TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Brian D. Bordona, Director - Planning, Building and Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Charlene Gallina - Supervising Planner
SUBJECT: Resolution Amending the Temporary Event Fee Schedule to Align Fees and Fee Structure with the Revised Temporary Event Categories
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt a Resolution amending the Temporary Event fee schedule to update fee titles and descriptions and to uniformly apply flat and hourly fees consistent with the revised temporary event categories adopted under the amended Napa County Code Chapter 5.36 (Temporary Events), effective January 1, 2027. (No Fiscal Impact; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
On August 25, 2026, the Board of Supervisors held a public hearing and expressed its intent to adopt an Ordinance amending Napa County Code Chapter 5.36 (Temporary Events), Section 18.10.020 (Duties - Specific Subjects), and Section 18.120.010 (Exception to Use Limitations), and adopted a Resolution approving the updated Temporary Events Manual. The Ordinance returns for final adoption on consent at today’s meeting, with an effective date of January 1, 2027, timed to align with the start of the 2027 temporary event season.
Among other changes, the Ordinance update revised the temporary event attendance categories as follows: Category 4 was redefined from "more than 400 persons" to "401 to 750 persons per day"; Category 5 was redefined from a specific non-attendee-based nonprofit criterion to a straightforward attendance threshold of "751 or more persons per day"; and a new Category 6 (Event Series) was created to cover multiple related events held on the same or separate parcels within a 30-day period under a single permit.
The existing Temporary Event fee schedule was built around the prior categories and does not reflect this new structure. As discussed in the August 25, 2026 board meeting, staff committed to returning with an amended fee structure to align with these ordinance updates. This item fulfills that commitment by amending fee titles and descriptions to match the revised categories and uniformly applying flat or hourly fees, it does not create a new fee program or change and/or increase any existing hourly rates.
Proposed Fee Schedule Changes
The proposed schedule (Attachment B) treats all reviewing departments consistently across categories:
• Category 2A/2B: a flat fee applies for each department, but only "if referred,” thus charged only when that department's review is actually required.
• Category 3 and above (3, 4, 5, and new Category 6): all departments bill hourly, replacing the prior mix of flat and hourly fees.
• County Counsel's hourly fee applies only if required for a Zoning Administrator hearing or other legal review.
Existing hourly rates are unchanged; only the flat/hourly mechanism assigned to each category and department is being aligned.
Effective Date / Public Notice
Staff recommends the fee schedule take effect January 1, 2027, matching the Ordinance's effective date so all 2027 events are processed and billed under one consistent set of categories and fees. Notice of this hearing was published in the Napa Valley Register on September 3 and 10, 2026, and the proposed fee schedule was available for public review at the Clerk of the Board's office.
Requested Actions:
1. Conduct a public hearing on the proposed Resolution amending the Temporary Event fee schedule; and
2. Adopt a Resolution amending the Temporary Event fee schedule to align fee titles, descriptions, and the flat/hourly fee structure with the revised temporary event categories, effective January 1, 2027. (Attachment A)
Procedural Requirements:
1. Open Public Hearing.
2. Staff report.
3. Public comments.
4. Close Public Hearing.
5. Motion, second, discussion, and vote on adoption of the Resolution amending the Temporary Event fee schedule.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
The existing Temporary Event fee schedule reflects the categories in place prior to the 2026 Ordinance update and has not been aligned with the revised attendance categories and event series category adopted by the Board. Fees are structured solely to recover the reasonable costs of department review and do not generate general fund revenue. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
PBES and reviewing departments would continue to apply the existing fee schedule, which references categories that no longer exist under the amended Ordinance, creating confusion for applicants and inconsistent billing among reviewing departments. |
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Additional Information |
County Strategic Initiatives: Build Healthy, Connected Communities; Elevate County Service and Workforce Excellence |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is for the recovery of the reasonable costs of providing services related to a Temporary Event License and is exempt from CEQA as the recovery of operating expenses pursuant to 14 California Code of Regulations Section 15273 (State CEQA Guidelines); therefore, CEQA is not applicable.