City Departments collect a wide variety of fees for permits, services, fines and other charges that are all part of everyday operations of municipal government.  Since September 2008, the fees have been incorporated into a single fee schedule.  Ordinance 08-M-43 established the consolidated fee schedule and allows for the modification of existing fees to be done by resolution while new fees are established or added to the Fee Schedule by ordinance.

The Fee Schedule ordinance provides a single document with all City fees that directly affect the users. The changes to the fees ensure the continued operation of public utilities, provides for essential services to the community and to adequately maintain the investment in existing infrastructure.  All changes to the fee schedule will have a 45-day period before the new fees take effect. This allows staff to update and advise citizens on the upcoming changes. The recommended effective date of these fee changes will be October 1, 2023, except the engineering fees which will be September 1, due to a change in State Law.

Parks & Recreation 
Proposing to remove the Holidazzle business parade entry fee which is currently $15. The fee was set to help offset staff time organizing the parade, however, currently there are very few entries and staff recommends the entry be free. If the parade grows large enough, the fee could be reconsidered at that time.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Proposing to increase their mileage fee $3 per mile due to inflationary factors on parts and service as well as fuel. 

It is also proposed to increase standby fees in the amount of $25 per hour for an Ambulance and $5 per hour for a gator. These fees have not been increased since their addition in 2013-14 but pay has continued to grow over that time. 

EMT class fees are proposed to increase from $1,100.00 to $1,200.00. Schertz' classes are consistently booked up and the fee hasn't been updated since 2017-18.

The per capital fee charged to serviced City's was updated via their individual contracts and will be reflected in the fee schedule as such.

Fire Department
Has expanded their fee schedule to include common fees based on other communities and on the services currently provided. Different types of license inspections will be broken out based on type and include various charges. This includes Daycare/Foster Care Centers at no charge, Adult Day Care increase to $200, Licensed Nursing Care increase to $200, Licensed Hospital Inspection increase to $250, Licensed Institutional Inspection increase to $250, and Licensed In-Home Facilities with no change in fee at $50.

Fire suppression systems have been separated as well, based on type and set to different fees based on the complexity of the system inspection and review. New fees break out remodeling of existing systems, Kitchen Hood suppression Systems, Underground Fire line, Fixed Pipe Systems, Gaseous Suppression Systems, Standpipe systems, Spray Paint Booths, and Other Fire systems not named.

Reinspecting fees will increase from $45 to $150. There is no fee for initial inspections, so the fee would be charged when violations have not been corrected at re-inspections.

Plan review fees have been increased from $75 to $100 per hour and after hours review fees have been increased from $75 to $200. Smoke control system plan fees have increased $75 to $400.

Fire Watch, where a crew and truck will stay and observe a potential fire hazard at the request of the property owner, will be listed on the fee scheduled at $150 (with Pumper Apparatus) and $75 (without Pumper Apparatus). 

Inspections Division
Proposes to add Technology Fees to permits in support of Cityview costs and to match other communities. This fee would be $25 for commercial construction (new or remodels/additions), $25 for new residential only, and $10 for all other permits. Staff also proposes to remove costs for additional licenses and registrations for General Contractors, Master Electricians, and Electrical Sign Contractors. Doing this will match all other license/registration trades in Schertz.

Water and Sewer
Water and Sewer Fees were reviewed by Wildan, a rate consultant who is also contracted by the City's primary water provider, Schertz Seguin Local Government Corporation (SSLGC), and the primary wastewater treatment provider, Cibolo Creek Municipal Authority (CCMA). Wildan provided Schertz a 5-year recommended rate plan based on current annual operational costs, projected growth of new accounts, debt service, and future infrastructure plans. Based on their model, the FY 2023-24 water rates would increase 2% and the sewer would increase 3%. Based on the city sewer average (5,200 gallons) and 10,000 gallons of water, this would be a $2.39 monthly utility bill increase.

Engineering
House Bill 3492 prohibits value-based fees for permitting public infrastructure construction and goes into effect on September 1, 2023.  Prior to this, Public Improvement Permit fees have been calculated as 1% of the cost of construction of the improvements.  It is proposed that, effective September 1, 2023, fees for Public Infrastructure Permits will now be based on a dollar amount per unit of the major categories of infrastructure.  Because of the short time frame available during which the updated fee structure needs to be in place, the resource required for the plan review and inspection services has been intentionally underestimated in an effort to avoid overcharging.  Staff will more closely evaluate costs encountered by the City to perform these services and will propose updated rates when available.

To update the Adopted Fee Schedule for FY 2023-24.

Provide a single place for information on City fees.

Staff recommends council approve the proposed changes to the fees schedule.

The fee changes will all affect the General Fund but have a low overall fiscal impact due to the narrow scope of their estimated use but are intended as cost recovery of providing the described services.

The average bill increase for EMS transports would increase $24 with the mileage change and the overall effect to covered cities would be $44,000 combined.

On average, residential utility customers would see a $2.39 per month, or about a 2.5% increase under the recommended 5-year rate plan and fund the projected operational costs and help offset debt and impact fee requirements on upcoming projects.

Adopt Ordinance 23-M-17 and updated fees for FY 2023-24