§ 2-196. Plan review and inspection fees.

With respect to all development and proposed construction in the city for residential, commercial or industrial projects where the city engineer is required to conduct a review of site plans, preliminary design or other development or construction plans for a project, to conduct preconstruction field tests or inspections, the department of engineering shall assess a fee based upon the total development cost of the project and payable at the time the owner makes application for building permits.

(1)

Determination . The department of engineering shall determine and certify to the city the plan review and inspection fee required by this division. The plan review and inspection fee shall be five percent of the total development cost of said proposed project. The basis for determining the total development cost shall be as follows:

a.

The owner/applicant may provide to the department of engineering any documentation that the applicant deems appropriate to justify the estimated construction cost.

b.

In the absence of any documentation provided by the applicant, the department of engineering shall estimate the cost of said project, based upon the best information available to it and in accordance with the experience and expertise of its personnel.

(2)

Purpose fees . The plan review and inspection fee shall be assessed for the purpose of recouping wages of all city personnel, the cost of all engineering requirements and the cost of all inspections necessary to ensure compliance with the appropriate city codes and specifications.

(3)

Adjustment of fees authorized . The department of engineering shall adjust all fees charged pursuant to the foregoing provisions to accurately reflect actual cost of construction.

(4)

Occurrence of fee adjustments . The first fee adjustment will occur simultaneously with the issuance of the building permit. Such fee will be adjusted in accordance with the engineering estimates, as certified to the city by the city engineer, and shall reflect as accurately as possible the actual cost of construction.

(5)

Final adjustment; remittance of excess paid to city; forfeiture . Prior to the issuance of the final certificate of occupancy, the fee will be adjusted in accordance with the actual cost of the project. In the event that the owner/applicant has paid fees to the city in excess of the actual cost of plan review and inspection costs, the city shall remit the excess to the owner/applicant or other appropriate entity within 30 days of the date of the final issuance of the certificate of occupancy. In the event that the actual costs of the project exceed those which have been assessed by the city, the owner/applicant or other proper entity shall remit to the city any balance due prior to the issuance of the final certificate of occupancy.

All fees paid pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be forfeited in the event that the owner/applicant or other appropriate entity allows the building permit to become invalid.

(Code 1977, § 2-45; Ord. No. 162, 1-23-1989)