The Monroe City Council convened on June 24, 2025, to discuss several key agenda items, primarily focusing on updates to the city's impact fee ordinances and the extension of a downtown fee waiver program.

The meeting began with a review of previous discussions held on May 20 and June 10, where the council adopted the first reading of the System Development Charges (SDC) ordinance based on the Arlington model. However, this ordinance was pulled from the agenda for further consideration, allowing for a more comprehensive review of the proposed changes. The council discussed the need to provide customers with the option to pay their fees upfront, a provision that was initially omitted from the ordinance.

Council members were presented with two options for the transportation impact fee and park impact fee: the Arlington model, which allows for a fee deferral, and a second option requiring 50% payment at the time of development approval. The Arlington model would enable property owners to defer fees until the sale of the property, while the second option would require partial payment upfront. After deliberation, the council voted unanimously to accept the first reading of the ordinance for the Arlington model.

Following this, the council addressed ordinance number 0112025, which amends park impact fees for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Similar to the transportation impact fee discussion, the council opted for the same structure, allowing for a 50% fee assessment per bedroom of the new dwelling unit. This motion also passed unanimously.

The meeting then transitioned to new business, where the council considered extending the downtown fee waiver program, which has been in place since 2015. This program temporarily eliminates certain permit fees in the downtown area to encourage economic development and revitalization. The council discussed the effectiveness of the program, noting that while the total waived fees over the years amount to approximately $331,000, the impact on local businesses and development has been mixed. Council members expressed the need for ongoing evaluation of the program's benefits and its relevance to current economic conditions.

In conclusion, the Monroe City Council made significant progress in refining its impact fee structures and extending support for downtown development through the fee waiver program. The council plans to revisit these discussions in future meetings to ensure that the ordinances align with the community's growth and development goals.