Title
Community Development Agency, Transportation Division, and Chief Administrative Office jointly request the Board authorize the Chair to sign and approve transmittal of a letter to the Chairman of the Joint Budget Conference Committee of the California State Legislature providing the County’s opposition to proposed application fees required to comply with the California Endangered Species Act.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Community Development Agency, Transportation Division, and Chief Administrative Office jointly request the Board authorize the Chair to sign and approve transmittal of a letter to the Chairman of the Joint Budget Conference Committee of the California State Legislature providing the County’s opposition to proposed application fees required to comply with the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).
DISCUSSION/BACKGROUND
Our County has been advised by the California State Association of Counties that the Brown Administration has proposed budget trailer language that would require the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to collect fees for permits required to comply with CESA. The fees proposed are brand new and would range in cost from $7,500 to $30,000, and would be based on the cost of the project.
The proposed budget trailer language also gives CDFW the authority to charge an additional fee of up to $10,000 if the original fees are deemed to be insufficient. Most State fee structures do not include such a provision.
El Dorado County, being a small rural county, isn’t in a position where fees can easily be raised in order to cover such a costly new State fee structure. In opposition, a letter has been prepared for Board consideration which must be transmitted to the Chairman of the State’s Joint Budget Conference Committee prior to the passage of the Budget Bill on June 15, 2016.
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Chief Administrative Office
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Chief Administrative Office concurs with staff's recommendations.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The importance of local and state agencies having the ability to raise revenue to cover the costs of the services is understandable; however, the fees proposed are deemed excessive and could result in counties having to defer important public projects due to cost issues. Of particular concern, is the impact on local projects that provide infrastructure maintenance and repair. Unfortunately, maintenance agencies have very limited funding options to pay for repair, replacement and maintenance of roadway, bridge and drainage infrastructure. Consequently, any new fees could significantly impact their ability to move forward with such work.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair’s signature on one (1) original copy of the opposition letter.
2) The Clerk of the Board will return the signed original opposition letter to Steve Pedretti, Director, Community Development Agency, for submittal to Chairman Mark Leno, California State Legislature, Joint Budget Conference Committee.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
CONTACT
Bard Lower, Director
Transportation Division
Community Development Agency