SR-211-015
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APR 1 1 1978
Santa Monica, California
~larch 29, 1978
TO:
Mayor and City Council
FROM:
City Staff
SUBJECT:
Establishment of Encroachment Permit Fee Schedule
Introductlon
This report recommends the establishment of fees which would repay the
City for the costs of paperwork and inspection of encroachment permits.
Background
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An encroachment permit allows a private party to place a structure, either
above or below ground, on public property. For example, a masonry wall
may be permitted to extend beyond the property owner's property line and
partlally into the street right of way. Storefronts, railings, canopies,
and subsurface parking structures WhlCh project under public sidewalks and
streets are also examples of encroachments.
Encroachment permits are processed by the Department of General Services
using procedures established by City Counell in 1973. The majority of
permit requests are handled administratively by Staff, but requests for
major encroachments are presented to the Council for approval. (Since 1973
no requests have been major enough to warrant Councl1 action). The Councll
also hears appeals by persons who have been denied permits by Staff, and
may be called upon to establish a charge for major encroachments.
Currently, permits for minor encroachments, such as walls. storefronts,
planters, and SWlnq;ng doors
are granted without charge.
It should be
lIt!
APR 1 1 1978
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To: Mayor and City Councll
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f1arch 29, 1978
noted that nearly every other type of Public Works improvement, such as
construction, repair. installation or excavation of sidewalks. curbs,
gutters. water mains, sewers, or storage tanks, incur a permit fee. Staff
estimates that the costs of investigating an encroachment permit amounts
to approximately $12.50 per hour or more. depending on the staff member
conducting the investigation.
Reasons for Present InqulrJL
Staff's investigation into the establishment of permit fees has been
prompted by: (1) the increase 1n number of requests for encroachments;
and (2) the increasing complexlties of investigation.
In 1975, four requests were made for encroachment permits. By 1977, the
number had risen to eleven. The land area granted to encroachments last
year alone amounted to over 600 square feet. Staff expects that this
trend in increased requests will continue.
ConclUS10n
The recommendation proposed by Staff is occasioned by (1) the increased
Staff time now required to process encroachment permits because of an
increasing number of requests; (2) the desire to recover overhead costs
for inspection of encroachment permits and bring fees lnto 11ne with
other types of lnvestigation fees as established by ordinance.
Staff believes the recommendation contained herein will help to defray
costs for Staff time spent on investigation of encroachment permits.
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To: Mayor and Clty Councll
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f'la rch 29, 1978
Alternatives
1. Make no changes in the present policy.
2. Establish a permit fee and investigatlon charge for the land
encroached upon which would repay the City for costs of paperwork
and investigation of encroachments.
Recommendatlons
Staff recommends the establishment of perrrnt fees of $25.00 as per
alternative No.2 (above). This would be done as follows:
An lnvestigation charge of $15 per hour (equal to charges already
set by ordinance) plus a permit fee of $10.00 for In-house Staff
work.
Prepared by: Stan Scholl
Cha r 1 es Leggo tt
Dave Thorne
Ics