Council adopts update to parks planning and development fees to recover full cost

The Manteca City Council adopted a resolution accepting the parks planning and development user-fee update prepared by Willdan Financial Services and approved a revised fee schedule intended to achieve full cost recovery for services tied to new development.

Deputy Director of Public Works Kevin Fant and consultant Tony Thrasher of Willdan told council that the existing fee structure (established in 2016–17) intentionally set low flat rates and that staff tracked time and costs for an update. Thrasher summarized the analysis as a time-based, fully burdened hourly-cost approach that includes salaries, benefits, services and supplies, and central-service overhead to calculate full cost per service.

The study recommends updating 24 fees (one fee remains unchanged) and adding an annual CPI inflator to limit large future jumps. Staff said the goal is to eliminate general fund subsidy for the parks planning division and to improve service levels by supporting staffing to reduce review turnarounds. The Building Industry Association met with staff and "understood" that cost recovery was needed despite being concerned about increases.

No public speakers attended the hearing. Council Member Lackey said he had no comments; Vice Mayor Halford said the increase was overdue. The council voted 5-0 to adopt the updated fee schedule. Thrasher noted development-related user fees can be set to full cost under state law when the fee is voluntary and tied to private benefit.

Implementation: the new fees will take effect after the required 60-day adoption period; staff will post the revised schedule and apply the CPI annual inflator going forward.