TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Ryan J. Alsop, County Executive Officer
REPORT BY: Jasmine Elo, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: Accept Report Regarding Fees Waived During FY 2024-25
RECOMMENDATION
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Accept and file the Annual Report of fees waived by various County departments during fiscal year 2024-25. (Fiscal Impact: $151,396 Reduced Revenues; Various Funds; Budgeted; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
Per Part 10 of the Napa County Fee Policy, “The County Executive Officer shall prepare annual reports regarding the nature, number and dollar amount of fees waived by the various County departments and shall present those reports to the Board of Supervisors for review.”
According to the policy, the officer or employee responsible for collecting any fee established in the Fee Policy, or on an appeal the County Executive Officer, may waive a fee if the following findings are made:
1. The waiver of the fee will advance a public policy; and
2. The waiver of the fee is in the public interest and will promote a public benefit; and
3. The applicant is a non-profit organization; and
4. The non-profit organization approved for a temporary event fee waiver or special event on roadways/road closure fee waiver has provided written assurance that a designated percentage of the proceeds of said event will be donated for the public benefit of the citizens of Napa County; and
5. The fee is not for a building, public works, or other permit whose user fee has been established to recover the full cost of service, according to County policy except for roadways/road closure permits; or
6. The appeal fee is for an individual who can provide verification of fiscal hardship.
The total fees waived during fiscal year 2024-25 amount to $151,396 (see attached list). The departments listed on the report include the Assessor-Recorder-Clerk, Library, Planning, Building and Environmental Services (PBES), and Public Works.
Assessor-Recorder-Clerk waives fees in accordance with State proclamation for vital records of people whose property was destroyed in a Governor-declared disaster. Photocopy fees are waived for owners of property destroyed in a calamity disaster. The Napa County Library waives fees for the following reasons: patrons submit a police report to document stolen items, a one-time waiver for fiscal hardship, or Collection Agency Fees when all outstanding items have been returned.
PBES waives fees for temporary event permits, food facilities and temporary food vendor permits, primarily for non-profit organizations that meet the findings outlined in the policy. These waivers are approved when they advance a public policy objective, promote a public benefit, and support community-based events and organizations where a designated portion of proceeds is returned to benefit Napa County residents. Permit fees are also waived for departments within the County. Additionally, food facility and temporary food vendor permit fees are waived for honorably discharged veterans who peddle, or vend any goods, wares or merchandise, except spiritous, malt, vinous or other intoxicating liquor, in accordance with California state law, when providing their Veteran’s DD214 form demonstrating eligibility. Finally, per County Policy Sec. 10.020(d), PBES reduces building fees when a local emergency is declared to assist disaster victims with replacing or repairing structures for a period of five years from the date of the declaration.
Public Works listed two departments for waiving fees, Roads and the Animal Shelter. Most waived fees in the Roads department are for non-profit event organizers who meet the criteria above. Fees are waived at the Animal Shelter when the shelter is at or near capacity to create space for incoming animals, which promotes public safety, prevents abandonment and ensures vulnerable animals continue to receive care.
Requested Action:
Accept and file the fiscal year 2024-25 Annual Report of fees waived by various County departments.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Various departments |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Fee waivers are covered as part of Napa County General Provisions, Section 10.020 |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
None |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.