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ITEM: ORDINANCE NO. 2017-12 (Development Application Fees)
AN ORDINANCE OF WELLINGTON, FLORIDA’S COUNCIL, AMENDING WELLINGTON’S CODE OF ORDINANCES BY REPEALING CHAPTER 2 “ADMINISTRATION”, ARTICLE VIII “RECOVERY OF COSTS OF ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AND PROCESSING”, SECTION 2-361 “COST RECOVERY; AND CREATING SECTION 2-361 “DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION FEE”; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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PUBLIC HEARING: YES QUASI-JUDICIAL: NO
EXPLANATION: The amendment of the cost recovery fee system in favor of an alternative flat fee/escrow fee system for planning applications will maintain current revenues, will improve efficiency for Wellington staff, and will create a more predictable pricing model for future applicants.
The current Cost Recovery System was adopted in 2007 and an updated fee schedule was adopted in 2008. The Cost Recovery System assigns the responsibility of all review costs on the developer/applicant. Final costs for the review of an application should match the actual costs to the Village. Switching to a flat fee/escrow system will allow staff to better utilize their time rather than spending it on tracking hours, billing applicants, reminding applicants to pay their invoices and other accounting functions. Applicants will also have a better idea of what each planning application type will cost prior to submittal.
SUMMARY: Approval of Ordinance No. 2017-12 amending Wellington’s Code of Ordinances by repealing Chapter 2 “Administration, Article VIII “Recovery of Costs of “Recovery of Costs of Administrative Review and Processing”, Section 2-361 “Cost recovery” and replacing with “Development Application Fee”.