Title
Supervisor Novasel recommending the Board reconsider the action taken on August 27th, 2019 (Legistar 19-1205) regarding Recorder-Clerk Department fee adjustment recommendations as a result of a recent fee study, and the approval of a new Ordinance establishing fees for the Recorder-Clerk Department.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On August 27, 2019, the Board held a public hearing to review revised Recorder-Clerk fees as recommended as a result of a recent Fee Study by ClearSource Financial Consulting, and to approve new Chapter 3.25 to El Dorado County Ordinance Code pertaining to a schedule of fees and fee changes for the Recorder-Clerk Office. The Department recommended fee increases that are "reasonably necessary", resulting in approximate annual revenue of $76,000 and cost recovery ranging from 49% to 84% of full cost of service.
At the August 27th board meeting all five Board members voted to approve Alternative 2 noted in the staff report, full cost recovery, and directed staff to return to the Board with an amended Ordinance and fees established at full cost recovery for services to be adjusted over a two year period, with an inflationary component applied after full cost recovery is attained.
At the time of the August 27th board meeting, the board did not consider the effect of future system enhancements in the Recorder-Clerk Department. The Department will purchase and implement a new Recorder-Clerk Management system over the next year and this will likely result in new efficiencies that will reduce cost in the Recorder-Clerk Department. Therefore full cost recovery assumptions are likely to change or decrease.
According to County ordinance Section 2.03.140 Reconsideration, the Board may reconsider an action previously taken based on new evidence or information that was not considered at the time the previous action was taken. A motion to reconsider may be made by a Board member who voted in the majority in the previous action. If a majority of the Board members vote to reconsider, the matter will be placed on the agenda again for reconsideration.
If the Board decides to reconsider the item, the Recorder-Clerk Department will be required to re-notice the public hearing for a future board date and adjust the effective date of the fee increases in the Ordinance.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could vote to not reconsider the previous action, thereby deciding to let the previous action and direction to staff stand.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar 19-1205, Recorder-Clerk Fee Study Hearing, 8/27/19
Legistar 19-0681, Conceptual approval of Ordinance to set fees, 4/30/19
Legistar 18-1872, Receive and File of Fee Study, 12/18/18
Legistar 15-0921, Adopted Resolution 150-2015
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Decision to reconsider a previous board item does not have financial impact.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Sue Novasel, Supervisor District 5