⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 3 findings
F2
Without some mechanism for fee increases to keep pace with inflation, goYemments are unable to recover increased costs and the public is confronted, periodically, with large increases.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
By December 31,2025,the City Councils of Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa will adopt a policy to avoid abrupt fee increases.
F3
Because the fee studies examined did not routinely discuss prior subsidies, Santa Rosa City CouncilMembersweredisadvantagedinrecognizingexcessivelylargechanges. 6
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
By December 31,2025,the City of Rohnert Park will either direct staff to submit a fee report in the 2025-2026 fiscal year that complies with Rohnert Park Municipal Code Chapter 3,32 or revise that code section to align with state law.
F4
Stalfs failure to complete an annual fee report was noncompliant with the requirements of the Rohnert Park Municipal Code and resulted in Council Members lacking information needed to evaluate and adjust the fee schedule to cover, without exceeding, actual costs.
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 6Califomia state law requires certain procedures to ensure that fees do not exceed the cost of providing a service. However, the law does not specift how often a fee study must be conducted or require escalation clauses for gradual increases. The two cities that conducted studies had last done so 8 and l0 years earlier. The law also does not require local governments to clearly state previous fees when proposing new ones. When fee increases are large and abrupt - such as when a previously subsidized fee is no longer subsidized, as happened in Santa Rosa - residents may see the new fees as excessive and punitive. By reviewing all fees with significant increases, governing bodies can better assess what level of fee increases are justifi ed.
Agency Responses 3
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.