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    Eric Johnson
    • Oct 28, 2017
    • 2 min

    Next Steps After a Fee Update

    So you have just updated your fees and you are justifiably proud of this accomplishment.  Now, what’s next?  You could just rest on your...
    1 view0 comments
    Rick Kermer
    • Sep 17, 2017
    • 3 min

    Fee Increases in Between Cost Studies

    When I first started doing Cost Studies, cities were unlikely to know the cost of their services let alone charge what the services cost....
    0 views0 comments
    Scott Thorpe
    • Jul 7, 2017
    • 3 min

    Accessory Dwelling Units

    Many of you have been wrestling with integrating the recently passed State legislation (AB 2299 and SB 1069) that requires most cities to...
    0 views0 comments
    Eric Johnson
    • Jun 14, 2017
    • 2 min

    Are Credit Card Processing Fees for You?

    For many years the credit card industry vigorously fought against any effort to charge a processing fee to use a credit card.  Credit...
    0 views0 comments
    Rick Kermer
    • May 14, 2017
    • 3 min

    Available versus Billable Hours – Redux

    Nine years ago, I wrote the following article. Since the concepts are just as relevant today, I’m reprinting it with some editorial...
    0 views0 comments
    Scott Thorpe
    • Apr 16, 2017
    • 4 min

    Two Not-So-Scary DIF Collection Requirements

    I often get asked about two Development Impact Fee “problems.”  The first is the “five-year requirement” and the second is the difficulty...
    1 view0 comments
    Eric Johnson
    • Mar 12, 2017
    • 1 min

    What is required to set fees?

    It is generally understood that you need a resolution at a public hearing to set fees.  But is that correct?  It turns out that is not...
    3 views0 comments
    Scott Thorpe
    • Nov 13, 2016
    • 4 min

    Development Impact Fees for Mature Cities

    A little over two years ago I got a call from Chu Thai, the Management Services Director with the City of Monterey Park.  He called to...
    0 views0 comments
    Eric Johnson
    • Oct 16, 2016
    • 2 min

    Charging a Utility Encroachment Permit

    Every so often I’ll hear about Edison or the Gas Company telling a City that they cannot be charged an encroachment permit to plan check...
    14 views0 comments
    Rick Kermer
    • Sep 13, 2016
    • 2 min

    Seeking Civil Society

    I was recently at a council meeting where, during public comments, several individuals targeted specific councilmembers with abusive...
    3 views0 comments
    Scott Thorpe
    • Jun 12, 2016
    • 3 min

    Police Level of Service

    Police management staff often discuss Levels of Service (LOS) staffing in terms of “officers per 1,000 residents.”    Since it is often a...
    1 view0 comments
    Rick Kermer
    • Apr 18, 2016
    • 3 min

    Local Government Revenues

    If the purpose of government is to take some of my money and pool it with some of your money in order to do something that we all benefit...
    3 views0 comments
    Scott Thorpe
    • Jan 17, 2016
    • 4 min

    Development Impact Fee Calculation – Demystified

    The calculation of Development Impact Fees (DIFs) sounds very technical and it can be, but the process is not insurmountable.  First off...
    1 view0 comments
    Rick Kermer
    • Oct 20, 2015
    • 2 min

    Privatizing the Water Utility – Issues

    A major challenge in local government finance is finding sufficient monies to pay for all the wonderful things our citizens want and/or...
    0 views0 comments
    Eric Johnson
    • Sep 15, 2015
    • 2 min

    Giving Proper Respect to Proposition 4

    In the world of fees in California, there are a couple of ballot measures that get all of the love.  Everyone remembers Proposition 218...
    0 views0 comments
    Scott Thorpe
    • Aug 18, 2015
    • 4 min

    Preparing for El Nino

    The El Nino is a tropical weather pattern with consequences in the northern hemisphere. An El Nino (or more specifically the El Nino...
    1 view0 comments
    Rick Kermer
    • Jul 12, 2015
    • 2 min

    The Legacy of Fads

    I started in local government when Planning, Programming, Budgeting (PPB) was introduced as a way to more effectively and efficiently use...
    1 view0 comments
    Eric Johnson
    • Jun 23, 2015
    • 1 min

    Stormwater Management Fees

    With the search for every spare drop of water due to the drought and the concurrent need to remove pollutants from stormwater, there is a...
    1 view0 comments
    Scott Thorpe
    • May 10, 2015
    • 4 min

    It’s all about the Lane Miles

    I have undertaken a great number of development impact fee studies in the Southern California area and as a result I read a lot of...
    0 views0 comments
    Rick Kermer
    • Apr 12, 2015
    • 2 min

    Budgetary Pitfalls

    As most of you are neck deep in your budget, we thought we would share some budgetary pitfalls that we have experienced over the years....
    0 views0 comments
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