(a) Actual cost calculation: Actual cost is the sum of:
(1) The products of multiplying the time spent on the project by County personnel by the applicable hourly charge rates; and
(2) Mileage and word processing charges; and
(3) Any other costs incurred by the County in processing the project.
(b) Rates: Hourly charge rates and mileage rates are as follows:
(1) SCHEDULE OF CHARGES - Land Use Services Department:
Personnel Classification | Hourly Charge Rate |
Personnel Classification | Hourly Charge Rate | |
(A) | Planner I | $144.00 |
(B) | Planner II | $153.00 |
(C) | Planner III | $186.00 |
(D) | Supervising Planner | $220.00 |
(E) | Building Inspector II | $143.00 |
(F) | Building Inspector III | $163.00 |
(G) | Regional Building Inspector Supervisor | $203.00 |
(H) | Code Enforcement Officer II | $132.00 |
(I) | Code Enforcement Officer III | $153.00 |
(J) | Code Enforcement Supervisor | $195.00 |
(K) | Fire Hazard Abatement Officer | $83.00 |
(L) | Engineering Technician IV | $137.00 |
(M) | Engineering Technician V | $179.00 |
(N) | Engineer III | $177.00 |
(O) | Supervising Engineer | $243.00 |
(P) | Engineering Manager | $319.00 |
(Q) | Engineering Geologist | $229.00 |
(R) | Environmental Compliance Manager | $282.00 |
(S) | Land Use Technician | $114.00 |
(T) | Senior Land Use Technician | $136.00 |
(U) | Office Assistant III | $81.00 |
(2) SCHEDULE OF CHARGES—Department of Public Works:
(A) Surveyor:
Personnel Classification | Hourly Charge Rate |
Personnel Classification | Hourly Charge Rate | |
(I) | Engineering Technician II | $88.00 |
(II) | Engineering Technician III | $106.00 |
(III) | Engineering Technician IV | $128.00 |
(IV) | Engineering Technician V | $151.00 |
(V) | Land Surveyor | $163.00 |
(VI) | Supervising Land Surveyor | $180.00 |
(VII) | Survey Division Chief | $255.00 |
(VIII) | Survey Party Chief | $149.00 |
(B) Transportation:
Personnel Classification | Hourly Charge Rate |
Personnel Classification | Hourly Charge Rate | |
(I) | Construction Equipment Worker | $87.00 |
(II) | Engineer Trainee | $95.00 |
(III) | Engineer I | $150.00 |
(IV) | Engineer II | $158.00 |
(V) | Engineer III | $152.00 |
(VI) | Engineering Manager | $237.00 |
(VII) | Engineering Technician II | $88.00 |
(VIII) | Engineering Technician III | $106.00 |
(IX) | Engineering Technician IV | $128.00 |
(X) | Engineering Technician V | $151.00 |
(XI) | Equipment Operator | $95.00 |
(XII) | Maintenance and Construction Supervisor I | $110.00 |
(XIII) | Maintenance and Construction Supervisor II | $125.00 |
(XIV) | Office Assistant II | $58.00 |
(XV) | Office Assistant III | $65.00 |
(XVI) | Office Specialist | $66.00 |
(XVII) | Public Works Operations Superintendent | $153.00 |
(XVIII) | Public Works Operations Supervisor | $141.00 |
(XIX) | Secretary I | $85.00 |
(XX) | Secretary II | $93.00 |
(XXI) | Senior Equipment Operator | $118.00 |
(XXII) | Supervising Engineer | $192.00 |
(XXIII) | Supervising Land Surveyor | $180.00 |
(C) Solid waste management:
Personnel Classification | Hourly Charge Rate |
Personnel Classification | Hourly Charge Rate | |
(I) | Engineer III | $152.00 |
(II) | Engineer Manager | $237.00 |
(III) | Engineering Technician III | $106.00 |
(IV) | Engineering Technician IV | $128.00 |
(V) | Engineering Technician V | $151.00 |
(VI) | Office Assistant II | $58.00 |
(VII) | Office Specialist | $66.00 |
(VIII) | Public Works Operations Superintendent | $153.00 |
(IX) | Public Works Operations Supervisor | $141.00 |
(X) | Recycling Specialist | $85.00 |
(XI) | Secretary II | $93.00 |
(XII) | Solid Waste Programs Administrator | $129.00 |
(XIII) | Staff Analyst I | $77.00 |
(XIV) | Staff Analyst II | $94.00 |
(XV) | Supervising Engineer | $192.00 |
(3) Consultant fees: Based on actual charges.
(4) Inspection fees: Based on actual charges.
(5) Mileage rate - Department of Public Works: $0.96/mile.
NOTE: The mileage rate does not apply to field survey crews.
(c) Deposits for Developer Deposit Accounts and Project Trust Accounts - Land Use Services Department and Department of Public Works (collectively referred to in this subsection as "Department"): An initial deposit is required for each actual cost service or process. The initial deposit is as specified in the code. If no amount is specified, the initial deposit is the Department's initial estimate of the actual cost of the service or process. The Department may revise its estimate at any time during the processing of the project. If a revised estimate is higher than a previous estimate, the Department may require an additional deposit. Notice of any required additional deposit shall be mailed (including e-mail) to the applicant. The notice shall include the date by which the deposit must be made, and shall inform the applicant that unless provision for payment is made by the date specified, the application will be deemed denied without prejudice, without further action by the County. Notwithstanding § 86.08.010, any such denial without prejudice is not appealable. Each estimate shall be a good faith attempt to determine the probable actual cost of the service or process, based on the nature of the project, the Department's experience in processing similar services or processes, and applicable rates. Initial deposits and any additional deposits for all services or processes related to a project shall be placed and combined into a Project Trust Account. Such combined deposited funds will be utilized as the source of payment for any flat fee service, security deposit, or actual cost service on that project. In addition, deposits may also be placed in a Developer Deposit Account. Deposited funds in a Developer Deposit Account may be used by an individual or entity to fund various Project Trust Accounts.
(d) Applicant's obligation to pay actual cost - Land Use Services Department and Department of Public Works: The applicant shall pay the actual cost of the project, regardless of any estimate; except that the applicant is not obligated for costs incurred after the applicant delivers to the Department of Public Works and/or the Land Use Services Department either an unconditional written withdrawal of the application, or a written notice to stop work which includes a waiver of any applicable time limits for processing the application.
(e) Amounts of $10.00 or less: Pursuant to Government Code § 29373.1, the applicant shall not be required to pay a balance of $10.00 or less.
(f) Additional invoices necessitated by lack of response by the applicant will be charged to the actual cost application.
(g) Refunds: Refunds of fees collected by the Land Use Services Department and the Department of Public Works shall be made as follows:
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, any fee collected in error shall be refunded.
(2) Unused deposit monies on actual cost projects shall be refunded when all charges for the project have been recorded.
(3) Pursuant to Government Code § 29375.1, the County shall not be required to pay a refund of $10.00 or less.
(4) Planning refunds:
(A) If an application, filed in error due to erroneous staff advice, is later required to be withdrawn, processing fees shall be refunded regardless of the extent of work done in processing the application.
(B) If the applicant fails to submit required information within the allocated time, or voluntarily withdraws the application before acceptance and before staff work on the projects has commenced, any fee paid, less $60.00, shall be refunded.
(C) If the applicant withdraws a Land Use Services Department application during processing, any fee paid, less $60.00, shall be refunded, except as follows:
(I) Actual cost applications. All actual costs incurred on an actual cost application shall be deducted from the refund.
(II) Average cost application. For average cost applications, the following percentages of the fee paid shall be refunded, depending on the state of processing at the time of the withdrawal:
(i) Application accepted and referrals sent: 85%.
(ii) Referral response period completed: 45%.
(iii) Initial staff review or Development Review Committee process completed: 25%.
(iv) Staff report prepared and notices of hearing sent or conditions of approval prepared: 10%.
(v) Planning Commission consideration begun or staff/environmental analysis action completed: No refund.
(5) Building and Safety refunds:
(A) The Building Official will authorize no refund for any project after work has been initiated.
(B) The Building Official shall not authorize the refunding of any fee paid except upon request by the original permittee not later than one year after the date of fee payment. Any fee paid shall be refunded, less fees paid for any portion of work already initiated and $60.00 for administration processing time.
(Am. Ord. 4457, passed - -2023; Am. Ord. 4470, passed - -2024)