2003/02/25 City Council Resolution (2)RESOLUTION NO. 2003 - 36
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK, CALIFORNIA,
ADOPTING SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC PERMIT FEES
WHEREAS, the City of Rohnert Park wishes to promote the development of solar
photovoltaic projects for the purpose of electrical energy production; and
WHEREAS, the fair and consistent assessment of electrical and building solar
photovoltaic permit fees encourages the development of said solar photovoltaic
systems; and
WHEREAS, the Building Department has conducted a study for the purpose of
determining the costs for issuing permits and providing inspection services; and
WHEREAS, the attached Exhibit A, which describes the fees for solar
photovoltaic permit issuance, plan review and inspection services, covers the City's
costs for providing said services, while being in compliance with Government Code
Section 66016.6.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Rohnert Park that the encouragement of solar photovoltaic system installations within
the City broadens and promotes the concept of distributed energy production.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that those solar photovoltaic permit fees as
described in Exhibit A are reasonable, fair and consistent.
DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED this 25th day of February, 2003 by the City
Council of the City of Rohnert Park.
ME
0 .Sy ,.
t�c-*4c-
Mayor
FLORES: AYE MACKENZIE: AYE NORDIN: AYE SPRADLIN: AYE VIDAK- MARTINEZ: AYE
AYES: (5) NOES: (0) ABSENT: (0) ABSTAIN: (0)
Exhibit A
City of Rohnert Park
Building Department
Solar Photovoltaic Permit Fees
Residential Photovoltaic Projects (Up to 5 kw per array per building)
Plan Review Fee -
$70.001
Outside Consulting, if needed, will be billed at invoice amount plus 25%
administrative fee.
Permit Fees
Building Permit – building permit fees are to be based on the valuation of the
supporting elements and /or any required modification to the
existing structure —if any.
Electrical Permit - $140.002
Commercial/Industrial Photovoltaic Projects (5 kw and greater)
Plan Review - Internal electrical plan review fees will be determined by
estimating the required number of hours x $70.00 per hour.
If the size and complexity of the PV system warrants outside
plan review services, the electrical plan review fee
will be based on the consultant's invoice plus a 25%
administrative fee.
Structural plan review fees are to be based on the building
permit fee. (See Building Permit /valuation below)
Permit Fees
Building Permit – Building permit fee is to be based on the valuation, as
determined by the Building Official, of any structural
modifications to the building and the array support system.
Electrical Permit –Fee to be based on the calculated number of inspection hours
required for the PV system including any pre - installation
inspections, final inspection and fire engine company training
sessions.
1 The $70.00 figure is based on one hour of internal plan review for the electrical system only. Should the
electrical plan review exceed one hour, or should an internal plan review be required for structural
components, additional plan review fees are to be calculated at the $70.00 per hour rate.
2 This figure is based on two inspections, an initial inspection and a final. Should the project require more
than two inspections, the applicant is to be charged $70.00 for each subsequent inspection. Additional
inspection fees are to be paid prior to the inspection.
Costs For Permit Issuance and Inspection Serviced
Permit Inspection Costs, Per Hour Monthly Hourly
Inspector hourly wage -
Employee benefits -
Building Official Supervision -
Secretarial Support -
Engineering & Fire Service
b. -
Administration7 -
Vehicular Cost
Office Rent
Computers
Utilities
Other"
(173.3 hrs.per month) $6015.002
(30 %)3 $1 804.50
(15 %) $1425.00
(25 %)5 $1420.00
- (25 %)
- (25 %)
- (25 %)
- (25 %)
Sub Total
$208.008
$479.509
$200.0010
$83.3311
$384.38
$12,019.71
$34.71
$10.41
$8.224
$8.19
$2.58
$0.15
$1.30
$2.77
$1.15
$0.12
2.22
$71.82
1 For basic categorization purposes we assume that, organization wise, average daily Building Department
activities consists of 40 % permit issuance, 25% inspection, 20% plan review, 10% code enforcement and
5% miscellaneous activity. It is also noted that the cost for the issuance of a permit is included in the
calculations for determining the cost for the inspections. (See following section entitled "Costs for the
Issuance of a Permit. ")
2 The figure of $6015.00 reflects step E, the highest of the five steps of the City's Building Inspector pay
range. The figure does not include yearly cost of living or merit pay increases that the current staff may
enjoy, however.
3 The 30% figure is based on the Finance Department's practice for non -sworn City employees.
4Based on $7309 per month, step E, without yearly merit or cost of living increases: $7309 x 1.30% _
$9502 x 15 %= $1425.00 - 173.3 = $8.22
5 Based on $4368 per month, step E, without longevity pay or yearly merit or cost of living increases, plus
30% benefits: $4368 + $1310 = $5678 x 25% _ $1420, $1420 =173.3 = $8.19 per hour.
6 Based on .5% of Engineering's Public Works Inspector and 1% of the Fire Services Fire Inspector's
salaries, at Step E & with 30% benefits. PW Inspector: $5729 + $1719 = $7448 =173.3 = $42.98 x.5% _
$2.15. Fire Inspector: $5729 + $1719 =$7448 =173.3 = $42.98 x 1% _ $0.43. $2.15 + $0.43 = $2.58
7 The figure of $0.15 per hour is being added to inspection services based on occasional consultation with a
Planning Department representative, the City Manager or the City Attorney.
8 Basic calculation is based on vehicular purchase of $15,000 (prorated over a period of 10 yrs.)+ $1200 per
yr. for fuel & repairs: $15,000 +10 yrs. _ $1,500 + $1200 = $2,700 + 12 = $225 per month - 173.3 = $1.30.
9 $1918.36 x 12.5 % = $239.80 =173.3 = $1.38.
10 Per City Information Services Technician, David Rowley, computer leases are approximately $35.00 per
month. However, when software and maintenance costs are added in, each computer costs the City $100.00
per month: (7 computers + 1 server) 8 x 100 = 800 x 25 %_ $200 - 173.3 = $1.15 (25% inspections [See
footnotel above.])
11 $1000, 02/03 Budget for telephone only -l2 = $83.33 x 25% _ $20.83 =173.3 = $0.12
12 Includes yearly Department budget for training ($7800), books & pamphlets ($2750), special dept.
supplies ($6000), clothing ($500), dues & subscriptions ($650) and travel & meetings ($750): $18,450 +12
_ $1537.50 x 25 %= $384.37 + 173.3 = $2.22.
Cost For the Issuance of a Permit, Per Hour
Staff Support
-
$1004.33
$5.8013
Office Rent
- (40 %)
$767.3414
$4.43
Computers
-
$320.0015
$1.85
Utilities
- (40 %)
$400.0016
$2.31
Other
- (40 %)
$7380.0017
$42.59
Sub -total
$9871.67
$56.98
Total Issuance & Inspection Cost Per Hour $128.80
As noted in footnote 1, in developing the actual costs for providing an inspection we
conclude that it is appropriate to include the costs for issuing the permit itself. This is
because there are not separate fee requirements for permit issuance and inspection
services. The fee which is known as Permit Fee actuality provides for both services,
issuance & inspection. And, permit issuance is integral to inspection (One can not receive
an inspection without first obtaining a permit.)
For the determination of the City's cost for providing inspections for administrative
permits (See attached Luhmann memorandum) we use the time allowance for the
inspection of 75% (45 minutes) of hourly inspection costs plus 25% (15 minutes) of
permit issuance costs. Therefore, inspections relative to administrative permits cost the
City $68.12 (75% x $71.82 = $53.87 + 25% x $56.98 = $14.25 / $53.87 + $14.25 =
$68.12.)
13 This figure was arrived at by the following computation: Secretarial support $5460 x 25% = $1365,
Building Inspector support $7819.50 x 15% = $1173, Building Official Support $9502 x 05% = $475.
Therefore, average permit issuance cost is $1004.33 ($1365 +$1173 +$475 = $3013 _ 3 = $1004.33).
Consequently, the hourly cost for issuing a building permit is $5.80 ($1004.33 _ 173.3 = $5.80).
14 $1918.36 monthly
15 40% of the monthly costs for 7 computers & I server of $800. (See footnote 10 above).
16 40% monthly utilities of $1000 (See footnote 11 above)
17 40% of $18,450 (See footnote 12 above)