agenda city of watsonville city council/redevelopment agency meeting

User Fee Study
In order to address updating/reviewing the City’s fees for services, and to consider new fees, staff has
recommended that the City Council consider authorizing a User Fee Study, which would be conducted by a
consultant and cost approximately $50,000 to $75,000. It could be funded by the General Fund and
Enterprises, including Redevelopment, since it would affect all user fees (for services offered), not including
water/sewer/solid waste rates.
This Study would review the City’s current cost recovery for services and would also analyze the new fees
suggested by City staff during this process. The consultant would advise the City as to the legality of certain
fees, what the true cost to deliver the service is, and what is recommended based on the City’s needs, other
communities, etc.
Some of the fees that could be considered include (these are only suggestions and do not represent new
fees at this time):
1. All current fees for services
2. Charging for a person to pick up their confiscated firearm when the court dismisses the case and the
court orders the guns released.
3. Private Property Tows.
a. We processed 71 Private Property Tows from January 1, 2011 to March 23, 2011.
b. If we were collecting $20.00 for the Private Property Tows, we would have collected
$1,420.00.Repossessed Vehicles
2. We processed 95 Vehicle Repossessions from January 1, 2011 to March 23, 2011. The State allows
Law Enforcement Agencies to charge $15.00 to the vehicle owner, before the vehicle can be
released. Often the registered owner of the reposed vehicle is not going to the PD first but directly
to the towing company and the result is the PD is not collecting the fee. The Towing Companies
are supposed to send the registered owner to the law enforcement agency that received and
entered the repossession information; and release the vehicle only when the registered owner
shows the receipt for $15.00 from the law enforcement agency.
3. Registration Fee: Charge a registration fee for all Sex, Narcotic, Arson, and Gang Registrations.
Suspects are ordered by the court to register with us.
4. Muni-Code Curfew Violation: we could issue a muni-code curfew violation for minor's being out
after 10 pm. Have the parents pay the fine to WPD. No court date. Set a fine amount.
5. Truancy: we could issue muni-code truancy violation for minors not attending school. Have the
parents pay the fine to WPD. No court date. Set a fine amount.
6. Missing Person Cases: Repeat Runaway Juveniles
7. Court Fines: Ask the court to raise the fine amounts on all infractions, misdemeanor, and felony
charges.
8. Increase Ramsay carwash facility rental fee from $90 to $125.
9. Implement After-school Drop-in Program Membership Fee ($5 monthly/$20 annual/$25 family)
10. Establish contract with food vendors (portable kiosks) to sell food/beverages in the Parks (Ramsay,
Franich & Callaghan)
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