Title
Recorder-Clerk recommending the Board:
1) Provide conceptual approval, pursuant to Board Policy A-3, to establish a Schedule of Fees for the Recorder-Clerk's Office; and
2) Direct staff to return to the Board with first reading of the Ordinance and discussion of recommended fee changes as a result of a fee study performed in late 2018. (Est. Time: 5 Min.)
FUNDING: General Fund Revenue.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
With conceptual approval, the Recorder-Clerk will complete a draft ordinance for the Board's review and adoption. The ordinance will include a proposed increase in fees for the following: Fictitious Business Name Statement filings, Regular and Confidential Marriage Licenses, Notary Oath Filing; and amend the Official Map CD fee to be a subscription for service and lower the map CD fee from a quarterly fee based on the number of CD/DVD to a flat rate of $120.00 a year.
In September 2015, the Board approved the increase of seven (7) Recorder-Clerk fees to be effective October 1, 2015. At the meeting, the Recorder-Clerk agreed to return to the Board with a further analysis and fee adjustments within three years (Legistar 15-0921, 9/1/15).
In May 2018, the County released Request for Proposal (RFP) 18-918-056 for a Multi-Department Fee and Nexus Study. After reviewing the awarded proposals, the Recorder-Clerk chose and entered into a contract with Clear Source Financial Consulting to conduct a Fee Study. The purpose of the study was to determine the County's cost for providing services including personnel, indirect and overhead costs, supervision, equipment and reasonable fees to recover the cost of providing said services.
Government Code Chapter 12.5 County Fees, section 54985 authorizes the Board of Supervisors to adopt new fees, fee levels and charges “in the amount reasonably necessary to recover the cost of providing any product or service…”(Attachment B). A majority of Recorder-Clerk fees are set by statute, under Government...
Click here for full text