TO: LINDA REICH, CITY MANAGER
FROM: KIM SAO, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
SUBJECT
title
Adoption of a Resolution 2026-050 Amending the City's Master User Fee Schedule.
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RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Adopt Resolution 2026-050 amending the City's Master Fee Schedule to establish new fees, revise Community Services fees based on updated cost calculations and market analysis and adjust select fees that require modifications beyond the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment authorized by the City Council.
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FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed amendments are intended to improve alignment between the cost of providing services and the fees charged to service users. Adoption of the proposed fees will reduce General Fund subsidies for specialized services while maintaining affordable access to community programs and events. Revenue impacts will vary depending on service demand, program participation levels, and development activity. Adoption of the proposed fees will help ensure that the costs of providing services are appropriately borne by service users rather than subsidized by the General Fund.
CITY OF CHINO MISSION / VISION / VALUES / STRATEGIC ISSUES
The recommendation detailed above further the City’s values and strategic issues that serve as key pillars on which identified priorities, goals, and action plans are built, by fostering:
• Financial Stability
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Revenue: |
Expenditure: 1003000-41030 |
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Transfer In: |
Transfer Out: |
BACKGROUND
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-029 in 2025, which established a process for annual adjustments to most City fees based on the year-over-year February Consumer Price Index (CPI). The resolution authorized the City Manager to approve and implement these annual CPI-based adjustments administratively. Those fees increased effective July 1, 2026.
The annual CPI adjustment process was established to maintain the City's cost recovery levels each year. As a result, most City fees are adjusted annually through the administrative CPI process and do not require separate Council approval.
Certain fees, however, are not appropriately adjusted through a CPI methodology. These include newly established fees, fees based on specialized cost analysis or market conditions, and fees that require adjustments exceeding the annual CPI increase to better reflect the actual cost of providing services.
A notice of public hearing was published in the Chino Champion on July 11 and July 18; additionally all requesting parties were sent written notice of the public hearing to amend the City’s existing fees.
ISSUES/ANALYSIS
The proposed amendments to the Master Fee Schedule include:
New Fees
Staff recommends establishing new fees for services that are currently provided by the City but are not reflected in the existing fee schedule. The proposed fees are intended to recover the reasonable costs associated with providing these services to ensure consistency in the City's fee structure. The new fees are as follows:
|
Dept |
Fee Title |
Description |
Fee |
|
Dev Svc |
Affordable Housing Compliance Monitoring Fee by Unit Count |
0-9 units |
$458.27 |
|
Dev Svc |
Affordable Housing Compliance Monitoring Fee by Unit Count |
10-25 units |
$781.50 |
|
Dev Svc |
Affordable Housing Compliance Monitoring Fee by Unit Count |
26-50 units |
$1,148.20 |
|
Dev Svc |
Affordable Housing Compliance Monitoring Fee by Unit Count |
51-100 units |
$1,472.07 |
|
Dev Svc |
Affordable Housing Compliance Monitoring Fee by Unit Count |
101-200 units |
$2,037.49 |
|
Dev Svc |
Affordable Housing Compliance Monitoring Fee by Unit Count |
201-300 units |
$2,553.77 |
|
PD |
VC 22500(n)(1)(A) - Blocking Crosswalk Approach |
|
$36.00 |
|
PD |
VC 5200 - Displayed Issued Plates |
|
$36.00 |
|
PW |
Water Meter Setup/Relocation Fee |
|
$87.00 |
|
PW |
Backflow Device Plan Check Fee |
|
$500.00 |
|
PW |
Certificate of Compliance Fee |
|
$2,500.00 |
New fees will be effective August 1, 2026.
Community Services, Park & Recreation Fees
Staff has reviewed Community Services, Park & Recreation fees and compared them against current program costs, operational expenses, and market conditions. Based on this analysis, adjustments are recommended to better align fees with the cost-of-service delivery while maintaining competitive and accessible recreation and community programming opportunities. The Community Services Fee Schedule, including proposed subsidies, was approved by the Community Services, Parks and Recreation Commission on December 22, 2025. There are proposed increases to 8 fees, 6 new fees, and 144 fees that will remain as currently set. See Exhibit B for full list of Community Services, Park & Recreation Fees.
Fees Requiring Adjustments Beyond CPI
Staff has identified select fees that require modifications beyond the annual February CPI adjustment. In these cases, the existing fee no longer reflects the actual cost of providing the service due to changes in Municipal Code, staffing, regulatory requirements, service delivery methods, technology, contractual costs, or other operational factors. Recent updates to Chino Municipal Code Chapter 10.64 (Parades and Special Events) expanded the types of events subject to permit requirements by eliminating the minimum attendance threshold. As a result, additional events now require City review and coordination.
Following the Municipal Code amendments, staff evaluated the Special Event Permit process and implemented operational improvements intended to streamline application review, improve interdepartmental coordination, and reduce administrative processing time. The proposed fee structure reflects both the expanded scope of permit administration and the efficiencies achieved through these process improvements. As a result, the proposed fees are lower than would otherwise be required to recover the full cost of service under the previous review process.
Staff conducted a review of special event permitting practices among comparable Southern California jurisdictions. The survey found that most agencies utilize a cost recovery model that includes an administrative application fee and reimbursement of direct service costs such as police, fire, traffic control, and public works support. In recognition of the public benefits provided to local citizens, many agencies charge reduced fees to nonprofit organizations; however, nonprofit events generally contribute toward at least a portion of the administrative costs associated with permit processing and event coordination. The proposed fee structure continues to provide a substantial subsidy for nonprofit organizations while improving recovery of City administrative costs.
|
Dept |
Fee Title |
Description |
Full Fee |
Non-Profit Fee |
|
Finance |
Special Event Permit Fee |
Small Event - up to 200 attendees* |
$1,002.00 |
$401.00 |
|
Finance |
Special Event Permit Fee |
Medium Event - 201-500 attendees* |
$1,121.00 |
$448.00 |
|
Finance |
Special Event Permit Fee |
Large Event - 501-1,500 attendees* |
$2,050.00 |
$820.00 |
|
Finance |
Special Event Permit Fee |
Major Event - 1,501 attendees and above* |
$2,880.00 |
$1,152.00 |
|
Finance |
Special Event Permit Fee |
City Partnered/Sponsored Events |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
|
Finance |
Special Event Permit Fee |
Recognized Sports Groups/Tournaments** |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
|
Finance |
Special Event Permit Fee |
Expedited Review |
Additional 50% of above base fee |
Additional 50% of above base fee |
|
*Includes Recurring Events (Within one year if all dates are included in initial application) |
|
** Organizations having an agreement with the City of Chino per the Athletic Field User Guide |
The proposed nonprofit fees are intentionally discounted below the full cost of service in recognition of the community benefits provided by nonprofit organizations. The discounted fees are designed to recover a portion of the City's administrative costs while continuing to provide meaningful financial support to community-based organizations. If approved, the Special Event Permit fees will go into effect September 1, 2026.
The proposed amendments do not alter the annual CPI adjustment process adopted by the City Council in 2025. Fees eligible for annual CPI adjustments will continue to be updated administratively by the City Manager in accordance with the adopted policy, effective July 1 of each year.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15273 of the CEQA Guidelines because it involves the establishment, modification, structuring, restructuring, or approval of rates, tolls, fares, and other charges by a public agency for the purpose of meeting operating expenses and maintaining service levels.
Attachments: Resolution 2026-050 Amending the Master Fee Schedule
Exhibit A - List of New Fees and Fees Requiring Adjustment Beyond CPI
Exhibit B - Community Services Fee Updates