Title
Adopt Resolution Temporarily Deferring the Water Capital Improvement Fee for Restaurants, Cafes, and Coffee Shops in the Central Business District
Summary
Staff sought direction from the City Council on Utility Capacity Fee Waiver/Deferral programs in September of 2019. The Council established a program to allow for deferral of capacity fees associated with housing. Deferral of development Impact Fees (AKA Capacity fees) is codified in the Fort Bragg Municipal Code Section 15.36. Such fees can be deferred up to three years, depending on the amount of fees and the project. At that meeting, staff polled the Council on whether or not there was interest in expanding a Capacity Fee Deferral program beyond housing projects in an effort to encourage or assist development in certain areas or industries. Those proposed options included using a deferral or waiver program in the Central Business District (CBD) to attract new businesses and to encourage the installation of sprinklers. At that time, the Council was not inclined to extend the program for deferral to commercial development.
At the April 14, 2021 Finance and Administration Committee meeting, the Committee recommended that the City Council adopt a temporary waiver of water and wastewater capacity fees for restaurant and food service businesses locating in the Central Business District for a two-year period. The Committee also recommended discounting water and wastewater capacity fees by twenty-five percent (25%) in all other zoning districts in the City limits for a two-year period. After review by the City Attorney, staff is recommending that the City Council adopt a temporary Water Capacity Fee deferral program that would encourage restaurants, cafes and coffee shops to locate in the Central Business District.
The current discussion on providing assistance with capacity fees is part of the City’s focus on economic development for the CBD. During the pandemic and Stay at Home Orders, small busine...
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