TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, City Manager
TITLE: An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Amending the Code of the City of North Port, Florida, Appendix A - City Fee Structure to Change Certain City-wide, Planning and Zoning, Development Review, Building, Fire Rescue, Police, Parks and Recreation, Facility Rental, Solid Waste, and Road and Drainage Fees; Providing for Severability; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Codification; and Providing an Effective Date
Recommended Action
Continue Ordinance 2020-27 to the November 24, 2020 meeting for approval.
Background Information
First Reading:
The attached ordinance amends the City-Wide fee schedule for fiscal year 2020-2021. Backup material provided identifies changes to the City-Wide Fee Ordinance Appendix A using strike-through and underline for deleted/new/modified fees. Also, for discussion purposes only, a second set of fee schedules are attached that present the fees inclusive of a 1.85% increase for credit card processing.
Second Reading:
The attached ordinances amend the City-Wide fee schedule for fiscal year 2020-2021. Ordinance 2020-27 Version A displays all fees with a one percent increase. Version B, which is the recommended version, excludes those fees that are predominately paid by cash from the one percent increase thereby alleviating any coin shortage issues and providing efficient operations. There are also a few other recommended exceptions to the increase (i.e. Business Tax, certain police fees collected by an outside company). Backup material provided identifies changes to the City-Wide Fee Ordinance Appendices A using strike-through and underline for deleted/new/modified fees.
Third Reading:
Commission direction upon Second Reading was to bring this schedule back with an additional Version C which charges the user of the credit card a percent based on the departmental charges. Also, that a convenience fee/credit card fee/processing fee be legally reviewed for accuracy and limitations. Upon legal review it was determined that inclusion of a convenience fee for all fees would violate state statute and that further research would be required to determine which fees are required to be excluded. The memorandum from the City Attorney is attached. In the interest of adopting the City-Wide fee schedule for 2020-2021 without further delay, Version B from the Second Reading is recommended for approval. Further modifications may be made during the City-Wide fee workshop scheduled for April, 2021.
The ordinances have been reviewed by legal for form and correctness.
Strategic Plan
Financially Responsible City Providing Quality Municipal Services
Financial Impact
The ordinances provide for the fees that the City will charge for services delivered. Without the ordinances, the City would continue to charge the fees established under the current ordinance.
Procurement
Attachments:
1. Ordinance 2020-27
2. Appendix A to Ordinance 2020-27
3. List of Changes to City-Wide Fee Ordinance
4. Updated Fee Schedules for Credit Card Processing Fee
5. Ordinance 2020-27 Version A
6. Appendix A to Ordinance 2020-27 Version A
7. Ordinance 2020-27 Version B
8. Appendix A to Ordinance 2020-27 Version B
9. List of Fees Excluded from One Percent Increase
10. Memo - Credit Card Surcharges
Prepared by: Jodi Sharkey, Senior Accountant
Department Director: Kim Ferrell, Finance Director