following a hearing on the appeal, the City Council shall issue a written decision within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of the hearing. The written decision of the City Council shall constitute the final decision.
   D.   Mediation: At any time during the appeal process, the fee payer and the City may voluntarily enter into mediation with respect to any disagreement related to the impact fee for a proposed development. Mediation shall be conducted by a qualified independent party selected by mutual agreement. The cost of such mediation will be shared equally by the fee payer or property owner and the City.
   E.   Judicial Review: Any party of record aggrieved by the decision of the Hearing Officer or the City Council may, within twenty eight (28) days of receipt of the Hearing Officer's decision, seek judicial review by filing a petition in the District Court in the manner provided by Idaho Code title 67, chapter 52. (Ord. 43-16, 12-13-2016, eff. 1-1-2017)
9-2-21: REFUNDS:
The City shall refund development impact fees upon request as set forth below:
   A.   Erroneous Payment: If a fee payer has paid an impact fee erroneously, the fee payer shall be entitled to a refund of the fee paid with interest.
   B.   Payment Under Protest: If a fee payer has paid an impact under protest in which a subsequent review of the payment or individual assessment concludes that the fee exceeded the proportionate share to which the City was entitled, the property owner of record shall be entitled to a refund of the fee paid with interest. Only upon written authorization from the property owner may the refund be issued to another designated party, if the developer or fee payer is not the property owner.
   C.   Nonoccurrence Of Development: If a fee payer has paid an impact fee and has obtained a building permit or any other permit for a development or extension thereto, and the permit or extension for which the fee was paid later expires without the possibility of further extension, and the development activity for which the fee was imposed did not occur and no impact was resulted, then the property owner of record shall be entitled to a refund of the fee paid, with interest. Only upon written authorization from the property owner may the refund be issued to another designated party, if the developer or fee payer is not the property owner.
   D.   Failure Of City To Appropriate And Expend: If the City, after collecting the fee when service is not available, fails to appropriate and expend the collected development impact fee pursuant to Idaho Code section 67-8210(4) or this chapter, the following shall apply:
      1.   The monies eligible for refund shall be deposited into a refund trust account. The funds shall not be spent.
      2.   To expedite the refund process and reduce the associated administrative costs, monies eligible for refund shall be aggregated into ninety (90) day blocks. For the purpose of eligibility for refund, money shall be deemed spent in the order in which it was deposited into the appropriate trust fund FIFO.
      3.   The City will send by certified mail to the current owner of each affected property as disclosed by the most current Property Tax roll maintained by the Ada County Assessor's Office.
   E.   Interest: Interest shall be paid at one-half (1/2) the legal rate as set forth in Idaho Code section 28-22-104 from the date on which the fee was paid. (Ord. 43-16, 12-13-2016, eff. 1-1-2017)
9-2-22: UPDATE OF CAPITAL PLANS AND REVISION OF FEES:
Prior to assessing new or amended impact fees, the City shall prepare and adopt an updated CIP for each category of capital improvements.
   A.   Surcharge: There shall be a nonrefundable surcharge of one percent (1%) of the assessed impact fee for the cost of preparing or updating the CIP(s) which is attributable to determining the associated impact fee. This surcharge is not an impact fee and cannot be reduced by any credits.
   B.   Preparation By Qualified Professions: The CIP shall be prepared by qualified professions in fields relating to finance, engineering, planning, and transportation in consultation with the Development Impact Fee Advisory Committee.
   C.   Amending Schedules: Schedules may be amended without revised land use assumptions and CIP(s) at any time prior to the required update provided in subsection B of this section; provided, that they are amended according to changes in construction costs from an approved index.
   D.   CIP For Each Category: The City shall prepare a CIP for each category of necessary public facility for which an impact fee will be charged that evaluates the need for capital facilities for new development in accordance with Idaho Code section 67-8208.
   E.   Number Adopted: More than one CIP and associated impact fee study may be adopted, so long as no more than one of each is effective for each category of necessary public facility at any one time. Multiple categories of necessary public facilities may be included in a single CIP and its associated impact fee study.
   F.   Reservation Of Capacity: The City may reserve capacity in a CIP to serve one or more planned future developments, including capacity reserved through a development agreement. All reservations of existing capacity must be disclosed in the CIP at the time it is adopted.
   G.   Summary: The impact fee study shall summarize the contents of the CIP(s), and provide the following information:
      1.   Maps of the proposed service area(s) within which an impact fee is to be assessed.
      2.   The number of existing and projected equivalent dwelling units for each service area, based upon the land use assumptions.
      3.   Information regarding all necessary public facilities for which impact fees are to be assessed.
      4.   Schedules of the proposed impact fees for each necessary public facility, for each service area, on a per equivalent dwelling unit basis, including details of other revenue to be applied. (Ord. 43-16, 12-13-2016, eff. 1-1-2017)
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